CIEE Orientation

It's hard to update this blog because the internet on my computer is so spotty. I really don't know how to improve it--there is no wireless so we use ethernet cables, but even so the connection really stinks. I'm sitting in my friend's room using her MacBook Pro to type this.

Anyway, it's been a long couple of weeks! I met my CIEE study abroad group which consists of about 20-40 individuals... a lot of them are, surprisingly, from Minnesota. There are also many Hmong American students, and a few Korean adoptees, which was a pleasant surprise. I say pleasant because I volunteer with Wellesley's Korean Adoptee Mentor Program, and so it is great to be able to talk to a few adoptees who are my age about their experiences (so I can be a better unni to my little sister). The group is really diverse so I've enjoyed meeting everyone, although I admit that at times I found myself wishing I was with my Korean and Wellesley/BU friends. We had lots of different events and small lectures for our orientation, and we even had a 2 night 3 day trip to Jeonju and Hadong, which are places known for bibimbap, paper-making, and tea. We made paper, we experienced a Korean tea ceremony, we cooked and rolled and dried green tea leaves... we went to karaoke, we visited the JSA (which was the second time for me) and a few museums here and there... yep it has been a busy orientation! I'm having a lot of fun even though I'm tired from all these different things going on. I really want to post up pictures of what has been happening but because this computer I'm using isn't my own, I'll have to put the pictures on a thumbdrive first. I promise I'll do it soon so that everyone can see what I've been up to ^^

Today is Friday. Last Monday the Wellesley/BU volunteer team met up with the Ministry of Unification officials, and the vice minister, one last time for a lunch and debriefing session. We made all of them cup their faces with us in the classic "I'm cute and Asian" pose, which is awesome. As a parting gift they gave us these small but beautiful Korean jewelry chests.

Last Tuesday I met with the Gyeonggi-do Governor, 김문수, along with the other girls and we again talked about our experiences, took pictures, and were presented with a small tea cup with a filter and a lid as a parting gift. Yay for gifts :) The meeting was quite short, about 40 minutes? But I'm still glad we could meet him, the word on the grapevine is that he may run for President of South Korea soon... and if so that means we have a HUGE connection.

Daisy left on Wednesday. :( Christine left Thursday :( Grace Kim leaves today :( Grace Kwon leaves tomorrow :(

One day, soon, I will post all my pictures. Look forward to it?