HighRising....

I am now a proud member of Rich Villa. The moving man came two hours late and I immediately felt sorry for him. Movers in Korea look like the least qualified men for the job. This guy must have been over 50, 5 Ft 8 and 145lbs if he was lucky. I kept looking around the corner for his help to arrive but it never did. Despite his size, this man could haul. We did the job in less than an hour, giving me an hour to unpack before I went out Saturday night. I'm still not completely unpacked, but the place is starting to take on an identity. It's not much bigger in circumference than my old place, but the beauty is in the height. My ceiling is a good 15 Ft high, leaving room for stairs and a loft for my bed. It's like I actually have a bedroom and a living room which, for a bachelor in Korea, is unreal. I'm on the 9th floor but my view consists of the hospital nextdoors. I can see in the patients rooms and watch the families visiting. This can be extremely uplifting or a major downer. My door talks to me when I open and close it and I use a keypad instead of a key, badass. As I look up at the distant ceiling high above the spacious living room, I begin to feel like I'm improving in some way. Maybe this is how Korea gets you. You come here with a year in mind and they offer minor upgrades that detour you and blind your path. Next thing you know, you've become the dreaded lifer. A week ago, I was resolute in not returning to my school when my contract ends. Now, with this new place, the smallest seed of doubt has been planted. The neighborhood is dynamic. I'm in the rich, burgeoning part of my city and there's life everywhere. Uniquely vibrant. There's a bar, a travel agency, 3 restaurants and a convenience store IN my building. In the surrounding streets is every necessity and luxury I could ever need. Plus, I'm not a minute walk away from my school. I'll have pictures up soon once I get a sofa and fills this place out a bit. As I've said before, it hurts me to live like this and not have an old friend to share it with. I feel like someone different in this new place, someone worthy. I feel like they love me and I don't want to fuck it up.

My Boys Finally Came for a Visit

Seoul Trip

Catch Me

Grab your pride and put on the TV. I'm going to Seoul to watch the USA basketball team play Lithuania this Sunday at 3pm. I believe it's around 1AM Sat. your time. I'll be wearing a D Wade jersey (I know he's over-rated but it was 6$ in the Phillipines so I had to buy it.) I hope to catch the eye of the players and join them on the bus for the rest of their Asia tour. It's hoop dreams, but I gotta try. I don't imagine there will be too many white-boys in the audience. Stay tuned.....
l

Bikini-less Beach

The Good News

So it appears everything is going to work out for the better. After talking to the Giant Korea, she quickly said she'd move me "as soon as possible." Sure enough, they had a new place for me 3 days later. Next Tuesday I'm moving to Rich Villa. My new place is almost twice as large as my current. There is a loft for my bed so I can have a couch and more space in the living room. Couch Sessions............Also the complex is only a year old so there shouldn't be any mold. The best part is the location; I'm in the heart of the city, one minute walk from my school. I will include pics when I'm fully moved. After a dinner with my school last Friday, I took a walk around my new neighborhood and imagined you were all with me. As I often do, I took in the sights through your eyes and imagined what you'd say. The neon shown in your eyes as you were drunk off the possibilities. I want to roam through these streets with somebody I know. It's enough for me to marvel at this world, but I can't wait to share it with another. My main revelation while I was home was how impressive Korea is. Not that it's better than America, but it's just so different that you can't help but be moved by it. I realize now that it's well worth a couple thousand dollars to come here and experience this. If any are interested, I now have a couch and I'm working on getting an Xbox360. Hurry up, there's exploring to do.......