Wow...what a whirlwind! After traveling for about 24 hours, I arrived in Seoul. As I stepped off the plane and walked through the airport, instant anxiety set in...I am afterall a type A personality and control freak moving to a country that I don't know with a language that I don't speak. All I could think was what the heck am I doing here; I don't understand anyone; I can't read anything! However, I pushed the anxiety deep down and continued on my journey. Afterall, I should at least give the city that I'd been dying to move to a shot.
A member of the staff at my school, Kid's College, picked me up, and we headed to the guesthouse I would be staying at. (I will not be able to move into my apartment until late next week, seeing as how the couple living there must finish teaching this semester.) I don't know what I thought my idea of a guesthouse was, but I was rather surprised to see my living quarters. I walked into a small apartment-sized room, which I found out I would be sharing with 6 other travelers and was directed to the loft, my place of residence. The steps of the ladder leading to my loft space were about as treacherous as the steps on the Great Wall (Kelsey and Kate know what I'm talking aobut). Upon reaching my loft, I came to find the ceiling was too low for me to even be able to stand. Shortly after I hauled my heavy luggage up the stairs and began to get myself situated, I realized that I had accidentally left my trilogy book of Lord of the Rings on my plane to Korea...not a good realization for an emotional, sleep deprived person. It felt like the end of the world. It took everything I had to keep myself from running out the door, finding a taxi, and catching the first plane home at the expense of my parent's credit card.
I woke this morning much more relaxed and in a way better mood. I decided I would walk around my neighborhood for a couple hours to familiarize myself. Lo and behold with fresh eyes, the city looked beautiful and interesting, not at all dauting and evil as I had seen it the night before. I walked into a well-known Korean convenience store, Buy the Way, and purchased contact solution. I went to a coffee house and successfully ordered a coffee. I got myself something to eat for lunch. It was in these small tasks that I came to terms with the following facts. 1) Yes, I do not speak Korean. 2) Yes, I can barely, barely recognize the Hangul alphabet. 3) Yes, I will be able to live and fuciton in this city and this country nevertheless.
It really is beautiful here. Maybe not an aesthetically pleasing, postcard beautiful but rather an adventurous, exotic beautiful. I wish you all could see it. I am supposed to call Kid's College today after 3pm to set up a time to meet everyone from the school. But I am without a phone. Oh well, just another of many adventures I am certain to find myself in while I'm here. Way, way too much rambling...apologies.
I'll post pictures as soon as I discover how to connect my laptop to the internet (I'm so technologically disabled). Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Love you all dearly,
KendallCooke
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