Why so Many?

It's funny how I thought my life in Korea would be. I remember having conversations with many friends saying these exact words: "The teaching part will be easy because I've done it before and it's my trained profession. The hard part will be getting around, figuring out the subway system, learning the language because I haven't done that before. And I'll be doing it alone." The exact opposite is true. The teaching part is so hard - way harder than I expected. Getting around here is so easy. The subway system, although it has many lines, is very easy to follow. You buy a subway card which you reload and just swipe in and out. The card also works on the bus and even a taxi. They have an app that tells you the exact minute the subway arrives and how long it will take to get to your destination. It's incredible. I wish more transit systems were this efficient!

I had great intentions of learning Korean because I thought I would need it to get around. It is my one regret so far, but I just haven't needed to. At restaurants I can point to what I want and at tourist destinations people speak English. The subway announces in both Korean and English and most signs in Seoul have English words on them. I am learning some more words, but it's coming slowly.

Here are some things I'm loving about Korea so far:

• It has four seasons when it's supposed to. Right now it's Spring and it's actually Spring-like whether. Where I live in Canada there's still snow. 
• Most Koreans are helpful. One time I was with a friend who's subway card wasn't swiping properly and a Korean man just took her to the kiosk and explained what happened. Most public bathrooms I've been in have a call button in each stall. I'm not sure if it's for asking for more toilet paper or what - but it's there! 
• There is dessert everywhere. I wasn't expecting this. Little dessert shops EVERYWHERE! Cake places, donut places, little tiny kiosks that only sell one kind of cake, a cafe called A Twosome Place which I'm guessing by the name is THE place to share cake with your date. My business plan is to open one beside it called A Single Place that serves cake with a side of salty chips and a bottle of wine to cry into. 
• I feel safe here. I kind of knew this coming in because people who've taught here before told me this, but I didn't know how it would be until I experienced it. The street I live on kind of looks a bit sketchy. In the morning there's cards on the ground with half naked girls and phone numbers on them (kind of like Vegas) and one time I saw a girl go to our corner store with no pants, just a blanket wrapped around her waist. If you are too lazy/high to find your pants from last night and are willing to go out in public without them, you are living a certain type of life. Anyways, what I'm trying to say is I'm not scared to walk in this neighbourhood, even when it's dark. On Monday I got into a cab where the cab driver (after asking me where I'm from and if I'm here teaching English) kept asking if I was married. Normally that would freak me out but I think he was truly just asking. When I first got here I walked half an hour in the complete opposite direction of where I should have been going. But, I didn't realize it. I thought I was close but I just couldn't find it, so I jumped into a cab thinking he would drive me around the corner and it would be there. Instead, he drove me really far across town! I thought for sure I was being kidnapped (because it was a taxi he was driving really fast and weaving in and out of traffic). Instead I was wrong and he was just taking me to where I needed to go. (Do I have trust issues or what?)
• Koreans are boldly honest. You're probably thinking - so are you Alli! I am in most situations. It's a hard trait to have because people only like honesty when it's nice, but if you're honest about something uncomfortable then people don't like hearing it as much. Koreans do both equally and although it is uncomfortable, I can appreciate it. A few weeks ago I was standing behind a student sitting in his chair who leaned back and put his head on my stomach. He turned around and asked, "Why so many?" as he patted my stomach. I said, "Too much cake and candy." Then I failed him for not asking in a proper English sentence. 
• Things are priced appropriately. I thought things would be cheaper here, but they aren't. But at the same time they aren't marked up crazy. I think it's because when you have millions of people in a city you will get the money to make the thing survive. I don't know if that makes sense and people who know business better might explain this differently. But, I've been to many places with reasonable entrance fees. I always think - if this museum were in North America it would be twice that, because they wouldn't be getting the same amount of foot traffic. The food is more expensive than I thought, but not as expensive as it is in Edmonton. There's also no tax and no tipping. You pay what it says on the tag/sign/menu and that's it. 
• Koreans like being outside and being active. I have a giant window that looks over a river with pathways on both sides marked for walking and biking separately - I love efficiency and order! Anyways, that pathway is always busy. I love seeing it. And I love how accessible it is to me. On the weekends when I'm taking the subway somewhere there's often Koreans dressed and packed for hiking. It's very popular here. Lots of the tours I'm looking at involve walking, hiking, biking, canoeing, exploring caves, etc. It's just part of life here. 

That's a short list, but I'm sure I'll come across more things in the next 10 months! Here are a few things I'm excited about coming up short term and long term.

This Saturday I have a massage booked and I can't wait! I am not sure what the process is here, what to wear or not to wear, etc. so I'm sure there will be a funny blog post about this coming up. I did book with a place that has English massage therapists, so it should be fairly smooth. The following weekend is when the cherry blossoms should be fully bloomed. A friend I met on the temple stay, Dawn, has a Korean friend who is going to take us around and show us the best places to see them. I'm excited for that!

In May we have a 5 day weekend so a few teachers and I are renting a car and driving to Jeju Island (click here for info) which I am very excited about. It's a very popular Korean destination that is on my list of places to go! Normally we would fly there or take an overnight train, but it will be easier and more fun for us to go together in a car! (One of the teachers has an international driver's license.) 

For summer vacation at the end of July - beginning of August I've decided to go to Bali. (Click here to see why.) I was originally going to go somewhere like Vietnam, but Bali is calling my name. July will be my half way point here, and it will be a little bit of a celebration. Plus, I think I will want some major relaxing time, and Bali seems like the place. Put me on a beach with a drink and a snack and let me sit in the sun. I've already done a lot of research on where to stay, what I might like to do, etc. This weekend I'm going to pick up a Lonely Planet guide to Bali. If you've been, let me know! 

Lots of love,

Alli