Yesterday morning – but it isn’t yesterday it was… hmmm… Monday morning 4AM EST or… about 38 hours ago though it just feels like yesterday cause my time traveling really was one REALLY long day considering I flew into the future and had a day which literally didn’t have a night. And I didn’t even need a Tardis! Anyway, I woke up my parents after staying up the whole night packing, eating Krispy Kremes, and playing WoW. We got ready and went off to the airport.
My plane at Cleveland was delayed so instead of getting off the ground at 7:40AM we got off the ground at 9:20AM. It worked out okay though cause I got to Chicago in plenty of time to get through security and even get on the internet to skype call Mom and get on the net to chat and email the audiodrama crew a bit. I also found me a Jamba Juice store and grabbed myself a Strawberry Energizer! A most welcome treat considering I didn’t even know there were any outside of California and I love those drinks.
The plane to Incheon arrived right on time. I was in seat 48A – about midway between the wings and tail. It was a bit noisy (I couldn’t hear any of the announcements) but I had a great view from my window seat. Yes, I got a window seat. YAY! Another really cool thing was that each person had a touch screen terminal in the seat in front of them with movies, maps, games, etc. I was going to listen to Leviathan (and I did while waiting for the plane in Cleveland) but watching movies that weren’t out on DVD yet that I hadn’t seen won me over. In between sleeping (very little) and eating (even less cause the food stank) I watched Night at the Museum 2, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Star Trek. The plane ride took about 13 hours total. I did get some really neat video – especially over Russia and landing in Incheon. I’ll post all the video clips on YouTube when I actually have the net again.
We landed in Incheon no problem (4:10pm Korean time) and there was no problem getting through Customs and my luggage. I used my one 100 Won coin to call my school and then I tried using my AT&T International calling card to call home. No go. I tried several machines but finally bought one of their 10,000 Won (10 buck) calling cards made to go with the machine and it worked fine. I let the parents know I was alive and then I spent another 1000 Won to get on the internet to send out messages to Gaia, DP, and BSAP that I was alive and also to update Facebook.
By this time I was absolutely starving. There was a French place selling bread that I planned on grabbing something at but, while updating Facebook I forgot all about it and wheeled the trolley with my luggage out to the bus to Nowon-gu without it. Lucky I did though cause a minute or two after buying my ticket (14000 Won) the bus came (at about 6pmish Korean time). It had REALLY nice cushy seats! I sat right behind the driver. A Korean woman sat next to me but we didn’t talk cause she didn’t speak English and I have no Korean (yet).
The TV in the bus was playing some sort of Korean news or talk show or maybe it was a cooking show. These Korean folk were going through little segments about dishes – from catching the Octopus to cooking it or picking the fruit to finished product. I must say, the dishes all looked REALLY good. Even the Octopus!
I sat in my seat looking out the window and very jazzed. I was tired but there was no way I was going to sleep on this drive! We went past the seat and through Incheon. Let me tell you, the dirt there is ORANGE! I’m serious. There were excavations and the dirt was the color of rust. Rather pretty, really.
Koreans drive on the same side of the road and car as we do in the States. Even the trees and grass looked really similar. If it weren’t for the Korean writing on all the buses and cars as well as signs (paired with English translations!) it could have been a highway back in the States with towns on either side. There were a LOT of apartment buildings, though. Lots of them and they have numbers on the side that you can see for miles so you know which one it is.
The land got more and more hilly the further you got to Seoul til you got to the outskirts of Seoul and there were actual MOUNTAINS! Squeee moment! Ever since that summer in Alaska I have loved mountains and Seoul is surrounded by them. But these mountains are almost a cross between the Alaska mountains and the Alleghany Mts. The Alleghany Mts are old and low and little more than rounded hills. The Alaska’s are tall and rugged and really wild. Well, the Korean mountains around Seoul are lower like the Alleghany Mts but they are more rugged though covered with trees like the Alaskas. They have a wild feel to them too. The whole area has that feel to it so far – wild, ancient, artistic, civilized but still untamed. I love it considering the feel of the US is tired.
We got to Seoul itself and the city is fantastic. You know how when you are at the boardwalk of a beach and the shops are all neon and bright colors with tables and such set up in the street? All the business areas of Seoul are like that (that I have seen). There are several stories in each building and each story might have a different business. And they use the outside wall of their story for advertising so buildings are covered in brightly colored and neon signs all in Korean and there are people walking underneath looking at the street vendors. Very cool. There are also lots of trees. And, boy are there a lot of bicycles! Bike racks and stores are all over the place!
We got to Nowon and I was dropped off the bus. My manager Mr. J was there to pick me up. He brought along his car and drove me to my hotel (this little place – see my videoblog for a tour) while pointing out things around me in the city. It has a bedroom with TV, mni-fridge, condom vendor (I’m not kidding), and a full bath with tub. The bed just has one pillow and a comforter over a cover sheet but I slept well enough.
I watched TV a bit (CSI Miami of all things!) on a Korean/English station until he brought the other new girl. Her name is Hannah and she’s from Seattle. She knew even less than I did because I think she thought our hotel rooms were actually our apartments. I guess all the research I did and getting ahold of the current tenant in my apartment was unusual. But, she’s very nice. We were both starving and so Mr. J walked with us through Nowon in search for food. We ended up in a little place that sells fried chicken and beer. It was in a complex of shops that cater to those living in the apartment building above. 9,000 Won for a big plate of fried chicken and a few side dishes. The chicken was very good but hot both in temperature and spice. It hit the spot! We ate and chat. Mr. J treated us (unexpected and very nice of him). I like him a lot. His English isn’t the best but he is very good natured and obviously wants to make sure that Hannah and I are happy and settle in nice. He walked us back to the Hotel and reminded us that he and Hannah (the Korean one) will be coming by at 11AM Wednesday (today). I lay in bed a bit and watched CSI New York (The one where Horatio shows up to try and catch Darius) before passing out.
I slept the whole night through and woke up bright eared and bushy tailed. I’m not worried about jet lag. Go me! There is no internet in this room so I dunno when I’ll be able to update Facebook and check my email or skype my parents. Aside from the meeting at 11AM I have today off. I’m going to clean up a bit and go find myself some breakfast. Perhaps I’ll find an internet café that I can go to later. Oh! Now that it is light out I can see through my window and there is a MOUNTAIN not far from me! Look out, Seoul, I have arrived!
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