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Published: September 8th 2008
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lookin ...this is what I want to accomplish in my life. I want to be able to look back and remember living in a high rise apartment in Seoul, South Korea. I want to be able to say that I saw as much of this world as I possibly could given the funds, time and well whatever else life throws at you. I was talking with some friends here the other day about moments you actually realize where you are. When it hits you that you are in a totally different place in the world and embarking on something whether it be travel for work, pleasure or both. Being struck with the fact that you are there is short, but lasts forever in your memory, not to mention it is one of the greatest feelings (in my opinion) in the world.
Yvonne just arrived the other day to stay for an extended period, with her own travels in mind as well. This is the first time for her to leave the grand ole' US of A (except for Mexico), and is a very big bold step to do so. I cannot remember my very first out of the country experience. I was
Yvonne
you aren't in Kansas anymore... of but the ripe age of one year, but I do remember other trips that I have taken with my family and by myself, and the memories of realizing I'm "here" is one that always sticks with me. I know that this will happen for Yvonne, it just takes a little time, for it happens when you least expect it.
Since getting home from Cambodia I have been on what you would refer to as an "on call vacation". We have been getting 3 to 4 days of vacation one after another. So much so that we got home on the 9th of August and have worked only 4 days, those being half days and one day we were there for approximately 45 minutes, give or take travel time. The school is going through its last legs of construction and we have been told that it is opening doors on the 16th of September. Now we have been told before that it is opening sooner, but things happen. We are not the only ones that have been told this, the 25 sets of parents that have signed their children up have also be told this, so it is now crunch
time. As of right now, I am enjoying another week off. It turned out great though because now I can spend time with Yvonne, and show her around this living video game.
What have I been doing with all this free time you ask? Well seeing the sights around the city, I went rafting on the east coast last weekend. I have also been playing a lot of basketball and soccer, and have seen a few movies here and there. I feel that I must take full advantage of my situation, for when else in my life will I be able to travel around East Asia and get paid for it.
Last week our school had an open meeting, where parents could come and listen to us tell them that our school is the hottest thing since sliced bread, and that if their kids don't come learn from our "fine English speaking foreign teachers", well then you and them might want to get used to the smell of gas, because your son and/or daughter will be pumping it for quite some time. I think everything went well since half of the parents there signed up there kids on the spot.
That or they have hate the smell of petrol.
After that laborious day of meeting parents we had another week off. I think they felt that it was hard work talking to the masses and needed a little down time to recover.
So there you have it, at least the school part. I have not been working and I am taking advantage of it. Now if I had known we would be getting so much time off, I would have liked to plan other big trips like China during the Olympics, or head over to Japan for a few nights of sushi and saki bombs.
As of right now there are 5 other foreign teachers at my school. Justin (USA), Sian and Liegh (Scotland); and Ross and Seamus (pronounced Sha muss)(Ireland). A key ingredient to have fun with so much time off is that you enjoy the company of the people you share this time off with. It has been great meeting these people, except for Justin, I already knew him (although not to discredit his "coolness" and pleasant company), they have made this endeavor that much better.
I wanted to end this blog with a question for everyone that
reflections
window in the subway car is reading. What is it that you wanted to hear about or pictures you would like to see? If I get enough request for things you wanted to hear about, or places and people that you want to see, I will post a blog that is answers to unanswerable questions and photo's of nouns you always wanted to see. Bring it on!
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David Basnett
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Hey...I will be moving to Gangnam, Seoul in the next 2 to 3 weeks..depending on my Visa coming through. Have you seen any skateboard culture in Korea so far? I've heard there are a few public skateparks around..and im stoked to get there and go exploring. So I request that you search this out and post pictures haha.