33 hours after leaving in Atlanta, I made it to Chuncheon!

So, I made it!!! And, with only one suitcase…here’s me before we left for the Atlanta airport at 3:00 am.

It was really tough going through security and leaving Doe behind. Of course, I am sad to just leave everything behind, but I just wish that we could share this amazing experience together. We’ve done and seen so many amazing things the past 3 years, it feels weird to head out alone. But, I did and I’m looking forward to the next 12 + months.

Yesterday afternoon I boarded Asiana Airlines from LAX...a little bit of a delay, but nothing worth complaining about. At first I hadn’t heard of Asiana Airlines, so I deemed them Korean Air Tran…not true. After browsing the Asiana website, I had high hopes. "Flying with Asiana Airlines will give you indefinite pleasure. Feel a rest on the sky with various movies, music, and games of your preferences." Yes, I'm always game for indefinite pleasure, and resting on the sky sounds like fun.
Keep in mind, the past 2 times I’ve flown to Asia, I flew first class thanks to my Dad’s 2389278364839102 frequent flier miles, but this time, the school paid for my airfare, so no first class. I’m used to eating out real china and a seat that turns into a bed, but I have to give it to Asiana Airlines, it was one of the best flight experiences I've ever had for the following reasons:

1. A lot of leg room…always important for talk people like me.

2. Impossibly friendly flight attendants

3. The ridiculous movie and music selection…you could choose from 14 international blockbuster hits…I watched Inception and Eat Pray Love…strategically chose “Long Distance” and “Killers” for dozing off to. If you haven’t seen the latter two, good choice, but Inception and Eat, Pray, Love might be worth it. And, my favorite part, they had full albums to choose from…of course I chose Usher and the Korean pop sensation, Rain!

3. The warm wash cloth rolled and placed gently in your hand by tong wielding, impossibly friendly flight attendants…I got these in first class, but was really excited about having one in coach!

4. Gift bags. Sort of like the kind they give away at the Oscars except instead of an iphone and a gift card to Saks, I got a travel toothbrush and synthetic socks…and the best part- slippers, so I could take off my flats that were becoming increasingly more uncomfortable as my feet swelled from sitting for 13 hours.

5. The food was seriously good...and explanatory. I ordered the traditional bi-bim-bap which is an assortment of vegetables mixed with rice, sesame oil, and red pepper paste. The happy consumer (me) is responsible for mixing the vegetables, rice, sesame oil, and red pepper paste together. As this sort of responsibility can be intimidating for beginning bi-bim-bap eaters, the meal came with a how-to guide offering helpful tips on creating the "greatest harmony" of flavors. Here’s what it looked like..the tube is the red pepper paste…use as little or as much as you like!

After more bad movies, Usher, and Rain that I could handle I finally landed. We were a bit delayed, so I had to catch the last bus to Chuncheon for the night at 9:30. After a 2.5 hour bus ride, I made it. Mr. Lim (the Director for The Avalon School where I will be teaching) picked me up at the bus terminal. Snow from the day before still dusted to roads and the air was a bitterly cold 23 degrees.

I had big plans for last night…get un packed in my new apartment, hang up pictures, hang up clothes…but, nope. My apartment is currently occupied by another English teacher- Steve from Canada and he will not be leaving until December 23rd. My temporary studio isn’t too bad…everything I need.

Bed…I made it my own, by adding my purple fleece blanket…you know I have to have my fleece.


Kitchen…not sure if I’ll use this one…it will be annoying enough relocating my luggage, let alone food.





Bathroom…yes, that shower head over the sink is my shower…coming from Thailand where my first shower was a spicket on my balcony, I’ll take it.




Fridge…stocked with OJ…I think that’s what it is and Pepsi.

Now, I’m off to explore and find some breakfast…