After One Week
This past weekend I was able to move into my permanent apartment. It’s tiny…as I heard and imagined it would be. At first I was apprehensive, but I want accept it for what it is and make it my own. Two days after moving in my friend’s sister came to stay with me. She normally lives with her parents in a city south of Seoul, but she’s staying with me for a month while her parents are in the USA visiting my friend. She takes English classes in a part of Seoul very close to my apartment so it’s convenient. I am glad to have a native Korean to help me transition to the culture. And hopefully teach me some Korean. My apartment will seem twice as big when she goes back to her parents house in September, haha.
The bathrooms here are different than in the USA. Mine is extra small, kind of like an airplane bathroom. Instead of a tub and shower, the shower head comes out of the sink. You take a shower in the bathroom. Water goes everywhere. I’m beginning to enjoy it. The first time I drenched the roll of toilet paper and shaved off part of my fingernail. Things have improved since then.
My kitchen is also small and contained in a closet. There’s a sink and hot plate. Most teachers say that they do very little cooking. I will most likely do the same.
This weekend I also explored more of the city with friends. I continue to be impressed with the subway. It’s so easy to use and CLEAN. I rarely see dirt anywhere. No one speaks very much. People that ride are well dressed and polite. An old lady even offered me a seat and picked lint off my skirt! My favorite part is crossing the Han River. I live south of the river, but most of the “downtown” destinations are north. The subway comes above ground (obviously) to cross and you see a wonderful skyline and cityscape. Night or day it’s amazing.
Briefly:
-Friday evening visited a restaurant with flowing Makgeolli river (Korean rice wine)
-antics in Hongdae, club on top of a building, interior with fake rivers and grottoes, exterior Gaudi-esque rooftop that made me nostalgic for Barcelona
-stuck outside in downpour on Saturday afternoon while going to the subway, should ALWAYS bring an umbrella during monsoon season, but I still don’t do it
-visit popular English bookstore in Itaewon (part of town that targets foreigners, close to military base)
-go to obnoxious bar close to Itaewon with lots of foreigners, DNW
-night improves when I eat Cookies’n'Cream ice cream bar from convenience store :)
-Sunday visit Insadong area, stroll along outdoor market that reminds of of Las Ramblas
-towards evening catch subway to Namnaemun with lots of shopping, street food, outdoor stages and a violent carnival ride
-explore further into city center with friends and pass tons of stores selling motorcycles/scooters and then tons of stores selling pets
***PS: (what I have noticed) cars NEVER yield to pedestrians, everyone on the subway watches TV on their cell phone, at least 80% women wear high heels everywhere
Tomorrow will update about teaching adventures!