After school today I took my first trip to Haeundae, the area of Busan where I'll be living once I'm able to move into my apartment next Wednesday. My hotel right now is located in Jaesong-dong, Centum City, about a 10 minute walk from my school. By comparison, Haeundae is about 12 minutes away by bus.
How I ever ended up in Haeundae is a mystery to me. A friend of mine who already spent a year in Korea recommended the area, because apparently "Haeundae is hands down, the best place to live in Busan". It's by far the most popular region for foreigners to visit, so teaching jobs in or around Haeundae are extremely competitive. When I first requested the area to my recruiter, her reply was basically "don't hold your breath". But somehow, here I am.
Haeundae is a very popular tourist destination, people from all over Asia and Australia frequently travel to vacation on the gorgeous beaches. It gets absolutely rammed in the summertime, tens of thousands of people can be found lounging around under their umbrellas on a single day; Haeundae actually holds the Guiness World Record for 'most parosols found on a single beach'. Yes... 'personal space' isn't a popular concept here in Korea.
Despite all that, perhaps the most hilarious part about Haeundae beach is the fact that last week, official Korean 'Beach Season' ended, and the foreign teachers living in the area have never been happier. Despite the fact that it's been sunny and 30 degrees every day this week, the Koreans will no longer be seen at Haeundae beach this year because....well, 'Beach Season' is officially over - the calendar says so! This is one facet of Korean culture that perplexes me. So much of Korean life is based around strict schedules and set patterns, that something like the WEATHER doesn't really factor into anyone's decision to enjoy a day of sun at beautiful Haeundae. The clock rules all. And so, tomorrow, the foreigners reclaim the turf...they're free to beachball, booze, and sunburn it up all they want - without a half million Korean umbrellas getting in the way.
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