In korea

Here is the long awaited post... I AM IN KOREA!
I guess the best place to start would be with my flight.
I left Toronto at 10:30 Canadian time. That flight was delayed in getting to Chicago because of fog in Chicago. But the flight went smoothly and was really easy. The stress started when I got to Chicago. I got SO lost in that air port. I was very thankful for the amount of time that I had, because I checked into my flight at about 12 noon Chicago time (which is an hour later the Hamilton area), and the flight left at 1 pm. So after a lot of tears and just stressing... i got on my flight and settled down for a 14 hour flight. I ate the lunch that they served, and watched a movie. This was all in the United States still. The flight took a very interesting path. We went up through the states, and then crossed over in to Manitoba, and then into Saskatchewan. From there we kept going up into the Northwest Territories. Then into Alaska, right a long th coast of it. From there we crossed the Ocean and then flew over Russia and downwards, towards Seoul. I didn't look out the window much because they darkened the cabin to encourage sleep. I think i got about 5 hours of sleep through out the flight. And got really sick feeling over Alaska, because we had been flying for so long. I only ate one meal on the plane because of that.. and all the smells were getting to me.
On the flight I had a very cute Korean baby sitting beside me, and she did really well for flying for so long.
Arriving was very easy as well. I went through customs without trouble, it may have been the fact that they sent me through one where the guy didn't speak english, so he said nothing to me. American customs in Toronto was harder, because I had just said good-bye to my family, and was an emotional wreck.. plus some of the things on my card were not filled out properly.. and i couldnt focus on what he was saying... but i got through.. and its a good thing not wearing pockets, because then with security nothing went off.
So i have my own stuido apartment. Its small, but it will be home for a year. My bedroom is a loft, and i am for once thankful that i am short, becuase I have to bend down even up there. I will put up pictures soon. I went shopping with my co-teacher yesterday, and got some things.. but forgot to get a lot of stuff. So i need to go shopping tonight, so that i can get some more things. I bought orange jucie last night, and i am very happy to say, it tastes normal.. the only little off thing i have had so far is the bread, but i will get used to that.
The bathroom is another interesting thing. I have an American-style toilet, which is a good thing. But i do not have a seperate shower. Its part of my sink. The sink is in an enclosed area, and on my tap, there is a shower control. So i have a very strange shower. I took a shower at like 4 am this morning because I could not sleep. It was a very different experience.
My kitchen is tiny, and i have a washing machine in my kitchen too.
Pictures will definatly help explain things.
I have internet in my house, and have a computer here at the school, so contacting me is very very simple, and i am very thankful for that.
Right now I am at the school. It is Tuesday at 9:33. I have my first class at 9:55. Today i am just watching, but i will be meeting the students and such. They are cute, they bow to you when you walk in, because I am a teacher, and they respect me. makes you go wow. I have met the principle today, and she was wonderful. She is very kind. They were discussing my name, and there is a Melanie in "Gone with the Wind", and she told me that i looked like how she would imagine the character Melanie to look. So, as you can see, she is very sweet. I get to go somewhere special with them today for lunch, which is a very special thing as usally the teacher eats with the students.
I got pretty lost this morning. I was supposed to take a taxi, but i was having NO LUCK with getting one, so i began walking, and was walking in the right direction, and was pretty close when i felt very lost. when i felt very lost, i did get a taxi, and he drove me the way that i need to go, and it did not take very long. It is a 20 min walk. I may take a taxi home tonight just so that i can get that path right, but i don't remember how to say my address. I will have to ask my co-teacher that before I go home. Or maybe be confident enough to walk home.
The weather here is very humid, and very cloudy. I havent seen the sun yet, but it hasn't rained either. I was very sweaty when i arrived at the school, and then right away had to meet the principle... she was kind enough to let me borrow her fan, and to do much to make sure i was comfortable, like turn on a fan. I am also very thankful that i CAN drink coffee black, because thats all they do here, no sugar or cream offered.
Well, i should be going now. I have a class at second period, which is at 9:55, and I believe it is in the English zone.. which is on the first floor.. but thats all i know right now... my co-teacher is a little busy all the time.
Oh, funny news, I am wearing socks in flip-flops because they all wear slippers in the school, so i will have really sore feet by the end of the day, and i will have to get used to wearing socks in sandels... DANG