Destination Korea

After numerous hours of traveling overland (it's over a hundred), we made it to Korea. I was so excited that I took a picture of the first sign telling me that I was in Korea. Since being in Korea, I have been trying to get a job, which involves me sitting at a computer, swimming through a sea of emails of employment opportunities. It's insanity. So far we have had one interview with a school in a posh part of Seoul. You know it's posh because you pass two Starbucks (yes, that's right, two) and then turn at Hooters to get there. We put on our new suits and heels for the first time and went to an office with hardwood floors and leather chairs. In a conference room, we had an interview and then we were led to a room full of binders with titles like Yale, Harvard, Brown, etc. on them and asked to write an essays on how to improve English and what it means to be a good teacher. I left like a kid playing dress-up and make-believe. I think that we may have convinced them that we are not dirtbag travelers.

Today we escaped the computers by going for a run by the river, which somehow ended in drinking beer. Korean people are really active. They like to hike, walk, run, bike, and rollerblade. There are also public workout machines everywhere. We were exploring these workout machines and probably looking like idiots when Mr. Kim approached to show us the ropes. He showed us how to use every machine in several ways. He was so friendly and sweet that he let us ride his bike and then took us down to a stand and bought us drinks. Who doesn't like a beer after exercise? I must say that I LOVE Korea so far. To all of those wankers out there who said negative things to us, I can only shake my head in bewilderment. Every single time that we have been lost/confused some Korean person has walked up and offered to help us. People have been wonderful and inviting. Paco lost her to-go tea mug at a restaurant and we went back there two days later and they recognized us and brought it out to giddy Paco. Yeah, Seoul is a huge city, but it is clean with well-planned transportation and the people I have met have been wonderful. I heart Korea.