Week 3

YO ALl,
SO I just finished my third week school, and will be here for three FULL weeks on Sunday.
Can you believe it!
Part of me feels like I just got here.
Part of me feels like I'm just on a vacation and I should be checking out of my hotel room.
But most of me feels like I've been here forever.
I mean, on my morning walk to school where I get coffee from the cute girl who I think can only say "americano" in english. or passing the same people every morning, and knowing those people stopped staring at me.
Or going for my nightly jog around the park every day.
Or even my students, who see me in the hallway and immediatly yell to me. Even kids I've only subbed in for a day or two run up to me with their art project and tell me what they've learned that day. I really feel like I've been here for ages. The routine of it all, while never boring is comfortable in its own right, and heaps of fun. I like exploring in my free time, but I like the comfort of my domain too. I guess its nice to feel like you have a home, even if your so far away from everything you know.
It was hard at first, as I came in during the semster when everybody was already friends, and I didn't know anywhere, and I still don't know the language, but it looks like things are going to work out for me. I'm really glad, and thankful to be in Korea, and I don't think I'd give this up for anything.
Patience and faith,
EP

Gyeongbokgung

Excuse the spelling for those that may know it better.
So I went to gyeongbokgung this weekend. Its a HUGE palace in center Seoul, well, I guess towards the north west end.
BUT It was my first subway ride where I had to change lines, and I feel confident enough in my abilities in the subway system to call them "my bitch" That right. Whoever said that the system was too complicated to manuever was sadly mistaken. Whatever, I paid my dues being lost in London, Boston and NYC that I should be able to work a subwaysystem by now.
Does the subway here have an affectionate nickname?
But I digress.
What were we talking about?
Gyeoungbokgung.
Excellent.
So yeah, huge palace, that is actually a reconstruction of a palace from when the Japanese burned it down. So rebuilt, and very neat. I don't know how true it is to he origional, but lets pretend like THIS i the origional, cause it makes me happy.
There was a tour in english which is ALWAYS appreciated, thanks Korea!
IT was all in all very interesting. The history of the place was really cool. And the gardens were incredible. There were pagodas and temples and shrines and the like. (Don't worry my non facebook friends-I'll get images on smugmug ASAP, or as soon as I get internetz I'm not leaning out of my window to steal.) And since the images are so large since I took them on my nice camera, its so hard to put them on here.
There were however, big, jaws size fish with weird sucking mouths. We all know how I feel about that. But the palace was actually where king, queen, heir (but no other kids), cocubines and ladies in waiting actually lived, so imagine 700+ people hanging out here. Koreans do enjoy being crowded, although I'm not sure why. Even back then, it seems.
Apparently a queen was murdered here, and although I don't like murder I do love political scandle. I mean, bummer for the king, and shame on you, japanese!
I liked the fact that the first son's chambers were in the east, because he rises like the sun. Very clever, early KOreans!

Anways, the palace ground are huge, and include two museums I'm going to have to go back and see. and at 3,000 won ( 2 bucks) for admission (you can't get better then ROK prices) why not check it out.

Start expecting some observations on life in Korea, life as an Expat and life out of the rat race.

Yo Theres me being adorable in front of a palace!

Stuff thats Rockin' My world.

Not in a, how did I live without it rock my world type of sense, but in a Are you kidding type of sense.

The first is something I just learned about, so lets talk about it. Fandeath. Is that a band, you may ask. No. Its a CRAZY phobia that the Koreans have. Like a legit crazy, unhealthy phobia. Let me explain.
As you walk through any apartment building you'd be quick to notice that a lot of people's doors are open. For the last few weeks I've been living in the dark, and assuming that people are just social, but because of the language barrier I havn't been chatting. Which is good. Because there doors are open so they don't die. LEgit. They believe that if they leave the fan on with no windows or door open that they will either a)suffocate and die or b) die of either hyper or hypo thermia. And they're obseesed. There are timers on the fans so don't die. If thats not bad enough, some fans come with warnings. Its hilarious. Think I'm making this up?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_death

Another thing is Kimchi. Whats kimchi? Its pickled shit. Quite literally, whatever they can pickle they do and call it kimchi. And eat it with everything. EVERYTHING. Breakfast? Kimchi. Dinner? Kimchi. Midnight snack? Kimchi. Its like "dick in a box" but with some godaweful food. ANd the entire country smells like it. All of the time. Its actually disguesting. But thats not the best part. The best part is that koreans swear by it. They legit believe that they don't catch diseases because of kimchi. Have aids? You're not eating Kimchi. Cancer? Kimchi! They cure diseases with their gross staple food. I mean, Koreas a special place, but this is just bonkers!
KOreans need a reality check.
Theres more, but I'm tired of writing.
Just thought you'd like to know!
Peace and love!
Happy Trails,
EP

A Quick Observation

Any country can get the nickname "the land of the morning calm" if coffee shops don't open until noon.

National Museums, Traffic Accidents and 24hour Shopping malls all in one city?

10 story pagoda in the museum
So I'm seriously falling behind. Don't blame me, blame my shotty internet!!!
BUT This weekend has been UBER Eventful!!!
So Friday night after work I went to Dongdaemun with a few girls with work. Its this MASSIVE MASSIVE MASSIVE market (we're talking 30x Camden) thats open until 5am. I was really bebopping for the experience and less the shopping, and it was an experience. It was huge and people pushing and haggling, and everything looked the same. Unfortunatly, not enough konglish, which is seriously lacking in my life. BUt enough ugly to keep me entertained. We're talking gaudy, tacky, ugly. It was like shopping in the ugly section at the SalVo.
THEN THE ADVENTURE TOOK PLACE. We were waiting to get a cab for about an hour. Ready for the Scene. Rain. Wet foreigners. Taxi on Ambulance action. Sketchy men. yelling in Korean. Hilarity.
We eventually got back so allswellthatendswell. But good god. If I had a nickle for everytime I said ooooohkorea, I could retire by now and I've been here for a WEEK.
Today was super chill. It was my first day here where I had NOTHING planned. So I got on the subway until I felt like getting off.I ended up in Ichon, and went to the National Museum of Korea. This museum was VERY Foreigner friendly, which is apprectiated but us Foreigners. Thanks Korea! Not everththing was in English, but enough was where you could get the general history and what things were supposed to be. It was free which was cool, and had heaps of neat things. They had this really cool 'pensive buddah' which was beautiful. If you have time this museum is definitly worth a looksy. THe highlight was definitly the gardens, with the bell tower and the pagoda garden being beautiful once the ran passed.
This museum was super easy to get to, which is convienent and probably gave false confidence as my first by myself subway experience was successful. I did not have to change lines, so I'm waiting for that day. Heres a couple pictures taken on my shitty camera since I didn't feel like lugging around the heavy one since I didn't know where the day was going to take me. Now I'm combating a cold, which I think is from working hard without a break and not swine, but since I did the whole hospital deal yesterday, we'll probably find out soon. The hospital was an adventure. Anybody wanting to legally become an immigrant needs to do it, and it was so round robin and switching around and doing weird tests that it was all in all very hilarious. Ohhh Korea.

When I get older, I will be stronger

SOOO I’ve had my first few days at school. I’m really going to like it there. It made me MUCH less scared then the crisis of the first day. Most of the teachers I work with are hella awesome, and I enjoy their existences, and their stories (I feel like for one of the first times I’M not the one with the good stories and tales of adventure). I ate my first meal NOT at school today, called neang, which is a buckwheat noodle in a cold broth. The broth was like a cold cucumber soup, and it was all in all very delightful. It was a pretty neat experience, as we just sat down and my super-chill ridiculously-nice boss just ordered (She’s American but bilingual). And they waitresses just brought out food. No menu. No nothing. It was really different. .
I also decided I think I’m REALLY going to like teaching. After observing for the first few days, and teaching my first class Its really a lot of fun. Not like, an easy job kind of fun, but kind of like science camp fun, where sometimes you want to hit the little fucks, but most of the time they redeem yourself (I was laughing so hard I was crying twice today-it was just out of control). I think with them the key is having heaps of fun, and they’ll have heaps of fun and learn. A lot of the kids go to school ALLL day, then go to a hagawon (a private institution similar to the one I work at) for the majority of the evening. Kudos to them for working so hard at such a young age. So this is my second FULL day here, but I think its going to be a solid yearish. I'm so thankful to be here I am optimistic.

holla

Korea is a big, scary place.
Lets recap, shallll we.
JFK was boring, and I was so tired. So tired in fact, I slept through takeoff. When I woke up, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the seat next to me was open. with a flight that long, as anybody can attest, is a real treat. So I ate dinner, which was grand, slept straight through till breakfast, then watched a movie and read some and BAM. SEOUL TIME. Its the more Asian version of hammer time. But it was 3 am. The first thing I noticed though is the fact that you know you are in a city. Its just harder to breathe. But that’s okay. My flight was supposed to get in around 430, but eventually got in over an hour early, so I waited around for 2 hours until some kid picked me up. I was so relieved to see him!! We drove about an hour to my place, which is remarkably decent for being free. The only thing I really dislike is the kitchen, as it is not a kitchen at all but a sink and a stove. That’s right. No Oven. No Microwave. No Coffee Pot. Just a 2 burner range. I also have a fairly sizable loft, but there’s nothing in it, and I think that’s a little strange. But my wii works, although it doesn’t play dvds so I should have brought the ps2 instead. Alas. After unpacking heaps, although not all of it, I went for a little walk to see what was going on. Holy moley, its intense. Its like Chinatown. Except Korean. And Not in America. And nobody speaks English. They’re nice enough, although staring a lot. I went to the local convenience store to get paper towels and toilet paper and the like, and apparently paper towels were buy one get one, which they call ‘one plus one’ here. I just didn’t get it until some old lady, who talked to me in Korean, like I understood, just got me an extra set. Then I came back to change into shorts and go back out, and fell asleep. For a while, until this weird phone thing started ringing. When I picked up and angry sounding man was hollering in Korean. I tried saying I don’t speak Korean and hung up. And it rang again, so doing what Lindsay does best, just ignored it. Then somebody was knocking. When I opened the door it was some guy, possibly the man from the other end, yelling something in Korean. I was speaking English, he was speaking Korean and nobody had any idea what was going on. Since then I’ve been laying low, forcing myself to get out of bed, although its 6pm, and I’m going to try to stay up another 2 hours.
I have to work tomorrow, and don’t have an alarm clock, so lets see how THAT goes. I think with jetlag I’ll bounce up early. And I opened the shade to assure sun comes in. WHO DOESN”T PACK AN ALARM CLOCK!!!! I assume korea has them, I just have no idea where to get one. Or how to get one? Its going to be an adventure…..

leavin' on the midnight plane to Korea

THe next time I post, I'll be in the LAND OF THE MORNING CALM.

Cruzzzzin'

Yo
So apparently I'm leaving tomorrow?
WOAH.
The kid I've been in contact with said I'd leave Friday, but I'm still waiting to hear from somebody that books tickets for them. I don't want to get TOOO overly excited since this process is SO Stop and go, but it looks like a lot of GO right now!

CONSULATTTTE

YO.
Consulate trip today.
It was successful and quick! The interview was really chill and laid back, and I can get my visa on WED AFTERNOON.
SHITSON.