August 9th, 2008

Woohoo! I just made my very first cup of coffee in my brand-spanking new coffee-maker and am planning to enjoy it as I sit down to write this. It doesn’t matter that it’s only 9:30 a.m. and it is already 27 degrees outside (I’m staying positive…and actually, I’m sitting right underneath my little air-conditioning unit!)

Ok. Soooo….I have been in Seoul all of 7 days and it feels like forever. Of course, I still can’t communicate with anyone on my own on the streets or actually comprehend what vendors mean unless they use theatrics but right now I’m happy to tag along with the teachers that have been here for longer. I have to admit that at the moment, the streets still seem like an uncomprehensible labyrinth of winding, car-congested lanes. I can find my way from the apartment to the school and, after yesterday, maybe I’ll be able to locate the grocery store from now on. I’ve visited many shops with Gretchen and Maria (two other teachers here) and I know they exist but…I’d be hard-pressed to find them on my own quickly. I’m going to give it time…and hope for the best! Which reminds me, I learnt yesterday that, if I do become lost, I need to ask people where the BOOGEY MOON is. Ha! I love it! Isn’t that fun? I love translating Korean words to English. If you translate it, “BOOGEY MOON” actually means Olympic Park Gate. If I can find my way there, I can find my way home.

Hummm…Last time I wrote home, I was about to move into my apartment. So let’s take it up from there. On Friday morning, after getting my usual latte from Town Tom’s (I know, mouthful isn’t it?) I managed to get all my baggage downstairs to the hotel’s mini-lobby. LT, a Korean teacher from school, was to meet me and help me get everything into a taxi and then settled into my flat. While we were waiting, we started chit-chatting and I asked him how to spell his name. You see, Koreans usually have two names: the traditional, Korean name and an English name they reserve for us poor incompetent English-speaking souls. Instead of having us constantly butcher their identity, they CHOOSE their own personal English moniker. This guy had chosen, are you ready for it?... Little Tom! Isn’t that great?! It’s so whimsical, just like a character out of a book! And he’s not even little in any way. He’s this sweet, burly, broad-shouldered guy that managed to carry my two suitcases up three flights of stairs on his own (and remember, I packed enough stuff to last me one year so my luggage is quite heavy!) If I could choose my name like that, I think I’d be Melodious Mélanie. It sounds GREAT even though, according to former students - I have been known to really get into the Oh Canada during morning routine ;-) - it doesn’t reflect my voice one bit!

My apartment is great. It is huge according to Korean standards and is close to twice the size of most of the other teachers’ places. I just got really lucky with timing and was able to take over this one. After running around town all day yesterday, I decided to stay in in order to clean and organize all my belongings. By the time I was finished, the soles of my feet were black (yup, the floor still needs a good mopping) and my hands chapped from much scrubbing but at least now there’s a homey feel to everything. My furniture is old and disparate but I definitely can see myself spending a year in here… Thankfully, the bedspread the school has provided displays bright shades of pink, blue and lime green and adds a joyous feel to the place.

A few more words about Korean amenities:

-If I follow the stairs all the way up, there is a door that allows me access to the rooftop of my building. From there, I have an amazing view of the Olympic Park. I plan on buying myself a folding chair and enjoying my morning coffee up there from now on.
-I’ve learnt it is illegal to throw out food in Korea. Apparently, all superfluous fare is recuperated by the city and fed to the pigs. I swear this is what I was told. I am supposed to empty leftover grub into a special container outside my residence building. Koreans are very eco-efficient and don’t believe in multiplying efforts. Why spend time and money on growing food for animals when so much is readily available? There is supposedly a fine if you get caught disposing of food waste instead of recuperating it.
-Regarding garbage disposal: I need to buy special garbage bags from my neighbourhood’s corner store (there are special bags for rubbish and different ones for recycling). Also, assumedly because so many people live in this city, I’ve been told I shouldn’t discard toilet paper into a toilet. I should actually chuck it out in the small litter bins provided to that effect. Now, that’s a habit I’m definitely going to have to work on!
-My apartment has a battery-operated keypad lock system, which I find pretty neat. I also have access to a phone that allows me to view visitors standing outside my building or my apartment door. Although I’m not quite sure if people can see ME. I’ll have to check that one out tomorrow. Yesterday, after a full day of shopping in 30 degree heat, I stripped off all my clothes when I got back to the flat. Just as I was about to step into the shower, that phone rang. I was fairly excited and, not thinking, went to see who it was. When I saw the face of a Korean lady staring at me, I ducked and said Hello? I couldn’t understand what she wanted so, thinking she might have forgotten her keys, I buzzed her in. Then, she apparated AGAIN on my screen, this time right outside my door. I threw on some pajamas and let her in (turns out she was the GAZ METER LADY but I still don’t know if she saw me naked…
-I made my first phone call yesterday as well and found it to be a pleasurable experience. You see, once you dial a number, you don’t get an annoying ring-tone. Instead, a song comes on and you can listen to THAT until someone picks-up. VERY cool!

Next, let’s talk about shopping. Shopping here is profoundly enjoyable (there are so many knick-knacks and specialty stores that one never runs out of places to visit) providing you understand a few basic rules:

-Grocery stores are often located in basements of buildings (you ride the elevators down to find them).
-In department stores, there are two rules I learnt. First: you have to pay for your selections before you change floors. Second: you may have to pay for different things on ONE floor at the cash located near the area where you a picking things up. If you choose something and wander a little further as you look around, a salesperson will run after you and insist you pay for your purchase immediately. Which means you may make many different transactions as you browse your way through the same floor. I choose to look at it as an opportunity to interact with people…

Before I sign off, I want to comment on the nightlife scene here. I don’t know if I’ll be able to survive it. On Friday, I went out for kimbat again with many teachers from the school. I had a great time chit-chatting and savouring new food. But then, everyone got up to go to this local bar, JJ’s…. Yuk! It was fun conversing with people but this bar is actually located in the downstairs area of a building and has NO windows. Not a single one. And, get this, everybody smokes. Which means, well, I’m sure you get the picture. By 1:30, I couldn’t take it anymore and had to leave… L Tamara, this teacher I met at the school, walked me home while feeding me with useful tips about the place. It’s a good thing she did because I was quite tipsy and I don’t think I would’ve found my bearings without her!

Still, I’m having a great time… I’m signing off now as I want to go out and about and see if I can actually find my way on my own. I don’t think I should keep relying on following people. I need to familiarize myself with this vicinity!

So, if you don’t hear from me in the next few days, it probably means I just got lost in the maze of intersecting streets…but don’t worry: I’m sure I’ll eventually find my way to the Boogey Moon ;)