Seoul

And now this has officially become an 'experience. I arrived in Seoul at 8 am Chicago time: that's exactly 24 hours after I began this airport adventure. And in the full day of flying I was unable to fall asleep once. This was mainly due to my excitement of an innaugural trip to Asia and also because I had not flown in over 10 years. After waiting in a long immigration line I dearilly watched the bags go round n round and mine were not there. Fucking perfect. So I filled out some papers and left, barely caring that they lost my luggage- I was happy just to be free and on land. Havinig arrived so much later than expected, I was scared there would be no one there waiting for me. A man approached me and, with no English, I began to assume he was there to pick me up and take me somewhere. He knew nothing, but just nodded to every question I asked. Luckilly, I used my Chicagoan sense and concluded that he was just trying to con me in some way. Then, whew, there was my recruitor, CJ and her manic dog. CJ looked much younger than I had expected, but I'd already learned that the rumor was true; all Korean women look 16. She had her dog, Jimmy, on a leash, but it became clear to me that he was actually leading her. And so the dog ran, CJ ran in pursuit, and I took the roll of the kabuse, running to keep pace with them both. Her dog was on my lap, licking my face and I didn't dare tell CJ how allergic to this manic pup I am. How could I, she's the one who got me here? She drove me around Seoul and we discussed, amongst other things, her lack of friends, the drinking problems amongst all my collegues, the political tensions and arrived at the bus station too late; there was no way to get me to Teajeon: my new home. It was now midnight Korean time, and CJ decided it would be best to just put me up in a cheap Seoul hotel and she would rescue me tomorrow. We found Seoul hotel. This was unlike anything you'll ever see in America. We walked through ruins, through abandoned buildings and then the economic scene shifts completely: two glass doors that open at our presence. We walk up a few flights of stairs and I pay 40$ for a room right next to the front desk. When I say a room, I mean a room. Literally I have a door, a sink, a bed and a TV on the bed. No room to even sit up, but I don't care at this point. A bed is heaven. But, the highlight, and all those who know me can imagine how this suprise would make up for all my hardships in the day. I turn on the TV and there it is, the NBA ALL STAR GAME; everything I've been missing and everything I need now. I just watched the end of the game, found Look Who's Talking 2, in English, and everything's fine now. To some I believe this would be scarier than Hell but I think I'm getting a hold of this travelling vibe. Just leave all logic and expectations at home, this is Seoul, the 3rd biggest city in the world, there simply isn't room for my American views.