Part I.

He had decided to teach in Korea for a year because he had nothing better to do. A recent college graduate with a Master's degree that was hard to explain and even harder to get work with he thought maybe a year in a foreign country was just what he needed. Finding a job, although somewhat stressful, was easier than he had imagined. This was going to be his first long term adventure overseas and he had his reservations. He didn't know much about Korea or Koreans for that matter. "Koreans are short, right?" He prided himself on having a diverse group of friends but Koreans had not yet made it into his pack. He gave his job notice (good riddance) and he waited until it was time to go.

He had been in a relationship for quite sometime and he hoped his flight to Korea would be less rocky. "Friends, we should have only been friends" he thought to himself. Although they were both going to Korea (she would arrive two months later) he knew inside that mystic part of himself that they would not be leaving Korea together.

Finally the day came where picked up his two bags (one was full of things he would later realize he didn't need)and boarded a plane destined for the future. The plane ride was comfortable beyond his expectations. He made a mental note that he would book this airline for his flight home. Before he knew it the plane was touch down a few mile outside Seoul. He had not sleep a single wink. He had not rested his eyes one time.

The airport was smaller than he thought it would be and easier to navigate (thank God). His ride was holding a sign with his name on it (spelled wrong of course). The man who would take his bags and drive him to his new home was ancient. He said "Hello" in Korean and then climbed into the back of an old van that smelled of smoke, garlic and a new scent he would come to know very well in time. To say that man driving the odor filled van drove fast would be under and understatement. The old man made up for his age with his skills on the road. Red lights were a thing of the past. Speed was the future. The ride took longer than expected but was exhilarating none the less.

He knew he was close to his destination when the old mans GPS system started ringing. He looked out his window as the van slowed down and for the first time he saw what was to be his new home for what he thought would only be a year (he was wrong). He was not scared but a chill ran through his body anyways. Without warning his body became very tired and he knew sleep was near.

There was a younger foreign man (non-Koreans are foreigners in Korea) waiting as the Van came to a stop. He was nice enough looking. Definitely not threatening and definitely not American. "Australian or from New Zealand" he thought. The younger man helped him out of the van and showed him to his apartment. The young man gave a quick, thick accent filled information session and then left him to settle in. "This apartment is small and there's no toilet paper" he thought. It was late and he was tired. He found some napkins in one of the cabinets and he used the bathroom. He was too tired to unpack and almost too tired to put sheet on the bed...almost, but there were something about him that would never change. He put new sheets on the bed.

It was late October and the night air was cool. He opened his window and took a deep breath. He could still smell garlic in his nostrils. He looked around the room that would become his home and thought, "I'll clean tomorrow." He lay down on his rock hard mattress and closed his eyes for the first time in a long time.