International Flights

Date: 10/23/2010

Part 1/2: Flight stats

Take off: 

    Distance to destination: 6235 miles

    Chicago Time: 1.10 am

    Seoul Time: 15.01 (3.01 pm)

    Ground speed: 344 mph

    Degrees outside: 71 (F)

½ Way through Plane trip: Over the Bering Sea

     Korea time: 9.59 pm

     Ground speed: 554 mph

     Miles left: 2943

     Temperature outside: -54 (F)

     Time to destination: 7 hours

     Altitude:  37000 ft

Part 2/2:  On Plane to Seoul  (Seoul Time: 10.23 pm)

7 hours into flight—my butt is getting very sore.  While waiting for the flight in Chicago, I tried to –as much as possible—walk around because this flight is long and I didn’t need a dead butt setting in early.  I’ve consumed 2 ½ L of water and 2 of those airborne tablets.  The last thing I’m going to need my week of work is super jetlag or getting sick.

The dinner they served was beef stroganoff or bibimbop.  I choose the stroganoff because 1) I am going to live in an area known for their bibimbap so I might as well wait to taste the really good stuff; 2) I want my first Korean food to be on Korean soil.  It wasn’t bad.  My stomach is a little upset—flying or motion sickness making me a little nauseous.  I think the headphones are actually helping with this—the drumming and loud roar of the flight cancelled out.  Molly’s slippers are very warm so I’m actually very comfortable besides the dead butt thing. 

When I was checking for y flight at Chicago I was behind a young Korean Mom and son.  They were very nice.  Asked me why I was going to Seoul, said I’d be a really good English teacher (the boy asked if could come to his call and teach), and said that Gunsan/Jeonbuk area is known for their bibimbap. 

They did a little of the “talking about you while right in front of you.”  It seems pretty harmless00 I could tell they were talking about me b/c they discreetly pointed and the boy kept nodding his head in my direction.

While waiting for the plane, I was looking around me.  There were 4 non-Koreans getting on the plane—excluding me.  2 older white businessmen, one black businessman, and, interestingly enough, I met my first Little Person. He was actually sitting next to me, right across the aisle ways.  He got on the plane an immediately struck up a conversation with his seat partner—said he was worried about “dead feet” because his legs don’t touch the floor—they just dangle so the blood-flow is a problem.  It was interesting to listen (Aka: eaves drop).

The lady sitting next to me speaks only Chinese, I think.  Later she told me that her home is Hong Kong.  The stewardesses are having a hard time communicating—she has to pull out a sheet with carious words on it (I think Chinese maybe with some English).  She is an older woman, probably a grandma.  Since there were a seat in-between us, we took turns lying down to take a nap.  She was so nice—she was reading a magazine, so she had the overhead light on while I was resting, so she put the blanket draped across the two seats so that I had a little canopy. 

The airplane is not that full—nor as big as I remember Russia/London/Japan being.  It goes Window 3 seats, aisle way, 3 seats, aisle way, 3 seats, Window.  I remember Japan being at least 5 or 6 across in the middle.

But I’m not complaining.  The Chinese lady and I can share the seat between us so we don’t feel too cramped.  And there is someone sitting in the middle seat in the row in front of us, so we don’t have to be cramped by people leaning their chairs back.  And in each headrest in front of you, there is a small LED TV screen. 

I just finished watching Toy Story 3, and other movies are playing (Robin hood, Iron man 2, Karate Kid, spots shows, and the Golf Channel).  I also saw the Dora the Explorer is coming-on!

I am very surprised at how unified the stewardess look.  I know that I’m not use to looking at Asian faces so for a while they will all look generally the same.  But these ladies are almost copies of each other.  The hair, make-up, exact same uniform, all of it is so carbon-copies-ish.  They all look exactly like the post for Asiana airline’s check-in.  Talk about strict uniform standards. 

           

When they are serving food, the ladies put on a red apron with stitched different colored flowers and butterflies.  It is so obviously “homey American” that it just looked plain silly.  But I guess if they have to keep their clothes super neat an apron is easier to wash.  Anyway, it went right along with the advertisement I saw in the chick-in line (the first Korean sign I saw, might I add): The “Happy Mom Service” which helps mothers with young babies.  High chairs, buggies, diaper service, etc. 

5.45 Hours left!