Monday 9th Jan 2011

Wow, it's happening, in less than two weeks I have had an interview, been given a job and completed a TESOL course. Tomorrow I will receive my contract which will give me a starting date but I believe I will be leaving for Korea in less than a month.

I can't even explain how I am feeling at the moment it's a whole melting pot of emotions. Excitement, pleasure, anxiety, fear, all I know is that I have a lot of things to do and a whole lot of people to see in a very short amount of time.

This is what I know so far.

• I will be working in a pre school in an area of Seoul called Dogok. See map below. A marks the spot.

I haven't been able to Google much about the place it's self but have been told by my Korean friend that it is a very wealthy area and that it's about as Korean as I can get. Which equals huge culture shock.

• I know that I will be given an apartment approx 25 sqm in size and includes a single bed, a desk, a chair, cutlery and a tv if I'm lucky! Not having to pay rent for a year is a huge bonus and considering gas is less than $10 a month and the net is around $30 a month for unlimited high speed access I think I have a pretty sweet deal.
• I know that I need to take with me sheets and a pillow case because Koreans generally sleep on the floor without pillows so these things are hard to come across. I've been advised to pack a years supply of deodorant as apparently Koreans don't sweat?!? And to pack lots of blue tac as there is no such thing there?!?
• On the job front I know that I will be teaching 4 - 6 year olds how to speak, listen, read and write in English and that I'm not to use any Korean in the classroom.
• As for living, I realise that I need to learn some survival language but as it stands all I'm proficient in is "hello" an young ha sae yo! I'm hoping my lonely planet app on the ipod will help me out.

Stay with me as I learn more and can give you definite dates and I'm looking forward to spending my last few weeks with good people and enjoying summer while I can because where I'm heading its -10 and snowing!