First Post

Hey, Johnny here, this is my first post! I've been in Seoul for a bit over two weeks now. My teaching appointment became official on August 1. I have settled in to my apartment for the most part (I am still waiting for some boxes to arrive from the U.S. with personal belongings) and have gotten to work preparing lesson plans and reading materials for my two classes this semester: Readings in Anglo-American Law (for undergraduates) and Principles of Commercial Law (for graduate students). I just received my public servant identification card (SNU faculty members are considered Korean government officials).

I will post some pictures soon of my apartment and the Seoul National University campus. In the meantime, maybe I should itemize places around the city that I have visited:

Namsan-this is a mountain within Seoul, located north of Hangang, the river that divides the city in two. It is a pretty area, with good views of the surrounding city and nice trails for hiking.

Kangnam-a business district that also has plenty of places for going out after work or even on weekends. I have been told that this area is popular with the not-super-trendy mid-twenties set. Sounds like my kind of place!

Samseong-here I visited Coex Mall and Hyundai Department Store. My collection of dress shirts from the U.S. is almost exclusively long-sleeved (thanks to the NYC influence), and the weather here is rather hot and humid, so some short-sleeved alternatives are in order. I typically walk to and from my office every day (it is about a 20-minute, hilly walk), so the toll of heavy garments is considerable.

Gyodae-I visit this neighborhood fairly often, as the Yoons live here. They are the parents of a friend of mine from law school, and have kindly taken me around town for sightseeing and shopping. Their daughter and two grandchildren live in Seoul as well; the grandchildren speak excellent English, and the 8-year-old granddaughter asked me, "Were you born spotted?" It took me a while to realize what she meant; I guess freckled skin is not so common amongst Koreans! Anyhow, this neighborhood is pretty close to mine, so it is easy for me to cruise over to meet up for a movie and/or grocery shopping!

Yeoido-My friend from Notre Dame works here, the "Korean Wall Street". It is an island in the Han River and is the center of finance in Seoul. Compared to Wall Street (or Midtown) it is relatively less congested and is actually fairly pleasant as a place to walk around, if not distinguished by stunning architecture or cultural sights. The Korean Diet is located here, however, and hopefully I will be able to visit there soon.

Itaewon-This is the center of the international/foreigner scene in Seoul, a bit like Roppongi in Tokyo (but I think a bit edgier). Probably not a place I will visit all the time, but it is an interesting place to stop by now and then. I visited with a couple Aussie lawyers I was introduced to by a friend from New York.

Well, that's the quick update. I will post again soon with pics!