Random Tidbits

Here are some random things Zack and I have seen or heard in our first week here. 

* We went to a huge department store called Lotte and we got there minutes before they opened. Inside the first set of doors was a woman (who worked there) serving coffee and tea while we waited for the doors to open. Inside this particular door was the cosmetic section, and there were probably around 30 young ladies all dressed up in their skirt suits and hats, lined up massaging the person's shoulders in front of them. All of a sudden they dispersed and went to their separate makeup counters, two ladies walked up to the two front doors..bowed to the security guard, bowed to each other, bowed to us waiting at the doors, and then proceeded to open the doors. What an amazing experience! Every time we walk into any store..we are bowed at, since we're the customers. I feel like bowing back..but I'm not supposed to! 

*When Korean babies are born, they are already 1 year old. At the beginning of a new year in January, you can say that you are the age at which you will turn that year. So for instance, I can already say that I am 26. So, if a child is born in December, in January it would already be 2! 

* The birds outside our apartment squeak..they sound like a dog's toy. 

* The internet here is ridiculously fast! It's insane..really. 

* As some of you may know, I am challenged in being able to open packages properly..especially when it comes to cereal boxes and the bags inside. I just can't do it without ripping it and 

ruining it! It's going to be even worse here..because I feel like everything I've had to open since living here has been really difficult! The tape here has some superpower force behind it..it's

 almost impossible to just rip it..you have to cut it..as well as just plain plastic..like what papertowels come wrapped in. Normally you can just rip it..but oh no...not here!!! You have to whip out the scissors! 

* Our entry way into the apartment lights up when you step on the floor. 

That's where you take your shoes off and put on your house slippers. So, Zack and I have become that old married Korean couple and we wear our funky house slippers with socks. 

We're Here!

Hello! Well, we arrived in South Korea safely and with no troubles on March 18. We spent the night near Seoul and took a bus down to Pohang arriving in the afternoon, and were greeted by someone from the school who brought us to our aparment here on campus. We started to unpack, then quickly realized how much we needed to buy for our apartment..like hangers, garbage cans, towels, etc...so we took the bus (Handong has a free bus to downtown..it's VERY nice and very convenient) so we ventured out and attempted to find a shop, and we thought we knew where we were going, but 4 hours later we ended up back on campus emptyhanded. We were successful the next day and loaded up on things we needed to make our place feel like more of a home. One of the professor's wives here offered to drive us to a local market today, so we finally got some grocery shopping done..and it was so nice to not have to carry all our bags on the bus! 

The campus is really nice, and full of vibrant students with so much energy..it's kind of fun being on a campus like this. Our first impressions are that we really don't have any first impressions! Weird as it sounds...South Korea isn't as different as I expected it to be..the people are kind and helpful..and although we get pointed at and some people can't believe their eyes, we find it to be a warm and welcoming place. There are plenty of things still to learn and become accustomed to..but I think we'll fit right in here. Zack and I went to the local raw fish market this morning and had quite an eye-opening experience..as we literally stopped dead in our tracks and just stared.  Here is a slideshow!