안녕하세요!!!

GREETINGS FROM KOREA

I'm doing another quick post, just so I can get all my thoughts out before I either explode or forget them all. So Korea...is awesome! I know I haven't been here long (only a few hours at this point), and it's definitely very very different from the U.S., and I'm still adjusting (and probably will be for a while), but still. So let's go back to where I left off on my last post, the actual flight to Korea. It actually wasn't as grueling as I thought it would be. Yes, my rear was a little sensitive by the end, and I had a bit of a headache, and I was exhausted, but it could have been ten times worse. The seat next to me was actually vacant, which was nice for me—I had a window seat—and the Korean guy who had the aisle seat. There actually wasn't a whole lot of conversation other than him directing me on how to eat the korean meal they served. It wasn't necessarily because he didn't like me and I didn't like  him. I think it was just a case of too similar personalities put next to each other. We just both did our own thing for most of the flight—for me that included getting some sleep (I hope I didn't snore because I'm at the tail end of a cold which makes snoring a distinct possibility...).

Anyway, I'm supposed to be hurrying through this post so I can actually get to bed. After I arrived, my recruiter picked me up from the airport—which was at about 6pm. We went directly to the school—I'm going to go a tad off subject here and just mention how different driving is in Korea. Basically, it seemed like there were rules, but as quoted from Pirates of the Carribean, "they're more like guidelines than actual rules." This apparently includes red lights for certain buses and taxis, and most definitely for anyone driving a moped...I'm going to have to watch my step when crossing the road, even at a crosswalk. Okay, back on subject. We arrived at the school where pretty much all the teachers were waiting to greet me. There were three foreigners in the bunch (one of which is the guy I will be replacing). Lynn (I'm not sure if that's how you spell her name) will be in the same apartment complex (which is within walking distance of the school, yay!!!) and she's from New Zealand :) I don't remember the other guy's name, but we didn't exactly have a ton of time to talk. I was introduced to the principle, who seems super awesome just so you're aware. And also, because the guy I'm replacing doesn't leave until the 28th, I will be staying at the big boss's house until he moves out.

So those were my first experiences in Korea. Everyone so far has been really nice, and I haven't gotten too many stares yet. Overall impressions: Korea is very very compact. There's not a whole lot of room,  so everything is condensed. I never ever want to drive in Korea. Most people don't seem to have a problem with having a full conversation in Korean around me even though they know I don't understand a word, but that's okay becuase it doesn't really bother me.

I think I'm going to go ahead and call that good for tonight. Oh, but one more thing. my blog has hit 6 countries outside the U.S. People from the Netherlands, South Korea, Germany, Spain, the Philippeans, and Poland have viewed my blog!!! Isn't that so exciting? 

Okay, I know I promised pictures, but there really hasn't been time. This should suffice for now: a view from my current room—which will be changing in the next week or so. I promise there will be many pictures in the next post.
 

Our similarities bring us to common ground;

Our differences allow us to be fascinated by each other.

-Tom Robbins