Old School Update
So, here I am in Ilsan New City. This place might ALMOST be better than actual downtown Seoul. We shall see.
I'll backtrack a bit and start from the beginning of my trip.
Day One-- Wednesday, February 21, 2007-- 3am
I was still awake, because it was 1am before I realized I should get some sleep. I thought it was going to be horrible, but it turns out that not sleeping that night was the best thing I could have done.
We made our way to the airport where my bags were just under the maximum weight limit. The bitch at the counter wanted to charge me because they were over 50 lbs, but being the prepared person that I am, I informed her that if I was transiting through Tokyo, then my maximum weight per piece was actually 70 lbs. She does some checking and turns out I was right.
Jennifer -1 ; Air Canada - 0
We hit Tims for my last little taste of home. I was feeling so ill by this point that I couldn't even stomach the Tims. I left unsatisfied. I went upstairs and tried calling Mom on the cell phone, but I guess Justin Timberlake ringtones are not compatible with Moms. Who knew? After 6 failed attempts, I open the old laptop and realize that there is free wireless. So I send out some emails and IM's... of course no one is around because it's 5am, but still, good times. I board my flight and there is a nice couple sitting next to me who are headed to Florida. They were really sweet and we had a nice chat. No food on this flight. Boo Air Canada.
We were late getting into Toronto because we had sat on the runway for about 30 minutes in Halifax getting "de-iced" Only in Canada.
I was stressing to catch my plane and hauled ass to the gate. I made it and with some time to spare! Go me!
The flight from Toronto to Vancouver was ok. I was starving by this point so I buckled under the pressure and bought a sandwich.
Jennifer - 1; Air Canada - 1
Watched the Prestiege on the teeny tiny little screen. It was really good. Must watch again.
I had a couple hours in Vancouver, so after stretching my legs I whipped the good old credit card and bought an hour of wireless. I emailed, chatted and had a grand old time in PST.
Then I board for Tokyo.
Somewhere along the way we crossed the International Date Line.
Day Two: Thursday, February 22, 2007
Somewhere over the Pacific. I'm glad to say that I slept a good 80% of this flight. No sleep + sleeping pill = good. I ate one meal of Japanese tempura which was only ok. They played some movies which I heard bits and pieces of through my headset, but mostly my head was down on my tray and I was sound asleep.
Then finally-- TOKYO! I had to transfer from the Narita Airport to the Haneda Airport. I took a bus there and it was great to see the skyline of a city I have come to love. I saw the big-ass ferris wheel that is on the way to Disney and I got to see all the fun, flashy lights! I arrived at my hotel and the staff there were amazing. I felt like royalty. I checked in and went up to the room. As I walked in the door the phone was already ringing. It was Natsumi calling me to chat because she got stuck at work and wouldn't be able to meet me. We decided that we would meet up later this year so I could meet her husband and she could come visit Korea again. After that I hit the bed hard.
Day Three: Friday, February 23, 2007 -- 3am
I woke up.
I just could not manage to get back to sleep. So, I whipped out the video cam and made a movie of my hotel room and then I plugged in the laptop and went online until it was time for my breakfast order to arrive. I ordered some roomservice. 30 bucks for freaking bacon and eggs, but they were pretty damn good-- plus I was starving at this point so I couldn't even think of the money.
Around 9am I checked out and headed to the International Terminal. I had to take a shuttle bus and let me tell you that two 70 lb suitcases, a backpack, a purse and a laptop are not easy to manage by yourself. Luckily the Japanese people were very kind and understanding. I got to the terminal and checked in for my flight. Three hundred dollars later, I was able to get both my bags on. Lucky me. I completely understood though, but they could have cut me some slack!!!
Tokyo to Seoul involved a really gross meal that I flat out refused and I slept most of the two hours.
Things went very well when I arrived in Korea. I had no problems at the airport.
A guy named David came to pick me up. Cute little Korean guy with black glasses. He was very nice and he took me to the hotel type place that I stayed at on the weekend.
I crashed hard.
Day Four: Saturday, February 24, 2007
Up at 3am again. Damn jet lag. I knew I was going to hang out with Gordon later, so I did some emails and got showered. Breakfast started around 7am, so I got dressed and went down there. It was pretty decent for free. I at least got some toast and boiled eggs. The coffee was sick tasting.
I went for a walk around that area-- Sincheon. I really love that area. There are lots of restaurants and lots of shopping!! I got some Starbucks and had a nice stroll.
Gordon met me there around 1pm and we went to Outback Steakhouse. Yummy! I had some chicken and shrimp pasta as well as soup, bread, cola and coffee! We then went back to my place and then over to Dongdaemun (East gate) market. They have a flea market kind of place there on Saturdays inside the old Baseball Stadium. There are so many neat little stalls and they sell everything you can think of. We had a blended ginseng and potato drink that was divine tasting. We poked around and made fun of some of the stalls and played with all the sex toys they had for sale. Afterwards we got a hot honey and herb drink that was so nice and a great way to warm up.
After the flea market we headed back to my place so I could freshen up before Gordon's party.
We took the subway to Mok-dong area and went to a place called Home Ever. When you say Home Ever, you have to say it in a sing-song voice and say it twice. That's what makes it fun. ;) We got some wine and some snacks and then we were on our way to his apartment.
Gordon's apartment is really nice. It's big, beautiful and very well decorated. Lots of plants! We hung out for a while, had some drinks and waited for his co-teachers to arrive. Once they did, the party was in full-swing! It was a lot of fun and I'm glad I stayed up for it!! The girls he works with are super nice and they all really seem to get along well!
Day Five: Sunday, February 25, 2007- 1am
I caught a cab outside Gordon's place and headed back to my hotel. There was no way I was going to make it at a bar. I was exhausted! Got home, had a snack and headed off to bed. I had a restless sleep, but I did manage to stay in bed until about 10am. Went out and got some Mc D's and then just relaxed at the hotel.
Around 3pm Gordon and I decided not to be lazy asses all day long so I went over there, we got some Starbucks and then went to the big bookstore in Jongno. After dropping some Won there, we walked along a newly re-built historic river/canal place in the middle of Seoul -- you can see some of it in my youtube video-- and took in the sights. I showed Gordon my favourite building in Seoul -- Millenium Tower -- and we went up to the top to see the view and use the washroom! LOL The washroom is great there though because one wall is all windows. In the men's the urinals face that wall, so it must feel like you're pissing onto Seoul.
Afterwards, we were both starving so we went for some Bipembap. It's rice served with pretty much whatever you like. Gordon had seafood and I had vegetables. It comes in a hot stone pot and you swish it all around and it gets all hot and crispy. Yummy!!
Once our bellies were full, we strolled along the busy bar/restaurant area and did some people watching before jumping back on the subway to head home.
So that brings us up to today. Day six.
I got up early this morning around 6am and started thinking about getting ready for my orientation day. At seven I dragged my unshowered ass to the breakfast and had a nice big meal. Afterwards I headed back to my room to pack and get ready for the day. At 9 I met a guy down in the lobby and he checked me out of the hotel and got my bags. We went to the Korea Poly School (KPS) headquarters and I listened to a guy named John talk about the cirriculum. It was informative, but I could have figured out most of it on my own. There were two teachers there from Austin TX who had just left their contract with another school in Seoul.
John took us out to a Korean restaurant for lunch and it was beef ribs in a soup with onion, ginseng and glass noodles. Of course the rice and kimchee were free. ;) It was pretty good though and it was the first time I had that kind of dish. No clue what it's called.
After lunch there was more orientation. Finally around 4:20 we were released and David drove me to my new school in Ilsan. I met my Academic co-ordinator and my vice director. After some apologies for not having my apartment fully funished yet, I headed off to see the place. It's not half bad. Once I get my act together and get some stuff done around the place, it will be really nice!
I headed out to get some supplies and some food. I got back and scrubbed down the bathroom and now it looks gorgeous!
A girl named Angela lives in the same building as me... two floors up so she was just here to say hi and make a plan for us to meet to go to the school tomorrow morning. She seems really nice and she has a cat. I think she's Korean-American, but she might not even speak Korean. She has no accent whatsoever. It's a very good chance she was born and raised in the US or Canada. I'm sure I'll find out!
Anyway, I'm here. I'm safe and I'm sleepy! Sorry for the novel length of this post!!!