I arrived in Busan yesterday; the flight was long as I expected but I was so tired I slept a lot of the way from Chicago to Seoul. Chicago was amusing, though I was there less than 30 minuites.
A lot of black people with working at the airport. They had those Boston accents I've only ever seen on T.V.; outspoken personalities too. They were cute that way.

Busan looks just like it did in the photos I saw on the internet: big puffy clouds hovering over green mountains, pressed against the ocean. Reminded me a lot of Vancouver. And thank god it's near the ocean, helps a lot with the humidity. It's monsoon season here now and it's hot, humid and muggy; the breeze really helps.

Kelly from RBI recruiting met me at the airport and took me directly to the school. Was a little dissapointed as I would've preferred going to the apartment first but I was prepared for this. Read that they do that most Koreans never having experienced international travel they don't understand how you may need to rest.

Kelly introduced me to the director, we bowed and they spoke Korean for a while. Offered us green tea which was cold. When I commented that was interesting Kelly was surprised: "it's interesting? Why?"

"I've never had cold tea before -- except ice tea -- but it's good."

And it was. Makes sense who would want to drink hot tea in this heat anyway? After a while of chitchat I Kelly and I ran through the rain to a little place for some lunch. Bowl of spicey noodles, california rolls, Kimchi (of course) and water. Tasty, and cheap compared to Canadian prices but not as cheap as China.

Shawna is the foreigner who is leaving, whose place I'm taking over at the school. She stopped by the apartment after work to explain certain things to me, how to work the tv, air conditioner, hot water heater, padlock on the door which incidently is very sophisticated. Goes by a digital connection, no "key" perse, rather a funny shaped battery I place against the metal lock, it reads the digital info, lights and noises then the door unlocks only to lock with the same lights and noise behind me once I'm in.

the apartment itself is modern and clean. Small like a hotel room but I expected that. Equivalent to a bachelor size apartment back home. It has everything though, washer/dryer in one, shower, stove, fridge, freezer, tv and vcr. Plus a video intercome system (all in Korean) I have yet to figure out. I asked Shawna and though she's been living in that apartment for the last year she didn't know how to work it either:

"I never figured out how to use it."

She's from Canada as well. Been teaching in Busan for 4 years just returning home now for postgraduate study. Says she's sad about leaving but also excited to go back home. O, the culture shock she's in for.

It's about a 10 minuite walk from the apartment to the school which is located right downtown! And might I add above the McDonalds! Uh-oh. The city is modern, electronic billboards, clean, organized, people seem to drive normally here.

After Shawna left I popped over to the building across the street. It has a movie theater (with English movies!!) shopping mall, grocery store, restaurants (including another McDonalds and a coffee shop -- which incidently I went to this morning but in traditional Asian style it doesn't open until 11am as asians don't typically drink coffee in the morning but afternoon ), and a gym! Goodie, can work out!

Stopped in at one of the restaurants and had a glorious meal; a spicy gouloush with 8 different vegetable sidedishes all in their own separate dishes! Kimchi, cucumber, spinach, bean sprouts, etc. all delicious. Of course asked for a beer too and they brought me a big bottle.

"Can I smoke?" I asked, just for the hell of it. Didn't really think I'd be able to since the restaruant was in a mall type building. Immediately, she smiles, nods her head and brings over an ashtray. Now, the food was deliciouis, but super spicey, burned my mouth wonderfully and I paid for it later -- stomach wise.

At three o'clock, thought I'd nap for a bit. Woke up at 11pm. Oops. Popped down to the store on the first floor of the apartment building, picked up a few things, read a little and then slept until around 6 this morning. Feel well rested and spry today.

Have the entire weekend off! Visa run to japan won't be until sometime next week, start teaching without it on Monday.

That's about it for now.

The trip to the Korean Embassy in Toronto was long but it went well. No long lineups and got the stamps on the notorized copies without incident.

Afterward, I stopped at a restaruant with an outdoor patio to have a drink and kill some time before my bus came. Turns out the owners were chinese and when I heard it I asked them in chinese "where are you from?"

Stunned the man asks me to repeat and when I do he says: "you speak Chinese very well!" The lovely Chinese often make such declarations after only hearing a foreigner speak one sentence. I always felt as though I'd dissapointed them later when the conversation progressed beyond teaching and was I married, etc.

They were from Nanjing, which I was familiar with for two reasons: first, because Aaron's friend Jeff (who taught at the college before me and whose apartment I took over) was teaching there, and secondly because I once travelled through there by train to Shanghai, though it was night and I never saw much of anything.

When I left the three of them: wife, husband and mother all quizzed me about my time in China and coming trip to Korea. They were very kind and friendly to me. Reminds me of what Nadine (German friend I taught with in Shanxi) said during our last phone conversation: "I miss China so much I'm going crazy."

I sent all the papers off and they should reach the school later this week after which time Don is supposed to make my travel arrangements so now I am just waiting. And shopping.

Also, there is talk Louise (a college friend currently travelling/living in India) may come for a visit in August which would be quite nice.

Signed a contract today for a job in Busan. Excited and very nervous. I leave in approximately thirteen days time! Wasn't supposed to leave for another 2 and a half months! What am I doing?

Because time is so short I won't have the E-2 Visa before I leave but will have to fly to Japan to pick it up. Nervous about that because, while my degree is real it is not from an "accredited" institution. Even though the recruiter I spoke with and the man at the Korean Embassy in Toronto said it doesn't matter -- as long as it's a 4-year degree -- I am still nervous about it and will be until I have it.

Tomorrow I go to the Korean embassy in Toronto to get stamps on the copies of my degree because hell no, I'm not sending them my original!

Let the fun begin!

My Name is Amanda

I taught in China for two years and am now planning a trip to teach ESL in Korea. Currently I am living in Canada and will start writing about this trip from the beginning having learned that I did not record enough from my time in China.

Hope it is a little crazy and I am looking forward to all the people I will meet; new things to see and do there.