coming to Korea was an eye-opening experience. it would mark the first time i would live in another country and be truly exposed to a culture nearly foreign to me. i entered this country with my two phrases, "annyeong haseyo" and "jugulle" (p.s. who taught me that?), knowing absolutely no one and having absolutely no idea what i'd be exposed to. i still have no idea what i'm doing.
feb 19/10
took an 8AM flight to Washington D.C. Dellus airport, only to take another flight that went back up past Toronto to Korea. the flight was long but i <3
it's been years since I've been on a long flight. technology certainly improved in the last 10 years... these games are awesome
they had bibimbap as a meal... i was pleasantly surprised. no chicken or fish option for me
feb 20/10
arrival in korea. first thing that popped into my head as i exited the arrivals door with no one to greet me: i am alone in this foreign country. hopped on a bus to "City Air Terminal" in Seoul wherever the eff that was.
the airport limousine bus took forever because we were stuck in mad traffic. staring out at korea and seeing bland looking everything and ugly buildings and nothingness, my first impression of this place was... damn, korea is uglaaay.
arriving at the City Air Terminal, i was supposed to take some "Call Taxi" to get to Coatel Hotel. i spent a good half an hour trying to figure out where the heck i was supposed to go, going up and down the darn stairs with all my luggage and koreans not being too helpful with the situation. thankfully, the taxi driver found me and off we went on a taxi ride of HELL.
Korea Tidbit #1: Taxi drivers are crazy. They speed, they drive dangerously, they run red lights and they almost kill people. They give us foreign passengers a heart attack.
upon arriving in Seoul, i just remembered thinking... wow, this place is bustling. it reminds me of downtown Toronto, except everything is in Korean. tall buildings, lights everywhere, tons of people roaming around in the late hours.
arriving at Hotel Coatel (4 star hotel.) i stepped in and i was in awe... heated floors?! what the what! i truly believed i had this suite all to myself... until about an hour later when 4 more girls walked in and i was like, poo.
i loved the bathroom. a toilet with heated seats that could also massage your butt? hell to the yes.
enter: Linze and Channon, the sisters from New York. Anna & Christie, more cool American chicks. we are the roommates. i love these girls. this was our first meal fresh off the plane all gross and tired
my first authentic Korean meal
Feb 21/10
sunday was our day off to wander the Gangnam area of Seoul with the other trainees. it turned out to be a warm day (damn you erratic weather).
Gangnam [pronounced Kang-nam] is a bustling part of the city with tons of shops, restaurants and entertainment. everyone is young, beautiful and fashionable... you can spend forever just people watching here.
the roomies eating street food, where i tried (sweet and spicy rice cake) ddukboki for the first time
closeup of the ddukboki
we wandered around and found a mini-mall indoors. i saw this colorful assortment of ddok (of course at the time i had no idea what this was)
love korea for being so gosh darn efficient. you stick your wet umbrella (why does this sound wrong?) into the hole with the bag and pull out (i am really not trying to make this sound dirty)
Paris Baguette - one of the biggest carring an assortment of baked godos. you can find this, and another called Tour Le Jours at every corner of any Korean city. i always come here for the BLT brunch on Sundays before church
the back streets of Gangnam where all the restaurants are located. you can find all types of food here
us stopping at one of the "entertainment" booths on the street where you can take pictures, play games, send e-mails, etc. among other things
bahaha. COCK BRUSH
Korea is known for its CUTE THINGS. Hello Kitty is at the forefront (Carol Tang, you need to be here)
for lunch, I had pork kimchi dolsot bibimbap... my initial favourite food upon entering Korea. my Welcome Letter to children at our school still has this listed as my favourite, but I haven't had it in months. not so big on the bibimbap anymore
at night, we met up with Audrey and chilled at the Dr. Fish Cafe where you pay for a drink and spend an extra 2000 won to get Dr. Fish. then after you finish your coffee, you stick your feet in a pool with these fish that bite the dead skin off your feet
it's such a weird, strange, tingling sensation
me and fellow trainees. i look calm here but i was the one freaking out the most
back streets of Gangnam @ night, i was absolutely in awe of all the lights. the city really does come alive at night
that night, we all stayed up well into the night watching stupid ass grammar videos, reading documents, taking practice tests and studying hardcore for our grammar test the next day. as grinding as it was, all of us got to spend some quality time with each other and had a good time studying. felt just like university days in the atrium with the business kids all helping each other out the night before an exam.
good night! i took the couch/cot and bundled up a bedsheet to make myself a Justin. tomorrow: First day of training, aka... HELL WEEK.
tbc.
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