So far, I've learned how to stack Korean letters into the square blocks that form syllables, and I'm starting to memorize the alphabet. Tonight, I get my first crash course in survival Korean.
I'm at the orientation dorm now, and have been since around 4 pm Thursday. I wear my nametag like my job depends on it (and it does).
Thursday morning, I sat on the ledge next to my open window in the Incheon guesthouse while it rained hot and heavy for hours. But for the rest of the Thursday, and all of today, it's been hot and humid. I seem to be adjusting to the sticky temperatures more readily than my fellow orientees, but still, I wish it would rain more.
Jet lag hasn't relinquished its hold on me yet, but I've sworn to myself that I won't give in to the urge to nap today (like I did yesterday), in the hopes of feeling more human tomorrow.
All of my peers are fairly friendly, and I'm settling in here, if only for 9 days. Some of them are like me, and came here straight after graduation in an effort to latch onto one of the limited number of jobs offering both decent pay and room for adventure in this economy. Others seem to be Asian language junkies, going from China, to Japan, to Korea, to Vietnam for years at a time, teaching English. I wonder at their stamina.
We had medical exams today; they're very concerned about swine flu. Four or so days ago, the second person in South Korea died from it. Fever seems to be the symptom they're most concerned about: when I got off the plane at Incheon, and again when I arrived at the dorm yesterday, officials took my temperature before letting me through. I have instructions to measure my own temperature every morning and evening (thermometer provided), and to immediately put on my face mask (also provided) and proceed to the hospital if my temperature rises above 37.5 C. On the flight over, there were more than a few people wearing face masks on the plane. I don't know whether to laugh at these surface-level precautions, or admire them for at least taking more initiative about the epidemic than the U.S. ever seems to.
Opening ceremony and welcoming dinner tonight. We'll see how this goes.
No comments:
Post a Comment