"Deep breathe" I think to myself while clutching the Virgin Mary necklace my mother bestowed to me many years ago. After a nearly 13 hour plane, we have finally landed in Incheon Airport, it's about 16:30 (4:30PM), still thinking about the 2 hour journey I still have ahead of me to reach my housing complex.
I try my best not to look like such a tourist, but a quick look around the customs line and I make note of something.
1) Kpop music videos are freaking hilarious to watch, seriously try watching a kpop music video with no sound. Hysterical. 2) it's ridiculously easy to spot the americans in any setting.
I am not sure why America didn't get the memo but people from other countries hopped off their planes straight flexing rocking Polo, Diesel, Armani, whereas the Americans were rocking their dad's favorite sweatpants. I get it, I traveled 19 hours to get to Korea so I was a bum too but there is a way to make bummy look good.
I was sporting Adidas soccer pants, blue tee shirt, and black vans. Simple, stylish, and not expensive either. I'm not saying we need to hop off the plane looking like models but I'm just saying H&M has good clearance deals and some weekends you can get some articles of clothing for $8. I got a powder blue oxford shirt from Target for a good deal, so just look harder. Anything is better than this one group I saw at the airport I dubbed as the "Football coach/History teacher squad" this group of older men dressed down in faded wrangler blue jeans, New balance sneaks, and Pittsburgh Steeler superbowl T-shirts from the XLIII game. It was so American it hurt.
After nearly 2 hours, I finally make it thru customs and have my luggage, almost immediately I am overwhelmed by the immensity of how congested the airport bus/taxi area was. I walk around a bit debating if I am up for a 2 hour bus ride, finally I accept that I am just too tired and hail a taxi.
2 hours later and I am left in the street with my suitcases in hand, trying to recall the directions that were emailed to me by the apartment complexes building manager. After 20 minutes of aimlessly wandering I finally find my Goshiwon, which if you don't know what that is, it's basically a walk in closet with a mattress, toilet and shower/sink all in one. They are cheap and mostly used by people who are only staying somewhere briefly but lately they are becoming more popular with students.
In truth, I was not expecting this place to be so small, but for about $320 a month I can't complain, plus I plan on spending most of time at school or exploring. Also, the building provides cleaning supplies, Kimchi, and wifi so it's kind of a sweet deal.
Unpacking my bags, I pull out one of my prized possessions, unwrapping it hastily praying it wasn't damaged during the flight. A mini statue of the Virgin Mary, a gift from my mother when I was 6, it's not particularly special I recall her purchasing it in Mexico from a street vendor for about 20 pesos, it's just plastic, glitter, and paint but it means the world to me. I hold it close to my heart and place it over my window so she can watch over me as she always has.
I should also mention that I have been exploring around the city and I stumbled upon my school. Let me just say...damn. This place looks like a freaking castle like Super Mario World 8 final Dungeon Bowsers castle kind of building. I look forward to more ventures.
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