week one, over and done

I landed in Seoul exactly one week ago as I write this. Weird week, since I haven't gotten around very much, and I've also been working, but not exactly the job I came here to do...so, eh, I don't know. Weird first week, I guess.

I've made some headway past the "meeting people" phase and I believe I have started to enter the actual "making friends" phase, which is GOOD. There's a few girls who seem to spend a lot of time together, although it sounds like almost everyone hangs out with everyone here...but anyway, these girls invited me to Ilsan last night for dinner and shopping, both of which were had in profusion!

Ilsan is the nearest urban area to my little community, I think it counts as a city by Korean standards. We took the shuttle from EV which drops the local workers at the nearest subway station, which happens to be in Ilsan, and then grabbed a few cabs to take us to the nearest shopping district, called La Festa. Just beyond that there's an area called Western Dome where I guess a lot of foreigners shop...although it still seemed to be primarily Koreans! They have familiar shops like Baskin Robbins, Starbucks, and LUSH!! but all with a Korean twist. They also have shoes large enough to fit the likes of us Western girls, which was one of the main reasons we ended up there. On our way through La Festa, we were accosted by the most delicious smell...and so we ended up in a Galbi restaurant. Buffet-style raw meat, marinating in a variety of sauces, that you take back to your table and grill. Eat as much as you want, there's sides and kimchi (of course) and vegetables and did I mention the all you can eat meat?? Oh it was delicious. All for w11,000 a person. We got a beer apiece, too, which is the most delicious drink possible with all that greasy meat. It's ok, though, because you wrap the meat in lettuce, and that makes it healthy. *Nods solemnly*

We noticed it was getting on the late side, so shopping commenced with full girly ferocity. I am still consumed with jealousy over the shoes Megan got, but I did pick up a few pairs myself. Supercute docs with black/white/red plaid fabric sides for w25,000? Yes please. Not that I need them for work. I did get a very cute pair of flats as well which will be useful. Couldn't find the ones I had at home when I was packing. I also succombed to Lush and got a hair mask, although it is significantly pricier here than back home. So there will be no Lush gluttony on this trip, just the essentials like face wash and MAYBE shampoo. Enough about that.

The whole area was full of neon flashy lights and signs in combinations of Korean and English, the English often being quite comical. "Pic Dic" was one shop that elicited snickers...apparently there's another one called "Make Yourself So F*cking Lovely" (asterisk inserted by me) but that I have not yet seen. I honestly felt like a small town girl in the big city for the first time, boggling at the bright lights and sounds and smells. One interesting tangent I started noticing more: affection between men and women is not generally displayed in public, but girls will walk around holding hands with each other, as will boys. This persists in registering in my brain as "oh look at the cute gay boys" before I remind myself that it's NOT.... it's just a cultural difference.

Tonight there is a Ball on campus for the staff, not that I really have dressy clothes but I'll put something together. Tomorrow I meet Joe for the first time, and then we take off for Seoul! It should be a great day of exploring, and I will be trying to learn the subway system as I go. For now, though, I need to get cleaned up and head to the ball!