Watch out Korea the fun HAS arrived!

Bababadaaaa I'M FINALLY HERE!!

After a long day of plane rides and airport sitting I finally made it to the other side of the world around 6pm Tuesday So Ko time which I believe is somewhere around 4:00am Tuesday for all you U.S folk. I had great flights, but decided next time I need to be a little more prepared for a 14 hr flight. I watched 3 movies, one being Dolphin Tale, a movie I had never thought I would feast my eyes upon. All in all, though, the food was good and the flight attendants were more than nice. Luckily I did not sit next to a chubby smelly person, nope he was across the aisle, and I had a seat between me and the nice girl in my row. When I had arrived I had no idea who to look for  when I came out of the airport, but there it was..my dream had come true... I got to be one of those people who has someone waiting at the airport for them with a sign with their name on it!! I felt pretty awesome to say the least.

His name was Eddie, a nice little Korean man who spoke little English. How did I know this? Because I tried talking his ear off of course. He had to tell me he wasn't good at speaking English so id lighten up a bit and no this wasn't just to get me to shut up ;). Once Eddie got me, and bought me vitamin water, we picked up another teacher waiting at the airport. Matt was his name and being Canadian was his game.

After leaving the airport we did lots of driving and dropped Matt at his apartment and then I was driving to my temp housing, a hotel. On the way I obviously talked Eddie's ear off disregarding the moment he told me he was not good at speaking English. It wouldn't be true Abbie fashion if I didn't try to communicate, he often laughed or smiled prob thinking  "Crazy American wont shut up!" Anyway, he was awesome and brought me to my new digs and got me situated! Koreans are super nice and accommodate visitors very well. I received a care package from the front desk filled with all the essentials; toothbrush, face wash, bubble bath, and lovers plus strawberry condoms..yum. (haha)
After shooting the parents a quick email about my well being I hunkered down and went to sleep. Waking up periodically through the night to new sounds and  an unbearably hot hotel room. I had to suck it up,though, 'cus the next morning I had my first training.

Training was at headquarters in one of the many tall buildings in Seoul. We met with a couple very nice people who brought us coffee and began the training. The man was actually kinda cute, so I obviously did not have much of a problem paying attention. I found out that I would most likely not only be teaching gym, but possibly other subjects too. NO MATH..thank God, these kids would suffer. At least I would be teaching things I can do like spelling, writing and reading. After a few hours of riveting curriculum talk we were taken out to lunch at a full fledged Korean restaurant. Nothing was in English and the food was traditional and nothing short of delicious. After lunch we had a gym training where I learned that my gym rocks and the other guys is going to suck. Why? I have a larger space and more equipment (including a zip line that goes into a ball pit! Heaven.) So while I was learning about all of the possibilities I had for gym I was trying to hold in my smile as we went through all the things that applied to my school thanking God this was where I was hired!

Now I am in my hotel thinking of a quick nap, then a solo adventure to find food and check things out. I wont go far though because even though the signs are in Korean and English I will most definitely get lost. Those who know me know I am quite directionally challenged even when my "Gut feeling" tells me to go one way..I'm more than 90% of the time wrong.  I am hoping that my friend Steve will get back to me and show me around a little. This will save me some awkward moments trying to order food from people who may or may not know what I am saying. But hey, it wouldn't be an adventure without stories and the best stories begin with awkward moments.

Love you all!
Ab