For those of you that haven't heard from me in a while: I moved to Seoul to teach English for a year.
The first of many weeks is over, and I am still slightly feeling the effects of the jet lag (hence the lack of email for a week). Every night around 6 or 7pm my mind feels like it's being scrambled by an invisible egg beater, and I suddenly lose the ability to form coherent thoughts. This phenomena is unfortunate because there is a vast array of things to write about. So many so that I may never be able to go back and rehash the fabulous details with you here in the land of email. I mean, how do you begin to describe all that is Seoul? The shops and vendors lining every street and back alley. The neon crosses dotting the night sky. The kimchi served up at every meal like clockwork. The sights. The smells. The sounds. All coming together in such a fashion that sensory overload most certainly occurs. It will be difficult to summarize, that is for sure.
The beginning is always a good place to start: Back in 1984... ok, we won't get that carried away.
So, a little over a week ago, I got on a plane. Prior to that, I was the winner of 2 full body pat downs and various other you-could-be-a-terrorist-if tests. Then, I stepped on the 14 hour flight that would bring me here.
A solid day full of travel later, I arrived here. In Seoul. At Seoul English Village. (281-1 Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea 138-040... for those of you feeling generous with the letters, postcards, and parcels). I had little time to find my bearings after locating my bags due to an eager driver holding a sign declaring that he was there to pick up one: HEATHER GRINES. I didn't give any thought to the possibility that there might actually BE a Heather Grines; instead I followed this complete stranger out to a large unmarked white van that read: FREE CANDY. Ok, everything but it being 'unmarked' and reading 'free candy' is true. An hour later, I was delivered to my new home. I promptly passed out.
I would attempt to outline the days since I arrived in riveting detail, but 1.) I am still tired and 2.) many of you might not want to read the entire play-by-play. If you do want all the nitty gritty, do not fear. When I am adequately rested, I am going to type, type, type as fast as my little fingers can go. I've been jotting down notes here and there to help me remember. Until then, I shall leave you with this:
Some memorable moments:
> I used a squat toilet in the park my first day here. I have used many others since. I did not pee on myself - this is harder than it sounds :)
> I went to an island right near Seoul called Muui-do. The beach there (Hanagae Beach) was quite nice. The water was very warm, almost overly so, but the scenery was great.
> I've ridden all over Seoul on the subway -- it's very fast/ easy to use/ clean. Also, we took 3 buses and a ferry to get to the island. I pretty much covered every form of transportation you can use in a matter of 3 days: plane, taxi, subway, bus, ferry, feet... just need to hop on a train to make it complete.
> I ate VERY fresh prawns at a restaurant right on the beach. They were brought out alive and cooked at the table. It is always appetizing to watch your food die... right? They were delicious though.
> I took a rather extensive medical test to complete my immigration procedures and was found to be healthy. I am currently awaiting my Alien Registration Card to be delivered back.
> I went to Techno Mart, which is 10 stories of electronic madness. It's incomprehensible; you must come see it for yourself. Also, I've been to Coex Mall, which is a huge expanse of stores located almost entirely underground. Both are quite famous, feel free to Google away.
> I've been viciously attacked by mosquitoes while sleeping. I am allergic to mosquito bites -- in the states they swell up a bit, here they get absolutely massive. One bit my eyelid. My eye swelled almost shut. It was... rather amusing for the kids :) I started every class by telling them: A mean mosquito bit Heather teacher's eye :( I had tons of other bites, including one on my arm that got about the size of a sand dollar (or a coaster or a 5oz container lid or any other such circular sized object :)). I have since found out that they make a variety of products here filled with oil that you plug in so that the room is constantly filled with mosquito repellent fumes.
> I have almost finished my first week of teaching here. (I was observing classes for a few days at the beginning) This month I am teaching computer lab -- the place I work runs week long programs and has a variety of classes that the kids go to. I am known most commonly as Compooter teecher. Every now and again, I get Header Teecher or Basketball Teecher (because I play b-ball with them at break time a lot).
> Most of the kids I've had are good; a few are crazy monkeys --- that's what we call the trouble kids because it amuses them. For example, when I was observing post office, the kids were supposed to pick a place they wanted to go on vacation and then write a postcard to someone as if they were on vacation at that place. The teacher was asking the kids, And where do you want to go? One kid said: I want to go to Hell. In another class, when a boy was asked for his English name (like John or Joe), he said George Bush, I am King of World; you do what I say. hahah.
> I get 3 meals a day here on campus, and the food is delicious. I love spicy food; therefore, I love most anything Korean. Lots of times I don't know what I am eating. This is probably a good thing. For example, this afternoon I was told that last night the soup I was eating was ox tail soup. I have to say, ox tail is really not that bad :)
