2009.09.04

Starting the Day
I woke up hella early as usual, dont know why, cant stay up late in korea for some reason. Waking up, thinking 'yet another boring day, wtf should i do?' Turns out I had alot on my plate in the morning. Dishes from last night dinner that I had cooked for myself and Kim, Ji-Sook (Kim is last name, i goofed, I should refer her to Ji-sook L :), boink! ). So yeah, i'm a domestic foreigner... i cook and clean everyday, I didnt do this in Canada. I did my laundry, sorta figured out the 'Korean' on the washing machine and it works fine. Only problem, no dryer so the clothes dont come out of the oven smelling delicious... you hang dry them here. I could spend like 8 bills on a dry, which i also have no room to fit in my closet size mud room... something i have to live without. I figure if i got my lint roller/brush and a steam iron ( which i requested), i'll survive looking clean. Anyways, my days are like sitting at home while i wait to go to work on Monday. I think im getting paid too, because my contract states I work Sept.1st and I dont really work next Monday. Here's why. I misheard, micommunication, that they said it was I who could have swine flue and didnt want to infect the school. I clearly don't because im healthy and Ji-Sook visits me everyday, so she should be dead by now for coming in contact with me everyday for hours. Also, I have meetings, orientation and training all week next week. So really, thats like two weeks of non-related teaching pay? Life is good. Also, they just gave me my 300k krw for housing allowance, workNplay paid me back my 36k for transportation expense (for busing and finding the damn school myself from Incheon to Suwon, brave and risky of me but noteworthy of the accomplishment), im getting an iron, rice cooker (already got a toaster so thats a bonus), a telephone and a couch? Also, as soon as I get my credit card statement, i can show proof of the date purchase of my flight ticket for reimbursment, based on currency of the date. In so far, i can't complain.

Transportation
Lately, its been the old fashion means of transportation for me, walking. Im friggin afraid to get lost because i dont know how to take the bus (everything is written in Hangul and they dont really name their streets, im an agrophob who needs a map), dont know what or where to go in Suwon, can't speak the langauge and not feeling energetic because I may be sore and jet lagged. Therefore, I have spent my week in an internet cafe playng the old classic Diablo II ( I think i mentioned and repeated myself a few times, again im usually too tired by 10-11pm). Also, culture shock is my fear? Not really, because i still enter restaurants like a mute speaking gibberish and attempt failed conversations because i order 'gaw gee' and 'bap' (meat and rice) and they look at me weird.
Anyways, Ji-Sook notice how i stare at cars and bikes all the time when we go for our walks... its true. Cars are different here and i want to get a bike/moped.
I'm really considering on purchasing a moped/bike, something under 1,500,000 krw, after a month or so... Maybe. Its dangerous for me as a foreigner who is unfamiliar with the traffic, i didnt get the international drivers license, if i get in an accident its game over because im on a bike. Still, i'm not sure to taking the bus, its not bad, its just i got an itch to speed, i mean ride. I dont mind walking and busing, its fun. Plus, you notice more girls this way haha.

Meeting People
Havent really met people yet, for the fact i dont speak korean. I see foreigners, well white people, around Suwon. I sort of met Jess, only online. She was kind enough to offer to pick me up a converter for our 110v plugs in Seoul this week, for the 220v outlets here so i can finally use my new laptop that my good cousin brian got me as a going away present and an electric shaver i have ( i swear i mentioned this, gonna keep typing, too lazy to check). I appreciate that, gonna meet up with her next week. Other than the lil restaurant lady owner and grocery people who regconize my dumbfounded foreign face, I haven't truely yet been able to socialize the normal way with introduction and conversation other than Ji-Sook... thats cool though. I need the quiet life, i was living a pretty damn busy party life in Canada because i lived with an alcoholic and party animal (Earl). Things come to balance themself in life randomly i suppose... works for me.

Eating out
FINALLY, i got my pork bone soup!! Janet said it was called "Gum Jah Tung", asked Ji-Sook but she said its translated as potato soup, but has no potato's... Korean language can be friggin confusing with their translation and spelling, ie JeJu Island is also spelt CheJu Island... dialect? And my phrase book is incorrect... too formal and meaningless Ji-sook said... oh well. So yeah, its true, most of the Korean food is spicy. But, not numbingly spicy, just enough to make you swet-balls. I like it. They also love their pickled stuff, kimchi, with everything. Today i spent 4000 on lunch, and 5000 on Gum Jah Tung, not bad, for 9000 i was fed well and tahts eating out in a restaurant. 9000 is less than -$9 CAN. Try to find that in Canada... Anywho... im not gonna cook food anymore, its too much work for one person and groceries are hella expensive in Korea.... GD!!! (God Damn). But I knew this from hersay, had to experience it myself.

Cellphone!!!
Tomorrow I'm suppose to try to Bus to school on my own like a good boy, i better not get lost. Yes the school is open on Sat, only every other weekend. Staff meetings etc. After that, JS is going to take me cellphone shopping, I can get one for free? (Note to self: dont forget you passport tomorrrow) Probably contract... but just like Canada, prices range from like 50-1000 CAN $+... I dont need expensive stuff, life isnt about the luxuries. Yes it is... im just saying that cus im poor right now. UHHhhhhh........ oh yeah... its not like im gonna call anyone. I gotta call home soon too, havent yet because NOBODY has a home phone, korea doesnt have pay phones or garbage pins... a lack of public facilities and infrastructure... its ok... people learn how to survive... Yet, with that just said... people still contact each other, i still meet up with JS and the streets are still damn cleaner than Canada... That says something about taking something about the system, it works!

Overall, i'm a happy camper today (and awake for Bloggin). I just hope my life gets more exciting when i go to work on Monday, so called work, hahaha. I hope today's (lengthy) blog was more ... lively than previous blogs. Good Night !!!