So hard to blog

I've been really lagging on my blog postings! Its so hard to blog when my life in korea right now is so hectic and busy. I'm always out; either in class or in Seoul. I don't really get much down time. Sorry I haven't blogged that much ):

Hongdae

I still need more pictures of Hongdae but in the meantime enjoy some clips!

Bunch of videos coming your way!

So I've been so busy to blog or even post up videos.
Here is an old video of Myeongdong...well I didn't really show too much of myeongdong in this video but its my adventure there. I will get more pictures and footage of Myeongdong later!

Korean Students :)!

The korean students I've encountered so far are so nice! Most of them do try really hard to speak English and some of them already have pretty good English skills!

Its really cute when they write in English. For example:

One of my students sent this text to me:

"I still have at home. the rain falling steadily. do not go out."

hahaha. So cute! The english isn't the greatest but i like how my student tried his best :D!

My guy students also make cute little sounds when they don't know how to go about explaining in English or when they get embarrassed. All of my girl students are pretty good in English. They talk the most in my classes. They also like to ask other students questions which I'm thankful for because it keeps the conversation going. I also realized that the students are more relaxed and open up more after they go out with their teachers and other Korean students.
One of my students didn't really talk much at first in class but after we all went out to get samgyupsal (pork belly) and drink, he talks so much more in class now. I'm really having a great time with the students here in Korea :)

My intermediate students!

Video One day 1

First week in South Korea.

Hi guys,
Sorry haven't been blogging. I've been really busy exploring the area around our hotel and Seoul and internet access in our hotel is not that acessible. Basically the students sits near the coffee shop downstairs to use the internet.I'm loving Korea so far. The weather is alright, though its bad from noon because the sun is out and its a lot more humid. The air is stuffy especially in the subways!

The flight was pretty good except for it was getting tiring at the end. Never put a bag down under the seat in front of you during a looong ass flight!! My legs were hurting and aching. Korean Air is reallly nice :) I thought they were going to feed us just two meals lunch and dinner, but we got an extra meal after our stop at Narita. Seriously we ate around 8-9 US time and a few hours later, we got another meal. Though the meal wasn't as good as the meals we ate during our flight from LAX-Narita. The flight attendants are reallly nice and pretty. I loveee their outfits!

We got to Incheon airport around 7:30pm in Korea Jun 14. Its a really nice airport and so big. I didn't really go around that much so I can't tell you anymore cool stuff. When we got to our hotel, Helen and I were placed in a hostel with two other girls, Tiffany who's from CSULB and Angie who is from UVA. Both of them were reallly niceee. I was worried that I would get put in a room with bitches, lol. Anywho..So we checked into our hostel. It's really interesting cuz to turn on the electrity we have to insert our room card into the slot near the door.

The next few days we went shopping with a bunch of other girls. Myeongdong with the girls and Dennis who was our guide

on Wednesday. It is a very huge outdoor shopping mall. Cars go through the streets..so weird when there's a lot of people walking around. Some stuff are pretty cheap here. Like the 10 dollar purses!! There is restaurants, little shops such as Mad girl which is an accessory store, and more famous korean clothing stores, and make up stores. There is a lot more people that come later in the evening because everyone is busy earlier in the day.

I bought a bag and some socks there. I will post up pictures of what I got online.

Also Ignore the date on the pictures; my camera is set up in US time. So I went to Myeongdong Jun 15.

There is seriously sooo many stores here at Myeongdong and we didn't have time to look at everything. I also have a little video of the city but I've been so busy I haven't uploaded onto my computer yet D: sorry guys will do it asap!

Jun 16 Edae
I loveeee edae. It is an area where Ewha university, a prestigious woman's university is.
Around edae is an outdoor shopping area filled up tiny clothing, make up, bag, sunglasses/glasses, and shoe shops. They also have one 10 dollar purse store here. Also anyone looking for afforable haircut/hair dying/perms should check out the hair salons at Edae.
I also noticed that the girls where who go to Ewha university dress realllly nice. Most of them wear cute blouses with skirts or shorts. A LOT of young korean woman wear heels or wedges with their outfits. And also A LOT of young woman at the Edae area tuck in their blouses/shirts. The clothing sizes are small though, especially if you are looking for shorts or skirts! So small.

I also got my haircut at Edae because a couple of my friends and I split up with our main group to find another hair saloon that was cheaper from the one they were going to. An adjumma actually gave one of our friends a little flyer of the haircut place and we found it there. The haircut salon was hidden! we had to go up a narrow staircase in between two shops onto the second level where the salon is. I got my hair cut and styled for 15000 won which is 15 us dollars. I wanted my hair to look like one of the pictures of hyori in the book at the salon. I liked my hair better later in the day. Helen got a dramatic short cut! really cute one.

Clothes sold at Edae. I don't know the price of these clothes, but the material of the clothes here are sort of thin! However its really cute and pretty.

Some things I noticed in South Korea
-It is true that girls here are thin, but there are some that are just average size. I have not seen much obese korean woman.
-scooters can ride on the sidewalk and cross the street with pedestrians when the walk sign pops up. There is the countdown to the walk sign for crosswalks.
-There is convenience stores everywhere.
-Soju is cheaper than water.
-banana milk is 1100 won which is about one us dollar
-Girls at Edae dress nicer than the girls i've seen at Dankook Jukjeon campus.
-uniqlo is expensive so is H&M and Forever 21
-It is humid right now but not that bad, however july probably will be.

The last couple of days, we just go to our orientation from 8-afternoon and then shop and eat food near our hotel.
Next week I will move into Jukjeon campus on Monday!

Most of my pictures will be up on Facebook but my videos will be on here!

Last night in US!

So I'm finally packed and ready to go to South Korea.
Two rolling suitcases, backpack, and laptop case!
When I get there, I think I need to buy a pair of flip flops and more socks for my vans.
Flight will be in the morning 11:30 but I need to be there 3 hours for check in and stuff!
Been feeling nervous the past couple of days about packing. Its hard to decide what to take or not. I was a mess! But thanks to my mom, sister and Brandon I was able to be done with it. I'm still a bit worried about my packing, but whatever, I'll be fine!

Now off to sleep. Got to wake up early tomorrow!

clothes and to do's

Bought new clothes and a new pair of vans slip ons! Finally!
Two pairs of shorts from forever 21. I had no shorts so I needed to get some before I get to Korea. One is with suspenders and the other one is a cotton/linen shorts. You can't really tell how the linen short looks like from this photo but it looks like this:

I bought a loose striped shirt from Ross.
Then today, went with my mom to go shopping and she got me a new pair of vans slip ons. It was on sale for 19.95! WHAT A DEAL. Usually it would cost me like 50. These shoes last quite a long time as well. My cost per wear is probably reallly low!

I'm going to check Ross near my house because there were some good stuff when I stopped by there today. I need more summer blouses!

To do list!

• Begin the packing Monday night
• Go to Ross to buy a few more clothes
• Make two photocopies of my itinerary for the airport and reimbursements
• Make photocopy of ticket receipt
• Decide on what luggage to bring
• Clean out backpack and try to fix those zippers!
• Go to bank to deposit money
• Go over lesson plans and start on the powerpoints during hw date with Heather
• Buy goodies for students and Sarah
• Remember to pack school supplies
• Buy a pair of wedges and sandals

..getting nervous already?!

I've been so excited all this time applying for the program and thinking of all the fun adventures awaiting for me in Korea that I didn't think about how homesick I would really be. Now there's a week left until my departure and spending two months of my summer vacation in South Korea, I'm starting to get nervous. Many of you probably thinking, pft, it's only two months! But I've never been away from home for so long especially in another country! I'm little bit of a homebody. I really like to be at home and I miss it even if I'm away for a week. I remember trying my first year living in the dorms at CSULB which was fun at times. I loved the freedom and being able to go out whenever I wanted, but I missed having my own room and home cooked meals.
Just thinking of being away in a new environment is nerve-wrecking but I'm grateful to have a couple of friends there with me.
I will miss family especially my mom, my friends, my house, and my man, and our little bear ;___;
Everything is going to be alright though! I will not let this homesickness get to me too much and ruin my trip!

Packing?!

Ohhhhh man,
Someone I know is almost done packing up for the program.
I haven't even gotten my luggage yet D:!! Waiting on my cousin to find the suitcase.
In the meantime, I should create a list of what to bring so I don't forget '

>.<

Things to Bring

Clothes/Shoes

• Shorts
• Jeans
• flip-flops for shower and casual outings
• tennis shoes
• a pair of boots for rain in July!
  
• t-shirts/blouses
• socks
• underwear
• light cardigan
  

Gadgets!

• Camera with charger/usb cord
• laptop with charger
• ethernet cord
• webcam
• cellphone to serve as an alarm clock
• earphones

Bathroom stuff/medicines

• Advil, pepto, chinese medicines, etc.
• hand sanitzer/soap
• toothpaste/toothbrush
• floss
  
• wipes
• face wash
• shampoo/conditioner

Misc

• sunblock
• lotion
• sunglasses
• contacts with solution
• eyedrops
  
• glasses case
• deodorant
  
• hair brush
• Passport
• Copies of receipt and itinerary
• razor

Cute cafe :D!

I was reading a blog called "Seoul in the city" and the blogger made a post called some of my favorite places. She listed interesting looking restaurants and such but the cafe she talked about caught my eye. I don't know if the coffee is really good, but I really like the environment and look of the cafe.

It is called cafe may and its located in garosugil according to the blogger. I have no clue where garosugil is, but I might have to find out soon!

Food adventure planning!

I am known to plan everything! I sometimes can be spontaneous when I'm hanging out with friends. However after my spontaneous trips, I always end up being indecisive which wastes time and leaves an unsatisfied feeling.
I don't want to go to Korea not knowing where to eat first, so I'm researching places!
I'm so glad there are foodies living in south korea who can point me to the right direction.

http://www.seouleats.com/2009/07/welcome-goal-adoptees-to-land-of-kimchi.html

I checked out Seoul Eats and Daniel Gray's, the blogger of Seoul Eats, number one best place to go eat in Seoul is that kalgooksu and dumpling restaurant in Myeongdong which was where I was planning to go!
There's also a dukbokki place on the list, but who wants to eat that on a hot summer day D:?! Not too sure if I want that lol but it would be interesting to try dukbokki from korea and compare it to dukbokki here in the United States; though I don't think there will be much of a difference.

Also found another post of "Ways to Chillax in Seoul" which basically was a list of places to eat in the summer. Perfect!

http://www.seouleats.com/2008/07/seoul-eats-ways-to-chillax-in-seoul.html

Once again Myeongdong Gyoja was top, man this place is a must try!
Naengmyun was like number two and the place to eat this is at Nampo Myeonok. I really like naengmyun so I can't wait to eat it when I get off the plane, hahaaha.

I'm sure when I get to Korea, I'll be asking my students where to go eat as well :P
Ahh I'm getting hungry just looking at all this Korean food! I'll be photoblogging my food adventures so stay tuned :)

Places to go in South Korea!

So I'm excitedly waiting for June 13 when I finally leave for South Korea. I'll be there for two months at Dankook University. I do not know what campus but I hope its Jukjeon campus because its the campus closest to Seoul which will make travel to Seoul so much easier. I know I'll be busy teaching some korean students at Dankook University and taking classes during my stay in Korea, but I hope to really make the best out of my time there. There are so many places I want to go and so many things I want to do, that I create a to-do list or else I'll forget :P

Things to go/see/do in South Korea.

• Visit Myeong dong and SHOP!
• Eat at the famous noodle place at Myeongdong called Myeongdong Gyoja. They offer really good naengmyun.
• Visit Busan- Jalgalchi fish market and eat live octopus! Also visit Haeundae beach. What else is there to do in Busan?
• Club day @ Hongdae
• Go see the coffee house that is in the drama Coffee Prince.
• Drink coffee at that small but cute coffee house. Korean cafes/coffee houses look so cool.
• Buy souvenirs
• Go to that kpop concert at incheon.
• Visit Cheonggyecheon. Which is the stream in downtown Seoul. The background of my blog is actually a picture of that stream!
• Try to buy something using my limited korean.
  Unnie, egeo ulma yeh yo? hahaa, would they like me better if I called them unnie instead of ajumma?
• Try the soju cocktails that apparently don't taste like alcohol according to agnes.
• Bump into a Korean celebrity!
• Eat street food :D!
• Go shop at Coex mall
• Take the subways. I know I will take them for sure to travel around Korea but I'm really excited for this because I've never ridden in one and how the t-money card works seems cool to me >_>. So easily amused!
• Visit emart, apparently like a costco and walmart in one!
• Go to a Korean sauna, jimjibang << not so sure about this one LOL.
• Noraebang (karaoke)!
• Try the korean rice wine...
• Hang out with my friend Sarah who I haven't seen for 4-5 years?
• Shop at Namdaemun.

More to come, I just forgot what else I wanted to do!

Acceptance letter from Barbara Kim!

Many weeks ago, I recieved the email my friends and I were all waiting for in my inbox! The acceptance letter that said we go accepted to participate in the Dankook University Summer 2011 International program! We were all waiting anxiously for the email and stressed so much about the possibility of not being accepted! But my friends and I got the email and a few days afterwards we went to the travel agency in ktown to pay for the tickets! We are going to South Korea for sure! :)

Now we have to wait for the application process to finish, Kim is sending out our info to Michael who is in charge of the International Summer School program. I was just allowed to register for classes a few days ago. I'm taking beginning Korean (even though I took a semester of Korean, I feel that I haven't grasped the foundations yet >.< and I forgot a lot of what I learned, haha) and relationships between women and men. I hope learn some new stuff in beginning Korean! Also, in the relationships class there's a section where we talk about relationships in Asia and there's a book we need to read called "How to Attract Asian Women". Hahaha, class should be interesting, I hope!