A rainy day in Seoul

So, today it rained, a lot. I woke up to the sound of rain and I am getting ready for bed listening to rain. However, the rain did not stop me and the Byeons from touring Seoul. Hye Sun introduced me to the Seoul public transportation as we traveled by bus to downtown Seoul.
Seoul is not a concentrated city but a wide area that is filled with offices, apartments, and parks. It is the greenest city I have ever seen. every few miles there is a park and there are small gardens next to skyscrapers. Seoul is divided into a north and south side by the Han river. The largest island in the river is home to South Korea's government. It is also home to one of the largest churches in Korea. We went to this island and went to the top of one of the tallest buildings in Seoul and home to the highest art museum in the world. After looking at both Korean artwork and the skyline of Seoul, we met Hye Sun's parents. Hye Sun had to go to a meeting for the internship she just completed in Shanghai. While she was there I went with her parents to tour more of Seoul. Her father knew some English, so we were able to talk about the city as we toured.
We went to a display about the Korean War and the countries that helped South Korea. It was very interesting to see firsthand what South Korea has to say about the war. The entire display was created to thank the other nations for helping South Korea in the war. I did not know that South Korea was created as a Democracy in 1947which angered the North to eventually invade. I also learned that three days after declaring war, North Korea captured Seoul and within five months, all but Busan. It was then that Truman declared a state of emergancy and the UN sent troops to help. One of the other things that struck me was a statement at the end of the exibit that read: "Many people around the world have become amicable towards North Korea, however its attitude remains the same towards the South. They want to reunite the country under the flag of communism. We must never forget this."
After the display, we went on a boat tour of Seoul on the Han. It was great to see the enormity of this city in such a fun way. We then went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. I told the Byeons to pick their favorite foods for me to try. There was a seafood noodle soup and two beef dishes. I enjoyed all of them and my chopstick skills are improving.
We went to meet Hye Sun. She and I with two of her friends from her internship went to a coffeehouse. I have met a genius. Her friend Lee Hyun has an IQ of over 150. She is a double major in business and music, an interesting combination. She is super smart and very funny. I also met someone who is my height. Her other friend Seunghyan is 6'1" He was very funny and helped me learn how to count to ten in Chinese (I still have trouble with Korean). We talked about their job offer with the company and Korean culture. When we left the cafe it poured. Hye Sun and I ran to the bus and made it back home. I am having a great time and I have met many interesting people. I am looking forward to tommorow. Hopefully we can visit more sites.

Hello from Korea

Annyeonghaseyo from Seoul! I arrived this morning at 4 am. The flight was good. I fell asleep for about nine of the thirteen hours of the flight. I know now why Asiana is ranked as one of the best airlines. We were given blankets, pillows, and slippers for the flight. Each seat had its own screen and remote to choose one of six movies to watch. I was in the front of the plane with all the families with children. I'm not sure how I was placed there. What was interesting was the airline had baby beds for the tots to sleep in during the flight. The Byeon's were already waiting for me when I arrived. We drove to their home and we took a nap. For lunch we had kimchi with a soup that is sometimes called Johnson soup. It is made of kimchi, various meat, and vegetables. It was made when US troops were stationed in Korea. In the afternoon Hye Sun and Kyung Hye's aunt and uncle came for a visit with their two children. Everyone played Rummi which is the family game. For dinner, we walked to a restaurant and ate pork with kimchi. Hye Sun said that all tourists come to restaurants to eat this pork meal. Tommorow, Hye Sun and I will be touring Seoul. It's supposed to rain, but we will be prepared. We are hoping to visit some of the palaces in Seoul.

My First Post

Hey all! I finally got this blog started two days before I leave for Korea! I have been packing like crazy. I am allowed two 50 lb bags and 22 lbs for a carry on. It may seem like a lot but it is really hard to pack being tall and leaving for a year. I have 10 lbs left to pack. I'm very excited about this awesome opportunity to live somewhere new and learn about another culture. I will be staying with the Byeons in Seoul for four days before I leave for the school. Kyung Hye and Hye Sun were two of our exchange students. They are sisters and I will finally get to meet their family. I will get to tour with Hye Sun while Kyung Hye prepares for her exam.