Seoul Crazy

Yeah, I couldn't help myself...

So, I'm backed up a bit because we literally just got wi-fi. I've been totally caught up in trying to keep up with the Korean lifestyle, which, apparently NEVER STOPS MOVING. To the point that I'm always either in the way, trying not to get hit by cars, or tripping over things because I am a slow American in a very kind, but very impatient society.

So anyway, we've finally landed in Pohang, which is where we will be living, but incedently, because of the wi-fi situation, I have to back up a little for these next few blogs. This being the first REAL blog, I'll be doing this in segments.

The Video: 


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That'll take some getting used to...

Some things are just different here, and its a little strange to my American sensibilities...

Heated floors: Korean houses and apartments are heated by running hot water under the floor, this results in boiling floors that burn your feet when you get up in the morning... Its best to sit or sleep on the floor especially in winter, but it also suffices to hop up and down all the time to try not to blister the soles of your feet.

Showers are also toilets and sinks: One room + shower = wet bathroom all the time. No I'm serious, you have a propped shower that takes up the entire bathroom. And EVERYTHING gets wet. More to the point, I think they hose the bathrooms down at my work because I walked in, and slipped hard. It was so slippery in my little house slippers that it took me like, three minutes to get up.

Cars have the right of way: I'm amazed that more accidents don't happen here. Its ridiculous. Cars don't ever stop, they squeeze by, they don't let you merge or get over and they get REALLY angry. Walking is less dangerous, but still a hazard. Ain't no way I'm riding a bike.

Mispelled English words:  I saw a "Hair Shalon" today. And got some stuff for my "Baff"... it was super cool.

No Public Toilet Seat Covers:  eeeew....

Konglish... 
  Strange Korean/American cross overs.
  like barbecue Doritos and Korean Nesquick. Mmmm.... 

The Good, The Bad, and the... Ummm....

 The Good: Sweet Potato Lattes EVERYWHERE!!

 

 

 The Bad: Emergency stations everywhere... just to remind you how close you are to North Korea

 

The... Ummm...: Apparently this is how the South Korean Department of Security thinks you will carry a bomb onto a plane. :-S



And yet, so far, I do love Korea. Despite my cold, and many hours of work and having to not get run over by cars, the food is good, the kids are great and I like my appartment. Welcome to Korea!

Trying Not To Crack Too Many Cheesy Seoul Jokes...

So,  haven't been able to switch my blog account from Korean to English, so until I actually learn Hongul, Im pretty much blogging blind. Bear with me.

Arrived here last night at 10:45, somewhere in the 5:00 am range California time. We boarded from San Francisco at 1:15 California time (monday), had a 15 minute layover in Nerita, Tokyo Airport at 7 pm (tuesday)...not nearly long enough for me.. and got to Seoul at 10:45.

 The flight was long, but fun. Curt and I both love airplanes, so despite the sleep deprivation an crowding, we did pretty well!

Met this little lady going to Tokyo. She played with us the whole trip. I think she liked Curtis more than me, but I had the better iPad games. So HA!

This was all we got to see of Tokyo when we arrived. We'll go back this trip, but until then, I will settle for a bathroom and a vending machine. :-P

So we arrived late at night by Seoul standards...

And BOY WERE WE IN TROUBLE!

Mr. Joe, our contact, was very upset that we were so late, and as we couldn't find the Arrival Store kiosk (which turned out was closed) and had to grab our luggage and go through immigration, he was not happy. It wasn't a very friendly first minutes in Seoul and required the best of my Korean abilities and Curt's imposing white male stature.

Mr. Joe: "Something in Korean that probably means 'how dare you make me wait!" *taps watch and glares, shakes head and clucks, then promptly  walks very quickly to the door as we protest that our package is still in the airport and it has our phones etc. in it*

Me:  ANIYO! (no!!) *follows Curt outside, who is following a fast-walking Mr. Joe. (bear in mind, I am carrying a 40 lb bag on my back and 2 rollers, plus purse and jacket)

Mr. Joe: *now across the street at the absolutely freezing airport, waving furiously to us* "Something in Korean that probably means 'hurry up you western barbarians! You are making me late!"

Us: "ANNNIIIYYYOOO!!! (Noooooooo!!!!) *waves him back, trying out our best sign-language to tell him we still have things in the airport.*

And after a lot of this, he finally helped us in the airport, to little avail because everything was closed. Oh, and we still managed to forget a bag at Incheon which we will be going back for this morning.

After the all time scariest taxi ride of our life, we landed here at Cloud 9, where Mr. Joe left us with the English speaking hotel clerk. Come to find out, our coordinator booked the wrong day for us to check in, so luckily, to keep the peace, the clerk gave us a free night. The floors are hot, the bathroom is small and the plugs are wierd, but altogether, a good place to stay.

So here we are in Seoul! The weather is gorgeous, sunny and cold. Curt got us breakfast at the 7eleven next door....

Today we will go fetch the rest of our luggage and go have lunch near the river Han (the same park where they filmed "The Host". Tomorrow we will be taking a city/palace tour and most likely having dinner with a Sac State Union friend.

Signing off for now!

Korea Here We Come!

Off we go! Talk to you soon!

Countdown To Korea

Greetings from Jessie and Curtis! We will be heading to Korea on Monday and want to invite you to our blog. Help share in our great new adventure...

COUNTDOWN CLOCK WIDGET