First time!

I've now officially joined the blogging set and started one of my own. I thought it would never happen, but it has!

For anyone who has stumbled across the page by accident (doubtful) then I am a Scottish guy living and working in South Korea for a year, and thought it would be a good idea to keep a sporadic diary of sorts so I can let everyone back home know what i'm actually doing and also for my own benefit in the years to come.

So, I have now been here almost exactly a week. I flew with Asiana airlines from Heathrow, and knew from the off that things were going to be "different". I was the only western person in the check-in que, although I did meet Paul Clapham (who is now in Busan) at the gate, which was nice.

The flight was ok, I was sat next to a South Korean who had been living in London for 10 months, had very good english and so we chatted a bit about what I should expect. I opted for the "Korean style" meal and got my first taste of Kimchi (fermented cabbage in a spicy red sauce- better than it sounds). Then i tried to get to sleep, got about 4 hours I think. woke up as we were flying over lake Baikal, but unfortunately didnt see it as I was in an aisle seat.

After we landed at Incheon and got through immagration I started looking for Patrick who I was supposed to meet and he would take me to meet the main director of GnB schools in Incheon, Sunny. I was very relieved when we finally met at baggage claim, not quite sure what I would have done otherwise!

We got a taxi into Incheon, crazy roads, and crazy drivers. A lot of horn tooting! We arrived at Sunny's school, it was very flash with CCTV in all the classrooms and marble floors etc. I should also mention at this point that it has been extremely hot (30+C) since i got here, only today has it cooled a little bit. Sweaty!! After a bit of faffing about we got a lift to Patricks apartment which is in Yeongsu-dong (busy area, with a few western bars). Here are two photos from his apartment.

As you can see there are lots of neon signs and apartment blocks. I have heard that the greater seoul area (which I think includes Incheon) is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and I could easily belive this.

That first night we went out for a few drinks and I met Neil Munro as well, it was great to see him. It's pretty much all waiter service here even in bars, you just ring a little bell and someone comes over. Maekju (beer) is a word im learning fast! I also met Joe that night (from the Columba) it was good to see him, thouhg he left on Sat.

The next day i got taken to my apartment, its small by UK standards but its ok, I have a small kitchen by the door, a living/bedroom and a bathroom and a sort of balcony where the washing machine is. Its "cosy" but I now have air-con (a must right now, see video below for install), cable TV (CNN, Discovery,lots of korean home shopping channels and......all the Premiership games....YES!!!) My flat is in the City Hall/Ganseok-Il-Dong district, but for those of you who would like and address, i'm still working on it!

I also got taken by Euan, the guy I have replaced, to one of my schools in Nam-Dong where i teach on a tuesday and thursday. Its a small school (5 teachers including me) and some of the kids are a little troublesome but I think it'll be fine. It's about a 20min bus ride from my flat. On monday/wed and friday I teach at Il-Dong which is about 10min walk from my flat. It's a much bigger school and is more modern, and the kids seem to be calmer as well, which helps.

At the weekend we went into Seoul on friday and Saturday nights, I have been twice but both times in the dark. We had good nights both times, it is a different experience from back home. You generally head into town around 11pm and stay out until the subway starts runningat about 8am. Now that might sound crazy, but the whole teaching schedule (i start work at 2pm every day) means that you eat,sleep and go out at completley different times. I'm still getting used to it, but I havnt been to bed before 3 since I got here, and I feel fine! You still get 8/9 hours of sleep, just not in the standard way!

We eat out most nights because its so cheap, a good meal with drinks will cost £5-£10 each. I have tried Galbi (DIY bbq beef with lots of side dishes, you cut the beef up and eat it with lettuce, onions, hot sauce and kimchi), pork belly (same idea), gimbap (little bit like sushi minus the raw fish) bulgogi (almost same as galbi), various soups including one with clams, and a cold beef broth noodle soup that had ice and melon in it. Bizarre, but quite good. No dog yet though.Last night I tried a health tonic drink which they have lots of here, it tasted like calpol.

So overall, its going very well so far. The teaching is pretty easy, all the kids have textbooks to work from and as long as you get through a bit of that each class and intersprse that with games, pictures and you have a laugh, then it seems to go well. I already feel after 3 days teaching in Il-dong that things are going well, and i'm sure Nam-dong will be the same too soon as well. the food, customs and transport are taking a bit of getting used to (subway is good, but massive) but that will get easier too. I have a mobile now (+821072744689) though not sure if it'll work if you call it from the UK so that makes staying in touch wi folk here much easier too.

I think we're hitting Seoul this weekend again, and in Chuseok (3 day holiday in September) Gordie (a guy I know from uni) has booked us tickets on the KTX fast train to Busan in the south which i am really looking forward too. plus there's the DMZ, the outer islands, Everland (Korean disneyland) and so much more to explore. I will continue this at a later date...............until then,i'll leave you with some dodgy photos of one of my classes today!

love to all back home and speak soon

Neil