a deluge after thirty days?
Today marks one full month since my arrival in Korea.
Marking the occasion, a typhoon has been dumping rain in Uijeongbu for the past two days. While I certainly don't mind the rain there have been several pedestrians who have stopped me in concern; to allay their fears I bought an umbrella for the first time in my life after finishing work tonight. Consider it an anniversay presnt to myself. The purchase did feel a little strange, as back home in Washington there are jokes about how only tourists and transplants use umbrellas despite the frequent rains.
Overall things are going well at the academy. The worst part of my job so far is the other American teacher at the school, who complains each and every day about some aspect of living in Korea. Usually his attacks are aimed at Korean people in general, the students in particular, Korean food (he's a vegetarian but hates rice and seaweed), how there's nothing to do in Uijeongbu (he didn't bother researching the city before he signed his contract), the lack of American clothing stores, or the weather. He's seven months into his contract but appears more than ready to go home. Life must be unbearable for an indie scenester.
« from Changgeonggung | 昌慶宮 | photo from Wikipedia »
Other than that, this past weekend was spent as an example in contrasts. I met 美 on Saturday and we spent a wonderful ten hours in the capital with her sister. Looking through children's books, strolling through Changgeonggung and its hidden garden, watching a romantic comedy that had very little comedy and even less romance, and enjoying lunch and dinner together. The following day was spent cloistered in my apartment working on student evaluations until four o'clock in the morning. It's hard to write insightful commentary for 25 students when you've only seen them five or six times. Going through the process has given me a new-found respect for the work that all my teachers have done outside the classroom.
Umbrella or no, the sound and feel of rain falling to the ground is just as soothing everywhere I've travelled.