Around The World In 80 (or so) Days…

My cool retiree parents have planned an around the world trip. When I say plan, I am not using the term lightly.

After travelling a bit in the US, with a romantic week in Hawaii, they will arrive in Korea in August. They seem to plan their vacations around wherever I happen to be living at the time. It works out quite well. They have extended an invitation for me to join them while in Korea, as well as when they travel to China. Having never been to China, I figured this could be quite a fun adventure.

My first order of business was to see about obtaining a visa to China. I visited the Chinese embassy in Korea web page. Of no help. The web site was in Chinese and Korean, as expected. Phone numbers were listed, however, so I called. The first day I called, someone answered in Korean. In Korean, I asked if anyone there spoke English. I was met with a loud click.

Day 2. I researched elementary Korean phrases. I am an American. I live in Daegu. I want to go to China. I called the number again. In Korean, I got as far as Hello. I am an American. Click.

Day 3. Ever persistent, I tried again. This time, I was able to say I am an American living in Korea before hearing a loud click and the line go dead.

Frustrated, I called Sang Jae. Please come over. It’s important. Because so many misunderstandings have happened during our telephone conversations, we try to limit them to under a minute. It’s just easier to talk face to face.

Once he arrived, he asked, “What’s the problem?” I explained my situation. Please just call the number, and ask what an American living in Korea who wants to go to China needs to do to obtain a visa. Thank you! He dialed the number. I sat on my bed, waiting expectantly. After a couple of phrases, he motioned for me to come to the phone. I went over. He said to me, “Only English.” Huh? I picked up the phone. Hello? Sure enough, the person on the other end of the line spoke perfect English. Go figure.

The helpful government employee told me I only needed to bring my passport, a photo, and my parents’ itinerary to the consulate in Pusan. Leave everything with them for 4 days, come back, and wal-la, I have a visa. I made him repeat the information three times. Really? That’s all I need to do? He told me where they were located in Pusan. In Hay-un-dae Beach. Oh, near the Paradise Casino? He responded with, “Near the Grand Church.” Sorry. “By the way, our hours are 9:30 to 11:30, Monday to Friday.” Wow, I thought to myself, those are long hours. Talk about service. Just to confirm, I said, You’re open til 11:30 at night? He laughed. “Oh, no. We’re open from 9:30 until 11:30 am. In the morning.” I couldn’t help myself. I blurted out, You’re only open 2 hours a day? What kind of business are you running? He chose not to respond to my outburst. I thanked him and hung up.

I emailed my parents, told them the good news, and asked them to email me a copy of their itinerary. The next morning, I awoke with a message from Dad in my inbox. He had attached the file. I noticed it was quite large. I opened it and couldn’t believe what I saw. At least, *at least*, 50 pages. Every detail of the three months they’ll be away from NC was planned. Flight numbers. Reservation numbers. Where to stay. How to get there. What to buy. When to reconfirm flights. My first thought was, “How am I a product of this union?” My idea of being well prepared for a trip is having a book to read and a tube of lipstick. I felt a tad better when I talked to them later in the week and Dad explained that one column was merely “suggested” or “backup” activities. But still…