For those of you who don't already know, I moved to Korea Thursday, 12/10/09 for a 2 year stay. My husband, Michael, arrived at Camp Humphreys, near Pyeongtaek, on 12/8/09. We had initially planned for me to stay behind in Atlanta until the end of the school year but eventually but decided I should join him soon after his arrival. To the right is a picture of the USO at Camp Humphreys. Michael was assigned a sponsor, Mark. Mark and his wife Sandy have been shepherding us through the Governmental processes, providing us with transportation and getting us plugged into the social activities here. Sandy’s ministrations on my behalf have made a huge difference in my adjustment here. Michael and I both love it here and feel very much at home. We are both very excited about our adventure and feel incredibly blessed.
We are staying in the Humphreys Lodge, basically a hotel. The Lodge is near the Commissary, PX, Movie Theater, Post Office, USO and Community Center, making it very convenient for us. You are allowed to stay here for 30 days and can request an extension of up to 60 days. The Army and the ACE (Army Corps of Engineers) really likes people to move into their permanent place within 30 days of their arrival.
We found a house on Saturday, 12/12/09, just a few days after we arrived and the first day of looking! We are so happy to get a house, because there are very, very, very few houses in South Korea. Being an island with limited space, nearly everyone lives in an apartment. We are moving on December 28th, probably a record for the Corps! Before we started house hunting on Saturday, we took a brief walk around the neighborhood off base.
Our house is on the same street as Mark and Sandy’s apartment and other Americans. In the summer the US folks in the neighborhood have joint BBQs. Living near other Americans may help with culture shock. In 6 months we may be in a difficult stage pf culture shock. Luckily I already have a ticket for a flight home on June 9, great [unplanned] timing in light of the normal stages of culture shock!
On Sunday we went to the on-base Chapel with Sandy and Mark. Then they took us to the Osan Air Force Base BX (the Air Force's PX) and to the shopping district right outside the camp's gate. The shopping district was really interesting, with many small shops. They also took us to a large multistoried market named Lotte Mart. It's similar to a combination of a small Dollar store, a Target or Kmart, and a Grocery store, all independent of each other and on different levels. It had a few smaller shops.
I am planning to start teaching a Pilates class here on base. I taught one session to Sandy this week! I have also begun taking a course on basic Korean language skills and culture. Due to our *wonderful* exchange student, Min-Ho, we have a head start on understanding the culture.
Before I left the US, I took the first in a 3 course series in Teaching English as a Second [or Foreign] language at Kennesaw State University. KSU’s three course program leads to the internationally recognized Certificate in TESOL / TEFL. I had to leave before completing the other two courses and plan to complete the 2nd and 3rd certification courses via one of the advertised correspondence or distance learning programs. KSU doesn’t have such a program, so I hope one of the organizations providing the courses will accept my KSU course.
On Wednesday night, 12/16, we attended an on-base Holiday and Korean and United States Friendship Concert with the Eirene Philharmonic Orchestra joined by multi-Grammy nominated Peter Wolf and International Brass Personality of the Year Jens Lindeman. At one point in the concert, Jans Lindeman announced that they were going to perform a Christmas song sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis. He asked if anyone knew what the song was. My hand shot up and he asked me the name of the song. I replied "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". I won a CD by Peter Wolf, but they didn't have any media with them. I have to email them to receive it. The Korean and US national anthems were sung during the program. The Korean national anthem is absolutely beautiful and it was sung beautifully, too.
As we left the theater, it was beginning to snow. Michael said having the snow start at the end of the Holiday concert was perfect, just as if someone had ordered the snow, like at Disney World where they make it snow.
This was the view from our hotel room.
1 comment:
GREAT job with the Blog (Wow...I am a poet and don't know it)! Thank you for the detail, including the "cool" pictures, especially of your new house. Say "hi" to Mike for us!!!
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