So, I've finally made it to my final destination here in South Korea. I am living in a small town called Imgye which is in the province of Gangwon. It's in the middle of the Taebek Mountains and only 30 minutes to the beach!! The beaches here are beautiful as well as the mountains! There is a river that goes through the town that has a path along side of it to go run on. It's so cool! It's a fairly small town so there isn't a lot to do in my spare time but there is another EPIK teacher here who has been here since April so I have another English speaking person to hang out with! The food is also interesting too. Most of it I have enjoyed so far but some of it I refuse to eat! Such as the Dog Soup!
Anyway, I will tell my stories of what has happened so far since I have been here in Korea. This may be a long blog so I am just warning you now!
I began my journey on Monday, August 18th, 2009. I had some last minute problems with getting international things such as converters and my phone but it all came together and I was packed and ready to go! I left for the airport at 3:45 with my Dad, Sister, and Brother. My stepmom met us there. I was pretty nervous by this point and was beginning to wonder what I had gotten myself into. I had packed just enough stuff to where I didn't have to pay for any baggage fees so I was pretty stoked about that! I was all checked in and it was time for me to go through security. I started hugging my family goodbye and that's when I lost it. I couldn't hold back the tears because I was nervous, scared, and sad all at the same time! I quickly got over it though and went through security with no problems (which is rare for me) and then I went to the gate where Miranda and her family were waiting. I got my last meal at the airport which happened to be Bojangles which was awesome! Then I just went and sat at the gate and waited.
It was finally time to board the airplane bound for Los Angeles. Miranda said bye to her parents and it was time for us to get going. We found our seats and got settled in as much as possible on those ever so lovely coach class seats! There ended up being no in-flight entertainment and no food so we decided to make our own in-flight entertainment by watching He's Just Not That Into You on my computer. It drained my battery so that meant I would have no computer for the flight to Seoul. The flight to LA ended up taking us only 4 and 1/2 hours to get there. We found some dinner in the international terminal but it was pretty disgusting. Little did we know it would have been an amazing meal compared to what we were about to be served.
We went to our gate and boarded the flight to Seoul, South Korea. We did not have seats together so I had to ask someone who only spoke Japanese to switch places with me. It was difficult but she finally figured it out and switched so I could sit next to Miranda. We took off and 30 minutes into the flight we were already bored. We knew then it was going to be a very long flight. I ended up falling asleep for about 4 hours and when I woke up they were serving dinner at what would be 3 in the morning east coast time. Dinner consisted of some kind of meat with this pasta marinated in something that didn't taste good haha so we didn't eat much of that meal.
After everything was cleaned up, Miranda and I decided to play Yahtzee for basically the rest of the flight which was about 8 more hours. That game is addicting when you have nothing else to do! They eventually came around and served breakfast which was Baked Bean Omelettes. Again, this is where we knew starvation was going to be a part of our lives for the next year. We had about 3 hours left in the flight so we played Yahtzee some more. We finally landed in Seoul after 12 hours in the air. We were very tired and nervous and hungry! All of this combined makes for very irritable girls!
We finally got our luggage and made it through customs and got our money converted. We then had to find a restroom to get ready to meet our leaders. It was 4am and I felt and looked like a hot mess. We got as ready as we could and then found some calling cards so we could call home. I called my mom, stepmom, and grandparents. They were all very excited to hear from me! Once we were done talking to our parents we went to find the buses that were going to the university we were staying at for orientation.
After 5 and 1/2 hours on the bus we finally arrived at Jeonju University. The dorms are very nice there!!
We went to our room and I laid down and didn't get back up until the next morning at about 3:30...jetlag is a horrible thing! We started orientation that next day and the options for food were not great so we ate some crackers for almost every meal. They had a welcoming dinner for everyone where they served octipus and shrimp with eyes. Yep, just not my thing. We spent most of the first week sleeping which was probably a bad idea because it took a while to get over the jet lag! Once classes began I started to get really excited about teaching! I met so many cool people and it's so great to have new friends here who I can rely on when I'm feeling lonely or need somewhere to go on the weekends! A bunch of us went to the downtown area of Jeonju and hung out, it was a lot of fun! Orientation was coming to an end and it was kind of sad! I found out I would be placed in the middle of nowhere but Lindsey is near me so it's not too bad! I was sad to leave all of the people I had just met but I knew I would see them again!
It was time to load up the buses and head to our places. I said bye to Miranda as she was heading off to a CITY and I was heading of to Green Acres, South Korea. The bus ride to Gangneung (the city at the beach) took about 5 hours. When we arrived there our school leaders were waiting to pick us up. It took about 30 minutes to get to Imgye which is where I live. I went to the school and met a whole bunch of people who I can't remember any of their names :/. Everyone was very excited to meet me and they took me out to dinner. We had pork belly which was actually pretty good! After that they took me to my hotel room and I suddenly felt lost and alone because everyone left and went to the city. I tried my best to figure out where Lindsey was living so I could go see her. I finally got ahold of her the next day and hopped on a bus (which is interesting when you have no idea what the symbols are for where you need to go) to go spend the night with Lindsey. When I got on the bus I said a little prayer and prayed I would get to the right town. 15 minutes later I arrived in Yeoryong and I found her hotel! The guy she is replacing took us out to dinner and we had fun just chatting about life in Korea. The next day he took us to Jeongson and showed us around the market and everything. It's a nice little town! I went back to my hotel and started preparing for my first day at school.
I got up Monday morning and walked to school. I came in and had to introduce myself in front of the entire faculty and staff. It was nerve racking but it wasn't too bad! Then the rest of the day I moved into my apartment and then sat on FB. It was pretty boring. My apartment is nice but I don't like where it is located so I am moving into town soon! Maybe as soon as tomorrow! I'm very excited about that because I will feel much more safe living in town then in the basement of a farmers home back in the woods!
Monday evening I met the other EPIK teacher who works at the Elementary school and we had dinner. She is very nice and I'm excited I will have someone to go workout with and have dinner with!
Tuesday I went into school and they led me to the gym where both the high school and middle school students were along with the rest of the faculty and staff and they told me that I need to go to the stage right then and give a speech! I started to panic a little bit because I had no idea what to say!! I got up there and began to talk realizing none of them probably had no idea what I was saying! So someone came up and translated for me. I'm pretty sure he made a short joke though haha! After that I went back to my office and got on FB (story of my life right now) and then someone came and got me and took me down to a van and when I opened it there was Lindsey and Erika and a few other girls from orientation in there! It was great to see them! We went to Donghae for the day to get our Alien Registration Cards and we got to eat an American meal and do a little bit of shopping too! It was a fun day! Once I returned to school all of the teachers took me out to dinner...it was a lot of fun. There is nothing like your wasted boss trying to get you tanked! They are all about their drinking here!
Today has been pretty uneventful besides trying to figure out a new living situation. I am staying the night at Monique's apartment and then hopefully getting my own apartment tomorrow! This weekend I am going to Wonju to see Tim...and Angelina and Lindsey are coming too, I am sooooo excited!!!
Now that I have posted an insanely long blog entry I will go. May God bless anyone who made it to the end. I appreciate your dedication! I'm sure I will be updating more frequently now that I have the internet at work. I will definitely update everyone on how this weekend goes traveling away from Imgye!
I hope everyone is doing well and I miss you all!
xoxo,
Whitney
Anyway, I will tell my stories of what has happened so far since I have been here in Korea. This may be a long blog so I am just warning you now!
I began my journey on Monday, August 18th, 2009. I had some last minute problems with getting international things such as converters and my phone but it all came together and I was packed and ready to go! I left for the airport at 3:45 with my Dad, Sister, and Brother. My stepmom met us there. I was pretty nervous by this point and was beginning to wonder what I had gotten myself into. I had packed just enough stuff to where I didn't have to pay for any baggage fees so I was pretty stoked about that! I was all checked in and it was time for me to go through security. I started hugging my family goodbye and that's when I lost it. I couldn't hold back the tears because I was nervous, scared, and sad all at the same time! I quickly got over it though and went through security with no problems (which is rare for me) and then I went to the gate where Miranda and her family were waiting. I got my last meal at the airport which happened to be Bojangles which was awesome! Then I just went and sat at the gate and waited.
It was finally time to board the airplane bound for Los Angeles. Miranda said bye to her parents and it was time for us to get going. We found our seats and got settled in as much as possible on those ever so lovely coach class seats! There ended up being no in-flight entertainment and no food so we decided to make our own in-flight entertainment by watching He's Just Not That Into You on my computer. It drained my battery so that meant I would have no computer for the flight to Seoul. The flight to LA ended up taking us only 4 and 1/2 hours to get there. We found some dinner in the international terminal but it was pretty disgusting. Little did we know it would have been an amazing meal compared to what we were about to be served.
We went to our gate and boarded the flight to Seoul, South Korea. We did not have seats together so I had to ask someone who only spoke Japanese to switch places with me. It was difficult but she finally figured it out and switched so I could sit next to Miranda. We took off and 30 minutes into the flight we were already bored. We knew then it was going to be a very long flight. I ended up falling asleep for about 4 hours and when I woke up they were serving dinner at what would be 3 in the morning east coast time. Dinner consisted of some kind of meat with this pasta marinated in something that didn't taste good haha so we didn't eat much of that meal.
After everything was cleaned up, Miranda and I decided to play Yahtzee for basically the rest of the flight which was about 8 more hours. That game is addicting when you have nothing else to do! They eventually came around and served breakfast which was Baked Bean Omelettes. Again, this is where we knew starvation was going to be a part of our lives for the next year. We had about 3 hours left in the flight so we played Yahtzee some more. We finally landed in Seoul after 12 hours in the air. We were very tired and nervous and hungry! All of this combined makes for very irritable girls!
We finally got our luggage and made it through customs and got our money converted. We then had to find a restroom to get ready to meet our leaders. It was 4am and I felt and looked like a hot mess. We got as ready as we could and then found some calling cards so we could call home. I called my mom, stepmom, and grandparents. They were all very excited to hear from me! Once we were done talking to our parents we went to find the buses that were going to the university we were staying at for orientation.
After 5 and 1/2 hours on the bus we finally arrived at Jeonju University. The dorms are very nice there!!
We went to our room and I laid down and didn't get back up until the next morning at about 3:30...jetlag is a horrible thing! We started orientation that next day and the options for food were not great so we ate some crackers for almost every meal. They had a welcoming dinner for everyone where they served octipus and shrimp with eyes. Yep, just not my thing. We spent most of the first week sleeping which was probably a bad idea because it took a while to get over the jet lag! Once classes began I started to get really excited about teaching! I met so many cool people and it's so great to have new friends here who I can rely on when I'm feeling lonely or need somewhere to go on the weekends! A bunch of us went to the downtown area of Jeonju and hung out, it was a lot of fun! Orientation was coming to an end and it was kind of sad! I found out I would be placed in the middle of nowhere but Lindsey is near me so it's not too bad! I was sad to leave all of the people I had just met but I knew I would see them again!It was time to load up the buses and head to our places. I said bye to Miranda as she was heading off to a CITY and I was heading of to Green Acres, South Korea. The bus ride to Gangneung (the city at the beach) took about 5 hours. When we arrived there our school leaders were waiting to pick us up. It took about 30 minutes to get to Imgye which is where I live. I went to the school and met a whole bunch of people who I can't remember any of their names :/. Everyone was very excited to meet me and they took me out to dinner. We had pork belly which was actually pretty good! After that they took me to my hotel room and I suddenly felt lost and alone because everyone left and went to the city. I tried my best to figure out where Lindsey was living so I could go see her. I finally got ahold of her the next day and hopped on a bus (which is interesting when you have no idea what the symbols are for where you need to go) to go spend the night with Lindsey. When I got on the bus I said a little prayer and prayed I would get to the right town. 15 minutes later I arrived in Yeoryong and I found her hotel! The guy she is replacing took us out to dinner and we had fun just chatting about life in Korea. The next day he took us to Jeongson and showed us around the market and everything. It's a nice little town! I went back to my hotel and started preparing for my first day at school.
I got up Monday morning and walked to school. I came in and had to introduce myself in front of the entire faculty and staff. It was nerve racking but it wasn't too bad! Then the rest of the day I moved into my apartment and then sat on FB. It was pretty boring. My apartment is nice but I don't like where it is located so I am moving into town soon! Maybe as soon as tomorrow! I'm very excited about that because I will feel much more safe living in town then in the basement of a farmers home back in the woods!
Monday evening I met the other EPIK teacher who works at the Elementary school and we had dinner. She is very nice and I'm excited I will have someone to go workout with and have dinner with!
Tuesday I went into school and they led me to the gym where both the high school and middle school students were along with the rest of the faculty and staff and they told me that I need to go to the stage right then and give a speech! I started to panic a little bit because I had no idea what to say!! I got up there and began to talk realizing none of them probably had no idea what I was saying! So someone came up and translated for me. I'm pretty sure he made a short joke though haha! After that I went back to my office and got on FB (story of my life right now) and then someone came and got me and took me down to a van and when I opened it there was Lindsey and Erika and a few other girls from orientation in there! It was great to see them! We went to Donghae for the day to get our Alien Registration Cards and we got to eat an American meal and do a little bit of shopping too! It was a fun day! Once I returned to school all of the teachers took me out to dinner...it was a lot of fun. There is nothing like your wasted boss trying to get you tanked! They are all about their drinking here!
Today has been pretty uneventful besides trying to figure out a new living situation. I am staying the night at Monique's apartment and then hopefully getting my own apartment tomorrow! This weekend I am going to Wonju to see Tim...and Angelina and Lindsey are coming too, I am sooooo excited!!!
Now that I have posted an insanely long blog entry I will go. May God bless anyone who made it to the end. I appreciate your dedication! I'm sure I will be updating more frequently now that I have the internet at work. I will definitely update everyone on how this weekend goes traveling away from Imgye!
I hope everyone is doing well and I miss you all!
xoxo,
Whitney
I DID make it to the end, and I think you should have made your post longer! You forgot about the giant fish! I also got drunk with my coworkers and boss last night if that makes you feel better. I hope all gets resolved with your living sitch and
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see you this weekend. Thank you for depicting me so nicely in your blog. Everyone must love me now! Love ya! Lindsey
I made it to the end too!
ReplyDelete@Lindsey, I wouldn't go THAT far ;) :P
ReplyDeleteI'm glad things are working out with the new apartment. I didn't care for the one the old teacher had, or most of the others they showed me in that neighborhood, but I eventually found a villa in the edge of town. It's 4km to school, but it's worth it to be happy. ;) Plus the rent at my villa is 200k, so I get to use the rest of the 200k housing allowance for the bus fare... so it's great! Although the bus doesn't go exactly to my school, or my apartment so I still have to walk in each direction to the stop... but I'll be in kick ass shape soon!
HEYYY WHITNAAAYYY!!! i'm so glad you posted about ur life so far in Korea! i was waiting to see how it was and to mkae sure everything is going well for you. I am glad to hear that people are not too far from you so you will have some of home there for you. i hope ur kids treat you right, and just make ur translator let them know that if you say EASTSIDE, that they need to hit the floor! haha...glad you are getting settled, i can't believe its been over two weeks since you left! keep these blogs coming and i will talk to you soon....gimme ur address when ur settled so i can send you chef boyardee and some fruit roll ups will ya please? haha...
ReplyDeleteI made it to the end!!! I could have kept going! I am glad to hear you are getting the housing situation fixed! Can't wait for more updates!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Whitney! I look forward to reading more about your trip.
ReplyDelete