Hi. It's Saturday evening. I'm at a PC Bang in Banji-dong - about 5 mins walk from my flat. Well, I've got through my first week. Admittedly, I only worked 4 days. No more holidays now, however. I've started taking classes by myself, which can be tough as some of the younger kids can be quite disruptive... they happily punch each other or push each other off their chairs. Got my 'safari' duck out on Thursday and used it to get Korean and English names from the kids in Phonics class. They are supposed to wear name tags with both written on them - their Korean names in Han-gul - the Korean script, I feel I will have to learn if I am to survive over here. They get to choose their English version - e.g. Michelle, Jack, Antonio(??) from a list, or they can make their own name up! There are quite a few Sarahs and Amys. I have a very loud Eric, too in a new class that has just started. Early lessons are mostly based on learning easy English words and phrases. The software pack, played on huge computer screens (TVs basically) is designed by Mr Jung Chul (www.jungchul.com) himself - a traditionalist Christian teaching 'expert'. So its all in American, has awful American expressions and spellings and occasional references to God. So, all the kids speak with a dreadful, whiny US accent which culminates when they perform dictations or are getting ready for their speech contents. I did help one 13 year old girl yesterday and it was a watershed moment. Helping her memori(z)e a passage about 'confidence'. Both she and the Korean teacher helping her, were really grateful for my efforts - hopefully she will win first 'praise' (sic). It was (ahem) awesome! Earlier on Friday, I performed my own dictation, in an American accent(!) into a tape recorder, in Mr Lee, my boss' office - for another kid to learn for a different speech contest. They are quite obsessed.

On Thursday I was taken by my Boss to immigration. The office was down the road in Masan. Changwon, strangely for a city, doesn't appear on many maps or google searches, so I had to photograph a couple of street maps (see photos) to help me get around. I've got my bearings now, though, and can walk into town easily although we (myself, Andy, Wyn) got a cheap taxi on Tuesday and again on Friday night. And today I bought some shopping in Home-Plus (www.homeplus.co.kr) jointly owned by Samsung and Tescos. Amazing place. There is a member of staff selling you or offering you something for free at the end of every aisle. One particularly enthusiastic woman sold me some paprika pringles.. i couldn't refuse. I was approached, however, on no less than 3 occasions by young Jehovah Witnesses distributing Watchtower. Met a dutch woman who has been a resident in Korea for 25 years and preaches at the Hanbit Presbyterian Church (www.hanbit.or.kr). She invited me to a service on Sunday - I might go, just for the experience. There is a leaving party afterwards for 2 English Teachers, going back to the UK, so might be useful for me.

I tried to take out 350,000 Won from a cashpoint in Tescos but no money came out - I got a receipt. I explained the problem to my boss and he GAVE me 300,000 won there and then! Don't think it was a gift though. Think it was a sub on my first months' wages. Incidentally, I will buy a PC and use him, as Andy says he will find the cheapest possible deal. A PC should set me back around 1,500,000 Won (3 quarters of my monthly wage). Then i will be set up at home.. although i quite like going to these PC Bangs!

Anyway, I am missing the rugby, and i think England are going to beat the Aussies. Come on!

By the way, if anyone is on my email list and wants to be removed, as you think it is 'spam' then please drop me a line.