sklartyinkorea: Let's start at the beginning

Hello family and friends. I said I would start a blog to keep you posted about my time here in Korea, so here it is. The Sklarty party in South Korea. I am going to keep it short and sweet for the most part, because I don't want to bore you. I want to keep you updated and intrigued by my shenanigans over here. I figure pictures will keep you just as entertained as my they will my students. :)

This is in the Shanghai Airport. Sonny and Cher.

So I got here after my lovely 15 hour layover in Shanghai with Maggie and Campbell. I was exhausted and lame so after some bonding time and How I Met Your Mother, I passed out on their couch. Then had my flight into Busan where I was picked up by Alistair, my recruiter, at the airport. Met a couple of awesome fellow teachers, Karlee and Kellen, went out with them for a couple of drinks, passed out, woke up, meeting with the education office, and BAM, thrown into my little city, Yongwon, on the outskirts of Jinhae (outside Busan (the second biggest city in South Korea)). [to review: Friday- flight to China, Sunday- flight to Korea, Monday- education office meeting and going to my new home (well motel first and then got my apartment on Tuesday)]

Had a delicious meal with my co-teacher, Mihwa, on Monday.

helllaaaa oysters!

Yongwon, my area of Jinhae. This is the main road I walk to get to work.

Firehouse!!

I was SUPPOSED to start work on Wednesday, but on Tuesday night I managed to get violently ill with a reaction to either the seafood or the water I ate...in the seafood soup. Cool. Went to the hospital, was on an IV for two hours, and felt much better a few hours later.

The likely culprit

So I start work on Thursday, instead. First day outfit:

Went out with Kellen in Changwon (where he lives and where the education office meeting was) on Friday (last night). Had a blast. Met some other foreigners. And that, in a nutshell, has been my first week here.

My new bffs. They loved me.

Corey and Ryan, new lovely friends

oh god, don't mind me.

I was in my work clothes still because I went out straight after work AFTER the danky Korean BBQ dinner the school hosted for the new teachers. mmmm. shoulda got a picture of that!