Getting to South Korea--December 16th, 2008

Well if anyone is keeping up with me you probably think I fell off the face of the Earth! I am in South Korea and I don't have my own internet connection and didn't want to post in a PC cafe. Right now I still don't have my own internet but I'm stealing someone else's connection.ha ha. we found out that if you put your laptop up on the window sill that you can connect to a wireless connection.

The night before my flight I was scrambling to get everything together. I had everything packed but I was making sure everything fit. I checked with US Airways and found out that for an International flight I could check 2 bags for free! I was excited. I didn't know how I would make it on one bag. So I packed up another bag. Then I spent a lot of time trying to get my bags under the weight limit so I wouldn't be charged extra. After taking things out and moving to another bag I finally got both bags under 50 pounds!

I went to bed at 1:30 am and got up at 3:30am. yes two hours of sleep. I was more worried about having everything ready than sleeping. I would be on a plane for 17 hours-plenty of time to sleep.

My sister took me to the airport. We got there around 6pm. My flight was at 7:35am. I checked in and changed my seating and headed through security. Security went quickly. Then I called my sister to let her know that I forgot to give my phone back to her. I knew it wouldn't work in South Korea. oh well. I just have a phone with me that I can't answer. hopefully no one leaves a message because I wont answer it!

We boarded the plane at 7:05am. We left on time from Charlotte Douglas. My first leg of the flight was to San Francisco with US Airways. The flight was suppose to be around 6 hours and we were going to land at 10:18 PST.

I got an aisle seat all to myself! sweet! There was no movie on the flight and you had to purchase your meal or snack. It was expensive! I looked in the brochure and saw a sandwich that looked appealing. It was $7 and didn't taste as good as it looked. A 12oz can of coke costed $2. ridiculous! I took the skymall catalog. I never knew we could take those! I slept a little on the plane.

We arrived in San Francisco 20 mins late because of headwinds. We got there around 10:40. My next flight was scheduled to leave at 12pm so I had to rush. San Francisco needs more signs! I walked around for a long time before I found out you have to exit to get to the International Terminal. There were no signs around the arrival gates that pointed towards the International Terminal. confusing! The international flights weren't listed on the arrival/departure board either. only the domestic flights. So finally I exited and found the International Terminal.

I was cutting it close! I got to the gate to enter and they told me to go back to row 10 and get another ticket. My ticket still said US Airways. I needed to change it to an Asiana ticket. So I did that and headed back. I had to go through security again. And it was moving slower! The gate to my plane was closing at 11:45. It was 11:39 when I got out of security. I rushed down to my gate and made it just in time!!

Now I am in love with Asiana airlines. I know why they are rated as one of the top airlines. I didn't like that I had a window seat. That meant I'd be stuck there the whole trip-a 12 hour flight! I was flying from San Francisco to Seoul, South Korea with Asiana. I was impressed. When I got to the seat there was a pillow and blanket provided for us. A little while later they provided us with headphones to use during the flight. FREE snacks and a full meal! They had these neat screens on the back of the seats where they had tons of entertainment options-movies, cds, games, etc--for Free! I watched Wall-e (cute movie) and Mamma Mia (cute movie). I also listened to a lot of music and played bejeweled. I esp liked the "airshow" option. It showed where we were in relation to where we were going, how much time we had left, how many miles, current time and time at destination. We got tons of snacks! I think we must have eaten something every 2-3 hours.

We had a full meal during the flight. korean style or western style. I stuck with western style!

menu:

Appetizer-Penne Pasta with Shrimp--mine was still frozen! so I didnt eat it.
Mixed Garden Salad
Beef Tenderloin Steak
Tiramisu Cake

later on the flight we had some little ham and cheese sandwiches. very good.

for a snack we had--Chicken Thigh with Teriyaki sauce and steamed rice. also very good. and their snack mix was very good.

I was sleeping at various times. never a long sleep just in and out of short sleep periods. I always made sure I was up for meal times! The only thing I didn't like about the flight was a window seat--I got up once. The people who were beside me rarely got up so I didn't want to bother them. Plus I was right at the wing of the plan so I had no view. And we had a full flight so I didn't really have any option to move.

We arrived on time to Seoul. I got off the plane and followed everyone. I had to give my arrival card to Immigration. Then I got my bags. My bags made it! I was excited. I was so scared they'd get lost. Then I went through customs. I didn't have anything to declare. Then I went to exchange my money. the current exchange rate on December 18th was 1272won=$1 usd. So I exchanged $472 and got close to 700,000 won. Then I went through to meet my driver. I saw him holding up my name. the other guy from Charlotte was there too. I spoke to my recruiter on the driver's phone. He told me the driver was going to take us to our apartment.

Oh my goodness--we were so scared. Its true. South Koreans can't drive! when I drive I always wait for a big enough hole to get in. not over here. they see the smallest opening and just start to move over. The next day the guy from Charlotte asked me, "were you as scared as I was" YES!

It took us a while to get to Uijeongbu. I can't remember how long exactly. I was too scared to notice! He took us to the school. we unloaded all of our luggage and headed up to the 3rd floor. One of the Korean teachers and the guy in charge of foreigners met us there.

We met the director who speaks no English. Then we met the vice principal who speaks limited English. The Korean teacher, Jin, who met us there speaks really good English.

Then the guy who is in charge of foreigners took us to our apartment. We are on the 3rd floor of this small building. When I got to my room there was a twin bed, comforter, pillow, rack to put my clothes on, tv, gas stovetop, small nightstand. We were suppose to have pots and pans and utensils but there weren't any. no closet space. No microwave. I thought we would have a washer in our room (but I found out it was in the hall).

I didn't know how to get to the school from our apartment-they told us go left and turn straight. So I went out and walked about 10 mins in 3 directions. I didn't see the school. I actually walked right near it once but didn't recognize it. I had to be at school at 11am the next day so I thought I'd get out and try to find the school on my own. Its my first night around 11pm and I'm walking around in a foreign country by myself. I tried not to veer off the straight path. I knew the landmarks near my house so I knew how to get back if I didn't turn off. And I had to find Home Plus because I didn't have a transformer. I had an adapter but that wasn't going to do me any good when I need to switch over to 220 volts. I headed in the only direction I hadn't been in and I found Home Plus. Its this giant store with a lot of levels connected by escalators without steps. I looked on a few levels. So I looked around and I had no clue what a transformer was. I didn't find one. So I just bought a Korean alarm clock since thats what I really needed. I couldn't be late on my first day of school.

Then I found my way back home and went to bed.

Atlanta Interview and flight info..

I got my intinerary today and found out that Im leaving one day earlier than I expected. I'm leaving tomorrow! I have a 7:35am flight with US Airways to San Francisco (5 hrs and 43 mins). Then a noon flight on Asiania airlines from San Francisco to Seoul(12 hour flight).I will arrive in South Korea 5:45pm Wednesday (South Korea Time) which would be 3:45 AM (Eastern time). I am going to be so tired when I get there. I think I'll just crash without unpacking.

I still don't have a power adapter or a transformer! I'll have to find one soon so I can use my appliances like my laptop and my hairdryer/straightener/alarm clock.

Today I had my interview with the Korean consulate. I hated having to drive to Atlanta. I didn't hit any traffic at all on the way up here.(I'm scared about the way back!) I left at 5am and arrived at my destination at 10:20am. I could have gotten here earlier if I didn't make some wrong turns. I was on I-20 for a long time and I was suppose to get off at I-75/I-85S..well I did but it was below where I needed to be...I needed exit 249 and when I got on it I was already down at 242 (the directions they gave assumed you were already on I75/I85S and not having to get on it from another interstate..ok so I turned off and got back on I75/I85N to go back up to get to that exit...well there is only 249B and D on the North Side..you can only access the 249A from the South so I had to get back on 75S...and I finally made it here...I had to park in a parking garage thats going to cost an arm and a leg because of circumstances I will list later....

While I was waiting to have my interview a girl came in for an interview and she didn't have what she needed so they sent her home. She was upset and telling her mom that they wasted her time. Another guy came in who was also there for an interview and his documents weren't there yet so he has to come back later for his interview.

ok so I go in and have the interview at 11am..he asked me a few questions..He wanted to know how I found out about teaching in South Korea, did I have any experience, etc..it lasted about 10 minutes.then I went to ask the woman at the front desk when my passport would be ready...she said tomorrow and I said my flight leaves in the morning...you usually get your passport the next day...so now I have to wait around till 4pm to pick it up...

Now my car will be in the parking deck all day long..I'm not getting out into the city cause I have no clue where to go so the maximum price for parking is $16 so thats what i'll be paying since I'll be in there about 6 hours...

Right now I'm just wasting time in the Hyatt hotel lobby in the Peachtree mall. I sat in a chair and just rested for a whole hour and now Im checking email and blogging on my sister's computer. I found an outlet in the lobby.

so I'll pick up my passport with the visa stamp at 4pm...then drive almost 5 hours...finish packing..I think I'm going to take 2 suitcases..Im flying on 2 different airlines so I dont know which one I'm suppose to follow for the baggage allowance...I emailed my recruiter so I'll find out....so after I get home I'll have to pack and then go to bed and get up super early since I want to be at the airport by 5:35am...

This was not a good experience. Its not worth driving 10 hours in one day for a 10 minute interview.

more expenses! and my 27th birthday!

Its my 27th Birthday!! I'm celebrating tonight at The Breakfast Club in Charlotte with some friends from work who I havent seen in 2 weeks, my sister and her 3 guests, and one person from facebook. I'm excited--I bought a nice new dress a few weeks ago and I love 80's music!

My webcam arrived yesterday...I'll be able to use it for video chat on skype. I still need to teach my mom how to use hers. hopefully the headsets will arrive soon and I'll be able to show my mom how to use them before I leave.

Preparing to go to South Korea is expensive!

Yesterday I had to mail more documents-to Atlanta. $16.50 express mail to get it there plus I had to pay $16.50 for the return envelope which I addressed to myself. Then I had to pay $45 for the actual Visa. So today I had to spend $78.

I just spent $60 2 weeks ago to send documents to South Korea.

And I had to go take more passport size photos..$7.99 at CVS.(why do they need so many pictures? I've sent 4 pics to S. Korea and 1 to Atlanta)

I had to pay $25 for a criminal background check...plus $2 for an apostille in November.

Plus I had to buy tons of stuff like a suitcase, new clothes, etc.

I'm so thankful that I don't have to pay for the plane ticket!!

I was checking out different airlines baggage requirements last night and found out that a lot of them let you take 2 checked bags on International trips. I sure hope I will be on one of those airlines! My suitcase and carry on are getting full! plus I'll have my laptop bag.

I talked to my recruiter again after I made my appt for the 18th. He is trying to move my appt to monday the 15th or Tues the 16th so I can be in South Korea by the 18th so I can observe some classes. I would start teaching on the 22nd! I'll know the details soon. I could be in South Korea within the next week.

next step: interview with korean consulate

My visa was approved.

next step: Interview with the Korean consulate in Atlanta, GA on December the 18th at 3pm.

I'm not looking forward to making the almost 600 mile roundtrip journey. I have to do an in-person interview. there werent any other options. I really dont want to drive my car that far! I've never taken a trip that long at one time. Its a 4 plus hour trip so I'm going to have to leave super early because I know there will be traffic. Atlanta traffic is terrible! I really wish I had someone to drive me there!

While I'm there the actual visa stamp will be put in my passport. Then my passport should be returned to me within 48 hours by mail. Then I'm probably set to leave shortly after. My recruiter wanted to know when my interview was so he could book my flight. soon I'll know when my actual departure date will be.