South Korea

This place is amazing. I got in yesterday and was didnt even know what to do with myself. Especially coming from Kazakhstan. When i got off the plane and walked into the airport i felt like i was on another planet i couldnt stop laughing. Everything was so chic modern and high tech it seemed to me to be like a space station. And there was no trash anywhere - which as i said, coming from Taraz is mind blowing.

Anyway, Ando decided to test me, akin to the gauntlet on American Gladiators with Nitro on the tennis ball cannon. With no knowledge of Korean, or the country in general i had to get from the airport in Seoul to Ando's city 4 hours away. And like the stereo typical former athlete, mustached, policeman, most likely from the Chicago area contestant, i accepted.

First step: get money. Being the idiot that i am i didnt really think ahead and suffered a pretty severe set back when the lady at the exchange booth informed me that they dont exchange Kazakh Tenge. (the day before i left i had to have a mid service physical and dental cleaning in Almaty and got a Peace Corps per diem which i was pumped to save and use in Korea - not to be) It was gonna have to be dip into the checking account from the states. This is when things get bad. The ATM machine would not give money and said i had to call my bank. Enter panic and anxiety. I was semi afraid of something like this happening before i left because, i just had some bank troubles while using my credit card in Kazakhstan buying the ticket and thought the bank would freak if they saw my card show up in Korea. So now i have no cash, my card wont work and i have no means of contacting my mother (who is the smartest woman i have ever met, and because i have a 8 year old's understanding of banking can usually walk me through most crises of the like) While decided what i could barter for a bus ticket to get to Ando and kindly lady probably sensed my nervous pacing and profuse sweating inquired and told me to try another machine in another gate. At this machine it seemed to work but told me i had insufficient funds to withdraw a hundred bucks. Figuring that maybe i had just spent all my money somehow i thought maybe i have to have at least 50. Success. Oh yeah, but its in Won which is like 1000 to $1. So i grabbed my 50 dollars in won. Something is not right. I have made a huge mistake. I have now gone from not having any local currency at all, to standing there with $500 in Korean won and about 13 dollars left in my bank account which was supposed to stay in the bank as my reserve/ emergency cash for another year. good first move. (and yes i did check and see if there was some way to put money back into the ATM, there isnt) So it goes, time to get to Ando.

From here on out smooth sailing. Got on a bus, which again compared to Kazakhstan was shocking in that it was air conditioned, and the seats were like lazy boys. The only problem i had was when ordering food that i just pointed at something which of course turned out to be a fish sandwich...i hate fish.

I got off at the designated gas station in Iksan and waited to be contacted by a man named Isaac. He then took me to Ando.

Mission complete. bring on the Atlasphere.