And I'm not exaggerating.
Like I told Jason, I feel like I pulled an all-nighter and was then forced to sit through a 4 hour United Nations conference about steel production. After the work day I took the subway and became horribly lost as I am not staying at the neat little "Dongguk University" dot on my map, but about five blocks away from it at an unmarked location close to a restaurant called "Korea House". Apparently, rising at six and walking around for an hour did not familiarize me with anything useful. If it was not for a Korean boy I found at Dongguk (dong-gook) who took pity on my sweating, tired, non-korean-speaking self, I would have had to take another taxi. Instead I survived with a few blisters and a scary experience with a mentally-disturbed Korean man on the subway.
Work today was a series of introductions and presentations. There are 21 interns total, from all across the globe. There are interns from Columbia, Peru, Mongolia, China, Vietnam, India, Russia, Poland, Germany, and others I've forgotten. Though there is one big difference between the 4 of us from MSU and the rest of the students: the rest of them have been in South Korea for at least 4 months and are studying at universities in Seoul. Obviously, this gives them a big advantage as far as understanding the culture. The day was exhausting, especially to us since we were unaccustomed to the 13 hour time difference. Although, Mr. Russia was the one to briefly fall asleep during a presentation and he's been here for 4 years. The different viewpoints are interesting, but we are all in different departments and I have a feeling we won't be interacting much. I am in the process standardization department, and few of my colleagues speak English. My mentor for the program is a nice, 5 foot tall older korean man with coke bottle glasses. He is very friendly, but it is hard to communicate. He gave me his subway card to use for the day, until I could purchase my own tomorrow. For lunch, we went out to a New York style steak restaurant and made awkward conversation. Normally, we will eat in the POSCO cafeteria and I will need to pay my own way. Eating for Koreans is very compulsive, but never to be done alone. In Europe, the conversation is the focus and the food plays a supporting role. In Korea, the food is simply a necessity before the drinking can begin. Tomorrow we are going out after work for a going away party. Two of the men in my department (there is only one woman, but more on that later) are leaving for business in Vietnam. I am excited, yet nervous for this as Sung Soo, our program coordinator at MSU, talked about it so much. Drinking is very intertwined with Korean business, and as far as Koreans are concerned, the best networking is done while under the influence.
My luggage is yet an entirely different story. I am missing one of my checked luggage pieces due to my own sleep-deprived stupidity. I called the NWA terminal at Seoul-Incheon today and the woman told me it was in Seattle with Korean Air, which makes absolutely no sense. I did not travel through Seattle, nor did I use Korean air. Supposedly I will get it either today or tomorrow, but seriously, wtf. I want my makeup back.
Apparently, my university was founded by Buddhist monks. Perhaps that is why I am locked in my room after 11 P.M. and things like loud talking, drinking, smoking, having guests, and gambling will get me kicked out. Arish is couch surfing somewhere close to POSCO, and the two Steves have an empty apartment. They thought they were staying at Dongukk with me, and no one told them they would need to bring or purchase pans, sheets, towels, pillows, or how they should set up electric/water/internet. There is also only one single bed for the two of them with a mattress that feels like a table top. This trip is so unorganized I don't even know where to start.
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