Just south of Siberia

That's right, I'm giving you two posts in one week. Enjoy.

Seeing as spring is coming, I figured I may as well go ahead and write my winter post before the cold wears off. Possible titles I juggled for this post included "this ain't no North Carolina winter," "walkin' in a winter wonderland," and "brrrr!" However, while writing the previous sentence, a much better title came to mind.

The first day I worked, I foolishly wore a long sleeve button up shirt and a thin jacket. Bad idea! I have since learned to layer my clothes. I was SO cold. I now wear two or three layers and bought a much warmer coat when I went to Daegu. I have bought a few sweaters and several undershirts. One day I wore a short sleeved shirt. I was hot when I got to work, but I was very cold and needed my coat within a few hours. There are many days I have worn my coat all day at work, namely when I was sick with a 100 degree temperature (people just don't take off work for silly things like a high temperature here). I take gloves, a scarf, and a hat with me everywhere. I don't always wear the scarves because I don't like having things around my neck, but the gloves and hat are generally a must. (Thanks to Mom and Joy for the extra scarves!!!)

So when I got here, I asked my boss how cold it gets. He said maybe the coldest is about -10 Celsius (ie. 14 Fahrenheit). I'm freaking out here. Really? Then I decide to be hopeful. Maybe that only happens on the coldest days. I'm wrong. Not only is it typical for it to be around -8 each day, but I have also come during the coldest winter in over 50 years. One morning in January (in which I stayed inside) it got down to -18 with a wind chill of -24 (-0.4 / -11.2 Fahrenheit). 

Here's some British people talking about the cold winter:

Luckily, I'm a tiny bit further south and I don't use the subway much (as discussed in my previous post), but finding a cab in these cold conditions has been trying. We usually get off work around 10, and by then the sun has long since left the sky. Many a night we have walked up the hill to the apartment thinking we were dying from frostbite (that may be a BIT of an exaggeration, but it has been freakishly cold. -14 [7 F] is no joke.)

We've also had snow, and lots of it.

As you can tell by my attitude in the video, this was very early on in my stay. I was thrilled with the snow. It was my first big snowfall. It snowed again the next week, right before Christmas. I was happy with that one too. Then it just snowed again and again and AGAIN. This pattern became very annoying and I didn't like walking in it, especially up and down a steep hill! I slipped on ice more than once, albeit not like the black ice we have at home.

And then there's my heating bills. My gas bill was over 100,000 won for my first month (close to $100), so I cut down on gas and used my electric heater more, making my electric bill around the same amount in the month of February. The sad part was I was still cold!!! Ar least I have a heated mattress pad that my boss gave to each me and to the other American at my school. That and several fuzzy blankets have kept me warm at night. 

The good news is the spring is coming. I read online that when it comes, it comes fast. It was still in the negatives last week, but it's going to be above zero for at least the next ten days. I'd say that's pretty fast. There was a marked difference between February 28 (still very cold) and February 29 (light jacket weather). Come on, Spring! 

Anyway.. hopefully this will keep your blog curiosity satisfied for a while. I'm going to Daegu to visit some friends this weekend, so I don't expect to post again for at least a week!

안녕이개새요! (That means goodbye when I am leaving, which I am).

<------ At least I don't live in North Korea. It's a lot colder there!!!!

(I was behind the photo line, so it's okay.)

Getting around 탁시

So yes, I'm well aware that it's been nearly two months since my last blog post. Sorry about that. January was intensive month, so we were working OT. This month I feel like I've just been catching my breath and trying to make friends! Oh, and I went to the DMZ on Sunday.

So anyway, today I will discuss public transportation. For my readers who are not from metropolitan areas like New York or LA (that would be most of you), I'm talking about relying on taxis, buses and the subway to get around. Since I don't have a car (though I've been talking about getting one some friends are selling), and since I live out in the sticks, I have to use public transportation to get anywhere. I mean, I could walk, but it takes most of an hour to get to work and it is COLD, so I'm not currently interested. I have no idea how long it would take to walk to the subway, but I'm guessing it would take over an hour since the cab ride is 10-15 minutes. The cab to work is only about 3 minutes and that is a 40 minute walk!

When I go to work, I *could* catch the bus, but we only have two or three buses that stop where I live (most places have dozens that come every couple of minutes) and the schedule is kind of fluid. I really don't know when the bus comes here. I've only caught it maybe 5 times. I've also realized that as an American, I am very impatient. I want what I want and I want it now. I don't want to wait 20 minutes for a bus to come, even if it is cheaper than a cab. It's too cold to stand and wait, and I'm type A and always in a hurry anyway.
Public transportation wiki
Now, do I always go to work? No. I go to Cheonan and find my other foreign friends, go shopping for clothes or groceries, go to the movies, go to the Language Exchange (learning Korean from Koreans and English from Westerners), and so on. Now, I COULD take a cab to the subway, wait for the train to come, arrive in Cheonan, and then take another cab to the shopping area, but that would really wind up costing more and taking more time in the end. I know most people use the subway, but it really isn't logical for me to use it when I'm traveling locally. I have also learned that using the call van (calling for a ride) is cheaper than a taxi. A taxi to Cheonan costs between 10-14,000 won (about $12), while using a call van is always between 8-9,000 (about $7). It's also more reliable and faster.

So do I ever use the subway?

Well, sometimes I have to because I have to meet someone at a specific stop. But usually, I only use the subway to go to Seoul. I've also gone to Daegu and I'm going again this weekend. It's about 15 bucks to go to Seoul and about 20 to go to Daegu on the KTX, so you know it's farther. It's cheaper to use the regular subway, but it also takes about double the time. The KTX is the bullet train and it only stops in certain cities. I am fortunate enough to live in one of those cities, even though it no more than a blip on the map. haha (If you want to check out the rail system, select English after going to www.korail.com).
The subway is this confusing mess and you have to change lines multiple times and I really just don't understand it. I'm sure it would be easier if I lived closer to it, but I don't, so it's not. I was nice enough to find an English subway map for you, but most of them are in Hangul (written Korean). http://www.smrt.co.kr/program/cyberStation/main2.jsp?lang=e If you look at the bottom center of the map on line 1, you will see Asan is the 4th stop. Then you will see how far I am from everything else. Hmm.. I think I should print this map for myself. However, it appears interactive. Maybe I can use it once I get a smart phone (only 2 more weeks until I do!).

There's also the option of getting a bike. Many people have them, but I don't know where they get them and I don't really feel safe riding one through traffic and down steep hills with erratic taxi drivers.

So what is my favorite thing about public transportation? It has to be the cab drivers. Not all of them are nice (for instance, last night my driver backed into something, kept the meter running while he looked at his bumper, and made me pay extra even though I was just sitting there / another guy refused to drive us up the hill and made us pay 3000 when it should have only been 2300, which is only like 70 cents, but that's not the point), but most of them want to talk to me. Two Sundays ago, I shared a cab with a Korean lady headed my direction. The driver didn't say a word until he dropped her off, and then he just chattered away with me using all the English he knew. Sometimes, the drivers hit on me and ask if I'm single. My driver yesterday was a repeat driver. He was so happy to give the English teacher a ride again. He wanted to know if the guy with me was just my friend. lol... Then last week, my driver got really excited and said, "America in my car!!!" It was sooo funny. Many times, they try to teach me some Korean words and phrases and often ask me to read signs. I think most of them like me as much as I like them. :)

Anyway, it's time to get ready for work. It's 12:41 now and the shower is calling. I need to call the call van in about an hour.

Hopefully the next update will come sooner, but I can guarantee it won't be until March. Happy leap day!

A few words on hygiene

Let's talk about hygiene here. This includes bathrooms, tooth-brushing, table manners, and trash.

Let's start with the easiest one first. We must keep our mouths clean! 

Is this a pencil case or a toothbrush case?

I think the Koreans have the right idea, but it isn't what I'm used to. The last time I saw people carrying around toothbrushes and toothpaste everywhere they went was when I taught middle school. Everyone has these little cases. The kids have their pencils in them. I noticed a few of them in the office the other day... and then I started noticing everyone carrying around toothpaste.  My mouth feels really dirty now. 


Sort your trash! Do it! Now!
Okay, so people aren't yelling about this, but everything here is supposed to be sorted before it's thrown out. It's actually kind of difficult to find a trashcan in a public place.  It depends where you are, but there will either be piles of trash or little dumpsters to sort on the street. From what I understand, you are supposed to sort the following: glass/plastic, aluminum, food waste (I've been told to just flush food), general trash... I've seen the recycling logo with the word OTHER on my cough drop wrappers. Not sure where I'm supposed to go with that one... 
Also, they keep trash bags behind the counter at the grocery store, but don't just go to any store. You have to go to a store in your city. Our bags are clear, but I hear there are different colors. I usually keep several months' supply of bags. Not possible here. I've been hoarding bags from the grocery store; they're pretty sturdy and allow for me to sort things under my sink. I will not be sorting things at the dumpster area. I already have mine separated into bags. Now I just need to actually take it out. It's just so cold, I don't wanna go. lol

Chop sticks
So, I don't know a ton about Korean table manners, but I do know a couple of things we would find quirky. 
#1- Someone else pours your drink for you. I am so glad when I eat with James because we Americans just pour our own. I don't think most Koreans would care if I did, but I am trying to be respectful of their culture and customs.
#2 - Don't leave your chop sticks in your rice!
You know how we leave our fork laying on the plate? Move everything when you are done. I know chopsticks in rice is symbolic of someone who is dead. I try to avoid this one at all costs. I'm getting much better at handling chopsticks, btw.
#3 - Don't blow your nose at the table.
I know this is slightly frowned upon back home, but it's a big no-no here. You don't blow your nose in front of people if you can help it, and you definitely don't at the table! A saw a kid at a restaurant whose nose was running nearly into his mouth. I stopped to wonder how many times I have handed a kid a tissue in general or when I was waiting tables and wondered if I ever offended someone by doing so. We at least inconspicuously  *wipe* our noses. Let's just say this one is a bit odd for me. I'm still gonna wipe my nose.
#4 - There are a host of other mannerisms, some of which I mentioned in earlier blogs. However, I don't know them all. If you're curious (they're interesting), then google "Korean table manners." Alternately, here are a few I looked up for you: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/food/f-manners.cfm http://koreanfood.about.com/od/koreanfoodbasics/tp/Korean-Table-Manners.htm http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FO/FO_EN_7_1_4.jsp


Finally, let's talk about the one closest to my heart.
This bathroom is the same, right? WRONG!
So bathrooms look mostly the same, but there's always that one toilet with all the extra controls on it. One of them is heat and another is the bidet function, but other than that, you got me.

Oh yes, and the toilet paper. You need to bring your own. Most public bathrooms don't even have the holders in them, and typically only one toilet has a bidet. It's a nice treat to find a bathroom with its own paper. Thankfully, most restaurants do have paper in the stalls, though there are signs everywhere asking you not to flush the paper. I just figured this out, but let's just say old habits die hard.

Speaking of public places, there are no bathrooms in businesses. There is a communal one for all of the local businesses. My building has a men's room and ladies' room on each floor. In the restaurants, you will often find unisex bathrooms. Call me crazy, but I can't used to the idea of seeing a urinal or having a man walk in while I'm washing my hands...

.. which leads me to hand washing. Where is the germ-free liquid soap? There are BARS of soap in the bathrooms. I mean, I'm no germaphob, but this is nothing something I expected from a country that makes you have a health exam the week you get here and verifies you don't have AIDS or any STDs before you come. I like to refer to this as the "communal soap." lol  And what about paper towels? There aren't any! So I guess everyone either skips hand washing or they air dry or use the pants method. I really hope my pants are clean...

There also toilets in the floor, but I haven't seen them yet. I know they exist. I've heard people talk about them.

And then there's the showers. Too bad I can't post video on here, because I made one of my bathroom. The shower head is just casually attached to the wall. It makes the shower seem huge because you've got your whole bathroom, but the sprayer may be limited. Also, you have to turn on the hot water before you shower. There is button to control the water heater, and a knob on the sink to turn the shower on. I'd have to say my *FAVORITE* part would have to be getting the water off the floor. There is a squeegee in my shower, but I mostly use my foot. It's more effective. It takes forever for the floor to dry. Heaven forbid you forget something in the bathroom. I have a pair of flip flops, but I still manage to get my pants wet when I have to go back in. *sigh*

Anyway, that's about all I have on that topic. Like so much else, I will probably think of more info and witty comments after I click PUBLISH POST, but such is life.

I love you guys!!!!

Christie

PS. I've posted a "Korean words I know" list. Check it out. I didn't write it in Korean, mostly because I don't have a Korean keyboard, but also because you wouldn't be able to read it.