Archive for April, 2008
Korea in a nutshell
Friday, April 25th, 2008
Korea has been wonderful so far. Everyone, not just the students are very friendly and eager to learn english. My job was a little difficult at first, but after learning how to talk to the kids and realizing that just having fun with them is a big part of making class fun for everyone, I now feel like a natural.
My jet lag was horrible, it lasted about 2 weeks. I always had trouble sleeping at night. The food here is not what I expected. I was thinking it would be more like Chinese food, but it is not. It is very spicy with lots of uncooked vegetables. Meals are often cooked on the table with many side dishes and soups are very common. Meals are very healthy, spicy and inexpensive.
My apartment is nice. Most all the heating in Korea is done by heating water in the floor. It takes longer to heat up, but once it does you can turn it off and it last all night. Next door to me lives Mike, one of my American co-workers. The only thing between my apartment and my school is a beautiful park that is quite a pleasure to ride my bike through.
I have enjoyed not having a car for once in my life. Public transportation is very inexpensive and well organized. I have become quite the city boy!
Tags: bike, heating, korea, seoul, teach english
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Day 2 in Korea - Success!
Friday, April 4th, 2008
Make sure you read Day 1 Post first!
In the afternoon after finally getting some sleep I knocked on my neighbors door. My boss said that my co-worker lives there and he could help me out with what I needed. He wasn’t home. Looks like I’m on my own.
First off I needed food. My dollars wouldn’t work, but my Visa might! I walked a few blocks and found a bakery that sold some sandwiches. I gave the shop owner my credit card and my hungriest look. Success! I decided to push my luck. “Do you know where the subway is?” He didn’t speak english.
As I walked back into my neighborhood I stopped by a large building to see if could pick-up wireless internet on my iPhone. I wanted to check my email. The previous night I sent an email to a girl named Jyung Hee that I saw on MySpace. In the email I told her I just got to Korea and I know no one. Basically I told her I’m a lost little boy who needs a hot Korean girl to show him around. It worked, she said she would like to meet up with me that evening. (more…)
Tags: english, iphone, korea, seoul, soju, subway, yangjae
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Day 1 in Korea
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
I was picked up by my boss from the airport. He was very friendly but his english was painful to listen to. It was a struggle to understand him but we managed.
He took me to my new apartment and told me that he would pick me up Tuesday for work. That was Friday night, Monday is a holiday. So I have 3 days off! Is that a good thing? He told me that my American Coworker lives next door if I need anything.
I have been up all night. Jet lagged and kind of anxious. I have no tv(not that I could understand the Korean channels anyway). But, thank God, I am able to pick up wireless internet from someone on my laptop.
Problem One is that I don’t know where I am. I know I am somewhere in south east Seoul. I looked at google maps to see if I could figure some things out but google doesn’t have any Korean streets for some reason.
Problem Two is that I don’t have a phone. You first have to get an Alien Registration card.
Problem Three was that I don’t have any Korean currency. I don’t think I will be exchanging any money today because the banks will be closed. Not sure how I will get food.
The sun is coming up. I should really try to sleep.
Tags: alice park, jet lag, korea, problems, seoul
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