First Post from Korea!!

Yes, I really made it! After months of wondering if I'd actually go through with such a life-changing move, I actually got on a plane and flew to Korea.
I haven't had much time to make any videos or take pictures, but I'll give you the rundown on what I've noticed so far:

1. Everyone stares at me everywhere I go
- Since foreigners are relatively unheard of here, people will stare at anyone who looks different. It's not insulting or uncomfortable, it just feels like I'm being watched in everything I do...because I am! It makes a trip to the store or lunch in a restaurant an adventure because everyone wants to know what you're doing in their country. I think it's comparable to being a celebrity that people are too shy to talk to.

2. SO MANY LIGHTS!!
- We've all seen pictures or videos of places like Tokyo at night. Well, they don't do it justice! The best way to describe it is: it feels like I'm walking around in a video game or pinball machine. There are flashing lights and signs of course, but I've seen entire buildings lit up and blinking, too. I guess Vegas would be the closest thing we have in the U.S., but this is just a medium-sized city in Korea. It's so fun to just look around, I find myself staring at the buildings when I'm walking.

3. The food is good
- I was a little bit nervous about this one, but it turns out I had nothing to worry about. Most of the meals I've eaten have been some combination of chicken, beef or pork with rice and vegetables. They serve a million side dishes with every meal and they refill them if you want. Oh, and it's CHEAP! Usually I'm paying between 3,000-6,000 won for a meal (roughly $2.80-$5.80), and I can eat a LOT more than in the U.S. But the best part? It's so HEALTHY!! I try to watch what I eat at home and everything, but here it will be hard not to lose weight. Fatty, greasy food just doesn't exist here. Most of the food I eat is some type of vegetable, but it's cooked in such a way that it tastes great. Needless to say, I like Korean food. :-)

4. The people are so nice
- Maybe it's because I'm an American, but Korean people so far are extremely accommodating. From a taxi driver to a convenience store worker, they've been nothing but polite and kind. They love to hear me say things like "hello" and "thank you," and some even try to speak English to me. The service in the restaurants is much better than in the U.S. Even they don't know what I'm saying, the waitresses/waiters do their best to help me eat!

5. The kids are awesome and crazy
- Wait, Korean kids can be crazy?! Oh my...yes. I think their lives are so orderly and rigid, they have few opportunities to really relax and have fun. Enter the English Language School. The teachers try to make learning fun instead of a chore, so the kids take full advantage of it. They're not bad or anything, just a little wild sometimes. They are very shy about speaking English, so if I call on them to give an answer, they quiet down immediately. Oh, they LOVE to laugh at me for trying to speak Korean to them, but they also like to help me learn new words (hopefully nothing bad!). I'll post some pics/vids when I get time so you can see what these kiddos are like. At the end of the day though, they always manage to make me smile :-)

More Questions:

Do all Korean people look the same?
- Absolutely not!! Besides having the same hair color, they all look very different.

Do they drive on the wrong side of the road?
- No, thankfully they aren't Japanese or British :-)

Are they short and skinny?
- For the most part, yes. I'm one of the taller people here, and I'm only about 5'9". Few people are overweight.

Are the girls pretty?
- Yes, some are absolutely gorgeous.

Is it hard to do things because you don't speak Korean?
- Not really. Easier than you'd think. Paying for things like food is simple, I usually just give too much and get change back. Plus, they all know I don't speak Korean, so they're patient with me.

So there you have it, my first impressions of this very different country. Yes, I do have a few complaints, like the size of my apartment (SMALL) and the way they drive (INSANE), but overall I'm glad I came here!! :-) Oh, and PLEASE comment on this thing so I know people are actually reading! You don't have to have an account to comment, just put your name so I know who ya are! :-)