It is 7:40pm here in Seoul on Monday night, June 30(Does that not sound weird or what. I think some of you realize better than me that I am is Seoul).For those of you who do not know my journey started two fridays ago when the Korean Consulate called at 4:25pm (their time: they close at 4:30) to let me know that I had an appointment early next week. What did that mean? I was not really sure, but I wasn't going to miss it. So Grandma watched while mom and I booked a flight to Toronto....
Monday night I fell asleep somewhere around 12pm and got up at 2:40 for a wakeup shower. My flight ended up being delayed half an hour which was fine with me. I had more time to make sure I had everything. Going trough security, they searched my bag and found aloe vera gel I had forgot about, but they were kind enough to give it to Dad and mom who were waiting on the other side of the security to take home.
I arrived in Toronto about 9 something am. Once I got my bags (walked down some halls, around some corners and down some stairs to the baggage area) I promptly bought a phone card and phoned home! Then I went to the information desk, where God must have placed an angel because the lady was absolutely beautiful! She let me use her phone, told me where to store my luggage, then made me come back for the next directions. She helped me buy a bus ticket and told me how to use the subway (which I believe I rode illegally the first time). Many people were helpful when I had no idea which direction to go. I got to downtown Toronto with at least three hours to spare. It turns out interviews are from three to four and you had better show up ad hope you get in. Well, after spending the day looking around I spent two hours in the Korean Consulate and had an intense five minute interview. It is not that the questions were bad (Do you know about Korean culture? Have you taught kids before and Do you mind if the cost of living goes up? Were the questions). I got my visa half an hour later and jubilantly went back to the airport. I called Bert and Yvonne Gils (brother to Alice Hordyk) and they picked me up for a night at their place. I spent the next day learning the Go-Train system from Mississauga to Hamilton and the city bus route down Upper James to get to Dawn and Edward's (cousins). I was amazed over and over how God put people in my path who would help me.
Wed. I went with a friend of Aunty Wilma's and Uncle Jasper's to Ingersoll. I spent the rest of the week there visiting with them and Keith and Ellyn and Grandma and Tanya and Reny and Aunty Agnes. They were relaxing and catching up on sleep times.
Saturday Aunty Agnes brought me back to Mississauga and Sunday morning Bert brought me to the airport. God has definitely taught me I can't do everything myself! I am so thankful for all the people who took care of me!
I made it past american customs fine, with my bag being searched. That flight was two hours and I was in the middle seat in the back row So at least I was not surrounded on all sides! In Chicago I went through the Korean customs fine(or so I thought) they just searched my bag (of course) and let me go. Three and a half hours later when we were boarding I found out that I did not make it through security fine. For some reason (my ticket was bught by somebody else or was a one way or was paid for in cash) I needed an extra security check. So they brought me back there and rubbed me down! It is not as scary as I thought it would be. That flight I also sat in the middle of two guys right over the wing. It was a twelve hour flight, but I slept some of it. There were no individual tv's only one screan in the very front. It was not what I had imagined it to be, but I had to laugh about it because in a way it was better. I am in middle of reading "Laughing Matters" by Phil Calloway, and so I cannot be in a bad mood when he is showing the right attitude to have.
I got to Seoul airport and got through customs and immigration fine. I wandered around and finally went to the info desk again where she helped me phone my manager; and get to the airport limo-bus area. There I gave them the korean words I had recieved about where I was to go. YOu see, I had to go to Lotte world hotel, and there are, of course, two of them. Well, they were arguing which one was the right one, and I was trying to put my two cents in, which of course made no sense, but finally she took my money and the bus was five steps away. I was the last one allowed on. I thank God for that as well. It was an hour drive to Seoul and the hotel, but we were just in the beginning of rush hour so we could keep going. just as the bus pulled away, Julia, my supervisor showed up. She brought me to my motel and then we went for oysters. They were good: they were mixed with other food. She got me to try a green pepper of some sort and my nose started running and I was crying. You see I had a problem. In Korea it is very rude to cough or blow your nose at the table, but it is also very rude to get up and leave. I was also sitting on the ground, so my legs were tingling and I wasn't very sure if i could stand up. All in all, I really did enjoy it. Tommorrow at 9 I leave for work (somebody is picking me up) so that will be fun and interesting. The guy who trained everybody else is coming Wed and will sit in my classes(my first day of teaching) and train me. A big thanks to everybody who has helped and prayed for me this week. I hope you are all doing well
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