Must Explore

• Today, our EMU group went exploring into Jochiwon (the town where we are staying, at Korea University Sejong campus). It's actually pretty big. It's very industrial, a lot of train tracks, some shipping yards, large traffic intersections, and a lot of trash everywhere :/ BUT, there were also some really great things: artwork on the walls around said large traffic intersections, small and large buildings of all different architectural styles, colorful signs, and great people. Great people story: We went into this little resale shop. There wasn't much to interest us but the owners were so welcoming..."Coffee? Coffee? Coffee?" So we sat down and they showered us with coffee, chocolates, choco-puffs, grape juice and questions about ourselves. There was a woman who made the coffee and a woman who served us (I think her name was Kim Mi Soon). The woman who cooked told us about her daughter who was/is Miss Korea - she was so proud! And you could tell where Miss Korea got her good looks. Kim Mi Soon asked us all our ages, what our names were (she was really excited that we have 2 girls named Bianca/Beanka), and if we went to church. It was really interesting trying to communicate when we don't know Korean and she barely spoke English - amazingly, we were mostly successful. It was such a unique experience and a great one to have on our first day here.

• It has been really cool meeting so many people, even in the short 36 hours that we've been here. The coordinators (large group leaders) are especially cool. Neil is from Australia, has a fantastic accent and is really funny and fun to talk to. Chris is from England and has been super helpful to me. Steve is from Canada and has also been really helpful, even though I have barely met him...he got us plug converters from the airport when a bunch of us realized that we had the wrong ones. He's my leader though, so I'm sure I'll get to know him more. Marcelle is also from Australia and is so sweet - she got Julie (in our group) a birthday cake because today is her birthday! And Hilda and Tom are from Canada and are a married couple who travel around doing different ESL programs. Plus, there are people from ALL over and it's been really fun to talk to them.
• However, we are also REALLY lucky to have our EMU group. Not only have we gotten close because of our classes, but we are really watching out for each other - making sure no one is left behind, traveling around the city together, hanging out in a group and just being awesome and excited. We are all branching out too, but it's really nice to have companionship continuously available. It would be a LOT harder if I were here alone. Also, we've heard a few people talking about "the EMU group" :D
• My shower has no curtain! It's weird. The bathroom didn't get totally wet - and it's made to not have a curtain - but the water did kind of get all over. Oh well.
• I got my teaching placement today. I will be in Pohang, on the eastern coast on Korea, at Daewong Elementary School. I'm not %100 sure that Pohang is where I'll be living, but it's going to at least be close to there.