Pah-tee Ta-eem and More!

'Cause when I leave for the night, I ain't coming back...

Don't worry! We did come back... sure, it was the next day... at 6 in the morning... but still! We came back! So, yes, we went to Seoul to party hard until the next day. The subways only run from 5am to 12am, so we didn't have much of a choice, really.

The plan was to go to an exchange student party! As many exchange students in Korea as could be found on facebook were invited. It was at a club in Hongdae, an area near Honggik Unversity which is a cool place for university students to hang out. Also, there are quite a few foreigners running about. 

Hongdae is the place for the Korean equivalent of hipster... everything is hipster-looking! There are small coffee shops, street singers, and lots of grafitti.

Outside the lame club

We got to the club... and it was lame. There were way too many people crowded in it, and the music was boring, so we just stood outside of it for a while. The others stocked up on soju and beer (and I stocked up on Mountain Dew, ha) and we drank it up, just outside.

But it got boring, so we decided to move along. And we ended up going to a kpop club! It was hilarious.

Walking about Hongdae

But we didn't go there until after stopping at a random bar to get more drinks (or Mountain Dew. Actually, one bottle of MD lasted me all night... + water, of course).

So after hanging in the bar for a while, we just walked out and around Hongdae, looking for a club. So, since we wanted a purely Korean experience, we decided on a Kpop club! That means that the only music they play is kpop. Yes, that's it. So we walk inside (sadly I don't really have pictures), and we don't have to pay an entrance fee, actually. We just put our stuff down and went out on the rather bare floor. It was fun! It wasn't so crowded that we were shoved up against strangers, but there were some brave Koreans who danced with us for a good part of the time! The funny thing about this club was that there were a few guys who knew pretty much every kpop dance song they played. They would stand at the front and break it down, even for (maybe especially for) the girl kpop songs. It was great! Honestly it just felt a little like prom, and not a club. It was super cheesy dancing and super cheesy music. In other words, just my style. We got back at 6 actually, and I slept for 3 and a half hours and headed straight to Incheon to see my Tech advisor with her former host children! I was dead, but I stayed til night with them, then met some friends (who were drinking again) to come home with them. In all, I survived, but only just. :-) haha, don't worry though... no need!

The host kids bought a sweet potato cake for them! It was delicious...

More Kitchen Experiments

This isn't really Korea-related at all... but its fun. So check out what Hui and I made for lunch one day! It was her idea, so I don't take any credit for the brilliance of it. Yes, they are tiny sausages with noodles stuck through them. Yes, they did taste better than if we had just put the sausages on the side.

Just another night...

And here are some pictures from one of our many dinners out with friends! We went to a Vietnamese restaurant with Yoonjin, one of our friends with a car, in upscale Anyang. And Hui and I got a picture with Ho Dong! This is what many of our days look like :-)

Music video of the day: Clazzi with Love&Hate. Alex is awesome.

BIG News + Old Video Updates

What's Up?


To use a common English idiom, I'm going to hit two birds with one stone and use this post for two things: announce some news, and explain and post links to some of my older videos.

For the news: I'M STAYING IN KOREA FOR ANOTHER SEMESTER!!!!
Yeah... that's all. Not really! It's amazing how it happened, actually. I hadn't even considered it when I came here first, because, yes, this will push back my graduation date by a semester. Not sure if you knew, but I'm actually not taking any useful classes here... it's all for fun! But I really do want to learn Korean, and one semester isn't enough (a year isn't either, but you'll see why its a good idea). So I started thinking about it in church, actually. I think they had announced a volunteering opportunity that I couldn't do because I couldn't commit 6 months of my time to it, because I'm only here for 5 months. And I got to thinking... what if??? I was very wary (due to finances, graduating late, "what would I do for the summer?", and "would it be worth it?") of getting excited. For a while I could have done either, stay here or go back, and be happy either way. But one day, Monday the 19th, everything sort of fell into place. For one, I got an email from a school for North Korean refugees, saying that they would love for me to tutor their students! How amazingly awesome is that? I still haven't worked it out exactly, but they said they would let me, so I'm just praying it will work out now. Here's the link to their blog: http://heavenlydreamschool.blogspot.com/
Next, I found out that they would give me the scholarship again, which I couldn't have stayed without. Third, they said that we could stay in the dorm house for the whole summer for free! Yeah. Crazy. And the last thing that sealed the deal? We're allowed to take classes at the Korean Language Institute that is connected to our university! Crazy! Without any one of these instances, I still would have been on the edge, but it all worked out really well. I still haven't made it official, since I need to extend my visa and all, but the wheels are in motion! I would appreciate prayer, since this is a pretty big thing you know, staying in a foreign country (though it honestly doesn't feel foreign anymore!) for a year. And my poor family! Haha, they'll be fine :-) So, there it is! That's my news! I already shared it on facebook, but this was the explanation, if you wanted it!

Video Updates

I have been very bad with my updates in general. . . There's hardly any time here! Haha, as if I would have time anywhere else. . . But I realized that I hadn't posted any videos on here, though there are a few. I have posted them on facebook, so if you're friends with me on there, you've probably seen them if you're interested. But for all my followers who don't have facebooks, here they are. And I'll explain them too!

This video is not particularly exciting... it really is just a mash-up of the videos I took my first two weeks in Korea. Not much to explain!



Here we are, at a Wii Cafe! It is similar to a noraebang (karaoke room), which I have blogged about before, in the way that you rent the room by the hour, and it is private. So there was a Wii console and four remotes (I went with two Korean guys and an American one) and we could choose which game we wanted. They had a lot... Apparently they're illegally downloaded, haha. And here is a lovely display of it! Tennis and Just Dance. So embarrassing... but very fun!



And finally, here is our homework from Korean class :-D With loosely (ok, very loosely) translated captions! We're demonstrating our ability to introduce people and ourselves. And... this video is based on something that happened to Hui and I, actually... and it's become a sort of inside joke among all the international students... but I can't go into it on the internet! Sorry! Hahahahaha

Rainy Relaxing Days and Icy, Spicy Days (and the Subway Insider)

Adventures in Korean Cuisine


Friday morning, Hui and I tried our hand at making kimbap (김밥). The night before, Yoonjin had driven us to Emart to get ingredients and he drove us back! So nice... it was cold, and its a 30 minute walk to Emart. But we made it... and it turned out quite well!
We were very proud :-) Plus, it tasted amazing. Not bragging or anything...

Namsan Tower [again :-)]

On Saturday, we went touring Seoul again! We went to Namsan tower, the second time for me, the first for the others. It was quite nice to see it in the day!

And now I would really like to give it up for all the Korean students who have taken it upon themselves to help all of us helpless exchange students out. It's amazing what they do, and for that I am truly thankful. The craziness they've had to deal with really proves their friendship :-). I love you guys!

After Namsan tower, we headed to Myeongdong (again the second time for me) to eat yummmmmy food. 

This, my friends, is one of the best things in Korea. And you could take my word for it, or you could just LOOK at the pictures below and know. I'm not sure if I've said this before (and I don't feel like going through my posts and checking, ha, sorry) but I love the food culture here. Where you can just grab and reach and eat! Share everything! Maybe because it means I get to eat more... hmmm. Haha, but I love it, anyhow.

On Monday, a bunch of girls decided to take some relaxation time and go to a jjimchilbang! I had seen them only in dramas, so I was ready to try it out in real life.

This below is the counter where you paid. We paid 8,000 won (around 8 bucks) to get in. Then they give us some clothes (a pink t-shirt and shorts) and two little towels.

 We locked our shoes and cloths in lockers then, headed into the showers. No, you cannot wear clothes or swim suits. And no, there are no stalls. And NO I did not take pictures. Hahahaha...

After getting clean, which is required to get into the sauna/relaxing part of the jjimjilbang, we ate bibimbap and looked around a little. There are frozen rooms, super hot saunas, and normal saunas. There are even separate sleeping rooms for men and women. Most jjimjilbangs are 24 hours, so you can stay overnight in them. Pretty convenient for poor college students! They had an excercise area as well, and we played around there for a while. :-)

This below is the main area. People just lay there and nap or watch tv. It's lovely!

Rainy Night on the Streets

It was raining on the way back from the jjimjilbang, and I had my first rainy night in Korea!

Ice Skating and a Night Out

A few days later we went ice skating with Jun and Yoonjin, guys Hui and I met going to Incheon. Yoonjin is on an informal ice hockey team, so he's pretty awesome at skating. It was just around 6 bucks, too! 3 for the rental and 3 to get in! 

Jun looks super scary here... Sorry, hahaha 

Next we went out to upscale Anyang to have dinner! Mmm, I love spicy Korean food...

I think it's pretty obvious that I've been having an amazing time... the pictures pretty much confirm it! Classes are lovely... no problems there... except that 10:30 is too early! Hahaha...

What Happens on the Subway... 

will not stay on the subway. So many weird, crazy things have happened on or at the subway! So there was one time that David (an American guy) and Hui and I were on the subway and an old Korean man is in the car talking loudly and waving a short stick around. He goes up to random Koreans and talks at them (they ignore him). Then he came up to David and started talking at him. He commenced to whack David with his stick, call Hui and I beautiful, then leave. Bahahaha.

Then there was the time Hui and I were on the subway alone, obviously talking in English. This Korean man, needing help, starts talking in Korean, hoping that this girl who looks Korean will know Korean and English and be able to help. Well... we say she's Chinese, then find out why he needed help... there were two drunk women from Hong Kong trying to find their way back to their accommodations but couldn't figure out the subway. They talked very loudly and tried to set me up with the Korean man's son, who was plugged in, wishing he wasn't there. That was an experience!

I can't forget the time an old man sits in the empty elderly/pregnant/mother/disabled section while I friend and I were standing (there were no normal seats available), and pats the seat next to him, wanting us to sit with him. Of course, I motion to the sign and shake my head. Repeatedly. Then he points at the picture of the pregnant lady and grins. Hahaha. Then another old man comes up and says that it's okay because we're foreigners! We refused the offer, of course... But I waved to him as we left, and my friend got super embarrassed. 

Then there was the time a random old man walks up to me and says "Hello! Sorry!" then runs off.

So that's the subway... and there are many times random people have talked to me, too. You never know what will happen!

Music video:

FT Island's "Severely". It's so cheesy! But it's pure kpop, and the song is fun...

Noraebangs and China in Korea

Singing and Shopping in Anyang

On Wednesday, Hui and I went out with her friend who was an exchange student at her university to go shopping! But before you can ever go shopping... you must eat! So we ate at our favorite restaurant ("Prove it.")!  And it was just as delicious as before...

Aren't you jealous? Chicken galbi!

And after that we went shopping in the underground mall! We walked around trying on shoes and window shopping, mostly. The styles here are extremely different than in the States, but I love them! Of course... there are some weird things too. Ha.

<Don't you think wearing these would be counter productive? / Engrish! >

Trying on fake glasses with Hui and Hyuna

Han showed up later (poor kid had to be around while we were shopping) and we went to a noraebang, or karaoke room. I had heard a lot about noraebangs before I came, mostly due to dramas... Either it's a place to go with coworkers to loosen up (with alcohol, of course), or it's a place where you go to sing away your sorrow! Well, that's a little dramatic, and probably only happens in dramas. We just went there to have the experience and a bit of fun! It didn't disappoint! We were actually all good singers, too... 

             

So we sang our hearts out (and we kept getting service! The rooms are paid by the hour, and they kept giving us extra minutes, and that's called service.). And then. . . we found out that the people on the street could see us! Check out our room from street view:

After that, Hyuna had to leave, but Hui and I were hungry, so we went and had 순대 곱창 볶음 (soondae gopchang bokkeum) at the Anyang traditional market. It was pretty dead at night, but I could imagine it would be bustling in the day.

The soondae fried stuff was delicious as you can see from Han's face... Soondae is actually pig intestines stuffed with noodles. And it's TASTY. 

Chinatown in Incheon

We were planning to go to Seoul on our day off, Thursday, but some of  the boys were going to Chinatown and Hui and I decided to check out a different side of Korea! Six of us stuffed into a car and Jun drove us to  Incheon. Here is a collage of our experiences:

We walked about, looking memorials, paintings, and architecture for a while. THEN WE FOUND JJAJANGMYUN. Jjajangmyun would be that large plate of noodles and black sauce that Hui and I are poised ready to devour... It was a pity that it was plastic! And then we climbed into a large mandu (dumpling). Hui and Rachel mandu! Tasty! We were thinking about eating when Hui and I saw the cutest baby ever running around and we started "awwww"ing in our perfected high pitched "that Korean baby is sooo cute" voices. Then, Jun, Hui's unofficial buddy, went UP TO THE PARENTS and asked if we could have a picture with her. And they said yes. Hui and I nearly died... but we got the picture! She was precious. And the big picture of Hui and I looking at something... that's us "Tonying". Akin to Tebowing, it is what Antonio does every time he sees a memorial and starts reading it. He steps one foot on something higher and looks cool. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
Then we went to a Chinese restaurant and got real jjajangmyun with a pork dish that had these little red peppers. AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS. Antonio loves them so I tried it... and the roof of my mouth started peeling off later. Then Jun tried one and he was sweating for 20 minutes! Ahahaha... I think I handled it better than him, even...
All in all, I'm having a wonderful time. Can you tell?

Music video!
Big Bang with "Blue"

Getting Lost, Adapting, and Goofing off in Seoul!

The first week at our school is coming to a close. It's been slightly crazy, mostly fun, and definitely exhausting! I made it to the dorm house, which has 21 people living inside it. Or actually 20, since I think a girl is not coming. 10 boys upstairs, 10 girls downstairs. We share a kitchen and 4 bathrooms. The students are from all over... including Korea, since we have 3 "RA's" of a sort.
When we met, we mostly just talked and figured out why we were each here. I'm pretty sure I've stayed up past 1:30 every night, and most nights past 2:30. Ha. We'll survive!
The next day we tried to find an E-Mart, Korea's Walmart of a sort, by google searching it. Aaaaand... not a good idea. Bahaha. So we found the bus stop with little trouble (the one by the floppy men!). And we got on the bus that google said to get on. But... my T-money card wasn't charged and none of us really had change. So at the front of the bus we just sat there trying to figure how much money we owed so we could pay... it took waaay too long. Then we realized we had no idea what stop to get off at. So we debated on how to ask if it stopped until I just asked "이 버스  이마트  가요?" - "Does this bus go to Emart?" and he said "Oh! No!" And we had nooooo idea what to do. So we just sat there... waiting. For something. And finally an ajumma got on the bus! And the bus driver asked her about Emart, and she knew which stop it was and told us when to get off! It was too sweet. And then we couldn't find it again. So after working up a lot of courage, we stopped a person in the street and said "Emart? Emart?" But... he didn't understand. So I said "이마트?" (which sounds like ee-maht-teu) and he knew exactly what I was talking about. Hahaha, I love Konglish. So we found it with his simple directions!

And after that we managed to order and eat some delicious food! Without a Korean! And no trouble! But the guy knew English, so we were cheating.

And later... This food to the right was ordered with a little bit of trouble, heh... Just a group of exchange students came this day, with no Korean. So we walk in the restaurant and look around... so, there are no pictures! And the most of the others don't know how to read Korean, so Toni and I are trying to figure out what things are... and the couple who own the restaurant are trying to figure out what we want, with no English, and everyone is super confused. Haha. And then, the wife calls someone! And hands the phone to me! And its a guy who knows English! Bahahaha. So, we ordered our food through phone translation. It was hilarious, but so kind of them! I love Koreans...

Check out the street food! Soondae and fried stuff! Woo!



The next day was orientation, in which we learned all that is essential, and basically, you don't want to hear about it! I got all my classes and none of them are before 10:30, so I'm set!

After that, the weekend, including Friday, was filled with touring with the other students, volunteering with a church, and attending a church as well!
Saturday, a large group went to Seoul with two Koreans, so we didn't have to work much, actually. It was great! We went to Insadong, saw the outside of Gyeongbokgung, and walked down the Cheonggyecheon!

Precious earrings in Insadong

Me, Hui, and Paulina

A street singer in Insadong!

King Sejong, Hui, and I

The group at Cheonggyecheon!

Hui is hitting Han with poop!

We're not flipping people off! We're giving the victory sign! I know it looks weird...

On Saturday, I woke up at 6:00am with Barbara, another student, to go volunteer with a group from Onnuri Church! We were volunteering  with  the elderly ministry, and we were going to carry these coal bricks up into the poorer parts of Seoul. The coal bricks are used for heat in the winter by people who can't afford normal heating. It was work, since each one was 3 kilos, but it was rewarding! I loved the people I went with. On Sunday and headed out to Bundang to visit a church with a Korean girl I met, Soomeen. It was a great service, in english, and the people were very welcoming!

And on Monday classes started! So far they've been good, and I'm quite happy with each of them! More has happened than that, but I'll get into that later. The busyness is tiring but good! I'm having a lot of fun living in a house with 20 people. It's one of those things most people won't get to experience (and may not want to) but I'm going to enjoy it as much as possible!

Music video? Hahaha, I couldn't resist! This is so Korean...

-레이첼