Ents Attack!

So we were roaming around the neighbourhood today, and came upon the most awesome sight ever! We were walking along, minding our own business, when out of the woodwork (sorry, I know it's a bad pun) came these wooden creatures that we can only describe as Ents (like from the Lord of the Rings). These sculptures are just two of a larger collection along the side of the road in Daejeon, between our apartment and the World Cup Stadium.
This was just one of the interesting things we saw today as we were out exploring our new hometown.

Start teaching Monday!

The days we have been here have been wonderful! From Wednesday to Friday (last week) we have had the chance to sit in on classes...so we are prepared for Monday when we start teaching. The kids seem lovely and the co-workers very kind. We have been blessed with the opportunities to meet people who have experienced this culture and are know passing on their knowledge to us.

Last Friday night we went out with a young couple Jen and Greg and they were kind enough to order our food and tell us what is good from what is bad. So far, I have really enjoyed the food! They took us to a place right by our apartment that had a grill in the middle of the table where we can cook our meats...yummy! You just have to look out for the sparks ;)

On Saturday we went out with Lorie and Laura on adventures to try new foods and shopping (when we get our first pay cheque I know where I am going). I really enjoyed the kimbap and mul mandu! The kimbap is wrapped up in seaweed leaves which you would think would not be good, but it was GREAT and the mul mandu is just like dumplings.....soooo good! Plus, I am very excited that Lorie and Laura are interested in going to the spa....I was worried I would have to go alone. The spas here you get naked in front of everyone....I will have to remember to do some situps before I go :P

Monday we start teaching which we are both excited and nervous about. I feel a bit better since we have sat in on classes. We have our class schdule but they have said it might change over time. I have 100mins classes each day, as well as Darrell but he has some 50mins classes too - they are with the young ones. So far, I have two classes on Monday & Wednesday, three classes on Tuesday & Thursday and four classes on Friday. Darrell has two on Monday, three on Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, and four on Thursday. Darrell's biggest class has 7 kids and mine has 9. They are quite small and give lots of chances for conversation.

We just ask you continue to pray for us as we try to master the language as well as the culture. We miss you friends and family, but you will come to visit ;) If anyone feels compelled to send us anything from home we would LOVE Uncle Ben's flavoured rice & Lindor Milk chocolates...haha...no pressure. Love you all!

Jet Lag and More

WE MADE IT!!!! I sit writing this at the end of our first full day in Korea, and I'm exhausted as all get out. Supper is sitting on the stove waiting for us, and Shannon's busy decorating the apartment, but it's been a pretty wild trip.
First thing's first: to anyone who's never spent 14 hours on an airplane - try it. You'll never complain about a really long car trip ever again. I'd much rather sit crammed into the back seat of a car on a 14 hour road trip than be stuck on an airplane for that long, and the reason why is simple: in a car, when you make a rest stop, you actually have room to move around when you stretch your legs. On an airplane (especially when you're a big guy like me), stretching your legs involves navigating a very narrow aisle without bumping into people who are inexplicably able to sleep.
Anyway, after the plane ride, we were picked up at the airport by our boss, Mr. Park. He's a lovely man, if a little difficult to understand, as his English is a little broken and we're not fully acclimatized to the Korean accent. He brought us to our apartment (of which we will be posting pictures on facebook) where we started to get settled in and met the girl we're replacing, Jennifer, who is also a very lovely person. She gave us a little overview of what to expect as we get started, and this morning she and her boyfriend Greg showed us around the neighbourhood so we could get an idea of where to go to get things like groceries (and where work was, as well). Then this afternoon, we got to see the inside of the school and sit in on our first classes to get an idea of what we will be doing for the next year. The kids seem awesome and the material is really straightforward (probably thanks to Graeme's TESL class) so I don't think work will be too difficult.
After our first day in Korea, I have a lot of respect for people who come to North America who don't know much (if any) English. We North Americans often have far less patience with culture-shocked tourists than the Korean people do. Everywhere we went, people were very understanding and very kind. It should make the adjustment to foreign life quite a bit easier, but I can't wait until I know more Korean so I can communicate at least enough to show some respect to these people who are so kind.
We would ask for some extra prayer over the next few weeks as we overcome jet lag and culture shock and settle into our jobs all at the same time.

Packing...sort of....

So the time has officially come for us to be on our way. Our tickets arrived by email this morning, and we're leaving from the Halifax International Airport at a ridiculously early hour Monday morning. We're leaving Moncton around midnight Sunday night, and so the time is well past due for us to begin packing our lives up into four suitcases and two carry-ons. As I write this, Shannon is beginning to put clothes into suitcases (plus sorting shoes and such), and we've been debating for quite some time about what to take with us.

Interestingly enough (and probably not so wisely), my biggest concern has been how I'm going to get my pirate hat into a bag without causing damage to it or taking up too much space. Sad, though, is the fact that I can't take my guitars with me. I'll be taking some of my smaller instruments with me, but those won't take the place of a good old fashioned guitar. Fortunately, though, after looking at some ads on Craigslist Korea, I feel comforted to know that I can get a really decent guitar for a really reasonable price.

All in all, I feel remarkably calm about the whole thing, even though we're moving halfway around the world into a brand new culture and a brand new job, with a whole new world of adventure coming our way. I suspect the calm is the result of nervousness balancing out my excitement, but somewhere deep inside my brain I still don't quite think it's real.

This will likely be the last post from this half of the world, so please pray for us over the next few days as we pack, travel, and get settled into our new home. Even just getting groceries is going to be an all new experience, not to mention getting around a brand new city in a brand new country and starting a brand new job.

So, when next you hear from us, we'll be half a world away!