We've already covered the mad trip to JFK. We left on time, but I was still paranoid there would be an accident or something. I'm glad we made good time because when we got to the bridge it was all backed up and crazy. We waited for over 20 minutes on that thing and you know that cheer the little highschoolers cheer at the games? "Be Agressive! BE BE Agressive!" Yeah, it was like my motto on that bridge. Cause if it wasn't I would have been a total wuss in that little rental car and let a bunch of cutters in just because I didn't want them to hit my car.
So we get there and everything is underweight, so no extra fees, and they let us right through security without any trouble. On the plane they fed us like airline kings. We got 2 meals. First was dinner and we even got a choice. I chose bibimbap, cause mmmm bibimbap, and we got real dishes and real silverwear too! No chopsticks though....sad. We also got blankets and pillows, and in front of each of the seats was a screen where you could watch tv programs, movies from several different countries, play games, listen to music, and you could also see all the flight information. Things like, exactly where we were, where we are going, the speed, the tempurature, what time it was where we left, what time it was where we were going, all kinds of good things. We went up through Canada and across Alaska and Russia then back down past North Korea and across South Korea to the other side, and landed in Incheon.
When we got there and got through customs Hisung's father and aunt were waiting for us. Even though it was only 4am his aunt was all dressed like she was going to work. His father, although I'm sure was so happy to see him, was very reserved and nonchalant about it. But Hisung went up and gave him a huge hug and he smiled then. We have a rented car here and it's very nice, but it's not too big. So only one suitcase fit in the back, plus, hisung's backpack and my carryon. So the other suitcase had to go in the backseat, where I had to sit. So I just crossed my legs indian style and off we went. It was soooooo humid when we got off the plane, I thought I was swimming. I'd love to say that the weather has changed and the humidity has broken, but it totally hasn't. It's not smoggy here, but you can't see very far outside, because so much moisture is in the air it just hangs like a mist over everything.
Hisung drove, and we went weaving from one highway to another, winding around the Han river and looking at the building lights slowly start to turn off as dawn approached. Way in the distance you can see the mountains and hills through the mist. We pulled into a tiny one way street next to a park and had to park the car in a little parking garage of sorts under the apartment building. With all the other cars around, and the tiny space to turn around, it was a feat for sure! Here's a pic of the outside of the apartment, and our rental car.
Ours is the second balcony from the top and wraps around to the front. So both sides of the building are the windows into the apartment.
Once we made it in the spot we started upstairs, where the handle to my suitcase promptly broke. Oh well. At least there's another one. hahaha! Hisung's mother ran out to meet us as soon as we got there and no one would describe her reaction to seeing her son as reserved. She was the exact opposite from his father. She ran out and waved at us before we even got out of the car. She saw the precarious position I had been stuck in for so long and said that it must be hard for me, then she helped unfold me and peel me out of that back seat. Once hisung was out they hugged each other and laughed and smiled. It was really nice to see. (I'll put up pictures of them soon.)
So we get upstairs to their apartment on the 4th floor and they prepared a whole room with a bed just for me. A bed with a real mattress and everything. I wasn't really expecting that, since Koreans tend to like a harder surface to sleep on. Once I got my stuff settled it was time to bow. I had practiced this, and I had wanted to bow to them as soon as I got there. The problem is, Hisung didn't exactly know how a woman is supposed to bow. I looked on youtube, but there were several different ways to do it, and I was confused. I apologized in advance for getting it wrong, if I did. They seemed to think it was ok though. So at least I didn't completely mess it up, and didn't fall on my butt or anything. lol Here's some pictures of the living room, my room, and the kitchen.
There's the balcony you can see from the inside, and that blue loungey thing is this awesome full body massage chair. Wow. It does a tired body good.
My bed....my wonderful comfortable bed, with someof my stuff on the end. lol My window has beautiful etched glass with flowers on it, and it's a pretty bluish green. There's also a computer desk on the other side of the bed there.
The dining room in the kitchen, and that little white thing behind the table, yup, that's a kimchi fridge. I have to say too, his mom makes really good kimchi! :)
Hisung's mother had a gift for me of some hair accessories and some nail polish, and I gave them my gifts too. My mom wrote a card for them and Hisung helped me translate their card as well as the card I wrote for them. They liked the gifts I brought for them and his mother made me feel so welcome right away. She also kept telling his father to smile. hahaha! He's more stern and reserved and she's really bubbly and outgoing. They balance each other well. We looked through photo albums of their wedding, and childhoods, and hisung's childhood. They were really great! I loved looking through them all. Even though the culture is different, and the country is halfway around the world, people are still people, and his family pictures are similar to my own.
His mom is so cute and even though we don't understand each other's language, we still understand each other. We even had a whole conversation about Hisung, in two different languages, but somehow we still managed to completely understand what the other was saying. She told me I should rest, but I knew it wouldn't be a good idea. So she made a big breakfast for us. We had Miyuk Gook, which is a seaweed soup, and Mool Mandu, which are boiled dumplings....oh so good! And Kimchi, homemade and really spicy Kimchi, as well as red rice and little sauteed fish, whole, with the skin, the tail and the head. I wasn't sure exactly how to eat it, so I just followed Hisung. It was really good actually. I just had to get over the fact that my breakfast was staring up at me. hahaha!
After breakfast she cleared out a couple of small drawers for me in the spare room where they have closets set up and I put almost all of my clothes away. Then it was time to figure out the shower. It's a little different than in America. They don't use a separate shower stall. Some buildings do, but I think most don't. So here's how it works. The shower head hangs on the wall and the controls are mounted below it. It's right next to the sink and there's a drain in the floor. So you have to close the toilet seat, and there's a little metal cover for the toilet paper so it doesn't get wet, oh and towels go in a little cabinet so they don't get wet. Then you just shower in the whole bathroom. It's kind of cool actually! Cause I got out my facial clensing stuff and just did that right there in the mirror as I showered. Think about it, you can seriously multitask in a bathroom like that. Running late? No problem, brush your teeth and floss as you wash your hair! :) Here's a picture so you can see.
So we got dressed and headed out. We were supposed to go to church, but it didn't really work out that way. We got started late and even though my feet have never bothered me in my little black ballet flats, all of a sudden I realized I was getting blisters everywhere. I tried to put bandaids on, but it wasn't really working. These shoes never gave me problems before, and I've walked all over with them on. I think my feet were swollen from the plane, cause they still looked puffy to me. So I guess my shoes fit a lot tighter than normal.
So we got off at Dong Dae Moon, which is a shopping district and went in search of shoes. Problem is, I'm like a friggin giant here, and so I have giant feet too. The guy at the shoe store was trying to find my size, but alas, some of the shoes I wanted to try were not made for a freak of nature such as myself. Who knew that a 7 1/2 would be almost laughably huge. Then, the ones that were in my size either looked weird, or I couldn't fit my big fat puffy foot in them. I have never felt like I had such huge feet in all my life. So we left that shop and found another shop that was selling flip flops and we just bought the first pair that looked like it was my size. They are silvery and a little satiny on the bottom, and the top has grey ribbons that tie in a little bow up at the thong part. They're cute, loose fitting, and they even have arch support. So turns out, for flip flops, they're pretty comfy. So far I've worn them all around Seoul and my feet are still sore and tired, but they've held up better than I thought they would.
Ok, this post is getting HUGE. I'm going to publish this one, and write a little commentary, then continue with the rest of my first day I think. Ooh, but to end the post, here's a pic of Hisung and a pic of me on the streets of Seoul.
Sounds like your having a great time! Lol... you're shoe shopping story made me laugh. I am very familiar with that feeling... here in the US! I'd REALLY be in trouble over there! (11...yeah, it sucks) lol..
Oh my gosh you would! I can't even imagine. You'd have to wear men's shoes I think. lol!
ohhhhh. i can't wait to hear more!