"Hello -- you want Pringle?"

Annyonghaseyo.

It’s official. I am getting settled in and making my home in Busan. Lately I have become best friends with the lovely subway system. Aside from the one creepy incident of a minor stalker case…it has been really fun. I live at Jangsan. At first I had NO clue even where the station was. So after I went out for dinner last weekend I got to my subway stop and came up to ground level…having no clue which direction to go. (Always a good thing in the middle of the night). Thank goodness for 2001 Outlet store (where I have frequently bought groceries) I knew exactly the direction to head.

It’s so different in this city because it isn’t like a big city I have ever been to. The only thing close enough that I can compare it to is New York. It’s definitely not the same but with all of the crazy flashing lights, psycho drivers, and millions of skyscrapers…it’s the only thing remotely similar. I will be posting pictures soon (as quickly as I can get internet in my apt figured out…) and you will all have some kind of idea of the madness in a massive Asian city.

Let’s see.

Top 10 Latest news:

1. A girl I have in one of my classes is reading a book with a title something like “Top 50 Application Letters for Getting into Harvard”. Yeah…that’s what I was reading when I was 11….

2. Becoming friends with a lady named Sunchu who sells delicious seafood/sushi fried wrapped things outside of my apartment. I am addicted. It’s only 500Won for each roll (44 cents)!

3. Sort of getting used to the job. There is so much to learn and adapt to. It’s really difficult getting into the system of it all because a really solid curriculum is in place. Right now, it all seems as complicated as the Korean alphabet.

**Speaking of which, I have decided to learn to read Korean. Everyone says it’s completely possible and some have even suggested the term “easy”. We shall see, my friends, we shall see.

**Also, a really sweet guy I work with named Han is also a Christian. I was so overjoyed when he told me that I almost ran over and gave him a hug…but that’s not culturally acceptable…

4. I finally found coffee that isn’t instant. Seriously, all the Koreans want is this grossy instant coffee. Yikes. I am too much of a coffee lover to do that to my taste buds. But golly it is expensive to buy the good stuff though. I am going to venture to CostCo soon and buy some bulk beans.

**Sidenote: Stiles, I have only gone to starbucks twice and it is located on the first floor of my apt building. You should be so proud. I don’t even have a desire to go there!

5. I found an AMAZING church: International Community Church. Great community and lots of foreigners that love Jesus too. I am so thankful.

6. I live 2 stops from the most popular beach in Korea and I still haven’t been. I will go this week. The decision is made.

7. I live about 5 stops from the largest dept store in the world. Shinsegae “mall”. The place is OUTRAGEOUS. Pictures definitely to come.

8. There is a wonderful bakery called Paris Baguette (they are EVERYWHERE here) that has the most delicious blueberry bagels. It’s literally just downstairs in my apartment. Confession: I have eaten one almost every morning.

9. I have found that people want to speak English to me no matter how awkward the conversation will be:

Scenario 1: I am sitting on the subway. The man next to me says “Hello, how are you?”…more random English conversation continues and about 2 minutes later he stands to get off at his stop….I say, “Welp, see ya later.” He responds completely surprised and excited with, “LATER?!?!”

Scenario 2: I am walking through the farmers market and a boy stops, looks at me – then down at his chips – then back at me and says “Hello – you want Pringle?”

Scenario 3: Walking into my apartment building and have to squeeze through like 20 schoolgirls. One stands in front of me causing me to stop all to say “Hello!” Then the rest say “Hello” in unison. I say hi back and as I am leaving they all shout “Very beautiful girl”. I took the compliment but I am almost convinced that those were the only English words that came to mind in that instant.

Scenario 4: Possibly my favorite. I am looking at the foreign foods at the dept store and a man approaches me all to say “Hello, where you from? You have boyfriend?” He was standing EXTREMELY close to my face when I looked up at him and I, in a panic, respond with “He is very big, ummm buff, yes my boyfriend.” Then I ran away…

10. Finally, I have to say I am becoming addicted to the fruit people sell on the sidewalk. I hope I don’t die…I have definitely been warned that it may not be the best. It’s SO good people! I have had the purplest of purple grapes here and some awesome apricots. YUM.

You know it’s funny. I have heard from so many people that there are foreigners all over Busan…but I never see them. If I do, they are always in clumps. Us foreigners, we stick out like a sore thumb. I’m not sure how you get sucked into one of these clumps, but honestly I kind of like being anti-clumped. I feel fearless when I accomplish something…and I am not sure I’m ready to give that up.

Prayer needs:

Opportunities in conversation to share the good news.

Friends…(I need them. For example: My friend Sun came to see me before she left to go to the states and I was gleaming all day because I had “plans”. I’m going to turn into a crazy if I don’t have someone to talk to soon…)

My contentment and joy with where I am.

Freedom from timidity

Clarity with the “teaching system”

Love you all dearly!