Near, far, whereeeeeeeeeeeeeeever you are.

This morning, the music teacher at my school started practicing the theme song from Titanic on a recorder in the teacher's "lounge." I was frustrated that she didn't speak any English, so I couldn't talk to her about it.

Oh, and last night in a nearby bakery, Rilo Kiley "Portions for Foxes" came on over the store speakers. Wow, that felt weird.

Arrived at the school without incident, and was promptly informed that there was a teachers' meeting at 8:10 am, and that I was expected to make a ten-minute introductory speech so that everyone could meet me. Good thing I've overcome my fear of public speaking?

Everyone I've met so far has been exceptionally nice. I'm the first foreigner to work at my school, and some of both the staff and the students seem at a bit of a loss as to what to do with me - which is pretty fun for me, as it turns out.

Turns out they're not expecting me to start teaching at all until next week, so all I'm doing for now is going around to each classroom to briefly introduce myself, and then spending the rest of class time either observing my co-teachers, or flipping through text- and activity books attempting to make lesson plans for next week. So far, all of the classrooms I've entered are 100% rowdy boys, though I have seen some girls in the hallway.

Some of the students seem intimidated by me; others seem apathetic towards me. But the majority of them jump at every chance to wave and yell "Hi!" or "Hello!" or "Nice to meet you!" at me as we pass in the halls. I rather like it.

Snacked on dduk and instant coffee all day, and - speaking of food - weathered my first school cafeteria meal. On the menu: kimchi (as always), spicy mountain greens, a fresh and crispy and juicy and soupy cabbage mixture, cooked potatoes and mushrooms, more kimchi cooked with pork (which I did not partake of), bean curd soup, sesame tofu, white rice. All in all, I quite enjoyed it. I wonder if it's not a little bit abnormal for there to be only one meat dish per meal, though.

The person I have taken to be my main co-teacher (who has asked me to call her Nicole) also took me to set up a Korean bank account today. I've been promised that I will receive a drying rack, iron and ironing board, wastebasket, and TV from the school soon, and that I will be reimbursed for the money I dropped on dishes/pots and pans/silverware yesterday. Soon, I will need to stop subsisting on microwaved vegetable and rice porridge, and stock my fridge and cupboards with some of the fresh produce that is forever for sale on the streets.

I got a bit turned about on my way home, which I blame on the fact that my cardinal directions get all mixed up when I have to partake of subways and/or buses. But after a bit of re-thinking my whereabouts, I'm home just fine, and confident that the journey to and from school won't cause me any more problems.

For those of you who are waiting for my address: I know I promised you I'd ask for it on Monday, and I did. But it was when we were at the bank, and I forgot to ask for it to be written down once we returned to the school. Tomorrow, I promise.