Week #1- shopping, the subway, and drunk Korean men with shots!

I've been so absolutely busy that it isn't even funny....

We've gone shopping to many different places to outfit our apartments and each time I feel like I'm taking home the entire store (which is evident by the amount of money I have left at this point!! egads!!)

We went to a traditional Korean music/play on Saturday night. It was loud but rather interesting. They are quite talented, no doubt. I had a pretty good time.

Also,

I've found "my people" (which just so happen to be foreigners to me as well... frenchies and a brit :) ... and also a fellow American) and we've gone to a traditional Korean BBQ restaurant for dinner and had drinks afterwards... good times, good times.

My new friend Berengere has had me over the last few nights to her apartment which feels like I'm going to visit my rich friend's penthouse suite b.c. of the amazing view outside of her apartment!! So nice...

Berengere and I went on our own little excursion yesterday to HomePlus (our equivalent of Walmart). We got a taxi, communicated to him where we wanted to go and got there rather successfully.. but then I tried returning the crappy straightener I'd purchased the time before and naturally, that was an ordeal. Eventually I got thru to them however, thank goodness. We then went across town via the subway to the COEX mall (aka the largest mall in Asia, supposedly... which I totally believe b.c. I had NO clue where I was going the majority of the time. lol) ... we went to find the Apple store so that I could get an adapter for my computer. Naturally the entire trip took HOURS!! Like anything here. Crazy.

We finally got home from our "errands" at like 1030 pm!! lol.

Today we went to a market for fruits/veggies/etc... after shopping- Berengere and Megan and I sat down at a little stand to have dinner. It was scary. There was no real meat but instead hogs feet and pig body parts!!! (and for those of you familiar with my China experience, you know how I felt about this..) We sat down and dared to request some of the hog's feet!! We ate Kimchi and something else weird and spicy then the hog's feet came and it was RI-DIC-ulous!! it was not meat, it was pure fat and blech!! but we ate at least a piece and it was quite the experience. We sat there drinking Cass (the popular beer) and trying to learn simple Korean phrases from the old drunk Korean men eating beside us. It's common for Koreans to share their drink with you and it's very rude to turn down the offer so when the old men next to us offered each of us like 4 shots of the equivalent of vodka each, we couldn't turn it down!! lol. it was crazy bad. but it was fun! Everyone was laughing at us caucasian women trying to learn random Korean phrases and drinking.. but they loved it! (as did we!)

We somehow found our way home successfully.. which is good b.c. we don't feel as touristy that way.

I like it here so far. Looking forward to experiencing Seoul and it's neighboring areas.

ALSO-- I finally found out what I'm going to be doing for my job. lol. (it's weird to say that b.c. I keep forgetting I'm here to work b.c. I have yet to do it!) I'll be the Head Coach for the 1) High school swim team, 2) Middle school swim team, 3) Instructional swimming (aka teaching kids to swim but not competitively), and 4) Swim Squad, which is the hardcore swim team that travels lots!!! So... yea... I have a LOT LOT LOT on my plate and I can't believe they want me to do all that I'm going to be doing.. I mean, I will be IN CHARGE of taking kids INTERNATIONALLY!!! that's insane. I mean... I know I can do it but wow- kinda scary! Can't believe all the responsibility that has been thrown my way-- I just hope that I can fill the shoes they've created for me :) whew. We will see soon. (Below is my swimming pool!!!)