The Beginning Part I

It’s strange to say how I felt the moment I stepped in PDX knowing that it would be my last time being in comfortable surroundings. Every step from here on out is a fresh step on new soil; Even the hour layover in Seattle proved to be confusing as I tried to lug around luggage whose combined weight weighed more than me. Once on the plane, I was actually eager to fall asleep and wake up in Korea. I don’t think I have ever sat in one place for longer than 10 minutes, let alone 10 hours. I was first placed on the far end of the plane in a window seat next to a guy who enjoyed telling me this was his first out of country experience to Bangkok. After 2 minutes had passed, I decided that he must’ve chosen Bangkok for the sole reason of telling people that that’s where he was going. One of those, "Haha, Hey man, did you hear there's a place called Bangkok? Let's go!"
There were three army guys sitting behind us reading Tucker Max’s I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell while making poor humored jokes. I could already tell this was going to be the longest few hours of my life. Usually I'd chime in and act amused while I'm really ridiculing their daft thoughts, but today was not my day. I was absolutely terrified, already homesick, felt feverish, and just wanted to cry in a corner. It’s of no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to switch seats with one of the army guys’ friends in the front of the plane. Between a petite Chinese woman and a middle-aged ginger, I found my solace of comfort. I gave up my window seat for 12 hours of silence, and let me tell you, I’d do it again. I could kick my Portland friends for staying loyal in their movie nights as the only movies being shown were the three movies I had just watched. The newly formatted ipod by Marc and Natalia and watching the E! True Hollywood Story of Sandra Bullock, twice, were my only awake moments en route to Seoul.
Once off the plane, I quickly found Che, my boss, holding a sign that read De Moss. He seemed to let out a very apparent sigh once he spotted me with all my luggage. His broken English was complimented by his son-in-law who was visiting from Seattle. I tried to be cordial, but I was so out of it and tired, I just wanted to be left alone. I told them I was not hungry, but Che bought me a donut from Dunkin Donuts (to save for later) and a Korean orange juice and we stepped outside. ( The fact that the man bought me a donut without me asking had me liking him already) Within 5 minutes, Che had argued his way into putting me on an already full bus to Gumi. His son-in-law ran behind me and said, “This bus will stop for a 15 minute break. Your stop is the next stop. Someone will meet you there.” So the bus ride is supposed to be three hours long and it’s nearly 2 AM USA time and 8 PM Korean Time and I’m supposed to stay awake until one stop after the 15 minute break stop? Naturally I didn’t think of any of this until Che and his son were gone and I was left fumbling with my seat trying to figure out how to put the feet down. The guy next to me must’ve noticed my troubles because he started to pointlessly adjust his own seat back and forth until I caught on.

The sight leaving Seoul was as if New York, Japan, and Las Vegas had collided into one central city. I was actually thankful that I was being placed in a smaller city as these lights at the moment were quite overbearing. I have no idea how it happened, but I quickly fell asleep, only to wake up right at the 15 minute stop. I nearly had an anxiety attack thinking that I had already missed my stop and here I am with no phone and no Korean money and no way to find my way home. Thank goodness my stop was the next stop and Jane was there waiting. Jane was the school receptionist and quickly had me feeling at ease. Her English wasn’t half bad, although she kept apologizing for it. Most of the car ride was spent in silence except for Jane’s random outbursts of telling me how pretty I am. Here is this beautiful Korean woman dressed in jeans and a leather jacket and she’s complimenting me?! She also made note of showing how most of the cars here are white. I don’t know what it meant, but I naturally thought of Natalia and her hate for color. The view of Gumi at night was fascinating. Lots of stores and high rises and the Samsung building on the right which she showed off with pride. My apartment was further up a broken cement road where garbage lined the streets. (I learned that this is normal and not a bad neighborhood) She helped me with my luggage into my small one room apartment and gasped when I stepped in without taking off my boots. Culture note #1, TAKE OFF SHOES IN HOME. Jane must’ve noticed the exhausted look in my eyes because she brought in some blankets, said James would be here at 11 AM the next day to take me to the market, and left me in my new home.
I’m not sure what to expect of Korean apartments but I kind of like mine. It is very much like a studio at the Sitka, but smaller. You walk in to a small entryway with cupboards and a stove for a kitchen. Big glass doors open up to a single room with a twin bed and a television atop two drawers. Additional sliding glass doors open to a small room with a washing machine and a rack to put your clothes on to dry. The bathroom has a sink and a toilet and a small shelf and a shower head right in the middle of it. Korean culture does not have shower curtains and when you bathe, there is only a drain and everything gets wet. You have to wear shower shoes (thank goodness I brought sandals) as the floor fills up and takes some time to drain. I’m not a big fan of showering here. The bathroom always seems dirty and looks and smells like a wet bathroom. I have to take toilet paper out before I shower and put it back in after the bathroom is dry enough. I really should’ve brought more towels. There is no fan and only a small window you can open which since I’m on the first floor makes for a great view while I shower.

Once I unpacked, the apartment, in its one room wonder, still looked empty. They told me the apartment would be furnished. This of course meant a TV and a bed and a small built in wardrobe to put your clothes. Thank goodness I overpacked and brought sheets and a towel and my curtains. There is a small double drawer side table that the tv sits on, but naturally the drawers don't actually open unless I use brute force and break off the handle (yes it happened twice). Needless to say, I will be leaving several things for the future teachers to enjoy as I need a nice comfortable home to survive.

Anyway, I got up and showered even though I felt like I could sleep for days to be sure I was ready by 11 AM the next morning. I was horrified keeping my phone on since I didn’t know if roaming charges applied, but I needed an alarm. I couldn’t use the internet as I didn’t know the password so I spent half the night awake wondering how long it’d take for my mother to call the embassy before I could check in with her. The apartment had no dishes and no glasses and I didn’t know if the water was safe, so I took some Tylenol with the only liquid I had. Whiskey in my flask. It was 11:30 and no one had come to get me yet so I sat in bed reading a book and left the door unlocked for when he would arrive.

James didn’t arrive until after 1:30. I had fallen asleep and woke to a man standing in front of my bed looking at me puzzled. What a lovely way to meet my school manager. Me, disheveled half asleep and apologetic and James mostly horrified that I fell asleep with the doors unlocked. Yay. Great start for me and Korea. He took me to the market where we realized I did not have any Korean money on me and their ATM machines would not read my card. Superb. I only had the $100 cash I took out while still in Oregon. James walked me around the market and helped me pick out a few items and paid for them. One of the items being toilet paper as there was none in the apartment and it only came in 24 pack rolls. Since that moment wasn’t awkward…AT ALL... I got a few satsumas, some potato chips, some ramen, some Korean orange juice (which I later realized tastes like hell), a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and plastic mug. I did not want to drink out of my flask anymore thanks. I had made a list that morning of things I would need from the store, but now felt incredibly awkward asking for any of them as I didn’t have won and James would have to pay with the cash he had in hand. Dishes, cleaning supplies, plug in converters, hangers, hammer, nails… We stopped at a little ‘everything’ store and he helped me pick out a few items. He kept pointing to this weird cord which everything about it was lost in translation so I walked forward to the hangers and grabbed the few items I found necessary for the moment.
Then we went to lunch. Horrified that I’d order something I didn’t understand and be forced to eat it all, we went to Imsil Pizza. I figured I could eat anything there. When I started looking at the menu, I began to worry as all I could see were different kinds of fish pizzas and James told me his favorite was the potato pizza. On the last page, I spotted Hawaiian pizza and ordered. Pizza was served with a plate of diced pickles. I got excited and reached for one. It was a sweet relish pickle. Not exactly gross, but definitely not what I was expecting. James looked at me with an awkward eye as he grabbed his fork and reached for a pickle as well. Apparently my eating pickles with my hands was not approved. Meh. The pizza was actually ok even if I had to eat it with a fork and knife. It appears I’ll be able to survive here as long as pizza exists. Once back at my apartment, James tried to start my internet and I realized that’s where the cord played a role. I didn’t have one so no internet for me. I tried to ask him to take me to get the cord, but again, everything was lost in translation. I tried to call my mom then, figuring no fee would be too high on the phone bill for her to know I was not placed in human trafficking, but the phone was shut off. James then told me that Monday was their independence day and everything would be closed but he’d stop by to check in on me. So that means class starts on Tuesday, banks open on Tuesday, and I’m left in an apartment in an unknown world with no connections and no money and little to no food. Ugh. I spent Sunday on a walk around downtown which was amazing. I passed a clothing store that only sold cardigans and vests and stripes!! The weather was perfect. All the people I passed were nice and cheery and I was fascinated as a tourist taking pictures for a few hours. I learned I was very close to the school and my walk there took no time at all. Sunday was a good restful calm day of being content being alone. Yes, I was hungry and I wanted to call my mom, but all in all, I was ok. Now it is Monday. James, Che, and Jane were supposed to meet me. No one is here yet….