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Published: February 4th 2007
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I arrived in Korea early in the morning. I didn't even remember the flight, since it left at 2:00 in morning and I slept the whole way. Airline travel seems so easy now, and quick. I have become accustom to long journeys on trains or buses, where time seems never ending. So, I arrive and collected all my belongings with a new added bag (I had a huge duffle bag stored in the Bangkok airport), not so easy anymore. I was still half a sleep and became a target for tourist trap. It is very hard to travel on your own, when you are tired. A taxi man just grabbed my stuff and took it to his taxi and we were off. I had no energy to fight or question. I randomly choose a hotel from the lonely planet and fell asleep. About 30 minutes we arrived at the hotel and found out that is taxi ride this going to cost me 100 dollars. What??
and here it begins....
Its cold and I don't have very many warm clothes with me, I buddle up in all my warm clothes to have a look around. Happily I see stalls (where
I think I can bargain) with hats and scarves. I find some, and I find myself bargaining from 30 dollars down to 20 dollars, come on, its only a scarf and hat. I am not in Thailand, anymore. Oh well, I didn't have a choice. Ok, right, now I am hungry, Korean food looks scary, so I opted for the local burger joint. I got the small hamburger and a coke, which end up being 12 dollars. I am estimating here, its actually a little more since the exchange rate is not very good. The money here is won and I get about 937 won to 1 dollar. A coke costs about 2000 won, and their highest note is 10,000 won (ten dollars, sort of). This was discouraging, and especially coming from countries where my dollar is worth so much.
Now what, didn't know what to do, or where to go, too much going on in my mind. How do I do this? What am I doing? How to find? Where do I eat, everything is in Korean (usually I have been in restaurants where depending on the country it would be in their language and English). I went
back to the hotel and made very expensive phone call to my mom. I did make some contacts through a friend of Darren’s. So the next night I will be meeting friends of Darren’s friend Chris, his friends that are here in Seoul.
The next day I wondered, and bought a cell phone, since it almost cost me the same as the phone call to my mom the night before. I met up with Jisun and Winston around six, I was still learning the subway, but not too difficult. I had a nice time and Jisun and Winston, they were very nice and helpful. Jisun is Korean so she help to try to make arrangements for cheaper accommodations for me, and has emailed me a few helpful links for job opportunities. Winston has kept up with me on the phone offering help, even though he is traveling to the Philippines on Sunday.
So my next day was very difficult, it was spent looking for accommodations. All the roads aren't marked with names, so maps do make much sense. I still at this point haven't found a proper coat, so every half hour or so, I would wonder into
a store to warm up. I found some of the places, and they are small and not very accommodating, and expensive.
This was not fun, and it did bring me to tears a few times, I felt overwhelmed and frustrated. I can't read most signs; I don't know where I am or where exactly I am going. I ask people for help, and they don't understand me. So everything I tried took hours, and it became night, and I decided just to return to my very expensive hotel and try again tomorrow. I went out to dinner (ham and cheese sandwich at 9 dollars), I had not eaten all day, and talked with a fellow American that said he I looked like I needed 10 hours of sleep. So, I ate and went to sleep.
Moved the next day into a cheaper place, one thing off the list. I found a coat that evening, two things off the list. I had a meal, not too expensive, and not fast food, spagetti. That was that day.
Today, one more break down. I am tired and can’t find an atm that will take my card. I am stuck, who
to ask, where to go…. I bought food at 7-11 used a credit card and call it good for today.
Thanks for all the supportive emails, please keep them coming. I know I can manage but it will take time.
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Melissa
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Maggie what you’re doing is amazing. It’ll get a tiny bit easier each day, hang in there and stay safe! ~Melissa