It's been a month!

Look it's me! In Korea! Someone told me that they couldn't remember what I looked like...

It is very hard to believe it but.... I've been in Korea for a month now!

What do I LOVE so far? (in no particular order....)

- Service-uh: Service-uh is stuff you get for free just because you are a foreigner. For example, a purse and chocolate from the Body Shop, an extra who-knows-what when you buy food, an extra espresso shot in my capp....
- The weather: Except for the acid rain, the weather has been really good. I know I have a tan on my face... I may need to get one of those full-face masks that all the old ladies wear.
- Star status: Sort of related to service-uh... it's the kids saying "hi" to you on the street, the students telling you that you are beautiful (okay, I admit that I give them candy when they say that....), the compliments on how small your head is (ummm, didn't realize I had a small head...), just awesome.
- The students: When they aren't falling asleep on their desks or throwing paper airplanes, they are very eager and excited. Like I said, I get to do the fun stuff... and they respond like Pavlov's dogs to the rattle of a candy bag (I admit, I am bribing the hell out of them).
- The cost of living: Hey, my double espresso-ed coffee just cost me about $2. A night out can be as little as $20, including the cab ride.
- I just got paid today: Ever seen a 7-figure bank balance? Okay, fine... exchange, I know.
- The Shidae people: I'm just loving the folks that live here (Matt and Helen, Karen, April, Dave, Carol, Steve... thanks for making the transition easier) and away (Nicola, Brent and Stephanie)
- The view from my apt: Green mountains in the day, mist in the morning rising up the hillsides, rice paddies to the left, totally flash neon signs at night.
- The Internet: I don't feel so far from my friends back home because I know that you are just an e-mail, a Skype call or a plane ride away. And, I discovered today that I can watch The National online on my computer at work. Yay, Canadian news for me!
- The food: I've lost weight here, and as long as I stay away from the largee pisa and maekju (beer), it might just stay that way... Oh, and keep going to the ultra-posh 5-storey gym next door.
- Body Shop next door: Yay.

What might still take some getting used to? (once again, no particular order)

- Friends: I'm just building friendships now, but it would be nice to hang out with someone who hasn't only known me for a month!
- The food: "Um, what is this?" "Blah blah blah" (in Korean). "Ah, thank you. So.... what is this?"
- Stares: Like, I'm talking the "up and down and up and down" look when you are in an elevator with 3 men.
- The dog farm: Oh. My. God.
- The language barrier: I'm VERY fluent in broken English ("Me lunchee now"). I really need to learn Korean. Or at least practice my Hangul (written Korean) so that I can read things. I now know what it's like, and what coping strategies one needs, when one is illiterate. Imagine for one second that you are grocery shopping and you can't even recognize what is in the package, even though it might be delicious, because you can't read the label and don't recognize the logos.
- Dependence: Utter dependence on everyone around you.
- My shower: Me crouchee shower. But, hot water nice-uh (and hair seems curlier....).
- Shoes: Soooo many pretttttty shooooooeeeessss. Foot too largee.
- Toilets: Hey, no t.p. Hey, no soap.
- Missing weird things: Just paid $3 for an avocado. I will worship it until it is soft, then make myself a Strega sandwich with bamboo raisin bread.
- Cost of living: Ohhhhh, but some things will break the bank. Like sheets... cheese...
- Body Shop next door: Yeah, and at 3 times the price.....

All in all, though, I don't suppose that I can really complain. The cultural differences will take some getting used to, but that is all a part of this experience.

Cheers to you all.... miss you muchly.