I've Arrived in Seoul

I've arrived in Seoul. This is the first time I've had a 22 hour lay over so I got a hotel room outside the airport. As new and wonderful as the airport is I was rudely reminded that communication mix-ups happen so easily, especially when you don't speak the language.

I went to get the shuttle to my hotel and a very nice man, in a suit, standing by the hotel information booth at baggage claim told me he had a free shuttle to my hotel. After about a half hour drive later (my hotel was supposed to be 10 minutes away) we arrive at "my" hotel. Except it wasn't my hotel. I asked him at least five times if we were going to the Herb Hotel (my hotel). He assured me we were, but we arrived at the Hotel Grand, and I'm certain he gets a percentage for these type of "mixups".

I explained that I had a paid reservation at the Herb Hotel and I told him (commanded by this point, in my own sweet way) to take me to the Herb Hotel. He took me back to the airport, called the Herb Hotel for me and dropped me off at the pickup spot for the hotel. Then he stood around like I was going to tip him. I just ignored him, which is very hard for me when I'm in a foreign country (not that it's easy at home). I hate to look or act like the ugly Americian but this guy tried to hustle me and I was way too tired to feel sorry for him.

Now I'm in my real hotel. At first, I couldn't figure out how to turn the lights on, which is really a defeat for a traveler like me. I had to call the desk and even when he explained it to me I couldn't understand him. It turns out my roomkey fits in an unmarked slot on the wall that turns the power on to the room. When I leave it turns the power off. Go figure.

In a few minutes I'm going to attempt to call the church through Skype. Fingers crossed...