Not as Lost When with Locals

Partnering with locals has its advantages wherever one goes, but it cannot be underestimated in Seoul. This city is MASSIVE, and it completely dwarfs NYC -so much for my naive assumption that since it's a city with skyscrapers and a decent subway system, the experience would be similar.

After my trek to Olympic Park and subsequent (+ endless) meandering back to my place, I collected myself and hopped on the subway to visit my Korean friends in Yeoido. This journey was basic in that it was a straight (albeit long) shot on the subway. Forty-five minutes later, I ascended the subway escalator and was greeted warmly by my friend Stella, the mother of the Korean girl I tutored over the summer while still in California. They're back in Seoul now, and I met the rest of their family -dad and brother. It was good to see familiar faces, and we had a nice visit. They treated me to a very chi-chi, traditional Korean lunch at the 63 Building, a local landmark. The meal was delicious, and would you believe I actually forgot to take photos of it?! Probably won't be going back anytime soon either as lunch was a small fortune. Afterward, Stella and her husband drove me to the electronics district in Youngsan where I purchased a new adapter for my laptop -crisis averted since I'd brought the wrong kind with me. From there we went to a supermarket where I bought some staples. Stella saved me from buying 4 bananas priced at 9,200 won (about $8). In my extreme fatigue I'd missed a zero, thinking they were around 1,000 won. Who needs potassium anyway? Ha. In fact, I am trying to do all I can to keep healthy. My eyes have been really bloodshot since arriving, and I'm not sure if I'm: 1. getting sick; 2. tired beyond belief; and/or 3. allergic to something in the air... I'm hoping for the best.

Truly Lost in Translation

It's official: I've begun my own real-life Lost in Translation adventure. It is so bizarre to be inhabiting a place where I genuinely have no idea what almost everyone around me is saying. And while there are some signs in English, it's usually only a few words so I'm continually wondering what's really going on. Example: this morning I power-walked over to Olympic Park. I took some photos there and then happened upon a sign next to the lake that looked pretty extensive, but the only word in English was "Danger." Of course I came up with several scenarios pertaining to what the warning was for -polluted water? hungry crocodiles? As of now, I remain in the dark. Later today I tried to order bibimbap -except nothing on the menu was in English, the photos on the wall were less than illuminating, and the woman who waited on me was not amused by my mispronunciation. I ended up with bibimbap but upon first bite realized it was bulgogi I'd been craving all along. Next time...

Safe and Sound

I've arrived in Seoul, safe and sound. The flight was fine -really!- and actually went by quickly. The flight attendants on Korean Air are attractive and elegant, adding a dash of glamour to the experience, and the in-flight entertainment was terrific -excellent movie options and decent magazines, too. The food was fair, but maybe I ordered the wrong dish.....?! (note: avoid 'American' cuisine on future international flights). I slept all of ten minutes and was exhausted by the time I landed. Going through customs was smooth, and all of my luggage arrived (it was so soothing to open my suitcases last night and smell my towels. Hope I can find a similar detergent!). The ride from the airport to where I'm staying was l-o-n-g, as in 1 1/2 hours, mainly because of the traffic. This week I'll be in temporary housing until my apartment is ready. Am looking forward to moving as my current digs are quite removed from my school and the more popular spots. All in all, though, I feel incredibly blessed that everything has gone well.


Some first impressions: The drive from Incheon into Seoul is very pleasant -green with lots of trees; no roadside rubbish or graffiti; people drive safely and respectfully, none of the madness of LA. The driver pointed out North Korea in the distance -about 100 km away by his estimate. Seoul is clean and pretty, and the subways are amazing -people are relatively quiet, and the stations are nearly immaculate. I am overwhelmed by the number of bakeries here. So much for cutting bread out of my diet. There's a chain, Paris Baguette, with locations everywhere, and their food is good. Ironically, my manager and counselor took me to Outback Steakhouse for lunch today; I hadn't been to one in over ten years. Anyway, kimchi came with my meal, and I ate it all....if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. It was better than it looked, although it'll probably be awhile before I actively seek it out. The electronics and technology are really cool. I am getting such a kick out of my remote-controlled A/C unit.

Today's the Day!

In a blink of an eye, Departure Day has arrived. Thank you, friends, for your prayers and encouraging words. I'm feeling prayed up and ready for this new adventure.

I thought perhaps I would've been able to capture more of the activities and emotions that led up to today, however these last few weeks have been chock-full. You know the drill: dentist & doctor visits; filling prescriptions; haircut; packing, then re-packing after numerous rounds of wardrobe editing; saying farewell to loved ones; trips to Santa Barbara and Vegas; one last visit to the Beach at the Montage...

It is my sincere hope that once I get set up with an Internet connection at home, I'll carve out time each day to make a new update. In the meantime, hang tight and know I'll be in touch again soon.

Skype Account? Check.

It's like I'm finally living in the 21st century now that I've set up a Skype account. I am really hoping to get some serious use out of it, so keep that in mind, my friends... maybe we'll wind up talking more when we're living 6,000+ miles apart. If you haven't yet set one up, do it. You'll be glad you did.

My Skype name is: jemmons75. Talk soon.