A couple of weeks went by since that chance encounter with Jeongin. Although the craziness of it crossed my mind once in a while, I didn't think too much of it. After all, I didn't want to set myself up for disappointment.

I was in the middle of hauling my shit up to the roof top unit of the apartment that I managed to get. (And by hauling, I mean dragging to and from the elevator. Elevator!! Can't believe my building has one!) It was a one bedroom with direct access to the roof. The view was killer, and the apartment itself seemed very new and modern. The kitchen had nice appliances, and the apartment itself had a lot of big windows — very rare to find in Seoul. I moved in today, and my furniture that I had ordered was arriving later today. It's hard to believe, but I was starting work next week! My Korean itself was also already vastly improved. I guess that's just what happens when you drop yourself into a foreign country, armed with just the Korean you spoke growing up (Yes. I sound like a four year old when I speak.).

As far as friends go, I hadn't made any lasting friendships yet, but that's probably just because the only place I had visited outside of the various cafes was the climbing gym. (Let me tell you in another story about how damn small climbing gyms in Seoul are — and how difficult the climbs are). I was still searching around for a gym that I liked, so I wasn't enough of a regular to have made friends. I met up with my friend who had just gotten discharged from the army (Yay!), and he took me around Seoul, showing me good food places, good clubs, and fun shopping spots. I met some of his friends, but as they were a bit younger than me, and still students, there was a bit of a tone of awkwardness.

Long story short, at this point, I was a gal with a job, an apartment, and no friends.

Just as I finished getting my suitcases and things that I had bought over the past couple weeks up to my apartment, I got a text from some delivery guys saying that my mattress, bed frame, and wardrobe had arrived. Yes! I thought. I hate having to live in disorder, and having at least a wardrobe to put things away in would ease my mind a bit. I quickly pulled on some athletic shorts and a sports bra shirt, and slid into my Birkenstocks.

I rushed downstairs to meet them, and stopped short as I saw that they had finished unloading the packages, and were getting into their truck to drive away.

"Wait! I need help getting these upstairs!" I shouted at them. I can't believe they're about to just drive away after leaving huge pieces of furniture at the entrance of the apartment.

"Sorry kid, you didn't pay for us to move the packages up, and we got more deliveries to make. Ask your neighbors!" They chuckled as they drove away unapologetically.

"Are you kidding me?!" I exhaled sharply and rubbed my forehead in disbelief. I closed my eyes and shook my head before accepting the situation for what it was. I haven't even seen any neighbors yet, let alone met any in the building. This would be a long task ahead, and if I wanted to get any of this day back, I'd have to get started now.

I began to drag each box into the building. I figure they'll be safer from any theft as long as they're inside the building first. Was there even that much theft here? I don't know, I only know San Francisco's theft rates...The only problem was the 3 steps to get to the entrance.

Nothing I can do but to just get to work, I guess. Thankfully, I wasn't the weakest kid on the block, having been climbing for over 5 years. But let me tell you about how easy it is to grip wide cardboard boxes, when compared to gritty granite. (Not easy.) Just as I got the mattress box up one step, it slipped out of my hands reach before the second, and tumbled to the ground. My instant reaction was to go after it. Of course I slipped with it and fell. My foot skidded off of the step as the weight of the falling box took me by surprise, and I prepared myself for the impact.

Instead, somebody was there to grab me before I hit the ground.