Back to my pseudo-reality

What time is it? What day is it? What am I supposed to be doing?

These seem to be the main questions of late. Welcome to the confusion that comes with traveling across the Pacific ocean, flip-flopping time zones, and re-adjusting to a culture that is not at all my own; twice in six weeks. I've been in Korea for about six days now (I think) and I'm still struggling with some exhaustion, for seemingly more reason than one. The first reason most obviously contributing to my lethargy can be summed up in two words: Serious jet lag (OK, make that three words). The second reason is undoubtedly related to the fact that I've had to readjust to this culture I thought I knew so well, prior to heading back to the States. I was only away from Korea for six weeks, but being reminded of the differences between Korea and home-sweet-home makes Korea feel like it is a world away; a feeling I haven't experienced in awhile. I'm the only foreign teacher at my new school, so I think that fact alone plays a huge role in my sudden bout of culture shock (and I used to brag about being so well-adjusted--ha!). Now for the third and, hopefully, final reason for my eyelids being on the verge of crashing to a permanent close: I'm an emotional wreck. For once in my life, I didn't put a whole lot of thought into my decision-making (for once in my life... who am I kidding?) and I'm left wondering how and why I'm back here. I like it here, don't get me wrong. But what am I doing here? And here's the ultimate question: What would I rather be doing? Oh, I don't know. And so I'm in Korea, buying time (quite literally) until I figure my life out.

I arrived in Busan at 9-ish in the PM, after a looooong flight that basically made me want to jump out of the plane door and call it quits. This flight, by far, was the worst of all of the flights in my traveling history. Why? you may ask. Well, let me tell you all about it: I didn't sleep. At all. Over 18 hours in the sky and I didn't sleep a wink, much to my complete dismay. You have not experienced boredom at its fullest potential until you have sat on a plane for so many hours with nothing to do (thanks to my sudden bout of motion sickness that didn't allow me to read or do anything that involved looking down) and with no sleeping pills to aid you in your sleepless plight. Ugh. I can't even think about it anymore.

On a happier note, my new apartment is Awesome (that's right--a capital "A"). I love it's size, it's location, it's floors, it's everything. I'm exceptionally excited about my living situation this year because I'm living by myself for the first time in my life, and I just so happen to live in the same building as five or six of my friends. It feels a bit like college dorm-life all over again, minus the community bathrooms (thank goodness) and with a healthy amount of privacy (I say this, however, as I remember the missing curtains in my apartment and the little old woman across the way who has taken full advantage of my open window and has made it a daily habit to watch me as I go through my morning routine).

My new place of employment is also a highlight in my life these days. I'm the first and only foreign teacher to grace the doors of this school, so I'm being treated very, very well. All of the teachers have been so nice to me and my boss gave me a free cell phone on my second day of work! Seriously, this place is awesome. I'm sensing a good year (I use the "y" word ever so lightly).

OK, enough of my boring life-details for now. I'll be sure to update once again if anything interesting happens, or if I should happen to have an exceptionally profound thought that you should know about. I'll keep the updates coming, so long as I have an audience.