Moved into my new apartment yesterday. My boss helped me with the heavy stuff (like the fridge, bed and washing machine), then Trevor and his girlfrend (in which I'm not sure how to spell her name), also helped me with moving stuff. Took us the better half of the day, but, got all the stuff up to the 12th floor apartment, and then I went back down to the other apartment (on the 1st floor). The only thing I couldn't get rid of, was a stain on the tiles, where the washing machine was. No amount of scrubbing would get rid of it. I also couldn't take the curtains with me, since the thing that held the curtains in place, was screwed to the ceiling, and I didn't have any screwdrivers.

This morning, I woke up nice and early (about 6:45am), after going to bed at 2:30am (stayed up late talking to Akil), and went to 담양 with him, his wife, and other 검도 students. There was a 검도 competition there, which involved paper cutting and bamboo cutting. This was the first time I have been to one of the 검도 competitions before, and it looks really cool. My 관장님 says that I can do the Bamboo cutting thing - i just need some practice.

At the competition, you have to be careful, and pay attention to whats happening around you, since the bamboo that is cut with the swords, can come flying off in any direction with alot of speed. Two children were hit with flying bamboo. There was an ambulance standing by for the duration of the event. In the first round, while I was using my camera (in my right hand), a piece of bamboo came flying in my direction, and, as if it were natural, just caught it with my left hand, while I was still taking photos. The MC said something in Korean, then everyone looked at me. They applauded the competetor, then applauded me. I have a habin of drawing more attention to myself than necessary.

A few minutes after that, the organiser of the event, Mr. Kim, came over to me, shook my hand, and we started talking in English. Then, he started talking to my 관장님 ^^ I think Mr Kim was surprised that I do 검도 ;) There will be another 검도 competition in October, to be held in 광주, so, I want to try to compete in that ^^ I will see another competition when I go to 제주도 in June, so that will be fun again ;)

Trevor left for 대구 today. He left some stuff with me, that he couldn't take today... He had alot of stuff to take with him. He's helped me out alot in Korea, so, kinda sad to see him go, but also good that he's having a new and different experience in a different part of Korea ;) Good luck, buddy ^^

As much as I feel like "giving up" and want to go back home to Australia... I'm going to stay here for as long as I can and enjoy it.

I just have to change my thinking about some things... my thinking, and my thinking about Korea...

Haven't been able to sleep well recently, and I dont know why... Some days, I can stay awake for a really long time, and other times, I sleep too much... Its kinda annoying.

Weekend was okay. Went to 나주 and 광주 with my boss's son, and had a good time. Yesterday and today, feeling very homesick, and didn't feel like going anywhere. I went to work, and 검도, but didn't really feel like it. I'll see how I feel tomorrow... if I still feel homesick, I wont go to 검도.

Nothing out of the ordinary for this week... Just a minor timetable change, which is only for the following 4 weeks, starting this week. The timetable change means that I can go to the 검도장 every day now, instead of only 4 days a week.

My boss also found a vacant apartment for me, on the 12th floor. I think he said we'll move all my stuff there on the 30th. See how it goes ;)

Just having a relaxed day... well, kind of. I cleaned my apartment today, again... It seems to get dirty very quickly. I vacuumed, hung my sleeping mat outside to get some fresh air, washed some clothes, washed and dried my dishes, even put a few posters up in my room, that I got from 부산 2 weeks ago.

Work was good today. I tried doing some different things in my classes. Some students like it, and some didn't.

Yesterday, I was sick, so I had the day off, so today, I had to have my late classes tonight. So, that means I missed out on 검도 tonight. I'll go tomorrow, and try to remember 3본 and 4본.

My 학원 is building a new building in my town. Currently, the 학원 I work at is in a small building with 3 classrooms, but the new 학원 will have more classrooms, and they will be bigger than our current classrooms. Also, my boss and his family, will live on the 2nd floor of the building of the 학원. They are debating wether to build an apartment for me into the building, since it would cost them the same amount to build it, as it costs to keep my apartment. But, I'm not 100% sure what will happen there.

Yesterday, a friend of mine - who is a teacher in another 헉원 in my town - was told that his 학원 can't afford to keep him employed there. So, last night, I helped him to find a job using the internet. I called him this afternoon, when I was walking to work, and he has already had 8 job offers! He has had 4 years English teaching expereince, so, I think he can find a good job.

My boss helped me to buy a battery for my notebook today. I was unable to buy it using the internet, because my credit card isn't a korean one. You would be surprised how many things I can not do, or have difficulty doing, just because I am not Korean... like simple things, like signing up for websites or games.

I am glad that tomorrow is friday, I will have the weekend to relax. I was thinking of going into GwangJu this weekend, but, I might stay in my town and relax - besides, i don't have much money anyway... I am also glad that I get paid next week ^^

My weekend was good. I was good to relax this time. The last two weekends, I've been to Busan and Seoul.

On saturday, I went into GwangJu with a friend of mine, who is a teacher at a different Hakwon (학원) in my town. We went to VIPS, and had the VIPS Steak - I had mine Medium Well Done. It was so delicious. The salad bar at VIPS is great too!

Then we went to Shinsegae (신세계) for some shopping, to buy some things that we can't buy in out town. I bought some Chicken meat, bacon, a new toothbrush and some toothpaste.

On the way back to my town, the bus was so hot! It was so uncomfortable!

On sunday, I just relaxed at my apartment. Watched a movie, and tidied my apartment. I went for a walk around town in the afternoon, but then it started to rain, so i rushed home.

I'm writing this from my bed. Its good having a notebook computer - you can move it around to where ever you like! I'm listening to MP3s as well ^^

I've had an intersting 24 hours. When I was on the way home from 검도, thursday night, some korean guys were drinking some Soju at the mart, and invited me to drink with them. This is the first time that it's happened. So, I sat down with them, and drank with them. We communicated with English, Korean and Body language.

Then, some of the guys wanted to have an arm wrestle with me... haha. Just before we had an arm wrestle, a few other guys came in, and they saw that we were going to start, and they stayed and watched. I thought that was really funny. We were of equal strength, so, it was a tie.

I went to the bank today, to change all my coins that I have collected in the 6 months I've been here in Korea. I was only expecting about 40,000 or 50,000won, but I got almost 130,000won! I was so surprised.

Work was okay. We played some English games today. Always good to have some fun with some students.

After work, I went to the 닭갈비 restaurant with Trevor (another Teacher in my town, from Canada) and his girlfriend. Then, I had 검도 training. I'm still having trouble trying to remember 사본, its very difficult for me. Then, I had an arm wrestle with 박형 ;) It was a tie ;)

I just got back from the 헬스 클럽 and 사우나. I think that they are a good combination, like 삼겹살 and 소주 ;) The sauna makes me feel really relaxed after working at the gym.

Yesterday was a long day. 7 classes, from 3pm to 10pm. That is my longest day in the week. But, because of that, I miss out of Kumdo once a week.

Today, I have 5 classes in a row from 3pm to 7:40pm, then Kumdo at 9pm. Might go to the sauna tomorrow, but not the gym. It's been a while since i've been to the Health Club (like almost 3 weeks), I'm feeling sore already.

Met 나나 for lunch on sunday, while my friend went to a wedding. It was good to meet her again ;) We get along well... she is a good friend ;) Then, I met 동균, Benny형 and Benny형's girlfriend for coffee and dinner in 서면. We found a CD store in 서면, and I bought a few things (like the repackaged edition of Swan Songs by Epik High) - the main reason why I am almost broke - and then had dinner and drinks. Drank a few bottles of 소주, which is always good, then went home.

Tried to buy a new battery for my Samsung notebook, but, the Service centre I went to monday morning didn't have any in stock, and they said it was rare anyway... You can buy from the Samsung website (but, I can't because I dont understand korean well enough), but they are sold out at the moment, because they are on sale. So, I'll either have to wait until they are in stock again on the site, and then get a friend to help my buy it... or see if a Service centre in 광주 has one, or can order in for me...

Went to 사상 bus terminal to go home on monday morning. That was easier than to travel for 70 minutes on the subway to get a Deluxe bus. So, I got a regular bus, which was okay, because I had both seats to myself, but... as per usual with korean public transport... the heating was turned on too high. Do Koreans have a fear of getting too cold?

Work was okay on monday, and Kumdo was good too, but I was too tired (and hungover) to learn any new stuff. Work was okay today as well, and in Kumdo, practiced routine number 4. Might be going to the Gym and Sauna and Akil tomorrow, if he is feeling better, then I've got 7 classes at work. No Kumdo tomorrow because of that, but might be drinking with Park형 after work ;)

Games!

HP and I went to an Arcade game room and had a really good time. I realised that all that messing around on the drums in my High School music class would pay off :p

I'm in Busan this weekend. Actually, I got here friday lunchtime. My boss gave me the day off (but only told me the day before at work... but, i'm not complaining ^^). So, I decided to come to Busan one day early ^^ I had lunch with some friends yesterday, and then met 현필 in the afternoon, after his classes. We walked around 하단, and had dinner, went to play some arcade games, then had some 소주. Today, 현필 and I met 수정 and 연실, and we had lunch at VIPS. I like VIPS better than Outback Steakhouse. It was good to see 연실 and 수정 again ;) They are very good friends ^^ After lunch, 수정 and 연실 had to go back to their hometowns, so 현필 and I went to 남포동. We went to Busan Tower, and got a really nice view of Busan, then walked around in 남포동, many shops and markets ^^

Also, when we were walking around 남포동, we had about 5 religious people aproach us (at different times), offering us the same brouhure... must have been recruitment day.