Entry 15: Home Sweet Home?

The five teachers stood waiting for the me to enter. Once the I entered the meeting, all found a seat in a plush leather recliner. The meeting was commencing, as the principal looked toward me and introduced himself in English. That was the last word of English spoken in that room. The meeting consisted mainly of my working schedule, which turns out to be quite agreeable in which I arrive at school at 1 and leave by 4 Monday through Friday. After the business of talking about work hours, what was expected from my teaching, and some things that the principal wanted me to teach to the students, the topic of my living arrangements came into topic. They passed him a list of necessarily items that was compiled to give me a comfortable day-to-day lifestyle here in Korea. It was a strange situation, being in a room where the sole purpose of the other's attendance was me. Having a group of adults discuss with one another what I am to do, where I am to be, and the focus of their attention all on me, was quite uncomfortable. After the necessities were taken care of, most of the teachers looked satisfied that they provided me with what I needed and everything else could be taken under my own responsibility and money. I was in agreement. I was ready to pay for my own comforts. Surprisingly, the person I least expected to speak-up spoke.
"We are going to get him a TV." The principal said in a calm and direct voice.
I could see the other teachers look at one another in a kind of amazement.
So later that day, the administrator took me shopping at EMart, a ridiculously overpriced department store. We spent close to 600,000 won. Take into consideration, this grand total is excluding the bed, the desk, the refrigerator, the TV, the dresser. I am guessing that my overly generous elementary school is going to spend close to 1,300,000 won, simply to move me in. Not that I want to make my focus seem to be all about money, but this is not including the 300,000 won settlement fee that they wired to my bank account. I will take this as a kind gesture from my school, and gladly accept their hospitality.
For those of you who would like to know, I was placed in the city of 춘천 and thankfully I was not placed in the country side, but the school that I am to be teaching at is placed in the country side. Adjacent to the elementary school there is a beautiful mountain, straight up legit mountain, not one of those fake Texas mountains also known as hills. A legitimate mountain, that one of my teachers said that we would one day hike up. This is a great contrast, the fact that my home is in an urban setting and my work place is in rural Korea.
It was a strange feeling unpacking my belongings in this place. This will be my new home. This is my residence. My apartment.
In the morning, the internet was installed connecting me to the world and further making this place feel like a home. Soon after the technician left my home, I strolled down the street to a restaurant that I have decided to become a "regular".
Last night, I met up with Grace to figure out how to travel in between our apartments and figure out the approximate time it would take to travel.My home is located 20 minutes walking distance from Grace.  Grace's apartment is about the same size, the same style, the same kind of apartment, but thankfully her place has flair. The wallpaper is colorful, the room is not a simple square like mine, but rather there are interesting angles and nooks in her place. I stayed at her apartment for a few hours, I took a nap on her bed, then trekked my way back to my unfurnished apartment.
On my walk back to my apartment, I thought back to the fond memories of orientation, the trips we took, the food we ate together, the people that I had met. It was all a distant memory now. Reality had sunken in, and although we were all on the same peninsula, we were definitely separated.

I also hear stories of back home. I hear how school is starting up, how people are buying their textbooks, how they are finding out what their professors are like, they see who is in their classes. Lunch groups are formed, ACF starts up, routine kicks in. Late night basketball, going to lift weights, late night movies. These seem even more vague and distant in my memory. I can almost not distinguish what was my Sophomore year, and my Freshman year. Strange how our memories work.

Things are going well. Korea is wonderful. After doing my first set of laundry, I understand better why Korean people do not normally use dryers. Although it may not be the same for all Koreans, the heat from my air conditioning unit drys the room in which my damp clothes are placed. I do not understand on the other hand, why Korean toilets are not made to take toilet paper. It is something that boggles my mind. I am a rebellious one and still flush it down. I also prefer to sit in chairs rather than sitting on the floor, but sometimes it is nice just to lay down and relax on the floor.

Things have been incredibly hectic, but hopefully Grace and I will be able to go to Seoul at least just for Sunday, so that we might be able to go to church. I'm sure that now things have settled I will be able to further elaborate on the various things that I have gone through my time here in Korea. I would expect lots of posts, but most likely much shorter then the one you just read. I miss you. I really do miss you. I miss playing basketball with you. I miss watching movies with you. I miss eating dinner with you. I miss just chilling with you. I miss walking by you at school and stopping to say hi. (btw, you, in this case is a very general you. You means YOU!)