One month anniversary!

So can you believe it! I've been here exactly a month!!  And its getting better and better...I hope I didn't just jinx it!  To celebrate I got a bank account (YAY!) and  a phone today... and what makes it sweeter is that I didn't have to pay for the phone...just the pay as you go minutes I added.  LOVE THAT!  There's this really nice pharmacist in my city that totally hooks people up with things they need.  She's like the God Father!
It was Buddha's bday celebration this weekend ...anyways there was a lantern festival and parade for him in Seoul this Sunday...
This weekend was actually really great.  On Friday the other foreign teachers mom came from the US and so the principal invited them....and me along for lunch at some nice restaurant...and the meal was on the house...great food!  I'm finding out that most places here like to sit on the floor...trying to find a way I can do that without ending up with numb feet :)
Later on I met up with a ton of other foreign teachers who live in Anseong too!! and Pyeontaek for a duck dinner.  It was delicious food but again with the sitting on the floor...kinda kills!  After that a few of us headed to Alley Pub for a few drinks after!  Tasted a soju cocktail...v. flavourful.  It was good to meet so many other foreign teachers that I somehow missed on my wandering about town.  It was a great Friday and we made it home by 2:30 am!
Saturday was a nice chill day...cleaned up the box (my home) and went pc bonging (internet cafe). Can't wait til I finally get it at home!  Anyways then I just wandered again exploring my cute little downtown with its Khan el Khalili feel.  I went to the cat cafe and bumped into a south african couple i met the night before and had coffee with them. 
On my way home I noticed the park was having a celebration there fore Buddha so I went to watch and take a few pics. 

The night before (the lanterns light up the park)

Traditional costume - Hanbok

A few things I noticed

1. The American movies they play here are all about the USA saving the world --> I've watched Independence Day, Armegeddon, Air Force One, one of the Die Hards

2. They really like Harrison Ford Movies

3. My city really really needs a cupcake place

4. Ovens are sold separately from stoves

5. They always have something in their rice.

Stay tuned for more stuff

Sports Day!! In pictures!

Some pictures for my curious family

Laundry day!

My apartment

Boredom at its finest!  I got some cool pencil crayons/crayons and went to town on my computer while in my office

 

And here are my new pens and pencils and my nonsense pencil case...if you figure out what it means let me know... apparently its a secret!  And how cute is the white out?!

 

My first week in Anseong!

So I've been here a week and it's nothing like I imagined! Whoever thought that the first place I'd live in would actually be smaller than my bedroom! Right now its Sunday, I'm eating popcorn while watching the Gilmore Girls episode that is on my lost Dvd :) and watching my clothes dry. This week went by so fast that I can't believe I'm starting my 2nd wk of school tomorrow. The last week started with me observing Kay teach her classes on Monday and Tuesday. In the morning I met the vps and the principal of the school who from what I gathered doesnt speak a word of English. We sat down in his boardroom of an office while he spoke for a long time with Mrs. Lee. She then turned to me to translate and said "He wants you to come in everyday this week to let him know you arrived ok." Apparently that's all he said. Then I observed Kay who also gave me a tour as we went along. Monday night, Kay and I went to meet up with a few other English teachers named Michelle and Lindy for some pork korean bbq (the green restaurant). I also ended up meeting Pamela and Maria (who totally helped me out while in the tdot). we then went to Armani for some delicious milkshake where we met up with Mezza and her son. It was a fun tiring night - I was still not over my jet lag at all.

I started teaching on Wednesday and taught gr 4 and gr 6, I don't have a co-teacher for gr 4 but I do for gr. 6. We're not really sure what his name is so we call him Suits because apparently he wears them often. He doesn't speak a lot of English - he's nice but sometimes he hits the kids with a stick! Yikes!
On Thursday I taught 80 excited Korean kids in one shot!! Then Kay and I went to Pyeongtaek with a couple of new Korean friends Song and her friend. We went to a Korean bbq and it was deeeelicious!! We then went to a photo room and let me tell you its serious stuff here. We dressed up in big glasses and hats and took funny pics which end up being stickers. I'll post them if I can.

On Friday I went to meet a few other foreign teachers at Armani and just hung out there for the rest of the night. I spent Saturday chatting at the PC Bong with whomever was up that late and walking around discovering Anseong. I came upon a dance competition in the park and watched that for a while and then I went grocery shopping.
On Sunday I spent the day indoors cleaning and doing my laundry. So that's how my first week has been, definitely better than the first day!!

 Anseong on the way downtown

Biryong Elementary School - without the 2nd building (Kindergarten, spec ed. gym)

Wow wow Wow! My first weekend in Anseong

So I am here in Korea!!!! Really I could just fill this whole post with exclamation marks.  What a culture shock!!  I am in Anseong...which is a small "town" or as Koreans like to say... the country.  I arrived in a jet lag stupor after a somewhat comfortable flight...its no BA.  I was picked up by Mr. Kim for a two hour drive to my school and apt.  As soon as he met me he said "Oh you look tired."  I did hear that Koreans were blunt.  He told me I could sleep on the drive.  I tried to stay awake to take in the views but I fell asleep.  We met Mrs. Lee (who also told me I looked tired) at the school and she proceeded to take me to my tiny apt.  I was like I like the model, wheres the real place?  Nope thats it...its that small.  Its a bit smaller than my bedroom on London Mist Court (sob!) with a square kitchen off of it.  its like a 5 by 5 ft kitchen...no joke.  Ill add my vid later when i figure that out.  I arrived on Friday and met up with the other foreign teacher Kay (my lifesaver).  She took me shopping to Emart to buy some necessities and out for a korean pizza (they like to put corn on it among other things).  I was feeling tired and homesick.  When I had landed I was like did I really just agree to not see my family for a whole year? A WHOLE YEAR! 
On Saturday (the next day) I met up with Kay, Paul (my predecessor) and his friend Jeff for lunch.  We walked to downtown Anseong...which is about a 10 minute walk.  How can I describe it?  Its a main road with a ton of alleys.  Pretty much packed with restaurants, bars, cute accessory stores, pc bongs (internet cafes) and other stores.  We walked to an orange restaurant and it was closed so we went to the red restaurant (awning colours :)) I don't know what the food was called...but it was delicious...we sat on the floor cooked chicken on the barbeque with a bunch of veggies and ddok (rice cakes).  Once the chicken was cooked you would put it on a lettuce leaf with a bunch of veggies and roll it and stuff it into your mouth.  I'm learning that really it doesn't matter how rude you look when you eat!
On Sunday, Kay went of to Seoul so I took the day to explore my area.  I woke up early to go the PC Bong to contact my family.  I went downtown and went into the first PC Bong.  The guy with shaggy hair looked up.  I said "One hour" while holding up one finger. He stared at me and looked back down.  Oook.  I stood there trying to figure out how I was going to communicate with him that I wanted to use the internet.  I looked back up because I hadn't left.  I pointed to the computers and air typed (I was good at charades). I figured since there were only computers in the place he could figure out what I was trying to say.  He just stared.  Should I make a run for the computers?  COME ON MAN!  He continued staring at this crazy foreigner. I considered pulling out my lonely planet korean phrase book.  But really I knew he just was not gonna get it. Frustrated I said..."so what! No? No computer!? Ok Forget it!"   I walked out back to the street and remembered seeing another PC Bong.  I walked over there hoping the next guy would have an idea of the business he was running.  Thankfully he did.  I walked in, pointed and was given a card.   At the computer I figured out what to do with the card.  Thank God for all the time I've spent in front of the computer because of the stuff that popped up I knew what they were asking and was able to press the correct Korean buttons!!  After almost 2 hours there for 1700 wons (about a dollar twenty!) I went to the daiso, the dollar store and bought some stuff for my pseudo-home. Then I watched the maaaaaany english movies on tv and passed out.  WHAT A WEEKEND!

T minus 2 days!!

So I'm off to South Korea in two days!!!! OH MY GOD!  They were right everything happened so fast.  I got my visa number when to the consulate had my two minute interview (not kidding)...it took me longer to leave the room after and now I have my e-ticket to leave on Air Canada (meh... its not British A) April 15th at 8 am (why so early!) and head to Seoul via Vancouver.  Apparently its going to be sunny the whole way there...which is cool because I hate flying at night.  I'm excited and starting to get sad.  I haven't finished packing but I'm trying to fit in everyone before I go.  SO HARD.
The last week has been awesome, stressful and busy!  Last Wednesday Sandy and Marina threw me a going away party at West 50 and they got me wicked rubber boots, a picture tree and a to be purchased pic of Kobo e-reader.  Yippee!  On Saturday was Marise and Sherif's wedding which was great!!  The dresses were great and it was really good to just party with everyone before I left.

On Sunday Maggie got me a cake for Sunday School and all the girls were really cute and we just hung out and they asked me a bunch of questions.  They were pretty excited to hear what I had to say...we ate cake and it was nice...and we took a bunch of pics... the silly one is my fave.
On Monday Lydia, Mark, Lillian and I went to the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Ontario Science Centre!! Where I was obviously placed in Gryffindor and got to see some really cool HP stuff.

Anyways today was such a busy day as I am still packing...thats right.  I went shopping, bought stuff I need and still doing laundry.
We'll see if I can pack it all!!