August 2016 brought our military family to a new Army base, in a new country and new continent. We did have time to prepare for this move, bringing the necessities and a few of the comforts of home. After immense amounts of research, we knew we wouldn't have as much storage as we were used to in the States or even our house in Europe. No garage, closets at a minimum, etc. Most of that was true and we probably brought just the right amount of stuff.
We dropped in to the Incheon Airport late one week night during August and were greeted by our wonderful military sponsors. Thank goodness for them! We were running on very little sleep and had hopped forward 14 hours, there needed to be as little thinking on our part as necessary. First thing we noticed, that hit us in the face and demanded to be noticed, was the humidity. Good gracious, South Korea in August is moist. We have lived in some humid climates, Nebraska in August isn't comfortable, but Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma aren't really a picnic either. South Korea was really something else. Perhaps it's the amount of concrete, or the amount of people, but whew! is it humid. Next thing that was not to be taken lightly, traffic. The drive back was crazy, late at night and there was still a ton of traffic on the roads. Seoul has a population of 10 million, approximately, so there are always people on the road, even at 11:30 pm. Our sponsors had been there before, many times before, and knew how to maneuver around it. After 9:00 pm, anyone can use the bus lanes. During daytime hours, the far left lane is reserved for buses or vans that carry 9 people or more. Once that lane opens up, it helps with the traffic flow, tremendously.
They got us back to the hotel on the military base in 90 minutes and dropped us and ALL our luggage off. We were each allowed 2 bags of 60 pounds plus a carry-on, so we brought them all. We had no idea how long it would take to get our household goods with the rest of our belongings, so we packed heavy. Boy child was going to start school before our things came and the husband was going to need all the clothes that come along with that job. We were heavy, but we needed it.
As tired as we were, we were all wide awake well before 6:00 am that morning. Jet lag was going to be a force to be reckoned with.
*Seoul has a population of about 10.3 million people. The country, as a whole, has an approximate population of 50 million.
Omaha has a population of just under 1 million. The city may have busted that barrier since this article. Nebraska, as a whole, has a population of just under 2 million.
