First Impression of Seoul

Mommy and sister are here! I was so excited to see them; I went three months without seeing them, and I was bored here for a minute since the lasik, so I missed them more than I thought I’d ever would!

My aunt, cousin, and I picked them up from the airport Thursday (August 22, 2013) morning, and after the initial shock of seeing my family was over, we got to the really important things. PRESENTS.

I got so much presents! Jackets, pants, sweaters, shirts, shoes!

With a newly energized battery, I headed out to Seoul! I guess I got too caught up with my mom and sister because I missed my train. I managed to find a train that left 30 minutes later, so I got to Seoul around the time I expected to arrive.

After my arrived to my future home, I got to my metro station in front of Yonsei. With a book bag and three days worth of clothes, I started my journey to the International House (I-House). It was so fucking hot, so hot that I sweated through my pants. Not only is it hot, the dorm was so fucking far! I struggled to find the dorm, so when I finally found my future home; I was drenched in sweat AKA not cute… Not a good first impression Seoul.

This new dorm of mine is a traditional one with all the floormates using one bathroom. It’s not as uncomfortable as I thought. I took a shower and got myself freshened up. No matter how cold my shower is there is still sweat running down my face. You have to have the room key inserted at all times for the room to run the AC, so it takes a while for it to cool down. The only place with consistent AC is the common room. I decided only way to cool down is to sit there and chill out.

There I met other students from different universities all over the world! I mean all over! Germany, Italy, Cali, Michigan, and more, I was the Atlanta hoodrat! We did the usual introductions and hellos. We are all in the process of getting to know one another because well, we don’t know anyone!

I slipped out of the dorm to grab dinner with an old CSP friend, Jacob! It was nice seeing an old friend in such a new place for me; this was my first time in Seoul. After pizza and a beer, we sat for a coffee and talked about our travels! He’s going to Hong Kong (well he’s there now).

I came back to the dorm and still my roommate was not checked in… Do I have the room to myself? Nope because he just texted today, August 26, 2013, and he told me that he is my roommate.

Moving on, that night, I met some more people, and we decided to start our abroad program right. Party it up! We went out to explore and got to know the bar scene and restaurants near the Yonsei Campus! It was cute!

We came back at 2am, and after a shower, I was asleep. When I woke up I was ready for orientation! I don’t know why because the auditorium was hot, and all I heard was blah blah blah… We met couple other people during orientation though. I met a girl from Emory and another from Georgia Tech!

We went on break from the orientation for lunch. It's getting hard to keep up with all the people I've met on this day, but let's say it's not few. A group of us headed back to the orientation. Nothing changed, I still heard blah blah blah, so we headed back to the dorms to get ready to go out! We decided to sign up for the mentor program before heading out to dinner, and we went out for dinner! After what seems to be a couple pitchers of beer, soju (Korean liquor), and chicken, we headed to a place called Bar Fly. We got too turnt, and it was as if I step back into CSP 2013. Twerking and all.

Some people were ready for round 15, but I was sort of done; I have get back to mommy and sister for the week!

This time I didn’t miss the KTX to Busan! 

I don't have any pictures... I will take them soon don't worry. I just need a little break from tourist life...

This is Some Boring Stuff...

Okay here’s the thing, hot doesn’t describe the places where I’ve been… Busan/Yangsan has had record break temperature this summer. China issued the second highest heat alert across the country… What the fuck! I felt the coolest summer in Atlanta for this shit! Why is it so damn hot?

I just want to go outside for an adventure, but I don’t want the sole of my shoes to melt on the asphalt! Along with the heat, there is an energy shortage in South Korea. Ummmmmm one of the most IT savvy country in the world is running out of electricity, so now most public buildings must keep their buildings at only 28 degree Celsius… I’m not going to convert this… Just know it’s hot!!!

So malls, shopping centers, grocery stores, banks, and government buildings are so hot! Too hot! Home is the only escape, so I stay home. I eat, sleep, watch TV, Skype family, and eat some more. I got fat, and not like "oh you put on a couple pounds", no bitch its like, "Damn gurl, you been eatin huh?" Also, I got so bored that I scrapbooked my entire China Summer Program, and Bangkok trip. My brilliant idea is to scrapbook the year of my adventure!

Staying home gives me a lot of time to think… I’ve been thinking too much I think…

Had my first real meltdown since leaving home. Yesterday (August 17, 2013), marks exactly 3 months since I left for my year long adventure… I think my meltdown was triggered by the scrapbooking… I really just wanted to go home and see my friends! Annie, a dear friend of mind, was having her going away party. She’s closing this chapter of her life in Atlanta, and is moving back to New York City… I couldn’t even be there to say good-bye. I really love you Annie, I'm proud to have not only met you, but call you one of my best friends! There are other things that plagued my mind, which makes me very sad. How people are getting together for school partying it up one last time, the Atlanta Rainbow Trout getting their bronze medal at IGLA (congrats BTW), how much I miss loved ones, and more. I just really wanted to go home. I’d hoped that I would go to bed and wake up in Duluth. I want to hug and laugh with my friends and family, I want to live the regular life I lived before I started traveling, and I want to be completely comfortable! These are the things I want! I felt as though I made a mistake in going abroad for such a long period of time. It is just so different from what I expected of myself and of this trip. I thought I was just more equipped to do this. I just thought it would be so much easier I guess. Thank god for facebook chat and Eric Reynolds, I leaned on him for moral support, and he help me out of some real dark shit. I woke up today feeling better. I told myself that I am truly blessed, lucky, and fortunate to have these experiences! This is just the quiet before the storm. Before of my mom and sister coming to see me, before the school year starts, before I start traveling again, and before it’s over. I understand now that this is hard; being away from friends, family, the people you love, and it will get harder, but it will get easier too.

On a happier note, I’m getting a shit ton of presents when my sister and mom comes!!! YAY WINNING!

I know I'll give you perceptions of this country.

My current perception of this country is this… I don’t have one. Perceptions are not the way to experience the culture. I’m just going to let you read all the experiences I have, and you can judge for yourself!

I know the current content is kinda boring, but it’ll get better once I start getting busy! It’s just how I feel right now.

Just a lot of reflections. 

My Awesome/Boring Life in Korea!

It’s been a minute since I wrote on the blog, so here is my life so far. After my trip to Bangkok, it has been really quiet. I had some dental work and lasik surgery (August 6, 2013), so basically all I did was eat and sleep since my trip to Bangkok. My perception of lasik was far from the truth… I thought it was just an easy surgery, and the next day I could go on with my life like I didn’t before the surgery. The recovery time for lasik is about a month long! I’m not allowed to drink or swim for a month. No swimming is not much of an issue (I just get fat), but what is this the 1920s and 30s? Prohibition is a thing now! I CAN’T DRINK FOR A MONTH. That rule was simply broken this Wednesday (August 14, 2013). I got hammered with my cousin and her future husband (Super excited that I get to go to a wedding while I’m here). We haven’t seen each other for 8 years; I was in middle school the last time we saw each other, and now, we are pouring each other’s Soju. Next thing we know, we are singing karaoke, and my cousin is blackout. Don’t judge, this is Korea, everyone karaokes. I haven’t drunk since Bangkok; I still got it!

I was not allowed out of the house for one week after my lasik, and I couldn’t wash my hair or face for 3 days… Really think about your life and the changed you have to endure before you have this life changing surgery!!! Hahaha but now I can see clearly! Totally worth it!

I’ve met couple expats here, and they shared some of the stories (their experiences and perception of South Korea). These stories are interesting ones, but I believe my perception and experiences will differ from a lot of people’s, both locals and expats. I’m really excited to venture on my own and get to know this/my country. I’m also now ready to fucking travel!!!!!

I’m keeping myself busy with friends and family! I met my niece (9 years old) and nephew (10 years old) for the first time ever! Well sorta, my nephew, the older one, I saw him when he was just born, so he has no memory of me even holding him. So to win them over, I managed to spoil them with a large Lego sets for both of them! My wallet is significantly lighter. That’s the reason why I started teaching English at my cousin’s after school academy to help both of us out. She could use the business, and I could use the wage.

This is basically my life so far! Oh my mommy and sister are coming in 4 days, and I’m super excited to see them! This is the longest I’ve gone without seeing my mom and sister! They are showering me with gifts!

I’ll do another blog post soon about my current perception of South Korea before I even step foot in Seoul! It’ll be a more local perspective!

I Had the Weirdest Dream (Part 3)

Okay so here we are… Sunday (July 28, 2013), I spent the whole day with Kraivin and his dad! We went around the outskirts of Bangkok. We went to a local temple where we prayed and went around and saw the art works. It was just so nice not being there with all the tourists and market sellers. I prayed for good fortunes, a healthy family, and more (I have a lot of wishes). Haha

Then, we proceeded to lunch to a nice restaurant and had a fantastic meal! Screw you American Thai food! You are nothing like the actually Thai food! We drove a little ways out after the meal, and went to the Ancient City of Bangkok! It was like all other things in the city, beautiful, wonderful, and magical. We drove and walked around for couple hours and then headed over to the world’s largest crocodile farm. There we saw the show where the performer stuck his head into a crocodile’s mouth! I was scared out of my mind. The show was done in about 30 minutes, and Kraivin and I just toured around some and fed the crocodiles and saw other animals. It was basically a zoo.

Came back home and freshened up, and the whole family and me went out for dinner! Dinner did not fall short of taste, like lunch, it was fantastic! I ate till I could not eat anymore! There we discussed with the entire family what Kraivin and I were planning on doing that night. We are going to Patpong! From the parents, we heard it’s a dangerous street, full of gangs and mafias…

The reason we needed to go to this road was for their infamous Ping Pong show (Google it)…

We headed out for Patpong at 10pm, and it was a relatively short ride to it from Kraivin’s house. As soon as we hopped out of the cab, a guy asked, “You want shows, massage, girls, boys, what?”

I just needed to lose this guy so that I can get some $$$$$ out of the ATM. I never feel comfortable pulling money out near places like this. We find the ATM pretty close, but hidden enough for my to stash $$$$$ into another pocket.

Now we talk to the guy. Ping Pong show is in a club called wait for it… Super Pussy… I mean what else can it be called… Dull Pussy?? I think not.

We proceeded in, and we paid our cover of 300 baht, roughly $10. We sat down, and the strippers attacked Kraivin for money because we need to tip on top of cover to sit there… The strippers looked terrible… I mean nasty, bad, just bad… They were bigger ladies with stretch marks and under bellies as if they had just given birth. I don’t know how long ago, but recent that’s for sure… (I feel really bad writing this…)

I grabbed a beer that came with the cover to ease my nerves. I felt so out of place and so uncomfortable, but it was a must see and do thing in Bangkok, so I went with it. The ladies kept trying to touch and massage us (I shooed them away, you know I’m good at that), and they kept haggling us for tips. Every second they were asking for a 100 baht for a good show, what the fuck is a good show? This is when trouble starts.

Kraivin asks, “Young, you think it’s a bad idea to bust out my 1000 baht? I only have this bill.”

As I start to contemplate the idea, I see a stripper from the corner of my eyes. For mature audience only, she was on her back, knees bend, and pelvis up, with a cigarette in her hand near her vagina. This stripper was puffing a smoke with her vagina! WITH HER VAGINA!

After I thought about it, it was too late. Kraivin whipped out this 1000 baht, and they were so happy! We told them we need 900 baht back! I don’t think they heard us right… He gets back a 700 baht and a Ping-Pong paddle. Yes, it went there. He was at the end of the stage, and the performer in the middle. She gets on down on her knees, splashed some water onto her hands, and places it under her from the back; I guess this is an aiming mechanism… With a popping sound that I can never forget, a Ping-Pong ball launches out; Kraivin with the paddle couldn’t even react because it was so fast. The ball made it to the back wall where two guys were sitting… They threw in the towel when water and Ping-Pong ball hit too close for comfort. I motioned to Kraivin, “Let’s go!” I was beyond nervous at this point. The strippers are still attacking me with massages and tip bucket, and next thing you know, another ball is launched, it didn’t know the same force as the first one, but it managed to get people’s attention still. Another one launched, so 100 baht gets you a swing for a Ping-Pong ball at the Ping Pong show. Duly noted…

It was like watching 100 train wrecks at once. I don’t know which one to focus on. Next thing I know, Kraivin’s wallet is in another women’s hand and she takes out a tip. What can he get now? His shirt is already wet from the Ping- Pong balls, and we saw a lady puff a cigarette with her vagina. What’s next? One stripper pulls lei from her vagina. I thought, “Okay, this is somewhat normal…”, but I was wrong. She give throws the end she pulled to Kraivin. I yell, “Don’t touch that!” Too late.

The attendants motioned for him to pull, and he did, and he kept on going and going… It looked to be 4 meters long, maybe longer. At that point, I had to get to safety; the strippers with massages and tip buckets were attacking Kraivin, and I couldn’t do anything but flee. Fuck No Man Gets Left Behind. They closed him in at the end of the stage, and wouldn’t let him leave, so he spoke some Thai. They let him go after that. Moments later, Kraivin joins me outside of Super Pussy, and we discuss what happened. I told him not to put his hand in his mouth or in his eyes.

We were traumatized… I couldn’t believe what I just witnessed…

We both walked around Patpong for a minute recollect ourselves, and decided for a causal drink at a gay bar down the road. I know! Kraivin was so traumatized that a gay bar was a comfort zone.

Getting to a quiet gay bar was no easy task, along the way we were harassed many times for ladies, men, girls, boys, massage, prostitutes, and whatever else you can imagine. After walking a bit I could tell we were approaching a gay area, we were walking a guy tells us it’s a male strip club. I looked to Kraivin, and he looked at me. I told him, “Let’s peep our head in.”, and we did. A skinny Thai gay with a massive hard-on swinging it in at the end of the stage, and I said, “Let’s not…”

We finally got to the bar that seemed normal; we grab a beer and relaxed and talked about the fuckery of the night.

Mind the time, we left the house at 10pm, and we are chillin out at 11:45pm…

After we saw some creepy guys at the bar macking on the workers at this bar, we decided its time for home. We have to wake up early tomorrow to go to the beach, and that’s what we did Monday (July 29, 2013). We went to Pattaya to have a beach day to cap off my Bangkok trip.

I hopped on a flight at 2am Tuesday (July 30, 2013), and I was in Busan 7 hours later.

What I saw in Bangkok for good or for bad cannot be unseen… ever… for life… Hope the girls are safe…

Thanks Kraivin and the Chayangpath family!