2 Months.

I cannot believe it's been 2 months as of this past Sunday.  It still feels surreal.  Although, I am somewhat settling into a routine life here in Seoul, it's crazy to think that I have been away from home, living in South Korea for 2 months.  I feel "at home" now for the most part.  For example:  I'm not scared to go places for fear of getting lost.  I'm learning my way around the bus system.  I'm less scared to go into stores and order food.  I'm completely comfortable with my surroundings and walking around my neighborhood.  I have been mistaken for a "true" Korean on more than one occasion.  I am starting to actually like the men in skinny jeans.  I am making new friends and spending time with "old" ones from orientation.  I feel more comfortable with my lesson planning and teaching.  I am starting to recognize students from each class and which ones are the smart and/or troubled kids.  I like to eat kimchi.  The weather has finally cooled down to perfect fall temperatures and hardly any rain recently.  These are just a few of the reasons I'm thankful to be here right now.  Of course, I still miss everyone back in the states.  I wish I could be there for gatherings, birthdays, holidays, babies, etc.

Trainer Jake

Well, the machine of body fat tells me I am 17.8% body fat (or around there, I don't actually remember).  Trainer Jake tells me that I am "a little fat."  He wants to know what my goal is and if I can limit my diet to sweet potatoes, chicken, and vegetables and cut out alcohol.  I hate to say it Trainer Jake, but that's just not going to happen.  


Koreans are serious about working out.  They all want "six packs" and they will use that term.  My goal is to feel healthier while eating everything I want to while I'm here.  I'm not sure how this happened because I'm pretty sure I did not choose the "trainer" option when signing up for my membership, but as long as he is still scheduling me, I will keep showing up.  I've gone to see Trainer Jake 3 times now, and my body is in pain.  I could barely walk up and down subway stairs over the weekend.  This is a good thing, but for now, I feel like I have hard core been beaten up.


I also went to "body pump" last night, not to be confused with Les Mills.  I went in thinking it would be the same as what I am used to, but it's not.  (*UPDATE- the pump classes ARE now the same a the Les Mills program back home..ASSAH!)  It's a bunch of Korean ladies sweating it out in their matching grey & orange t-shirts provided by the gym.  


While we're on the topic of Korean ladies, let's talk about the women's locker room.  I have never in my entire life seen so many naked women in one place.  Koreans have NO SHAME.  They literally walk around bare ass naked from young girls to old women.  Maybe they will put on underwear but then stand in front of the mirror drying their hair topless.  It's so ridiculous.  I'm not sure if I will ever become comfortable enough to do that.  I also think it's weird that all Koreans shower and get dressed at the gym.  I'm the kind of person who would only do that if it's completely necessary.  I like to walk to and from and gym and shower when I get home.  I feel like I get a few odd looks during my walks because they are not used to seeing people in gym clothes on the street.  It's actually kind of funny, but I'm okay with it because I will not be showering in the locker room for a long time.


Hm, what other updates do I have...  I went to my first Korean open bar over the weekend for a friend's birthday.  It was at the COEX Intercontinental Hotel and it was a wine buffet so I obviously loved it.  (go to the Samseong subway stop and follow signs through COEX to the Megabox/Aquarium until you find the hotel).  It's all you can eat and drink for like $30.  I finally lasted all night to to take the first subway home in the morning, but that is something I would not recommend doing again.  It's one thing to get in a cab at 5:30am.  It's a totally different story to get on the subway at that time with a transfer to make.  Terrible.


I went to the dentist today because one of my teeth has been throbbing.  I thought for sure I would need a root canal or something, but the dentist didn't really think there was anything wrong so she just shaved a little of my tooth down and gave me some sort of gum treatment for just about 25,000 won.  Now I am just praying it will stop hurting sometime in the near future.  While I was there, the dentist told me she didn't even learn the ABC's until she was 14 years old.  It's crazy how times have changed over the years.  Now, there are pre-schoolers going to private hagwons to learn English before they even start in the public school system.

I joined a gym...

I finally built up enough courage to go ask about joining the gym I've had my eye going to and from school.  It's called Body Star Fitness Club near Sungshin Women's University so it's close enough to walk or take the bus.  The guy at the desk was nice and actually spoke enough English to sign me up for a 10 month membership for 530,000 won, which is just a little less than what I payed at home.  They have body pump and some other classes, and the equipment looks clean.  They also have matching t-shirts for everyone to wear if you so choose.  I have "orientation" tomorrow, but I'm not exactly sure what that means.


Here is the text I got from them:


"Here's body star fitness club.  Tell me about the time to check out the machine of body fat which is ur available time."


Machine of body fat you ask?  I wish I knew the answer.  We will see soon enough.


**UPDATE:  just renewed my membership for a second year at this gym.  Overall, I'm really happy with it.  They have clean facilities, clean uniforms (if you want to wear them), and a range of equipment and classes.  I mainly use the treadmills which DO have programs (like intervals/hills/etc) and they DO incline..which I've heard other gyms in Korea do not.  Also, there are not many foreigners there!  I can pretty much go and mind my own business without anybody knowing that I am actually a foreigner myself.  So..if you've somehow found my blog by searching for this gym, please avoid talking to me if you see me there!^^

Observations About Korea Worth Mentioning..

I've been compiling a little list about Korea whenever new things come to mind, so I figure I'll go ahead and share what I have so far.  I'm sure this list will grow as time goes on.


1.  The food.  Samgyeopsal (and really ALL Korean BBQ), gimbap, makgeolli, and soju.  Korean food is good.    I am even starting to like Kimchi more.  Although, because of the massive rain storms this summer, Kimchi has become scarce, so I load up more than usual during school lunch.

Samgyeopsal pork belly goodness

Good Karma

On Friday, I had a Bukbu School District workshop where all the Native English Teachers and their co-teachers had to attend to watch an open class (which is just a class that is "open" for others to watch).  That is not the important part of this story.  The more important thing is that somewhere between my school and the open class school, I seemed to have misplaced my cell phone.  


I realized this and frantically told my co-teacher that I thought I may have left my phone back at school.  She called Jinhee to see if she could check in the drawer, but it wasn't there.  She called my phone to see if we could hear it anywhere or if it was somewhere at school.  Miraculously, she received a phone call from a BUS DRIVER who had my phone.  The bus driver left my phone at a Morning Glory stationary shop right next to my bus stop so I could pick it up later that evening.  WTF.  I love Korea!


The whole point of this is that at home, in America, I NEVER would have seen my phone ever again.  I would have had to cancel my phone, get a new one, etc.  I have no idea who found my phone and handed it over to the bus driver of a DIFFERENT bus than the one I was on, but THANK YOU kind sir!  Karma will repay you.


After the meeting on Friday, I headed to explore a new area with Jessi and Brad.  We ventured all the way up north to the Nowon stop.  I didn't think Nowon would really have much to offer, but it was actually a pretty busy area with a lot of shops, restaurants, and bars.  I definitely want to get back there again.  I guess it was a weekend for new areas because we also tried out the Konkuk University (Kondae) area last night, and I went back there for dinner tonight.  Konkuk is a really lively place with tons of bars and restaurants and lots of neon lights (much like any other street in Korea).  The university areas seem to be the best places to go.  I'm lucky because I live a 5 min walk to Korea University and about a 10 min walk to Sungshin Women's University.


I feel like I'm learning new things and discovering new pockets in Seoul all the time.  I'm so grateful to be living in such an incredible city and having this experience.  Sometimes it's weird to think this is my life.