Rain Rain Go Away

I know its been a while since my last post but as you will learn shortly I'm currently in the middle of a large and awkward move. . .so bare with me please!

Monday morning I awoke to the pitter-patter of what sounded like a dying rainstorm above the city. Despite the bleak conditions our stomachs called so Nate and I headed out down the street, in shorts and rain jackets, to the closest eatery, Beany and Sandy's (what a cute name for a coffee and sandwich shop, right!?). I scarfed down a Korean Klub Sandwich (cousin Stefanie's favorite Asian meal) in no time then washed it down with what had to be the closest thing to real coffee that we've had since Starbucks!

We scuttled (the only Korean way to travel) back to our rooms to try and dry off a bit and get ready for work, hoping that the rain would subside by the time we left. Of course we were granted no such luck. So, again, I pulled on my rain jacket and headed off to work. At least the rain gave me an excuse to wear dark pants and the black shoes that I brought which, we've since learned, make for an entirely over dressed DYB employee. . .oh well, it looks better than wet khakis in the rain!

Pulling up to school we were surprisingly greeted underneath an umbrella by our bright receptionist, Sunny. Sunny then passed us off to Julie (also known as Princess as she is the only employee that bears a hint of make up. . .and still looks 10 years younger than she likely is) who walked us into our building underneath an umbrella. Trying to figure out how and why we were given such thoughtful treatment it was brought to our attention that there was a new foreign arrival at the elementary school that afternoon and they were in fact outside to me him. . .not us. This new teacher, while still a mystery in person, is supposedly from the great state of Michigan as well. . .so we will have to meet!

At work Monday went as any rainy day does. . . wet floors and lethargic attitudes, I can't blame anyone though, rain is rain is rain!

Our day was brightened slightly as Joseph delivered our new cell phones we (still have not) purchased through our recruiting service, Adventure Teaching. Through AT's program, called AddOns, they are assisting us in getting a cell phone set up and in our names for the time that we are in Korea. Having little knowledge of their cellular networks and how plans are orchestrated, this seems like a good idea as they have been extremely helpful so far and the prices do not seem unreasonable. We will be essentially renting a phone from AT for our time in Korea and then (it seems) we will be signed up for a plan on their business account, an option normally not available for first time teachers as it takes a year or so to gain the necessary documents to sign a phone contract versus using the more expensive prepaid service (PPS).

Still not entirely sure what the deal is and/or how the phones work (as even once they have been switched the English 50% of the menus are still in Korean). But if you have a friend in Korea that is just dying to make contact with me, feel free to share my phone number which is 010-8450-2258. If you're trying to reach Nate instead, his is the exact same except 8451!

We made it through work in one piece and headed out into the night only to find that the rain had not ceased. We dove into the first cab we spotted and directed him towards our home in Daechidong. While I have had quite some problem figuring out how to work Koean seat belts (despite them being no different from ours at home) Nate assured me that mine was broken and then reassured me that "if there's one night you want a seat belt, it's this one." This in reference to the bullet-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun style of driving the taxis employ here mixed with dark and wet roads!

I agreed and demanded to Nate that I be strapped in (always a good thing to do anyways, especially if the driver is wearing theirs!!!). So he unhooked his seat belt, I looped mine through, and he reconnected. Problem solved! Now if we get in a crash we just get yanked together at 80 mph instead of flying forward into the relatively soft back of the front seats! Luckily we did not have to test this theory as we arrived in Dechidong safely, in one piece.

Looking out over the canal we travel along for a good portion of our drive each way, Nate noticed that the 'river front park' was missing! How does an entire boardwalk of exercise machines, basketball hoops, badmitton nets and the like go missing you ask!? Same way a city set below sea level does! It had been raining so much throughout the day (non-stop at that,) that the river had spilled well over its banks literally covering any and all riverside attractions on both sides.

Well we felt no eminent threat as we a) do not live near the river and b) it did not appear to threaten the roads at all. . .this was an extremely eerie and ironic event knowing that at the same time (Mon evening Korean) Hurricane Gustav was rolling ashore in Southern Louisiana with its eventual outcome far from uncertain! For the love of both Seoul and New Orleans, the rains ceased and the storm passed allowing water levels to subside to normal again! Thank you Momma Nature!!

Just before we eventually arrived at our destination however, our taxi driver began shouting about something in what sounded like a ferocious tone. Nate and I both tried to reassure him that the directions we gave him were okay and that we wanted to go to Daechidong! He would not stop and kept swatting our hands away as we pointed towards the small map we had given him for direction. Finally we realized he was yelling 'Obama!' Laughing at our misunderstanding, and, his enthusiastic support, we agreed 'Obama!' Our driver further asserted his right headedness as he declared "Joan Meecane, no, grrrandpapa, bad! Obamaaa!!" Not able to stop myself from laughing I continued to agree "Obamaaa." We traveled like this for the final five-ten minutes of our ride one parting yelling "Obamaa," the other agreeing and yet another calling out "Meecane Grrrandpapa!"

It's good to know that sensibility is supported world wide!

For further hilarity. . .please direct your attention to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

More to come on our big move!!! Pictures up as soon as I get settled!!

Thanks for you patience and your comments!!