Today

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Hello, hello, hello. After an uneventful weekend, I had a pretty good day at work. First off, I finally got my alien registration card, which means that Korea opens up to me a great deal. I'm getting a cell phone tomorrow. I also got a bank account today, which means that I get paid tomorrow, nice! Those are two awesome things that I've been restlessly waiting for. This weekend is Choesok (I think that's how it's spelled). Choesok is best described as Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled into one. In other words, three day weekend! The second cool part about this holiday is all the presents that I've been getting. Last week I got a really nice Polo coat from my co-teacher. Today I got a box full of the best oranges that are found in Korea, a gift package filled with Shampoo and toothpaste, and a box of rice desserts all from student's parents. I'm really grateful for all the gifts. And finally, I had a meeting with the parent of my youngest student, and it went really well. I was, admittedly, a little nervous about my first 'official' meeting with a parent, but, I guess, she told my co-teacher that before she met me she was nervous about me as a teacher because I was male, and after she met me she was relieved. My co-teacher tells me that I'm 'popular' with the parents. That's really cool, but I just hope the kids are learning English.
I have a two week vacation around Christmas, and I was thinking about trying to get home, but after seeing the $1500.00 asking price for a plane ticket I'm realizing that it's not realistic. So now, I'm thinking about going to Thailand, which only would cost about $300.00 for a plane ticket. I don't know. We'll see. New Years in Thailand sure would be memorable. And finally, I want to thank all of you who have been staying in contact with me. Every once in a while I realize how far away from home I really am, and I feel a little lonely.
Don't get me wrong, though, I love it out here. It's been really great.

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Comments

[Jan Rostermundt]

Happy "Choesok"
Sounds like a fun and exciting time for you. And it is always nice to get a paycheck and toothpaste! About that lonely thing? We all experience that even in our own home town, but it looks like you have many distractions and people around you. Enjoy!! Love you, Aunt Jan

[Mom]

Miss You Too
Dave, I'm so glad you're happy there and teaching is going well, but wish you could have come home for Christmas. With Skype, we can bring Christmas to you. Love you and miss you, Mom PS Are you supposed to give gifts as well?

[KIM S]

Aww
I knew you'd be popular with the parents and the kids too. You're a big kid at heart but play the adult thing down to a T. lol I've been crazy busy so I haven't been keeping up with your travels as much as I'd like. I miss you. I caught myself trying to call you to go out and realized that you wont be around for a long, long time. Bummer! Don't be lonely. If you get me an address I'll send you 'actual' letters. The old fashion way! Glad to hear you're finally getting settled in. It seems like you're having a great time and those kids are so adorable! I have my Spanish evaluation in an hour so if I pass I'm going to Chile! If I don't pass... well then I guess I'm going someplace else...

[jon]

happy choesok!

[amber]

koolness!
wow, u got it made out there! don't worry about being lonely...you have friends everywhere! and it sounds like your making a lot of friends out there too! universal friends are kool! new years in thailand would be AWESOME!!! totally go for it. i can imagine all the character and culture that comes with it!

[Kirk]

Bangkok
Bangkok, the Jewel of the East. Good choice. The Grand Palace of Siam is a must see. Tour the Floating Market by boat. Second choice would be by swimming. If you seen this movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai", it's there. A day trip where the journey is the adventure and not the destination. As you meet more new friends the loneliness will surrender.Your family and friends are with you on this blog.

[John Gurda]

If I weren't so old, Dave, I'd envy you: new job, new people, new world. I'm glad you're soaking it all up, and I'm sure it will change the way you look at life from now on.

[DaveH H is 4 adventure]

Thanks guys!
Thanks guys. I'm having a great time out here. I'd love to meet more natives though. It's awesome to hear from all of you. If you don't pass your test, Kim, you can come out to Korea and teach little boys and girls English. It's a great job. Great advice Kirk. I think Thailand would be beautiful. As long as tickets are reasonable I'm going. Thanks for the comment John! I had no idea that you were reading this. Don't mind the glaring grammar mistakes. ha ha. Mom, as soon as you get on skype we can talk to each other for free. It's really cool. Thanks Amber and Aunt Jan. I'm not lonely very often. I just think about all my friends and family sometimes, and it sucks that you guys are so far away, but it's all good. Happy Chuseok Jon! I got a ton of gifts. It was like an early Christmas.

[Jolene]

Things sound great!!
Hi Dave! Sorry it took so long for me to get over here to look at your blog!! It sounds like you are having an awesome time. How lucky you are to have this experience! It looks like you haven posted in awhile, Ill look forward to reading the updates! :)