Andrew,
Always good to hear from you, since being in asia...it's difficult to keep in touch with other esl teachers (since most quit and move home after a year). I met up with the 4 year Korea veterans (group that are cycling from China to Ireland in April 2009 (http://www.brakingboundaries.org ) or at least two of them (David..Canada, Tom..Ireland) and one's South African girlfriend (Katheryn). Their ride will support KIVA FOUNDATION, enriching business entrepreneurs in developing nations with small capital business loans. They are all really nice, we had a wonderful ski together [@Phoenix Park]. Tough part is the reality they all live in distant parts of greater Seoul, ILSAN and BUNDANG. Those are also the better parts to live in, cleaner air, good pt work and institutes. I can't move now, we did find a bigger Officetel with a bedroom...you can come see/stay this time without being in the same room with all of us (oops!!!). Pollution is depressing, having the quit cycling early at the end of the summer with all my respiratory infections wasn't good. Ansan/Osan/Incheon, etc...are some of the dirtiest parts of Kyunggi-do, of course it's everywhere, but we have it the worst. Mi Sung has her parents here...I have the current jobs, but change will come next year. It's too bad we can't live near the mountains in Kangwon-do (Province) out East...it's virtually pollution-free compared to Seoul. Very nice to ski there!
Keep me posted, Happy End of 2008!
Brian & Family
