Treasures Lost and Treasures Found

March 12, it’s Friday for us in Daejeon. I think we’re finally getting on a normal sleep/wake schedule – at least half of us. I caught Doug on the computer about 3:00 this morning, but he was soon tucked back in to our ”sleep comfort” bed.


ALWAYS BE PREPARED would be a good motto when staying in Korea. Although we had been up for several hours, we were not yet dressed when there was a persistent knock at our door. Despite the fact that we kept saying, “Coming, coming!”, the knock grew louder. I escaped to the bathroom, while a disheveled Doug opened the door. In came a stranger to “check the room”. Apparently our screen door was broken (we hadn’t noticed) and he had come to fix it. He left shortly thereafter, only to return again with 3 others to fix the broken screen door. While two of them stood in the doorway, the other two worked on the door. When they were finished - they left as quickly as they’d come!

Our “Treasure Discovered” was the fact that with a $12.00 a month fee, we can call any phone in the world on Skype – unlimited minutes!!! We are very excited and have already made several calls.

Our “Treasure Lost” turned out to be the duffle that never made it to Korea. Unfortunately, when it was delivered this afternoon, IT WAS THE WRONG SUITCASE!!!! The piece that was delivered wasn’t even remotely like the one we’ve lost. They said they’d work on it. Mmmmm.

Along with the wrong luggage, Mr. Kwon brought a wastepaper basket, two cups, and two glasses. We’re making progress. This morning I drank tea out of a bowl, tonight – a cup!

A few initial observations: Life here as a college student is very, very different. In most cases, parents have spent a lifetime saving money so their son or daughter can attend school. Consequently, being successful is of utmost importance. The university does its part to ensure that success. In the handbook there is a lengthy section on “General Regulations For Dormitory life” Here are a few: TVs are forbidden in the dorms. Visitors are not permitted in dorm rooms and no phones or music after midnight “for the consideration of other students”. If you wish to have a visitor, you must get permission from the “Assistant Dormitory Director” and the visit must take place in the designated visiting area. With the exception of “moving in/out day, you may be evicted if you are found with a non resident in the building.” Students are asked to “cooperate as we may conduct a roll call at times”. As far as we can tell, nothing goes up on the walls. Your dorm room is not a place to make personal statements. The hallways have no decorations of any kind. All of this goes along with the Korean on community as opposed to self.

We also discovered a “speaker” on the wall above our bed. We’re guessing it’s used for important messages. In the handbook, students are told “not to manipulate the speaker”. I’m hoping ours is turned off – a voice out of the blue would be quite the wake up call!

There are “merit points” that may be given by the Director of Residential Life to designate “model Residents”. Model residents will be given priority in receiving a room for the following semester. And I quote: The Director of Resident Life may, on the recommendation of the Supervisor of Residential Life, award a Guiding Star in culture, knowledge/skill in a social field, or English and or also for exemplary behavior towards the community and its members. There is, of course, criteria for merit points. There are 10 of them. “Practicing water and power saving on a daily basis” is number 6. Helping the establishment of public order by reporting actions against the dormitory rules is number10.

If there are merit points, it stands to reason there are “demerit points” as well. There are 34 of them. For various reasons, here are several of our favorites: Number 10 – “Action of growing the pet”, (You read it right) number 27, “Failing to keep the room clean and orderly”, number 20, “Delivery with dishes is prohibited”, number 18, “Posting fliers and posters without permission, and/or unauthorized distribution of printed items, unauthorized usage of locks or hammering,” number 23, “Wearing shoes in the room,” number 24, “Going out of the room with the lights, PC, or air conditioner turned on”, and finally, number 25, “Resident cannot come back to the dormitory while dead drunk!”

I didn’t list all, but there are a number of rules that have to do with the environment and saving energy.

Putting On My Pillow

It’s now Thursday, March 11 in Daejeon and I’m thinking that using a fleece shirt for a pillow may not be such a bad idea. Whenever, I have to get up, I take my pillow, put it on, and it becomes a very short bathrobe. When I’m ready to head back to bed, off comes the shirt and my bathrobe becomes a pillow once again.


We spent the rest of yesterday, “running errands” with Mr. Kwon and his two associates. Having a photo taken for our “alien card,” opening an account at the bank, having our hands scanned for the “Hand Vascular Pattern Recognition System” ( how we get in and out of buildings), touring the campus and finding our way to the “Family Market” ( a “campus 7eleven”). After purchasing a quart of milk, 6 clementines, peach juice, and what we hoped was dish soap, we called it a day and headed back to our home away from home. Dinner was a bit sketchy. No dishes, pots, pans, or utensils made putting together a meal a bit difficult. By 9:00 we could stay awake no longer and called it a day. By 3:00 this morning we were both wide awake. That turn of events turned out to be advantageous – we were able to connect with several of you on Skype. Half way around the world – amazing!

The rest of the milk and remaining clemetines served as our breakfast. Doug headed off to a meeting with his department head at 10:00 and I worked on putting clothes away, etc. At noon the head of Doug’s department took us to a lovely Korean restaurant in downtown Daejeon. There we had a 30 + course meal. I’ve never seen anything like it! Four soups, various kinds of kimchea, fish, noodles, ( you slurp them), red rice, things you dip, and things you wrap – all delicious. Correction…Most delicious.

Next we headed to the clinic to get our chest x-rays $4.00 dollars each! No fancy buildings but Koreans are fast and efficient.

Then Mr. Kwon took us to Korea’s equivalent of Wal-Mart - Home Plus – where we bought much needed pillows, 3 boxes of Kleenex, 12 rolls of toilet paper, 2 spoons, laundry detergent, something mysterious to clean with, a short broom, a tube of toothpaste, and a pan to cook in or boil water – all for – are you ready - $70.00 dollars!! WE MAY BE HOME SOONER THAN WE PLANNED!

Despite our fast depleting bank account, the sun is shining, the snow is melting, we have pillows, and we are in Korea!

Doug has his office, his class will start next Thursday, and they will be scheduling English classes for us to teach in the near future. Tomorrow we’re going to explore, Saturday we plan to take the fast train to Seoul and spend the night at Alice and John Engstroms – friends from where I used to teach.

It’s 8:00 PM and Doug is trying hard to stay awake. I’d better call it a day.

Back to College Life

We arrived safely with a winter storm in Seoul. Many vehicles were in the ditch and some accidents were seen. We are safe and sound and enjoying the comforts of our one room dormitory bungalo. The room is brand new with a double bed and heated floors. We have a telephone but no number yet. We have no cooking privileges, no hangers, no pillows, no dishes, no utensiles, and no TP. We are off to shop.

The Longest Day

Sunday, March 7 we arrived in Sioux Falls to stay over night for our early Monday morning flight to Seoul, Korea. We were scheduled to leave at 6 am. We made plans for a taxi to pick us up at 4 am. At 6:30 pm on Sunday we checked and everything was a on schedule. Just before we were going to bed we decided to check the flight again to make sure that all was ok. When the flight information came up on the computer we saw that our flight had been cancelled. What a mess! We got on the phone and 90 minutes later we had our schedule changed so that we are now scheduled to leave at 6 :30 pm today (Monday), leave Chicago at 1 am Tuesday, and arrive in Seoul at 6 AM Wednesday. Lost sleep - 2 nights. We are not sure of our seat assignments so we might not be able to sit together. The one good thing about the new schedule is we to change planes only once in Chicago. Another concern is that we are changing airlines from United to Asiana so we hope our bags make it ok.