Arrival

I had fun hanging out with everyone before I left. Some of you I hadn’t seen in so long so it was good to catch up. I noticed that as I hung out with everyone and also on my last day of work it didn’t feel like I was leaving at all. It felt like I’d see everyone the next day… even at my farewell party in philly. I guess the first time I felt it at all was when I said goodbye to my nieces and nephew. The previous day I pointed to MA and the US and then to Korea on a globe so the older 2 could see. Immediately my niece said, “NO La La, I don’t want you to go!” I slept at my sister’s house who lives much closer to the airport to make it easier in the morning with the early flight. I found out that my nephew had forgotten to give me something he had been wanting to give to me when we said goodbye, but he had forgotten. Later I found out that he’d been crying because he didn’t get to give it to me. That made me cry for the first time in this whole leaving process, it totally broke my heart. At the airport my sister came in with me and stayed with me until just before going through security. Just as I entered the line I felt this strange sense come over me. I felt this sudden sense that I was alone. I had at that moment left everything I know. I decided rather than let it overwhelm me I’d just shake it off, and so I have been fine since then. The trip was about 20 hours. On the longer flight I noticed that the woman next to me was reading a Korean Bible and so when she looked finished we talked and she turned out to be so friendly. The young white guy next to her happened to be a teacher in Daegu too. Of course I asked him how he liked it and he said he loved it. So that was reassuring. The woman next to me kind of adopted me in the sense that she helped me navigate through the airport through customs, baggage claim, and made sure I got to the correct bus location. She was so sweet. The company gave me a welcome packet before I left explaining exactly what to do and where to go once I arrive at the airport. Once I took that bus from the airport I had a driver waiting for me to take me to my hotel. Everything was really easy. I was so tired when I got in I just crashed, and Sunday I just relaxed and explored the area a little. In korea they have those toilets that spray water and have a warm fan to dry you and so my hotel room has one. I’ll post a picture. Also, you have to place your room key in a slot near the door while you’re in the room for electricity. I didn’t know this so I fumbled around in the dark trying to turn the lights on and wondered why they weren’t working. Once you leave the room you take the key card with you like normal and so as the door shuts all the lights automatically go off. It’s pretty smart, I bet it saves the hotel money on electricity. Oh and yes mom, my hotel has an iron. The TV has 4 or 5 english channels. I was just hoping for one. I watched “Friends” with Korean subtitles.
It’s funny because I keep seeing particular things and thinking, “wow, that’s SO korean”. What’s funny is that this time I’m actually IN korea, so really I’m seeing things in their original state and not copied into the US. It really hasn’t hit me that I’m here at all… for 2 reasons: 1) I feel like I’m just in the korean section of NYC or LA. It looks similar, and when I’m there I try to use what Korean I know. So it doesn’t really phase me that only Korean is spoken here… I think I’m just used to that from PA. 2) I know that I’ll only be in Seoul for one week during training. So even though I left the US, I don’t feel like I’m here for long. It just feels like I’m on a short trip. Maybe once I get to Daegu it’ll really hit me.
I have a roommate from TX who came in tonight, so yes someone else from the US will be starting the same time as me after all. We talked a little bit, but she is exhausted just as I was last night when I walked in so she’s asleep already. She was jealous of my vacuum sealed bags and wished she’d thought of that because she wished she could’ve take more things she needed… thanks mom!
While I was out today I met a girl who’s a teacher too. She asked me what company I’m with and when she found out, she told me that CDI is one of the most prestigious companies here. That made me feel good because I’d heard that, but it was nice to hear it face to face from someone actually in korea and who had no relation to CDI. She was amazed that the company made all the arrangements for me from the airport and that I was staying in a hotel. Also a lot of companies don’t offer training. My first meal was neng myeon (cold noodle soup). When I arrived last night I was so hungry and also extremely dehydrated. I’ve never felt that dehydrated in my life. Neng myeon seemed like the perfect fit. It was SO refreshing and exactly what I needed (sorry I forgot to take a picture).
Tomorrow morning I start training. Actually tomorrow I just get a tour of the company headquarters and do intro stuff and take a drug test etc. I think Tuesday the real stuff starts.