Every Little Things She Does...

I finally finished my immigration paperwork. The rules to work in Korea have changed this year and the process for obtaining the correct VISA has become more complicated. It has been especially difficult trying to get the correct documents from California while in Korea. However, yesterday I got the paperwork signed, notarized and sealed by the US Embassy. It feels like a giant weight off my shoulders. And it also means that my paperwork is being processed, so when it is finished I'll have to go back to the US for a few days. A few days in San Fran on the company's dollar (or won)... sounds good to me!

I'm constantly surprised with how much I like Korea. Saturday afternoon I went to Itaewon to sit in a coffee shop, read and people watch. I was in my ratty, old Chuck Taylors, not looking for attention. As I was heading home, I decided to stop by Gecko's and get a beer and some dinner. I sat at the bar, started reading my Time magazine and some guy starts talking to me. We chat. He leaves. And a minute later someone pokes me. It's the guy and he invited me to drink with him and his friends. Um... okay? So, I start drinking with the group. And then we start making the rounds in Itaewon. Without any effort at all, I meet a new group of people and have a really awesome time. That kind of stuff just doesn't happen in the States. But, it can happen anytime, anywhere in Korea.

But, something else interesting happened last night... People asked me questions about Seoul. I wasn't asking the questions, following someone else's lead. I knew where to go on Saturday night, which bars had dance floors, hookah pipes or would be empty until later. I knew the best place to pick up a cab, which restaurants were open and how to get to wherever we wanted to go. It was a bit odd. I'm usually the one who is asking the questions. I've been here four months and last night I felt like I might actually have gotten the hang of this!

I've started a collection of matchbooks. Since everyone smokes here, every bar has matchbooks. Now, whenever I go to a new bar I get a matchbook. Light one of the matches. And have everyone I'm with sign the matchbook. I date it and put it in a fishbowl back at my apartment. I really like it. I already have quite a few and it will be cool to have matchbooks from different parts of the world with different people I meet when I'm there.

In other news... I love The Office. I really do. If you haven't seen the latest episode, then go download it. At the end when Jim shows what he bought after the second week... I about jumped on my bed! And then when they are walking home... I adore this show. Adore it. I am definitely going to "stay sharp."

A few other interesting (and not-so-interesting) things I've been noticing/thinking about...

I've been getting into a routine now that I started my new part-time job. After I finish my morning work, I go to a coffee shop (Starbucks, but only because they don't have any independent coffee shops... I'm not a sell out. I promise.) and order a scone and tea. I read for a an hour or two and then go to work. The guy at the counter is starting to recognize me and today he asked me if I am from England. I don't have an accent, so I was trying to figure it out... Then it struck me. I have scones and tea almost everyday. Ah ha! They might as well call me Sherlock Holmes.

I teach a couple (rotten) little kids in the afternoons. But, even they make me laugh. They constantly remind me that childhood is universal. Today my student, Tom, proudly made the statement, "Girls very very bad. Boys very very good." Even at six years old this little boy has got it figured out. And even more importantly, he is using his limited vocabulary to convey a kindergarten boy's universal truth. I'm just waiting for him to figure out the concept of "cooties."

I really want to learn more Korean. I'm not dedicating myself at all, but I know I could. I've got a great new book and clearly some spare time (that I spend eating scones and drinking tea) so there is no reason why I can't pick up a few more phrases. Not to mention, in the next two or three months I'm going to have some friends and family come visit. I want to be able to show off. It really isn't impressive when I say "Hanti Station" in Korean and the cab driver looks at me like I'm from another planet just before he realizes what I'm trying to say and then laughs in my face.

And just because I have this song in my head...