Orientation in review - Day 1

Day 1 - The Trip over (2007/06/11-12)

For some reason, long flights feel like an adventure. Maybe it was because I had a good reason to watch movies and goof off. After 9 months of senior design, and 2 weeks of preparations, it seemed like a break was in order. I certainly wasn't there for the food, though it at least kept me alive through the trip. As such, the best way to summarize the trip is through what I did to ignore it:

• Started The Good Shepherd, which was impossible to hear over the airline headphones
• Watched The Namesake, a surprisingly good movie about a Bengali couple that emigrates to the US in the 1970's. It focuses on how the kids grow up to be painfully American, and how it tears the family apart (conflict between traditional and modern values, etc.). Definitely worth seeing
• Watched Ghost Rider, which deserved a spot on my facebook movie review page, it was so bad.
• Saw 1 episode of House, where he (shockingly) cures some guy who (also shockingly) finds his bedside manner abrasive.
• Realized in short order why the John Grisham novel I had was in the clearance bin.

The trip ended with a cheerful reunion of all the EAPSI participants at the terminal. Considering they didn't have a sign, the fact that we all met up was something of a miracle. When we all did though, it was great to catch up with everyone. While most of us were a bit apprehensive, it was obvious that Sarah was in her element. She had lived in Korea for several years, and is completely fluent in Korean (well, as far as I can tell). After talking with our guide, we were off to the hotel. The place is best described as an island of western culture in the middle of Seoul. As nice as the ambiance and furnishings were, I would have slept on the floor of a 40000 Won/night love motel if it had a computer (which they do, as I recall). Of course, after dinner was finished, we were all so beat that the marble floor of the lobby was looking soft and comfortable.

Next time...The first day out