The weekend could not have come at a better time. Friday was
longer than it ever has been. As soon as 4:30 rolled around I went running down
the steps of the school. I headed to my apartment to pack and freshen up before
heading out on a 5:30 bus to Waeghan. I had a little time to kill in Waeghan
before my train left, so I treated myself to Dunkin’ Donuts. It was much
needed. That was the first American chain food restaurant I’ve had
since I left home.
As always the train ride to Gumi was short and easy (12
minutes). Like I told my friends I could not wait to get off of the train in
Gumi because I knew I would be with my friends and get to hugs!! I didn’t
realize how needy I was of physical contact I was until I moved here. Not
getting hugs from family and friends on a daily basis is tough. My heart was
happy as soon as I saw my friends at the train station.
For dinner Daniel, Beth Ann, both Laura’s and I went
back to Waegook Cook. They were welcoming all of the new foreigners that night
so we met a lot of other people that were from the Gumi area. Gigi and Shirley
eventually got there after around 3 hours of traveling down. After a delicious
dinner and a few song requests, Wagon Wheel included, some of us headed to a
foreigners bar, ironically named Coronas.
Unfortunately we were not thinking about living for Pohang
at 7:50. We didn’t get home until a little after 3am. So our nap was very short, up at
6am to leave. The bus ride to Pohang was a little over 2 hours. We slept most of
the way. Once we got to Pohang it was raining and it never stopped… and I
mean NEVER!!
We got a cab to a really big outdoor market. Like most
markets it has tons of fresh produce and seafood. After exploring that are we
happened upon a cute little part of town that had a lot of American brand
restaurants and was very clean. We decided on KFC. I never eat KFC at home, but
none of us could turn down friend chicken and biscuits.
While having lunch Courtney, Vee, Sarah, Micah and Keelie found
us. Courtney and Keelie live in Pohang
and were hosting us for the weekend. We hung out in the shopping area and had
Starbucks before splitting off to head to the different apartments to take a
power nap before the evening.
I crashed as soon as we got to Courtney’s. For
dinner my group decided to go to a good local restaurant where they cook in
front of you on the table. After dinner we then headed out for the night. We
went to two different bars that mainly draw the foreigners (really teachers or
Marines). Having time to relax and act our age is a must after a week of
teaching!
As many people back in the States have probably heard in the
media the past few days “Gangnam Style” is now a world wide sensation. Psy is Korean and has been around
for over a decade. His new hit “Gangnam Style” is all the rage now. Psy was actually on The
Today Show Friday morning. When we song was played in the bars this weekend all
of us went crazy. We might as well, we are in Korea.
Sunday morning came and it was once again to say good bye to
friends and a great weekend. We barely made the bus back to Gumi, but it was
great timing. 2 hours later we were in Gumi. Twenty minute later I boarded my
short train ride to Waeghan. It was still raining and there wasn’t going
to be a bus for another 2 hours. So I decided to just get a cab for the 12
minute ride to Seongju. If it had been nice outside I would have waited. But
after all of the rain in Pohang I was sick of it. Little did I know that was
only the beginning.
Sunday night Facebook was full of postings of school being
cancelled for kids, so I text my teacher. I had to go in on Monday students did
not. It was raining pretty heavy on the way to school, or so I thought. After
lunch I was told I could go home. By the time I got home (5-8 minute walk) my
jeans looked like they had been taken out of the washing machine, they were
soaking wet. This was at 12:30 the water on my way home was ankle to mid calf
deep but manageable.
By 2:30 when I looked out the water was waist deep in my
area. People were walking in it trying to get home or to other places. The
stores that I could see were flooded. The entrance to my apartment was taking
on water. On the other side of the pass door there are 5 steps and a landing
area then another 5 steps up to the first floor of apartments (technically 2nd
flood). Water was just a few inches away from covering the landing area. I
would say they water was 3 and a half feet deep in my neighborhood.
Other parts of town barely had any flooding. One of my
fellow EPIK teachers in the area lives a few blocks away and it was worse
around his building. There obviously wasn’t anything I could do so I made rice and
settled in. for I thought it would be a few days before things were back to
normal. As I was watching TV I heard my doorbell ring. When I went to the door
there was a plate of grapes and a sweet note from my neighbor. The note was in Korean
but I knew it was sweet. It made my night to know that someone cared about the
little American teacher living in the building. Surprisingly before I went to
sleep I could once again see the road. Covered in mud, but yes it was drivable
again.
I woke up Tuesday morning just knowing it would be another teacher
work day, to much surprise I eventually saw kids walking to school. Today has
not been crazy like I would expect after the disaster in the town yesterday.
But that may be a good thing.
Other areas of Korea that my friends live in did not have
the flooding that my area did. I am so thankful that I have an apartment not on
ground level. Witnessing the events yesterday was something that I never knew
was possible. It was like what we always see on TV I am just thankful that I
was safe in my apartment.
Last but not least I am loving everything Korea has to
offer. I have people in my town that I like to hang out with during the week
that make the weeks not seems as long. I could not have asked for a better
group of friends to bond with so quickly and be able to see so often on the
weekends!!
Thanks for all of the prayers. Love you all!
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