Of Costco, buses and great news!...

Well has been a good day so far. I am sitting at home chilling out before the second part of my shift starts up. John and I just returned from our adventure to Cost-co. I was shocked to find out that there are 5 such stores in the country and three right here in Seoul. Unfortunatly they only accept cash, checks and two types of credit cards, so we weren't able to buy everything we wanted to buy. But all in all it was an ok experience.

This morning one of my students told me how to take the bus to Cost-co since it is about a 40 min walk from the nearest subway station. I was so afraid to take a bus anywhere, there are, at any given moment, at least 10 buses within my view as I look up and down the street. They literally go everywhere. They are pretty cheap, 1000won, which is about $1. So we got on the bus and said "Cost-co" several times hoping that would let the driver know that we didn't know where to get off. He was so funny, when it was our stop first he just waited to see if we were going to get off, and then he started yelling "Hello, hello, Cost-co." Then when we walked off the bus I guess we looked confused so he called us back and pointed in the direction we were supposed to go. Everyone here is super nice and helpful for foreigners even if they only know a tiny amount of English.

A short walk later we were at the strangest wholesale club ever. I know your image of a wholesale club is a sprawling complex in the middle of nowhere, but no one goes to the middle of nowhere in Seoul... unless you are a farmer. So this place had to be in the thick of it. It was about three stories high, with shopping in the basement and first floor, parking on the second, and something else on the third... I am not sure I didn't go up there. They have escalators that you can use with a shopping cart. They are essentially large moving ramps. The carts don't slide down the ramps because the wheels have magnetic rings on them to hold them to the ramp until you reach the floor you want. Its really amazing. But while I was there I did see one person's cart get stuck and people started to pile up behind him for a few seconds until he got it unstuck. I think it could be pretty hazardous, but there are tons of hazardous things here that don't tend to kill anyone, its rather strange.

Anyway, I was hoping to take a taxi (or as they say tak-shi) back since this stuff was heavy, but we only had 8000 won and that might not make it. So we went for the bus again. After a short walk back we missed a bus but caught the next one, about 5 min later and enjoyed the aircon (which is what they call a/c) until we got home. You would not believe the way these guys have to drive, rush hour was starting and its every man for himself on the roads. They don't even yield to other bus drivers, and I think they actively try to ram taxis off the road. After several near misses and lots of honking we returned home magically unscratched.

So, Cost-co wasn't quite what I had hoped it would be, but I certainly enjoyed the adventure. I am going to start bringing our camera everywhere, even seemingly mundane places, since something interesting tends to happen where ever I go.

Oh, and I had this student this morning, a man, probably 40 years old max. And he came into my office at the start of his class and asked me "Is it sexual harassment if I say 'Hello beautiful woman" I told him I didn't think so and he said its what he wants to say to me when he sees me! HAHA seriously, if you are a white woman with long hair you have to come over here... for some reason its really attractive... I think the same goes for white men, but then I have been told they are a little intimidated by us as well (strong American women!) I have had my fair share of exceptionally shy male and female students, some will hardly talk. But after a while they can relax... like three classes later!

Oh and now for my good news! Before I left for Korea I took a Physics CST exam, which is the test you have to take to become a physics teacher in NYS. Well I took the test once before (many years ago) and I failed by not too many points. And this time I actually passed! I needed a 220 and I got a 232! I don't know what it is out of, and I don't really care since I don't plan to take it again to improve my score. NYS only cares that I pass. So now I just have to finish up this grad degree and then some paperwork and I will have my perm. cert.!! Pretty cool.

So far today is good. :)