Tuesday, Arriving in Seoul - So, like I said...bus from Incheon to Seoul...the bus driver bowed before we set off and later proceeded to spit out the window...let the social contradictions begin!

Jake had told me I was going to get off at the last stop...which made me feel secure, but I still managed to get off at the wrong place! Not too far off, just about a block...but, I wandered around a bit just trying to figure out how to get across a giant intersection to the building where Jake works. Props to my brother for detailed directions using landmarks, although he did forget a few things...more on that later.

So, I finally decided to go underground through a shopping center to get to Yeongdeungpo Station where I was supposed to get off the bus...meandered through a busy department store and found my way back outside to the one crosswalk that got me to my destination. Once at YBM, where my brother works, I realized Jake hadn't told me where in the building to go...and no signs in English...now, obviously, I'm in a country where English is not primary, so I'm not complaining like some ignorant American...but, YBM is an English Language Services company, so I was hoping for clue! They were kind enough to mark the floors with their logo, so I went to the first floor they occupied and managed to find one of Jake's colleagues who showed me that the main floor was actually the 5th and there I met my brother's boss, Joanne. WHEW!

I met some of Jake's Korean colleagues who all seemed to adore him...when he got out of class we headed to his apartment before his last class. On the way to his place we walked through Yeoungdeungpo Station and Jake "warned" me that this was where all the homeless people hung out...it's funny what my brother doesn't know about my life...but, I can understand his concern.

Once at my brother's place, I turned on an episode of Psych and zonked out for about an hour. Jake returned from his class at 10pm (his first class is at 6:30am!) and we headed off to meet a couple of his American colleagues at a local bar. I'm so impressed with Jake's ability to read and speak the language...not that I didn't think he was capable...but, it's still pretty cool! We had a couple beers and a dish my brother ordered consisting of some tiny sausages and veggies in a thick red sauce...pretty tasty...the bill came out to about $20 for 8 beers and the food...wow!