Ordering Online Isn't Just Clicking A Few Buttons?

I've had about four different blog posts in my head to write the past few weeks and the fact that they haven't been written is testimony to all the change. Greg typically is tired the first month of school as he gets back into routine and this year is no different. As for myself, I keep reaching these moments where my brain is done. It can't process anymore new information and just needs a break.

It hit me last week when I was trying to order an Instant Pot (my culinary comfort tool) on Coupang, which is the Korean version of Amazon, how much change I've jumped into at once. 

To order something from Coupang, one must register with them. In order to register as a foreigner, you need an Alien Residence Card (ARC). We received ours about two weeks ago and for some reason, I had expected this card to be a golden wand that miraculously makes everything happen easily and smoothly. Gotta love those expectations!

I sat down with my laptop and ARC to order the Instant Pot.  Remember, I'm in Korea, so websites are in Korean. Luckily, with Google Translate a lot of websites can be translated into English...but not always. So, using my cellphone with the Google Translate app, I take photos of screens that it then translates for me. Truly amazing.

Just like on Amazon, I found the Instant Pot I wanted on Coupang and put it in my cart. Then I went to check out and it required me to register. This is where things diverged from the familiar Amazon experience rather quickly.  

I put in my name, phone number (which is a form of identification here), and create a password. I was getting excited and already thinking about the recipes I would be cooking in my favorite kitchen appliance. The next page came up and there was this checklist. The next item it needed was a personal clearance code. A what?

I hadn't heard about this yet so I tried my ARC number, phone number and even just skipping it altogether. Nope. It needed a personal clearance code, whatever the hell that was. Using one of my resources, I jumped on Facebook and posted onto the group for non-teaching spouses and partners.  "Can anyone help me? I'm trying to buy something from Coupang and can't figure it out."

Jennifer, who organizes a lot of weekly gatherings for non-teaching partners, quickly responded to me. She was able to get me the website I needed to apply for this personal clearance code. This code is needed for any online shopping. Sweet, problem solved.

The site, of course, doesn't translate to English but I have my phone and the translate app so I'm good to go. I apply for the thing like 5 times and it won't go through. Something about my name not matching with my ARC number. I reach out to Jennifer and she reminds me that in Korea last names come before first names. I take that advice and it works! Yes! I have my personal clearance code! 

I save it in 5 places since it seems like a pretty important number and then type it into Coupang. It worked! One of the check box is green and I can move forward to adding a payment. I suddenly realize that's as far as I'm going to get today. My credit card is not linked to any of my Korean information, my Korean bank debit card has $0 because we haven't figured out how to transfer money from Greg's account to mine yet, and I can't use his debit card since it doesn't match my information. And now my brain is fried after working on this for over an hour.

I take a breath and let go of all the stories going on in my head about the amazing Instant Pot...some day just not today. And really, life will go on without an Instant Pot.

I've spent some time with another non-teaching spouse, Drew, and we had a conversation around settling into life here. I was telling him that "India was so much easier." Then I had to laugh at myself. What was I talking about?! The first five months were really hard! Yes, I had things down after two years but it was a process to get there.

So, the waves of ups and downs with moving to a completely different culture with different language, systems, food, as well as all the other things that go along with moving, will keep happening for a bit.

Two days later, Greg had asked me if I had ordered the Instant Pot. I laughed and reminded him the ball was is his court about either setting up his own account on Coupang or transferring me money. He sheepishly grinned and admitted he'd hoped I would have just created an account for him. 

You know, in the past I would have because my desire for that Instant Pot to make me feel better would have overridden the reality that it just takes time to settle in.

I smiled back at him and told him he could use my expertise to help him get through the process of creating his personal clearance code but that he needed to do it for himself. 

The Instant Pot arrived this week and I made my first egg porridge yesterday using the steam setting so it's working well so far1 All the India recipes I can't wait to make, alas, will have to wait until I find all the spices I need...though I do hear there's a small Indian/Thai market somewhere. A future blog post in the making perhaps...