Day 74: My First Day at Yonsei

Entry #5

I landed safely and soundly at Inchon International airport yesterday after a 14-hour long trip on, what I would have to say, a really good airplane. Korean Airlines, which gets lots of hype on the internet from the many awards it has received, is a rather good flight though maybe a little hyped up. If I compare it to ANA (All Nippon Airlines) which  serves my trip from Dulles International Airport in D.C. to Tokyo's Narita International Airport for when I travel to Japan, I would have to say that it is pretty comparable but not so spectacular that I completely floored by my Economy class seat. The only extra helpful addition to the seat was the addition of a USB power port--it basically let me plug in my iPod charger wire so that I could keep the battery of my iPod working the entire time of the flight.

I was served bibimbap and some  weird chicken dish. Ironically, I feel like I ate better food on the United Airlines airplane I took back from Korea during my Critical Language Scholarship.

But, I got to Yonsei safe and well sort-of-sound. For background, Yonsei's international and exchange student orientation infrastructure is so poorly set-up that I have no idea where to first start complaining. When I was accepted I was truly overjoyed. But the lack of orientation information and information for incoming students is truly unacceptable. I can give a laundry list of incidences, but I just want to say that orientations for international students are supposed to be hand-holding events where college students are guided every step of the way. Regardless of where an individual comes from, being immersed in an entirely different and foreign culture without knowledge of what happens if Option A doesn't work is scary and Yonsei provides little infrastructure for students to contact, at least during the beginning days at least, in cases of emergencies or questions. I bet at least twenty or thirty kids didn't really know what to do if they got lost from Inchon to Yonsei--they didn't know who to contact, who to talk to, how to deal with everything, how much money they needed going from one place to another, how much food costs.

I'm so happy that my American college reiterated everything during their orientation--it makes for smarter, more well-equipped, and prepared students.

I'm also typing this right now before I go attempt to find a breakfast. I really wish they would tell me places where I could eat during this orientation time. William and Mary provided me with a whole slew of dining facilities that I would need to know about before I even got on campus and I was led my by my Orientation Aides--dedicated people to help during the first few days which Yonsei doesn't have. I don't know, I just feel like I'm lost half the time and I've not a proper clue.

I'm probably counting my chickens before they hatch but, assuming that the Yonsei international staff will be holistically explaining all of this as orientation goes along, I have a sort of sour taste in my mouth. I'm not taking it so deeply that I have negative feelings about the campus, but I could have been in a way happier mood these first couple days.

But, one last thing, before I end all my complaints and get into the good things about Yonsei so far! So, apparently, I was supposed to get a Tuberculosis (TB) test and a Hepatitis B vaccine records that say I'm legit o.k. to stay in the international dorm in Korea. I got this e-mail the Friday before the Monday I was supposed to fly. Needless to say I was in a rush to get the TB test, which I managed to get done for $33.00 in the U.S.A on a rush basis. That already pissed me off--the fact that they e-mailed so late into the entire process.  When I get to my dorm Tuesday afternoon, lo and behold, I'm floored by the fact I also have to get an X-ray of my chest.

What?

Couldn't you have given me this information at least three months in advance before I came here? What is the point of doing this while I'm in country when it is very well much easier to do it outside of the country? I have to take my own good old time getting on a bus system, which I will know pretty well in the coming months, and navigate my way through the roads and systems that is the Korean healthcare system.

I mean, come on.

It just proves my point when I say that the Yonsei International program isn't really a program. It's a mix and mash of different organizations, Yonsei International Community, Buddy/Mentor's Program, Yonsei Global Lounge, etc. There are so many organizations that go into creating this orientation that a cohesive and succulent schedule doesn't come out for anal students like me. I like knowing what I'm going to be doing a week in advance, all the time. I'm flexible, don’t doubt me, but I have a tipping point as well.  I want to be an adult and informed, but the fact that I have to be puppy-fed information is making this whole affair quite maddening.

So, the things that are so far saving me from this madness. My room. It' awesome in comparison to the room I had at William and Mary freshman year (Room 204, Gooch Hall, Botetourt Complex). You can go to the SK GLobal House's website just to see how fancy the room is. For people are who thinking of applying for on-campus housing I recommend living in SK Global House, the newer of the two international residences. These rooms have lots more amenities than the International House, but most importantly they have air conditioning which is a lifesaver during those hot spring and summer months--assuming you'll be around for those times.

But, like everything else so far, there are some things I wish Yonsei would have better told me. For example, the international website says that they over outlets which range from 110-220 volts, which means many American and U.S. electronics can work in the dorm rooms, right? No. It's only 220 voltage, but they offer the converters in the convenience store downstairs which you can purchase for 8,500 won (which is a little pricy, seriously).  I still don't have proper internet access in my room, I'll probably ask a friend how to get that working. In my SK Global House single-room there are great conveniences like air conditioning, a fancy closet, and a small fridge, but attempting to use a LAN cable to the internet is super annoying. I had to read, like, ten billion e-mails of instructions and failed to connect anyways.

Again, lack of information.

Did I ever mention that this campus is frigging' humongous. I go to a small to mid-size local public college in the middle of what people would say is nowhere. William and Mary is in the small, history tourism town of Colonial Williamsburg and is a blip of fun in comparison to schools that have either really big populations or are located in cities.  Yonsei is both of those. The school's population is around 25,000 people and the buildings which may seem close and tight on a map are in reality like one-thousand miles away from each other. I'm thankful my only class away from my dorm building is around a 15-minute walk, I think it is… I don’t' know, I haven't really walked around campus.

Agh, I'm just augh, right now. It's that transition phase into college life, so it's bound to be complex! I just wished that it didn't have to be this complex!

Gonna give it my best.