So, finally, here goes my very first blog post in South Korea. Took a while, actually. I got here about 3 weeks ago, and I was planning to make a post as soon as I got here. But ever since I stepped foot onto that plane, life just kind twirled around a series of unexpected events, physical exhaustion, confusion, amazement, and wonder. I'm going to start from the very beginning, because every step I took after entering the plane was a new experience that I have never had before...
It was honestly quite emotional. I knew it would be. That sinking feeling you get in your chest. Just knowing that you're going to be so far away from the people you love... just... that reality of it, which doesn't hit you until the moment you begin to leave. I felt as if I was tearing a part of me off; an important part that I need, but I can live without for a temporary amount of time. It's like losing an arm for 6 months... I guess that's a weird analogy, but the point is made.
I cried. Like a baby. I did. People stared at me, people were incredibly kind to me, people were confused by me... but it's okay. I let the tears flow.
The plane experience was interesting, but I gotta admit, it could have been better. Even though I was terribly afraid, I was still excited to see the world from above the sky. My flight from Tampa to Atlanta was very fun. I even met a wonderful woman named Stephanie who did her absolute best to help reassure me that riding in planes is safe. She gave me pointers and tips of what to do and even let me have her window seat. When we got to Atlanta, she even helped me find the area where my plane would be, even though someone was waiting for her. At the end, she gave me $10 so I could buy a neck pillow :3
The Korean Air flight was interesting, but my GAWD those seats were so absolutely uncomfortable. For 13 hours, I SUFFERED. Literally. I had no where to lean, the seats didn't go all the way back, I was cramped, there was little leg room, and it was a tad too warm for my tastes. The flight attendants were incredible though, I'll give them that. They were incredibly beautiful too...
Arrival
Once I arrived in South Korea, it took me a while to realize I was in a foreign country. At first, I went about things like I would at any other new place in America. I walked around, looked at maps, and assumed a few people were going to know English. It's an international airport after all. Someone has to know! But, I had my first real taste of what a language barrier feels like. No one understood what I was saying. Even something as simple as "gate 1". "One?" they asked, as they looked at each other confused. I lifted one finger up and said it again "ONE. Gate ONE". Nope. No one knew. I eventually did find my way. I just followed the crowds, as I assumed they knew what they were doing.
Taking It All In
At first, the scenery seemed unreal. I've seen mountains in movies, books, and the internet. But to see them in real life was... unreal. It felt like I was looking at a big flat screen TV of a mountainous landscape. I just wasn't feeling the reality of it. I guess that's what happens when we see things in pictures before we see them in real life. It's like watching too many previews for a funny movie, so that when you go to see the movie, those scenes just aren't funny anymore. Still, I love it. I love what I see and I want to keep looking at it. Like a small child enjoying the simplest of things.
Orientation
The orientation period in Jochiwon, South Korea, was a bit... tedious. I endured 3 weeks of an initial phase and now we are doing about one week of orientation in our current cities. For me, it's Jeonju. I'm glad to be here honestly! It is where my mom grew up, where my family lives, and it's not too rural. I believe the school I will be working in will be a tad different, but we shall see. I'm kind of just waiting for orientation to end. I really want to be on my own, just exploring, learning Korean, and settling down, finally. Even though we have been given very nice accommodations, I've yet to settle down. For one month, I've lived off my suitcases. Packing unpacking, repacking. The orientation has been helpful, but a tad repetitive at times. I don't think we need one month of preparation. 2 weeks, at the most. I don't know why the program hires people who have no teaching experience. Sure, teachers are every where, but even though, when I started teaching back in the states, I was never given a training period...
Family
I finally got to see the faces of a few of my Korean family members. We all met at the Hanok Village in Jeonju. I met one of my aunts, two cousins, their kids, and my aunts husband. I really like the kind of people they are. They seem so kind, so wonderful. But then again, I am family, so they were treating me better than they would most other people, I'm sure. But my cousins kind of emitted this gentle and kind aura off of them. I kind of felt like I met my parents for the first time after being separated for so many years. Of course, I was SUPER shy. They were insecure of their English, and I was insecure myself as well! "Am I dressed appropriately? Am I shaking too much? Am I not giving them enough attention? Are my table manners bad? Should I try to ask questions? Maybe I am saying too much? Do they like me? What if they don't like me? Am I too fat? Not Korean enough? Too foreign?" These thoughts and many more circled endlessly through my mind.... Either way, I hope to see them again soon though. I really can't wait :3
And so, I end this blog entry. I hope I get the chance to post more often. Documenting my experience in Korea is really important to me. I want to be able to look back at all of this and smile :)
