I think Thursday is my favorite day of the school week. I have three exchanges with five different Korean students. They are tons of fun and I really enjoy our time together. Today, I was supposed to have three exchanges. Only one of my exchanges came, the other two were sick. In my exchange I learned how to play a Korean card game with Korean cards. Korean cards are smaller and made of plastic. They do not have the numbers and characters like the Western cards. Instead they have different pictures and they are grouped in fours for each number. So there are four "eight" cards, each with a different, but similar design. I loved the card game. It's hard to explain, but I would love to teach you guys when I get home.
This evening, I went with Stella and four of the Japanese students to a restaurant in town for dinner. We went to a Korean restaurant, which included the traditional seating on the floor (so fun!). In most Korean restaurants, you order a group dish and eat from it as a group. The Japanese girls ordered for us a seafood noodle soup. It had a variety of seafood: crab, shrimp, shellfish, and squid. What is so unusual about Korean seafood dishes is that they serve the fish whole, leaving you to "prepare" the fish into more bite size pieces. Me and Stella left the "preparation" to the Japanese girls. They told us that the squid head is the best part, which I was already hesitant to try even the tentacles. However, I did try the head, which was pretty good. It was very chewy and didn't taste too fishy. The Japanese students were shocked that I can't buy squid at home.
This weekend, I am hoping to tour the southern part of the province. I am hoping to visit a nearby national park to go hiking or to see a nearby temple.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
It's Fall!
I never knew that a season could change overnight. For the past two weeks, it has been the perfect weather: mid 70's, sunny. This morning, it was upper 50's, with a dry, brisk feeling in the air. Fall is here. I looked around and almost overnight, some of the trees have lost their leaves. I feel like Fall is coming in a hurry. I have begun to sort through my warmer clothes now that I will need them. This week it will be mid 60's, nice weather.
My Korean language classes have started to become more of a challenge. Yesterday in Korean Speaking, my teacher introduced us to the sentence structure of Korean: Subject, Object, Verb. Within five minutes of learning this, she started asking us questions in Korean and wanted us to answer her in Korean using this structure. It was hard! I took Latin in high school which follows the same sentence structure, so I had an idea about how to form the sentence. The most difficult part of Korean for me right now is to learn more vocabulary. My teachers tell us not to worry about vocabulary, but I want to understand more Korean. I want to know what my pastor says in church, what the Korean students say when they walk by, and I want to be able to talk to my exchange partners in Korean. Argh! I am hoping now that we are talking about grammer, our teachers might introduce more vocabulary into our classes.
In Korean History class next week, I am giving a ten minute presentation about Confucianism and the differences between how the Chinese and Koreans applied it into their society. I am almost done writing the paper, and I have learned so much about Confucius' philosophy. In China, Confucianism constantly competed with Taoism and Buddhism for influence in Chinese society. In Korea, the people found a balance of both Confucianist philosophy and Buddhist spirituality. It was so interesting to learn about how one societal philosophy could be applied in two very different ways.
In a few weeks, I will be joining a bunch of the international students to climb one of the nearby mountains. Korean mountains are never much higher than 700m so it will be a good hike. We are hoping to be able to go when the leaves are changing, should be beautiful.
My Korean language classes have started to become more of a challenge. Yesterday in Korean Speaking, my teacher introduced us to the sentence structure of Korean: Subject, Object, Verb. Within five minutes of learning this, she started asking us questions in Korean and wanted us to answer her in Korean using this structure. It was hard! I took Latin in high school which follows the same sentence structure, so I had an idea about how to form the sentence. The most difficult part of Korean for me right now is to learn more vocabulary. My teachers tell us not to worry about vocabulary, but I want to understand more Korean. I want to know what my pastor says in church, what the Korean students say when they walk by, and I want to be able to talk to my exchange partners in Korean. Argh! I am hoping now that we are talking about grammer, our teachers might introduce more vocabulary into our classes.
In Korean History class next week, I am giving a ten minute presentation about Confucianism and the differences between how the Chinese and Koreans applied it into their society. I am almost done writing the paper, and I have learned so much about Confucius' philosophy. In China, Confucianism constantly competed with Taoism and Buddhism for influence in Chinese society. In Korea, the people found a balance of both Confucianist philosophy and Buddhist spirituality. It was so interesting to learn about how one societal philosophy could be applied in two very different ways.
In a few weeks, I will be joining a bunch of the international students to climb one of the nearby mountains. Korean mountains are never much higher than 700m so it will be a good hike. We are hoping to be able to go when the leaves are changing, should be beautiful.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Back to the Books
Well, Chuseok is over. I'm back on campus, ready to tackle the next few weeks. I have a Korean language test on Monday and a big history project due in a week. Midterms are right around the corner, and I'm sure there will be a few last minute assignments due.
I had a great time in Seoul with the Byeons. The Byeon parents were amazing hosts for me and Sarah. They would make us breakfast and dinner. I love their home cooking! They toured with us around Seoul with us, giving us more insight about the history of some of the sites. They also drove us back to school, a good two hour drive. I was overwhelmed by their hospitality. They have invited us to come back anytime. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met.
We also got to visit with the Byeons Aunt, Uncle, and two cousins. They were so glad to see me again and to meet Sarah. We had dinner at their house one night. I learned how to play a traditional Korean game called Yut. It is played by tossing four sticks in the air. The way they land determines how many spaces you can move on the game board. The Byeons Aunt made one of the best meals I've had here in Korea. She made a cajun chicken salad, and Chinese pork dish, and a traditional Chuseok dish that was eated only by royalty made of beef and rice cakes. She also made us Gimbap for our next day of touring. Gimbap is a Korean snack; it is made of rice, meat, and a variety of vegetables wrapped in a piece of seaweed. It is really good, one of my favorite Korean snacks.
Yesterday, we went to a house that was home to Korean Royalty. Many of the members of the royal family would go there for meetings with officials and there were several royal weddings that took place there as well. It was the place where Korea's last King, Emperor Gojong, married his wife, Empress Myeongseong. He was appointed King because the previous King did not have an heir. This was the only time in Korean history that this took place. The Empress was orphaned at a young age and was chosen to marry him because she did not have family, therefore, no political ambitions. They were married for almost thirty years. Empress Myeongseong was murdered by Japanese assasins in 1895 in Gyeongbokgung palace (one of the palaces we went to this week). This is one of the most tragic stories in Korean history. After we wandered around the house, we went to the N Seoul tower. It is an observation tower in the heart of Seoul on one of the many mountians in Seoul. We climbed the mountain (much more fun than the three minute ride on the cable car) and went up to the observation deck in the tower. It was so beautiful, we made it about an hour before sunset, so the light on the city was gorgeous. On the observation deck, the direction and distance of major cities all around the world was marked above the windows. I said hello to everyone back home. As we hiked back down the mountain, we witnessed the sunset over the city.
In all, we toured two palaces, one Buddhist temple, one traditional village, a royal house, the N Seoul tower, three markets, one huge department store, the World Cup stadium for a movie, and probably some other places I can't remember right now. It was a great week filled with sites and time with the Byeons. I hope to visit them for one weekend every month.
I had a great time in Seoul with the Byeons. The Byeon parents were amazing hosts for me and Sarah. They would make us breakfast and dinner. I love their home cooking! They toured with us around Seoul with us, giving us more insight about the history of some of the sites. They also drove us back to school, a good two hour drive. I was overwhelmed by their hospitality. They have invited us to come back anytime. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met.
We also got to visit with the Byeons Aunt, Uncle, and two cousins. They were so glad to see me again and to meet Sarah. We had dinner at their house one night. I learned how to play a traditional Korean game called Yut. It is played by tossing four sticks in the air. The way they land determines how many spaces you can move on the game board. The Byeons Aunt made one of the best meals I've had here in Korea. She made a cajun chicken salad, and Chinese pork dish, and a traditional Chuseok dish that was eated only by royalty made of beef and rice cakes. She also made us Gimbap for our next day of touring. Gimbap is a Korean snack; it is made of rice, meat, and a variety of vegetables wrapped in a piece of seaweed. It is really good, one of my favorite Korean snacks.
Yesterday, we went to a house that was home to Korean Royalty. Many of the members of the royal family would go there for meetings with officials and there were several royal weddings that took place there as well. It was the place where Korea's last King, Emperor Gojong, married his wife, Empress Myeongseong. He was appointed King because the previous King did not have an heir. This was the only time in Korean history that this took place. The Empress was orphaned at a young age and was chosen to marry him because she did not have family, therefore, no political ambitions. They were married for almost thirty years. Empress Myeongseong was murdered by Japanese assasins in 1895 in Gyeongbokgung palace (one of the palaces we went to this week). This is one of the most tragic stories in Korean history. After we wandered around the house, we went to the N Seoul tower. It is an observation tower in the heart of Seoul on one of the many mountians in Seoul. We climbed the mountain (much more fun than the three minute ride on the cable car) and went up to the observation deck in the tower. It was so beautiful, we made it about an hour before sunset, so the light on the city was gorgeous. On the observation deck, the direction and distance of major cities all around the world was marked above the windows. I said hello to everyone back home. As we hiked back down the mountain, we witnessed the sunset over the city.
In all, we toured two palaces, one Buddhist temple, one traditional village, a royal house, the N Seoul tower, three markets, one huge department store, the World Cup stadium for a movie, and probably some other places I can't remember right now. It was a great week filled with sites and time with the Byeons. I hope to visit them for one weekend every month.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Chuseok!
I am in the third day of the ten day break for Chuseok! Chuseok is like Christmas in America: all businesses close and everyone visits relatives during the holiday. It is a three day celebration filled with festivals at historic sites and lots of eating.
Hyesun, Sarah and I were planning to go to Pusan to visit her grandparents. We decided to stay in Seoul and tour around the city. The roads become very congested during the break, so we were looking at a ten hour bus ride to Pusan. We would only have two days in Pusan before we would have to make the trip back to Seoul. Seoul is very empty because families get together in the countryside. We have been touring Seoul and outside of the city. After Kyunghye's test in November, we are planning to go the Pusan with the entire Byeon family to see their grandparents.
Yesterday, I got to see the Byeon's Aunt and Uncle with their two children again. I met them the first week I was in Korea. They were very excited to see me again and hear about school. They also helped me and Sarah study for our Korean language test that we have to take when we get back from break. It was great to hear their speaking to help us understand the Alphabet. We also went to see "Despicable Me" in 4D with them. For those who don't know, in a 4D movie, you wear 3D glasses. But that's not all: the chairs move, water splashes on you, and there is wind to go with the movie. I have never been to a 4D movie in a theater, but here in Korea it is very much the norm. The theater was in the World Cup Stadium. After the World Cup, they converted part of it into a shopping center. The 4D movie was so much fun! I was laughing almost the whole time because of all the crazy things that were happening to the audience.
Today, we went to Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. It is in the historic part of Seoul that has three other palaces within walking distance from each other. This part of Seoul is over two thousand years old. Gyeounbokgung was built about 700 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. It was partially destroyed in the 1500's by the Japanese during Korea's war with Japan. It was rebuilt in the 1800's only to be partially destroyed in 1910 by the Japanese during the occupation. It is being rebuilt and many of the buildings have been restored.
When we got to the palace, we watched the changing of the guards. It was so exciting to see the guards in Joseon style dress (some of the men had fake beards because it was the style of the dynasty to have a beard, but not today) and to hear the traditional instruments being played as they marched. After the ceremony we walked around the palace. Korean palaces have many buildings built on about forty acres. They have over thirty separate buildings. The entire Royal family would live in the palace. This could include grandparents, siblings, and cousins of the King. Hyesun said the reason the palace has so many different buildings over so much land is that the Royal Family was rarely allowed to leave the palace. Many of the members of the Royal Family were born and died in the palace, never seeing outside of the walls. They were never to be seen by the common people. I thought this was very tragic: the King in a sense was a prisoner in the palace walls. He ruled over a beautiful country, but he was never allowed to see it.
Tomorrow, we are planning to go to the Seoul watch tower and possibly the fortress in Seoul. I'm very excited to see what other things we may do in Seoul this week.
Hyesun, Sarah and I were planning to go to Pusan to visit her grandparents. We decided to stay in Seoul and tour around the city. The roads become very congested during the break, so we were looking at a ten hour bus ride to Pusan. We would only have two days in Pusan before we would have to make the trip back to Seoul. Seoul is very empty because families get together in the countryside. We have been touring Seoul and outside of the city. After Kyunghye's test in November, we are planning to go the Pusan with the entire Byeon family to see their grandparents.
Yesterday, I got to see the Byeon's Aunt and Uncle with their two children again. I met them the first week I was in Korea. They were very excited to see me again and hear about school. They also helped me and Sarah study for our Korean language test that we have to take when we get back from break. It was great to hear their speaking to help us understand the Alphabet. We also went to see "Despicable Me" in 4D with them. For those who don't know, in a 4D movie, you wear 3D glasses. But that's not all: the chairs move, water splashes on you, and there is wind to go with the movie. I have never been to a 4D movie in a theater, but here in Korea it is very much the norm. The theater was in the World Cup Stadium. After the World Cup, they converted part of it into a shopping center. The 4D movie was so much fun! I was laughing almost the whole time because of all the crazy things that were happening to the audience.
Today, we went to Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. It is in the historic part of Seoul that has three other palaces within walking distance from each other. This part of Seoul is over two thousand years old. Gyeounbokgung was built about 700 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. It was partially destroyed in the 1500's by the Japanese during Korea's war with Japan. It was rebuilt in the 1800's only to be partially destroyed in 1910 by the Japanese during the occupation. It is being rebuilt and many of the buildings have been restored.
When we got to the palace, we watched the changing of the guards. It was so exciting to see the guards in Joseon style dress (some of the men had fake beards because it was the style of the dynasty to have a beard, but not today) and to hear the traditional instruments being played as they marched. After the ceremony we walked around the palace. Korean palaces have many buildings built on about forty acres. They have over thirty separate buildings. The entire Royal family would live in the palace. This could include grandparents, siblings, and cousins of the King. Hyesun said the reason the palace has so many different buildings over so much land is that the Royal Family was rarely allowed to leave the palace. Many of the members of the Royal Family were born and died in the palace, never seeing outside of the walls. They were never to be seen by the common people. I thought this was very tragic: the King in a sense was a prisoner in the palace walls. He ruled over a beautiful country, but he was never allowed to see it.
Tomorrow, we are planning to go to the Seoul watch tower and possibly the fortress in Seoul. I'm very excited to see what other things we may do in Seoul this week.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
25 days in Korea
So, I have almost officially been in Korea for a month! It's kind of crazy to think that because it has not felt that long. I have met so many amazing people and have learned so much in 25 days of living in Korea. I have adjusted pretty well to all of the differences between Korea and the US. Here's some news about life around campus.
I love all of the Korean food (except for the hot chili paste). Koreans love soups, Korean style BBQ, and rice dishes with meat (usually pork) and a variety of vegetables. I enjoy eating Korean food and I have not really missed Western food (though I do eat pizza sometimes). I have had Chinese food a few times with my Chinese friends, which is very different from American Chinese food. It is really good, but my friends told me it is not like real Chinese food. I'm very excited for my trip China in January so that I can eat real Chinese food! All of my Chinese friends are very excited that I will visit China and they have started planning things for us to do.
I have seen a variety of Korean TV shows. Many of them are written for mothers and homemakers. Because of this "target audience," the shows usually talk about cooking or solving home problems like: protecting your kids from knocking a knife on the edge of a counter on themselves, keeping your family safe from running into sliding glass doors, and making sure your baby doesn't pick up something dangerous off the floor (all of these were half hour specials). There are some Korean dramas and game shows, but they are very few compared to these homemaker shows.
I have also seen a few Korean movies. My favorite movie that I have seen is called "Windstruck." It is about a policewoman who is in love with a teacher. They meet when she mistakes him for a purse thief. He decides to go on the night watch with her on the streets of Seoul. After that, it is this adorable love story. What is interesting about Korean movies is that there is never any kissing, rarely there is hugging. Instead, these movies focus on the friendship that is in a relationship. In Windstruck, the couple surprise each other at work, fix the girl's apartment, and travel to the mountains of Korea. I didn't understand any of the dialogue and the movie had its cheesy moments, but it had more depth than most of the movies in America. You could see that they really cared about each other. It is so different from American movies where if the couple doesn't kiss in the first ten minutes, they won't stay together. American movies can be so shallow, missing the point of a relationship. I have found that I really like Korean movies, even though I can't understand them. Luckily, I have many translators who enjoy watching movies with me.
I have also started my exchanges with the Korean students. Basically, I meet with twelve different Korean students over the course of a week. I meet with two students for an hour. The point of these exchanges is to help them improve their English conversation skills while learning about each person's culture. As the international student, we have to plan the subject we want to talk about and help the student with any questions they have about English. I decided to get to know my exchange partners this week and ask them if there is anything they would like to talk about in future exchanges. I had two exchanges today. The first meeting was with one girl. She was very sweet and spoke English very well. She is graduating this semester and hopes to work in Japan. The second meeting was with two girls. They were both my age and very nervous. It took them about five minutes after spotting me to come over since I didn't have a picture of them and they had a picture of me. They were very shy to speak English but after a while they opened up. By the end of the exchange, they were asking me when I could come and meet their friends outside of the exchange! I was very surprised by how much they enjoyed their first exchange after being so nervous. Tomorrow, I have three different exchanges. I am very excited to meet with the students. I am so glad that we have these exchanges because I can bring questions I have about Korean language and culture to my partners. I think I will learn more about Korea from my partners than in my classes.
My classes are going well. My language teachers are moving at a good pace for me. My other classes are interesting and the drumming class is a blast! There is not too much homework in my classes, which is so refreshing after my insane semester last year.
Tonight was the Wednesday night service at church. I absolutely adore all of the ladies at church. They are so sweet and remind me of church back home. The pastor is wonderful. He always has a smile on his face and enjoys discussing Korean culture with me. He also gave me and the other students that come to church a Korean Bible and English/Korean New Testament. The love that the church lavishes on us international students is unbelievable.
Tomorrow, my floor is having our weekly floor party/get together. We decided as a suite that we wanted to have time every week to get to know each other more and have fun. I think the plan this week is to play a game and watch a movie. All of the girls on my floor are awesome and so funny. We always have lots of laughs at our parties.
On Friday, I will be traveling to Seoul for Cheosuk. We will then travel to Busan for the week. I am very excited to see Busan because many of my Korean friends say it is the most beautiful city in Korea.
I love all of the Korean food (except for the hot chili paste). Koreans love soups, Korean style BBQ, and rice dishes with meat (usually pork) and a variety of vegetables. I enjoy eating Korean food and I have not really missed Western food (though I do eat pizza sometimes). I have had Chinese food a few times with my Chinese friends, which is very different from American Chinese food. It is really good, but my friends told me it is not like real Chinese food. I'm very excited for my trip China in January so that I can eat real Chinese food! All of my Chinese friends are very excited that I will visit China and they have started planning things for us to do.
I have seen a variety of Korean TV shows. Many of them are written for mothers and homemakers. Because of this "target audience," the shows usually talk about cooking or solving home problems like: protecting your kids from knocking a knife on the edge of a counter on themselves, keeping your family safe from running into sliding glass doors, and making sure your baby doesn't pick up something dangerous off the floor (all of these were half hour specials). There are some Korean dramas and game shows, but they are very few compared to these homemaker shows.
I have also seen a few Korean movies. My favorite movie that I have seen is called "Windstruck." It is about a policewoman who is in love with a teacher. They meet when she mistakes him for a purse thief. He decides to go on the night watch with her on the streets of Seoul. After that, it is this adorable love story. What is interesting about Korean movies is that there is never any kissing, rarely there is hugging. Instead, these movies focus on the friendship that is in a relationship. In Windstruck, the couple surprise each other at work, fix the girl's apartment, and travel to the mountains of Korea. I didn't understand any of the dialogue and the movie had its cheesy moments, but it had more depth than most of the movies in America. You could see that they really cared about each other. It is so different from American movies where if the couple doesn't kiss in the first ten minutes, they won't stay together. American movies can be so shallow, missing the point of a relationship. I have found that I really like Korean movies, even though I can't understand them. Luckily, I have many translators who enjoy watching movies with me.
I have also started my exchanges with the Korean students. Basically, I meet with twelve different Korean students over the course of a week. I meet with two students for an hour. The point of these exchanges is to help them improve their English conversation skills while learning about each person's culture. As the international student, we have to plan the subject we want to talk about and help the student with any questions they have about English. I decided to get to know my exchange partners this week and ask them if there is anything they would like to talk about in future exchanges. I had two exchanges today. The first meeting was with one girl. She was very sweet and spoke English very well. She is graduating this semester and hopes to work in Japan. The second meeting was with two girls. They were both my age and very nervous. It took them about five minutes after spotting me to come over since I didn't have a picture of them and they had a picture of me. They were very shy to speak English but after a while they opened up. By the end of the exchange, they were asking me when I could come and meet their friends outside of the exchange! I was very surprised by how much they enjoyed their first exchange after being so nervous. Tomorrow, I have three different exchanges. I am very excited to meet with the students. I am so glad that we have these exchanges because I can bring questions I have about Korean language and culture to my partners. I think I will learn more about Korea from my partners than in my classes.
My classes are going well. My language teachers are moving at a good pace for me. My other classes are interesting and the drumming class is a blast! There is not too much homework in my classes, which is so refreshing after my insane semester last year.
Tonight was the Wednesday night service at church. I absolutely adore all of the ladies at church. They are so sweet and remind me of church back home. The pastor is wonderful. He always has a smile on his face and enjoys discussing Korean culture with me. He also gave me and the other students that come to church a Korean Bible and English/Korean New Testament. The love that the church lavishes on us international students is unbelievable.
Tomorrow, my floor is having our weekly floor party/get together. We decided as a suite that we wanted to have time every week to get to know each other more and have fun. I think the plan this week is to play a game and watch a movie. All of the girls on my floor are awesome and so funny. We always have lots of laughs at our parties.
On Friday, I will be traveling to Seoul for Cheosuk. We will then travel to Busan for the week. I am very excited to see Busan because many of my Korean friends say it is the most beautiful city in Korea.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Temple and Village
I first want to start today's entry with a quote that defines what I have learned from 9-11-2001:
“These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of America’s resolve.”
–President George W. Bush
September 11 was a tragic day that we should never forget. America was more united and patriotic in the aftermath of 9-11 than I had ever seen in my lifetime. Now nine years later, we are back to division and anger. Even though we disagree, we have the freedom to do so. That is the beauty about America. Being away from my home country has given me a greater appreciation for what I have been given in America. I am so proud to tell people that I am from the USA.
Today, I went to a Buddhist temple and a traditional Korean village with Hyesun and some of her friends. I invited one of my friends from school to come on this all day excursion. Her name is Sarah, she's an Art major from Pennsylvania. She's in my language classes. She is interested in seeing historical and cultural sites, my favorite things to visit. We met Hyesun in Cheonan and met her two friends that she brought to travel with us. Eunil is her best friend from high school who very knowledgeable about Seoul and Korea. Petro is Eunil's boyfriend from Germany. They met in India and have been together for two years. He came to visit her for a few weeks and see her home country.
We first went to a Buddhist temple outside of Cheonan. It was near a few rivers, so there was a calming feeling in the complex. The complex was a collection of about six different temples in an area of about ten acres. There were about four temples in a square together and the others were set near one of the rivers. Today it was raining on and off because it is typhoon season. As a result, the temple was completely empty except for one monk. It was so peaceful to walk around the complex and see all of the intricate details on each of the temples. Each of them had their own personality with the kinds of Buddha's that were placed in the temple. There was one temple that had at least 200 Buddha's placed around the walls. So different from the Midwest! The monk was very nice and talked with us. It is one of my favorite places I have seen here in Korea.
We then went to Anyang to eat lunch at a restaurant that Hyesun wanted to try. It was a three course Korean meal. They first brought out Korean side dishes. They also brought an assortment of vegetables and pork. We then put a little of each into a leaf and ate it, a famous thing to eat in Korea. I had a new food today: fish eggs. The funny thing is I didn't even know it until Hyesun told me later while we were eating. I was putting a little of everything on a leaf to try it all together. The fish eggs looked like some kind of spice, so sprinkled some on top. A few minutes later Hyesun said: "I just love these fish eggs! They are so good." I then realized why the "spice" didn't have any taste. They were very good, I'm just glad I won't be going around Korea looking for this "spice" that doesn't exsist. The last course was a bowl of rice and some more sides to add to the rice. There was no Kimchi! Shocker! There was the signature red pepper paste that has given me a new appreciation for cold water. I decided not to destroy my taste buds today and opted out of adding it to my rice.
After we ate, we went to a traditional Korean village. It was adorable! There were houses built in the style of the ancient homes with a grass roof and the pagoda style houses. What was really interesting about this village is that it is a functioning village. People live in the houses. It was really funny walking around some of the houses and seeing a Hyundai parked on the side. We got there an hour before it closed, so the village was pretty empty. It was really fun to explore all the homes and see what Korea looked like 500 years ago.
It was great to see Hyesun meet some of her friends. I was so glad that Hyesun could come and help us find our way with the buses (I got lost the last time I took a bus). It was also great to see some of Korea with Koreans who absolutely love their country. There is no better tour guide! Today was one of the best days I've had in Korea. I learned so much and saw so many amazing sites. I have one more week of classes and then I have a ten day break for Korean thanksgiving. Hyesun, Sarah, and I will be going to Busan for a few days to visit Hyesun's grandparents. We will then go to Seoul and visit with the Byeons. I'm super excited about our break because I will get to see more of the country and visit with the Byeons again.
“These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of America’s resolve.”
–President George W. Bush
September 11 was a tragic day that we should never forget. America was more united and patriotic in the aftermath of 9-11 than I had ever seen in my lifetime. Now nine years later, we are back to division and anger. Even though we disagree, we have the freedom to do so. That is the beauty about America. Being away from my home country has given me a greater appreciation for what I have been given in America. I am so proud to tell people that I am from the USA.
Today, I went to a Buddhist temple and a traditional Korean village with Hyesun and some of her friends. I invited one of my friends from school to come on this all day excursion. Her name is Sarah, she's an Art major from Pennsylvania. She's in my language classes. She is interested in seeing historical and cultural sites, my favorite things to visit. We met Hyesun in Cheonan and met her two friends that she brought to travel with us. Eunil is her best friend from high school who very knowledgeable about Seoul and Korea. Petro is Eunil's boyfriend from Germany. They met in India and have been together for two years. He came to visit her for a few weeks and see her home country.
We first went to a Buddhist temple outside of Cheonan. It was near a few rivers, so there was a calming feeling in the complex. The complex was a collection of about six different temples in an area of about ten acres. There were about four temples in a square together and the others were set near one of the rivers. Today it was raining on and off because it is typhoon season. As a result, the temple was completely empty except for one monk. It was so peaceful to walk around the complex and see all of the intricate details on each of the temples. Each of them had their own personality with the kinds of Buddha's that were placed in the temple. There was one temple that had at least 200 Buddha's placed around the walls. So different from the Midwest! The monk was very nice and talked with us. It is one of my favorite places I have seen here in Korea.
We then went to Anyang to eat lunch at a restaurant that Hyesun wanted to try. It was a three course Korean meal. They first brought out Korean side dishes. They also brought an assortment of vegetables and pork. We then put a little of each into a leaf and ate it, a famous thing to eat in Korea. I had a new food today: fish eggs. The funny thing is I didn't even know it until Hyesun told me later while we were eating. I was putting a little of everything on a leaf to try it all together. The fish eggs looked like some kind of spice, so sprinkled some on top. A few minutes later Hyesun said: "I just love these fish eggs! They are so good." I then realized why the "spice" didn't have any taste. They were very good, I'm just glad I won't be going around Korea looking for this "spice" that doesn't exsist. The last course was a bowl of rice and some more sides to add to the rice. There was no Kimchi! Shocker! There was the signature red pepper paste that has given me a new appreciation for cold water. I decided not to destroy my taste buds today and opted out of adding it to my rice.
After we ate, we went to a traditional Korean village. It was adorable! There were houses built in the style of the ancient homes with a grass roof and the pagoda style houses. What was really interesting about this village is that it is a functioning village. People live in the houses. It was really funny walking around some of the houses and seeing a Hyundai parked on the side. We got there an hour before it closed, so the village was pretty empty. It was really fun to explore all the homes and see what Korea looked like 500 years ago.
It was great to see Hyesun meet some of her friends. I was so glad that Hyesun could come and help us find our way with the buses (I got lost the last time I took a bus). It was also great to see some of Korea with Koreans who absolutely love their country. There is no better tour guide! Today was one of the best days I've had in Korea. I learned so much and saw so many amazing sites. I have one more week of classes and then I have a ten day break for Korean thanksgiving. Hyesun, Sarah, and I will be going to Busan for a few days to visit Hyesun's grandparents. We will then go to Seoul and visit with the Byeons. I'm super excited about our break because I will get to see more of the country and visit with the Byeons again.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
A few hours in Cheonan
Today, I didn't have any classes. I was able to make my schedule with a day off during the week. Since I didn't have a class, I invited Stella (or Csilla) to come with me to Cheonan. Stella is from Hungary and she is a very interesting person. She came to Korea because two years ago, she began to watch Korean movies and felt a connection to the Korean culture. She is absolutely adorable because she loves everything Korean! She is very knowledgeable about Korean history and culture, plus she speaks Korean fairly well. She didn't have a class today either, so we hopped on the subway for Cheonan.
When we got to Cheonan, we stopped for lunch. We had one of favorite Korean dishes: Samgyopsal. Samgyopsal is a traditional Korean dish. The server brings out a skillet with pork, garlic, and onions. You cook your meat at your table on a burner built into your table. They also bring out many side dishes (including kimchi of course.) When the meat is cooked, you take a piece and wrap it in a piece of lettuce with the vegetables and eat it. It is so good (I think when I get back to the States, I'm going to open a Samgyopsal restaurant, could be the next Starbucks.)
After we ate, we went to a park in Cheonan. It was raining, so the park was empty. It was very peaceful walking through the gardens and to have a relaxing day after a week of classes. On our way back to school, we stopped in the underground mall in Cheonan. It had over fifty stores and it was under a large street. It was a new experience for me to walk around stores with the sound of traffic above me.
When we got back, we had our orientation with the Korean students. Many of the students didn't come because it was optional for them, however it was mandatory for us. The entire ceremony was in Korean, so I have no clue what they talked about.
In two weeks, I have a nine day break for Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving). I am hoping to go to Seoul and see more of the city with the Byeons.
When we got to Cheonan, we stopped for lunch. We had one of favorite Korean dishes: Samgyopsal. Samgyopsal is a traditional Korean dish. The server brings out a skillet with pork, garlic, and onions. You cook your meat at your table on a burner built into your table. They also bring out many side dishes (including kimchi of course.) When the meat is cooked, you take a piece and wrap it in a piece of lettuce with the vegetables and eat it. It is so good (I think when I get back to the States, I'm going to open a Samgyopsal restaurant, could be the next Starbucks.)
After we ate, we went to a park in Cheonan. It was raining, so the park was empty. It was very peaceful walking through the gardens and to have a relaxing day after a week of classes. On our way back to school, we stopped in the underground mall in Cheonan. It had over fifty stores and it was under a large street. It was a new experience for me to walk around stores with the sound of traffic above me.
When we got back, we had our orientation with the Korean students. Many of the students didn't come because it was optional for them, however it was mandatory for us. The entire ceremony was in Korean, so I have no clue what they talked about.
In two weeks, I have a nine day break for Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving). I am hoping to go to Seoul and see more of the city with the Byeons.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Church in Asan
Yesterday, Bermet and I went to church in town. Bermet is a student from Kyrgyzstan and she is so sweet. She is the youngest person in our program at the age of 17, but she carries herself better than some of the older people in our program. She has only studied Korean for a year and she is close to fluent. Xian-Chen joined us because she was curious about church. She told me that in China, there is no religion, but a belief in Marxism. I thought that was interesting that even with her little knowledge of English, she knew the English word for a political movement that has changed her nation forever.
We walked to the church from school. It is called the Methodist Church of Asan. When we arrived, the dozen or so members welcomed us and shared their hymnals and Bibles with us. I brought my English Bible so I could read along (since my Korean still needs progress). The entire service was in Korean, so I could only pick out a few words here and there. Bermet sat next to me and helped me understand the basic message of the sermon. It was nice though to sit and hear Korean being spoken for a long period of time. It was beautiful to see that even though I could not understand what was being said, the words that were being said were for the praise and glory of our God. Even though we come from many different cultures, we can come and worship together. The message of Christ's redeeming love is universal and breaks all language and cultural barriers.
In the service we also sang a few hymns, which was an interesting experience. I have learned how to read all of the sounds represented in the alphabet, but I do not know the meaning of the words. It was very weird to be able to sing a song, but being unable to understand the words I was singing. At least I am making some progress being able to read the sounds; vocabulary will come with time.
After church, the congregation invited us to their lunch. In Korea, every church has lunch together after the service. It was great to try new Korean food and to get to know the members and the pastor. I was overwhelmed by their hospitality and friendliness. Pastor Oh-Se-Hoon spoke English very well and invited us to their Wednesday night service. I am very excited because I have missed the fellowship that I have from church at home and now I have found a church home here in Asan. I am also excited because I think reading familiar hymns in Korean and listening to the pastor's sermons will help my Korean. My hope is to be exposed to the language as much as possible. Pastor Hoon also suggested that he could help Bermet and I with our Korean if we would help him perfect his English. I think this would really help me with my Korean. I am so glad that I have found a wonderful group of believers to join for worship. I am very excited to see what the Wednesday service will be like.
We walked to the church from school. It is called the Methodist Church of Asan. When we arrived, the dozen or so members welcomed us and shared their hymnals and Bibles with us. I brought my English Bible so I could read along (since my Korean still needs progress). The entire service was in Korean, so I could only pick out a few words here and there. Bermet sat next to me and helped me understand the basic message of the sermon. It was nice though to sit and hear Korean being spoken for a long period of time. It was beautiful to see that even though I could not understand what was being said, the words that were being said were for the praise and glory of our God. Even though we come from many different cultures, we can come and worship together. The message of Christ's redeeming love is universal and breaks all language and cultural barriers.
In the service we also sang a few hymns, which was an interesting experience. I have learned how to read all of the sounds represented in the alphabet, but I do not know the meaning of the words. It was very weird to be able to sing a song, but being unable to understand the words I was singing. At least I am making some progress being able to read the sounds; vocabulary will come with time.
After church, the congregation invited us to their lunch. In Korea, every church has lunch together after the service. It was great to try new Korean food and to get to know the members and the pastor. I was overwhelmed by their hospitality and friendliness. Pastor Oh-Se-Hoon spoke English very well and invited us to their Wednesday night service. I am very excited because I have missed the fellowship that I have from church at home and now I have found a church home here in Asan. I am also excited because I think reading familiar hymns in Korean and listening to the pastor's sermons will help my Korean. My hope is to be exposed to the language as much as possible. Pastor Hoon also suggested that he could help Bermet and I with our Korean if we would help him perfect his English. I think this would really help me with my Korean. I am so glad that I have found a wonderful group of believers to join for worship. I am very excited to see what the Wednesday service will be like.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Wandering around Asan and Cheonan
So, today Dyra and I decided we wanted to see something in the area. I did some research last night and found ten things that we could go see. Dyra, Bermet, Xian-Chen, and I left this morning determined to find at least one of these places. We did not go to any of these sites, but we had an amazing day of exploring the province.
We took a bus to where we thought would be the Korean village. We ended up in a state park. It was beautiful. There was a statue commemorating a Korean general that fought the Japanese invaders. We decided not to hike today (it was about 90 degrees), but we are planning to come back in a few weeks to hike now that we know how to get there. We also met up with Dan, the student that picked me up from the airport, and an English teacher that was in the program at Soonchunhyang a few years ago. They told us that the village was too far from the park and recommended that we go to Cheonan, the largest city in the province.
We took their advice and caught a bus to Cheonan. Bermet speaks Korean so she asked the bus driver to let us know when to get off for Cheonan. We got off near a gas station five miles out of Cheonan! Poor Bermet felt so bad, the driver must have misunderstood what she said since we got off at the city limit, not the city. It turned out alright when we found another bus that took us to Cheonan.
In Cheonan, we went to an open air market. It was so fun to walk by fresh fruit stands, fish stands with live octopus, and street vendors that made street food. We ate fish on a stick with soy sauce from one of these vendors and shopped at a few of the stores. I bought these beautiful Korean soup bowls and a tote bag for my school books.
We decided to find a place to eat. We found this cute Korean restaurant off the main street. It was owned by a mother, her daughter, and her son. We came to eat at about two, so the restaurant was empty. They were so excited to meet us and we were able to talk with them with Bermet translating. We had a soup that had kimchi, tofu, and pork. We also had several side dishes (one of course was kimchi). After we ate, they offered that the son could drive us back to campus. It was nice after a day of confusing buses to have a ride back.
I had fun today because even though we were lost half the time, everyone had a great time. We enjoyed having the freedom to explore and find things "off the beaten path."
Tommorow, Bermet and I will be going to a church in town. Bermet is Protestant as well and will help me understand the Korean in the service. The family from the restaurant will be joining us as well. I am very excited to go to a Korean church. We are hoping to attend service every week together if possible.
We took a bus to where we thought would be the Korean village. We ended up in a state park. It was beautiful. There was a statue commemorating a Korean general that fought the Japanese invaders. We decided not to hike today (it was about 90 degrees), but we are planning to come back in a few weeks to hike now that we know how to get there. We also met up with Dan, the student that picked me up from the airport, and an English teacher that was in the program at Soonchunhyang a few years ago. They told us that the village was too far from the park and recommended that we go to Cheonan, the largest city in the province.
We took their advice and caught a bus to Cheonan. Bermet speaks Korean so she asked the bus driver to let us know when to get off for Cheonan. We got off near a gas station five miles out of Cheonan! Poor Bermet felt so bad, the driver must have misunderstood what she said since we got off at the city limit, not the city. It turned out alright when we found another bus that took us to Cheonan.
In Cheonan, we went to an open air market. It was so fun to walk by fresh fruit stands, fish stands with live octopus, and street vendors that made street food. We ate fish on a stick with soy sauce from one of these vendors and shopped at a few of the stores. I bought these beautiful Korean soup bowls and a tote bag for my school books.
We decided to find a place to eat. We found this cute Korean restaurant off the main street. It was owned by a mother, her daughter, and her son. We came to eat at about two, so the restaurant was empty. They were so excited to meet us and we were able to talk with them with Bermet translating. We had a soup that had kimchi, tofu, and pork. We also had several side dishes (one of course was kimchi). After we ate, they offered that the son could drive us back to campus. It was nice after a day of confusing buses to have a ride back.
I had fun today because even though we were lost half the time, everyone had a great time. We enjoyed having the freedom to explore and find things "off the beaten path."
Tommorow, Bermet and I will be going to a church in town. Bermet is Protestant as well and will help me understand the Korean in the service. The family from the restaurant will be joining us as well. I am very excited to go to a Korean church. We are hoping to attend service every week together if possible.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Music and Models
I am convinced that music is the most universal language. I went to listen to the Soonchunhyang orchestra yesterday for their fall concert. I went with Jin Ju, a Korean student on my floor. She is very sweet and loves to watch silly youtube videos with me.
The orchestra played Disney, Andrew Llyod Webber, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, and one of my favorites: Beethoven's 5th symphoney. Last year, I had to write a research paper on Beethoven's 5th. I think it displays the power of the human spirit better than any other song I have heard. For those who would like a brief history about the piece, Beethoven wrote his 5th after learning that he was losing his hearing, the sense that allowed him to appreciate his passion: music. He contemplated suicide and confined himself in his home for months after learning this. He wrote this piece to show himself and the world that his diability would not hinder his ability to continue his passion. The piece shows his frustration in the first part, but it concludes with a powerful, hopeful theme.
I was reminded during the concert that music is a bridge of communication. Even though I cannot understand much of the Korean language, I could listen to the same music with Koreans and enjoy the music with them. That is the reason why I think music is so awesome. People can come from many different backrounds, but can still listen to music together.
At the end of the concert, the orchestra played two encore pieces (I put them on shutterfly, see if you can recognize them). They also played the school song.
So, crazy thing happened today: I was approached by a model agent. Weird huh? Dad and I were joking about how I would become a celebrity in Korea because of my height and blond hair, I didn't think I would be approached at school like that! I was walking from lunch with Dyra and Bermet and these two Korean men came up to us. They said they work for a modeling agency and they want me to be in a TV fashion show. They didn't understand English very well, so Dyra helped me understand their fragmented English. I tried to politely tell them that I wasn't interested because I am here to study, not to model. They gave me their card and asked for my number, when Bermet told them in Korean that I don't have a phone (Thanks Bermet!). This has become the joke of the day. We decided to practice our modeling (pictures on shutterfly, very funny) I don't think any of us could be models.
All of my classes are awesome. Here they are: Korean speaking, Korean writing, Korean folk music, Korean history, and a class called South and North Korea. I also have a 6 credit English exchange course where I meet with Korean students and talk with them in English about anything. That will not start for another few weeks. I have learned the entire Korean alphabet and can read some Korean. Understanding written or spoken Korean is a whole different story. With time, I'm sure it will get easier. My South and North Korea teacher used to work for Korea in the UN. He is very knowledable about the history and politics between the two Koreas. I'm very excited about learning more about South and North Korea from a Korean standpoint.
Tonight, the UNO group is getting together for round three of "geisha" UNO (for complete rules, see the previous post). We are also hoping to watch a movie or make music videos. Should be crazy fun.
Tommorow, I am planning to go with Dyra, Bermet and a few other UNO buddies to see a traditional Korean village or something else in the province. Hopefully we will have good weather. It has rained everyday for a few hours because it is typhoon season.
The orchestra played Disney, Andrew Llyod Webber, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, and one of my favorites: Beethoven's 5th symphoney. Last year, I had to write a research paper on Beethoven's 5th. I think it displays the power of the human spirit better than any other song I have heard. For those who would like a brief history about the piece, Beethoven wrote his 5th after learning that he was losing his hearing, the sense that allowed him to appreciate his passion: music. He contemplated suicide and confined himself in his home for months after learning this. He wrote this piece to show himself and the world that his diability would not hinder his ability to continue his passion. The piece shows his frustration in the first part, but it concludes with a powerful, hopeful theme.
I was reminded during the concert that music is a bridge of communication. Even though I cannot understand much of the Korean language, I could listen to the same music with Koreans and enjoy the music with them. That is the reason why I think music is so awesome. People can come from many different backrounds, but can still listen to music together.
At the end of the concert, the orchestra played two encore pieces (I put them on shutterfly, see if you can recognize them). They also played the school song.
So, crazy thing happened today: I was approached by a model agent. Weird huh? Dad and I were joking about how I would become a celebrity in Korea because of my height and blond hair, I didn't think I would be approached at school like that! I was walking from lunch with Dyra and Bermet and these two Korean men came up to us. They said they work for a modeling agency and they want me to be in a TV fashion show. They didn't understand English very well, so Dyra helped me understand their fragmented English. I tried to politely tell them that I wasn't interested because I am here to study, not to model. They gave me their card and asked for my number, when Bermet told them in Korean that I don't have a phone (Thanks Bermet!). This has become the joke of the day. We decided to practice our modeling (pictures on shutterfly, very funny) I don't think any of us could be models.
All of my classes are awesome. Here they are: Korean speaking, Korean writing, Korean folk music, Korean history, and a class called South and North Korea. I also have a 6 credit English exchange course where I meet with Korean students and talk with them in English about anything. That will not start for another few weeks. I have learned the entire Korean alphabet and can read some Korean. Understanding written or spoken Korean is a whole different story. With time, I'm sure it will get easier. My South and North Korea teacher used to work for Korea in the UN. He is very knowledable about the history and politics between the two Koreas. I'm very excited about learning more about South and North Korea from a Korean standpoint.
Tonight, the UNO group is getting together for round three of "geisha" UNO (for complete rules, see the previous post). We are also hoping to watch a movie or make music videos. Should be crazy fun.
Tommorow, I am planning to go with Dyra, Bermet and a few other UNO buddies to see a traditional Korean village or something else in the province. Hopefully we will have good weather. It has rained everyday for a few hours because it is typhoon season.
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