I LIVE.

Despite the best efforts of Google and Korean drivers, it should be noted.

I am now settled in Andong, in the north of the Gyeongbuk province. I haven't explored it too widely yet - I was going to yesterday, but the rain decided to come down in Vancouver proportions - but it seems pretty good so far. There is both a Lotte Mart and an E-Mart near my apartment, along with a lifetime's supply of 7-Elevens. And, as it happens, a lovely little cafe with wireless internet, which is where I'm writing this now.

I have neither a phone, nor interet access in my apartment, but I was led to not expect either until I get my Alien Registration Card, so whatever. I have developed a fervent hatred of PC bangs, due to their pirated copies of Internet Explorer which crash all the dratted time. I'd rather pay the extra 'pricy tea at a cafe' fee.

There is an incident I would like to relate.

It concerns a new friend of mine, Skye, whom I met at the orientation. On the first night here, I set off to visit here. I was armed with the address in both hangul and Roman letters and I flagged down a taxi with confidence. Only, when I tried to say it - and when I showed him the address - confusion set in.

So he drove. He drove for a while. He talked a lot as he did so, the meaning of his words almost entirely escaping me. Except when he tried to get across the concept of phone. He wanted to call the number that was written on the address, which turned out to belong to the landlady. I did not know that at the time. He drives about, calls the landlady a couple of times at loud volume and at great length, until we come to a halt outside the apartment building. The landlady, a tiny elderly woman, was waiting.

She practically yanked me out of the taxi and dragged me into the building and up the stairs, chattering excitedly the whole time. As it turns out, there was a reason why she was so happy to see me. I completed the trifecta of characteristics that differentiated Skye from the previous occupant of her apartment: she has friends, she is slim, and above all, she has no cats!

So that was fun.

Also, I have met some other pre-existing Andong teachers and they seem like pretty cool cats. Some of the other teachers at the orientation are settled near me, which is also swell. In front of a store near where I live, they sometimes have dancing girls. They must be very tired at the end of the day.

I ate raw garlic, which impressed the teachers from my school I had lunch with today. They introduced me to the concept of rice soup, which I find quite clever.

As for next weekend, I'm going to attempt to visit the ever-hospitable Jouelle in Seoul, where she will take me to a palace and Costco. (I'll have to find out where the train is, won't I?)

Oh, and apparently, BC has a new premier. Christy Clark, may you not be as much as an asshat as your predeccesor. I set such high standards for my province's politicians, don't I?

That is all for now. Don't burn the place to the ground while I'm out.