wow it has been a long time since i posted anything on here. the last time i wrote i was in newfoundland, pondering the road that would lead me back to korea. and now here i am, after many long hours on airplanes, a lost wallet, two brilliant weeks of climbing in squamish and over a week of settling, reuniting and climbing in korea. and even a little work.
as with my last return to korea, this time around i've been wrought with a similar feeling of uncertainty regarding whether this is the place i want to be right now. after coming from a very relaxed and fun summer in newfoundland and two amazing weeks of climbing and relaxing in squamish, korea is a very in your face, grating place to jump into. the noise, overpowering smells and invasive stares of most koreans seemed a little full on for the first week. but now, as with last time, i've come to terms with my place in this unique and interesting culture. i've regained my motivation to study korean, which thankfully has been very quick to return to me (at least to the modest level it was at when i left almost two years ago).
my biggest concern at the moment is to get myself back on my financial feet. as i didn't return to korea on a contract, i'm slowly digging out privates to supplement my living costs and to pay off the bit of debt i incurred from my extended holiday. but it's looking positive. marissa, who has taken me into her comfy yet small apartment, has been super hospitable and helpful in making me feel at home and getting me situated in this new city. julie, who i worked with back at ecc in '06, arranged for me to meet up with her contact in daegu for a bunch of privates that her and her boyfriend were teaching before they left a month ago. helen, the korean woman who julie referred me to, has been helpful in introducing me to some of her wealthy friends whose children are interested in learning english. though my class number is small at the moment, i'm assured that i can pick up more classes over the next few weeks.
i've been stoked to visit some of the nearby climbing crags within driving distance of our apartment. enough routes to keep me very happy for my stay here. now all i need to do is get my mountain bike assembled so i can explore the nearby hills.
though i say i'm living in daegu, i'm actually in a suberb called gyeongsan which is most well known for its university district, yeongnam-dae (of yeongnam university). there is a happening scene of bars and restaurants a mere five minutes walk from the apartment and i can just as quickly get on a quiet backroad which runs along a river that b-lines for the hills a 20-30 minute bike ride away. nice. there are great restaurants, big movie theaters, a costco and emart, lots of dvd bongs and a slew of other interesting sites all within bus/taxi/subway distance. i can live with that. :)
