For my first real blog entry I've decided to talk a little about the experience of arriving in Korea. Since there aren't any Korean students in my dorm room yet, and classes haven't started, I thought it might be a useful point of discussion. Hopefully it will provide some insight for those planning to travel to or study abaroad in Korea. Later I'll likely be able to discuss more culturally-tied topics.
While I can't speak for other airlines operating flights to Korea, the experience on Korean Air was excellent. Despite being in economy class, in flight entertainment was provided free of charge and allowed for viewing of a large number of recent movies, as well as a few episodes of television programs. This is quite a bit different to the last flight I'd made previous, a domestic US flight where such options cost the passenger about $6. Also of note was that the two in-flight meals offered an option of western or Korean food. I highly reccommend the Korean options - mine were bibimpap for lunch and beef with rice for dinner, both of which were surprisingly tasty. For a more authentic taste I followed the example of the Koreans seated next to me and made extensive use of the red chilli paste provided with the meals. While at first uncertain how it would come out, the result was better taste though spicy as would be expected.
Most people flying to Korea will end up with Incheon Airport as their destination. It didn't take long for it to hit me that I'd actually arrived in Korea once I stepped off the plane. Just outside the aircraft was a sign for the stroller pick-up area, with full hangul (the Korean alphabet) writing taking precedent over the English. Airport PA announcements were also first in Korean, but then also provided in English and Mandarin. Navigating the airport is a simple affair thanks to plenty of signs that are all in both Korean and English.
Along the way I was surprised to find a small display of antique Korean furniture in the councourse near my arrival gate. Most of the pieces dated from the 19th century. I was taken at the craftsmanship of the pieces, and how they were displayed. There was no glass protecting them from passers-by, though perhaps there was an electronic alarm system. Such a display in the U.S. likely would have been in a protective case.
Just as navigating the airport, claiming baggage is easy to do at Incheon. Despite a large claim area, it's simple to find yours thanks to electronic signs that again proclaim the information in Korean, then English and finally Mandarin. I also noted a number of advertisements around the baggage claim area, and tested my ability in Korean by trying to read them. It's safe to say I've got much more studying ahead if I want to understand them fully. One that did stand out was for the 2011 IAAF games in Daegu - just arriving at the airport can inform you of local events, it seems.
Passing through immigration and customs was a very quick process. For the former separate gates are present for international passport holders and Korean passport holders. As long as you have your passport and papers at hand it's a quick and painless experience. Customs is even simpler if you have nothing to declare, as was the case for myself. I simply handed the customs form to a waiting attendant and headed on my way.
Another thing of note at Incheon airport is that seemingly all of the shops and restaurants I saw had signs in English. Some were more familiar names than others, of course. The location of my rendevouz with Soonchunhyang University representatives was at a McDonald's - both easily identifiable and centrally located. While it took me a while to find them (they were sitting with other foreign students), it wasn't long after that that I was aboard a bus headed for the school. While I tried to stay awake for the ride, the flight had left me tired. I managed to see the lighted skyscrapers and apartment complexes of Seoul and its surrounding area turn to green hills and farmland before I finally fell asleep. It was the sort of complexity I hope to explore further in my time here.
The plane I flew on to Korea, picture taken at SEATAC airport in Seattle.
A reminder that I'm now in a foreign country: the KAL stroller pickup area sign, in Hangul and English.
Some of the antique furniture on display on the Incheon Airport concourse.
One of the ads I attempted to translate.
Ad for the Daegu 2011 IAAF championships in the baggage claim area.
An unfamiliar fast food restaurant, one of several American-style establishments at Incheon airport.
And a more familiar one.
The bus that took us to Soonchunhyang University.
