day 3 - visa stuff and quest for cell service

visa appointment was at 10,

so started the day around 8:30.

the us embassy is in front of Gwanghwamoon, so off I go.

the statue of King Sejong the Great is a new addition to my eyes,

but it's already showing signs of age.

went to the embassy to find out that my ID picture is too old (~1 year),

and I had forgotten to print one paper that they required.

I did know that the ID picture was too old, but I hoped to slip by.

the fact that the same picture was in my year-old passport didn't help.

getting a new picture taken was no problem--there were a bunch of shops in front of the embassy for people like me.

got a picture hastily taken.

I don't think I'll be using the other 5 copies.

now, printing was more pain than I imaged.

last time I came to Korea, the place was filled with PC rooms.

it seems that's not the case anymore,

with every kid in the block having internet-connected smartphones.

had to walk around everywhere and finally found a bookstore that had a printing service.

anyways, got myself back to the embassy.

interview was a breeze.

----------------------------------------------

once that was done, began to try getting some cell service.

I noticed a "olleh square" (something like an apple store for kt) on my way to the embassy,

so headed there.

tried to get a prepaid sim card,

then landed on a problem--

they needed identification, and my passport,

which currently is my only form of official identification in Korea,

was just handed to the US embassy for visa stamping.

I tried to give them my national identification card,

but apparently that doesn't work because the number was invalidated.

so cell service today.

and until I get my passport back..

day 2 - college church people and the han river

off to meet people I met in church during college.

they're all living in Korea right now--

either started working in Korea or transferred to a Korean college.

went to Apgujeong.

went to this place that made some awesome "hot pepper poppers" (filled with beef!)

then walked to the han river,

where I achieved one of my wishes to drink a can of beer while looking at the river.

I was pretty impressed with how there's a seven eleven every couple hundred meters.

pretty awesome.

anyways, headed back home before the trains stopped.

gotta get my visa things done the next day, so off to bed asap.

day 2 - lazy morning

woke up at 8 am.

it might be too early to call it,

but I think I am over the jet lag [knock on wood].

there was a Michigan game today,

so I dug around the internet to get access to a live stream.

was able to watch it,

but we lost..

anyways,

church afterwards.

on my way to church,

walked past a wall with children's work on their family motto.

some seem to have been written by their parents,

some even given a slightly artistic approach,

and some probably were written during the day it was due..

that last one's a winner.

there was one that was close to our family motto:

it says "Truth, Diligence, Happiness," while ours is "Truth, Diligence."

I'm going to suppose that our family took Happiness as a given.

back from church,

and I'll be meeting people from my church during college in the latter half of the day.

arrival

arrived in Korea without much incident.

being the seasoned traveler, 

zipped past immigration before a line formed.

I guess the immigration officer pulled up my pretty empty travel record in the past few years

and asked me when was the last time I visited.

4 years.

as I headed towards the baggage claims area,

a familiar sight:

remember seeing this fountain every time I came to Korea.

I'm going to make this short to get some rest.

another familiar sight, on my way to my aunt's place. 

something about the trains made the place feel homely..

food! 

on to Korea

previously tried to write something,

but it got messed up,

so here's a shortened version:

started packing late,

but got it done.

made an omlete with he remaining food in the fridge:

(picture)

but it only looked good in the frying pan.

smooth ride to jfk,

and currently in sf,

about to board the flight to Korea.

next stop, the motherland.

trip

didn't really start packing yet,

but I'll get it done.

I'm going to try to document this as much as I can. 

hand

from elementary to high school,

there were friends who I,

or at least for Mom,

viewed as "rivals."

we were always figuratively butting heads for the silent bragging rights amongst the ones who fed us.


we haven't been able to see each other much after we all left our nests,

but now that everyone is about to graduate,

we start crossing paths again.


this time though,

there'll be no shoving and pushing to the top,

but raising and tugging.