First Impressions

So I think that I am going to start making short little essays about what has been happening here in South Korea.  I suppose that the main purpose here is to make something that will document the various adventures that Rachel and I are having while on our 1^st Asian tour. 

So a lot has happened since last we left our heroes.  After leaving the pub and the farewell feast, Rachel and I managed to get somewhere around 3 hours before moving on to the airport.  I will say this about our travel times.  Singapore Air is an amazing airline.  If ever, dear readers, you find the occasion to fly and Singapore is an option, you won’t be disappointed. 

Now as many of you know I have always had a problem with sleeping on planes.  This was no exception.  After 9 hours or so I was ready to get off the plane.  But no, I had to endure another 3 hours.  However on a cute note, because Rachel and I managed to get a whole row to ourselves she got to curl up on 2 seats, using my leg as a head rest, catching some much needed sleep for herself.  Andy and Liz are wonderful people and were waiting for us just outside immigration to say hello and.

After a long taxi ride from the airport, we reached our new apartment.  First impressions?  I was disappointed with how small it was.  Now I am no stranger to Korean apartments and living on this side of the ocean, however for a couple’s living, this place is tiny.  Now I was aware that we were not going to have things like toilet paper or other basic things, but when we found out that we didn’t have any pillows, blankets, or a bed large enough for the both of us is when I started to get upset.  The miscommunications, errors, and everything else have once again started to come up with our second bed arriving Wednesday, no wait Friday, I mean tomorrow. 

Now my previous venture was more free formed, there was a staff that was supportive and open to new ideas.  What we have come face to face with is a staff whose English is shaky, requirement for using webpages in Korean, and Non-English directions.  This curriculum is so structured that it’s almost overbearing.  Our day starts at 2 and ends at 10, and on average we teach somewhere around 5-6 classes a day.  Unfortunately every class has a different book; at a different level, with different students, and each have different goals. 

If that wasn’t confusing enough, we have a lot of trouble clarifying anything.  Now don’t get me wrong, it isn’t all bad.  There is a KFC one floor down from us, so Rachel is happy that she can get snacks whenever she wants.  The epic sized E-Mart down the street from us has anything and everything that we could ever possibly need.  And the weekend is looking better and better with friends and familiar faces.