Dominos

The flight was long.  I was seated in the center aisle, one seat in on the right side of the plane.  Although I was able to drift to sleep a few times, it didn't last long and I was awake again.  My legs were cramped because my leg room was all but non-existent due to the presence of my backpack with laptop ensconced inside.  Usually I love flying and I often work through my book of sudoku or cryptograms, but this time I didn't feel into it.  Luckily, although i had seen them before, i liked the movies that were playing and killed a good four hours enjoying them again.  So much for my dreams of learning a few korean phrases on the long flight, working through my thesis statistics or some other resourceful use of the 13+ hours of flying time that faced me - I watched Enchanted and Becoming Jane.  

Stopping in Japan allowed me a small respite from my cramped condition and I was happily bouncing along to my next terminal when I realized that I had left the hats I was wearing (both of them!) in the airplane!  Surrounded largely by people who did not speak english, and having already  gone through customs for Japan, I worried that they were lost forever.  But alas, the lady working at my new terminal spoke english and I reached her in time for her to call the people cleaning my previous plane to retrieve the hats.  Thank goodness!  One of those hats doesn't even belong to me, but to my best friend back home. 

Finally I hear that we are descending into Busan.  I look out of the window, feeling a sudden sense of excitement or panic - I am actually about to be in Korea!  Other than extremely tired, I wasn't sure how I felt at this pivotal moment.  My first impression: Korea, land of dominos!  All I could make out in the night sky from the plane above Busan were dozens of tall, skinny buildings arranged in a flowing fashion around the landscape, winding out with the peninsulas and back in, circling the dark hills and gathering in circled bunches.  The land looked littered with glowing domino's waiting for some giant hand to tip one over and begin the entertainment.  Very interesting.

Once off the airplane and in the car headed toward Ulsan, the city looked more like Las Vegas on crack.  The neon lights glowing absurdly bright for 10pm, many places stacked upon one another, people wandering around as if they weren't nearly as tired as I was.  I slid down in the back seat and tried to fall asleep for the hour long drive - and I would have if the recruiters didn't ask me a question everytime my eyes closed!  Do I think Korean men are handsome?  Honestly, that's the only question I remember now... I'm sure I mumbled odd answers to their other questions!  So much for making a stunning first impression!

The Home Connect

Greetings from my new home internet connection!  

Suffice it to say that this step has taken some challenge when the tech guy doesn't speak a hint of english and i don't speak techie in korean...  i did encounter some minor setbacks, but i seem to be up and running.   Its late now, but tune in soon for the "domino arrival," "my apartment in pictures," "first day of school (aka - damn these kids can SCREAM)," and other exciting tales from abroad.  I hope to hear from all of you back home as well, but for now, it is long past my bedtime.

Goodnight, annyonghaseyo!

=)

Campus Shuttle Surfing

From time to time I have been known to ride the campus shuttle from the parking lot and I usually get the chance to play a little private sport that I enjoy: shuttle surfing. Because the campus bus is nearly always PACKED, I have to stand in the isle. Now, these shuttle drivers are not known from driving smoothly at all - i personally think that they enjoy watching the people in the isle fall all over each other as they brake HARD and then hit the gas with as much force. This is where my hobby birthed: keeping my equilibrium admist the chaotic movement of the shuttle. I adopt a slightly spread out leg stance and bend my knees. As the shuttle lurches and jolts, I focus on smoothing out the impact on my body with my balance and in my knees and legs. I've actually come to enjoy the meditative feeling that comes from floating on such an UNDULATING vehicle. ::sigh:: I shall miss my shuttle surfing hobby.

Ness Independent: A New Hope

Hello and Welcome!

Here you will find updates about me and my progress in whatever venture I am pursuing, random thoughts, experiences, and potentially just outpourings. I also like to talk to myself... except now, you can witness the insanity from the comfort of your own homes!

Today is Day 4 of thesis experimental maddness. I have already completed 8 participants out of 12, and the end is neigh! I think I will forever wake up nights in a cold sweat, hearing the pulse of these auditory alarms and feeling the confines of this research lab control room... but it shall be worth it!

In other news, I have obtained my visa issuance number and am mere steps away from receiving my actual work visa for Korea. This means I will most likely be leaving early next week. It has been both exciting and sad as I consider this move - knowing that I may never see some people again, while thinking of the adventures that lie ahead. I have so many goals planned for my trip that I hardly think I will be able to fit them in a year's time! And thinking about what to do after my year is up: the possibilities are truely endless. What a great time in my life!!

Regardless, I will love and miss my friends and family, the people I see regularly and those I only get to spend precious few moments with. I hope you all know how much I care for you, and that I support you in your lifepaths as well. Please do not hesitate to contact me and to keep in touch - most especially to encourage me to be diligent in staying connected with you!

And tonight: my little brother's 16th birthday!! The adventures just don't stop!

=P