Early morning

It has been 3 weeks since I arrived in South Korea. It is 6:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. Having gone to bed early for work, I have never seen what the streets look like at night. What you don't know is that by night, ilsan is quite lively. Living next to meat street is like living next to Las Vegas. However, ilsan differs from Vegas because even at 6:30, it is still bustling with life. Ajummas and ajussis have woken up early even on a Saturday in order to open their shops and prepare for the day. 

People are stumbling back home after a night well drenched. 

South Korea is treating me well. I am getting more and more comfortable. Coworkers are great and the children, sometimes a headache, are quite the most adorable thing ever. I have come to the conclusion that I have stumbled upon a job which permits me to pinch other people's children's cheek. I am fascinated that people believe I am Korean as I look Asian but nothing like a Korean. 

Lost in translation

After safely landing in the land of the morning calm, we met our super friendly driver who drove us to our apartment. 

Upon entering it, my eyes were attracted to the biggest piece of furniture in the room...the bed. A big white princess bed to be precise. I love it's gaudiness. In Korea, apartments can be quite small. We have what we would consider back home, a 1 1/2. It feels quite big despite what it is as you will see in pictures below but we are here to teach and to explore Korea. 

[picture of apartment and fluffy bed to be posted]

For those who don't know, I am an avid kdrama watcher. I admire the screenwriters for coming up with thick, entertwined, and enticing plots. After watching a handful, I inevitably ended up learning a bunch of words, expressions, and sentences. Before leaving, I also learnt how to read hangeul. However, I have found that it is a bit harder to communicate. Slowly, but surely. I am hoping to become proficient in Korean.

Up, up and away.

After taking a cab at 5am, we got on our flight to begin our journey. Arriving way too early and being delayed was not too awful. I must say that Air Canada improved and is much more comfortable. With in-flight entertainment for a mere two hours to Chicago, I slumbered off to sleep while listening to LIGHTS' Siberia Acoustic album with live Clearwater lobsters below my feet (wedding present being brought over from Halifax).

Arriving in Chicago with 40mins to spare before boarding on the plane that will take us to Incheon, we find out there is yet another delay. Foolishly thinking it would not be too long, we didn't buy any lunch...not that there were any great selection to choose from.

No matter, after a bit more of an hour of delay, all passengers aboard! Asiana is a pretty decent flight for crossing the pacific. We were offered to choose between a Korean or western meal. Obviously, I chose the Bibimbap and a Korean beer, Hite, for lunch.

With only 4 hours left of flight as I am writing this, I am getting quite angsty and want to get there already.

xox G

I will not be a seoulcialite, I shall be an Ilsanite.

After applying to a million recruiters and a half, it turns out that the best way to get a teaching job as a couple is to post an ad yourself. Michael and I have been waiting for an opportunity to teach in South Korea since roughly the beginning of this year. After agreeing and then rejecting a position in Anyang, we landed on a great contract in Ilsan. 

We are leaving beautiful Montreal for the land of the morning calm this Saturday. Everything happened so quickly once the HR department of our school contacted us. 

This would not be right if I did not start a blog in order to document our travels. I hope I will get to share a lot with my friends and family that will be reading it and to inspire others to take a leap.

Jeongbal Poly School...here we come!

Craft Monday: making my own band tee.