So Seoul

Everyone has been asking me how my experience in Korea has been.  And while I really appreciate everyone's interest/concern I feel like John McCain-repeating the same talking points and stories.  So I decided to set up this blog to keep everyone informed of my Seoul adventures, the quirky aspects of Korean society, and also as with any blog, spew biased and blatent propaganda and opinions on American politics and sports.  So here we go:

First to let you know I found an apartment in the Gangnam gu area, near the Samseong subway exit (line 2) if anyone wants to look on a map.  For Seoul standards, and on my meager teaching budget, it is pretty nice.  I will try to upload pictures soon so you guys can see.  It can be my own version of cribs.

As for the teaching job, so far so good.  I work for Chungdahm Institute (CDI), at the Chungdahm, or main branch, off the Cheongdam subway exit (line 7).  People tell me this is the best branch to be at in Seoul, and so far it seems pretty good.  There are sixty some instructors at the branch, and I know about five well.  I teach elementary and middle school students how to break down essays so that they can pass the TOEFL test.  In most classes, it is far more fun than it sounds.  I have been deemed by some an english teaching god.

I am entering my third week here in Korea.  My first week consisted of training in the CDI program, so that after 4 days of training you are able to step into a classroom and adequately relay some useful information to your students.  There were about fifteen other people in my group, and we all began our days around 7:30 am, made the bus by 8:30, started class at 9:30 and ended our training session at 4:00.  After the training classes they expect you to brush up on the lessons of that day, so that the next day you are better at teaching than you were the previous day.  So you stay up late to study.  Basically CDI training is an exercise in resisting the temptation to put a noose around your neck.  Two people actually quit by the end of the week.  But I passed and all is well now.

This has been my life the past few weeks.  Living in a hotel, working my ass off, and exploring Seoul.  I will post a few pictures of the exploration.  To close this post I am going to list a few random facts and opinions I have about Seoul and other such things that are relevant in my life.  Because if this blog is anything it is a narcissistic reflection of my daily life, which I expect everyone to a) be as fascinated as I and b) envy every moment I spend in this beautiful country.  Or something like that.  I am going to try to post interesting stuff as often as I can.  Enjoy.

• Men carry their girlfriend's purses everywhere.  I have seen this several times.  They look very fashionable doing so.
• Itaewon, the Seoul foreign ghetto, is a time space continuum to America.  Seriously it was like 60% Koreans, 40% Americans/Europeans.  They have an Outback Steakhouse for Gods sake.
• Everyone should see Seoul at night.  Simply lovely.
• Seoul is New York East.  Fashionable, large, sprawling and with a distinct odor.  The city is so westernized, far more than I imagined.
• Included in this westernization is a  Starbucks on every corner and some of the nicest Dunkin Donuts I have ever seen.  They are like modern looking cafes.
• Soju is two things: 1)Pretty good to drink and 2) sent directly from the devil himself.
• One of the best surprises have been the various baseball hats of many different teams I have seen.  It reminds me of sitting in Great American on a warm day enjoying America's pastime.  I am openly weeping now thinking about.  Here are some of the teams caps that I have spotted: Padres, Yankees, Red Sox, Reds!, Brewers, Dodgers, Mariners, Cardinals, A's, Braves, and to my utter astonishment I have see probably more Pirates hats than any other.  There are more people here wearing Pirates hats than in Pittsburgh. I will keep you updated on other teams if I see them.  It is my goal to spot all 32 teams, kind of like that license plate game you play on a road trip.  Also to all the Cubs fans reading this:  There's always next year.  HAHAHAHA!
• Lastly I would like to make a comment on the state of our country.  Most people may not want to read about my political affiliations, but again this is my blog (see above for definition).  I watched the first presidential debate and the VP debate in their entirety and if any undecideds came out not in support of Obama/Biden I'm not sure what you were watching.  I witnessed a beatdown on both occasions.  The only way Sarah Palin could have said any less was if she just stood up there waving an American flag and chanting USA USA and Drill Baby Drill.  And, my friends I truly believe John McCain is a robot, programed to deliver the same lines and go through the same motions in every single forum.  Of course a robot built by Thomas Edison.  Lets vote in my main man Barack Hussein Obama to help heal the country.

I'm out.  Please comment so that I know people read this and that I'm not wasting my time.