So while I sit in Butterfingers, one of the few places serving anything that even slightly resembles a western style breakfast, I was struck by a strange need to write something.

I'm now moving in to my 3rd month in Korea and all I can say is time flies when you don't know what the hell you are doing. I'm thinking back to the night of my arrival in Seoul. It only takes one mistake of catching a bus to the Gangnam express terminal instead of Gangnam station to leave you lost and confused trying understand why there is a massive clothing market where the sign says a subway station should be.

Wondering around trying to gauge directions or communicate with indifferent taxi drivers left me with a stark realisation. Despite spending most of my life considering myself fairly well educated, in the matter of a 20 hour plane flight, I had now become absolutely illiterate. Had it not been for the beacon of English hope in the form of the friendly staff at the Marriot hotel, who kindly hailed me a cab and directed them to my correct destination, I might still be wondering the streets of Gangnam laden with bags, dazed and confused.

The rest of night was equally interesting. After meeting my schools director he took me out to dinner to a Japanese style fast food restaurant called Pomato spoon, don't ask me to explain the name. Despite not speaking Korean it seemed easy enough for him to order a fair selection of food. This proved to be easier said than done when I returned at a later date. After wondering the streets for approximately two hours a night to find a dinner I could order for the third night running I decided to return to the familiar hunting grounds of Pomato spoon however I was confronted with the menu below! My solution pointing at the picture in the middle and hoping for the best, it wasn't what I wanted but it didn't kill me either. I consider that a victory against illiteracy.

The other noteworthy part of the evening was the accommodation, the night ended with me being led through a low dark archway in to the unmistakable dingy foyer of one of the infamous Korean motels often known as love motels. This is where I would spend my first week in Korea. Love motels are a reflection of the societal structures, with most youngsters staying at home in to their early thirties if they don't get married and with marital infidelity being a criminal offence there is a certain need for private clandestine meeting places. It was in one such fine establishment that I found myself. The motel itself was tidy and clean and the concierge was always super friendly and overly generous with physical compliments as happens frequently in Korea. The only downside was the hotel tended to come alive in the early hours of the morning, it was if it had a heart beat. Well maybe not a heartbeat, more like a rhythmic thumping sound which continued for an admirably long period. Other than that it was actually a pretty pleasant experience and if you are looking for affordable accommodation they are well worth the money. 

So that pretty much covers my initial experience in Korea. I'll look at a few more of the unique elements of Seoul and specifically Gangnam, where I am based, that I have experienced in the initial couple of months with the next few posts. No promises about the timing though since I seem unable to stick to any commitments I make! :P

Ciao for now.