2009: An Asian Odyssey

Arriving in Seoul February 27, 2009

Thanks to the 5-hour layover in Chicago, we were able to be the first ones to check into our next flight to Seoul and were fortunate enough to get great window seats next to the emergency exit. Therefore, we had all the leg room we could ask for and could get up at will and use the washroom a few steps away. We didn’t have as many movies and TV shows to choose from but we had plenty to read and music and podcasts to listen to. We had fairly high expectations for our airline experience and we weren’t disappointed. The quality of service and all the amenities provided were phenomenal. We were served two above-average meals, served unlimited drinks and were able to get a few hours sleep to get our bodies on Korean time for our arrival at 6am.

Upon landing we got through customs without delay and had our bags waiting for us. As we walked out of the baggage claim into the greeting area we were met by a sea of Koreans and a variety of signs. Our new friend Jeff had a sign waiting for him – Zeff Hamilton. There was also a large sign on display right in front with our names and another girls name as well. There was only one thing missing – Mr. Kang.

 Since our sign was surrounded by at least 20-30 Korean men who all looked like Mr. Kang. I simply stood right next to the sign and said “Mr. Kang?!” so everyone could hear me. Nothing but blank stares. After about 15 minutes or so a man on his cell phone approached the sign, looked at it thoroughly and then looked at me. “Mr. Kang?” I asked. Blank stare. I pointed to the sign and said “Jordan”. Blank stare. He then proceeded to finish his cell phone conversation and started talking to the guy next to him and completely ignore me. Alright then. After a few more minutes Katie was approached by another gentlemen who may have been Mr. Kang and instructed the guy who ignored me to drive us. We suspect that one of those guys was Mr. Kang and that they were probably helping the other girl on the sign while we were waiting, but we’ll never know as neither spoke english.

We proceeded to load our stuff into mini-van and were off on what was supposed to be a 45 minute drive to our destination in Seoul. It took 1.5 hours. We were coming into central Seoul during primetime rush hour between 8-9am. It was a disaster. In between dozing off, we exchanged awkward attempts at speaking english and Korean with our driver as he occasionally rolled down the window. Either he loves the smell of rush hour traffic in smog-filled downtown Seoul or he didn’t like the smell of his cargo fresh off over 24 hours of non-stop travel. I think it was Katie.

We finally arrived at the school around 9am and were introduced to Han. I had to fight every fibre of my being not to ask him where Chewbacca was, or what it was like to be frozen in carbonite. He was very nice, spoke excellent english and escorted us to our hotel just a few short blocks away.

We had arrived at our temporary home.