So here's the deal...

Have decided to leave Korea early. Gave my letter of resignation to my school on Monday, stating that my last day will be February 28. I didn't realise that it was a Sunday, but they are cool with it. The teachers handling the situation are being very understanding and supportive. Since Feb 28th is exactly 6 months, I don't have to pay back the re-imbursed airfare and settlement allowance of 300,000won. Also, since it's exactly half of my 1 year contract, they are allowing me to have half of my holidays. I've got 5 days in Jan (the first full week of Jan, so 1st through to the 10th), and then 5 days in Feb (from Lunar New Year - Feb 13 to Feb 22), and then the last 4 days at work, preparing things for a new (possible) replacement.

It wasn't a decision that I made lightly. I haven't been enjoying my job pretty much since I got here. I have no big regrets (small ones, yes, but not big ones) about taking this job and trying something new in a place I've been before. One thing that this experience has emphasised more for me, is that you're the only person who can truly look after you. I now know that Korean public schools aren't my thing. Outside of work, I am enjoying my life here in Korea, but to have to go to a place you don't want to go to 5 days a week, is hard.

I've got issues that I have to deal with back at home as well, and I'll be honest, if these issues didn't come up, I would have tried to stay in my job for 12 months, and I think I could have. But, this is just the way it is. You gotta do the best with what you've got.

As Kenny has said:

You gotta know when to hold 'em
know when to fold 'em
know when to walk away
know when to run

For my own sake, it's time for me to fold 'em and walk away, so I can come back feeling better than ever.

Yeah, I do want to come back to Korea. This chapter in life has taught me to look before you leap, test the waters before jumping in. I think a part of me was so eager to get back to Korea, that i jumped into this job a bit too quickly. If you have to go to a place 5 days out of 7, you should may as well enjoy it - and I'm not.

So this is how it works:
Feb 26 (fri) - last working day
Feb 28 (sun) - last official day, and moving out of apartment day
Mar 1 (mon) - public holiday (independence day)
Mar 2 (tue) - first day of the new semester
Mar 3 (wed) - meet my co-teacher in Suwon so that I can cancel my visa/sojourn properly
Mar 5 (fri) - get to incheon airport by 9, so that I can check in for a flight that leaves at 11am.

From my experience, Koreans can plan stuff pretty well, when they need to. I've given them more than 60 days notice as to when I'm going to quit (sure it's only 10 days, but any bonus is good), so that they have a bit more time to try to find a replacement. I've told them if they would like any help from me, then all they have to do is ask - it's the least I could do since they're helping me out too.

I've also sorted out places to stay from Feb 28 to Mar 5. Friends are awesome when they help out - I'd like to think that they know that I would do the same for them as well.

Daejeon Science Museum and Expo Park

Pictures from last weekend in Daejeon (대전) - National Science Museum and Expo Park

A bit of an update

Not much happening lately. Have survived a month here, and things aren't going too bad.

Here's a few recent pics:


Met up with Bogeum and Hyunmin a week ago, and hung out. It was good to see them. Since I left Korea last year, they've got married (I missed their wedding by 2 days), and have moved into a new place.


Met up with another old friend, Taejin. We hung out in Anyang, and caught up.


A watch I bought in Anyang.


Met up with Dohyung on Friday, and relaxed at Lake Park (호주공원) in Ilsan. It was nice to see a decent sized park in Korea. But, was even better to meet up with Dohyung. Known each other for over a year, but it was the first time to meet.


Some Nike slipons I bought in Ilsan. They feel very comfortable.

Weekend in Busan

Made my way to Cheonan-Asan Station (천안아산역), via Bus 370, a train to Cheonan, and then taxi to the station. Got tickets to Busan, and a ticket to come back Sunday afternoon.


My friend and I didn't have any lunch, so we had a late lunch - McDonalds. The McDonalds in Nampodong is huge. This is only one small section of it.


We then walked around and did a bit of shopping, and we found Frisbee - an Apple Premium Reseller. The staff there were so helpful and kind (and did the whole "한국말 잘하시네요" (you speak korean well, in a surprised voice) thing - I think I got that about 5 or 6 times this weekend). Maybe they just enjoyed their job, or maybe it was because I spent $400 there. Anyway, I had a good experience there, so the next day, I bought them some Krispy Kream donuts.

Later on that evening, we had dinner at out most favourite Galbi (갈비) restaurant in ALL of Korea, 생수갈비, met up with some of 성진's friends, and went to a bar and did a bit more shopping. They had to go, so after that, we got some Krispy Kream donuts, some drinks, and went to 용구산 공원 (Yongdusan Park) and chatted.


Sunday Morning breakfast - 소육백반, or as I called it "모닝 갈비". It was very good. A nice selection of 반찬/side dishes, and the meat wasn't overcooked, and was thinner than regular galbi/samgyeopsal.


We did a bit of internet research, and found 나무그늘, a place that has the skin care fish for your feet. So, we got some drinks, and paid for Dr. Fish. It was not busy at all, when we got there, there were only about 7 or 8 people there, including the staff working there.


Since it was very quiet there, they let us have Dr Fish for 30 minutes. It was 성진's first time to have fish eat his feet, so he was more surprised and shocked than I was when I put my feet in.

After that, went to Busan station, and made my way home. Decided to treat myself to Pizza, and got Domino's. Wasn't anywhere as good as Domino's back home, so I think I'll try some other cheaper Korean Pizza places near my house next time.

Easter Weekend

Went to Melbourne, and Great Ocean Road (went to Colac, and stayed overnight in Warrnambool, then Great Ocean Road the next day). Had a good time with friends (that could actually make it, and didn't fuck with my plans).

Here's some photos ^^

Drive

When I was in Korea, on almost every weekend, I was travelling to meet friends, going to see tourist/historical things, or just for shopping. It's been 8 weeks at home, and it feels weird that I haven't travelled out of the area. So today, I went to Renmark. Renmark is a small-ish town in South Australia, about 140-ish km west of me. I went for the shopping. Renmark has a Big W, and Mildura doesn't. Also, being in South Australia, it has different water restrictions - so, things were a lot greener there.

Here's a few pics:





South Australia is in a different time zone than Victoria - it's 30 minutes behind. It's the longest drive I've had, since I've been home. Driving 130km to Renmark, and then 130km back took a while, but it was nice.

I'm home

Arrived at Brisbane airport at 7am, but it was insanely busy at the airport. Took a long time to get though customs and immigration, and then not knowing that the domestic and international terminals at Brisbane were in the same building, so byt he time i got the the domestic terminal, it was too late to check in my luggage (got a ticket in Japan), so I was able to change to the next Melbourne flight, one hour after the planned time, at no charge, which was awesome.

Daylight savings has kicked in early in Victoria, and I forgot that Queensland doesn't do Daylight savings time, so that buggered me up a little.

Had some Subway for breakfast and dinner. Not many healthy and cheap options for food in airports. I had to pay $3.30 because my luggage was a bit heavy for my last flight. My mum and sisters met me at the airport in Mildura, and then came home. My sisters wanted to have Fish and Chips for tea, and just relaxing with family.

3 time zones in 36 hours... Tired and emotional.

Narita Airport

Got to Narita Airport on time, and then got to terminal 2 with no problems. Just followed the signs, and there was a airport staff member with a list of people who had to transfer from the Korean air flight. Waited for the bus, and got to terminal 2. The girl at the check-in country (who was very kind, and cute ^^) tried to sort out my luggage so that it could go through to Melbourne, but she couldn't, since it's gotta go though customs.


Got some lunch, and checked out the duty free. The only thing I was interested in was a digital photo frame. But, with the exchange rate at the moment, I don't think it was worth it. Just bought a daily thing for using wifi in the airport and chilled. I'm looking forward to sleeping on the plane. If I can.

It's about 15 minutes from boarding time. Will be good to be home.

Last Day, Part 3

The boss came to my place at about 1:40am, to collect my stuff, and take me to Gwangju bus terminal. On the way, we stopped at his place, to say good bye to his sons. They're like younger brothers to me - I used to see them every day. One of them was already asleep, but the older one stayed up to say good bye. The boss said he'll miss me, and I know I'll miss him.

Got to the bus terminal at about 2:30am, and the boss and I talked for a while, said goodbye, and then I got the bus. I think I got about 30 mins sleep, coz I woke up, and it was damn hot. The bus driver, in thin slacks and a thin shirt, had the heater on 1000% and then some. Other people were complaining that it was to hot, but then he started talking about how it's better to be too hot rather than be too cold or some shit.

The bus got to Incheon International at 7:00, 30 minutes ahead of schedule, which was good, since the check-in lines for my first flight were insanely busy. Took 40-50 minutes to check in, and then i went around checking out the exchange rate (which wasn't too bad, considering that it's gone over 1,000 won per AU$1 a while ago.

Then I finally got around to calling the friends who came to meet me at the airport. I'm so fucking happy that they woke up early and made the effort to come to see me off. They're the kind of friends that made me think twice and a third time about leaving.

After chatting, hugging, a bit of emotion showing a bit of crying, I went through the magical frosted doors, though customs and immigration, handed over my alien card, and got on the plane...

(the internet at Narita is a bit shit.. I'll post some pics later).

Well, that's the end of my Life in SK.

I'll continue blogging at: andyinreallife.blogspot.com

Weekend by Photos

Got off the train at Yeongdeungpo, but a friend i was meant to meet forgot all about it (not having my phone for a week mightn't have helped either), so got some lunch and went to a PC bang for a while, before going to Jongno to meet up with some friends.



Dinner was awesome, but the 아구짐 was a bit dangerous. Played 고스톱 until 3am with friends, lost only 10,000 won.


Lunch was at the Thai Orchid in Itaewon. Damn tasty. Then coffee and donuts in Suwon, then out to a party in Guro.

Sunday: Burritos and Books (and Kevin Bacon) in Gangnam...


...Dinner in Hongdae, and Zombies at a friends house...



...and last minute sticker pictures.


Awesome weekend *^^* Thanks everyone

Weekend in Busan

Had a weekend in Busan, and hung out with friends. Here's a few photos:

Arrived at Sasang (사상) terminal in Busan just after 2pm, and went to Lotte Cinema to get 2 tickets for Dark Knight, for my friend and I to watch when he finished work. Had some KFC for lunch, and found a PC bang to hang out in until he finished work. Met him at Home Plus, but he had to take a work mate home, so we missed the start of the movie (he has no 시기센스 ^^), but didn't miss much, just the first crime involving the Joker.

After the movie, we met a couple of other friends at Home Plus, just near the cinema, then went off to have some Galbi, play some pool, and then went to a very expensive noraebang *^^*



On Sunday, we got some Pizza for lunch...


...waited for the car in the carpark...


...then headed out to Gwangalli Beach (광안리 해수욕장) for a bit of sun.