If you want something you've never had, then you've got to do something you've never done. - Author Unknown
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 (DAY 590)
After confusion with my flight with one of the cheapest and worst rated airlines– China Eastern Air–I am finally on my way back to the homeland of my birthplace Seoul, South Korea. The tumultuous search for locating my birth parents began more than two years ago after being referred by another Korean adoptee, Melissa, who introduced me to, Dillion International, the organization that helped reunite her with her birth mother after her own five-year long search. She was a great help and source of encouragement for all of the information she shared with me regarding the emotions and feelings that only another Korean adoptee can relate too, because growing up you experience all sorts of difficulties that you often keep to yourself because you feel as though others cannot understand nor relate regardless of the circumstances unfortunately. Everything from the racial slurs as a child in school to feelings of inadequacy because of your mixed ethnicity and cultural identity–you never quite truly feel American nor Korean, but there is the feeling as though you are almost rejected by both cultures. I know that times have changed and I was extremely fortunate enough to grow up with a wonderful family with two other Korean adopted sisters, as well with my extended family that never once treated any of us any different and for that I am and will always be thankful to every single one of them for that. Also, I cannot thank my caseworker, Jan Dunn, the Director of the search program based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for all of the long hours, phone calls, and emails that she put in that has got me to the point of today. There are many things that I can say about being a Korean adoptee to a family in the United States, since this was the specific request from my birth mother at the time I was placed with Eastern Social Welfare Services in Seoul, but I will save that for a later entry as I have yet to even step foot in South Korea.
After confusion with my flight with one of the cheapest and worst rated airlines– China Eastern Air–I am finally on my way back to the homeland of my birthplace Seoul, South Korea. The tumultuous search for locating my birth parents began more than two years ago after being referred by another Korean adoptee, Melissa, who introduced me to, Dillion International, the organization that helped reunite her with her birth mother after her own five-year long search. She was a great help and source of encouragement for all of the information she shared with me regarding the emotions and feelings that only another Korean adoptee can relate too, because growing up you experience all sorts of difficulties that you often keep to yourself because you feel as though others cannot understand nor relate regardless of the circumstances unfortunately. Everything from the racial slurs as a child in school to feelings of inadequacy because of your mixed ethnicity and cultural identity–you never quite truly feel American nor Korean, but there is the feeling as though you are almost rejected by both cultures. I know that times have changed and I was extremely fortunate enough to grow up with a wonderful family with two other Korean adopted sisters, as well with my extended family that never once treated any of us any different and for that I am and will always be thankful to every single one of them for that. Also, I cannot thank my caseworker, Jan Dunn, the Director of the search program based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for all of the long hours, phone calls, and emails that she put in that has got me to the point of today. There are many things that I can say about being a Korean adoptee to a family in the United States, since this was the specific request from my birth mother at the time I was placed with Eastern Social Welfare Services in Seoul, but I will save that for a later entry as I have yet to even step foot in South Korea.
Returning back to my horrendously exhausting 14-hour long day and evening that was spent in Suvarnabhumi International Airport or better known as BKK, since the next available flight China Eastern could get me on did not depart until 1:55am. I had debated whether I should take the train back in to the city since it was only a 30-minute trip one-way, but since I had my large backpack I decided to just wait it out wandering around the ticketing terminal, because thankfully they offer free carts for passengers, unlike many airports in the States. Going through bouts of sitting, walking the different levels, and talking with a few other travelers time was passing at the pace of a Colorado State Graduate adding double digits together. Yes, you heard me correctly. Go Buffs! Even sleep deprived and exhausted my sense of humor has yet to fail me, even in my writing. Finally, at 11pm the check-in counter for China Eastern Air begins to light up, even though it is clearly posted that the official check-in counter opens at 11:25pm, but already there is a line forming and I guess that there are at least 40 people already in front of me, and another 80 or more behind me. Ticket in hand I head to the Thai immigration where I am a bit nervous since my tourist visa had expired now by two full days and the repercussion of such an offense is a 500 THB ($16.11) fee for every day that you are over. Southeast Asia is known for their strict behavior when it comes to issues such as these and technically they could have charged me, but when they questioned it and I explained that since we are at an airport and there was confusion with bumping my flight I was all set to depart your country on the expected date and this would not have been an issue. Fortunately, he was understanding gave me my exit stamp and I was off to clear security and find something to eat before the four-hour flight to Shanghai. Once we boarded the plane, in typical Bangkok fashion, a torrential downpour accompanied by a massive lightning storm ensued and we found ourselves waiting on the tarmac for nearly 90-minutes. I began to get a little nervous since I knew I only had a two-hour window to transfer flights in Shanghai (PVG) and since I had never been to this airport, let alone China, I didn’t know what to expect. By the time we landed and the fasten seat belt light was turned off, I checked the time and I should have been boarding my flight to Seoul at that exact moment! Sprinting past passengers after disembarking the plane I didn’t realize I would have to clear a Chinese security checkpoint even though I was not leaving this specific terminal but in transit with the same airline. Thankfully this was done quickly and I made it just in time to jump on the bus that shuttles you across the tarmac to where your flight awaits you. This was very interesting since it was a ten-minute ride on a crowded bus without any seats as we passed large planes that were being taxied to runways. Talk about a one-sided traffic accident if this were to ever occur. Since I was in such a rush I hadn’t noticed that the air was crisp and cool, a large difference from the sweltering sweatbox of Bangkok, and this made me smile as it reminded me of Colorado autumns.
Too excited to sleep and having the luxury of a window seat, I watched as we passed several islands before our approach in to Incheon International Airport, which for seven years in a row (2005–2012), it was rated the best airport worldwide by the Airports Council International. I landed just after 12:30pm local time. Since I had already made plans to CouchSurf with Adam, a Canadian English teacher that has been living in Seoul for the past eight-years, and he wouldn’t be off work until after 6:45pm I knew I had plenty of time to kill. Having excellent directions from Adam of how to get to his neighborhood in the city, I hopped on the subway and only had one transfer to make. The 90-minute ride was so comfortable that through my lack of sleep in the past 48 or more hours I fell asleep and awoke only one station past where I was supposed to transfer. Whew, that was close. Since it was still early afternoon as I walked outside of the Noksapyeong subway station I found a small local coffee shop called, Chansbros, to drop my bag and relax with some much needed caffeine. Since I was loitering for hours at this incredibly relaxing spot I began talking with the owner, Chan and his wife. They obviously saw my backpack and began asking me questions and after telling them that not only had I been backpacking for almost 20 months, but was specifically in South Korea to be reunited with my birth mom for the first time they were very excited for me and I knew that I had already made my first set of new local friends. Since they had lived in a variety of States in the U.S. their English was impeccable and we talked in to the evening.
Before I knew it, right on schedule, Adam showed up just after 7pm. After telling Chan and his wife goodbye and that I was sure I would see them again tomorrow, Adam had already picked up one of my backpacks and we headed out in the slight cold for the ten-minute walk to his apartment. On the walk we exchanged a bit about one another, which I know for many people outside of the CS community seems odd, since we literally just met in-person less than five-minutes before and are learning about one another as I’m staying at his place for the next few nights. I’ve found that trust is a trait I’d rather continue to value rather than one of being skeptical and full of doubt.
Before I knew it, right on schedule, Adam showed up just after 7pm. After telling Chan and his wife goodbye and that I was sure I would see them again tomorrow, Adam had already picked up one of my backpacks and we headed out in the slight cold for the ten-minute walk to his apartment. On the walk we exchanged a bit about one another, which I know for many people outside of the CS community seems odd, since we literally just met in-person less than five-minutes before and are learning about one another as I’m staying at his place for the next few nights. I’ve found that trust is a trait I’d rather continue to value rather than one of being skeptical and full of doubt.
On the way to his place he asked if I was hungry, which of course I was, and he told me that a group of friends were meeting at a restaurant where I could get my first experience of authentic Korean BBQ. How to explain it? Well it’s pretty much like eating rainbows it was so delicious. Just examine the photo because words can’t express how unbelievable it tasted. Our gluttonous group consisted of Tracy, an English teacher from Kansas and her Korean boyfriend JKwon as well as Matt, who surprise surprise is also an English teacher that is a self-proclaimed army brat that told me he really didn’t have a place he considered to be home in the States. Returning back to Adam’s apartment around 10:30pm, I hit his couch and within seconds I was fast asleep. In all honesty, I was surprised I had made it through dinner without falling asleep face first into the center grill, but all in all it was a great first day in Seoul.
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