Blogging...Ugh!

Karate Hayes
"I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so"
We are fashionable
Picture of my school
My silly new hat
Hayes, guard, me
Part of the palace
Funny kid
Hot dog truck...
Funny bathroom sign
On my way to dinner
A sign at my school
Min Hyung and I
Like I said from the start...it's going to be difficult for me to blog.  I've been in Korea now for 24 days.  I'm pretty well situated by now, yet I know I will come across something new each day.  My girlfriend suggested that if I have a hard time blogging, then I should just post pictures and tell about them, so I'll probably do that in the near future...or even this update.

Things I've done since my last blog:

- Found milk that does not upset my stomach (took 3 tries)

- Been to Seoul 3 times, going to different places each time (Gangnam, Hondae, Itaewon, Anguk)

- Navigated and rode the subway in Seoul, solo, without getting lost

- Eaten more Korean food and managed to stay away from most stuff that I don't like

- Went to Costco

- Been run into by at least 500 Koreans not watching where they are going

- Started a new exercise routine

- Finished the 1st two weeks of school

- Met up with my Korean friend Min Hyung who I met through UMKC

- Attempted to go bungee jumping only to be rained out

- Drank a bottle of Soju (yuck)

- Almost got used to cheap beer

- Went to a dance club and enjoyed it for just a bit

- Toured a palace

- Ate at Outback Steakhouse =)

I've started a new Sunday ritual.  Sunday night is Bakery night.  The bread here is AMAZING.  There is a bakery about 5 minutes from my apartment.  So I wait till the evening, then head down to the bakery.  After buying the best bread I've ever had, I head back home, but I stop at the convenience store to pick up an orange Capri Sun for 500 Won (50 cents) for the walk home.  This new thing has only been going on for 2 weeks, but it will continue.  

I'm enjoying my time here.  Yes, I do miss home!  I miss my girlfriend, my family and my friends, but I feel pretty good about my decision to come here.

Here are some pictures...  They may be up above or down below...formatting on here stinks...

I've made it a week!!

So I've been in Korea now for just over a week now  and it's already growing on me in some ways.  Things I like about Korea...so far:

- Kids bow to me at school

- I get to walk to work instead of driving 25 minutes

- There's a bit of adventure in each day

- My school and coworkers/friends are great

- There is a lot of exploring to do

- The culture is one of respect

- MegaPlex movie theater...the screens are HUGE and the sound is LOUD!!!

Those are just a few reasons so far, but on the flipside there are some difficulties:

- My girlfriend is not here.  Saying I miss her is an understatement!!!!!

- I don't know the language

- I'm tired of being stared at

- I feel like a tourist and I hate that feeling

- A great value is placed on one's image

- People don't watch where they're going

This evening a few coworkers and I went to dinner.  I have no idea what the place was called, but the food was amazing!!!  We ate something called "takalbi" or something of the like.  It's chicken and some other stuff...relatively spicy for me, but oh so good!!!  The picture is above...can't figure out how to place it where I want it.  I had a Cass beer.  It's cheap beer, but pretty good for cheap beer.  Still haven't found the good stuff, you know, what I'm used to =)  A lot to see, a lot to do, a lot to explore and enjoy!  In fact I'm getting ready to head to a Korean Jazz club...

I'm Not A Blogger

Blogging/writing is difficult for me to do.  I don't like to write and I lack the motivation to do so most of the time.  Grammar is not that important to me either.  But my time in Korea is all about turning over some new leaves, so why not turn over the blogging leaf.  I have now been in Suwon for roughly 2.5 days.  I have my own apartment.  I have never lived completely alone.  All through college and after college I've had several roommates and now for the first time I have my own place, but it's in another country...kinda funny.  My place is cozy, but nice.  I don't have a view because there's so many freakin' people here that every building is tall and blocks the view.  I live on the 9th floor of and 18 story building.  I have a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen/dining room, an office and a balcony with a storage closest.  Pretty good I'd say.  My fridgerator is 6 feet tall...that's huge.  A 5 minute walk will place me at the front of my school...I'm used to driving 25 minutes...what a great change.  I have not experienced the culture shock yet and I'm guessing it's because I'm jetlagged (14 hour time difference) and my school has occupied my time since the moment I arrived.  Soon we will be turned loose, but will be well supported the folks at school.  Koreans like to stare at white people like me and it's not because I'm beautiful, but because I'm a giant and I'm a foreigner.  But to make up for the stares they are so very helpful and willing to do whatever possible to help, even me, a foreigner.  I think I have a lot to learn from these folks.  School starts in 8 days and I really haven't put much thought into my job and preparation for the school year.  I might be shooting from the hip for a bit, but I'm a good shot =)  I have already encountered a couple of Korea's unique cultural experiences.  1)HomePlus.  Imagine Walmart...got it....now stack 5 of them on top of each other and you have HomePlus.  It's a 12 minute walk from my apartment and I plan on visiting often. 2) Crazy drivers.  Looking both ways once before crossing is not enough.  Red lights mean stop, but not in Korea.  Pedestrians do not have the right of way.  I plan on buying my moped very soon =) that way people have to watch out for me =)  I think I'm excited to be here, but not completely for sure yet.  Going against conventional wisdom.  Leaving the safety and security of home.  My family.  My friends.  And most of all, My Girl.  Words cannot describe the emotions and difficulty of leaving her.  Thankfully I'll see her face to face in 5 months...that's nothing...right!  But till then, video chat will have to do.  Here are a couple of pics, nothing exciting...