Jeju island English speaking tour guide

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Her name is Mary Rachel who is from Singapore. As long as I remember she was one of my clients 4 years ago. And then few months ago I got a mail from her. Upon getting a mail from her I was little surprised  because I could hardly remember who she is. Well, Then recalling all the clients I had then, I can vaguely remember them because they were quite loud women group. Anyway I was glad to hear from her. Thanks for remembering me. 

​The mail says that she wants to visit to Jeju island with her friends because she missed spring in Jeju that was so beautiful that time. Well...Spring of Jeju island? Yes, Cherry blossoms and yellow flowers are harmonized in spring time in Jeju island, I prefer fall though. Anyway blossoming of all kind of flowers is one of the quality for visitors at Jeju. 

They finally arrived in Jeju and started a tour. Upon arriving of them, I hunched that they are crazy about taking photos. Meeting diverse people from all over the world makes me good opportunities to exchange the knowledge of each countries. According to their saying Singapore was parted from Malaysia in 1965 and started from a poor fishery village and has become a well off metropolitan country. I had talked a lot about politics, economy, and cultures. We had very interesting conversation while North and South Koreas are trying to reconcile. 

During a conversation one thins I got impressed that they don't mind even though their country is a dictatorship. Well, as long as they have enough freedom, they seem not care about their politics much. I don't know if it's a good sign or not. However, there are different things between Korea and Singapore. In Korea General Park had led the country with a gun meanwhile Lee Quan Yu a leader of Singapore had led the country with a broom. Both countries have achieved economical development but the evaluation of each leaders are different from their own people. 

Anyway, my clients love flowers in Jeju island. I didn't realized flowers in Jeju are that much beautiful, so pretty even to me. There was a photographer named Keo Mason who is an excellent photo maker. Later she sent me some photos which are like magic work. During 4 days we had visited most of good places as well as my hidden places. They endlessly pressed a camera shutter such as they likely to put all scenery of Jeju island in their camera.

As I am very interested in South Asian culture these day I learn lot of things from my clients. That is one of the merits in my job as a tour guide. And I like to have a tour with people who love taking pictures because they seem to know how to see beauty of things.   

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Early in the morning, there were a lot of text messages coming to my phone. "Hey? Donghak, I am watching you on the TV. I am surprised and It is very nice seeing you..." Even my elementary school teacher called me. Tanks to my job which is an English speaking tour guide in Jeju island, I had a chance to be on TV. 

A few weeks ago I got a call from a TV writer Miss Ahn. She said that MBC broadcast staion wanted to make a 30 minutes documentary film about me and my profession. Because English speaking tour guiding for foreigners is not common thing in Jeju island, where is dominated by domestic and Chinese tourists. And beside of their suggestion, I was thinking to make a film on my tour guiding on my own. So being on public TV show would be a good idea for that. However, consent of me wan't enough to make a film because they needed a consent from my clients as well. And duet to no contact number there was no way to inform them in advance. 'Will they agree with being on TV? and, Even will they join my tour in positive way?" Suddenly I felt my brain heavy with so many questions and nervous for a project. 

The more problem was that they wanted to take my family on the film as well. I had to give a second thought for that. I didn't want to reveal my privacy. It's bit reluctant to ask my family. Anyway I told my wife about this and she said snickerly that "well...It's a good chance to say truth that you are such a idle guy". Well, It was joke with a serious meaning, However, my kid was so gleeful to think of being on TV. Anyway, we had decided to be on TV. How many chances can we get our whole family on TV? and It can be a life memory. 

The filming was divided into two parts. first part lasted 3 days, and second parts lasted 2 days. On the first day of starting to take a film, I and film director were waiting for the clients at the airport. As I mentioned I hadn't informed them about our filming in advance. 'Will they agree with that?' It was a first step for the filming to get an agreement from them. There are 6 people in the group. One was 4 people in Korean-American family and the other one was an Indian couple. Finally, we met them and introduced each other. Carefully asked for a consent for filming. They seemed bit embarrassed at first, but soon all of them said "Why not? It will be a good experiences for our Jeju tour" Yes! They were cool people.  

​As a camera kept following us, obviously it seemed my clients were nervous and uncomfortable. Even I was nervous that I couldn't do my guiding properly. Anyway on the first day I brought them to the stone cultural park and explained general knowledge of geology, culture, and history on Jeju island. Actually I love to explain about Jeju island to my clients when they show sincere interest. With doing a job I am good at, I felt confident and my clients seemed feel more comfortable on the camera. However, I felt like I was the one who got nervous mostly among us. 

The next day, filming went on all day long. The tension being on the camera had gone and they started joking and playing in front of the camera. When they seemed comfortable, I felt comfortable as well. My guiding became more natural too. And thankfully the Indian couple dressed in Indian traditional costumes for the film. It added more diverse effect and interests for the show. The director was excited with the Indian couple. 

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It was a full and long day. I showed everything I could do in my tour program. I spared no efforts and it was fully rewarded. In the interview my clients gave a heartfelt compliment for my tour. Well, It was too much for me but I was delightful with what they said about me. The filming lasted two more days after we bided a farewell and more episodes came out. If you go to this site you can see a whole show.

https://db.tt/yVInLT93AA

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Well... 43 clients from India...I think there are too many people in my group but I am sure I can handle it. I think 4 days are bit long time to take all of them to show around jeju island. And there are also 6 handcapped people in the group. However, I have to try to handle with it. I know It's a big challenge for me. 

People say handling Indian people are most difficult for tour guides. When a tour guide got a call from an agency for touring for Indaian people, they hesitate to take them. Because they

In my assume 4 days was bit long to take all of them around Jeju island. And even there were 6 handicapped people. So, It was a big challenge for me. As you know clients from Middle East, India, and Russia are well known for their picky characters.
There was no way to know what story would come out. It would be a good episode or terrible story.

It was a first day of tour with Indian clients.

It showed on the screen that the plane CX from HongKong arrived at the airport. After while People were coming out with their lots of luggages and there were some people coming out on a wheelchair taken by airline staffs. " I am sorry, we have to go back with wheelchairs. We can take them only here " the staffs told me that they can't take handicapped people out of a building of airport.

Well, it was a long distance to the parking place for them. So, I asked the driver to come here instead of our going there. But the driver denied that because of the ticket camera.

Anyway we could manage to go to the bus with a lot of luggages. Actually bus was full with 43 people.
After counting, there were 3 people short. I hurried running down to the building to find them. They were slowly coming towards. "I am sorry, we were smoking" Lame excuse they game me. I hunched it would be a difficult tour. 

It took only 20 minutes to come to a hotel. While checking in, they just sat on chairs in private coffee shop and opened Indian cookies they brought and started eating. According to the rule of hotel, they shouldn't do that.

Hotel workers tried to stop them but it is already impossible because of a language barrier. They came to me to stop them. It already went chaos.

" How can I get WiFi?", "Can I get some water?" "I want some coffee for cookies" "Where can I wash my hands?" They just came to me ask bombarded. Come on... I was at lost. I couldn't find how can handle these people for 4 days.

On the way to dinner, my head was getting really heavy. I need a help. I have 43 clients from India.

Continued...