I'm here! I am so flying direct again. No hassle changing planes etc. I struck lucky on the plane, sat next to a young Korean man who was very quiet but friendly - and he didn't snore! Don't know if I was very impressed with Asiana. The plane was comfy and clean but the entertainment was dire! I didn't manage to watch a good film because there weren't any good films. The food was ok but the cabin staff didn't speak very good English and seemed scared to communicate with non Koreans. As ever Incheon airport was quick and efficient and I seemed to wait no time for my luggage. Immigration and customs was really quick. I found a cab quickly and with a cabbie that spoke English.
It took 2 hours to get to Bucheon on account of the traffic being horrendous. A bridge serving the Bucheon turn off had caught alight a few days earlier. This was because a fuel tanker had crashed and caught alight underneath it. Everyone going to Bucheon was using the same turn off. At one point it took us 30 minutes to move 200 meters! Luckily my cab driver let me use his phone to call the office to let them know and he was friendly so we could chat. I know everything about his family now!
Finally I arrived in the office and was greeted by screams and hugs from Hanna. there have been staff changes but the new staff are really nice.
I am lucky to be staying in the same room as in the summer. Not many changes there - oh except new washing and drying machines that I have to work out how to use. This time I have decided to use the kitchen a bit more and have bought some microwave meals (I didn't say I was actually going to cook!)
My room is really hot. I can't go barefoot as the underfloor heating burns....
Talking of heat...it's bloody freezing outside!!!! It's going to be -10 tonight. It was about that last night and it snowed last night. When I came out of the airport my heart sank to see snow :(
One good thing is that the paths and roads are kept clear. I could hear them clearing it at 5.30 this morning. Pathways are cleared along pavements so people don't slip and the Uni grounds are also cleared regularly - god bless Ajjushi's.
We had orientation today and that went smoothly. Mr Park seemed pleased to see me but he was also sad that Jaron couldn't be here. There are 3 other teachers here so far. Two Korean ladies and a Canadian man. 3 more are arriving on Sunday. They have only just found the last teacher today (Jarons fault - ha ha!) Horrid Henry from last year rang and asked for a job but they turned him down - thank goodness.
We met the C.A's and there were two from the summer so that was nice. Mine is a young boy called Alan. He looks a bit shy but I'll soon sort that out!
I've been working all evening, sorting out my books - I've even finished 5 word tests! It looks like I'm using the same books as one of the other teachers so I shall do my Christian duty and share my word tests!
I'm going out with Cherry tomorrow for dinner and to celebrate NYE. I'm going to stay there the night and hopefully walk the dogs in the morning. It's just after midnight here now so I'm going to go to bed. I didn't really sleep much on the way over so I have some catching up to do.
Obsevations: Korea deals with snow much better than we do.
Korean traffic is horrendous!
Nobody here seems remotely worried about north Korea, as my cabbie said 'That man - he is an idiot!'
