round two

Well. I'm back in the land of kimchi and soju. It feels like I never left.

The trip out here was much better this time. My first flight was delayed for a couple hours, which gave me time to go to the airport bar and imbibe the last three Yuengling's I'll get to have for a while.

The 14 hour flight to Seoul turned out to be more like 12.5, and I managed to sleep through maybe half of it. Upon arrival in Seoul, at 3am, I had to sit around for another 4 hours because the first bus to Gwangju didn't leave til 7. It was alright though, the South Korea vs. Nigeria World Cup game was on, and I got to huddle around a TV in the lobby with about 50 Koreans and watch it. It was wild.

After a 4 hour bus ride to Gwangju I was met by the manager of my school. She took me to the school where I met the owner. It was there that I also learned that they don't have an apartment ready for me. What does this mean? Well, for the next week I'll be living out of a "love motel".

I've known of these places, but never wrote about them last year. They're places where couples who both live with their parents, or people buying sex, can go to screw. Typically they rent by the hour. I could tell they were taken aback when my manager was negotiating the week-long rate for me.

At around noon the details were figured, and I took all my stuff up to my room. It's got a computer, a broken AC, a fan, a mini fridge, and a huge HD TV. I turned on the TV and you know what popped up? Korean porno. No lie. I didn't even know the stuff existed.

I was also given a little present by the proprietors of this fine establishment. A little cardboard box. Inside: two toothbrushes, a razor, a packet of moisturizing cream, something called "facial yogurt", some shampoo, and two condoms.

My boss had told me earlier that if I wanted to I could go to work, but didn't have to. I planned on it. I took a shower and laid down at about 1pm. I just woke a little while ago, at 1:30am.

In about 12 hours I'll go to work and meet the teacher I'm replacing and the kids I'll be teaching.

Despite an exhausting and bizarre first day, which is most likely the beginning of an exhausting and bizarre first week, I still feel good.