Flight

I got to the airport at about 6 a.m. for a 6:45 international flight after NO sleep the night before. Nearly got to the airport without my passport too. There was a slight bag mix-up, which required a drive across town from where I was and way the hell across town from the airport.
I got through baggage check with bags weighing 50.5 pounds and 51.5 pounds and the ticket counter lady didn't charge me for being 2 pounds over the limit!!!
Went through the metal detector and my carry-on had to go through the X-ray twice and then the security lady opened my bag, rearranged the contents, opened the canisters where I put my jewelry (I put my jewelry in film canisters and old Body Shop lotion containers, it's safer and more compact) and she exclaimed, "Oh! You were trying to trick me!" while she pointed at the lotion container, which is over the 3-oz limit. Yes, lady, I have all the time in the world to hash out plans to try to pull a fast one over airport security. She put my bag through the X-ray for the third time and finally gives me the green light. She plops my bag on a seperate table and leaves me responsible for returning the contents of my bag to their original locations after she so skillfully ransacked it. I make it to my gate, I'm the last one on the plane and they close the door behind me. Onward to Denver!
I get to Denver and suddenly my carry-on is too big for me to have on the plane. The airline staff says I have to check it. I'm not ok with this, but I can't argue. My carry-on has my Korean school contract, my immunization records, copies of EVERYTHING (which I realize now is really stupid, but I had every intention of having these things on me the whole time), it also has my Banff pants (the comfiest fleece pants on the planet, Abby will agree), ALL of my jewelry (!), a few of my favorite books, my toothbrush, and ALL OF MY JOURNALS (OH MY GOD!), among several other items. Regardless, the airline staff took my bag and said it would be there when I got off the plane. Foreshadowing, anyone?
The flight to San Francisco was pretty uneventful and I even slept a little, which is next to impossible for me to do on planes. Must be that complete exhaustion.
I get on the plane to Seoul and I have a window seat, which I hate because I can't stretch out my legs. But I was able to sleep against the window in 20-minute spurts. The flight was REALLY long and I watched a couple movies and listened to a lot of music and a book on tape. (Thanks, Alan!) My friend, Chris, game me a supply of Ambien but I'd heard so many crazy stories about what people did while on Ambien that I decided it was best not to take it on an international flight.
When I finally got to Seoul I went straight to baggage claim praying I would see my carry-on. Of course I didn't see it and I knew I wouldn't, but I found my curling iron... It was randomly making it's way around the conveyor belt in one of those gray tubs. One item, just one, sitting in one of those tubs all by itself. It was odd that I even saw it and recognized it as mine and it was far away from my bags. Odder still that it wasn't in my bag as was its obvious original location.
I was given instructions to catch a bus from the airport to Dangjin, which was to leave 2 hours after my plane landed. After I reported my missing bag, I went off to find my bus. It was actually very easy to find. Every taxi driver in a 2-mile radius asked if I needed a ride. That's funny, they really didn't seem to be asking anyone else from what I could tell. Apparently white females are suckers and easy prey for taxi drivers in Seoul (or any other city for that matter). I was also asked to donate money to a Korean Christian network.
The shuttle vehicle I was supposed to catch was called an "airport limosine." In reality, it was a gnarly old bus, but luckily there were only about three people on it.
On the way to Dangjin, I saw a public bus pulled over on the highway and all the men from the bus were peeing shoulder-to-shoulder on the side of the road. I thought that was incredibly odd. I thought Korean people were shy and modest?
It took about two hours to get to the main bus station in Dangjin from the airport. My school director, Agnes, was supposed to meet me at the bus station. I had no idea what she looked like and it was about 10:30 p.m. after 24 hours of traveling. I did see one thing in English though, a Baskin Robbins. Luckily after 10 minutes Agnes showed up.
Poor little Agnes attempted to help me with my bags and they easily weighed more than she did. She takes me to my room for the night. I'll be staying in the library above the Hogwan (private English school) where I'll be teaching. It's 5 minutes from the bus station. Agnes lives in the apartment above the library with her parents. My apartment won't be ready until 6 p.m. the next day. But the library is just like a regular apartment, but with a bunch of children's books in the living room area. There was a bed and that's all I cared about. I took a shower and took one of Chris's magic pills (I wanted to make sure nothing was going to wake me) and I promptly passed out.

Been so overwhelmed with everything I haven't had a chance to update! I promise to write more very soon!!!

In the hustle and extreme bustle of the last-minute items on the "must-do" list, such as attain that oh-so-necessary Korean visa, I feel I am overwhelmed by the details and won't get to treasure my last remaining weeks at home with my family and friends. I'm feeling so rushed and discombobulated. I really want to enjoy my last few weeks state-side.
I don't think I've quite grasped the all-encompassing prospect of what my life is to become very soon. I don't think I will fully realize it until I set foot on Korean soil. I have so much to do that I'm forced to focus on the logistics rather than the relationships right now. The relationships between family, relationships between friends, relationships between co-workers, relationships between the guy that sells jewelry on the corner of Front Street and Higgins Avenue, relationships between the baristas at my favorite coffee shops and the relationship between my dog and me. Perhaps I've become one of those creepy people who talks too much about their pets, but he really has been a constant companion by my side for the last five years and it's going to be very, very strange to not have him underfoot at all times. Not quite sure how I'm going to handle that. At least with friends and family I can write, call and e-mail when I get lonely or homesick, but a dog is a whole different story. I feel that will be the hardest thing.
I've had some fun (used loosely) challenges acquiring my Korean visa and it still hasn't technically been "acquired" although it's been overnighted to Seattle and I'm hoping the visa gods smile upon me.
I was afraid the Consulate General was going to require I physically be present for my visa interview in Seattle on the 6th of October. Seattle is a good 8 hours away from Missoula and Oct. 6 is the day before I fly out for my good friend's wedding. A wedding I purposely stayed in the country so long for and a flight that left at 7 a.m. Quite a logistical nightmare. However, thankfully, the kind employees of the Korean visa department allowed me to submit a DVD interview of myself. However, attempting to make said DVD will someday be comical, but in the ridiculous stress of this week it seems not so funny. However, when all is said and done, my visa application and materials were promised by the lovely man at the Missoula United States Post Office to arrive safely by noon tomorrow. Please, visa gods smile upon me.
Next up... vaccinations!!!!