So, apparently, I told Zoe that we would meet her at 11 when I meant 12. But, we found her. We walked to Kukkiwon with our luggage and of course it is hidden in the back and up a hill. I was able to see where people train and compete but no one was there to watch. The museum was closed but I was happy to have stepped into the stadium of Kukkiwon. Then, while going to meet Zoe, I saw a store for TKD and bought some martial art souvenirs. We went to the tea shop and decided that we wanted food. So, I decided to just walk, and hoped to find a place- I really wanted rice cakes. I don’t remember what I got for lunch.
We saw a few more things and then the ladies took me to the transfer point for the train for the airport. I didn’t have a map so they wanted to make sure I got to the destination. And then another hour to the airport. Sleep time. At the airport, I toured the museum and found me some rice cakes that came in a cute bag. I got on my flight and left the beautiful land of South Korea. Kamsamida for a great time!
9.5 hours to Vancouver. I studied. The food was not too good; actually it tasted old except for the fruit and some bread. So, I only had a little bit. I watched movies! In Vancouver, I didn’t eat but studied. About a 3 hour layover. I caught my flight and forgot that I would have to pay for food. So I ate one rice cake, and bought hummus and crackers. Upon landing in Toronto, I asked the lady at my exit for my ticket. Oh FYI, I had to get all my transfer tickets at each layover spot. In Vancouver, I had to go through a long line of customs but they weren’t as rude with their questions. I helped another girl get to her destination in the airport. Anyways, at Toronto, the lady was nice and gave me my ticket for the flight but I had to still check in my bags. I found a place to chill as I landed at 2230 and my flight departs next day at 8:30. Gate 17 is an area where people can chill until their flight. There was a whole bunch of people sleeping. I saw a guy walking with subway so I asked him where it was. He gave me directions and told me it was in this open area. I have good directional skills and found the place despite his inability to provide direction. I waited patiently and ordered my food with chips- no drink as I had water. I couldn’t even finish it; I got full. I stayed up the whole night! I studied and watched martial art movies. I went to check-in around 5:30. Thank goodness because security was long and I was selected for the “special” more in depth security. At least I knew in advance (they told me when I got my boarding ticket). Check-in gave me another flight ticket so I just used that one; wasn’t paper-looked more formal. I talked to a guy who also flew in from Korea. He didn’t like the heat from Korea (he was Korean). It was pretty hot in Korea, but it was fun.
I felt so icky so I freshened up after security. I waited for an hour and almost missed my flight b/c I was so sleepy; I tried to watch Full House but I almost crash-actually I think I was asleep. I woke up in time and caught my flight. In the flight, I just slept. I landed in BWI. I changed/freshened up again. I took the bus to the train station. Got there in the nick of time to catch my train. Met some girls who were touring DC area and we chatted about backpacking. It was about 45 minutes to an hour to Union Station in DC. I helped someone else figure out the maps of the metro in DC. I took the red line to the blue line and then slept on the blue line home. I got to Franconia, no sister. I looked for a payphone-none. I asked a lady if I could use her cell- she said she doesn’t have one (yea right; she was just nervous because I had all my bags and looked horrible after a 30 hour trip home). I waited for a bus, too long. I walked 20 minutes up the street to my mom’s workplace with people all looking at me like I was crazy. My mom called my sister; I told her to meet me at Z pizza. I ordered food and gave the guy two coupons. He discounted me so that I only had to use one; so nice. I had put my bags at a table and then two guys just occupied it. I moved my stuff and they apologized for taking my seat. My sister came. I ate two slices of pizza and went home. I unpacked, and drifted to sleep. Woke up again in the middle of the night; stayed up till about three am and then, slept. I woke up again at 9:30/10. I wouldn’t make it in time for my friend’s wedding. I was so sad. L.
I did try to get back into routine slowly to get my hours of sleep and awake back to normal. It took 2 weeks to get over the jet lag. Korea is 13 hours ahead.
So themes of this trip:
Taz and I lost each other all the time.
We were always lucky by being the last one on board or to get the seats.
We always took the wrong exits of the Subway and thereby get lost or have to take long walks to find our way.
Now, I eat breakfast without noise and meditate in the
mornings. I also go on a lot of
walks. I love it!
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