Posts (page 2)
Hey Chingoos (friends). As a preface, I spell the Korean words out how they might be spelled in English, so obviously, that's not how you would spell it in Korean, and it's maybe not even the most accurate way to spell that in English, but alas, Amy's Konglish has arrived, so let the teaching begin...
Today was pretty good. I'm super tired right now. I had a Korean word test that was really hard this afternoon, and Iit left me pretty exhausted. Korean is just really hard. This language is not for the dyslexic, let me put it that way. Saying Korean words is much easier than spelling them out. Oy. Plus not to mention there are multiple ways to write out something that sounds the same, but means completely different things. I really do think it is completely different than any other language I have learned by far. I think just the way you study has to be different. At this point I have learned Spanish and German, and learning both these languages can't compare to me trying to learn Korean. The way you study is different, the sounds are different, the characters are different. I really am proud of myself though, I'm trying really hard, and so are all my Chingoos. We band together at night and study together, we make Konglish (Korean words dispersed in our English conversation) a daily habit to help as well; plus the fact that we don't want to look stupid in class is more motivation to study. I must say, today was a bit disheartening because the first three people to walk out of the room today after the test were the only three Chinese students in the class. Bitches, but secretly we're so jealous. We all felt a little burn after that one for more than one reason.
It will get better though, I can tell. I refuse to get lower than a B in that class, and an A is ideal right now. I don't want to bring back any grades lower than that to the states because its Grad school time. I'm hoping for all A's! fight fight!
So I've kindof deviated from my usual commentary on the Korean culture so here are some fun facts:
-1st off it is mogie CENTRAL here. Mogie is Korean for mosquitoe. They are everywhere. Apparently, they come in swarms after the monsoons, and when I came I just missed the big infiltration of Korea. However, they are still around, and in BIG numbers. They are k-i-l-l-i-n-g me. I'm trying to fight them off, but they seem to smell fresh meat, and swarm the I House. My friend Hannah has them so bad, and had such a bad allergic reaction, that she had to get steroids for them. AHHHHHH!!!! Mogies die! die! die!
-2nd, Going to the bathroom in Korea is an experience. If you aren't throwing away your used tissue from your behind in waste paper baskets, which seem highly unsanitary to me, you are squatting over a hold-in-the-ground toilet. Now, I'm not sure what the floor toilet is all about, and I really don't know the purpose, but I feel like I'm like out in the woods and trying not to pee on myself. Plus, you don't know whether you can do a #2 because the water pressure in those things doesn't seem quite conducive for the consistency...I'm baffled really. It's all pretty awkward if you ask me. But remember what I said before, in the fact that where Korea lacks on one end, completely makes up for it on the other; they have toilets that are to high tech I don't know what to do with it. I mean there are like little pictures trrrrrying to show what function does what, but really, it's all crazy! There is like a button to shoot water like 20 different ways, and then there is like a dryer thing...I mean honestly I don't even know what half the buttons do. But what I do know, is I definitely had a rumble with the toilet at the Doctor Fish Cafe. (Skip this part if you don't like a little bathroom humor):
So here I am at Doctor Fish Cafe, using the bathroom in their nice restrooms...I'm done, I throw my toilet paper in the waste paper basket, pull the pants up, you know the drill. so I turn around, and I think, now lets inspect the buttons and see what they do... So I'm looking at the mini pictures with the writing all in Korean of course, and I'm just curious what some of the ambiguous buttons are. So I look down, and I see like a spray button, a shower button, a wind button etc. I look at the spray button, then look at presumably where the water would come out, and wonder, would this button spray up, down, sideways? hmmmmm. :ponder further: Then I decide to see what it can do. I press the button and watch where the water will come out.
SPHHHHHHHHSSHHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH!!!!!!! Toilet water RIGHT IN THE FACE! It keeps coming, and coming! I'm like fighting water back, spatting all over, trying to find which button makes the water STOP. I'm frantically looking for it, water is spouting out everywhere, and so in a panic, I close the lid of the toilet. Yeah, this didn't do anything because water was spewing from the sides! So I'm freaking out, looking for the button, and finally I find what looks to be it, and I press the button. Phew. It stops. But my face is covered in water, and there is some water on my shirt, and there is water all over the toilet. HYSTERICAL. Classic move by Amy :takes bow: So I try and clean up, leave the bathroom, and start laughing hysterically to my friends, who also, took part in making fun of me as well. Sighhhh.
Moving on:
-3rd, the new drama I am watching is called Goong S. Again, you can find this at www.mysoju.com. I haven't really gotten very far, but I heard it was good. So for everyone, a.k.a Caroline and the girls, that's the new drama that I'm told I would like, so I think you all would like that too.
-4th, apparently there is a new drama being filmed in Hongai as we speak! I have no idea what it is, but Chingoos and I are going to go scope it out for shits a giggles.
5th, the big Yonsei vs. Korea University games is this weekend. Everyone on this campus is going and it's going to be CRAZYYYYYY! I might have mentioned it before, but it gets live here at Yonsei, and especially Shinchon as well. I think I mentioned this before, but after the games on Fri, and Sat night, Shinchon is booming with people. At night they all bum rush the bars, order food, and get free drinks all night long from every bar in the area! It will be a weekend of tons of fun, games, and massive school spirit! I'm really curious how it will compare to OSU spirit. Buckeyes are really hard to beat, so we will see ^_^.
Well, that's all for tonight. Off to watch the drama and read the rest of A Wrinkle in Time.
So I had an amazing time last night. First of all, the woman pianist was just spectacular. Unfortunately I was expecting a pianist with an orchestra, so it was more of a recital, but it was fabulous. She also did two encores and they were perfect as well.
Our seats were to the right of the stage, 1st row balcony, and the tickets were only 10won. Apprently the woman at the ticket office upgraded our seats for no reason, so that just made the event that much better. There was also this a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e little girl sitting next to Crystal, who through the whole performance placed her hands on the wood barrier infront of her, and pretended to play the piano with the soloist. It WAS SO CUTE. She had to be only 7 or 8 and was so freaking cute.
After the recital came this huge unexpected reception. Every exit of the concert hall was greeted with a spread of drinks and food. It was almost comical in a way because there were bum rushes of hungry people trying to push and grab plates to get to the food. The dichotomy of a pleasant night with music, followed by a mass of people fighting for food was just hysterical. People are so funny. In any case, we got food, it was good, and then we left.
Then I thought about doing homework, but by that time it was midnight, and there was no chance of that happening anyways, so we decided to go clubbing. Crystal, Alex, and I met up with friends at this House club in Hongdai and it was soooooooooo much fun! Oh man, clubbing in Korea is amazing. The club was packed till 4am and still going! In Korea, they don't have a cap on the amount of people in the club so people just kept coming, but it was so much fun. All the Europeans loved it, the American's loved it, and the Koreans just ate it up. Igor (Germany), Charles (France), Some Dutch guy, and a couple of the Americans were on the stage for the better part of the night and it was great. It felt like we were really hyping the crowd to the music. Either that, or they were just laughing ^_^ anyways, they loved it, we loved it and I haven't been dancing like that in a long time. I think because we don't have classes on Wed, or Friday, clubbing at a hip hop club would be nice. My friend Kekeli (France/Tobo Africa) knows these two professional dancers that are here in Korea, and they want to go out dancing! I defintely want to, and that way we won't get accosted by Korean guys who rip away to dance with you. Really, they grab your arm and make you dance with them...I'll explain that later though. It has something to do with how they approach girls in the first place. So it was a great night, lots of fun, but now, it's study study study, fight fight fight!
Hey guys. I hope everyone is doing well back in the States, I miss you guys. I just received these two really long emails from Rebecca and Katy and it made me miss home a lot. Or the U.S. I guess I should say. For the better part of the day I'm just going to chill out by myself, go to a coffee shop, read, take some pictures around Seoul, maybe find some art galleries, who knows. I must say I'm still a little intimidated at times to travel around by myself because if I get lost, there's not that many people who would be willing to help me in English. Right now though I really want some alone time, and to just be by myself, travel around by myself, eat by myself, and just chill. There are so many people around me daily which most of the time I'm not bothered, but I really need a break for my personal sanity. I was around people 24/7 over break and the rest of this week, and for the weekend I want it to be a lot of personal time.
I'm starting to miss my own space, my own apartment, and my own routine. I'm a creature of habit, and I'm just starting to miss the little things now. Like sewing in my apartment, doing art in my apartment, cooking food in my apartment, biking the streets of Columbus and Louisville. :Sigh: Pointless really to think about that now because there are so many good things being here that I shouldn't even really be complaining, but I think I reserve a right to be slightly whiney sometimes. *-*
Right now I really need to get on top of school, grad school applications, GRE's, and Scriptwear. Apparently Nathan the store owner of Cherry Bomb has sold all of the scarves that we have given him, and he wants more. It's about that time of year where things are getting chilly so it should be a good time to make some major moohlah with his help. I just have to find time to email him, call him, and get Shannon and Andrew in gear to be ready to do some major printing for fall. God I love that business. I love having designs and stuff out. I hope Shannon feels the same way. She has such amazing ideas for our stuff; I just hope that we can keep working on this through her college life. I think it's a lot of fun, and I hope she does too. It's a nice feeling when people want to buy your stuff and design, and it just feels so awesome. Yay for design.
Which brings me to next topic. I really want to do graphic design. I love it. I really really do. I'm going to try and see if I can take some design classes while still at OSU, or after I graduate. I think I want to develop a portfolio and learn skills that will help Scriptwear and web design. I don't want to start my undergrad over, I just think I'm going to do some hard core design work by myself in my spare time. I should really be doing that here in Seoul as well. I haven't decided whether it's necessarily worth it to try and get a masters in design, or if I should still
pursue Arts Administration...really the masters in design would be more for the credentials than anything, but the Arts Administration is also where my heart lies. Any suggestions friends and fam? Is there a way to do both without shelling out tons of money?
I also need to start on my grant for the Light Graffiti community project. Could someone relay the message to Busha that it would be great if she could send me the emails of the woman in charge of Operation Brightside and other community officials to get the ball rolling? I need to start getting in contact with them so that I can get my grant in order and when I come back see that it falls into place for the following year. I think when I graduate I will stay in Louisville at least for a couple months for a short internship and to get this project off the ground and then make my way to NYC. It might also give me time to study for GRE's and put all my heart into these projects before I leave for the city. I also want some experience before I leap into NYC again so that I can actually get a reputable job and not starve before grad school. From words of the experienced reading this, what do you all think? Is this smart? Should I just move to NYC after school and hope things work out through connections? Or should I stay home, make some cash and then move?
Oh questions galore.
Well, off to the coffee shop/food. I'm going to see a concerto tonight. There will be a solo pianist and solo violinist playing Beethoven and Bach...it surely will be a decadent evening. heh.
Hello everyone! I'm back, and Geyongju and Busan were amazing! I just got back about 2 hours ago, and have finished uploading all my trip photos for everyone to see! Check those out while you wait for a post, it's 3 am right now and I have class tomorrow. Ohhhh goodness. Anyways, I do want to say real quick though that we visited two amazing cities, had a great time, and I think everyone walked away happy, full, and in love with the city Busan!
Disclaimer on the photos: bear with me on the order of the photos, I haven't messed with the organization of it all, nor the descriptions, but I promise it will come in due time!
Current CD: Coffee Prince.
That’s right, I bought it. I bought the American version equipped with select Korean songs and clips from the drama AND I bought the Korean version will all the Korean songs. Yep, I’m officially the biggest looser ever. Sigh.
I also found out that the coffee shop in the drama is actually in Seoul; Hongdai to be precise. I AM SO EXCITED. I have gathered Yoojung (Anna’s cousin), Kimberly, and Won to go with me. They are just as excited as I am. I can’t wait for the pictures. Hee.
To just give you a small example of how much I love this drama, I will just say that I NEVER cry in movies. I think I may have cried once, maybe twice watching American films, and damned if it’s not the first Korean drama and I’m crying throughout the entire second half of the season. Every episode from 10-16 I’m sniffling, laughing, crying…my roommate would think I’m crazy if she wasn’t doing the same at her own computer. Yep that’s right, I got her hooked on it. She was really excited when I told her that I bought the CD’s too. ^_^
So the past few days while I haven’t been updating my blog or pictures there have been a lot of reflections going on, a lot of thought about the culture here, and just things that are going on. Typical I guess when you leave a place and experience new things, so I feel almost juvenile about even saying that, but I can’t help it.
I really like what the Korean atmosphere is doing for me. I don’t know whether it’s actually Korea, the people I surround myself with at the I-House, or just the fact that I went away for 4 months, but something is going right. I think Korea definitely has had an impact though.
It’s so funny thinking about what little I knew about this country and the culture before I came. I mean I knew Anna’s family, but that was in an American setting, and I knew that binsu was amazing, and bulgogi was good too. There was also the occasional Wikipedia reference to give me a gist of what’s around Seoul and in Korea but I had no idea it would be like this.
The culture is convoluted to say the least. Not in a bad way at all, but I had no idea that a society could be so tangled and intertwined, so preoccupied with looks and commercialism but so involved in love, and respect. When you think that you have Korean culture pinned down, there is always something that upsets your perception. Maybe you hate the commercialism, but you love restaurants/coffee shops/bakeries. Maybe you hate the couples, but you find yourself wanting to be lovey dovey the more and more you look at their interactions with each other. Maybe you hate the fact that everyone has a name for everyone that isn’t their “real name”, but you love that there is that respect for age. Maybe you hate the hierarchy of gender, but you love that people here are so androgynous that sometimes it doesn’t even matter.
I got stopped in the subway recently by a group of school girls wanting to do an interview with a foreigner. This is typical in Korea, and I’m sure that won’t be the last time I will be interviewed. In any case, they wanted to ask me a couple questions to test out their English, and to see what I thought about Korea. The first question was, “What is your favorite food?” That was cool, I listed off some things, tested my Korean which was fun/funny, and then there was the “What do you like most about Korea?” Honestly, I didn’t know what the hell I was going to say to that. Slowly I told them I have only been here for like three weeks, and honestly, I had no idea. I think I might have said something horribly generic like, “Oh, I like the shopping or food.” Then the last couple questions were interesting; One girl asked, “What do you dislike most about Korea?” I paused…said, “Um, the matching couples…the acid rain?” I knew those were some lame responses, but after saying those things, I did say that I honestly loved being here and I really didn’t have any complaints about it…which is true.
Really, I don’t have any complaints about it. Even the matching couple thing doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m beginning to think it’s cute. I mean, I think it works for Korea. I could maybe see it working in the U.S., but only in moderation. Perhaps like matching phones, who knows. At first I was really thrown off by how many couples were here, but now the more and more you understand the dynamic of the couples and individuals here, I’m not so bothered by it.
Koreans are also very touchy feely; guys with guys, girls with girls, guys and girls plus any other combination thereafter. But what is interesting is that I think see it as being really affectionate and emotional, whereas I’m told Koreans don’t really have a concept of that. Being touchy feely, or what would see as emotional, isn’t that at all. It’s really hard to explain, and it sounds almost ridiculous that I’m even explaining it because it seems overt but believe me it’s convoluted as well. At fist I thought that Koreans were just more comfortable with themselves to where they are like that with their guy friends and girlfriends. It didn’t matter who it was because they are all “brothers and sisters” in their eyes. Koreans call is having “Chong”. I’m beginning to think that the idea of everyone being “brothers and sisters” may not be entirely true though. A Korean friend of mine thinks it’s just one more mundane thing that has always occurred and it has nothing to do with showing affection. Who knows, like I said, it’s complicated, and I hear different things from everyone. But I will say that I think it’s really cool. I don’t really care what the motivation is behind the gestures, I just know that it feels really open and warm. :shrug:
So yeah, things are pretty sharp here. I’m leaving this weekend for Geyongju to look at the traditional Buddhist temples, as well as hike some national parks, and hang out in Busan (the country’s 2nd largest city). I’m a little bit scared about the weather because there is another Typhoon warning for Busan and Jejudo (an island near Busan) so that will be interesting. I’m praying that the weather is going to hold up. It has been raining on and off for the past 2 weeks. Bleghhhhhh.
Speaking of the rain here, I give a lot of credit to Seoul for their efforts in recycling…but seriously they are killing me with how they can be so efficient, and then so wasteful. For example, in the bathrooms Koreans make you throw your toilet paper in bins to by recycled, which is a little scary, and I’m not sure how clean that is, but I guess cool. On the other hand, when there is a drop of rain Koreans whip out their umbrellas, and somehow the satellite image of Seoul becomes a giant multicolored country. The only problem with this is when it’s raining and Koreans want to shop, they have these plastic bag dispensers for your umbrella so that you don’t drip water on the floor. Sure it’s nice for the store, BUT SOOOOO wasteful for the environment. I just see people stroll in for two seconds, put their umbrellas in plastic bags, walk out one min later, and throw the plastic bag in the garbage or on the floor. The city’s sidewalks somehow become littered with thin plastic bags and it makes me so sad. I’m so baffled where this all goes. I think I want to take a tour of Seoul’s garbage plant, because on the real, it must be ridiculous!
So this has already become a ridiculously long post, so I’ll just write when I come back on vacation. Yay for vacation!
Sorry guys, I would update more but The Coffee Prince has taken up all my free time. :cheese: Something will come soon enough though. For reals, check this drama out. It's one of the best things I've ever seen.
Maaaan...so I wrote out this huge post explaining about my whole weekend, and I totally lost all of it due to the battery. arrrrrrrrrrgh! That is so frustrating, and now I'm so unmotivated to write about my adventures with the old rocker who dropped $250 on us. Ughhhhhhh. Anyways, here are some quick links that I was going to put up anyways:
www.mysoju.com This is a bunch of Korea/Japanese/Taiwanese dramas hehe. Check out "The Coffee Prince". Especially you girls out there. Caroline D- don't get discouraged by the subtitles, you would really enjoy these. Start with the Coffee Prince though, I find myself laughing and giggling like every 2 min. It's so girly, and I would have never of thought I would actually sit down and check out Asian dramas, but some really aren't as exaggerated as others. It's also a good way to practice Korean for those who are interested!
Here are links to check out what is going on in the world of Korea. These were suggested by one of my professors: www.koreatimes.ac.kr
So there are some really big scandals going on in Korea right now. As seen here: www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/09/117_9972.html The main topic is a woman who misrepresented her educational background. She claimed that she received a PhD from Yale, when indeed she did not. I think she was under investigation for the past couple months, and it was finally revealed that in fact she was not. I believe she held some really prestigious job because of these credentials, and I'm assuming she knew that if she misrepresented her background she could obtain the job. In addition to this, I think because she was "close" to the President secretary in chief of policy planning, he has now resigned from his position. It's a pretty hot topic here because after finding out about this forged diploma, more people have been found to do the same. Now officials are warning universities to keep a close eye on their employees, do intensive background checks, and stop hiring people through networking.
I was pretty shocked when I heard this; although I'm not surprised at all. Education is soooooo huge here. I guess about 82% of the population go on to college, and that means the competition for jobs here in Korea as a Korean are extremely competitive. As an outsider, the chances to get a job are exponentially high, but for residents, it's crazy. Its all about where you went to school, and who you know. I get the feeling it's more competitive than any big city in the States. Now the trend is to send your children overseas for college in America at the top Universities because they feel as though studying in America gives their children better jobs when they come back to Korea. Which, I'm sure it does. Learning English here is a top priority among the populous, so studying at a foreign institution is just one more reason why they are ahead of the curve. It's all about being on top. Which is why this diploma forgery has been so popular/not surprising at all. And actually, I can't say that I really blame them. If they have been doing a stellar job at what they were doing before this, I mean really, what has changed? I don't ever condone lying, but this hierarchy of the Educational system has way to much power. Even in the states I think it's ridiculous. It's not that I don't think that there are differences between Ivy leagues and state schools, but come on...just because you didn't go to a Ivy league doesn't mean that aren't as intelligent as those who did. It all depends on the person's people skills, intuition, and motivation to be a good student. I know of at least three investment bankers in NYC who came from some small school in Ohio who are now making millions in the City. But I'm not sure if that happens here in Korea...maybe it does, but then again if there were opportunities like that, I wouldn't think that they would be having so many scandals like these either.
whooooo knowsssssss. I sure don't.
So yeah, that's my little cultural blip for the day. I started teaching English yesterday, it was fun! I teach tomorrow, and I think Friday as well. YAYYY. Then off to the beach Saturday and Flickr Seoul group Sunday! Which btw, check out the FIS group on Flickr, they have amazing photos and they meet twice a month in Seoul! I contacted one of the girls in the group (from Ireland) and I guess it's anyone can join. I think it's actual sponsored event by Flickr because one of the sets of photos had this huge opening party with Flickr stickers, buttons, flyers, plus inside were computers to look and print out your photos that you took that day. Oh yeah, and food! So I'm pretty excited to see what it's all about. I think it's a experimental project by the creators of Flickr but I'm not sure. Watch it be totally bogus and all the flyers were photoshoped by group members. HA. Oh well, should be sweet just to take photos in Seoul with people who love to take photos too.
night everyone. Shout out to everyone who has been commenting and sending me emails. I miss you all!
p.s. I found out the bugs were larva. I think silk worm? Disgusting all the same. Why I did it I have no clue. It's funny now thoug, because I'm actually considering the intestines/lung. Pretty sure nothing can top the larva. We will see though.
I ate a bug today. It was street food. There was juice inside. It looked like one of those bugs from the Lion King. It was gross. I'm applying for a spot on survivor now.
Hey everyone, thanks for all the comments! I'm really happy people are enjoying the posts; maybe it's for a good laugh,maybe to read about my adventures, or perhaps a little bit of both I'm sure. In any case, it gives me motivation to keep it up as much as I can.
So it's three a.m., I just got back from Shinchon in this craaaazy bar that looks as though you were in the inside of a bees nest. There are all sorts of weird places to sit, with webs of holes going in and out of the walls of the bar. It was definitely one of the most decorated bars I have been to in Seoul. However, I wouldn't say it was the cleanest bar there is. If you took a good look at the walls, you could tell there is some wear and tear. What was also interesting was, webbed into design were falic symbols, and legs, and body parts of the you-know-what region. (I'm keepin it clean here kids.) Then I guess in the guys restrooms, there are urinals that you pee into that are actually men's butts. So guys are peeing in to men's butts. I thought that was pretty out there. They must have spent a lot of money to start up the bar though, it looked like it was really nice at one time. The girls restroom however was weird in the sense that there was no place to wash your hands. It was also by far the most dirty place I have been to. There was water everywhere on the floor, cigarette butts everywhere, and drunk girls hugging toilets. Which brings me to the next topic tonight: Koreans really like to drink.
Let me just say, that the amount of people absolutely schwaisted/VERY DRUNK, was unreal. I have n-e-v-e-r seen so many people puking, lying on the ground hugging dirt, being dragged by their friends than here in Korea. Between yesterday and tonight, I can absolutely say that Koreans love to drink, and obviously many of them do not know how to handle their alcohol, or care not to. Yesterday night friends and I went walking for maybe 20 min and we saw one guy tip over, fall on his face, bust his tooth, and just lay there in his own blood. There was the 4 drunk business men passed out under a tree, the 5 drunk college age kids hugging curbs puking, and the countless couples where one of them was so drunk the other had to carry them. I WAS STUNNED. I really could not believe the amount of drunk people in that short amount of time. It was also only 11pm. Not to mention the ridiculousness on the way back, as well as the amount of kids tonight.
Like really, I don't know what it is, but there was no age discrimination either. Whether you were 18, or 53, you were stumbling drunk off your ass, puking on the sides of buildings, walking completely sideways, and being dragged by friends.
I mean is this socially acceptable? It must be because there was just sooo many. I do have to say, I do live in a popular part of town, and yesterday I was in the clubbing/artsy district, but this was even in subways as well. And I might add, that I have never thought it was acceptable to ever act like that. I mean how is that fun for anyone? How can you be 55 and still be getting so drunk you are sleeping on street in your business suit? Are you married? Is this the reason why you are not married? I mean, really kids, it blew my mind. Even on OSU campus, frat row style, I have never seen so many people obliterated.
So I have deduced it to that no one sees a problem in people getting so drunk they can't control themselves. Maybe it's even the thing to do...who knows...but it's crazy. I mean for every person who is drunk, I'm sure there is someone who is sober, but really, it was like the drunkeness had no discrimination; old, young, boy girl...Soju did.it's.job.well. I know that people work very hard here, and I understand wanting to have a drink after five to forgot the day I guess, but to be so drunk you don't make it home is intense.
So that's my little cultural observations for the night. I'll tell you about the crazy night last night where we met some guy in his fifties who treated me and my 10 friends to a night of music and a $300 alcohol bill later. That's a good story.
P.S. I feel so hokey sometimes.
