More than Just a Trip: Suspected, Tested, Rejected, then Accepted, Quarantined

This is not a photography post, but one to log my extraordinary experience. Unconventional, and it might not happen to anyone else again.

So, I decided that I should write down all the occurrence that I can recall now before I forget.

This is about the process of returning to Korea and KAIST, and 14-day Quarantine. a 10-hour trip took me 24 hours instead. 

Since April, in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, KAIST has enforced a policy that all students returning from overseas should undergo self-quarantine at Government Facility on their own expenditure, of which, unless they have their own residence, they can quarantine in their residence. The first email sent was in April when Korean government started implementing an organized quarantine facility, and KAIST specifically mentioned that the facility costs KRW 500,000 per day. We thought the cost was ridiculous, and we checked from reliable sources that the cost of government quarantine facility is KRW 100,000 per day. It seemed to be a tactic used to deter us from returning, of which our return is perceived to bring more danger to the campus. (It was however, to note that the cases in Korea then were due majority due to local transmission).

Recently, as announced in mid-June, the prices for government quarantine facility has risen to the highest of KRW 150,000 per day. We checked with Daejeon city government (thanks to my labmate), that Daejeon city facility would not hike its price, which means it would stay at KRW 100k per day. However, the university again blasted another email to overseas students in June, stating that the price has been hiked to KRW 150k per day (when in fact, it is not the case of Daejeon city facility). Another strategy to stop students coming back. All these bluffing strategies are so ridiculous and annoying, and since April, I have lost quite a lot of my trust toward the university, particularly ISSS.

Not to mention, thanks to AirAsia, which cancelled my flight for at least 3 times (yeah I lost count) until I gave up and chose to credit account (which is likely what they wanted - our money), I have been delaying my return to Korea for so many months. In the end, I resorted to Korean Air, choosing a date to go with a friend. Nevertheless, the friend could not get her student visa approved, and could not fly together. Thus, I was on my solo again.

So, 2 days before my flight, I suddenly thought of the option to utilize the money needed to pay for quarantine at government facility for living on outside housing. We checked with the Daejeon city government again about the price (yes 100k), and also called the Covid-19 Call Center to check on facility allocation. But somehow, they seem to indicate that the allocation of facility is random, i.e. not definitely to Daejeon. This sounds very unpromising. I forwarded my concerns to prof. Then as she was chatting with another professor, about a foreign faculty member who entered Korea on Jul 1, they found out that he was quarantined at Ramada Hotel Yongin. That definitely sounds more like the highest price payment! And so made me terrified!! 2.1 million!!

However, on the next day, prof called several authorities and people and confirmed that it was a difference in visa; the faculty had a short-term visa and so he is quarantined in main government facility, but my visa is long-term stay which is eligible to use local gov facility. That was a more promising information.

Anyhow, that is a hefty price if the per day cost is at KRW 150k. I told prof about the possibility of quarantine outside and reasoned with her about living outside for a semester or two, and somehow got her agreement that I could do so if I want to, and it is my choice. However, considering the future costs, I decided to stick to dorm life and thus decided to proceed with government facility for quarantine.

Day before my flight, ISSS manager, Ms ASY，text me on kakaotalk to confirm my journey back to korea, and to make sure that I tell the quarantine staff that I am going to government facility, not KAIST. She told me I could call her on kakaotalk if I have problems at the airport or immigration. Okay, let’s see.

And so, I took my flight. Comfortable it is, but bould not sleep well in flight, thanks to those talkative girls from Czech Republic, who kept chatting away the whole journey.

My travel buddy with me again

When I got off the plane and proceeded to the quarantine check, I hit jackpot - I was found to have high body temperature (37.5C). I believe this was due to lack of sleep, of which whenever it happens, my body feels heaty; it was a familiar feel. Nevertheless, I was classified suspected as a carrier, and had to take the Covid-19 test at the airport, and wait at the airport until the results are released. A country friend, A, was testing with me, and was also having high temperature (38C), worse than me (yeah nothing to be glad about).

Waiting room for Covid-19 test (originally a departure gate)

Swab test for nose and mouth taken through the cute tiny doors here

But this was not all. On top of that, I had to wait for the right time to call the Daejeon city office to secure a place for quarantine. So I thought airport staff would know about the allocation for long-term stayers. However, the guy, likely from military (which is assisting in quarantine procedure at the airport), insist that only short-term stayers go to gov facility; long-term stayers SHOULD quarantine at their own residence. Now I was lost, where should I go?? I called prof to talk to him, and it seems like he does not accept or understand (yes army only listen orders, how true). He directed me to quarantine staff, but alas, they look blur and annoyed somehow (one young lady saw the name tag that was given to be to put on when I took the Covid-19 test, and ordered me to take it off, saying “그거 빼!!” ?!?! Why did she use 반말 when I am a customer/passenger, when she is not close to me??? HOW RUDE!!) And guess what, they kept me standing there for 20 minutes for nothing, and knowing I am waiting for test result, they just shooed me away. (Yes, typical civil service attitude).

I was brought to a row of cubicles which temporarily houses the passengers who are waiting for result. I was given a breakfast box with burrito and salad. Yes, my second breakfast. While eating and all these while, I was communicating with prof and my family about the situations. I am so grateful for them for staying with me, so much appreciated, felt that I was not alone there. The ISSS manager, on the other hand, did not answer the call when I wanted to ask about the government facility. Honestly, that was quite expected, and now it is proven. It was an hour later when she finally response, and I linked her to talk to my prof. In the end, I got to call the Daejeon city office, and confirmed the address for quarantine. [Later realize that, THE ADDRESS is ALL THEY NEED! They don’t really care where you are gonna quarantine!! DUHHH!!]

Skyview Hotel Room #9

Deluxe Room with two chairs

While waiting, I chatted a while with A, who was from Chungang university and in her 4^th year of undergraduate. She has her own place in Seoul, which was the perfect quarantine option. I was so worn out, and tried to take a nap on the chair in the cubicle, but it was so hard to breathe because of the mask i was wearing, similar to N95 type. So, became more zombie-fied. Around noon, we were given tuna kimbap for lunch, which surprisingly tasted good – with large filling of tuna J. At around 1.50pm, the sleepy me, still trying to get a nap, sensed that the two (Aand another guy) who took the test with me, were moving away (they got their result), and I wondered why mine did not come. Apparently, noob me, did not turn on my data, which was somehow needed to receive text messages (weird system yah).

First real Korean food for months - my favorite tuna kimbap :)

After 7 hours, finally out at the Arrival Hall. To continue my wait.

So the test results… I TESTED NEGATIVE!! Ahhh thankfully!! I quickly proceeded with the rest of the journey -- I mean I tried to. Finally passing immigration! And finding my poor lonely luggage which had waited for me for 7 hours. Nowadays the only way to go to Daejeon is to take a chartered bus to Gwangmyeong station for KTX, by batches. But alas, all those waiting time again, and reaching the exit to the bus, I saw the 3pm bus leaving us behind. TT another hour to wait.

From airport onwards, all of us were directed our ways like kindergarten kids, under the direction and supervision of staff and police. That means it took way longer time. I got on a 5.41pm train, reached Daejeon at 6.26pm. I tried asking to be sent to the longer-period quarantine place (국제재산연수원 near KAIST) rather than going all the way into the outskirts (심산동 청소년 수련원). But somehow, they only allow me to proceed to the latter. So I had to proceed with the instructions.

Another pocket-draining. But I was finally gonna be on the train to Daejeon.

As if a kindergarten excursion trip to Gwangmyeong Station

Daejeon city quarantine staff at Daejeon Station

Reaching the 수련원, I met yet another obstacle, after the so many problems. I was shocked when the quarantine facility leader said they do not accept anymore KAIST students. >.< They questioned why I was there at the gov facility but not KAIST quarantine facility. (DUHH It's not like I wish to be here! It's killing my savings!) 

Now WHAT SHOULD I DO?? Of course, what else can I do, I had to called prof, and let her talk to them. The leader told us that they do not accept KAIST students because of problems, mainly because of food restrictions (no Korean food, halal only) and language barrier (most of the communication here are in Korean, spoken and written). But prof managed to persuade them to take me in, since I could speak Korean and eat Korean food, and I was already very exhausted from the whole day event. They did, thankfully, and would let me stay one night there and transfer me to the other facility the next day. I was given a room, it was big, although less furnished. A meal was left there, cold but very much needed after 8 hours of not eating. Again, thankfully to my prof, I got settled down after 24 hours of traveling. The staff were nice to call and ask what I prefer as breakfast next day, either bread and fruit or bento. Chose the latter (a way to impress them about my Korean-ness? Haha!)

Facility room at 심산동 청소년 수련원. Thankfully, there was a bed!!

Simple and most important devices - Wifi modem and router

Dinner was emptied

No regret coming here. The air was fresh and cooling, the view was tranquil.

But then, this was not over. I received a call the next day, with a Chinese teacher as a translator, and was asked to clarify to some questions. And again, they asked WHY I came here, WHY did not I go to KAIST facility, and since KAIST has facility, until WHEN will I stay here. AIGOOOOO!! I had to keep explaining that KAIST does not have quarantine facility anymore since April (and apparently, according to ISSS, there were 15 KAIST members quarantined/ing here, but why all these??). Besides that, I also provided the exact time of arrival, time of Covid-19 test, time of result, etc. Finally these are made clear. Hopefully, no more interviews. And by the way, breakfast and lunch, although had similar dishes, taste better than dinner last night. Hahaha!

Breakfast

I proceeded to the other facility at 2pm. It’s a twin room here with 2 beds, slightly smaller but more comfortable to work and stay for the longer period. Dinner served was much better! So I expect to have great meals looking forward. (but as I am writing this now, I start to grow bored with the food XD)

My room - I will not see view this way until 2 weeks later

Nice and cozy

Dinner was great!

So I thought it would be a good sharing of my experience for the friends who are expecting to return in the near future. Most of them would likely proceed with government facility, as a rule enforced by KAIST. However, my case has uncovered that the city government no longer accept KAIST students, which would make my experience invalid to what they may face in future. Indeed, the students just received an email informing the situation that government facility does not take students anymore. They said students, but I’m quite sure it is specific to KAIST students; on the other hand, other universities seem to have their own quarantine facility, except KAIST. Interestingly, KAIST does not state any resolution to this, only ‘strongly discourage’ students to return.

Well, that makes me the likely last KAIST student to use Daejeon government quarantine facility. I am not sure if this is an honor, hahaha! But I can see that prof is really thankful to have me back. Hopefully this is a good decision, even though it seems weird that I return on a summer vacation. Anyhow, no vacation expected this summer, gotta catch up with research work.

One thing though. The whole process partly distracted me from my usual homesickness. 

Now I miss my family.