Distance makes no difference.

So apparently, my uncanny ability to break computers travels across oceans and becomes transcontinental with ease. I came in to school this morning, sat down at my desk, and turned my computer on only to be met with a nice black screen asking me to insert the setup hardware. It would not work. So Mr. Lee, the physics teacher/computer engineer/temporary housing came over and messed with it. Put in the windows cd, tried a few different things, and finally ended up opening the case. My superpower has expanded. Along with technology glitching or just ceasing to function, I also make cords randomly come loose. Not unplugged, just not connected enough for the computer to realize there is a harddrive in it. Yeah. So he plugged it in firmly, and the problem was solved. I was just glad that 1) I hadn't broken their computer on my second day, and 2) I didn't lose all the work I did yesterday and Monday. Whew - dodged that bullet. I really don't understand why stuff like this always happens. The computer worked fine yesterday and then today, surprise! :/ Not cool universe, not cool at all.

Anyway, on a more positive note, I got to move into my new apartment last night. First all of the English teachers took me out for dinner in town which was nice, definitely helps build comraderie. Then we all went to Mr. Lee's house, got my stuff, and took it over to the apartment where they helped me bring it in and then hung around for about 15 minutes (though it felt like forever) to make sure I had everything I needed. They're all parents so they have sort of adopted me for the year I think and so keep telling me how worried they are about me and "my life" haha. I got asked 3 times this morning how everything was last night, how did I sleep, did I eat breakfast, and what did I eat. And once if I was scared last night (Mr Ha asked that one haha) So after they left, Mr. Pa stayed and showed me around town a little and helped me buy some food so I would have something to eat this morning. Actually, he bought my food for me at his insistence. It's a little odd, but I definitely feel the love. haha. So after he made sure I had food and made sure I knew how to get to school this morning he took me back home and said goodnight.

I took a shower, unpacked as much as I could, and went to bed. Overall it's a really nice place. They gave me a big bed (I think it's a full) with blankets, a pillow, a brand new microwave and pots and pans and dishes and silverware (ironically though no chopsticks - good thing I appropriated some from orientation :] haha) and a nice gas range for cooking (that they made sure I knew how to turn on - they made me do it in front of them to make sure I knew.) The refrigerator they gave me is a mini fridge that's old, but, it keeps my stuff cold. And, Mrs. Seong said she's going to have them switch it out. Maybe they'll do that today when they bring my washing machine. I definitely need to clean tonight but it's not terribly disgusting. It just needs a once over. Except for the bathroom. Which I cannot wait to scrub the life out of (literally. I think there may be something growing in one of the corners...) Really glad now for those shower shoes they gave me... Also, I have 2 windows (and everything has screens) and also a huge sliding door that goes out to my balcony :] where I can hang my clothes to dry. And there's already a clothesline hung so I don't even need the one I brought. I do need to buy some things - fan, toaster, small trash can, coffee pot, etc but it's all minor. Oeja said she was going to try to get me a vaccuum too so that would be nice but they did give me a broom and it's all laminate flooring so I can jsut sweep to clean. Oh and I have a window unit a/c in my bedroom that works reallllly well and I can close my door to cool just that room since I can't open the window (because of the window unit). Anyway, it's very nice. The walls are paper thin and my neighbors must be deaf for the volume at which they watch their TV. And everytime they or my neighbors across the alley go in or out I think someone is in my house, but other than that, which I will get used to quickly I'm sure, it's good. Oh, and it's second story with the steepest stairs I've ever seen. It's definitely one of those where it's not a question IF I will fall but rather how often and how badly injured I will be after. Mrs. Keong (and the rest agreed) that I should not attempt the stairs if I've been drinking haha. I have been instructed to sleep at the bottom if I "am drunken" as to avoid killing myself. Yeah, they're that steep. And really narrow. The stairwell is probably only 3 feet wide and maybe 10 feet deep but it goes up about 10 feet so you can imagine how steep that is. I'll have to take a picture once I get my camera. I did take pictures of the apartment with my laptop but as I currently do not have internet, which hopefully I'll get by the end of next week (I have to wait to get my ARC...) I can't post them. But I am going to try to make it to the PC bang (internet cafe) today after work and I will do it then if I can find the place haha.

Anyway, I am well and am very happy to finally be unpacked and settling in my own space. I have my first weeks lesson done - an introduction to me and the kids and now I'm just killing time and getting ideas for future lessons. Oh, and figuring out my topics for the year. Oeja wants a list of the 16 topics I will cover (1 per week till the end of the school year in December). I have 4 or 5 but it's hard to decide the all the topics right now... Oh well. I'm sure it's not something I'll be held to premanently as if it were written in stone, I hope. Anyway, off to do some work. I attached my introduction powerpoint in case anyone wants to check it out. It's nothing too crazy, just to introduce myself to kids and give them a little bit of info on the strange new teacher. :]

Okay well, apparently I can't attach ppt to blogger but if you want to see if you can email me and I'll send it to you. :]