Home Sweet Home

I woke up this morning and the first thing I saw was edge of my window sill. But the second thing? Oh my, the second thing I saw was the ocean.

I succesfully moved ‘home’ last night. My bags were picked up at my hotel yesterday morning and delivered to my new place. When I got here, a cell phone, tv, metro pass, coffee maker and an alarm clock were waiting for me. Along with a furnished bed, kitchen and bathroom, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, paper towel, washing machine...and the list goes on. It’s safe to say that last night was the easiest move of my life. Considering that I’ve moved a total of 16 times over the past 8 years, that says a lot!

The only minor glitch was (unfortunately) my internet connection. I wanted so badly to publish a post last night – but the internet in my apartment is not ready! Right now I’m writing to you from my friend Niki’s apartment on the 11^th floor of my building (my apartment is on the 16^th). Niki is an absolutely hilarious 4-foot-nothing firecracker of an American who teaches at my school, and she’s one of my favourite people I’ve met so far. She is the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back in an instant if you needed it, no questions asked. As soon as I mentioned my internet issues, she was adamant that I knock on her door to use her wireless ANY time over the next few days while I’m waiting for the internet company to come fix my connection (my appointment is Saturday morning - can't wait).

More importantly however, Niki taught me how to yell “knock it off!” in Korean.

All of the teachers at my school have spent so much time with me over the last week, taking me around Haeundae, showing me where to shop, where to eat, how to take the bus, what I need and don’t need to buy, always inviting me to join their group of friends whether it’s just to grab a coffee, or to see a great live band that’s playing in the city this weekend. I get the impression that the general MO of foreigners living in Busan is “friends until proven otherwise”.

I met a few more foreign teachers last night at Niki’s place. One guy I met actually graduated from kinesiology at Western the same year as me. In it’s own way, Busan can be SUCH a small world. I’m already running into people I know on the streets - and it’s only been a week! This city really does welcome you with open arms.

Today was another beautiful day outside, typhoon-free! I’ve managed to inherit about 5 different umbrellas that the old teacher, Kady, left in a closet of my new place - so at least I know I’m covered in that regard.

I have so much more to write about, but I am going to publish this post now because I have to go, and I feel terrible that I couldn’t get online to say ‘Hi!’ last night. I like my posts to be ready for morning time back home... I’m really hoping to get another post in tonight before bed (and get my darn pictures loaded already!) but Niki is talking my ear off right now, so no promises... she just finished telling me how busy she has been with everything lately: taekwondo, working out at the gym, private tutoring...etc. After a long pause, in her distinctly dismissive Niki-esque tone, she added "...and then there's Austin," (another foreign teacher in Busan who she is dating) "...and he takes up AT LEAST a few hours a week".

I requested that next time, she warn me when she is about to say something hilarious like that, I'd really rather not spit out my drink all over my brand new netbook.