Ein neues Jahr

2012 is finally here and so is my friend Chris. He got in tonight, and is staying pretty far south near Gangnam University until he gets his apartment, which I assume is near his school (about 200 meters away from my apartment). I didn't get to see him (in person) yet, but we did Skype and I am excited to finally have one of my best friends who has been through a lot with me in the past 5 years be here with me. I do not feel too lonely here, although I am alone more often than I ever have been in my life.

The balance of being alone and lonely is one that I think a lot of expats deal with, but now it will be so much better since he is here. I have a lot of cool friends here already, some from North America who can share the same humor and pop culture references, and some from Korea who can teach me a lot and show me new places. However, having a friend who is from the same small town area of Florida that I'm from, who experienced the good and the bad that comes along with it, and who went to the same university and had the same circles of friends as I did, is the best thing imaginable. The only thing that would make it better is if my brother came back.

As for work, it's been fine. I came back from Winter Break last week and the only tough thing adjusting to was the sleep schedule. I didn't have much money my first month here, because I hadn't been paid yet, so I stayed here in Jukjeon and went to Seoul on little day trips instead of venturing to Busan or elsewhere in Korea. I really enjoy my job, and feel a real sense of pride for my students who, in my estimation, are a lot smarter than their American peers as far as English is concerned. For example, my kindergarten students are 6 years of age (in western age), and all of them read 4 paragraph speeches today without having difficulties with any of the words. Granted, they might not know what "unique" or "origin" mean, but they pronounce them with ease. I constantly compare my students here with the students I taught in Florida, and am constantly amazed at their ability, despite it being their second language.

My older kids are great too, because they get more of my humor and they are also a lot funnier - things that come with being older and with a better command of English. I am truly blessed to have the job I have and to be where I am right now.