I’ll admit that last night was more of a packing party than a restful night prior to undertaking the biggest journey of my life, but we needed that time together. I went to Shalaina’s yesterday, as reported, and surveyed the Winter Clothes situation. I think I’m in better shape than originally thought. That is, I think I have less than I thought I would. Mom should be happy about that. Oh, mega thanks to Shalaina for splurging on the adaptor for Asia. Why didn’t anyone warn me about these different plugs? We had a lovely steak lunch (niiiice) and visited for a bit before heading back, slightly tipsy, to the Grelliott’s. Alicia and Dave finally returned home from the cottage, shortly after my dad brought my grandparents by for One Last Goodbye. I love that my nonna’s top piece of advice was to, “eat well.” Sure, because what else matters, right? Joelle stayed with her sister until about 10, which was right when Alicia and I were getting home from picking up my trench coat, winter boots (duh…forget much?) and Dairy Queen (of course).
Naturally, being women, we don’t have scales in the house (hello 2000’s), so Alicia had to borrow one from Sharon. So we weighed my suitcases: a whopping 70 and 80 pounds. I called United Airlines to ask about overage fees. Turns out EACH suitcase is fined $350 if it is over 50 pounds (yikes!) or you (or dad, in my case) pay $200 for an additional piece of luggage. Holy cow. So we repacked. Thank god for those vacuum bags: great idea.
Alright, so much of nonno’s wine followed (I can’t believe I drank that) and then it was time for the relaxing bath. Don’t get too prissy on me: Alicia is a nurse after all. So I took my (possibly?) last bath while Alicia did my nails and Joelle sat, slightly uncomfortably assuredly, on the toilet. What a way to spend a Sunday night. Dad was ultra impressed. And then it was time to hit the hay. For two blessed hours.
My mom came over this morning, a little nervous I think. Who wasn’t? I said goodbye to my friends and that was very, very difficult. But hey, we survive, right? I think they’ll all be fine without me :(
Mom drives slowly. I’m not used to that. So I’m getting more and more nervous because of the impending time deadline and the fact that I don’t really know where I am, being that we took the 407 into the airport. Dad and Sandra met us at the airport, bright eyed and bushy tailed. And wouldn’t you know it? My suitcases were still too heavy. We did some intricate moving around using their scale, line growing ever longer behind us (imagine, all four of us, all struggling to make this all work…I thought one of us was just about ready to freak out). In total, I took about 160 pounds of luggage to Korea. Well yeah. I’m moving there.
So then I filled out the US customs form and failed to declare any fruits or nuts, though I was laden with mom’s artfully packed cherries and plums. What a do-do I am. So I had to go through Secondary Inspection (my parents don’t know that part yet) before I could go through Canadian Customs. I was petrified, especially when the gent officer (who was American, accent and all) told me there was a FINE. I just paid my suitcase fee on my Bank of Dad card! I couldn’t pay a fine. So I put on my best “Gee, I’m really sorry, mister” routine and the guy, disgustedly, let me go on without paying. I had to throw out what was left of the cherries, but at least I wasn’t detained. All I could recall was Laura’s terrifying ordeal at the US border when she was off to Washington to volunteer. Please don’t get detained, please don’t get detained. Luckily, crisis was averted.
Thankfully, I found a Starbucks, grabbed a coffee, and sat down to enjoy the free Wi-Fi (later note: it wasn't free, hence the late entry). Everyone is on a PED here…no one is reading anymore. I should get a book and break the trend.
The gate looks busy, people are bustling about, and I have to grab something to eat before I board. As they say, adventures abound. This is super cool.
...So the plane ride to Korea was the most extravagant ride I have ever taken. I was really impressed with the two level arrangement, selection of movies, and lovely man beside me who let me sleep on him. How sweet. I slept pretty much the whole way, only taking breaks to gorge on the amazing (I kid you not) plane food and for bathroom breaks. I tried to stretch and walk around, but I took so much Gravol, I was destined for a long nap.
I arrived in Incheon Airport around 4 pm, right on schedule. And the man who was supposed to be holding the "Alexis Bergamo" sign was literally no where to be found. For an HOUR. When I met the American military gal with the out of place enormous bossom, I was relieved. When she asked me if I was okay, I started to cry. Just a little bit, but that was a tad embarassing. I was fine, but I was scared (duh). And I was a fool to believe that I could plug into the internet to access all my emails and info, so writing down the name and number of my SCHOOL was a waste of paper. What a loser I was. A whopping hour later, the man finally showed up. And it wasn't Mr. Kim, let it be said. And he wasn't shocked about the bags. He just wanted to get me home.
Home was an hour away. In typical Alexis style, as soon as the car turned on, I was fast asleep again. When I awoke, I was surrounded by what could only be described as Carrie Bradshaw's street. GREAT! This was my neighbourhood. Well, it wasn't...we drove about another 10 minutes before pulling into my neighbourhood. It is in the city and my apartment is on the fourth floor of a 6-floor building. And on the first floor? A psychiatric clinic. I kid you not.
So Mr. Kim (at last we meet) showed me upstairs and offered to fix anything that was broken. He switched the lights and air conditioner on, and we were in business. It was strangely quiet and definately sad. I unpacked the pictures I had and put them up immediately. That and the Tofu Magnet mom thought would "brighten the place up". It certainly did. So I did some unpacking, some sorting, and got used to the facts that a) I was living in a shoebox and b) the shower sprays over the whole of the bathroom. The blinds are nice...the waredrobe is big, the kitchen is super cute...and I'm all alone in Asia. Oh my god.
I showered and got dressed, thinking I would go for dinner when, for the fifth time that day, Mr. Kim was knocking at my door. He brought me croissants. CROISSANTS! Are you kidding? Does this man read my MIND? So I tell him I love him and mow down on the food he has kindly provided. I was asleep by about 9. Oh, and I was told when I was dropped off that I was to be picked up in the morning at, get this, 7:15 by the school director. Lovely. So much for that week off.
Morning came and the view looks a lot better in the daylight. He meant 7:50, but they have trouble distinguishing between the numbers. Sigh. So I waited with Mr. Kim. At this point, he has gotten over his Korean shyness and wants to be my 60 year old boyfriend. Sigh.
It is hot and it is only 7:20. Hot, hot, hot. But a car finally pulls up and I'm off to school...
