The last few days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) have been great! 

Tuesday was just a nice and normal day, it was raining a lot, and I only had one class. After class I just relaxed in my room and then in the evening went to Janbeers with many others.

Yesterday, Wednesday, was an even better day! First I had 1 class at 9 but was over by 10:15, and then I had a nice morning before I went to Seoul for the day. For the rest of the story to make sense, flashback to me buying the cell phone in Itaewon on Monday. When I was waiting for the bus it was pouring rain really hard but in Korea you have to queue up for a bus because so many people want to take it and they don't all fit in one bus. So I was standing there getting soaked and then a nice Korean girl behind me, Mary, offered me to share her umbrella. We ended up talking on the bus back to Suwon a lot and she offered to show me more around Seoul where she goes to school! So yesterday, Wednesday, first Karina, Natalie, and I went to Seoul so they could both get cellphones. After that I took the metro by myself to Gyeongbokgung and met Mary there at 4. She was very nice, knowledgeable, and helpful and had made a tour route for us to take earlier. First we went to this very old district in Seoul called Bukchon. It was very historical, with original Korean-style houses that today are mainly occupied by foreign ambassadors and other very rich people. It has many hills looking over the tiled roofs and many small alley ways with shops and places to eat.  Mary had also planned for us to eat at this really nice and hidden Korean Fusion restaurant. It was really tasty, and in a renovated old Korean style structure. After that we walked some more through Bukchon on our way to Insadong and we went to a very nice place that only had green tea. This place attracted some serious tea sommeliers and it was three stories high of nothing but nice dressed ladies, waiters in white, nice wood floors, and green tea. Besides tea, I also tried my first green tea cake, pretty good stuff! Leaving there we took the bus to Seoul station and then the train (not metro!, but actual fast train) to Suwon in under 30 minutes which was much nicer than taking the metro. In Suwon we just hung out and walked and then went to one of those funny Japanese photo places where you just act silly and get anime-like photos. All in all it was a really nice day, and she is a very nice guide. Also, Mary is an English major so she has a big certification exam for English coming soon so hopefully I can help her, too. 

When I got home from Seoul I went and checked my mailbox and actually had my first letter! Before I had checked there was only the same empty candy wrapper sitting inside the metal box, but today there was an actual letter! Sarah had sent me a very nice and sweet letter and it really also made my day. Now I have to go out and buy some postcards and start sending them out! Postage from US to here is $1.05 for a letter, by the way! Thanks, Sarah! 

Today, Thursday, I had to wake up for class at 9 and then just go through all my classes. Korean class was really funny with Floris, and then linguistics was cool too. During my lunch break they had all the clubs and sports teams at booths outside and I joined the baseball team. Yep, I joined the Ajou baseball team. Practice is twice a week and the games are on Sundays. I'm the only non-Korean but they seemed really interested in getting me to play. I can't wait to go and play for the first time in a long time. The first game is this weekend vs. Seoul National University, but I'll just be watching. Sadly, I have to miss tomorrow morning's practice to go to the Suwon Immigration Office so I can get my Alien Registration Card, so I can stay in Korea over 30 days and go to Japan. Speaking of, I've found really cheap tickets to Osaka and Vytas and I are still thinking about going together. Also today after class, as I was walking to the bookstore, a Korean ran up to me (this is very strange as most Koreans are very timid and shy to foreigners). She asked me to please be in a photo-shoot for an Ajou advertising brochure. I obliged and 30 minutes later was finally finished after being posed smiling while walking down the steps of the library while pretending to read a book (while it was below freezing outside!). haha. Soon I will be in a brochure advertising the Ajou Graduate School, I guess they just needed diversity in the booklet so they chose me. Later I also saw them getting some African students to pose, trying to make it look like more than 3 Africans go to Ajou presumably. Then I finally got my Korean books and now I'm here!