Thursday July 26

Nothing too exciting has been happening recently. I go for a morning walk to get some exercise and learn the area around me better. My school is only a 1.5 km walk from my apartment, but it is at the top of a really steep hill. I walked there yesterday morning to workout at the fitness center (small but has all the equipment I need) and could barely get my workout completed because of sucking wind from going up the hill. It will get better as I get back into shape but it's still a little laughable.

You don't know how bad I miss Target and Wal-Mart. Stuff that was so easy to get to is now a giant pain in the ass to find. There are many department stores that have a variety of items and most of them have a floor devoted to groceries. But, each one stocks different stuff so I have been going to different ones to see what they have. Like today I went to Kim's Club and loaded up on pasta, sauce, and canned veggies. But they didn't have some of the other stuff I like so I need to go to another place in a few days for more. There is a Costco in Seoul, and we will be going during orientation next week.Once I get my membership I can go when I please. Hopefully it is good and I can do most of my shopping there.

Miscellaneous stuff:
* went to an Irish bar last night that was supposed to be a favorite of ex-pats. Nice little place and they had Guinness on tap (at 8 bucks a glass). Not many people there but some cute bartenders and a few Korean ladies were there. I will head back this weekend when I am sure it is more livelier. There are rules for beer pong on the window so it will be fun I am sure.
* taxis in Korea are awesome. They are plentiful and cheap, and the drivers are insane. I have no desire to try to drive in Korea, unless I get on the highway and go cruising to another part of the country. But even then it will probably be easier and faster to take a train. I had a driver today that was working a manual and the old bastard drove like Mario Andretti. I have yet to see any traffic accidents in all my hours of walking and taking taxis.
* kiwis here are cheap as hell and bigger than the ones in the states (the fruit that is). damn good eats.
* tried an Italian place Sunday night. Another cure place that had a nice Italian atmosphere. I had spaghetti with chicken in a spicy marinara that blew me away. If I didn't already feel like a weird foreigner I would have licked the plate clean.Going to have to go back to that place again.
* I have yet to have anyone come up and talk to me. I have had plenty of looks and a few stares but people leave me alone. I know I am not the most inviting person but I figured someone would have stopped to say hi and try their English on me.

I had originally wanted to try and post every day with news and comments and pictures but I don't know if that will happen. I will try to post often but don't look for something every day.