Sunday I went to Times Square, which is a still-developing-yet-already-big shopping complex a little off of Sindorim, on the blue 1 line, with Ben and Joe. It was pretty big and nice but... ㅋㅋㅋ... I ended up shopping in the underground subway shopping complex because stuff in department stores here is quite pricy.
While we were leaving though, the four-man group of opera singers that appeared on Star King one time (anyone who is reading this watch this episode?) like last year happened to be doing a showcase, so we listened to some opera before leaving. :)
My roommate's REAL birthday was on Monday, so after class we went to Mad for Garlic in Mapo for dinner. A little pricey, like 14-21,000 Won per meal (pricy for Korea, that is average for Boston) but not bad. The food was good and I reserved a table for eight, which happened to be in a private room with lush seats. Cool. :) I and her friend Lindsey (a boy, not a girl) went during the day into Sinchon to get a cake for her, and we ended up deciding on a Blueberry Yogurt cake from A Twosome Place. So we went back and picked it up before dinner, asked the Mad for Garlic staff to put it in their fridge, and had it after dinner. It was pretty good and RANDOM but I LOVE KOREAN CANDLES why are they so thin and pretty?! EEEE I wish my birthday was here because the cakes are soooo pretty... maybe I should celebrate my half birthday or something... ㅋㅋ
Anyway, I ended up staying out until about 1 am afterwards because we went to a bar and then an arcade following dinner, because if I wasn't there Nikki would have been alone with four guys (two of the girls split without telling me) which I didn't think was right. So although I meant to do homework... I ended up doing it on Tuesday...
but I had a presentation in Korean class I was supposed to make and I didn't know I was presenting that day until the day before so I did what all college students have had experience with in the past... rushed an assignment that could've taken 8-10 hours into... 2.5 hours... -___- My mom helped me though, so that was good. I was supposed to find an article related to Korea, in Korean, but it was hard at first because reading news articles in Korean takes me a looong time. Anyway, I chose a kind of strange topic, so I attached the summary below. ^^
Tuesday I went to noraebang with my Korean class, some of them, which was awesome! Chinese Japanese Korean and American songs were all sung ^^
Wednesday I tutored and then went to the last hour of noraebang that my friend, Courtney, wanted to do for her birthday. Noraebang two nights in a row... wow...
I'm going to Japan soon! Osaka and Kyoto! Too bad I can't go to Tokyo but I'm looking forward to the trip anyway. I should try and learn Japanese tonight probably... as I pack...
________________________________________________________________
Random note: On the subway coming back from tutoring, I heard two women next to me talking about how they wish they had more confidence. That even if they look down on people who are too confident when they speak/present at work, they are secretly jealous too because they want that confidence. I think this sentiment is prevalent in many Koreans because of how the education system here works. Even during the summer, the other Korean students told us Wellesley/BU students that one thing they really admired about us was our confidence and manner in even intimidating situations.
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Poop-pig Syndrome
똥돼지 신드롬
요약
제주에는 특별한 돼지가 있습니다. 옛날에 제주 토종돼지가 있었는데, 보통 털이 길고 겉이 까만색이었습니다. 예전에 수세식화장실이 없었을때, 이 흑돼지는 옛 초가집 밑에 살면서, 인분과 음식 찌꺼기를 먹었습니다. 그렇니까 이 돼지가 똥돼지라고 합니다.
저는 이 기사를 읽으면서 정말 놀랐습니다. 인분을 먹을 수 있는 돼지가 있는지도 몰랐고 또 그런 돼지를 사람이 먹었다는 점에도 놀랐어요.
지금은 화장실이 생겨서 이런 흑돼지가 많이 없어졌습니다. 지금 흑돼지라 불리는 것들은 진짜 똥돼지가 아니고 그냥 교잡종돼지라 합니다.
하이튼, '똥돼지 신드롬'이 한국에서 생겼습니다.똥돼지는 공무원•민간기업•공사•금융기관•대학 등에 '낙하산'으로 들어간 사람이라고 합니다. 어느나라에서 이 ‘낙하산’으로 들어간 사람이 있지만, 한국에는 유행으로 생긴 것 같습니다. 인터넷과 트위터 등 소셜네트워크서비스에는 '똥돼지를 고발한다'는 글들이 많습니다. 사람이 실력이 없는대도 특별하게 취작한 사람이 많아지는 것 같습니다.
사람 들은 9급에 시작하면, 5급으로 올라가는데 거의 25년동안 걸린다고 합니다. 그런데도 이런 낙하산으로 들어가는 사람들은 9급에서 시작하지않고 5급부터 일을 시작하니까, 다른 사람들이 당연히 열을 받고 있습니다.
'빽' 없는 보통사람들은 지금분노를 느끼고 있습니다. 그렇니까 이 숨어있는 부정을 드러내고싶어합니다.
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Lotte World, Nikki's Birthday, Tutoring, Saturday Night
Mwahaha.
Teeheeheeeee.
Hohohohoooooooooo.
I went to Lotte World with Mary on Friday! She had work and I had class so we went from 9:30 until 2 pm. Unfortunately we only went on four rides, but we went on the biggest and *scariest* (<---not really) rides. We had a lot of fun and yay for foreigner and student discounts... bwahaha.
I bought one of those ridonkulous (<--this word is for you, Emma, even though you flake on our Skype dates and then try and blame it on me) headbands that has a huuuge sparkling bow on top. Black, thanks, since I don't like red.
ROLLERCOASTERS EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Couples. Sigh. ㅠㅠ
Pineapple on a stick? Yum. ^^
People writing SHINee and other k-pop group names all over the rides: Chortle chortle.
____________________________________________
After Lotte World, I went back to Korean class, and then after that went to Naan (slow service :[) for Indian food with my roommate and her friends for an early birthday celebration. Then we went to Boss, a big bar that wow can fit forty people?! I pretty much laughed hysterically at my roommate's antics and met lots of people, then left at midnight since I wanted to wake up early to study. Wellesley habits, can't get rid of them... :(
___________________________________________
Can I say that tutoring is flippin' awesome. I am making BUCK WOOT I am going to save up and take my uncle mom and grandma out for dinner sometime when I go over for a weekend again. :) I tutored last Sun, last Mon, and yesterday (Saturday evening).
__________________________________________
Sunme wanted to go out last night so after tutoring I met up with CIEE friends and we went to a bar.
Who cares about alcohol, I was hungry. I ate while others tried to play Korean games and failed over and over. Is there some sort of chemistry in each group that one needs to know about... it's like when Team 4 of Cornerstone Church's OneLove Missions tried to play games and we just couldn't get into it. This group was one that just had A.D.D. to the max and couldn't pay attention harharhar ^-^
We migrated somewhere else and I met up with my roommate again. After a brief sit-down we went to noraebang woooot
But it was until 5 am this is baaaad
_____________________________________________________
And so I was determined to still go to Jubilee Church at 10 am even though my plans for the night kind of... disintegrated, because I don't think I should compromise meeting with God for my shortcomings of not sleeping early enough...
but I failed ㅠㅠ I swear I set my alarm but when I woke up at 11 am it wasn't in my phone. Something didn't work. GAH.
So I'm listening to the 8/29 sermon by Pastor Drew online right now... Father, forgive me for compromising my planned time in worship with your body. :( Siiigh.
____________________________________________________
Thought: Your finances reveal where your heart is. Where are you committed?
Teeheeheeeee.
Hohohohoooooooooo.
I went to Lotte World with Mary on Friday! She had work and I had class so we went from 9:30 until 2 pm. Unfortunately we only went on four rides, but we went on the biggest and *scariest* (<---not really) rides. We had a lot of fun and yay for foreigner and student discounts... bwahaha.
I bought one of those ridonkulous (<--this word is for you, Emma, even though you flake on our Skype dates and then try and blame it on me) headbands that has a huuuge sparkling bow on top. Black, thanks, since I don't like red.
ROLLERCOASTERS EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Couples. Sigh. ㅠㅠ
Pineapple on a stick? Yum. ^^
People writing SHINee and other k-pop group names all over the rides: Chortle chortle.
____________________________________________
After Lotte World, I went back to Korean class, and then after that went to Naan (slow service :[) for Indian food with my roommate and her friends for an early birthday celebration. Then we went to Boss, a big bar that wow can fit forty people?! I pretty much laughed hysterically at my roommate's antics and met lots of people, then left at midnight since I wanted to wake up early to study. Wellesley habits, can't get rid of them... :(
___________________________________________
Can I say that tutoring is flippin' awesome. I am making BUCK WOOT I am going to save up and take my uncle mom and grandma out for dinner sometime when I go over for a weekend again. :) I tutored last Sun, last Mon, and yesterday (Saturday evening).
__________________________________________
Sunme wanted to go out last night so after tutoring I met up with CIEE friends and we went to a bar.
Who cares about alcohol, I was hungry. I ate while others tried to play Korean games and failed over and over. Is there some sort of chemistry in each group that one needs to know about... it's like when Team 4 of Cornerstone Church's OneLove Missions tried to play games and we just couldn't get into it. This group was one that just had A.D.D. to the max and couldn't pay attention harharhar ^-^
We migrated somewhere else and I met up with my roommate again. After a brief sit-down we went to noraebang woooot
But it was until 5 am this is baaaad
_____________________________________________________
And so I was determined to still go to Jubilee Church at 10 am even though my plans for the night kind of... disintegrated, because I don't think I should compromise meeting with God for my shortcomings of not sleeping early enough...
but I failed ㅠㅠ I swear I set my alarm but when I woke up at 11 am it wasn't in my phone. Something didn't work. GAH.
So I'm listening to the 8/29 sermon by Pastor Drew online right now... Father, forgive me for compromising my planned time in worship with your body. :( Siiigh.
____________________________________________________
Thought: Your finances reveal where your heart is. Where are you committed?
Friday, September 17, 2010
Tonight, Gangnam. Tomorrow, IYC M.T.
Tonight I will be venturing into Gangnam for a huge party that is having internationals from five schools (Korea, Ewha, Yonsei, who knows who else? Communication is unclear, as always). If we go before 10:30 we pay less so I'm going with a bunch of people at nine.
I am looking forward to this experience, because unlike the dance style in fraternities, sororities, bars and clubs, there will be no grinding or even male to female contact, ladies and gentlemen. Oh no. There won't even be much footwork going on because all the females where massive heels, so I won't even get stepped on. No, tonight will *hopefully* be just be hand raising and maybe a little moving the torso from side to side awkwardly, with no human-to-human contact. Which is great because I hate getting someone's sweat on me. I dislike my own sweat, let along someone else's sweat.
Of course, I'll be better at dancing than anyone else there... because I won't have drunk a single drop. :) And since I'm not looking for a boy, I can enjoy a good old time of just dancing to k-pop *hopefully* and techno. Woot.
_______________________________________
**One of my friends found out her aunt has cancer that has spread through her whole body. Can we keep this aunt in our prayers? The cancer is possibly beyond treatment stage, although it isn't for sure.
**Also, let's remember to keep our nation's leaders and North Korea in our minds!
________________________________________
TOMORROW
Since I don't plan on staying out too late, tomorrow I'm going to study in the morning and then I'm off to International Yonsei Community Membership Training (the infamous M.T. that is a huge part of Korean college culture.) Although, of course Membership Training is a total misnomer since most M.T.'s end up with extreme drinking and extreme pressure to drink, not training at all. Not really a scenario I would normally willingly sign up for, but I felt like this may be a chance to go out of my comfort zone and still maintain my boundaries. :) After meeting the Koreans in my group I think I'll be fine, they all seem pretty chill. And if all fails, I'm bringing a book. Drinking to get drunk is not something that will ever appeal to me...
before leaving for the M.T. some of the group are going to GrandMart to get food for dinner. I am going to push to get as many apples as possible. I haven't had an apple for soooo loooong!!!
Leaving at 12 for Mart, eating lunch together, 2 pm leaving for the countryside, coming back around 1 pm Sunday. If all goes well. Wish me luck!
______________________________________________
Maroon 5's new album, Hands All Over, is pretty good. I still like Songs About Jane the best though.
I am looking forward to this experience, because unlike the dance style in fraternities, sororities, bars and clubs, there will be no grinding or even male to female contact, ladies and gentlemen. Oh no. There won't even be much footwork going on because all the females where massive heels, so I won't even get stepped on. No, tonight will *hopefully* be just be hand raising and maybe a little moving the torso from side to side awkwardly, with no human-to-human contact. Which is great because I hate getting someone's sweat on me. I dislike my own sweat, let along someone else's sweat.
Of course, I'll be better at dancing than anyone else there... because I won't have drunk a single drop. :) And since I'm not looking for a boy, I can enjoy a good old time of just dancing to k-pop *hopefully* and techno. Woot.
_______________________________________
**One of my friends found out her aunt has cancer that has spread through her whole body. Can we keep this aunt in our prayers? The cancer is possibly beyond treatment stage, although it isn't for sure.
**Also, let's remember to keep our nation's leaders and North Korea in our minds!
________________________________________
TOMORROW
Since I don't plan on staying out too late, tomorrow I'm going to study in the morning and then I'm off to International Yonsei Community Membership Training (the infamous M.T. that is a huge part of Korean college culture.) Although, of course Membership Training is a total misnomer since most M.T.'s end up with extreme drinking and extreme pressure to drink, not training at all. Not really a scenario I would normally willingly sign up for, but I felt like this may be a chance to go out of my comfort zone and still maintain my boundaries. :) After meeting the Koreans in my group I think I'll be fine, they all seem pretty chill. And if all fails, I'm bringing a book. Drinking to get drunk is not something that will ever appeal to me...
before leaving for the M.T. some of the group are going to GrandMart to get food for dinner. I am going to push to get as many apples as possible. I haven't had an apple for soooo loooong!!!
Leaving at 12 for Mart, eating lunch together, 2 pm leaving for the countryside, coming back around 1 pm Sunday. If all goes well. Wish me luck!
______________________________________________
Maroon 5's new album, Hands All Over, is pretty good. I still like Songs About Jane the best though.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
My Second Korean Concert! (First one was the Wonder Girls, in NYC in March 2009)
Because I'm a "foreigner" I and my friends were able to get free tickets to the Hallyu Dream Festival Concert. September 12, 7:00 pm. Gyeong Ju Citizen Stadium. Oh yeah, baby. Drawback? The place is about 4.5 hours away from Yonsei. T_T
I'm not going to write out the logistics of transporting eleven people to Gyeong ju and back in a day, but let's just say that (praise the Lord) everything thankfully went smoothly. We left in the morning. Went to Express Bus Terminal. Took a bus to Gyeongju, which did take about 4.5 hours. Got in line, got our tickets...
started seeing celebrities come out of their extremely, extremely, extremely dark tinted cars (Taemin of SHINee is so cute, he is so smiley and waved very enthusiastically. I hate that I'm writing about this when I'm 20 years old)...
heard screaming fans, saw tweens running around, felt old but also resolute to see this out to the end and see SHINee perform before I'm 22 (I was with people older than me and there were definitely ahjummas in the line so I wasn't out of place even though I got really exasperated at all the girls screaming all the time when anyone came out of a car. So many false alarms!)...
bought a 4,000 Won pair of plastic binoculars because I was afraid I'd really regret not buying them once I was in the stands (I ended up buying a poncho too because it rained some)...
was told to go to this line, no that line, wait get out of the way the huge bus is moving and is going to mow down some 200 fans if we don't all move out of the way (some fans are ASKING to be run over. Seriously. These stupi* thirteen year olds stood there like looking vainly for another pop star to come out of the extremely dark [all Hyundai] vans was more important than their lives. The bus was clearly beginning to move and they wouldn't budge. I began to understand why there were hordes of policemen there [yes yes, many many policemen. Even some ROK marines])...
heard the performers practicing in the stage while we were waiting and people watched (some girls are scary, I forgot how scary crazed teens are. Teens and their hormones, thank God that stage of my life is over)...
and voila, entrance! Voila, because we miraculously butted the line early enough that people didn't do anything, we sat in the best possible spot in our block! Voila, there is no real food available so we must live off chips but who cares, I am finally, finally going to see SHINee, Se7en, and 2NE1 perform!
Suffice to say the concert was awesome. The waiting sucked. But wow, even though I diss K-Pop for its lack of... well, quality, and labor regulations, and undertalented and underaged people taking the stage... my fervor has been renewed!
And yes, thank you for wondering. I will indeed continue studying diligently--what I mean is that I will listen to K-Pop more, again (I have been on a non-K-Pop streak, actually. I've been listening to trip-hop and electronic...)
Performers are way better in real life. Gikwang of B2st is so cute. I now like F.T. Island. Se7en is awesome, as expected. Onew's mic didn't record his voice so SHINee performed Lucifer twice. ^-^ I type that calmly here, but yes, I was going nuts at my good fortune. They also performed Ring Ding Dong. So three song perfs by them, woot! They were third to last, only before Super Junior and Se7en, so that tells you how much their popularity has grown. Not a big fan of 2PM although I like them, but seeing Taec's shenanigans as MC was nice. Good to know he's still the goofy person he was back when I met him at the Wonder Girls' Concert. Wish f(x) was there. Davichi sang very well! I saw miss A on Saturday, I'm glad I saw them close-up since I think they all have great voices. 2NE1 is... well, very, very marketable in my opinion. I think CL is as rad as ever, but after seeing this perf. the thing I thought was wow, they could really break into the American market, if anyone can.
If you are surprised at how calm this post sounds, now that I have been within 500 meters of my love, Choi Minho, and was breathing almost the same air as him, I am surprised with you. What can I say? I'll annoy everyone, including myself, if I unleash my feelings via blog. I will just close by saying the waiting and commute back was definitely worth it. SHINee is great live, everyone is so much more impressive live, and I'm glad I could experience a huge concert like that even if half the audience should have been in bed by 8 pm.
So long K-Pop stars. Until next time?
^-^V
I'm not going to write out the logistics of transporting eleven people to Gyeong ju and back in a day, but let's just say that (praise the Lord) everything thankfully went smoothly. We left in the morning. Went to Express Bus Terminal. Took a bus to Gyeongju, which did take about 4.5 hours. Got in line, got our tickets...
started seeing celebrities come out of their extremely, extremely, extremely dark tinted cars (Taemin of SHINee is so cute, he is so smiley and waved very enthusiastically. I hate that I'm writing about this when I'm 20 years old)...
heard screaming fans, saw tweens running around, felt old but also resolute to see this out to the end and see SHINee perform before I'm 22 (I was with people older than me and there were definitely ahjummas in the line so I wasn't out of place even though I got really exasperated at all the girls screaming all the time when anyone came out of a car. So many false alarms!)...
bought a 4,000 Won pair of plastic binoculars because I was afraid I'd really regret not buying them once I was in the stands (I ended up buying a poncho too because it rained some)...
was told to go to this line, no that line, wait get out of the way the huge bus is moving and is going to mow down some 200 fans if we don't all move out of the way (some fans are ASKING to be run over. Seriously. These stupi* thirteen year olds stood there like looking vainly for another pop star to come out of the extremely dark [all Hyundai] vans was more important than their lives. The bus was clearly beginning to move and they wouldn't budge. I began to understand why there were hordes of policemen there [yes yes, many many policemen. Even some ROK marines])...
heard the performers practicing in the stage while we were waiting and people watched (some girls are scary, I forgot how scary crazed teens are. Teens and their hormones, thank God that stage of my life is over)...
and voila, entrance! Voila, because we miraculously butted the line early enough that people didn't do anything, we sat in the best possible spot in our block! Voila, there is no real food available so we must live off chips but who cares, I am finally, finally going to see SHINee, Se7en, and 2NE1 perform!
Suffice to say the concert was awesome. The waiting sucked. But wow, even though I diss K-Pop for its lack of... well, quality, and labor regulations, and undertalented and underaged people taking the stage... my fervor has been renewed!
And yes, thank you for wondering. I will indeed continue studying diligently--what I mean is that I will listen to K-Pop more, again (I have been on a non-K-Pop streak, actually. I've been listening to trip-hop and electronic...)
Performers are way better in real life. Gikwang of B2st is so cute. I now like F.T. Island. Se7en is awesome, as expected. Onew's mic didn't record his voice so SHINee performed Lucifer twice. ^-^ I type that calmly here, but yes, I was going nuts at my good fortune. They also performed Ring Ding Dong. So three song perfs by them, woot! They were third to last, only before Super Junior and Se7en, so that tells you how much their popularity has grown. Not a big fan of 2PM although I like them, but seeing Taec's shenanigans as MC was nice. Good to know he's still the goofy person he was back when I met him at the Wonder Girls' Concert. Wish f(x) was there. Davichi sang very well! I saw miss A on Saturday, I'm glad I saw them close-up since I think they all have great voices. 2NE1 is... well, very, very marketable in my opinion. I think CL is as rad as ever, but after seeing this perf. the thing I thought was wow, they could really break into the American market, if anyone can.
If you are surprised at how calm this post sounds, now that I have been within 500 meters of my love, Choi Minho, and was breathing almost the same air as him, I am surprised with you. What can I say? I'll annoy everyone, including myself, if I unleash my feelings via blog. I will just close by saying the waiting and commute back was definitely worth it. SHINee is great live, everyone is so much more impressive live, and I'm glad I could experience a huge concert like that even if half the audience should have been in bed by 8 pm.
So long K-Pop stars. Until next time?
^-^V
Korean Global Forum, Korean International Art Fair and Yon-Go Jun
THURSDAY 9/9
선공! I was successfully on time to the Korean Global Forum last Thursday, and was able to interview the guy from Germany, Matthias something (don't have the business card with me now...sorry), without revealing just how nervous and inexperienced I was.
The KGF was mostly in English, woot! They have these interesting headpieces that simultaneously translate though, that many people were using... very cool. Our past Secretary of Defence, Secretary Cohen was the keynote speaker. I have to admit I felt pretty cool--I was without a doubt one of the youngest, if not the youngest, person in the whole place. :)
After listening to some speeches and Q&A, we had lunch (which was amazing, I took the menu with me hahaaa just because Shilla Hotel is a very nice hotel and yes I was allowed to take the menu I didn't steal it)
and then it was show time. I had prepared a few questions beforehand, which is what I used to open up. Unfortunately, although I was supposed to interview the actual German Ambassador, he didn't end up making it to KGF for some reason, whether he was late, got sick, wasn't coming, or something of that nature... which is why I interviewed an Advisor from the embassy instead.
The interview was about 10 minutes. Once I have the write-up I'll post it here, in case anyone is interested in what I asked and in what he said. He was surprisingly young, actually.
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FRIDAY 9/10
friday
Got to CoEx Mall by 11, ate amazingly delicious pizza at Mr. Pizza with Sehee unni, looked around the Korean International Art Fair (SO COOL YAY art by Asian artists!) that was being shown there, had 설렁탕 for dinner and left. Pouring, pouring rain. Had to grab a cuppa in the Charlie Brown cafe next to Ewha University because it was pouring so much.
The cool thing about KIAF was the special exhibit of video art! The first video artist was Nam June Paik, a Korean-born but NY-based artist. I didn't even know about video art until I went there are saw it myself. Wish I could've recorded some of it for you all but that would be an epic no-no. Most artists don't want people to take pics of their stuff anyway. But if you are interested in more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_art
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nam_June_Paik
Today was also the first day of Yon-Go Jeon, the epic battle of sports teams between Yonsei and Korea Universities. Of course Korea is still a weensy bit behind on the gender front and thus only the guys' teams played. >_< However, art takes precedence over sports any day! I did see a huge group of supporters from both schools enter CoEx right as I was leaving though, to grab some dinner and then party in the area, I presume.
SATURDAY 9/11
Deciding not to be a pooper I went to the soccer game, the last game of Yon-Go Jeon, with my Yonsei Mentor, 태웅. Being a completely newbie and wet behind the ears, I was taken aback when I first entered the stadium. Half blue. Half red. Chanting, dancing, singing, shouting, stomping... wow Akaraka people work hard! (The cheering squad.) It was fun because
A. My mentor is really into the chants. Like really. It was funny.
B. I ran into my study abroad friends, and they were half exhausted, half into it. It was funny.
C. Some members of Akaraka dress up in these weird semi-European fruity costumes and are on these small stages at strategic areas to lead the crowd on. Watching them was entertaining.
It was a little uncomfy because
A. Lots of the chants include bumping hips or putting our arms around each other's shoulders. AKA I got people's sweat on me and my sweat was on them. Gross.
B. Everyone is sweating. Koreans don't have B.O. exactly, but it was getting there. Maybe because I was in the international section.
C. I didn't know the chants. And I was tired. Did I mention that in Korea...
they
are
constantly
cheering?
CONSTANTLY.
How am I supposed to watch the game? Oh wait, I can't. I have to stand and be awk and watch the game and seem awk because everyone else is cavorting around, or I have to do the cheers and not watch the game.
I don't mean to say it wasn't entertaining or fun, but it is def. a workout. I respect Akaraka members so much.
I like that Yon-Go Jeon is about friendly competition. Some of blue to go to red side (AKA Yonsei to Korea's side, or Eagle to Tiger's side), some red come to blue side, we switch cheering teams at the opening ceremony to cheer for each other... yeah it is nice! People in America get knifed because they go to the wrong school (sad but true T_T) but here it was pretty friendly. No booing, dissing, threatening, etc...
like! But yes, tiring.
Closing ceremony of Yon-Go Jeon: miss A came and performed! But before that I had to stand, waiting, for two hours X_X The concert began at 7 pm but of course there were random performers, and of course no one really knew who was performing or why or how and when or in what order or to what degree... okay I am exaggerating... but yes communication on Yonsei's campus is next to nil, I never know when anything is going on and no one else does either. It is lame. >_< Miss A was awesome though! Like them a lot, they are very talented and cute.
선공! I was successfully on time to the Korean Global Forum last Thursday, and was able to interview the guy from Germany, Matthias something (don't have the business card with me now...sorry), without revealing just how nervous and inexperienced I was.
The KGF was mostly in English, woot! They have these interesting headpieces that simultaneously translate though, that many people were using... very cool. Our past Secretary of Defence, Secretary Cohen was the keynote speaker. I have to admit I felt pretty cool--I was without a doubt one of the youngest, if not the youngest, person in the whole place. :)
After listening to some speeches and Q&A, we had lunch (which was amazing, I took the menu with me hahaaa just because Shilla Hotel is a very nice hotel and yes I was allowed to take the menu I didn't steal it)
and then it was show time. I had prepared a few questions beforehand, which is what I used to open up. Unfortunately, although I was supposed to interview the actual German Ambassador, he didn't end up making it to KGF for some reason, whether he was late, got sick, wasn't coming, or something of that nature... which is why I interviewed an Advisor from the embassy instead.
The interview was about 10 minutes. Once I have the write-up I'll post it here, in case anyone is interested in what I asked and in what he said. He was surprisingly young, actually.
__________________________________________________
FRIDAY 9/10
friday
Got to CoEx Mall by 11, ate amazingly delicious pizza at Mr. Pizza with Sehee unni, looked around the Korean International Art Fair (SO COOL YAY art by Asian artists!) that was being shown there, had 설렁탕 for dinner and left. Pouring, pouring rain. Had to grab a cuppa in the Charlie Brown cafe next to Ewha University because it was pouring so much.
The cool thing about KIAF was the special exhibit of video art! The first video artist was Nam June Paik, a Korean-born but NY-based artist. I didn't even know about video art until I went there are saw it myself. Wish I could've recorded some of it for you all but that would be an epic no-no. Most artists don't want people to take pics of their stuff anyway. But if you are interested in more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_art
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nam_June_Paik
Today was also the first day of Yon-Go Jeon, the epic battle of sports teams between Yonsei and Korea Universities. Of course Korea is still a weensy bit behind on the gender front and thus only the guys' teams played. >_< However, art takes precedence over sports any day! I did see a huge group of supporters from both schools enter CoEx right as I was leaving though, to grab some dinner and then party in the area, I presume.
SATURDAY 9/11
Deciding not to be a pooper I went to the soccer game, the last game of Yon-Go Jeon, with my Yonsei Mentor, 태웅. Being a completely newbie and wet behind the ears, I was taken aback when I first entered the stadium. Half blue. Half red. Chanting, dancing, singing, shouting, stomping... wow Akaraka people work hard! (The cheering squad.) It was fun because
A. My mentor is really into the chants. Like really. It was funny.
B. I ran into my study abroad friends, and they were half exhausted, half into it. It was funny.
C. Some members of Akaraka dress up in these weird semi-European fruity costumes and are on these small stages at strategic areas to lead the crowd on. Watching them was entertaining.
It was a little uncomfy because
A. Lots of the chants include bumping hips or putting our arms around each other's shoulders. AKA I got people's sweat on me and my sweat was on them. Gross.
B. Everyone is sweating. Koreans don't have B.O. exactly, but it was getting there. Maybe because I was in the international section.
C. I didn't know the chants. And I was tired. Did I mention that in Korea...
they
are
constantly
cheering?
CONSTANTLY.
How am I supposed to watch the game? Oh wait, I can't. I have to stand and be awk and watch the game and seem awk because everyone else is cavorting around, or I have to do the cheers and not watch the game.
I don't mean to say it wasn't entertaining or fun, but it is def. a workout. I respect Akaraka members so much.
I like that Yon-Go Jeon is about friendly competition. Some of blue to go to red side (AKA Yonsei to Korea's side, or Eagle to Tiger's side), some red come to blue side, we switch cheering teams at the opening ceremony to cheer for each other... yeah it is nice! People in America get knifed because they go to the wrong school (sad but true T_T) but here it was pretty friendly. No booing, dissing, threatening, etc...
like! But yes, tiring.
Closing ceremony of Yon-Go Jeon: miss A came and performed! But before that I had to stand, waiting, for two hours X_X The concert began at 7 pm but of course there were random performers, and of course no one really knew who was performing or why or how and when or in what order or to what degree... okay I am exaggerating... but yes communication on Yonsei's campus is next to nil, I never know when anything is going on and no one else does either. It is lame. >_< Miss A was awesome though! Like them a lot, they are very talented and cute.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
And then there were four...
Grace from BU left this morning so now it is just Gi Yoon, me, Lydia, and Janice left in Korea. T___T
Last Wednesday I worked out in the little gym in SK Global five floors below mine, and I realized while there that there was no sanitizing station of paper towels and cleaning spray! AAAAH we are all going to die if just one person with some terrible random virus comes and works out there! I ended up going on the treadmill and only touching the button to start and the button to speed up the pace--I would gladly bring my own sanitizing wipes for before and after but that would get expensive. I felt grossed out though. There are all these people sweating all over these machines and there is no sanitizing station?
Anyway, so Friday day/night I just stayed in and caught up on this blog, my e-mails, and my news. Yesterday I met up with Gi Yoon, Grace from BU and her cousin from London, and a couple of the student reporters for the Ministry of Unification who are our good friends. I needed to buy a thicker blanket that the one SK Global gave because my roommate, although lovely, needs the AC on all night. So one of our Korean native friends told us to go to the 광장시장 near 종로5가역. I think this may have been the same place I bought a Korean blanket some five years ago with my bro, sis and dad. It's this big garage-like complex of stalls filled with hanboks, blankets, fabrics, ddukbokki, pig snouts (AH I was so startled when I saw these... I still feel kind of sick thinking about this), pumpkin and red bean juke, scallion pancakes, random non-Korean goods, shoes... etc. I went to three blanket places before deciding on a slightly off white one with a simple design of small flowers... 25,000 Won baby! The first place charged 35,000 W and the second charged 38,000 W. My brother wants a nice thick Korean blanket so I'll probably go back with my mom once she comes in September :)
Navigating our way back to the center of the place, we stopped for a small meal of pumpkin juke (SO GOOD WHOA), random pieces of pig that I later found out was the ears and parts of the face (AAAH thinking about it makes me feel sick, again, good thing I only ate a piece [I guess in Korea all meat is good meat?]), scallion pancakes and other fried things, and a little bit of rice alcohol (I didn't really drink any. Alcohol at 4 pm? Eh?). It was my first time eating the equivalent of street food even though we were kind of in a garage so I enjoyed the experience. :)
Afterwards we went to a mall complex in Dongdaemun although we didn't really shop but rather waited for another friend to meet with us. Once he came we left for Myungdong via the 정구천? Something like that (it is the newly opened waterway that used to be underground for years, a project of President Lee Myung-bak) which was nice. Went to Krispy Kreme so we could sit and talk inside, and although Gi Yoon and our friend Sehmee (we gave her the English name Jamie!) had to leave, a little later our friends Sukho (Ian) and his gf came. Ian, his gf, Jamie and another friend Junghwan (Max) all are planning to visit America in January, during their break, so we talked a lot about that. I hope they do and I hope most of my Wellesley friends can meet them, they are all great!
Ian's gf left early and then Ian Max and I waited for Grace from BU to meet us. We ended up going to a bar because there wasn't any place to go (Myungdong closes kind of early) to talk and say goodbye (Grace left for China today). T_T
Two things I've noticed: ONE All my Korean friends are older than me, so they keep buying me stuff (coffee... okay just coffee, but still). How do hoobaes reciprocate to their sunbaes? One day I just say, hey, let me pay this time? I feel like Korean etiquette may not allow that...? But I did tell them that my mom is coming in September, so Mom, can we maybe all go to dinner together and then you can meet them? And then I can pay for their meal? :D
When I told Jamie unni about my mom coming she said she'd be sure to say to my mom that she has been taking good care of me and not letting me get up to mischief. Haha thanks unni, thanks. I've been good anyway ^^
TWO I didn't notice this as much as I was kind of told by Grace from BU, but I think maybe I'm trying too hard to have 눈치. Because of the cultural divide I'm not completely sure, even after all this time, how to act, and so I'm always cautious and observing everyone else and oftentimes just keeping quiet. Grace thinks I should be more relaxed because our Korean friends know where I'm coming from, and I should just tell them to correct me when my actions or words are incorrect or just not culturally done.
So I thought about this more and yes, I'm comfortable with my Korean friends, but yes because they don't really speak English I AM trying really hard to listen and learn and watch how they behave. Which isn't bad, but yes maybe I give off a slightly tense or stressed feeling when I'm with them because I'm always watching myself and making sure I'm respectful enough and stuff. Like last night, when we went to the bar, we had a little rice wine, but when I was drinking it out of my bowl I turned away from them. Apparently you only do that when you are in front of really old people or in a business setting, since we're all friends I shouldn't do it. :)
Ian invited me to the meeting of the Korean student reporters (the Wellesley/BU group got business cards from the Ministry of Unification as well, since we're working for them for the next year, but our title is Overseas Student Reporters) that they have once a month. It will be this upcoming Saturday. If timing works out I think I will go! Although by then it will really only be me, no one else will be there to help me understand what is going on. Good thing all my sunbaes are really patient, understanding and nice. I'm so thankful for them!
It is 1:38 pm now. I'm visiting Onnuri Church for the first time today! Its service is at 4:00, I'm meeting Bryan from Tufts near the church and then we'll go together. I think I'll study Korean now... I'm taking an assessment test this Wednesday and I want to do well!
Last Wednesday I worked out in the little gym in SK Global five floors below mine, and I realized while there that there was no sanitizing station of paper towels and cleaning spray! AAAAH we are all going to die if just one person with some terrible random virus comes and works out there! I ended up going on the treadmill and only touching the button to start and the button to speed up the pace--I would gladly bring my own sanitizing wipes for before and after but that would get expensive. I felt grossed out though. There are all these people sweating all over these machines and there is no sanitizing station?
Anyway, so Friday day/night I just stayed in and caught up on this blog, my e-mails, and my news. Yesterday I met up with Gi Yoon, Grace from BU and her cousin from London, and a couple of the student reporters for the Ministry of Unification who are our good friends. I needed to buy a thicker blanket that the one SK Global gave because my roommate, although lovely, needs the AC on all night. So one of our Korean native friends told us to go to the 광장시장 near 종로5가역. I think this may have been the same place I bought a Korean blanket some five years ago with my bro, sis and dad. It's this big garage-like complex of stalls filled with hanboks, blankets, fabrics, ddukbokki, pig snouts (AH I was so startled when I saw these... I still feel kind of sick thinking about this), pumpkin and red bean juke, scallion pancakes, random non-Korean goods, shoes... etc. I went to three blanket places before deciding on a slightly off white one with a simple design of small flowers... 25,000 Won baby! The first place charged 35,000 W and the second charged 38,000 W. My brother wants a nice thick Korean blanket so I'll probably go back with my mom once she comes in September :)
Navigating our way back to the center of the place, we stopped for a small meal of pumpkin juke (SO GOOD WHOA), random pieces of pig that I later found out was the ears and parts of the face (AAAH thinking about it makes me feel sick, again, good thing I only ate a piece [I guess in Korea all meat is good meat?]), scallion pancakes and other fried things, and a little bit of rice alcohol (I didn't really drink any. Alcohol at 4 pm? Eh?). It was my first time eating the equivalent of street food even though we were kind of in a garage so I enjoyed the experience. :)
Afterwards we went to a mall complex in Dongdaemun although we didn't really shop but rather waited for another friend to meet with us. Once he came we left for Myungdong via the 정구천? Something like that (it is the newly opened waterway that used to be underground for years, a project of President Lee Myung-bak) which was nice. Went to Krispy Kreme so we could sit and talk inside, and although Gi Yoon and our friend Sehmee (we gave her the English name Jamie!) had to leave, a little later our friends Sukho (Ian) and his gf came. Ian, his gf, Jamie and another friend Junghwan (Max) all are planning to visit America in January, during their break, so we talked a lot about that. I hope they do and I hope most of my Wellesley friends can meet them, they are all great!
Ian's gf left early and then Ian Max and I waited for Grace from BU to meet us. We ended up going to a bar because there wasn't any place to go (Myungdong closes kind of early) to talk and say goodbye (Grace left for China today). T_T
Two things I've noticed: ONE All my Korean friends are older than me, so they keep buying me stuff (coffee... okay just coffee, but still). How do hoobaes reciprocate to their sunbaes? One day I just say, hey, let me pay this time? I feel like Korean etiquette may not allow that...? But I did tell them that my mom is coming in September, so Mom, can we maybe all go to dinner together and then you can meet them? And then I can pay for their meal? :D
When I told Jamie unni about my mom coming she said she'd be sure to say to my mom that she has been taking good care of me and not letting me get up to mischief. Haha thanks unni, thanks. I've been good anyway ^^
TWO I didn't notice this as much as I was kind of told by Grace from BU, but I think maybe I'm trying too hard to have 눈치. Because of the cultural divide I'm not completely sure, even after all this time, how to act, and so I'm always cautious and observing everyone else and oftentimes just keeping quiet. Grace thinks I should be more relaxed because our Korean friends know where I'm coming from, and I should just tell them to correct me when my actions or words are incorrect or just not culturally done.
So I thought about this more and yes, I'm comfortable with my Korean friends, but yes because they don't really speak English I AM trying really hard to listen and learn and watch how they behave. Which isn't bad, but yes maybe I give off a slightly tense or stressed feeling when I'm with them because I'm always watching myself and making sure I'm respectful enough and stuff. Like last night, when we went to the bar, we had a little rice wine, but when I was drinking it out of my bowl I turned away from them. Apparently you only do that when you are in front of really old people or in a business setting, since we're all friends I shouldn't do it. :)
Ian invited me to the meeting of the Korean student reporters (the Wellesley/BU group got business cards from the Ministry of Unification as well, since we're working for them for the next year, but our title is Overseas Student Reporters) that they have once a month. It will be this upcoming Saturday. If timing works out I think I will go! Although by then it will really only be me, no one else will be there to help me understand what is going on. Good thing all my sunbaes are really patient, understanding and nice. I'm so thankful for them!
It is 1:38 pm now. I'm visiting Onnuri Church for the first time today! Its service is at 4:00, I'm meeting Bryan from Tufts near the church and then we'll go together. I think I'll study Korean now... I'm taking an assessment test this Wednesday and I want to do well!
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