International Girl of Kimchi

First Morning in Korea: Travel adventures, first impressions.

Considering how far I was traveling the whole thing was surprisingly smooth going. I was stressed getting to the Portland airport because I had to get my ticket from the person at the desk which can sometimes take forever! But I was able to walk right up to the counter and get my ticket. I did feel a little sneaky because I put my lighter bag up first and the guy tagged it and sent it on its way then I did my second, heavier bag up and they let me slide because they had already sent the other bag to which I “could have” moved some stuff. But we are only talking a few pounds here (like3-4) so it would have been dumb if they tried to make a fuss. Then I breezed right through security, like I owned the joint :) I bought my coworkers/boss some jam and chocolate from the Made in Oregon store. I had the forethought to have little gift bags ready to go so I could wrap them at the airport, I wasn’t sure if I was going to meet them all once I arrived. The flight to Seattle was super quick, but those planes are freaky small, the one good thing about them is that they have a front and back exit.

I have never been to the Seattle airport, that place is pretty big. I had a few hours to spend before my flight to Seoul so I go a pedicure. I figured with the amount of time I will be taking my shoes off, I better get my feet into shape. The place that does it in the airport is okay, they have a “waterless” system, which I can understand why that would be easier and cleaner but it still seems like a rip. Especially for how much they charge.  However my feet are pretty and polished :) I still have weird feet tan lines, it’s weird the tops of my feet are really tan but my toes and legs aren’t, haha. I think it’s because I wear flats a lot with jeans so the tops of my feet get the most exposure.

I took the tram inside the airport to my gate got my new ticket and changed my money into Korean won. Thanks a lot dollar for being weaker :/ It isn’t that much weaker but still is lame. Then made some calls and got some lunch. It was funny because I made my first Asian friend (from Japan, but is half Japanese/Korean) at lunch. The place was crowded and he and I were going for the same empty table, I got there first (maybe) but I offered to share, he gave me the table but after doing a quick lap around the room came back to take up my sharing offer.  It was pretty funny because he didn’t speak much English and I felt like I was testing his skills, he did have a little translator on his phone that was pretty cool, a little inaccurate but help get the point across. The funniest thing was when he asked me if I knew about and had facebook; haha I guess his friend that he was visiting showed it to him and set up an account, he was pretty excited about it.

Then it was time for me to get on the longest flight ever. However it was a pretty great flight, even in my coach class you get taken care of. Also I’m not going to lie I love how small and thin everyone is on the plane because you actually have room. Each person has their own little TV thing that you can watch movies, play games, listen to music etc. There are a lot of choices, I ended up watching like 3 movies, I kind of slept off and on. My body just couldn’t figure out what was going on, I did work on my Korean a little bit, I just made some flash cards to help me learn the alphabet. They gave us 2 pretty good meals. The only thing is you feel so gross because you’ve been sitting so long and then eating on top of that, once I got off the plane all I wanted to do was run or do something active. However I am kind of impressed with myself because I didn’t get up once on the plane, I was in a middle seat and I hate climbing over people, plus airplane bathrooms are stupid, then towards the end it became a challenge to see if I could do it. Also Incheon airport is a very smoothly run airport, it’s crazy how calm and quiet it is, I got through customs and got my bags no problem, then you walk out the door to where the public is. I think that must be it, keeping the public out of even baggage claim, yes it can suck if you have a lot of stuff and need a hand, but I get so mad at baggage claim and it crowed over with a million people that stand stupidly close to the carasol so you can’t see your bag or they’re in the way of you bag.

Once I got outside I saw a man with my name on a sign (my driver) and he helped me get my bags to his van. This is where the real adventure begins. The van itself was hilarious, the car floor had (two different patterns) linoleum on it and the roof was padded and the stick shift had a sock over it. I am never driving in Korea! It was crazy I don’t understand how we didn’t crash a million times, he was breaking/speeding up so much I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. Plus I think he got lost/took the wrong way, that is the way it seemed according to the GPS. You know it’s bad when the foreigner can tell you need to be in the other lane or you are going to miss the turn. But I survived and made it to my apartment, my principal and her husband were waiting for us, that poor husband had to carry my 50 pound bags up to the second floor. My apartment is cute, small but not too bad. I unpacked but I’m not sure if I am going to keep everything where I put it. I need to get some hangers. My door has 4 locks on it plus another door to get inside the room itself and a little intercom so when people knock I can ask “who is it?” Then they will answer something I can’t understand and will end up having to open up the door anyway haha. It is a small complex, 2 apartments downstairs 2 on the second floor (1 being mine) and then the owner lives upstairs on the 3rd floor. I live right next to a drycleaners, which could come in handy because they have a washing machine and no drier (this is very typical) but I have no iron so it could be nice to have non-wrinkled clothes.

My boss and her husband took us to get some dinner, we got bulgogi :) it was good. It was weird just kicking your shoes off and sitting on the floor. Plus I’m not going to lie I was getting a few looks, haha I really do stick out. It is just funny to watch the heads turn, I’m not a freak show or anything, this is a huge city there are plenty of Americans etc staying here but it is a little weird.

After dinner we went to the school really quick just so I could have a little look around. It is such a cute school it has several levels. They have this cute little gym/play place downstairs and a stage. All the classrooms are colorful and cute. I am getting excited to teach but pretty nervous too, I think it’s the unknown that is scary I think once I do it for a few days I will feel great. I am feeling the same way I did before I started student teaching.

After visiting the school we came back to my apartment so I could go to bed, however I got this burst of energy and unpacked everything. Think I just didn’t want my bags on the floor. There isn’t much room for my clothes, there is a thing in the washing/drying room where I could put clothes but it’s so muggy and humid in there that I feel like they will smell bad, inside my room I have AC.  Oh and my boss is so nice and cute she even made sure I had a few groceries waiting for me :) I’m trying to decide if I want to explore a little bit today on my own. My boss invited me over to her house today at 4pm and her husband will come to the apartment to get me but its only 8am so I got some time to kill. I really need to buy an alarm clock. I thought I could use my old cellphone as one but it’s not updating to the time zone.

I am super excited about everything. Thank you everyone for your support and prayers. I will try to keep everyone updated on my adventures.