Grand Busan

... I started taking them now--I mean, I could have started taking them earlier, but I feel like I may have been overwhelmed. Now, I have a long list of working vocabulary, I sort of understand what people are asking of me, I know the social rules, and it all doesn't sound like jibberish anymore! I feel like I may have given up a lot sooner if I had started taking classes when I first got here. Either way, it's working ...

... shops (one is directly opposite my building), three pubs, a pool hall and this internt cafe. ABout 10 minutes walk away is a golf driving range, Korean burger chain and several bakeries. maybe 15-20 mins away is a giant Homeplus (or Tesco to you Brits) so I can get anything I like.<br><br>Perhaps the best thing to happen was bumping into a Canadian couple on my way back, who helpfully gave me Facebook contact details. Always useful to ...

... that looked spectacular in my guidebook, and I was eager to see it for myself...<br><br>I'd not really done much exercise of late, although my wrists were certainly getting stronger........due to all the essay marking, before anyone gets the wrong idea! So I'd not planned on hiking for the best part of five hours, but I'm glad that I put in the effort as the views were superb. The fortress looked like a mini-Great Wall, snaking off over the mountains ...

... Most notably, the air is so much cleaner in Busan! We all stepped off the train and could actually breathe! In fact, the sky was so clear (rather than carrying a haze of pollution) that we could see the moon during the day time! The subway in Busan only has three lines. It seemed like there are WAY more expats in Busan. The people are so laid back. Everyone is dressed casually, which is a huge difference considering everyone in Seoul is always ...

... able to understand everything I'm saying at all times. There's a certain latitude which I enjoy here especially when I decide to start running my mouth. I am looking forward to real cheese, good beer, and bread that isn't so sweet. Also real AMERICAN beef without the crazy messed up mad cow conversation will be nice. One thing I'm not looking forward to are the rules. I think it's an American past time to ...

... it was back to the ship. That night we went to where the nightlife was. Try and work this out. The nightlife district in Pusan, South Korea is called Texas St and is run by the Russian Mafia. Apparently it used to be owned mostly by the KGB but they went broke. Had a interesting conversation with a gentleman named, of course, Ivan. He told us he used to be the KGB station manager in Pusan. He never really left the ...

... do it!! Kids will be kids.... I'll stick to my personal rules and never do it. I hope that none of my students do anything bad enough in any of my classes. I wouldn't issue a punishment, but another teacher might....<br><br>Ok, that's my blog for this week. I'm getting a TV and a table tomorrow! That's a highlight. Somewhere to prepare food.....coool..... :) I wish my internet was more reliable. SO annoying... Until next time.... An-yong-hey-say-o!!

... of the Busan metro system. It has only three lines, it feels knowable and manageable. And as the subway, so the city. Where Seoul feels awfully infinite, Busan feels pleasantly finite. Busan has also worked hard to extricate itself from Seoul's shadow. I think it is fair to say that most of the world - including me until I arrived here - mistakenly equates Korea with Seoul. Busan still lags far behind Seoul in terms of international recognition, but in circles its ...

... of Tottenham Court Road with an upside down map I will now feel compelled to give them directions and if they don't understand, personally lead them to wherever they want to go by the hand. It remains to be seen whether this will actually happen or not. Gangchon is 10kms away from the city Chuncheon which is famous within Korea for Dakgalbi - a dish of barbecued chicken. Needless to say, Gangchon is cashing in on this "fame" and the majority of restaurants offered ...