I have arrived in Korea! I finally left Detroit August 20th around 8:00 p.m. after a five hour delay and I arrived in Korea on August 21st at 11:00 p.m. The late arrival messed up my plan of taking the airport bus to my host family's apartment so I had to take a cab instead which stinks because instead of 10,000 won I had to pay 60,000 won (the exchange rate is roughly $1 = 1,000 won). And since it was so late everything in the airport was closed. Of course the only bank that was open gave me a bad exchange rate but when you're desperate you gotta do what you gotta do. After a long flight and a long time in the airport at immigration, my mind wasn't at it's best. I got a cab but totally forgot to write down my host family's address because I thought I would wifi. Luckily I saved the photo of their business card on my phone but even then the writing was so small I guessed at what it said. I guessed correctly and in broken Korean expressed to the cab driver where I had to go. I also told my host mom after I got off the plane (because I had wifi at the time) that I would message her when I left in the cab but since I didn't have wifi I couldn't. I don't know how tourists make it in Seoul because both the cab driver and the security guard of my host family's apartment didn't speak any English.
When I got to the apartment I was really hoping it was the correct one but there was no way to contact my host mom that I was even downstairs because I didn't have wifi. So fortunately the security guard understood what I said and he called the apartment so my host mom was able to meet me downstairs. It's in moments like that where you realize how helpless and alone you really are. It look me some willpower to not break down in tears. Keep in mind that at this point it was almost 1:00 a.m., I'm tired, and I'm stressed by so much unfamiliarity. But it's also in those moments where you really grow as a person. This trip is already making me feel independent.
My host family is great. I live with my host mom and her parents. We didn't talk too much the first night because we were all tired but today we did a lot more talking. They made me breakfast which was so good! I had bulgolgi, rice, kim, pumpkin egg pancakes, and two side dishes. I also had instant coffee, which despite the disgusting stuff you find in the U.S., was quite delicious and smooth. Later my host mom showed me how to use the subway and bus and took me to Sinchon where Yonsei University is located. The public transportation here is beyond perfect. It's just so efficient and accessible. The only downside I'm facing right now is that it's super confusing at first. I know it'll take me a couple more days to adjust and remember certain stops and landmarks.
I know with time things will get much easier, but right now I'm feeling a lot of mixed emotions between being tired from jetlag, the discomfort and stress of unfamiliarity (mostly just being in a big city is enough), and missing certain people from home. I know it's tough now but in time I'll get used to speaking in Korean and being in a home away from home. But on a positive note, I was finally able to eat 밭빙수 for the first time! It's a Korean shaved ice dessert and it was SO refreshing for a hot and very humid summer day like today.
There's so many details I want to go into with everything but I think I'll just save that for later. After all I have a whole year of writing to do!
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