Busan - Our New Home

Well, it's been one week since we moved to Busan to start the next chapter in our adventure.  We left Iksan, South Korea on July 22nd and took the KTX to Busan, South Korea.  We were nervous, not knowing what to expect, and sleep-deprived.  Zach and I were the first of our orientation group to arrive at the hotel.  We were given the keys to our rooms and told that, even though we were married, we would not be sharing the same room for the three nights we would be there.  It all worked out in the end, though, because I got to know someone in my orientation group better than I would have if Zach and I shared a room.

As it turns out, there were 9 of us in our orientation group.  It was kind of strange being the "seniors of the class".  I mean, we were the only ones who had taught in Korea before.  It was just kind of a weird feeling.  Monday and Tuesday, we spent about 10-12 hours in orientation.  At night, we all would go to the convenience store and bring alcohol back to the hotel room where we sat out on the balcony.  It was a good way to get to know each other better.  We were all pretty nervous about where we would live and where we would teach.

Orientation group

On Wednesday, we all met our co-teachers and went our separate ways.  In a way, it was kind of sad to say "goodbye" to each other.  Of course, it wasn't a real goodbye; we are all going to be in the same city for at least the next 13 months.  We were told during orientation that we were going to to see our school and meet our vice-principals after we were picked up.  That didn't happen for me and Zach.  We were taken to our apartment where we dropped off our luggage.  We were then taken to a jjimjilbang where we were to spend the night (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jjimjilbang).

In a jjimjilbang

Since it's summer break, some schools have 2- to 3-week summer camps.  On Thursday, my class went to the movie theater to watch "The Dark Knight Rises".  When the movie ended at noon, I was free to go home.  On Friday, we visited a high school and the whole lecture was in Korean so I don't really know what was actually said.  The school gave all of the teachers a little gift (pencil box and hand towel).  Again, I got home around 1pm.

Gift from the high school

Zach is not as fortunate as me and has to stay at his school until 4:30pm everyday.  I am glad that I've had that time to unpack and clean around the apartment.  (The previous renters were not clean people - at all!)

Zach and I both teach at all-boys middle schools.  I am a little nervous teaching in an all-boys school - it's a little intimidating.  I think that once I see my school and see the kids, that uneasiness will subside a little...I hope!  That will all happen on Monday for me.  I will teach for one week, then I will be on vacation for two weeks before school actually starts again.  Zach will teach for two weeks and then will have one week off.

In the next few days, I hope to do a video tour of our apartment and post it on here.  Keep tuned in!