The New Apartment

I just moved into my new apartment and I'm a bit pissed at the moment (British for drunk). The school that I'm working for had a current teacher who was finishing out his time period and is finishing his last few days in the county. I'm listening to "Straight Outta Compton" and just drinking in the experience of living in the current room I'm occupying for another year. We rode in a bus from Seoul to the education office of Busan. There we met our co-teachers that picked us up and did what they will with us. Mine took me to my apartment to meet Kirk, the former teacher who was leaving, and then we went out to eat.

The meal was wondrous. It was a traditional Korean Bar-B-Que which means that it had approximately 20 dishes for the 3 of us. It was glorious. It was like our own personal buffet. There wasn't a dish that I didn't try and didn't like. I did bite into a clam shell in the bean curd soup which was unpleasant, but that was my fault. It was still a variety of heavens.

After that, I walked back from my middle school to my place to get a gist of the neighborhood. It's a nice area on the island/mountain with a wonderful view. At some point I'll post a tour of my apartment so that you can understand the glory that I have. It's a several room paradise. I have a kitchen, bathroom, living room/nook, balcony, bedroom, and fuck all room where I can do whatever I want with. Kirk has basically gotten all the amenities that I could ever want. He's moving back to Wales, so I get his water heater, water filter, cooking oven, microwave, coffee pot, television, and other leftovers. Some minor furniture is present, but it's more than I could have wanted. I've been thinking about buying a couch with my 300,000 won settling allowance just because I figure that I'm all settled. Maybe a dining table, but otherwise I could live in luxury without spending an auxiliary dime.

I have a strong desire to take up smoking again while here just because I have my own balcony that already has a giant easy chair resting out overlooking the ocean. It's gorgeous. The rest of the country smokes so it's very tempting. Especially since packs are $2.50. I hope I don't, but part of me feels that it's inevitable just because there is a very strong drinking culture in Korea and smoking is so prevalent. Definite danger, but it's not permanent. Maybe I'll just stick to cigars. Who knows. Mom, don't freak out.

Everyone else, love you and thinking of you. Drop me a line.