Long Time No Post

Wow, it has been a long time since I last posted. For some reason I haven't quite figured out, I go on streaks where I am good about posting, and times where I don't post for a month or more at a time. Sorry for the wait!

Life in Korea couldn't be better. The first salary came and brought with it delicious food and a refrigerator that is happily semi-full. I say semi-full because I usually just eat breakfast and dinner at home since lunch is provided at my school. Classes have been getting a little bit busy as of late because kids are now preparing to go on vacation at there normal Korean schools, and therefore we will be getting an influx of students who need to be taken care of all day. I still get off at 6:00 every evening, so I can't complain too much. I am teaching some kids who are a little bit older in the afternoon, and they are quite fun. They have been studying long enough (at age 10) that they can converse about many subjects and even write essays.

 I was sad to see my friend/co-worker Rachel go back home to Ohio this past month. She lived just two doors down from me and was always a great friend. She really helped me get settled into the groove of things at ECC. I miss our talks every morning as we made the 35 minute trek to work. She is back in the US and doing well. We have spoken a few times since she returned.

 Soojeong and I celebrated our two and a half year anniversary this month. I really think that I am the luckiest man in the world. I can't believe that time has flown by that quick. We are able to see each other numerous times each week and that has been the greatest gift. In August, we will go back to Matsumoto for a much needed vacation and reunion with friends. I am so excited to go back to the city where I first fell in love with Soojeong and found out who I am as a person. Soon I will be able to visit it with my friend Daniel and visit my old haunts. I can't wait!

 I have still be studying Korean every day and exercising. No six pack yet, but I am feeling much stronger than I was when I first got here. The weather is getting quite warm here, and it summer is quite different from back home. Here it is really humid and around 85~90 degrees as of late, back home, it looks to be 100 and hot as hell. I am sure I will have a tan by summer's end just by walking to and from work each day.

 My apartment has been re-wallpapered, and I will try to post pictures of the before and after soon. That is all I can really think of right now, except that in July, my friend Tyler will be coming to study in Korea on a Fulbright Scholarship, and my twin brother Seth and his wife will be coming to live and work as well. Seems like it will be a busy month.

A Trip to Incheon's China Town

It's been a while since I last posted about my adventures here in Korea. Things are still going well with work and I am really getting settled in here and used to the way things work. I had a little spell where I had a funky virus for a week or so, but it went away and now I feel like my old self again. Being a "teacher" is fun. I say "teacher" because I did not go to college and major in secondary education, therefore I don't think of myself as a true teacher. The kids are a lot of fun and they each have unique personalities that make every day more interesting. I am looking forward to teaching them all year.

 Other than work, I have been out and about with Soojeong and Goeun quite often, eating a different restaurants, exploring, and going out for drinks to kick start the weekend. My first pay day is this upcoming Thursday, so I am quite excited. It will be nice to be able to save a good amount of money this year. I still plan to have some fun though, and go to Japan in August and many other places within Korea. Since my academy is a private institution, we do not get the luxurious month long break for summer that most schools do. I can't really complain though, I will get some time off and be able to travel and see new places. I came to work and so I work. Life can't always be long vacations like it was during my school years.

 Today, Soojeong, Goeun, and I took a day trip to the city of Incheon to get out and explore for a bit. None of us had been to the China Town there, so that was our mission today. We caught a train in Seoul and headed towards Incheon which took us about 35 minutes. Once we got there, we explored a market that was famous for the chicken they cook there, grabbed some ice cream, and then set off towards China Town. The weather was nice and being close to the sea, there was a nice breeze too. It must be hot in Oklahoma already, but here it is just right for spring.

China town was really interesting and it was neat to see all of the little shops selling little trinkets and jewelry. There were many different restaurants and stores that lined the streets. I love seeing all of the vendors and the different foods that they have. The smells in air are enough to drive a man crazy with hungry. We did grab a snack, and continued to explore the little streets. There was a really cool mural that lined on of the streets that told the history of China when it was separated into three different countries. There was so much to see!

Not far from China Town, in a park, is a statue of General MacArthur. During the Korean War, his landing at Incheon helped to turn the tide of the war. We didn't get the chance to go see it today, but I know that I will make a trip there sometime when I go visit my twin and his wife who will be moving to near Incheon to work in July. After our China Town exploring ended, we caught a bus and headed towards the sea. There wasn't a beach that you could swim at, but we went to an area that was like a board walk in the US, that had an amusement park with lots of little rides and games. There was a lot to see and do there, but we caught a cab back to the train station to Seoul to grab dinner and rest our tired feet. It was a very fun day.