27 Hours of Travel

So for this post I have decided to chronicle my journey to Daegu as I go. So far I cried at MSP. After Mom left the airport I got in line for security, at which time people looked at me like I was crazy. It’s like they have never seen a person say good-bye at an airport. Crazy people. Ha ha. Made it to Chicago, where I took the lovely tram to Concourse 5, the international concourse. When I arrived at the Asiana desk the nicest woman greeted me. She asked a few questions, confirmed that I had an aisle seat (hooray!) and I had requested a special meal (double hooray!). I told her I had never had Korean food and no, I do not enjoy the hot humid weather I am in for when I arrive in Daegu, but this is an adventure and I was going to enjoy it. She called me positive, strange.

Made it onto the plane. I am currently on hour number 7, almost 8. We are currently over the Bering Sea, we will be passing the International Date Line soon. Flight time is expected to be 13 hours and 30 minutes. Seeing as how left about 30 minutes late, we are scheduled to arrive at 4:10pm in the Seoul time zone. That is 10 minutes late, and I am sure I will start freaking out about the delay and how it will affect my bus schedule in another 2 or so hours.

The airplane is pleasant enough. I am sitting next to a little boy named Eric and his mother Chan. They are very nice. My first Vegetarian meal was manicotti it was delicious; definitely a little taste of home before I hit the culture shock of my life. Oh, seat belt sign went on. No turbulence, false alarm.

The rest of the flight went smoothly. I got through the airport fairly well. I missed Mr. Joe when I came out of the customs area so I had to call him, but that was easy. Got on the bus, that was an experience. It was a normal kind of greyhound bus, but it was a long ride, after a long plane ride.

My director picked me up, about ten minutes after the bus left. That was a very terrifying time. The taxi’s were circling. I was taken to a motel because my apartment still has a teacher in it. As soon as my director and her daughter left, I just started to cry. I haven’t stopped much since. I miss home so much.

I haven’t eaten since the airplane. I miss my dog and my mom and my bed. I miss English! I just want an English TV station. I want to go home.

Not a good start to this “adventure”. Let hope it gets better. 

I'm leaving, on a jet plane...

Don't know when I'll be back again. Ok, maybe I do. It could be a year, it could be longer. Tonight is my last night at home. I have everything (except my laptop, obviously) packed. My luggage is heavy. Both bags are about 47 lbs. My carry-on is 17 lbs, and I guess if the Asiana people tell me they are over weight I need to cry and then they will let me through. I can definitely pull out the tears, they have been flowing freely all night. 

Tomorrow I leave for Seoul. I am getting so nervous. Everyone is telling me it's a great life experience, but it's not helping me tonight. I am freaking out about leaving home. Going away to college was one thing, leaving for a new continent is a totally different animal. First stop is Chicago. From Chicago I get on a lovely 777 for my 14 hour trek to Seoul. From Seoul I get on a bus to Daegu. This is an adventure. Just keep telling myself that. 

More to come. I will update when I get internet in Korea. 

Less than a week

Wow, time has flown by. Tomorrow is Monday July 9th and I will be leaving for Korea on Sunday July 15th. I can't believe everything has fallen into place and that I am actually leaving. It became very real when my Visa actually arrived in the mail. There is was, that huge sticker, saying I was able to stay in the country and work for a year. I have started getting very nervous. Grinding my teeth to say the least. I am very excited as well.

With less than a week to go most of my clothes are laid out. Most of my toiletries are separated and bagged. I figured since I was talking two huge suitcases I should split all the shampoo, deodorant, contacts and toothpaste into the two bags. If either bag gets lost, I will still have a few of everything. My shoes will absolutely be my weakness. I love my shoes and I want to take so many, but I know that is not going to happen. I have to keep reminding myself that not only can I not fit many in my bags, but it is customary to take off your shoes whenever you enter a dwelling. So shoes are not an important feature of an outfit.

I have been talking to some wonderful people who are in Korea and in the US. Some will join me later in Korea and some will be there when I arrive. All the advice they have given me makes me feel so much more prepared. Plenty of people told me to bring tons of deodorant, so it's on the pile. Lots of advice and I hope to share some of my own once I am in Korea.

I can't help thinking how much I am going to miss back home. I will be missing the birth of my wonderful friend Jamie's baby. I will be missing the wedding of my best friend to an amazing man who could not be a better match. I will be missing so much. I just hope this experience is worth all of that.

I have taken over my brother's bedroom. There is more stuff on the floor. How am I going to pack it all?

Six weeks

It has been a couple weeks since my last post. I have sent my documents to Korea. I received my confirmation number, I think that's what they called it. It's the important number I had to put on top of my wonderful Visa Application. I sent my application to the Korean Consulate in Chicago. The person I talked to, by email not by phone (I don't believe they have a working phone in the office), said it will take 2-3 days to complete the process. After those 3 days my passport will be mailed back to me.

I am hoping that the next step is to figure out my flight. I told Thomas that I could not leave until the 15th of July. The school wants me there between the 15th and the 18th. I am basically at there mercy, so my fingers are crossed.

I am getting so excited. I am not just excited about leaving for a new country with new experiences but I am excited to meet new people. I will miss everyone at home, that is an understatement, but I am getting so excited to leave. 

I got a new duffle bag that will be making the trip with me. It will hold about half of my shoes from home. So when I do have to start packing I think that will be the biggest wake up call. All my clothes, for a whole year, in two suitcases.