Hanging Out with My Brother

Yesterday, I met up with my brother Woosik (Derek). I haven't seen Woosik in almost five years, so it was great to catch up and hang out in Seoul. Derek is finishing University in London. After graduation in the summer, he is hoping to move to the USA to get a PhD. He may also move back to Korea and complete his required two year service in the Korean army.

I don't know if I have mentioned the two year service policy so here is what I have learned since coming to Korea. All Korean men have to serve a required two years in the army. This policy has been around since the end of the Korean War. Most young men serve either right after high school, or after university. Because of this requirement, most men do not begin their career until their late 20's. I think requiring all men to serve in the army for a short period of time is a good idea. It teaches discipline and patriotism. I have talked with many Korean guys from my school who say that after serving, they stay up to date with what is going on in their country more than before. On the other hand, South Korea is a nation that has a very dangerous neighbor that is ruled by a madman. It is not like Korea is a nation at peace with required service in the reserves. All men in the army learn learn how to fight in combat, because it is a possibility with an unpredictable neighbor. It is the constant worry of families with sons in the army that they will never see their sons again, especially since the Yeonpyeon Island hostility.

I met Woosik downtown Seoul in some of the college towns. Hyesun came with me to see Woosik, and the three of us went to get some coffee. It was great to catch up and for my two Korean siblings to meet and swap stories about America. It was so funny to hear them compare teachers and classes at Lutheran North. Hyesun had to leave for a while, so me and Woosik went to a nearby theaters to see a movie. We saw this movie called "The Next Three Days." It starred Russell Crowe, and was about a man who breaks his wife out of jail. I knew nothing about this movie before I saw it, so I was surprised at every twist and turn. It was a good action movie.

After the movie, we met up with Hyesun to go eat dinner together. We went to a fusion restaurant near Hanyang University. The area around the University is filled with coffeehouses, unique restaurants, and other shops geared towards students. It has a great atmosphere, there are always a lot of people hanging out. The fusion restaurant was really good. It was a mix between European and Japanese food, a mix that I would never think would be as good as it was.

Next week when I get back from my trip, I'm going to meet Woosik and his parents for dinner. It will be great to meet his family and hang out more before he leaves for London again. I'm hoping that I can make them some American food.

Now I'm packing for my trip to Japan. I leave tomorrow morning for the Ferry Terminal. The ferry ride will be about ten hours, luckily it is an overnight ferry, so the time will pass quickly. I'm excited to go explore a new place and culture. I will not be blogging during my trip, so I will tell you guys all about my trip when I get back.

So this is Christmas

Merry Christmas from Seoul, South Korea! I am having a wonderful time celebrating this time of year with the Byeons. Derek just got to Korea a few days ago, so we are going to catch up later this week after Christmas. I miss all of you back home and thinking about you especially at this time of the year.

It has been interesting for me to see how Korea celebrates this time of year. In Korea, Christmas is mostly a couples holiday, a sister holiday to Valentines Day. It is so strange to see a lack of red and green, wreaths, and nativity sets, but rather flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears dressed as Santa. I miss the family aspect of Chistmas, it doesn't seem the same without families together.

In addition to that, Christmas Day is the Korean version of "Black Friday." I woke up this morning and Kyunghye told me we were going shopping. I was really confused because in America everything closes on Christmas. She told me it was the largest sale weekend of the year. After Skyping my family before they left for Christmas Eve candlelight service, we went shopping. It was madness! There were clothes, toys, and I don't know what else flying all over the place. I think everyone in Korea came to the department store we were at to go shopping.

Even though Korean Christmas has been over commercialized just like in the USA, I did find a way to celebrate the Reason for the Season. Last night me and Kyunghye went to the International Lutheran Church in downtown Seoul for Christmas Eve service. There was even candlelight singing! This was the first time I have attended an English speaking church in almost five months. It was a great encouragement to my faith to meet with a diverse group of people from around the world to worship together. It was heaven to be in such a beautiful, peaceful place that had its focus on the true purpose of Christmas: to celebrate the birth of the Savior who came to save all mankind. Amidst all of the chaos Christmas brings even here in Korea, it was nice to let time stand still while worshiping the Savior. Me and Kyunghye are planning to go to this church every Sunday when we are in Seoul.

Being in a foreign country during Christmas time has shown me the true meaning of Christmas even more than before. As a child I would read the Christmas story and hear how Jesus came to save the people of the world. That message has resounded even more this Christmas as I live in a new culture. I have learned the magnitude of the purpose in which Jesus came to this earth. He came to save the people of every nation and culture. It is hard for me to comprehend this concept, but I have come to appreciate it even more this Christmas. It has been such a blessing for me to be in Korea to celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas once again! I hope you have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Limbo

Woo hoo! Today was my 20th birthday. I am in the year of "Limbo": no longer a teenager, but not yet 21 when you are completely "legal." It's the transition year from being a teenager to becoming a young adult. As I look back to where I was a year ago, I have seen how much I have matured and grown as a person. I have learned independence while being true to who I am. I am so excited to see where I will be when I turn 21, what new experiences I will have and what I will learn.

Today I made lasagna for my birthday dinner. Yesterday I went to a Western Market with the Byeons to buy all the supplies and ingredients. We had to search through three Western Markets to find Lasagna noodles, but we did find some. It was so strange to go to a store that had all of the products that I buy at home. One of the stores looked just like the Schnucks that my family goes to back home. It was so weird yet so normal at the same time. I don't know how to explain that feeling: going somewhere that resembles a place you have gone to your whole life, yet being away from such a place for a time in such a different environment makes it seem so foreign. It was nice to know it is there for when I plan to make another "Western Dish" for the Byeons.

The Byeons Aunt and Uncle came along with their children: Jun-Young and Eu-Jin. The Byeons aunt made this awesome salmon salad and made me a cheesecake for my birthday! I was so surprised to receive so many presents from the Byeons and their relatives. It was so overwhelming after all of the generosity they have already given me. It was a great birthday. I think the lasagna was a hit. I made two seven layer lasagnas, and a Seung-Young pan. Seung-Young is Hyesun and Kyunghye's brother. He is super shy but is very funny once he warms up to you. It has been almost six months and he is finally leaving his hiding place (his room) to come and hang out with me and the girls. He is also 16, which means he eats...a lot. I made him a three layer pan of lasagna because I knew that he would plow through at least half a pan of a seven layer lasagna. He ate the entire three layer pan...I was shocked! Not only that, he proceeded to eat a piece of the other lasagna as well. I think it is a new favorite for him.

After dinner, I went to see Harry Potter with Hyesun, Kyunghye, Seungyoung, Junyoung, and their uncle. We had to sneak out one at a time because Eujin wanted to go, but seeing he is only five and the movie was rated PG15, he wasn't going. The movie was good, but was kinda depressing. I still liked it, and it was fun to go with the Byeons on my birthday. Definately a great birthday memory. Tomorrow, me and Kyunghye are going to continue our Japan plans, we leave in a week...AAAAHHHH! Hopefully, we get everything planned in the next few days so we can have time to hang out more in Seoul.

I'm Going to Japan!

It has been quite a process to get things in order, but I do have a trip planned before I leave for China in January. I am going to Japan with Kyunghye for a week after Christmas. We will take a ferry from Busan to Kyushu, the southernmost main island of Japan. It is home to several famous cities including Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Kumamoto. It is famous for Japanese ceramics, Hot springs, Samurai, and Volcanoes. I am super excited to go to such a diverse place, but it will be even better because I will get to share the adventure with Kyunghye. Neither one of us know a lick of Japanese, so I am sure there will be some pretty funny moments.

This afternoon, we went to eat at the restaurant that is owned by the company that Hyesun worked for as an intern and will soon work for after graduation. It was an American grill so I got to eat pasta for the first time since coming to Korea.

After we ate, we went to visit the Byeon's cousins and Aunt and Uncle. It was the older cousin, Jinyoung's 11th birthday so we got to eat cake and play games with the family. It was great to catch up with them since the last time I saw them at Chuseok. I have a video below of Jinyoung's younger brother, Eu-Jin singing for me and Hyesun. He was too shy to sing in front of the camera so he sang from a distance, rolling around as he sings. I couldn't understand him, and Hyesun couldn't either. It is super cute.

I'm Back at the Byeons

I left school yesterday with five bags in tow to travel back to Seoul to stay with the Byeons. I couldn't leave anything in my dorm room because they use them for the Winter English Camp for high school students. I took a taxi to the Asan bus terminal and then took a bus to Seoul station. I met the Byeons in the terminal, from there we went to their house. I am so thankful to Hyesun for allowing me to stay in her room (with all my stuff) until the beginning of February when I will be able to move into my new dorm.

Derek is coming to Korea on the 21st (just in time for my birthday!). I am very excited to see him and meet his parents, we are planning to go to the largest church in Korea on either Christmas eve or Christmas day.

Today was a relax at home day, tomorrow we are thinking about going to see a movie or to do something in the city. I don't know my plans for my birthday, Christmas, or New Years, but I will keep you updated

I'm Done with Finals!

Today was my last two final exams. I am officially done with my first semester abroad! Today I had Korean Writing and Korean Drumming final exams. It is so weird to know that tomorrow I don't have to go to class or exchanges. I have over two months off for Winter Break, so it will be a transition. The next few days will be bittersweet as I say goodbye to my friends here at school, some that I will see next semester, and some that I don't know when I will see again. It will be a crazy couple days between goodbyes, laundry, packing...the list goes on. I have to finish packing all of my stuff because I can't keep anything at school. It will be interesting trying to haul all of my luggage up to Seoul via public transportation. I am sure there will be some funny stories to tell! I will try to upload my Drumming final here in a few days. Stay tuned!
(Oh, the picture was from the first day at school. All of the international students are in the picture...I'm somewhere in the back row)

Last Day of Class

Today was a bittersweet day because it was the last day of regular class. Next week I have four final exams. I am going to miss my classes and my teachers. For the most part, I have really enjoyed having the professors that I had for the semester. My language teachers were patient, my history teacher was insightful, my drumming teacher was funny, and my North and South Korea teacher, well I have said enough about him in previous posts. I have learned so much and I hope I continue to learn more in the coming semester.

This coming week will be filled with tears as I say goodbye to new friends that will leave school. It is hard for me to come to terms that I may not see these amazing friends for a long time. It is hard because we have become so close, but distance will now separate us as they go back to their home nations. We are going to make the most of the time we have.

It is exciting though because it is a new chapter in my adventure here in Korea. After my finals, I'm going to Seoul to spend Christmas with the Byeons and Derek's family. I am hoping to travel to Southeast Asia at the beginning of the new year. I have some paperwork that I have to complete before I can leave the country, and it won't be processed until the end of this year.

Last night was the goodbye dinner for the Global Village. It was bittersweet to look back at all of the memories of the last semester. I have grown so much as a person in this past semester. I have become more confident and independent. I am so excited to see what will come next in this journey!

Snow! And a Letter from the Frontlines

Today was the first snow of winter! I woke up and looked out my window to see big fluffy snowflakes. It snowed on and off today, but later it warmed up so most of it melted. It was still beautiful.

I had my final exam for my North and South Korea class today. It was an essay comparing and contrasting the two Korea's economy. It went very well, I like essay exams because it is not muscle memory, but analyzing information and organizing it into a paper. I am so glad that class is over because I did not enjoy the teachers methods of presenting the information for the class. I won't go into details, but it seemed that he was more interested in criticizing the Korean students english rather than teaching the subject. I will be more careful about the classes and teachers I choose next semester.

Oh, today I got a letter back from the Korean soldier I wrote to. I don't know if I mentioned this in an earlier post, but one of my exchange partners has a friend currently serving his required two year term in the army. His name is Sang Hoon and is a Marine serving near the border. In fact, he said that he is stationed not too far from where the attack occured two weeks ago. My exchange partner asked me if I would write him a letter because he wanted to write an English speaking person, I guess to keep his English up until he returns to school. I wrote him a letter about a month ago, and today she gave me his response letter. It was super cute, he sent the letter on this Marine stationary that has this funny saying on it: "Love is a game. Easy to start. Hard to finish." Really strange thing to have on army paper, but I got a kick out of it. It was really sweet, I had written that I really appreciated his service to his country and keeping it safe. He wrote back that I shouldn't worry about the growing tension between the two Koreas: "Don't be afraid. I should defend our country against the enemy." He finishes his service this Christmas and will be back at Soonchunhyang in the spring. I am excited to meet him and to hear more about life on an army base that can see into North Korea. I'm sure he has some very interesting stories, especially from the last few months.

Taegukgi: Brotherhood of War

You know, when you see a movie that is a masterpiece you just have to share it. Today in history class we watched Taegukgi: Brotherhood of War. Oh my gosh, this movie was so moving. It is a Korean movie about the Korean war. It is the highest grossing Korean movie in the history of Korean cinema. Over one third of all South Koreans went to see this movie when it was released. It is probably the best war movie I have ever seen.

It is about two brothers who are forcefully drafted into the frontlines of the South Korean army at the start of the Korean war. The older brother is a shoe shiner who sacrificed his opportunity to go to school so his younger brother would be able to go to college. The older brother is determined to find a way to get his brother out of the conflict as soon a possible. They fight in some of the most significant battles of the War. As the War continues, they see the bad and disturbing aspects of the war.

What I liked about this movie was that they showed both the South and the North in an unbiased light. The unhonest draft, the massacre of Northern troops that surrendered, and the excecution of Southern civilians suspected of joining the communists without a trial showed the horrors that the South committed. On the other side, the North's unflinching massacre of civilians and their cold manner in killing showed that they were not saintly either. It was a movie that showed the ugly side of war from both sides. That is one thing that bothers me of some war movies: they present one side as pure evil while the other side is good and noble. War isn't like that: it is ugly, disgusting, and terrible acts are comitted by both sides. I think every person should see this movie once in their lifetime so that they can see that war is not a game, it is a human tragedy.

I am not usually a crier when it comes to movies. Sure I can get teary eyed, but I usually don't completely break down. Watching this movie I was crying my eyes out at least three times. It was so painful to see not only the two brothers in the story experience so much pain as the war progressed, but to see that the two sides of the War were brothers filled with hate for each other. When looking at the Korean War, it was brother against brother. To see the hate that infiltrated this one people by two idealogies a mere five years after they were united (under occupation) was so distraghtful. Not only that, but to know that this hate continues today with the separated Koreas made me cry.

I pray for the day that this one people can be reunited together once again.

A Day in Suwon

Today, I went with my friend Katie to Suwon. Katie is in my North and South Korea class, and is a such a sweet person. She is from Oregon and is finishing her degree next semester. She is also getting married next summer, and her fiance was able to visit her a few months ago, so cute! We met up with Katie's friend from college, Maddie. Maddie came to Korea to teach English in Asan. We also met Maddie's friend Julie, she just came about two weeks ago to Korea to teach in Asan. It was fun to hear about their classes and students. They teach kids between the age of four and seven, and they said their English is pretty good. I am always shocked by the intensity that the Korean students have to study. School is a means to an end rather than a journey, it is quite sad how the priority is scores rather than progress. I feel so blessed to have been taught the joy of learning, rather than the pressure to maintain a certain score. I hope that Korean students find that joy in all of the stress.

Suwon is about an hour by train from school, so it is about halfway between Seoul and Sinchang (my school). When we got to Suwon, we went to Hwaseong Fortress. Hwaseong is a late Joseon Dynasty fortress that was built to protect the southern borders of Seoul. It is a perfect example of Korean/Asian defense architecture. It is built up a mountain, so that the lookout tower can see much farther. There are a lot of lookout posts and places in the wall where the defenders would be able to attack any offensive. It was absolutely stunning, but like a lot of Korea, it has had its heartbreak. During the Japanese occupation, it was neglected. The fortress fell apart and the Japanese converted parts of it into a hospital and a government center.

I can understand how many of the older Korean people have such animosity towards the Japanese. Almost every great piece of Korean cultural heritage was destroyed and turned into some kind of Japanese building. Not only that, but during the occupation, I have been told that Koreans weren't allowed to use the Korean language and couldn't speak of their history. It is one thing for a nation to take control of another nation in the fashion that the Japanese took Korea, but to try to erase the history of that country is absolutely disgusting. Don't get me wrong, I love Japan, it is a beautiful nation. I have several Japanese friends here at school and they are some of the sweetest people I have met. However, what the Japan of the past did to Korea is wrong on so many levels. I can still see some older Korean people carrying prejudice against the Japanese today. I think they still see the old hateful Japan that destroyed so much of their national identity. I think the feelings towards Japan have improved, but it is still a recent scar that shouldn't be opened.

But back to the story of Hwaseong: After the Japanese occupation ended in 1945, the remainder of Hwaseong was caught in the middle of the Korean War. By the end of the war, it was torn apart like the Korean people. It took another thirty years until the rebuilding process began. The South Korean government took the original building plans written in 1801 and rebuilt Hwaseong. They used the tools of the nineteenth century and built the fortress in its original location, tearing down the buildings built during the occupation. Today, it stands in its original state, presenting an inspiring symbol of perserverence. It was quite an experience, knowing the history behind this fortress, to walk beside its walls. I am always amazed by the strength of the Korean people. In spite of all they have gone through, they continue to rebuild and look to the future. Hwaseong represents that strength to me. It was originally built in the past for physical strength, and it has been rebuilt for the strength of the spirit of the Korean people.

Oh, kind of off subject, but still a cute fact. The city of Suwon has this adorable Christmas light display, and a lot of the stores in Suwon had Christmas decorations. I even heard some famous Christmas songs being played in some of the stores, something that I miss from home. I am hoping as Christmas gets closer, I will see more evidence of the season.

SCH Dance Concert

As promised, here are a few of the dance performances from the SCH Dance concert last week. The first dance is Bermet and another girl from Kyrgyzstan dancing a traditional dance. The second is a group of the Chinese students (including my friend Hong) doing Tai Chi. There is also a skit from the SCH Theater Department, which is in Korean but it's still funny!

Kpop music

Before I came to Korea, I knew about Kpop music, but I didn't realize how popular it is in Korea. Kpop is like the entire USA music industry concentrated in one genre of music. You hear it everywhere: stores, subways stations, buses. I haven't been to a Kpop concert yet(one of the things on my list to do) but I have heard they are different from USA concerts and are a lot of fun.

Most Kpop is in the style of 90's pop in the USA. Because of this, Amercan artists like Brittany Spears and Madonna are very popular in Korea. It feels like I am reliving the 90's in respect to music again as an adult. To make it even more 90's, women's style here in Korea right now is very 90's. Leggings are the "it" item with oversized sweatshirts. So funny! For those of you who would like to hear some of my favorite Kpop songs, I have links to them on the blog. Most of the singers have good voices. One of the funny things is that the Kpop groups aren't the usual four or five singers like in America: There are at least seven. Some groups have over ten members. It is almost like a choir rather than a singing group!

Oh, funny thing happened yesterday as I was walking to my South and North Korea class. To get to class I have to take these wooden stairs down a very steep hill. There are two staircases that join together halfway down the hill. As I was walking down one of these staircases, I noticed a lot of Korean students standing on the stairs looking at the other set of stairs. I saw Brian and Katie, two of my international friends also looking at the stairs. They told me that a Kpop singer was filming part of his newest music video on the staircase. Sure enough there was an entire film crew, and the famous singer that I had not heard of previously. I quickly pulled out my camera and caught a shot of the film crew and a short video of the singer before an intimidating security guard dressed in black covered my camera. If you look in the top left corner of the video, you can glimpse the singer for a second before my camera was covered. Too funny! Didn't think I would see a Kpop music video being filmed while I was in Korea!