OK...so I know what you're thinking, "You left the states a week ago, and the adventure is beginning now???" Well, thispast week is what Chris and I have called "survival week," in which we spent the bulk of our time figuring out the basic necessities of life. We found grocery stores and food that our bodies would not reject. We located a place where we could get Internet access since we DO NOT have it in our apartments yet. We've figured out how to dispose of trash, which is a completely different system. Let me tell you, it was a difficult and trying week, but finally it's over. We have the basics down!!!
Having what we thought to be the hardest part behind us. We decided that on Sunday afternoon we would go out into a different part of the city and see what it had to offer. A couple of people from our school told us what bus to take in order to get to the area that we wanted to go to, and so, we jumped on a bus and headed out to Samsun Dong. This is the main downtown area in Ulsan. We rode the bus until we got to an area that appeared to be a happening place and then we got off. We ended up a
t a shopping center called the Lotte Department Stores. As we made our way to each of the different floors, we found that there are a number of different things at a department store in Korea. They had everything from fresh produce to household appliances. We did not do much shopping, but it was very tempting because everyone dresses so fashionable around here. However, on the bottom floor of the department store there was a grocery store and food court. The grocery store had a larger selection of foreign items than the grocery store near the apartments; so, we splurged a little and bought pancake batter!!! Next,we decided against eating dinner at Outback, and opted for something a little more authentic, but yes, Ulsan has an Outback just like the one back home (just a lot more expensive because it's foreign). We ended up eating at a place called Marchie where you get a card at the door and walk around picking anything from breakfast foods to cappuccino or desserts. Each station that you get something from stamps your card, after you finish your dinner you take your card back to the front and pay for whatever stamps you received. Dinner was great!!!
There is also a large farris wheel on the top of the department store that we thought about riding, but we decided we would leave that for another day. Instead we just walked through the streets a little more. We found a few more familiar places like a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and of course, Starbucks. By the time we had walked around it was getting dark. Even though we were nervous about navigating back to the area that we're most familiar; we decided it was time. We made our way to a bus stop, and we sat there for about an hour before we figured out that the bus we were waiting on was not coming to the stop we were at. We then got some help from a man who spoke very little broken English. He pointed us in the direction of another bus stop, where we spent maybe 2 minutes before our bus arrived. The bus ride was very long. We probably took the most illogical route home possible, but we made it!!!That, my friends was our 1st adventure out in the city!! Everyday here in South Korea is a new adventure for us. Like a child, things have become new and exciting and at times even a little scary.
Lots of Love,
am :)
No comments:
Post a Comment