My New Digs

I just got moved in to my apartment today, so at last I have my own internet connection and can post at more convenient times, without adorable little Korean children interupting (although the interuptions are usually cute).

I like my place. No boring white walls, the ceiling is pretty cool, and I have a lot more space than I expected. I love how I keep getting surprised by things being better than I thought they'd be. Take my director for instance: I knew she seemed nice in her e-mails, but I had no idea what a sweet, caring, considerate, and fun person I would be working for. I just think the world of her! And the other teachers all turned out to be so much warmer and friendlier than I thought they would be. I wasn't expecting coldness, by any means, but I thought it would take more effort from me to make friends here. I love happy surprises!

I haven't had half the problems I thought I would run across here. The food, which I thought would pose problems, has been almost entirely delicious. I haven't dealt with loneliness because other people have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome and have looked after me. I haven't gotten sick from all the changes; in fact, I feel better than I've felt in over a month! The jet lag I expected never really happened. I just slept in my first day and went to bed early that night, and I've felt fine every since. No hint of exhaustion. Even teaching my first class wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I wound up having a great time with the kids. I'm still expecting to be homesick in a few weeks, but maybe I'll get a happy surprise there, too.

Coming here is shaping up to be one of the smartest decisions I have ever made. I feel so grateful for how wonderful it has been so far, and for the great experiences I'm going to have.