Settling in, in Buyeo

It’s been a few days and much has happened. It feels like it’s been a month already and we haven’t even officially started teaching! 

We’re in our new apartment. It’s (expletive) incredible. Brand new, amazing location, everything we could ask for and then some. We weren’t expecting the first place to be so bad, and we certainly weren’t expecting this place to be so friggin’ amazing. We got very lucky. It must have been a sight to see us carrying the big ole bike box from one apartment to the other (about 1.5km). That bike box travelled in 1 SUV, 2 Airplanes, 2 Busses, 1 Car and then by hand. It’s finally in its final resting place. I’m excited to get the bike built and get some riding in!

This week we’ll be getting a lot of stuff figured out with setting up our life here. First is the alien registration card, then bank accounts, cell phones, gym memberships and taekwondo classes. We need to buy a bunch of stuff for the apartment including a table, armoire, chairs, kitchen utensils, couch etc. A fridge, washing machine, bed and TV are provided and all will be brand new. So far we have a fridge. Our sleeps have been lackluster, but we are by no means complaining!

 

 

I had a welcome dinner with my school to kick off the new year and it was awesome. I love watching and learning. I drank a bunch of soju until I felt pretty comfortable. Korean drinking culture is great. People will walk up to you with a shot glass and bottle of something, give you the shot glass and pour you a drink. You drink and then return the favour. I did this a bunch and worked up the nerve to do it with the principal, vice principal and head of administration. I was told it made a very, very good first impression. The whole evening was awesome. I feel more like a part of this team, even though I can only speak to a handful of people (still more than Julia… which is totally minimal). 

We’re exploring our area and finding our favourite restaurants. So far Ssambap and bibimbap and great options for Julia, and I’m pretty open to anything. Yesterday I ate pork belly and larvae of some sort, but likely won’t make a habit of it. We also have a nice coffee shop right behind our place. We can walk there in roughly 1 minute, door to door. Dangerous. 

It’s true, wifi here is next level. Even in a rural area like ours, we can find it just about anywhere while walking down the street.