Tuesday means Min Kyung!

We had a quiz to start class. Then we continued working on giving directions and started the next chapter. After class, I met with my teacher to have our little chat. I found out the average from my midterms was a 77%. It was a little shocking to me, as I have never really been a "C" student! But it is to be expected since the material is more difficult for me and I knew the scores of all the tests. My teacher told me that it wasn't a very bad score and since I'm not returning for the winter semester, it is not a problem (even if I were, I would not want to move to level 3, rather I would be content to retake level 2...).

In the late afternoon, I went to Insadong to buy some gifts. I think I have finished all of my shopping now. It felt like a shopping spree! After the sun went down it got really, really cold! I met Min Kyung around 6:30 and we went to her eye doctor's for a quick appointment. Then we went in search of a restaurant I had found. I wanted to eat bibimbap (rice and vegetables with a spicy paste). It's funny because Min Kyung said she would prefer to eat pizza and pasta and she doesn't think bibimbap is delicious! (She ordered something else...) After dinner, we went to Tom n' Tom's for Honey Butter Toast and coffee. I practiced speaking Korean--in some ways it's easier for me to speak Korean when I have a native speaker fluent in both languages, and sometimes it's actually more difficult. How can it be more difficult? Well, instead of me actually having to think of the word, or how to explain it, I can just say it in English and the speaker will understand exactly my intent. I don't have to try as hard. Maybe difficult isn't the right word... Anyway, as always, I love my conversations with Min Kyung. I feel so lucky to have her as a friend.

Min Kyung and our feast!

Bibimbap!!

Honey Butter Toast from Tom n' Toms--one of my favorite things!

2 Weeks Left!!

Class went alright today. We are working on giving directions and it's pretty difficult!

After class I did some homework and then went to meet my Korean American friend Katie. We met at COEX mall. We walked around a little and then went to find where to eat. We ended up going to the department store food court and splitting a salad and got blended fruit drinks. It was nice catching up with her--she went home to Chicago for about 10 days around Thanksgiving, so I hadn't seen her in awhile.

When Katie and I went our separate ways, I decided to go say hi to Mr. Lee again since I was so close. I also thought it would be a good way to verify our plans for Sunday--it is always easier to communicate with a person face to face rather than over the phone when you don't speak the others' language--body language is pretty easy to understand. As I was leaving I noticed it was snowing! My first snow in Korea!!! I showed Mr. Lee and he made me take an umbrella with me even though the subway station is not that far from the guesthouse.

Return to Seoul and Soccer

Sunday morning I woke up and visited some of the saunas and spas before getting ready. I walked back from the jjimjilbang to Nampodong to meet my friend Chulwoo (Oppa). I was waiting for him to arrive at the McDonald's, but there are two doors. He was waiting for me inside! We lost 10-15 minutes waiting in different locations for each other. :(

He took me to one of his favorite Korean restaurants in the area. He said he first went there when he was in middle school or high school and the price was very cheap, but over the years the restaurant has become more famous and popular so the prices have gone up. It was also kind of cute because he told me the day before he hadn't eaten any 밥-bab = rice (but can also be a general word for food, in this case he meant rice) the day before and he reeeally missed rice, so he 1. wanted to take me to this Korean restaurant and 2. he ate 2 bowls of rice with his meal.

We then took a taxi to the train station where I also met my friend Jeong Kwan. He was my study helper when I was at Inje University. Many Monday afternoons we would sit on the benches outside and he would help me with my work and practice speaking with me. It was sad because Oppa and I were late so I did not get to see him for very long. They walked me to my train and we said our goodbyes. Oppa told me not to cry because if I did, that means we will not get to see each other again. (I cried anyway)

I slept most of the ride back and arrived at Seoul Station a few hours later. I took the subway to the soccer fields and was 30 minutes late, just like I had figured. I had a really good goal! It was also approved by the other guys. I know this cause there was a unanimous "wooooahhh/wooow" exclamation from all of them after I scored it. :)

This week I took the subway to church. I had all my heavy luggage from traveling over the weekend and I didn't want to have to walk with it. I was a little disappointed because there was a different priest having mass, but he was also pretty good.

The sign for the spa as I was leaving

Oppa at lunch

Saying bye to Oppa at the train station

Saying goodbye to Jeong Kwan at the train station

Nativity set at Sogang University, where I go to church

Dec 1!

The first day of the last month of the year!!

I woke up a little early and did some homework. Jihye woke and cut up an apple--we chatted for awhile and then it was time for me to go meet Bumsik. I was sad saying goodbye to Jihye and she told me she hoped to see me again soon.

I met Bumsik on campus and we went to the restaurant he wanted to take me to. The only problem was that it wasn't opened yet. So we walked to another place and ordered Haejangguk (I think). It was beef (on the bone!!) with other vegetables in a spicy soup. It was pretty good. I had a nice chat with Bumsik and found out he will be going hiking in the Himalayas next month--by himself! After we ate, he took me to the bus stop and we went our ways-he had to go to his tutoring job.

After an hour and a half commute, I arrived in Nampodong (neighborhood/area) in Busan. I did a little bit of shopping. I was passing a central square and saw lights etc being put up, I stopped to read a sign and a middle school/high school event staff said that the festival was starting at 6pm. I went to Yongdusan Park and watched the sun set behind the mountains. The park is up on a hill, so there is a nice view of the harbor and part of the city. I went back to where the festival was being held and got a seat. It reminded me a bit of the lantern festival in Seoul. There were a few different groups singing-the first were older women singing Christmas carols, then a group of elementary students sang some Korean songs and finally a group of 3 musicians played some Korean instruments. It started raining a little, but it was so cold I was surprised it wasn't snow! The VIP's arrived and a few gave some speeches. Then they all came on stage and pressed some buttons and *bling* all the lights came on!

I was so cold from sitting outside in the rain that I was shivering as I walked. I went to the mandu soup place I have been to before and ordered my favorite soup. After I ate, I walked to the jjimjilbang (sauna/spa place) I had looked up--I also talked to two Koreans and both said it was a good jjimjilbang. There were not as great a variety of spas as some of the other places I have been to, but this place also had a nice view of the harbor. I soaked in the hot tubs for a little and then went to explore the saunas. They had 2 really unique rooms-the first was a hot salt rock room-with small salt rocks on the ground to lay on; the other was similar but had smooth black stones. Other than that, I think there were only 2 other sauna rooms and the typical cold room.

My friend Bumsik and me at the bus stop

Start of the sun set; Busan harbor on the left

Yongdusan Park

Christmas Tree Festival! The big "tree" just lit up!

Me with the Christmas tree

Last Day of November!

Wow-hard to believe it is the end of November already. This year is flying by!

After class I hurried to the student building so I could use a computer and printer to print my train tickets. After printing, I came back here, gathered my bags and got kimbap for the road. Then off to the train station. I made it with plenty of time. I sat next to a 할머니 (halmoni=grandma) who tried speaking some Korean with me. She slept most of the way and I studied and journal-ed.

Finally I arrived at Gupo Station! Outside the station they were decorating the trees and courtyard with Christmas lights. It was pretty. I hopped on the subway and then transferred to the light-rail system. I got off the light-rail and got on the infamous 128-1 bus. This was the bus ride I remember--slamming on the brakes at the last second, swinging wildly left to right and forwards and backwards; even the most avid and experienced bus rider would have trouble keeping balance. Literally if you do not hang on, you will fly around and fall down--no exceptions. It's really a love-hate relationship with the 128-1. One of my friends later remarked, "it's like an amusement park ride, right?" Ha, ha, how true! Well, I safely arrived to the front gate of Inje University and went to the main building to meet Jihye as earlier directed. Earlier in the week she had been asked to move her office into the main building. I arrived and met her new co-worker, Yoon Jung (kind of funny because it is my roommate from last year's name, backwards!) Jihye apologized for not checking the hours of the hair salon and suggested we check there in the evening-then she said, "oh! Let's go and get our hair done tonight!" We convinced Yoon Jung to also get her hair done too! First though, dinner. Jihye asked me where or what I wanted to eat-she said "think carefully, this is very important". Ha, ha. I hesitated only a second before answering "mongshili" which is the bibimbap and handcut noodle soup restaurant (I went there when Amanda was in Gimhae with me). The other ladies agreed and off we went. Jihye was sweet and paid for dinner. It was as good as always. After dinner, we went to the hair salon. When we arrived, I recognized the lady as the one who did my hair last year. I showed her the pictures I had and what Jenny had told me to say to her. She first trimmed and layered my hair-she did it really quickly, but it looked so good I was the tiniest bit tempted to say-actually, I'm good with just this! Ha! The perm turned out really nice! She had an assistant working with her and he washed our hair and gave a really (hard!!) head massage--Jihye said that he asked her if it hurt and that she wanted to say yes, but didn't. The cost of the perm went up a little bit from last year, but I think it is worth it!

After we were ready with our new hair styles we went to a coffee shop together. One of my radiology students, Daeguk, from last year came and met us. He and I chatted for awhile. He brought me 2 oranges as a gift. Daeguk was probably my lowest level student, but he tried the hardest. He said that he and the other students miss me and he even brought up the activities we had done together. After he left, another one of my friends, Bumsik, came and met us too. He only stayed a short time before heading back, but he made plans to meet me for lunch the following day.

When we finished our drinks, we said goodbye to Yoon Jung and Jihye and I went back to her home. She made kimchi cheon (which is kind of like a pancake) and we watched some dramas on TV. When her husband arrived home, we went to bed.

I'm ready for my trip! I have kimbap, my ticket and my textbook!

Jihye and my new friend Yoon Jung

My student Daekuk and me

Jihye cooking kimchi cheon!

Time with my 언니 (Unni= Big Sister)

Class went well today. We are almost done with our textbook, but like I mentioned before, we really only have a week left of class before FINALS!!! We did a lot of one on one speaking today-with our classmates, interviewing about our favorite hobby or interest. Tomorrow we have to give a small presentation about our favorite hobby. I chose soccer-the only problem is that I cannot draw, so I'm not sure how to decorate my small poster...

After class, I got a text from Hwa Sun Unni, asking if I was free earlier than we had originally planned on meeting. I agreed and we met in Itaewon, which is kind of the international area; it is quite close to the US military base, so there are a lot of Americans in that area. We had tea and a waffle and chatted. We sat near the window on the 2nd floor and Hwa Sun noticed a large crowd gathering on the street-she looked down and said that there was a famous actor there. There was also a cameraman, so they were doing some kind of filming! I don't have a big sister, so I really enjoy and appreciate the relationship I have with Hwa Sun. She really is like a big sister and again, I have to stress how much she treats me like family. I am so thankful to have them in my life. After we finished our tea, we went to some shops in the area because she needed some things for her family.

We took a taxi back to her apartment. I did some homework while she had a phone call. Then she helped me a little with some of my homework. A little bit later, Jaebin returned home from his friend's house. He also helped me with my homework. He did his journal writing-English assignment and I helped him. For dinner, we went to a Japanese restaurant. Earlier in the day I mentioned how much homework I had, so I think Hwa Sun sent me on my way a little bit earlier than she would have normally because I told her how late I stay up doing homework and she was worried about me. We made plans to meet next week and I got a big hug bye from Jaebin. He kept yelling "byyyyeeee!!" to me as I went down the stairs to the subway.

I just finished packing for my trip to Inje/Busan and now I'm going to dive into homework!

Reunited with some Bros!

Class was alright, it's hard to believe next week is our LAST full week of learning and the following week is FINALS and graduation! I have begun to accept the fact that maybe the things I have learned in class have not quite stuck in my head, but at least the seeds have been planted and I have the resources. I am gearing up to continue my studying when I return home.

After class I got a call from my friend Ji. I have been trying to meet him since I arrived to Korea, since he is currently living in Seoul with his fiancee. He's been quite busy preparing resumes and applications for job interviews. Anyway, he FINALLY called me and we were both able to meet up this afternoon. We went to Hongdae because I had a coupon for a free pasta from the restaurant I went to a few weeks ago. When I met up with him, he told me that another friend, Bit Chan was also in Seoul! I thought he was in Canada--he had been studying in Canada with an exchange program and I was under the impression he hadn't returned to Korea yet. He was on his way to meet us, but Ji and I went to go eat. It was great hearing more of his traveling stories--he was one of the 5 friends I had traveling around the US and Europe to get signatures to petition to have "East Sea" added to maps along with "Sea of Japan". They really had an incredible trip. As we were finishing our lunch, Bit Chan called so after we finished, we went to go meet Bit Chan who was arriving to the area. We went to a coffee shop and I ordered a tea. We sat and talked for a long time until Bit Chan started to get hungry. Bit Chan suggested "ddak dori tang" which is kind of a spicy chicken stew. After walking a bit, we found a restaurant and had a spicy dinner. When we went to the subway station, I saw the piano-back up singer from the band I heard playing a few weeks ago at Cheonggyecheon. Today he was playing his keyboard thing and singing by himself. I thought it was pretty cool to 'meet' him again. We said our goodbyes on the subway and I hope I can see them again before I leave. It was a nice surprise to meet Bit Chan. Ji is really like a big brother to me and it was great spending time with him. He and his fiancee bought two cats. Their names are "Dubu" (tofu) and "Ooyoo" (milk), haha! They are white Persian cats. It's kind of cute because he's almost like a dad and they are his babies-he was proud of them and talked about them a lot.

When I returned home I was able to skype with Amanda again. Now I have a little bit of homework to finish before I can head to bed!

Lunch with my Bro, Ji, at BonBon in Hongdae

Ji and Bit Chan at dinner

Ji and me

Surprise! Bit Chan and me

Attempting to get a picture of the 3 of us together

Thankful for Good Friends

Well today was a bit eventful. I'm sure my last three weeks here will continue to be busy as I make sure to do all the things I wanted to see and do and visit all of my friends.

I was able to chat with my Mom on skype after a few week period away I think. Then I rushed off to class. We were joined by a new student from Singapore doing a week long program. She will leave on Friday! I think she knows a bit of English along with Chinese and she happens to sit next to me, so maybe I will get to speak some English for a few days in class! Today was an easier day, we were finishing up chapter 20 so it is really only reading and listening, and the second half we started chapter 20. The multiples of 5 chapters are about pronunciation rules so it was easy too.

After class, I was asked to help an Australian student. She is doing research on native English speakers' pronunciation of Korean words. Her goal is to make Korean {pronunciation} easier for English speakers. So I had to read a list of Korean words 3 times each into her little microphone. On my way back to my room, I ran into Brian and he and I went to the kimbap shop.

I returned to my room and bought my final ticket to Busan!! I also got some studying done. Min Kyung sent me a text telling me to meet her about 40 minutes earlier than planned, so I left and met her in the Jongno area (it's right on my subway line, about 20 minutes away)-Cheonggyecheon runs through this district/neighborhood. We went for ddak galbi, which is what I had to eat on Saturday. (Chicken, veggies and a hot sauce) However, this time we added rice at the end-when just there's a little bit of chicken and veggies left you can add rice and it is kind of like fried rice. It's my favorite part of ddak galbi!

We walked to a coffee shop and along the way passed an office building with a huge Christmas tree inside, so we went in and took our picture and then went on to the coffee shop. MK again paid for dinner, saying I could buy coffee. I think I have officially decided my stomach does not care for Korean milk. This is about the 3-4th time in the past few weeks I've noticed it hurts after I've drank warmed up milk in some form. I'm going to stay away from that and get tea or juice at coffee shops from now on. I am interested to see how US milk affects me when I return home. Anyway, MK and I had some really good conversation ranging from cultural behaviors to North Korea. It is really refreshing to have someone to speak English to; not to struggle to be understood or understand and not just through typing (because that is how most of my English has been 'spoken' these past few months).

Me and the giant Christmas tree

MK and the tree

Tired Monday

This morning I woke up and all I wanted to do was sleep more. Class was alright. These days it seems kind of hit or miss if I have a "good day" (as in low frustration level and high understanding). Today was more of the "miss" day.

I had a good afternoon of studying. I really enjoy the new website I found. It also goes really well with a lot of the things we are studying--it is so great to have it explained in ENGLISH and not just Korean. I also chatted with Jihye and confirmed my weekend trip to Inje/Gimhae/Busan. It is hard to believe this is already the last of the 3 visits I had planned out way back in the summer. The time sure did go by fast.

Just around dinner time I checked my phone and noticed I missed a text from my friend Ji about 2 hours earlier. My phone had been on silent from class and I hadn't turned it back on. I was kind of upset with myself because he was able to meet for dinner, but because it was already dinner time, he didn't respond (though he's not been very reliable with returning my messages since I've arrived in Korea). I was disappointed I missed a chance to meet with him. I finished my homework and went to find some dinner. I went to the restaurant Brian and I went to waaaay back in the beginning-a kind of bibimbap fusion restaurant. I got spicy chicken and noodles in a hot stone bowl. It was pretty spicy, but it was also a bit sweet too. While walking to school, I noticed a Homeplus (grocery store) opened right near campus and not too far from where I had dinner, so I went there to get some groceries/check out their selection.

I was going to do a little bit more studying, but I am quite tired so I'm hoping to go to bed a little bit earlier tonight.

Meeting Bohae's Family

Well, for the first time in a long time, I slept well past my normal waking time of 7:30, and even past any normal time I would wake up. The only problem with this is that I needed to leaving for the subway station AT 9:20 to make it to Bucheon (between Seoul and Inchon) by 10:30. I had woken up because I heard my roommate getting ready, but I figured it was still early, my alarm hadn't gone off so maybe she was just up early for her church, and fell back asleep. Then when I heard her leaving, I figured I should see what time it was. It was 9:02. Eighteen minutes to get ready?! I took the fastest shower and got dressed, thankful I had put my soccer bag together the night before and ran to the subway. I made it just as the train was arriving at the station.

I settled in knowing I had an hour long ride ahead of me. I tried to do a little bit of studying, but it's a bit distracting with all the people coming and going to really focus. As I was getting closer, I started wondering about if I needed to transfer because the line though stays the "same" split, so I contacted Bohae and she told me what the next stop was. I found those tracks and again made it just as the next train arrived. I had counted the stops and figured it should take me 50 minutes to get from my station to hers, but actually it took a little over an hour. I'm guessing having to transfer was part of the added time. I met Bohae at the station and then we walked to a bus stop to take a bus to her church. I don't know if I mentioned, but her father is a pastor of a Presbyterian church. We arrived at the church (which is actually in the basement of a building) with 3 minutes before it was to begin. I met her mother and younger brother before the service started. I sat through their service, having no idea what was going on of course. At the end, at their announcement section, they introduced all of the guests/visitors/newcomers, so I had to stand up and bow and everyone clapped.

When it was over, I met Bohae's father and her grandmother, along with some friends and other parishioners. Then they asked me if I wanted to eat there or out somewhere. I said it would be okay to have lunch at the church with everyone else. They told me because we were eating at the church, they wanted to take me out to eat another day. Unfortunately they picked the same day that I had already planned to meet Mr. Lee. They looked very upset and told me that they wanted to meet me then. It was left a bit unresolved and we found a place to sit and eat. One church member is Korean American who is an international lawyer. Since he is fluent in both languages they turned to him to translate and try to convince me to change my plans. As he was translating he stopped and told me he wanted to give me advice. He said, "Koreans are very pushy. They are basically saying you need to cancel your plans to meet with them. In my opinion, you just keep your plans if you would rather to that, but of course they want you to not keep it. Do whatever you want". They kept asking and asking and I was starting to get really upset because they weren't listening to WHY I couldn't meet with them and they couldn't seem to understand why Mr. Lee is so important to me. We finished eating and helped clean up. Bohae had to do a quick piano lesson, but her brother and I walked to a coffee shop. I ordered a lemon tea and it was really good. A little bit later Bohae joined us. They are both friendly and very sweet. Bohae came with an alternative option sent from her parents. They wanted to meet on the 13th and either 1. have us travel 2 hours to where Sion (Bohae's brother) goes to college to have dinner--and then drive 2 hours back... or 2. the parents and Bohae would meet me at Hoegi Station for dinner. I told her I would think about it and decide based on my school schedule.

We walked back to the church and chatted there a little. The next service started at 3, so I needed to leave before it. There was another member who drove me and Bohae to the subway station to drop me off, which was really nice. I got on the subway and headed to Yongsan to play soccer. At one point someone got up and even though I had 2 big bags I did not sit down--I rarely sit on the subway--and an ajushi maybe in his late 60's sat down and said "thank you" to me. I waved it off and said "it's okay". He then told me to give him my bag. (It is customary for strangers to hold other passengers bag's if one is sitting and the other is standing) I tried to tell him it's okay, but he kept telling me to give him my bag, so finally I conceded. He then started rambling rapid-fire Korean at me and I gave my (I'm sure) classic dear-in-headlights-I-don't-know-Korean look and told him "I can't speak Korean", however hearing MORE Korean come out of my mouth signaled to him I really DID know Korean. I tried to explain that I am Korean American and I am adopted. I don't think many older people know the word for adopted "ibyang"--a lot of people his generation or older give me a confused look and try and guess other words I'm saying-along with "ilbon" which is Japanese. Anyway, fortunately--unfortunately...the seat next to him opened up and he told me to sit. I figured I'd better sit. So, I tried my best to have a conversation with him telling him I'm a student at Kyunghee University. When we finally came to the end of the line at Yongsan station, he said something to me and an older lady next to me made some kind of empathic noise-then I heard him speaking to her and said something along the lines that I have no father and no mother-to which she made even more empathic noises. As we all exited the subway, he told her I was headed to Hoegi station and Kyunghee University, which happened to be the direction this lady was headed apparently because she told me "let's go together". THEN I had to try to explain that I play soccer at Yongsan. I had to say the word for soccer about 4 times and repeat my sentence (which I believed to be a relatively simple sentence that I have spoken many times) about 3 times for them to understand me.

After parting ways with my friendly ajuma and ajushi, I made my way to a bathroom to change into my soccer clothes and went to the field. There were only 5 of us-at one point there was a high schooler or maybe early college age boy standing around so the native Korean, Jin Won, that sometimes joins us invited him to play with us. I took a lot of shots on goal, but most were wide or over. I think I did make one goal. Towards the end of our time, a small group of 6-10 year old boys with their moms stopped and watched us play. Jin Won asked me "do you hear or understand what those boys are saying?" I told him no. He said they were saying stuff along the lines "Is that a girl? Woah, that's a girl! But, how can a girl be playing that well?!" Ha!! When we were done playing Jin Won asked if anyone was headed towards Sincheon, since he has a car. John, the captain of our team and I rode with Jin Won and were dropped off--it was really nice because I was going to walk all the way to Sogang again. As it turned out, I was early enough for church that I stopped at Isaac Toast for a sandwich before mass.

At mass, they announced that our priest has become an official member of the Sogang priest community-or something rather. He said basically he has decided that he wants to die in Korea--that he will spend the rest of his life serving at that church in that community.

I came home and had another hour + long skype chat with Amanda. Then I had to finish homework and finally head to bed quite late.