The Adventure Begins.

My adventure began 6 days ago when I left for the Sky Harbor airport at about 6:45 monday morning.  I had been waiting for the nerves and the scared "oh shit" feeling to hit me, but up til that point I was more excited than anything.  I flew to LAX where I then needed to make my connection in the International section of the airport.  This is where I found myself surrounded by mainly Japanese and Indians.  Still, no "oh shit" feeling.  I was nervous that I either had not properly informed myself that I was moving to a different country, for a year, where I didn't know the language, never tasted the food, and was only accompanied by 1 pal and 2 bags.  But still I was never more ready for an adventure.  My 12 hour flight was smooth sailing, and finally I arrived at the Seoul Incheon Airport.  

The school arranged for a driver to pick me up and take me to Lesley's apartment.  (For those of you who don't know, Lesley is my friend from Semester at Sea).  I arrived at her apartment at about 8:45 and right away the first thing we did was eat! She and her boyfriend, Brian, took me to their favorite place.  The type of place where you take off your shoes, sit on the floor, and cook the meat on a little grill of burning coals in the middle of your table.  Best meal I have had so far, by far!

So Wednesday I was already off to my first day of school.  I am currently employed at Suji Kids College.  My class is the combination of 2 kindergarden classes, for a total of 9 6-year-olds.  Starting Wednesday I was only observing half of the class, so this is when I met Daniel, Sally, Jake, Donny and Joseph.  (When the kids apply to the school they are given an English name.)  Right off the bat my favorite is the little underdog Joseph.  He is pretty smart but could care less about doing his school work, all he wants to do is draw/talk about/ or act out Power Rangers.  I think his ultimate goal in life is to be able to create an electric field between his two hands.  But for sure my favorite!!

After my half week of observation, and 1 jet-lag hangover I was ready to finally move into my studio apartment and sleep.  (I had been on Lesley's couch for a couple nights).  This past weekend was spent making my apartment live-able and familiarizing myself with this little suburb known as Suji.  This little city is so cool.  Every building is about 5 stories or taller.  Nothing opens before 9:30, and nothing closes before 10.  The store fronts and restaurants are spilling out onto the sidewalk.  Everything is cheap cheap cheap, except coffee.  I can usually get dinner for about 5 dollars, and a cup of coffee for the same.  The people are some of the nicest people I have ever met.  Funny with their little ways of life, they love to work out in pairs that are dressed alike, they love putting the word happy in front of everything ("happy restaurant", "happy shirt", "happy towel").  There is a little creek that runs through Suji all the way to Seoul.  Right next to the creek there is a little walking/bike path that follows it all the way to Seoul.  This has been my running path, lined with trees and flowers and grass. I would describe Suji as a small San Francisco with a Colorado feel.