We arrived! We had a very smooth journey....eight hours driving from Tucson to LAX, a few hours to kill in LA, then a 12 hour flight to Seoul. We slept most of the flight, so it went really fast. Had some awesome food on the plane, as far as plane food goes: traditional Korean fare. I sort of accidentally ordered spicy octopus for breakfast...thought the stewardess said spicy autobus. Not that that would have made any sense or tasted any better. Nevertheless.
Customs and immigration was super smooth. None of our luggage was lost. Hooray! Took a 3 1/2 hour shuttle bus from the airport to Jeonju University. Luggage took up half the seats on the bus. The scenery was beautiful. We left Seoul around 8:30am and all the mist off the sea was still rising and obscuring the skyline. Beautiful bridges, hills, foliage. We learned that the chain gas station here is called SK. Now you know. Also, the rest stop along the way was the most amazing rest stop I have ever seen. It was like a huge food market, with all kinds of delectable treats: soups, kimchi, sushi, fried dough, ice cream, a Maxwell House coffee stand (Joe partook), and all manner of things. Had a fish pond with picnic benches where the smokers hung out. We wandered back there to check out the fish, but sort of felt out of place without a cigarette, so we left. :) Discovered two ginormous bronzed squirrels, surrounded by bronze acorns and two bronze children feeding the squirrels. I mean really, what more could you ask in a rest stop?
Arrived at the university and instead of going straight to our rooms, showering, and collapsing, we were told to leave all our luggage in the lobby and hike up a hill to the campus cafeteria, where we had lunch. The food was super good, but I think most of us just shoved it down as fast as we could to get back to the lobby where our room assignments were waiting. So, now, we are finally in our dorm room, showered, fed, a little groggy, and super thrilled to be here. It was a long, long journey, but here we are. Tomorrow--campus tour, opening ceremony, and welcome dinner.....
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