Ilsan! (every single second of my first day documented for YOU!)

Hiiiiii!

This is my second day in Korea and it's been really great so far! My apartment is sooo beautiful! One entire wall next to my bed is huge windows! I'm on the 11th floor so I have a very nice view (with skyscrapers etc.) Part f my view is the apartments across the street. It's kind of awesome because at night they have flashing colored disco lights and I can see people dancing sometimes.

I went exploring yesterday and found some amazing places!!

First, I simply turned left and walked a block and I saw people from all directions entering a gate - kind of like people streaming into a stadium for a football game. It was the greatly anticipated Lake Park!! Lake Park is like a park a little kid would dream up as the sweetest park possible, but then would realize as he/she got older, that it was too impossible and extravagant etc. But no! The Koreans just go for it! It's a huuuuuge lake and has other paths and gardens and things around it like temples, secret windy paths, peacocks(!), bizarre exercise equipment of the future that flips you upside down etc. Meanwhile, the main path is this crazy, high school track-like system with 4 lanes, 2 for walkers (spongy) and 2 for bikers (concrete). They even have arrows pointing which way you're supposed to walk!

Pictured to the right is my favorite section, "the barefeoot garden." I first thought this would be some nice, peaceful zen meditation spot, so I took my shoes off and headed on in. But truly, it was the reflexology TORTURE TRAIL. You walk on these little spiky rocks and then smooth rocks and then logs and then concrete triangles etc. It hurt like crazy, but then after, I felt so good, even a little euphoric(!) as I took a break from the hours(!) of walking and sipped on some Chisling Cider on a dock above water lilies.

I went home and happily napped and then felt ready to go out again! I walked a different way and got to La Festa in about three blocks, this huuuuuuuuuuuge outdoor mall with awesome teen culture watching. Most of the stores seem like really hip youth-oriented boutiques, but everything was dirt cheap! I was too nervous to shop there since my Korean skills are so lame, but I will when I get my first paycheck! There are many many floors, with restaurants and clubs too! Not too many American-y stores as I had feared might be the case. The colonel over there was an aberration. I went to "Homever" to get some house things. Homever is a huge department store OF THE FUTURE. It had five(?) floors and the escalators were STEPLESS diagonal conveyor belts that latched onto your cart. Terrifying. Awesome! They also had baby hedgehogs! Everything is so cute!! Like this mug to the right!! And I got a pillow with a puppy and a baby pig with smiles and happy closed eyes that says "...we are a good friends. let us smile together..." Korea rocksssss. (not just the stuff, haha. the people too!)

I went home and kind of decorated my apartment!

I have four little beautiful closets!!! And my refrigerator is in one too!

Haha...

Yeah! Then I hung out at home for a bit and got to meet Vicki and her boi Will, who both work at my school! They showed me around a bit and we ate at one of the boat sushi places, woopwoo. I start work in two days, wish me luck!

I won't have internet or a phone or cable until I get my resident card. I have to get x-rayed and poked and prodded for that first so they can know I don't have any STDs, do drugs, or have TB. I hope I pass, haha!

Bye! I miss you all!