Behold, my stuff - Part 2

Our most recent visitor was surprised to learn that I still had a box or two to unpack from our move. Having been in Korea for 2 years now, I can understand how that might seem a little odd. However, our entire situation is an odd one. I have to record this story because it seems almost unbelievable, even to me. In my last post I discussed the stress of preparing our stuff for shipment across the great Pacific. Once everything was packed and delivered to the warehouse, I felt significantly relieved knowing that the difficult part had passed. Oh, if I had only known the roller coaster was just about to begin, I would have tightened my belt a little more!

We arrived in Korea September of 2017 with a temporary apartment secured by the congregation through October of that same year. The plan was to find our own apartment as soon as possible for multiple reasons, one being shipping our stuff. During our visit earlier that year, we had been informed that we would have to obtain an alien registration card before we could secure an apartment. We had also received help in the rental system here in Korea, as it is different from the system in the states. So, we felt confident we were well-prepared for this part of our venture. Not long after our arrival we visited the government office to obtain our alien registration card so we could proceed with finding an apartment. We learned that 1) we would have to obtain a work visa in order to qualify for an alien registration card; and that 2) we would have to find an apartment before we could receive an alien registration card. This was the opposite of what we had originally understood. We shrugged our shoulders, as we have learned these misunderstandings are a part of foreign work, and went about seeking a work visa and apartment.

Throughout the entire process, we were in contact with Sam, the brother who had kindly offered his assistance with shipping our stuff since he worked for a shipping company - such a blessing! Our initial ship date was November 1st, as we had thought we would have an apartment selected and secured by then. With this new news, however, we informed him to hold our stuff until we had a place to put everything.

Bradley focused on the work visa while I searched an apartment app for prospects. With my prior understanding of the rental system and our plans to adopt, we were looking at apartments that had 3+ bedrooms and were around 1200 square feet. I had also packed our stuff according to these plans. We had a 20x8x8 container coming to our doorstep...assuming we would have a doorstep at some point.

We soon learned that an apartment could only be rented by a Korean resident or a foreigner with a work visa. Thankfully, our friends Danny and Irina had helped Bradley secure a job. Unfortunately we would not have visas until his job began in March. At least we had a date though. So, we contacted Sam with a ship date of March 15th. The 2-3 weeks of sea voyage would give us enough time to secure our apartment, but not too much time without furnishings. It was a few months later than I had hoped, but it was finally coming together... or so I thought.

Not too long into the actual apartment hunt we realized we had been mistaken in the deposit amounts required for rental units. The way they list things is different, and although it makes sense once you understand it, I had misunderstood. So, where I had thought that we would need to put 10,000,000 won (roughly $9,500) down to have an apartment on the upper floor of a villa, we would actually need a deposit of 100,000,000 won (roughly $84,000)!!!

[camera zooms in quickly on foreigners' faces] WHAT!?!

Well, surprisingly enough, we just do not have the kind of money. Now, in case you are wondering, the Koreans do not usually have that kind of money lying around either, but as residents, they can easily acquire a loan with a very low interest rate. Then, the monthly rent is usually quite low, ranging between 100,000-550,000 won (roughly $85-450), depending on the total deposit amount and type of apartment. That allows them to pay the loan and the rent, often at a total amount that is much lower than our average monthly rent in the states. So, yes. I did have a momentary panic as I realized I had a shipping container filled with stuff for a 3+ bedroom home, but did not have the financial situation to supply the intended size of apartment. I am pretty sure I had to do some self-talk at this point.

The process for the visa took longer than Bradley's boss had anticipated. This, along with the discovery about the apartment situation brought us to Sam's inbox again, letting him know we needed postpone the date again. Ugh!

Finally when April ushered in, we managed to obtain our visas. The visa office explained that we could not receive our alien registration cards, which would give us access to our healthcare, until we had a Korean address in our names. So, that was next on the list. Our friend, Jung Oo, connected us with his realtor friend who helped us find a suitable apartment that would most likely accommodate our mound of stuff. I was so excited to finally have a place we could call home! She assisted us with the necessary paperwork. As we were happily signing everything, she asked for our alien registration cards.

[camera zooms in quickly on foreigners' faces] WHAT!?!

We explained what we had been told at the office, and I nearly cracked another tooth clenching my jaw. The paperwork could not be filed with the landlord without an A.R.#. Thankfully, the realtor got creative. She used our identification numbers, and then told us to bring her our cards once they were processed. Phew! The rest of the process went smoothly for the most part, and I was relieved to finally contact Sam with a for-real date. We were ready for our stuff as soon as he could get it to the dock. Yay! Another thing checked off our list.

Then, came the reply. Sam was happy for us, but unfortunately he was changing jobs.

[camera zooms in quickly on foreigners' faces] WHAT!?!

His current shipping company was willing to hold our stuff long enough for him to make the switch, but then it needed to be on its way somewhere else.

Okay, I thought. No biggie. We want it on its way to us any way. So, this works out, right? Well, no. For reasons I trust but do not completely understand, Sam could not ship using the company he was leaving. But, he was going to check with his new job to see if they would allow him a 1-time personal shipment since they only did commercial items.

We waited...

No go.

Sam assured us that he would find a company that would handle our stuff though. Okay, I thought. No biggie. Our stuff will be delayed a few weeks. We can camp out in our apartment for a few weeks. Thankfully, the bed Glen had bought during his stay had not sold when we had posted it. So, even though we had hoped to not move any furniture when we changed apartments, we were grateful to have a bed to bring into our new place.

The month of May came and went, and we were still trying to get our stuff to the docks. One thing after another fell out of place, and I was trying to not let frustration rule the day. Finally, Sam managed to find a company that would take care of our stuff. We just needed to send him an inventory list for insurance purposes. I was so excited, and got to work checking and updating our inventory list. By this point, we had asked Sam to pull some of our items because we did not have room for them here. We arranged for my mom to pick them up and store them elsewhere.

Now 9 months into our stay, I was wondering if it was even worth shipping our stuff. We had gone this long without it. But, then I realized how it affected my state of mind to think of 'putting up with what we had' versus 'having what we want.' When I would think about 'putting up,' I immediately when into "let's hurry up and get out of Korea" mode. It made me feel like I was on a bad vacation that had gone wrong and lasted way too long. I knew this would not be healthy if we were going to be successful for the Lord. So, we decided to 'make do' until we could get our stuff, but that 'making a home' was important for our well-being. Thankfully, Bradley and I are good scavengers, and we managed to pick up a few items that were put out in the trash. No need to panic. They were just sitting on the side of the road, free from anything dangerous or disgusting. So, we managed to clean up and use several items to help us 'make do' until our stuff could arrive in June or July at the latest.

Summer of 2018 was coming to a close, and we received an email from Sam. He was changing jobs again.

[camera zooms in quickly on foreigners' faces] WHAT!?!

The good news: he was returning to his original company and could use them to ship our stuff. The bad news: the process would be delayed a little longer.

[camera zooms in quickly on foreigners' faces] Eye-twitching and face contortions.

Oh well. At this point, what was another month or two. So, we went about our business, occasionally checking in with Sam to see if there were any updates.

November came with the news that our stuff had shipped! Although I was thankful, after all the ups and downs of this process, a part of me was prepared to learn that our shipping container was the only one that had been dropped in the ocean. Haha! On December 6th, we received an email from the dock in Busan, Korea that our stuff had arrived. Unfortunately because it had been more than 6 months since our move to Korea, we would have to pay customs on our stuff. Apparently, they assume anything coming to you after more than 6 months cannot be for living purposes. I mean, who would wait more than 6 months to furnish their home and ship their possessions, right? *lip curl*

Sam did his best to try and remedy the problem, but it was a country law. Nothing could be done. So, we focused on what was coming.

Finally the delivery date came! In our correspondence with Sam, I had outlined which pieces were to come and which were to stay. As the movers brought in box after box and piece after piece, I was anxious to see my favorite piece of furniture: our dresser. Actually, it is the bottom part of a modern buffet, but we have used it as a buffet and a dresser, depending on our needs. It was going to be the dresser in our room or the nursery. I never saw it. Then, the final piece was being brought up, and I could hear the men struggling with it out in the stairway. I was bursting with anticipation. Then I heard Bradley say, "oh no. You have got to be kidding me." My stomach dropped. Out of all of our stuff, there was one item I had been emphatic about not receiving: our washing machine. Due to the voltage differences and its size, it would just be in the way. My mom was going to take it, but had not yet done so since Sam's company was kind enough to store our items.

Now... it was in our living room... in Korea.

[camera zooms in quickly on foreigners' faces] Eye-twitching and face contortions.

After talking with Sam, we discovered that he was not there when everything had been loaded. So, we were lacking several items for which we had planned, and had several items for which we did not - a few of the items did not even belong to us. Jung Oo encouraged us by letting us use his parents apartment to store the extra items. It was so sweet of him, and we took him up on his offer.

It was December 9th. We were leaving for our visit to the states on December 14th. I was determined to not worry about sorting through anything. My focus was on making piles and pathways so we could survive the mess. I had plenty to sort through once we returned from the states because at last we could say in person, "behold my stuff!"

Believe it or not, this is better than it was...
can you find the washing machine?

Bradley has a lot of books and office supplies. Yikes!

I always try to provide a peaceful space
where we can rest, away from the chaos.

Did Brandi ever sort through all of the boxes? Does Bradley continue to order more books? Will the washing machine ever find a purpose in its new life? Find out next time on 'a little "sip" of Brandi.' Cheers!