The Visa Run Part 2

I made it to Busan via the KTX high speed rail from Seoul. I did a red eye, left my house at 11PM on the bus and loitered at Seoul Station until 5:10AM. I got her in Busan at 8:25AM on Friday. In two more hours (12:30PM) I will get on the hydrophoil boat for a three hour ride to Fukuoka (which I want to say sounds like F#%k-u OK?), but it really is pronounced "Foococa."

So this trip looks like a long weekend of stuffing my face with Tuna Sushi! I doubt they will have any left when I leave. Those of you that know me well know that I love my Tuna Sushi! More later!

The Visa Run - Part 1

 

So I go to work today and get a phone call from my recruiter... "Nam Tasa, guess what? Your tourist visa is going to expire on October 12th and because immigration is still processing your working visa you need to leave the country. We suggest you go to Japan for the weekend via the ferry from Busan. this way when you come back your tourist visa will be good for another 30 days and will give us enough time to get your degree verified and be able to send you to Japan again to get your E2 visa. You can go next weekend if you want, but that might cost you more money. Besides tomorrow (Friday) is a holiday and it will give you more time to explore."

 

I get the news around 5PM and begin making my plans around 8PM Thursday night. They were semi-finalized around 10:30PM, but with complications... My flighty boss had to book the hydrophoil boat ride from Busan to Fukuoka, Japan because they would not except my credit card on the internet. I booked the KTX high speed rail tickets myself, and now I need to change my return ticket from Busan because I arrive way after the boat lands in Busan.

 

Well, in spite of that minor hiccup, I went to my boss' house, grabbed the ticket and caught the 11:00PM bus from Incheon to Seoul Station and now have another 3.5 hours to wait before the train boards for Busan. I am not too worried, but will have to force myself to sleep on the train and the ferry so I can keep my head as I travel on such a spur of the moment.

 

Believe it or not, life here this time around has been really awesome. The kids at my academy are awesome! So awesome, in fact, I am already considering an extention for a third year. There have been a few issues that we are working on, but overall it is great. I live in a bustling city by the ocean within nearby reach of Seoul's famous Hyungdae area (made famous for the fantastic night clubs). Also noteworthy are all the great western food establishments walking distance from my house (Mc Donald's, KFC, Outback Steak House, Popeye's Chicken, TGI Friday's, Burger King, etc.) I also have two subway stations within a 15 minute walk from my house, and there is a bus that can get me to Seoul in about an hour.

 

Work is tough in that there is a lot of it and I am working overtime and til late at night, but the people that I work with are so very supportive and helpful that I love it.

 

well, that is it from me. Will write more on my return from Japan.

 

Cheers,

 

Nam Tasa