First day of school

So, yesterday was my first day of school. Besides getting lost a few times, everything went well. Exam week is next week, so I am not teaching any classes yet. This gives me enough time to prepare a ton of stuff to do (yay!).

I've met just about every person here, and was very careful to go see my Vice-Principal this morning to say hi. Getting used to the bowing, but always want to bow back to the students.

As there wasn't much for me to do yesterday, the head teacher let me go in the afternoon. Great! I decided to take a bus to the downtown (being on the 18th floor of the tallest (19-storey) building in town, I can see the downtown all lit up at night) to go to a bank and exchange some money. Grabbed my Lonely Planet phrase book, passport, money etc. and went to the bus stop.

After a few minutes of waiting, I asked a young woman "Bosu shinae?" (Downtown bus?) and was greatly relieved when she said "Ne" (yes). I watched for when she got off the bus and followed her again. This time I asked "Unhaeng?" (bank) and she took me to a bank. I took a number and waited next to a man who was counting out a HUGE pile of Won (the smallest denomination is 1000 and the largest is 10,000 - this means carrying around a huge wad of cash everywhere). The teller called me up and I handed her my passport and money. She shook her head, then turned off her computer and walked around the counter (she was smiling and speaking Korean, so I felt OK). She walked outside (!) still carrying my passport and money. We walked about 3 blocks (she was chatting with me the whole time, and I was just thinking "Thank God I am not in Mexico." as she waved my passport (with US money sticking out of it) around). We got to a different bank and she brought me in, in front of everyone who was waiting in line. I said good bye to her, primising to come and visit her once I get a phone.

This well-dressed Korean man (all Korean men are well-dressed! I may have to go tie-shopping for my male friends back home and send you all pink and blue striped ties with rhinestones on them) came out (where is my passport? In his hands) and took me back to the main offices (turns out he was the bank manager) where the more important people might go. He had visited Montreal before (for a marathon?) and wanted to keep on talking. I also got an invite to go to meet his wife and kids one day for supper. Finally got my passport and $ exchanged and went home, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Overwhelming is not the word -- Waguk (foreigners) are almostlike celebrities here (one teacher spent the first 15 minutes of his first day of school signing autographs !)

I've begun putting my apartment together, and it is feeling more like home. This morning, I put up pictures of friends and family. Yes yes, apartment pictures are coming.

Last night, while I was organizing my apt, Steve arrived (he lives 4 floors down) and helped me move my closets into place (YAY - Tough Guy comes through!). Then, we went out for Bibimbap (yes, it was a huge portion for only 3000W, about $5 Cdn) and wandered around our apartment complex. Shidae Apartments is a complex of about 9 buildings (My building is the tallest). Within 2 minutes walk, you can find a taxi stand, 2 bus stops, a super awesome health club, grocery store (Kim's Club), restaurants, Hof (pub) etc etc etc. Feeling up for a challenge, Steve and I went to the (5-storey) gym to ask about memberships. It's amazing - very spacious, and new. There are even salt baths and saunas. Since I brought all my workout stuff with me to Korea, I might as well get a membership. And, I can't wait to write to Myrianne, Madeleine and Edith about the difference between English, French and Korean step classes!!!! (It will also coutneract the effects of eating vast quantities of rice with every meal)

Took the bus to school this morning, on a bus full of students (they all stopped talking when I got on and just stared.) Off to City Hall this afternoon. I probably won't have a chance to update the blog or e-mail until next Monday (Sunday night for you all).