Landing In Korea

     After having some very heartfelt goodbyes to friends, family and my girlfriend it was time to follow my dream of going abroad.  It was incredibly difficult leaving everyone but I knew I couldn’t turn back now.  The plane flights weren’t that bad but it wasn’t peachy being in three different planes for a total of 21 hours.  Landing in South Korea at 7 in the morning was fantastic because I had slept for a good bit and felt ready to get to my new home.

    So I went through customs, surprisingly in less than 15 minutes, and got my bags.  I’m standing there trying to find where to go next when a security guard sees me and beelines it straight to me.  But he’s not coming alone and his companion is a K-9 drug dog!  I chuckle and wait for him to come because the only thing I’m worried about is if that dog likes chocolate.  My girlfriend and Mom had given me some sweets to eat on the plane and I waited to see if that dog had a nose for chocolate.  Well he didn’t but I couldn’t help but notice the guard was a little disappointed.

     Next, I found a payphone pulled out my international calling card and dialed my family and let them know I had made it.  I missed both my Mom and Dad but was able to get in touch with my girlfriend so that was nice. After that I got a bus ticket to Gwangju and set off.  I couldn’t sleep because I was looking out the window the whole time and 4 hours later made it to the city. 

     I called Mi Eun, the school’s director, and told her where I was, met up with her and we set off to the school.  On the way I was very quiet and realized I wasn’t really thinking at all.  I knew then how bad my jetlag was.  If I’m not looking around or focusing on a conversation it’s because I’m exhausted.  And I mean can’t stand because I’m too tired exhausted.  It’s a horrible feeling and I hate it. But I forced myself to suck it up since the person I was with had hired me from halfway around the world!

     We made it back to the school and then Mi Eun wanted lunch.  Ohhh man I know I’m too tired but I can’t refuse.  So we go and the first thing we get is Kimchi.  It’s the standard dish of Korea but Mi Eun asks me if I like octopus?  Sure why not.  So we get it out, I grab the chopsticks and go for it.  I pop one of those tentacles in my mouth and taste….worn out rubber gum? Really? 

     Well Mi Eun thinks I’m funny because she finishes the entire dish but I’m not.  I figure its better not to tell her that some salt would make that octopus taste much better so I let her think I’m not hungry.

     We leave and I assume I’m going to my apartment so I can sleep.  Nope Mi Eun wants me to meet the other foreign teachers so I can, “Get comfortable.”  Ok sure I’m gonna get comfortable with my head on the table. And that’s exactly what I do, the next thing I know its 2 hours later and I’m being rushed out to my apartment. Except it’s not my real apartment it’s the one I’m using for a couple of days until mine is completely furbished.  In the fog of the jetlag I’m able to hear Mi Eun explain that my visa was accepted so quickly that they weren’t ready for me to be in Korea yet.  I say its fine, watch her leave and collapse on the bed fully asleep before my head hits the pillow.