Arrival To My Apartment

After arriving at the airport and meeting up with Hero from HandsKorea we headed to my new city!  Destination- Anyang!  As we entered the city and neared my accommodation I nearly gasped.  Wow, I am really living in the city.  The building I live in is huge! I am on the 9th floor. The elevators were a little confusing to figure out and of course everything is in the Korean language which is to be expected.  There are three elevators and one goes to the odd numbered floors, one to the even, and the third goes to all.  I think I have it figured out!  My apartment really is in the heart of the city.  There are shops & markets all over and many places to eat. There are also several parks and at least one creek that is beautiful!  This will by far be the largest city I have lived in.  What an adventure! 
When I arrived to my apartment one of my co-teachers was waiting there for me.  Her name is Soo and she was very nice and helpful.  Because I arrived during Chuseok Holiday (I will tell you much more about this later)  Soo and Hero both wanted to make sure I would be ok.  The holiday is three days and my school was out all week so I had time to adjust and settle in at my new home. 

Hero wanted to make sure I knew how to get around.  The subway is one block away from me and there are bus stops all over so transportation will not be an issue, navigating might be :)  I am up for that adventure!  Hero helped me purchase my subway card, took me grocery shopping, and bought me my first Korean meal..SUSHI!!  It was simply put...AMAZING.  I was so exhausted I did not even eat it, I saved it for lunch the following day. 

Hero left me near my building and I realized, this is it, I am on my own.  I am really doing this.  I made it to my apartment and remembered the code (my apartment has no key it is a keyless entry with code)  and looked around my apartment.  The view was amazing but I had work to do to make it feel like home.  That would have to wait.  I was feeling a little sad but then I found that I still had internet from the teacher before and was able to call home!  I also got to chat with two great friends who are in the same time zone as I.  Huge encouragement.  It looks like the adventure of Chuseok Holiday is near, be ready! 

God has been so faithful, yet I still doubt and forget to press into Him.  His love truly is better than life as I knew or know it.
 It is written... "cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you..."
- Ps 55:22


<3 Kate

To walk towards something do you have to walk away from something?

Saturday September 18 at 6:00am as I walked towards the security check at OMA Eppley Airfield to board a plane that would be taking me one city closer to my new home.  My mother was right behind me, getting further and further away as I inched toward a future that a year ago could never have been imagined.  As I sat down in the boarding area for my plane I felt alone and terrified!  Suddenly I had a wonderful reunion with a good friend from college who was flying on the same plane as I!  What a comfort and fun experience.  As we chatted away, other bystanders joined in and this would begin the theme of my journey.  I had a three legged flight and changed planes twice.  I had no idea where I was going or how to get there.  Yet, on each flight I made a new friend each from a different place in the world.  It was very neat.  Each person helped me in a specific way get from one plane to another!  It was amazing! 

Flight Schedule

OMA to DENVER

DENVER to SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO to INCHEON/SEOUL

I arrived in Seoul at 3:20pm Sunday the 19th.  I made it through customs and was given a strong welcome!  My baggage was waiting for me at the claim.  I was very excited and relieved to know not only did I make it but so did my luggage!  Hero with HandsKorea picked me up from the airport.  I exchanged my money and rented a phone before departing form the airport.  The adventure of flying is a magnificent one.  Each flight was a success and took me closer to where I need to be.  Of course when you get close to one thing or place you might be getting further away from another.  I am learning that though leaving is hard and I love my family very much, sometimes we are called away from what is comfortable and called to trust something greater than ourselves or others, to surrender more of ourselves and experience a love unlike any other a love that is unconditional and always present.  So.. though I will miss my home and my family, I am embracing the season I am in and that there is one who is always with me, with me wherever I go.                       

Stay tuned for more photos and postings on the adventure of living in an apartment in Korea!

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
- Joshua 1:9

Kate