PICTURES!!!

Well, I promised...and here they are!  See... my internet has sorta been slow coming, but it's here now!  (Temporarially anyway =)  )

Maybe some news before the pictures though... and I can't remember if I said this or not, but whatevers.  I think I'm going to move to the smaller town of Gwangju, which is the same place that I actually teach.  It's a less populated city than my current Bundang, but the fact is that everything is MUCH less expensive.  MUCH MUCH MUCH less expensive!  Like, seriously.  Also, the pace of life moves slower there, and there are less foreigners there to interact with.  (I really only try to hang out with koreans.  Helps learn the language much quicker I've been told.  Thanks Uncle Johnny =)  )  But anyway, Gwangju is a town of around 40-60,000 people so it's really got everything I'd need.  Plus, it's an easy busu (korean for bus) ride into Seoul, and there are MOUNTAINS EVERYWHERE!!  Like, Gwangju is in a valley and there's monster hiking everywhere!

But perhaps the most important reason for the move?  I've got a freaking 1.5 HOUR COMMUTE BY BUS!!!  BAAAAH!!  As you can tell, I really hate the commute.  It's unpredictible, and I keep ending up almost late for work--no matter when I leave.  Weird.  But yeah, the fact that I'd be essentially 5 minutes away from school via a nice walk through town is quite appealing!

I've also been studying korean like a madman!  I can now have conversations with people! ...weeelll...  they're very short, broken, and require the occasional use of a pocket dictionary, but hey man--it's still a conversation in Korean!  Heck Yes!  Along this line, I also started going to Korean classes every tuesday and thursday nights.  That, plus a "total immersion" style of living where I either try to be:

Going to Korean class

 Listening to Korean music

Watching something in Korean on TV

having a conversation with Korean people

reading like every sign I see (to increase my written korean reading speed...)

and I think I'll learn this language pretty fast!  ...well, that's the hope anyway.  I guess we'll have to wait and see. OK--on to the pictures!

 

So it's really Hard to explain jsut what the streets here look like.  Most Koreans live in an appartment complex that's got like 5000 people in it.  For all you nerds who would remember this--think like a simcity 2000 "arcology".  But because of this, you've got the residential areas built strait up, and away from the ground level.  This leaves almost all buildings on street level, and sometimes up to like the 10th floor FULL of shops!  Check out these pictures!  IT'S ALL LIKE THIS HERE!!!!!!!  No Joke!!

I tried to do a good job here of showing just what this JAMMED IN shopping is like.  Hmmm... Perhaps if you think of shopping for ADD kids, you'd get a good idea of what it's like =)

OK.  So 3 things here to notice that are pretty freakin awesome.

1.)  That is DEFINITELY the beissinger family calander that is in my classroom!  I totally use it for english lessons on family.

2.)  I am wearing crocs at work!  Korean culture dictates that you have indoor and outdoor shoes, and these are considered very professional for school.  Talk about living the freaking life!  I walk around in maximum comfort, aaaaaall day long.  You can start being envious.... now.

3.)  THERE IS A JACKALOPE IN MY CLASSROOM!!!!!  His name is Montgomery.  

...Oh yeah.  You can call me Mr. Beissinger.  I'm a freakin teacher!

 Is there anywhere this hasn't gotten too yet?

 During a hike up a mountain, we found an old military bunker.  I decided to explore!

At the top of the mountain, we got a big view of Seoul.  Remember, this is the world's 2nd or 3rd largest city, depending on who's counting.  Only Tokyo's bigger.  We're talking a city of 25 MILLION PEOPLE!!!

AKA, Seoul is big.

 

Really Big...

Really freakin holy shit big.  It's pretty unbelievible.

 

Some of my new friends!  The tall guy's my friend Derek Laan who got me the job teaching.  We met through Bike Racing.

 So I'm totally drinking out of a communal watering hole with a water pail.  They have this stuff aaall over the mountian!  Plus workout equipment, benches, and really well maintained stuff.  (Like bunkers =)  )

Wait a minute... are those Microphones?  Koreans...?  A small room and song books? Ohhh no...

OH HELL YES!  We're in a singing room (Noribang in korean)!!  It's pretty much a private Kareoke room!!  WAAA AWESOME!!  These are EVERYWHERE in Korea!  The best part, is that the place we were at is actually spelled in the korean alphabet to sound like "Shitty Noribang"!  Coincidence?   I'm not so sure...

 

Ooooh yeah, Korean students!!  I have yet to find out the reason for the facemasks.  I'd assume something about Hygiene, but I'll get back to ya'll with the details on that in a little bit.  This is one of my 10 6th grade classes.  You better believe they love english! 

Yup.  You guessed it--MORE KOREANS!!

 

Yup, I'm as suprised as you. I'm an actual professional!

For the record, I like going to work in a tie, and I am in some hardcore need of some "asian skinny ties!"  They're more fasionable you see.

Waaaah.  Loooong post.  But a good one!  Hope this gives ya'll some insight into my life here!  If you're real anxious for a phonecall, I can try to find out a way to make some time, but no promises, ya know?  Either way, I hope life is going well for everyone, and I'll shoot out another update after the weekend! Saturday, I'm going with my co-teacher to the famous Korean electronics market, "Yungsan market" to get a charger for my smaller camera and look at stuff.  It's suppose to be pretty hardcore!  The later a friend has a big birthday party I'm gonna go too, and then sunday we're going to go climb a bigger and badder mountain!  Exciting!