Test run

I always wanted to create stuff. I use and create a lot of slides and worksheets. I thought I would share my creation here.  There is a little voice telling me "There are better creators than me." Then there is another voice telling me "Go ahead, you will get better." Before, I might have listened to the first voice, but I am learning to listen to the latter.  Here we go. We cook several times a semester. This is the first one that we made. I have read several recipes and adjusted the ingredients based on my students' allergies.  PS: I forgot to take a photo of our finished product. So, I used a photo from MySpiceTrunk.com.  Korean Pancake  
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I expected more...

 It was a weird week.

    It started as normal. My normal working schedule has been back in place since the second week of April. I needed a little adjusting, but otherwise, it was pretty normal.


    A friend of mine stayed for two days before going to South Korea.


    Toward the end of the week, I checked my upcoming flight information. I have a transfer at Daegu International Airport. There was a notation saying "I need a transit visa."

So, as a rational person, I went on to the embassy website to check and get the list of materials I would need.


    That is where I encountered the website language can be set to either Japanese or Korean, not English. The website is designed for Japanese and Korean people. For people like myself, who can converse comfortably, but hard time reading Kanjis, the website doesn't service. So, I went to different countries (USA, Singapore, and Mongolia) embassy websites. Then there is no page for transit visas.


    Then, I thought to myself, surely the Embassy in Tokyo knows. I prepared documents (based on regular visa requirements), just in case I can apply for a transit visa. So, I spent 1.5 hours on the train to get there. They opened back up at 13:30 pm, and I was there on the dot. I go through security, get a number and wait. I didn't wait long before they called the number. Since English is strong in any official environment, I asked,  the lady behind the glass, if I could speak in English. Initially, she said okay. Then she insisted that I speak Japanese. So, I explained my situation in the best way I possibly can. The answer she gave me was "I don't know. Call your airline" I was shocked by that answer. Surely, she has the access and means to look up information. She neither typed anything at her workstation nor tried anything. I expected more from a country's embassy and official personnel.


    Then, I sent an email to the embassy about the same thing. I got the exact same answer. It felt like I wasted my day off.


    Yesterday, I called my airline. I explained my situation and the embassy's response. The representative was shocked to hear the answer, too. That person was so nice and even confirmed with the Daegu immigration to get an answer for me. It turns out I don't need a transit visa.


    All this could have been solved by a detailed page for transiting through South Korea.

    Health front, I am doing well. I weighed myself a couple of days ago. I was down 2 kgs. Forgot to check my BGL.


    That's it for now. 



Update (2025.04.17): 

    I have received official confirmation that I don't need a transit visa or need to take my luggage. According to the notification, a transit area has been opened at Daegu International Airport recently. This makes transfers easy.  

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