Public Restrooms

[[sometime within my 1st week]]

Got a prepaid phone AND unlocked my phone myself! Had forgotten what freedom felt like. I definitely took for my phone for granted back home.I always knew where I was going. My aunt and I separate ways now that I can roam as I please. I venture out on the bus and metro to Yongsan where I need to purchase an universal electric jack plug thing. I may have just made up that word to describe a converter I need to plug in my computer, camera battery charger, curling iron and phone charger. So as you can see, this little plastic thing could not be more valuable to me.
As I'm on this conquest, I'm feeling mighty good- finding the right buses and reading all the signs. I could not be doing better. With a phone in hand, I've begun calling other friends in other cities to fix dates. I'm really doing it! I'm on my own, getting around with such ease former travel-only-with-a-buddy Grace would be proud! I might as well have been born here, or raised here!! At a station, I figure I oughta check to see if the public restroom is clean. Turns out Korea masters cleanliness. There's nothing that can convince me I may be finding things a little too easy, at this point.
Imagine my dismay when I saw this.

This is a toilet. It's kind of like a urinal, only installed horizonally in the ground. This is not a restroom for males. This is, however, the reason why my 11 year old self avoided using bathrooms while out and about. I mean, most girls squat anyway in any public bathroom but this requires a deeper squat. Don't worry, I've gotten better at knowing which restrooms have standard Western toilets. On a sidenote, I wonder how I appeared to passerby as I took this pic.

A Saturday off in Seoul

6.21

I walk the streets and it feels surreal. Food is good and cheap. It's hard not to look for ways to just "treat myself". Walked around Hongdae, a really kitsch culture hub filled with good eats, street fairs, trendy dessert spots, wall murals, fashion, underground music and art festivals.  

 Met EunJin in Seoul for DakGalBi. 

Back home, I hardly ever take a Saturday off. Being on vacation, I have a valid excuse to take it all in. Still, it's starting to let a little old as I've been away from home 4 weeks now.

I am trying to keep my focus on personal study before I can get a phone and make service arrangements and then to get busy in field service. It should be my focus, anyway but not knowing whether I will be here for 3 months or 6 or a year can be quite anxiety inducing. When my working papers come through, I can support myself tutoring privately, unless I get that elementary school teaching job I interviewed for back in the States. If so, I would have a set income and a set list of expenses but if I don't get the job, I have no real reason to keep a one year commitment to staying here. In that case, I would have to find enough work to get by which wouldn't be so bad either. So as you can see, things are quite up in the air. 

Trying to Get Responsible...

6/20

Last night, I was able to attend the meeting. I got the addressed from JW.ORG and even found out there was weeknight meeting locally held in Korean which also hosted a English speaking group. (It's not a language class; it's the same meeting as the religious services being held in Korean, only held simultaneously to provide services for the multi-language population in the area.)

My aunt dropped me off as she doesn't care much for religion. We agree that I'll call her using someone's phone at the end of the meeting if I need for her to come pick me up afterwards. Even she knew that it was likely a fellow believer would offer me a ride home once they knew I were visiting. NOW, as unsafe as that may sound, and as cautious as I am, that's just how trustworthy I've found fellow Jehovah's Witnesses to be. I know I've done the same back home.

Only....Guess what? I had left the notebook with my aunt's number and home address in it at home! HA! Not very responsible. It was quite embarrassing making all these new acquaintances and explaining my situation. Some cool couples wanted to take me for a cup of coffee/tea. But I was afraid my aunt and her husband would worry as I had no way of contacting them to not wait for me(which, realistically, I knew they would do anyway).

As the two young Korean couples stood in the parking lot discussing which cafes were open and then postponing those plans altogether, a petite elderly sister(fellow believers are considered spiritual family) approaches me. She goes "Do you have a way to get home?" "Yes, I do, I'm grateful for your concern." (Btw, of course this interaction is all in Korean. It's so much cuter that way.) "Well, I'm glad because my kids are spread all over the place and when I visit my family, I just find my way to any Kingdom Hall on the website and never miss my meetings. It doesn't matter if I've never been to that part of Korea before. So I know that feeling when you wonder how you'll get home. I've been there. I was going to take you to my house if you didn't have a place to spend the night."

She was so sweet and adorable, I won't forget her face.

So I once again, I accepted the hospitality of some wonderful friends who pieced together where I need to go based on the measly clues I gave them. They solved the mystery. Literally, all I had to share was....it took only about 10 minutes to get here and the apartment complex is called "Switzen". (go ahead, try saying that in a Korean accent and being understood. I was glad this couple frequents London.)

I did, however, have a memo of the security code at the entrance of the building( there's no guard on staff in these apts in Korea) and the code at the door. I only felt half-relieved to be home, though. I was glad I made it but half sad I couldn't associate more.

* The most annoying thing about this mini-adventure is that I actually did have a copy of the address in safe keeping in another compartment in my bag. WOW, yay me.

 This is such a cultural thing. There was additional elevated seating area in the back room. The friends took their shoes off.

Everything Is Exciting and Interesting 6/18

Arrived 6/17

So as far as acclimating to the 10 hour time difference, it has not been too bad. I've learned the trick is absolutely torturing yourself the first day. Strictly no naps, even if that means being around people like a complete lifeless, personality-less weirdo. The new people you may meet and the old friends you haven't seen in awhile will forgive whatever slip-ups you make. Blame it on the ah-ah-ah-ah-ah... jetlag. This is the only chance you get to say inappropriate things. 
In all seriousness, I was so glad my good friend EunJin came out to meet me at the airport. It was like being immediately transported two years back when she was out in the States to learn ASL and English in Brooklyn. Got right back into the swing of things and caught up over the 1.5 hour ride to my non-JW aunt's house. She's a darling. I would have otherwise had to take public transportation in a new country to a temporary home in the outskirts of GeongGiDo, all by myself! 

It starting raining once we got in the car. I was told to expect lots of rain but I wasn't prepared for it quite on the first day! It's been pretty muggy weather wise. I'll be doing a lot of running back and forth to Seoul these upcoming days, trying to get my working papers sorted out. Hopefully tomorrow I can get a phone so I can make service plans with the local hall.

Out to dinner with my Aunt and her husband. Korean BBQ in resort-style lodges. She thought I wouldn't want to sit outside!

Neng-myun and Galbi and Soju was the way I wanted my stay to start off.