Keep Fit and Get Drunk

I joined a gym a couple weeks ago which was completely exciting. I have a lot of free time during the mornings and early afternoons, so I’m on a mad mission to get HUGE!. It’s interesting though to work out and know that eyes are on you all the time… but in a sick way it just makes me push a little further and try a little harder, so I guess it has its advantages. Well…just recently I discovered the glory of the steam room. After a solid workout, it feels completely amazing to sweat and stretch and relax.. but this story gets better.. I promise. So, entering the steam room there are a group of about 8-10 older ladies.. They’re chatting, giggling, enjoying their sweat… I’m not sure how long they’ve been in there, but they’ve got a couple bottles of cola, some vegetables and a heaping pile of empty beer bottles. Can I just question…what’s more refreshing at 11:00am after a solid workout than a cold beer in a hot room… ummm, water? Ohhh, Korea.

Freak Show

Being a foreigner in Korea almost rivals celebrity status. People look, stare, look again -- and I can't quite tell if they love or hate me. Many people (mostly children) will scream "hi" as I walk by, often followed by nervous laughter.. and I'm just not sure if they're laughing at me, or at themselves in embarrassment. None the less I usually say Hi back, to be friendly, to see their shocked, stunned faces, to hear them giggle more or watch their excitement. It really is amazing just how much of a spectacle one person can be though, and without even trying! Then yesterday an older man was so caught off guard that I was walking down the same staircase as him into the subway, that he tripped on his way up and took a huge still onto the stairs in front of everyone. It's hard not to laugh - and after ensuring only his pride had been injured- I definitely did.

Hahaha, looks who's in the spotlight now.

A Peaceful Escape

This past Sunday we ventured to the outskirts of the city to a beautiful Buddist temple in the mountains, Beomosa. It’s so easy sometimes to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the city that you forget to take a step back and see what else is around… and there isn’t much serenity in the neon lights, jammed streets or concrete structures. So it was nice to get away, and experience some peace and tranquility, and leave the chaos behind. We picked up a tourist map, and are making a pact to see all the wonderful things that Busan has to offer...making a conscious effort to not get too absorbed in the everyday life and forget to take advantage of the wonderful situation we’ve found ourselves in, living in a foreign country.
Beomosa; check.

F*#& the Clock

T-shirts in this country often have some of the most ridiculous english sayings or slogans, and are cause for laughter or confusion. We ran across this one yesterday, and though it is absurd, laughable and completely inappropriate for public display, it works. So often the pace of life here is just a step behind what it is at home. People meander through the street, never in a straight line, oblivious to the world around them. Maybe that’s because they have the whole night ahead of them. I often finish work at 10:30pm, and there will be so many people out and about and on the street, you’d think it was a Saturday afternoon. Life doesn’t stop at sundown. My experiences with nightlife have been something of the same. There is no last call, and I’m uncertain what time the bars close.. given that I’ve left around 4 or 5 in the morning, and the party is still going strong. So, I’m doing the best to embrace this manner of life.. taking the most out of each day, without a worry or care about the constraints of time. Fuck the clock.

A Curious Pretty Lady

Having spent time in Taiwan and Thailand, I have seen (and used) my fair share of frightening bathrooms… filth-ridden, unisex squatters… you name it, I’ve seen it.. So, I was interested (ok maybe it wasn’t interest) in what I might find here.. but thus far, Korea has been a whole different story. In just 4 days, I’ve come across 2 washrooms with electronically controlled toilets. Each seat has a set of buttons—from the icons I’m assuming you can play music, warm the seat, or clean your ass,.. but without the knowledge of Korean the rest remain a mystery. There’s even one button that says “wide” and has the option for + or -… I’m hesitant though to explore any more of these options though, after a brief incident the other night…

From my deductions, I assumed the small waterfall button must be a bidet, and was curious what the button with the pretty lady must be… well… as it turns out, that pretty lady wanted a clean ass too, and I sprung from the seat in a flash… Water was shooting out of the toilet all over the stall.. leaking into the stalls beside me and all over the bathroom floor. All I could do was stand, staring and stunned.. laughing uncontrollably.. it was a good 2 minutes later, standing in a pool of toilet water, that I realized I had to hit stop…embarrassed, but amused, I trudged back to my table at the restaurant leaving a set of wet footprints behind me… Apparently electronic toilets are only for the sophisticated… childish adventurers need not apply.

Safe and Sound

I made it!

Despite somehow not actually having a reservation on the flight from Vancouver to Seoul, I put my helpless-girl face to work and landed a seat on the plane. Arriving Thursday night around 930, the director and another teacher picked me up in style; we took the school bus home. I started teaching the next day, zero prep, zero training, and a less than adequate amount of sleep the night before. I survived, so I think that’s the most important thing thus far. I have an admirer in one of my classes – his name is Lion.. and he tells me “teacha so pre-tty” “I love you teacha” the other boys get jealous and yell “me too teacha, me too”… perhaps I should get the class under control and stop the random outbursts.. but man it does wonders for my self esteem.

My schedule is uber sweet.. I don’t ever start earlier than 3:30pm, and end at either 9:45 or 10:30. And Thursdays I don’t start until 8:10pm. This kid = spoiled.

My apartment is really cute.. The floors are heated, and I have a midget loft. I’ve posted a couple photos for your viewing pleasure -- (there’s room for you to visit too!)

Enjoy

A Brief Delay

Spending a couple days in Winnipeg with my nieces seemed to be the ideal way to transition into a new and exciting adventure. Friday I was to bid farewell to my sister's family as they headed back home to visit family, and I would begin my own travels. The timing was perfect---they would fly east and I would fly west and we would share our last goodbyes at the gate -- but my luck was not. My flight to Vancouver was cancelled, and I began to realize that it is impossible to anticipate or foresee all the changes, problems or situations that can arise... it's important though to just roll with it. Long lines, lots of waiting, and many tears later, I learned I would be extending my stay in Winnipeg until Wednesday.

So... I will be leaving for Korea on March 7th -and then I promise the real adventure will begin. Stay Tuned.