Its called Hi Seoul, and it is a festival. It is all over Seoul and there are different things happening the whole time, tonight was the night for fireworks. So being the good little foreigners that we are, Christina and I, along with some of our friends from orientation decided to journey into the depths of the city and try to watch the fireworks. Apparently every other human in Seoul had the same idea. We came to our subway station and joined the literal throngs of people waiting for the train. The first train that came along was already full. The doors opened and people poured out, and then people surged on. We didn't even make it onto that train. It was too full. The last people on were being held on by other people while the doors shut to keep them from falling out.
The next train along we were right in the front of the line. I followed Jason on, and was being pushed from behind by someone. I didn't know who, I only hoped it was someone I knew. Turns out it wasn't. It was a full body shove onto the subway. I couldn't go forward anymore, but the person behind me was still trying to move me ahead. I couldn't move either way. On my right was a man and his girlfriend, clutching ice coffee and looking concerned as my entire side trapped them against the wall. On my other side was part of Christina, and I could see a piece of Rebecca's face in the distance. I suddenly became aware that I was smashed up against Jason, so tight I couldn't even turn my head. He was smashed up against two tiny kids and their concerned mother who was muttering in Korean and trying to hang onto them. And behind me, flat up against my back was a slightly musty smelling Korean man. Thankfully, I was trapped directly under the air vent, so I had fresh air blowing on me. All was ok until we began to move...
Then we were one mass of swaying rocking people. I could have passed out and still remained upright. We came to our first stop and you could see the panic spreading like a wave. People jammed in the center of the isle, knowing that this was their stop but not able to move any of their limbs. Vic's camera caught on a girls skirt in the confusion and caused her to become very angry with him. It is always confusing when you can really move, and have an angry Korean girl yelling and gesturing. And you can't even see what the problem is...
So the first stop the doors opened and for a moment no one moved then it was like something popped and all of a sudden people started for the door. Squeezing their way past others, yelling in Korean, eyes wide, clinging to each other for fear of being separated in the mob. And then the music, signalling the doors were about to close, and just when I thought maybe I would have more room, a whole new crowd clambered onto the already overloaded train. I swear, half the population of Korea was in our car.
Thankfully we didn't have to go too far on the sardine train. We soon reached our stop and the train literally exploded with people. Of course all the escalators were broken, so we became on body surging up the stairs, moving as one, forward, upward to the outdoors and freedom.
After a brisk walk and a near death road crossing, involving me running full speed across a road dragging poor Rebecca behind and almost being run over by a car, we made it to the fireworks. The problem with fireworks is that I don't even care that much about them. They were lovely. Whatever. We watched for a while and then headed back... tired from the trip and ready to call it a night already. Feeling road weary and foot sore. Then we found out if was only a quarter to ten. Must be getting old.
That's the adventure for this weekend. More to come, I'm sure!
signing off!
Michelle
This is so funny, Michelle! At least, to read it. I could picture it all in my mind, and it struck me as quite humorous. I'm sure in real life it is not quite so funny. I finally got a gmail account, so now I can post, too!
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