Day 5: The Schedule

Hey everyone, so I finally decided to make a proper post and let everyone know what 's going on with me.

It's been a very busy week getting semi-settled in to my temporary apartment (I'll be moving into my regular apartment once the teacher's who are leaving take off) and observing classes. Today (Thursday for me , Wednesday for you guys) was the kindergarten graduation. I'll be posting pictures tomorrow. At any rate so that means the new classes start next week. I've found out I'm to be assigned the "5-year olds". If my use of italics and quotation marks weren't enough to tell you something isn't quite right, I'll spell it out. They aren't really 5 years old. You see in Korea you tell your age differently. For example in any other country I'm 23, but here in Korea I'm 25. The reason is a newborn baby is considered one year old. You also don't add a year on your birthday you add it on Lunar New Year, which is usually in January or February. so, in actuality my class is comprised of 3-4 year olds. It should be interesting to say the least....

I've also decided that whenever I post from here on out I'll also give you an idea of what I've eaten at my meals. This morning I was quite rushed so I only had a banana. Lunch was a spicy pork and potato soup. It was made by boiling a pig's spine (with meat attached) with veggies and potatoes. It was actually quite good, although I tried my best to use chopsticks, I'm still sort of inept. There was also a self-serve ice cream station, so I had 2 ice-cream cones. Tonight we're heading out for Korean BBQ as a sort of Good-bye/Welcome party. Apparently there will be Soju, which is a rice-based beverage of the alcoholic persuasion that apparently tastes like vodka and has an aftertaste similar to toothpaste. I haven't had any to this point, but I'm sure I'll be made to have some.

Also for those interested in what Korea looks like in two words I shall do my best to describe it:
Utilitarian and Mountains. Pictures and more tomorrow.

I have arrived.

So, I made it to Korea, and the weather is much nicer than the the midwest (read: above freezing). More to come later.

Farewelll Simpletons!!!!

Well here I am on the departure, and I am actually really calm. Prior to departing to the Netherlands I was actually pretty nervous, now, not so much. I am not, however, looking forward to spending fifteen hours in the air, the time difference or my arrival time. Since none of those are actually up to me, I'll just have to make the best of it. For those who are curious about airline food I'll provide the links here to the menus for my in flight meals, which actually look pretty good.

The menu for my first leg from Minneapolis to Tokyo is:
http://www.nwa.com/services/onboard/special/menus/DTW,MSP-NRT,KIX,NGO_WBC_WB_1(1)08.pdf


And the menu for the flight from Tokyo to Seoul is:
http://www.nwa.com/services/onboard/special/menus/ICN-NRT_WBC_EB_1(1)08.pdf

I think I'll be avoiding the monk fish and spicy chicken curry...... oh, you can thank my less than brilliant best friend Josh for the title of my second installment of what I hope will be a weekly ordeals, I mean weekly installments. However, I will do my best to make a few extra posts over the next week or so to let everyone know how I'm settling in.

Shad

And so it begins....

(cue ominous music)
Gentleman! Behold! I have created... this thing!
(end ominous music)

Welcome everyone! I have created this blog with the intention of chronicling my year long trip to South Korea in which I will be teaching English on the outskirts of Seoul. Basically, I decided sending a mass-email out would be tedious and boring, and would realistically allow me to include any volume of pictures or media. I also figure this would allow the most people to see my exploits/mishaps/adventures in a convenient manner. Enjoy!

BTW, My flight leaves in 10 days!!!