2009: An Asian Odyssey

Our Home March 11, 2009

We still haven’t decided if this is an upgrade from the Seoho Hotel from a quality perspective, but it certainly does have a lot more space. There’s no escape rope though, so I’m a little nervous about what to do in the event of a fire.

I don’t want to give away too much of the video tour, but our bathroom is literally smaller than 2 telephone booths, and that includes the shower. From an outside perspective this may seem less than ideal, but I’ve spent the better part of the past hour trying to find the right words to describe the satisfaction I get from being able to shower, shit and shave without moving, and I just can’t. There are no words. I’m speechless. I am without speech.

As for my closet, next to packing, this was my next biggest concern about moving overseas. Way ahead of cultural assimilation and the obvious language barrier. Actually, while we’re on the subject, let’s examine my top 5 biggest concerns about moving to Asia.

1. Packing (What to bring?)

2. Closet Space (Where to put what I brought?)

3. Food (How do you say filet mignon in Korean?)

4. No dryers (Try hang-drying a pair of underwear and putting them on first thing in the morning. It’s like like wearing sandpaper)

5. Missing family, friends, weddings, blah, blah, blah.

That’s the list.

I should also point out that since the filming of the video you’re about to see, my shoes have been moved from the bottom of the closet to a small shoe closet next to the front door, and my sweaters/sweatshirts have been moved to the bottom of the closet. This was a difficult decision but I think it was for the best. Katie has a nice closet too.

Some other minor things worth mentioning include the fact that all apartments and houses are heated through the floor. Always nice to wake-up to a nice warm floor. The only problem with our floor is that it’s nasty and we have to wear sandals or socks. The walls are thin. Like cardboard thin, so we can hear everything in the hallways. Including the guys who stick menus on your door at all hours of the night and sound like they’re breaking into your place. The front doors on most of the places in this area are wide open so anyone can walk in and knock on your door. No buzzer, no security guard or cameras. Nothing. I like not having to carry another key around but it’s not the most secure dwelling. Let’s see, what else?…Um, no dishwasher…no oven…kids who play outside our window at 9am when we’ve been out until 5am…a double bed with two single comforters. Mine usually ends up on the floor and I end up with Katie’s, not sure what she does but I think she mentioned something about being cold this morning…couches and decor from the 70’s…and I think that’s it.

As bad as it might seem, please don’t interpret this as complaining. It certainly doesn’t compare to our old condo, but we still love it and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Enjoy the tour.