We set out to touch the bridge at the mouth of the bay, and we succeeded.  Side note: we didn’t have the millionaire yacht encounter that a few of our other friends had. A flamboyant millionaire who offered them drinks literally picked them up and tied their kayaks to the back of his yacht. The jealousy I feel is real, and it is ugly.
What we did have, however, was the chance to unwind after kayaking all morning by watching a talent show on the beach.
Rappers? Check.
Breakdancers? Check.
K-Pop? Check.
An adorable country/western singer complete with jean shirt, cowboy boots, acoustic guitar, and a harmonica? All of the checks, plus a few scribbly hearts.

I can now say I’ve heard Korean with a country twang, and I can also say that I’m pretty sure baby angels in heaven sing the same way.
I keep comparing Korean music to jukebox music from The Sims, and if you ever get to hear Korean country music, you’ll probably think the same.

But first, an excuse.

My name is Rachel, and I’m currently disconnected.

I have no internet. I haven’t had internet or a phone connection for about a month now. I’m at the mercy of the wifi gods and people with routers and no passwords. I communicate with people at the end of the day by propping my phone in my apartment window, crossing my fingers, and hoping the people with the wifi network “iptime” haven’t wised up to my freeloading ways.
I’ve become somewhat of an internet thieving junkie.

Thanks to the folks over at seoulistic.com for their amazing list of commonly used default wifi passwords, I’ve been able to connect on the DL.
Keep it up, guys. The adrenaline rush I get from finding that one wifi connection with a default password is getting addictive.

I’m such a rebel, y’all.

So, until my ARC (alien registration card) comes in the mail, I’ll be without internet and without a phone.

I know you’re devastated, but try to keep it together.

So, to update you guys without photos is going to be pretty simple.
It’s amazing here. The food, the culture, the fashion, the kids, my job. Just everything.

Orientation:
A whirlwind of class after class after meeting people after eating everything after noraebanging too hard… You get the picture. Orientation was difficult, but a necessary evil. The EPIK schedule from application to orientation is extremely thorough and focuses on prepping future teachers for life in Korea. Not only are you sent to lectures from sunrise to sunset, but you’re given the opportunity to meet new people and network with the folks you’re going to be living near and exploring with once you’re settled. I’m very thankful for what the folks at EPIK have put together.. I’m not sure how I’d feel about my arrival if I hadn’t been put through the orientation ringer.
Thanks, EPIK.

Arrival:
Dear sunny, wonderful, beautiful, bustling Busan, I know it’s still early in our relationship, but I think I love you.
In order to keep this blog post short, I’ll compile a list of things that have happened since settling in Busan:

• I’ve eaten kimchi.
• I’ve been to a noraebang.
• I went hiking with some lovely friends.
• I’ve been to a Korean spa and had a body scrub (google, please)
• I’ve been asked if I’m Russian (google again, please)

I’ll upload photos and change my blog theme once I get a stable internet connection all figured out.