Diving In

I had a very relaxed, mellow weekend...partly because, I didn't know anyone and was trying to acclimate to the area.  Speaking of acclimating, I promise not to complain about the weather throughout the winter if we could just please cut this heat/humidity short for the summer. 

It's a good thing I soaked up being lazy for the weekend because once Monday rolled around things started shifting into high gear.  My principal gave me a few people's numbers and I called around and about 15 of us ended up going to Korean BBQ.  

The new teachers don't have cell phones yet (we have to receive our Alien Registration Cards (ARC), like a green card), so meeting up is reminiscent of the 80's.  No landlines, call waiting, caller ID, or even voicemail!  Once you do connect with someone it goes something like this, "Ok, I'll meet you on the corner of [insert various landmarks or discernible signs] in 20 minutes."  No doubt, it helps us get out and explore and learn our way around.  

A Cliff Notes version of the week:

• Tour of the school - the campus is beyond impressive.  It sits on a hill overlooking Bundang.  I'll post pictures and more info in a separate update.  
• The school took us on shopping trips to Emart, Daiso ($1 store or 1,000W store, rather - we actually have Daiso stores in the bay area), and...wait for it, Costco!  It only took me moving to Korea to get a Costco card.  Note about Emart:  Many westerners here keep comparing it to Walmart, I refuse to accept this.  Thankfully, my dad followed up with exactly what I wanted to hear: the locations were formally owned by Walmart, however Emart bought them out.  Emart is more closely related to Target.  Whew!  

Example #1 of Korean efficiency: Sodoku toilet paper

Emart

Costco was insane!  The line to get on the escalator ramp (similar to a moving sidewalk, except it's metal and the carts have magnets on them so they stay put on the ramps) went all the way to the back wall.  We are on the ramp going down to the food section.

To be clear, three of us are sharing a cart.  We went in with a focused list:  mattress pads (way too expensive), wine, cheese, and salami.  Mission accomplished.  

Many of the single teachers go in together on things, which is what we did and will do.  Just like the states, it is just so excessive.  It will mostly be for those "can't live without" items (see above).

• We each received a new Macbook Pro...yippee!  The school is as close to paperless as a school could get.  It's so exciting...could it be that I won't have stacks of paper on my desk this year (aside from student work)?!?!
• The school hosted a Welcome Night at a local bar/pub.  Nothing brings a staff together faster than beer and a dance off.  I'll leave it at that.