Excellent Happiness

Hi there
It has been 3 Weeks, and the honey moon period with Korea is over, but I think this is not a bad thing. What this means is my friends are going to stop taking me out for expensive dinners all the time, j/k... But really, I'm getting into the Korea grove- All interactions, at work, buying stuff at the store, etc, are going much smoother, now that I am aware of how to bow, how to talk and say hello etc.

Another strange experience... shopping in the outside mall in La Festa near where I live, and had to jump out of the way ofa team of seven huskies running full speed whilst pulling a sled on wheels with a family on the back, Dad video taping the whole thing to get every pennys worth of his expensive 1.5 minutes of Siberian glory..

The phrase that has caught my attention- It is printed on many on packages, is this slogan : "Upgrade your life," it says. This is indicative of the Seoul mentality in many ways. Everyone works hard to buy more to upgrade their life and family. Much of the consumerism seems to be about the status of having it, (whats new) including sending your kids to English school. Everything must have everything new all the time. I think this is true in America too, but its easier to notice as an outsider.

I like teaching more and more, and I'll hopefully get some pictures of some of my students soon. I think its going really well, and I am going to switch from teaching text books to story books and essays for the older classes tomorrow, which I am looking forward to. I get to teach the smart ones how to write. And no more boring text book!

Also had guests in my apartment today, its getting cozy, and am learning to cook more and things like that, and having plenty of time to draw and write in journals and such. I'm going to get a computer soon so I can post pictures any time I want. For now look at this cool yet slightly cheesy video link from the monastery I am going to. http://hwagyesa.org/ and here are some really cute games if you are bored at work http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/

<3annie