South Korea, Gonghang-Daero, Ganseo-gu
JAL (japan airlines), departure: Oct. 15 at. 7:45. pm,
arrival: 10:05pm (Seoul (GMP))
weather: 20°C
- I was growing impatient sitting inside the slightly cramped economy class spot, beside window seat, but I believe the feelings I felt that time was only the impatience and excitement. I kept checking the time on my phone and it read 10:25pm. My check in time from my Hotel was supposed to be at 2pm and hoped they did not mind my tardiness. Korean airlines monitor speaker shuts off after welcoming us to South Korea, and the plane finally begins to settle. My 90s styled light and dark stained blue jean jacket over my pink coat made me feel professional, but because of all what I was feeling made me feel sweaty and eager to take it off. I touch the window and placed a little pressure trying to feel the weather through the thick layered glass. It was cold so I thought I should not take it off until I get to the hotel. The seat belt noise rung from some other speaker indicating we were allowed to take off our seatbelts and ready to board off. I enjoyed the sound of the clicks coming from everyones seatbelts because you knew how eager everyone else wants to get off the same. I watched some people go and gave myself permission for next turn to board off with my stuff, and boy it was heavy. Medium sized black and white luggage that had four little wheels giving me some freedom to glide across to any location, the patterns on it remind me of a lava lamp. I missed having one of those in my room. My pink “Jelly Bean” shoe bag carried my important essentials, and sat on top of the luggage, my two extra sweaters wrapped around the handle. Lastly my small little white hippiesh bag over my shoulder across my body and my small little brown backpack that my sister and I once snuck in a movie theatre that was filled with snacks, before I left to Japan. I miss my sisters...my family.
I smile at the flight attendants risking the few Korean words I learned in 6 hours. “Annyeonghaseyo,” I said after they did, then politely bowing. It is a scary moment to say anything in another language (especially trying to lean some of it in six hours) to others who have been speaking it their entire lives. I imagine it as one trying to learn Spanish and instead saying “toc-O’s” one would say “tak-o’s” and as someone who is hispanic I admit it is funny but at the same time I do appreciate people learning new language despite the one they know already. I love languages you can learn so much from another because of the different meanings and word placement in sentences and in general.
The fresh air at last! I step out of the airport escaping all the gorgeous ads from Kpop stars. I search up my hotel address and come to find out it is close by walking distance. 20 mins which is not bad at all, walking back home from school took about an hour or 30 mins on a good day. Little did I know walking is what I would do anyhow from my stay in South Korea. I noticed a French woman around her 20’s I seen before and asked “Hey are you going walking too?” She looked at me and I hoped she recognized me from the airport. “Oh no taking a cab!” I smiled and and said thank you anyway wishing her well. Then these angels! A old couple around their 50s overheard me conversation and told me how expensive the cabs are here. “Thank you so much! I know how expensive they are and decided to walk” I say. They offer me a ride bowing respectfully and think of their offer. At the time I thought how old they are and if they tried anything I can take them on. I was desperate and cold, and super tired...so I eventually accepted. NOTE: DONT EVER DO IT UNLESS YOURE WITH A FRIEND. —Inside their black BMW I gave my address and apologized for burdening them in anyway. “Don’t worry we have a lot of time!” The woman said. I laughed and thanked them again. We carried a conversation and learned they had friends all over the country so they understood my situation too because of their own experiences with traveling. We stopped inside a open alley that leads back onto the roads. The right corner had a store that looked like 7-Eleven and on the left more shops. I get out on the left side and the old man who drove helps with my luggage and gave me the last bit of information to my destination. “Ok thank you so much!” I said. Luckily my Korean GPS app is still on showing me the way without WiFi all this time. I bow respectfully and so does he, then turn my direction to his wife to do the same. I smile and wave a last goodbye but honestly at that moment I felt sad of our quick acquaintance. ———————— I noticed many people were still outside and the weather was overwhelmingly welcoming. My Hotel is in a huge alley made for it and enter it’s magical doors that opened automatically. I’m greeted to front desk. “Hello” i say to the man who looks ready to check me in quickly. “Hi name please?” He politely smiles. I say my name and hold out my passport. He looks away turning around to a folder and looks back passing me a piece of paper from the folder. It was a small piece of paper and assumed it was info about my stay. “Sign please” he points out to the line from the right bottom. I sign away and give back the pen and paper. He grabs a card and passes it to me after. I sigh and grab onto the card key and politely bow thanking him. With heavy shoulders from my luggage I made my way to the elevator. It took me ten seconds to get to my room. My nostrils flared and inhaled the enormous amount of cigarettes once I open the door. I at least try to settle in but...I being a picky person at times said hell no and decided to go down stairs and ask front desk what’s going on? “Oh people smoke all the time here, normal” I nervously smile at his remark. “Haha ok. Thank you. any way I can possibly get a better room? I know I hate to be that person...I just...I don’t know. But if I can then please help me out here” I say eagerly. This guy was friendly and patient because he agreed and said I can stop by the next morning and try everything out then. I went back up and over think a little about my choices. The hotel room was perfect. I was just being a little picky. What did I expect? A jucuzzi? It had a shower head from the gods and a toilet seat so advanced (warm on my ass) that I wished everyone had them. My bed was as big as the sun and I had a flipping washing machine and dryer. Let’s just say the next morning when I tried to get a “better room” it was not better. So guess what. I went back to the original. I mean the room and I practically became attached and best friends. It was perfect. NOTE: ITS BETTER! DONT OVERTHINK.———- part two coming soon———-
