That’s a Start

A little over 2 weeks ago at 4am I stumbled off my plane and into the Seoul/Incheon International Airport for my second go round here in Korea.  Thanks to the jet lag, i’ve been head bobbing, near passing out around 9pm every night and waking up each morning anywhere from 5:30 to 6:00.  I’ve been starting off each day with a good cry, either soft sobs into my pillow or angry, rage filled tears depending on my level of depression.  Then I begin making manic phone calls to a handful of people from back home.  Eventually, I pull myself together enough to get dressed and make my way to work.  Little did I know that first Monday back, that waking up and crying would be a relatively easy part of my day.

Even after living here for just over a year, i’m still very unschooled in the ways of the Seoul bus system.  The subways are in english, relatively straight forward and difficult to screw up, thus I usually opt for the underground mode of transport, even though at times it’s much more time consuming.  The distance between my new apartment and my new school by subway is a bit of a trek, being that there is no direct route.  So on Sunday before my first day I went around to figure out which bus might provide and easier trip to school each day.  After talking with numerous locals in broken English and a few key phrases in Korean, I found out that the 143 is just about door to door from my apartment to my school.  A couple of the Koreans even muttered phrases about a bus stop called “something something something Ga Apartments”.  Feeling proud of myself, I headed home to watch some episodes of Glee before my 9pm bedtime.

The next morning I woke up and had my cry, which was particularly hysterical because it was my first day back at work. Couple that with my jet-lag and severe emotional comedown from the last two weeks spent in the US and I was quite the mess, but wanting to make a good impression on the first day I pushed though my location induced depression and got ready for school. I  carefully selected my most teacher-esk outfit, shellacked on some waterproof mascara and trotted down to catch the bus.

Once on the bus I found a seat and settled in for the trip across the bridge.  I had been peering out the window looking for things that I recognized when I realized I was on the correct street, if we were to keep on in the same direction we’d run into my school.  I was once again very proud of myself and just as I was mentally patting myself on the back and stroking my ego over my impeccable direction skills, the bus made a right turn down a residential street and I panicked.  Shit. Shit where’s he goin? Nope nope nooope I need to go straight. Ahh I need the bus to go straight. Why are we going this way? Oh god I need to get off before I end up in some other district.  Crap did he just say “apartment”.  Ahh this must be it! Maybe. Ahh. I’m going for it.  And then I bailed off the bus.

Unsure of exactly where I was I check my phone to see what time it was.  It was 8:40.  Twenty minutes to get back on track and find the school.  I assured myself that if I just made it though the wooded residential area, i’d be right by PSA, so I briskly walked down the narrow roads, ignoring the morning traffic and crosswalk attendants, much to their disapproval.  Once out of the wooded area I looked around to see that I recognized absolutely nothing.  More panic.

After checking the time and seeing 8:44 I began to sprint, surely I could not be so far off course.  Wrong.   A minute or so of running in the 90 plus degree heat and 80% humidity, I was near passing out.  I began yelling at random Koreans on the street, pleading to people in cars as they rolled up their windows...

8:46 - “Apgujeong Yuk?! Anyone Apgujeong Yuk?!”
8:47 - “Taxi! TAXI!” Amazing. first day of school and i’m gonna be late. Awesome 
8:48 - “Taxi!!! TAXI! FUCKING TAXI I KNOW YOU SEE ME!”
8:49 - “Anyone Apujeong yuk? Please anyone! Do you know where Apgujeong Station is?!” More running and tears begin to fall.
8:50 - “Please someone! Apgujeong yuk? Apgujeong station? I know you can hear me!” - directed at a Korean businessman who had diverted his eyes.

A short while later I was hunched up against a wall, holding back sobs while I attempted to call my principal and explain the situation, when I realized I had no minutes on my cell phone.  Then, feeling completely defeated, hating everything about my situation, including myself, a kind ajushi with no English phrases under his belt hobbled up and said “apgujeong yuk?” I shook my head and he guided me around the corner to a bus stop.  The 143 bus stop.  The same bus I had been on minutes before and bailed on.

Three stops later and I was at the front door of my new school, red faced, drenched in sweat, puffy eyed and shaking.  Someone was kind enough to hold the elevator, which was packed with children and parents.  That person ended up being Daniel, the person who I would be replacing at PSA--Good morning Lily Class. I’m Lydia Teacher.