Sam Teacher

After a pretty flawless arrival in Seoul, I have moved in, settled, taught classes, hung out with fellow teachers, gone grocery shopping and ridden the subway. At my school, there is already a Stephanie and a Martin. So my new name is Sam (Stephanie Alexis Martin). I'm not used to it at all. But all the kids know me as that so I'll adjust. In class, the kids just yell out "teacher, teacher" or "Sam Teacher". Right now there is only one male teacher and the rest female (about 9). There are 3 other teachers from Canada: Halifax, St. John's and Ottawa.

Everyone here is very polite, except for when they almost run me over with their bicycles. I'm stared at a lot, but I know its because I'm a "waygook" (foreigner). I've also noticed that Koreans have impeccable posture.

If anyone likes cool packaging and products, this place is awesome. I spent an hour in the grocery store yesterday, mostly picking things up and shaking them and staring the packaging. Today I even took my camera to take pictures of the grocery store...crazy waygook. But everything is so cute! I also like that things for immediate consumption come in a small serving size.

When I seen another white person, I get excited. "Hey look, another white person!" I think Denise Teacher and Stephanie Teacher were getting tired of me saying that yesterday.

If one looks hard enough, anything can be found. A friend brought me in to a store that sells western products with no Korean on them, mostly lotions, shampoo, deodorant and some non-perishable foods. Many grocery stores have sections with imported food, such as cheese. And between Costco and all the markets around, I can still eat the foods I love from home. However I saw a jar of peanut butter today that was $15. Since I like eating ethnic food anyway, I can eat at the restaurants around here for really cheap.

Drinking heavily is a common pastime (for locals). Friends have told me that it is not uncommon to be walking home form work at 9.15pm and seeing people passed out on the sidewalk because they are already done for the night. There are some "all you can drink" bars here for the foreigners also.