Once the sun had finally met with the horizon, there was not much more to look at down below. I focused my attention on reading the free English weekly magazines in the pocket before me. I read all about the latest 2006 crazes – about youtube, myspace, facebook, all the internet junky stuff that I am also an addict of as well. At one point, I did glance back out the window and noticed hundreds of lights floating in the water. I assumed they were boats. Perhaps, belonging to the army since they were so close. I thought that would be an interesting life. Living out on sea with boat neighbors. It made me think again, how someday a cruise boat job would be fun.
Not too long and it was evident we were over the country of Korea inching our way closer to the airport. We landed and sat on the tarmac for quite a while. According to the Aussie pilot, the airport was full and there was nothing he could do about it. I loved the way he expressed how it's “out of his control”. The words he was using were definitely none that a person who understands English as a second language would follow easily. Therefore, myself and the one other white person on the plane were probably one of the few who even understood him.
I waited my turn to depart off the machine that bullets through the sky. I had my large pack and my passport and headed straight to immigration. I waited in a rather long line. I handed my passport to the Korean woman who flipped through my pages. She chose one and stamped in my arrival to Korea. I scurried my way to the customs guy to hand him my piece of paper marking, “No, I am not bringing any crocodiles into Korea” (honestly, it asked that). I don't think he looked at my declaration; I continued to stand there, thinking there has got to be more than this. There wasn't – he motioned for me to continue walking. I did and now I was in Korea. I followed the directions Corey had provided for me which led me to the outside world.
I needed to buy a bus ticket and found the booth that was described. I stood there waiting for the man at the booth to acknowledge me. Here is my first realization that maybe I should have tried to learn a simple few phrases. For example, “excuse me”. He never noticed my existence, so a man pushed right past me and put his money before the booth man. Pushy man got his ticket and the booth man looked right back down – not wanting to recognize that I was there. This time, I just said where I needed to go. “Coex”. He understood, great. He put his finger up indicating “1”. I responded, “hai” or yes in Japanese. Just as Katie had warned me – when you're in a foreign country – you're going to try to speak Japanese to them. I didn't think it would really happen – but without even thinking; I had responded to him in Japanese. Realizing how stupid I must sound I said “gomen nasai” or I'm sorry in Japanese. Wow! Such an idiot. I just laughed and walked away feeling so rude.
I stood in the line that everyone was standing in. I wasn't entirely sure if it was the right line but it was my gut instinct so I went with it. I realized that at least in Japan I can communicate enough to ask if this is the right bus or not. I was prepared to encounter all the difficulties I had when I was a fledgling in Japan. A bus pulled up – and I was going to board but I looked at the tickets people had in their hands. I couldn't see what people had in their hands getting onto the bus – but I saw the people around me had the same tickets as me and they weren't boarding. I decided that I will stick with the folks around me that had the same picture on their tickets as me. There was always the possibility that some of these people were Japanese and that I could ask if this bus was right. It seemed though, if I confused a Korean with a Japanese person, the outcome may have been the same as confusing an American as a Canadian. Finally, after being quite cold and getting more anxious as time went on – another bus pulled up. I followed the crowd into getting my bag placed underneath and jumping aboard. Two other foreigners – which was positive that if I got into any dire problems, at least there were English speakers. The back of the bus was going to be my resting place for the next hour. A Korean man sat next to me.
I peered out the window which was basically like lying in your bed and staring at your ceiling. There wasn't much to look at since it was dark out. I lazily noticed cars driving by and the Korean writing system hangeul on the road signs. At last – city lights! I was getting excited now, one quick stop and then the next stop was mine! I collect my pack and walk into the biggest underground mall in all of Asia - The Coex mall. I take a good, long look at where I was dropped off so that I know where I need to meet Corey in one hour. Dinner sounds like a good idea at this point since I was served only the meat option on the airplane. I go down to the mall and am bombarded with places to choose from to eat. It's Friday night and all the locals are out with their friends and I am stumbling around with my pack. I choose the least packed place – a small tea shoppe.
I walk up to the counter and the woman asks me in English if I need help. I said, “I want tea”. She kind of laughed at me and gave me a menu. I chose scones since the last time I digested these yummy English delights was in Australia. The kind woman clears off a table for me and I drop my pack to the floor and wait. Shortly, my strawberry flavored tea and two small scones are brought out in front of me. One more hour to go and I get to meet up with Corey. I decide to eat slowly and break out my journal to write in. This small meal was rather pricey – nearly $10 – I paid the woman and went back upstairs to wait.
I was sitting on a bench and this man started chatting me up in English. Quite shocked that a stranger is willing to try English with me. I never encounter this in Japan – even when I am in bigger cities. He informed me he was waiting for his two signs to arrive – one coming from Japan. I told him I live in Japan but I don't think he understood me. Chatting some more and then I see Corey walking towards me! I excused myself from the conversation and hugged Corey. Walked back to his apartment together catching up on the last two years. Dropped off my stuff and headed straight to the bar to meet up with his friends. It was so relieving to be in a social situation again. I really miss it.
We spent the first night at a bar – altogether there were 6 of us. I tried their bar food which tasted a bit like kix but in different shapes. We had a few pitchers, some food, and 3 of them left. The last 3 of us stayed at this bar for a little while longer and then proceeded to their favorite late night food place. I don't remember much but it turns out after that – it was just Corey and I headed to the casino.
I got myself lost in the casino. I remember trying to tell security I am looking for a white guy wearing a blue shirt. I don't remember if they spoke English – but I'm pretty sure I was probably trying both English and Japanese. Thankfully though, Corey found me before I found him. We sat at the table – playing some game or other. Corey explained it to me a lot but I didn't understand at all. I remember thinking how perfect the Korean woman was at being the table master. I remembered thinking a lot of feminist things. It was a relief to find out the next morning that I was only thinking them and not expressing them.
The next post: Korean Markets and walking around the city.
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