So, I’ve been here 11 days now. I landed at around 5:30pm on the Saturday. My boss, his name is John, picked me up from Seoul airport and took me straight to my accommodation. It’s in a huge officetel block, that’s what they call them over here, and I’m situated on the second floor and my number is 205. I haven’t got a key; I simply tap a button twice, which unveils a keypad, and then type in my 4-digit code. So as long as you have a memory good enough to remember 4 numbers in sequence you will never have problems getting in. It does feel a little strange every time I leave the flat without doing a key check!!
My apartment consists of a sofa, big leather armchair, very comfortable computer chair, a desk, a short side cabinet, TV, cd/tape player, small bedside table, a bed (single and a half size), a lamp, fold away chair, microwave oven, various pots and pans and general kitchen utensils, an iron, a world map, a calendar and some old school wire coat hangers. I think that’s about it. I bought myself a kettle and juice maker. My reasoning for the juice maker was that some of their fruit is a little well done so to speak, so thought could juice it up!!
So after landing, I realised I had no money. My boss had left and I ventured out onto the street for the first time. I spent the next 45 minutes trying every cash machine around. I was getting a little anxious at this point as I was concerned that Natwest were now in the process of cancelling my card, which they so kindly did when I was away in Italy recently. To be honest I started to panic. It was Saturday, I had no money and no money to call Chris (the only guy I had a number for in Seoul). I had resigned to sitting in my room till Monday morning, living off the two cans of lemonade that were kindly left in the fridge (apologies for not putting this in the above list). I began walking back towards my room when a strange face was approaching me. I say strange because it was like mine, white in colour and smiling. We chatted, his name was/is Riley and he comes from Canada. He has been here 2 and a half years and lives just round the corner. He happens to know the guy who lived in my room, Ben, who is the teacher that I replaced at my school. I’ll come onto the school later.
So Riley kindly pointed me in the direction of an ATM that would work. It did, I drew out 100,000 won……… seemed a little hasty at the time but it is only about £53.56.
I got some change, called Chris, and found out they were having a party to celebrate two peoples birthday. So quick shower and then hoped into a taxi and headed to Itaweon. On arrival there were about 20 people, all teachers and all very hospital with their welcomes and questions….. A gay guy called Alistair, whose birthday it was, recognised that I was a new bod and slapped my arse and said “we have a Korea virgin, let’s break him in” I replied with “gently please”.
Anyway, the night was only just beginning. It was about 8:30pm. Next time I looked at my time piece, which is now my mobile phone after losing my watch in Italy, it was 6am. I was slumped outside a club called Cargo. Not the one in E1, but funnily enough it’s frightfully similar.
Soon enough it was Monday morning and I was on my way to school. After 3 hours sleep, due to jet lag and nerves, I joyfully walked into the reception and said my hellos. I was then expecting to be formally introduced to some people, and maybe some kids. Nope, I was thrown into the red class, where there were six patiently sitting four year olds. This was it! My training, briefing, guidance, introduction etc etc etc etc was over. And this was it. From 10am till 1:35 it was either/and/or red and pink class. Then from 2 till 5:30 6 other classes, all at different levels of English. I walked home that day thinking what the hell have I got myself in to. Day two was exactly the same, “what the hell am I doing, life at home was fine!! I was doing ok wasn’t I?? Why did I leave again???”
However, that evening something clicked. I woke up and I started all over again. New approach I thought! And it worked. The kids were better, the lesson planning worked, the kids knew my name, I knew what my role was, the other teachers began talking to me. I had officially arrived. Thursday and Friday were both great!!! There are two other foreign teachers at the school. One goes by the name of Chris and has been in Korea for 3 years, has married a Korean lady and seems very nice. The other is under the name of David. David starts next week, so obviously haven’t met him yet, all I know is that he’s Irish. Besides us English speakers there are five Korean speakers, four women and one man. The school is about a 10 minute bus ride, followed by a 5 minute walk, or a 13 minute taxi or a 30 minute walk. I tend to bus in morning then walk home.
Weekend just passed was fairly chilled. I did a bit of a walk around on Saturday, just the city hall and a palace, tourism basically. Then Sunday did some back street markets.
I’m off to Japan on Mon/Tue next week. I have to do a visa run. Great huh!!?? Two days in Osaka, two days off work, a three day week. Nice!
One last thing for now…. The food here is pretty good. I get fed at work. Usually rice or noodles and then some kind of meat or fish, then some soup, and some mixed veg and ALWAYS kimichi!!
Ok, going to get back to watching ‘Family Guy’. At the moment I have one channel that has English language (out of 5 channels, so not bad). It is dire though. It’s called AFN Korea, and is solely for the US army out here. In between shows they have adverts for Army personal. Stuff like, (say in a harsh American accent) “Did you know it’s a serious offence to sexually harass females, it doesn’t matter if you are on duty or off duty, it’s an offence” something like that anyway…..
So I’m planning to get Cable.
Till the next time……
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On my first trip on the infamous Seoul subway system I came across this. It's basically a glass cabinet. Inside there is around 20 satchels, which I presume each contain a load of gas masks. But not your average gas masks that kindly fall from the overhead compartment on a airplane. These were full head gear. The image on the cabinet only showed the head, for all I know these were full body suits. Also there was a large air tank with a number of respirators attached, similar in size to one you might find on a diving boat. Welcome to the subway system........
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