Busan

I HAD SO MUCH FUN IN PUSAN/BUSAN!

Busan is the second largest city in South Korea and is also a port city, so the seafood there is great!

I slept over at Dianne/Grace/Glory's place and woke up at 8am to get on our bus and be on a long 5 hour journey. Usually I know that Koreans take a train called the KTX, it goes like 200+ mph and can get people from Seoul to Busan in 2 1/2 hours! For us who were traveling in a group of 90 people, the EAP folks were not going to take a mass of U.S. students on KTX.

So, after 2 rest stops and 5 hours... we finally make it to Busan!

L-O-S-T

Today was seriously not too eventful at school other than the fact that I am constantly meeting people, which I love! BUT then my adventure begins when I meet up with my friend GLORY aka Glo from UCSD. Good times, f'sho.

Us, being the cool kids get out of school around 3, and I really wanted to go to a supermarket shore equivalent to Wal-Mart in the U.S. called E-mart, but there really isn't a close one to Yonsei or where we live. Anywho before we could even get to E-mart or another supermarket we needed to go back to S-House/Vabien where Glory lives to drop off all our stuff. WOW. The normally 15 minute bus ride took us around 45 minutes instead!

We ended up going on the bus going the opposite direction from our destination. -_- We ended up in the bus pits, where all the buses gather up after their route is done. So, we had to wait and go the opposite direction, finally making it home. Phew. Before I got home, Glory bought me some yummy dok-bok-gi and soon-dae. It was good then, but when I told my aunt that I ate that she suggested I don't eat that during the summer, since the food sits in the hot sun all day in the po-jang-mat-chae. BLAH!

Anywho, we start asking some Korean ladies where the closest E-mart is, but they all say there really isn't one around the area we were in, so we ask about Lotte Mart a similar super market. One of the ah-jummas tell us that the closest one is a 30 minute walk from the subway station we were at... Us, being the lazy Americans were like, nahh... we can just ride the subway to Seoul station and go from there, so that is what we end up doing.

We ended up going to the farther Lotte Mart, but whateves what matters is that we finally made it. We do all our shopping, buying all the American and Korean products we need, and tons of snacks for Glory. On our way back, we finally get to the subway station, and AGAIN we take the subway going the WRONG directions! GAH! I don't think I have ever gotten lost this much while in Korea. HAHA! But it was lots of fun!

Thankfully, on the way home, I did NOT get lost!

FREE FREE FREE!!!

Today was so much fun, busy, and HOT HOT HOT! I finally am officially a student at the prestigious Yonsei University! WAHOO!

Woke up at 6:45 and left Sookdae by 7:00am, Esther's dorm and headed back home. I was in a rush today, needed to eat breakfast, get ready and ride the subway all the way to Yonsei for my first morning orientation along with the 800 other kids here in Seoul in the same program as me. I learned today that my journey to Yonsei everyday is more than an hour with all the walking and riding. GAH! Definitely not planning on taking any 9am classes.

Personally, I thought that the morning orientation was unproductive. Although I did enjoy the fact that we got to receive our IDs. Ask me about why I think my ID picture is so funny, there's a story behind that (Cho should know...). Other than that I sat there for 2 hours learning how to use the library, where the majority of classes are located, opening messages from deans, directors, and presidents, and had a funny presentation trying to convince students to take the tae-kwon-do class by Master Kim. Hopefully he got some people interested in taking the class, especially female students. The orientation was just plain BLAH!

Then the socializing begins! THE POWER OF NUMBERS...
Seriously, once the orientation was over, everyone scrambled out of the auditorium to get out of the building, but it seemed like everyone knew each other from before, and then there's me... poor ol' Delia trying to find her UCI friends. No luck with finding them then.

So, I go back into the auditorium to give it another try. As I was trying to find my friends, Dianne and Susan, I instead randomly met some new friends. I see these two girls just chatting and I politely ask if the madness going on the auditorium stage were for the sign-ups for the outside of school activities, they say yes and from there it's history. We just ended up talking and I met Yoo-Jin from Cal and Frances from Cornell, both awesome girls. They invite me to lunch and I jump on the offer. Who knew I could make friends that quickly. haha.

We then join up with a massive group, turns out Frances knew a friend who went on the extra optional Yonsei field trip. The group of three girls all of sudden turned into a group of 15; we looked as if we were going on some tour of Sinchon, the place where Yonsei is located.

Out of the blue I get a wonderful call from none other than DIANNE! YAY! I finally get in contact with that girl! :D Unfortunately we couldn't have lunch then, but it was okay.

I ended up going to some restaurant called the 'Spicy Octopus'. I never realized the different new mixtures of food that are being served in Korean restaurants. They mix like octopus with different meats, I have never heard of such thing, but I am always willing on trying something new. During lunch I realized that I want to try LIVE OCTOPUS! haha. That shall be interesting. As we wrapped up our lunch one of the girls, Jae from Colby College (who is a native of Korea, but studies in the U.S.) said "You know guys... here in Korea the guys all pay for the girls". I never though that would work.. the guy that was sitting at my table, Dallas from UNC, Charlotte PAID FOR OUR LUNCH, which was really sweet of him.

Hung around with a couple of the girls after lunch: Stephanie from UCR, Frances, Haeley from USC, and Nicole from BU. We ended up shopping a little around the Sinchon and Edwa area, but I didn't really buy anything. I don't know if I could ever purchase any tops in Korea, I mean I am considered to have a big bust in the U.S., in Korea that means no cute tops because all the girls for the majority do not have a chest, even the ajummas don't. BLAH!

ANYWAYS, it was so hot and humid we ended up going to RED MANGO, which was started first here in Korea. IT WAS DELICIOUS and they had the a/c BLASTING!! I rarely go to Red Mango in the states because I like Yogurtland a lot more, but I was craving some type of cooling dessert; we could have tried pat-bing-soo but I guess I'll save my first experience of that in Korea for later. I'm gonna compile a list of Yummy stuff. :]

Later, I had my 2nd orientation was specifically geared for UC students. SO MUCH FUN! I really love the EAP program even more. At least in Korea, EAP students get even more special treatment hehe. We get to go on FREE excursions that are not available to the other students. Also, at orientation I finally got to see DIANNE AND SUSAN!!!! We had a short power point, and the EAP people treated us out to dinner! We had On the Border, I never been there in the States, but now I want to go. haha. The food was delicious, I mean who can deny free food from a restaurant. I realized that both my meals today were free! haha. It felt so good meeting all these different UC students, and so many of them are from UC IRVINE, YUP REPRESENT! haha.

I then hung out with Dianne, Grace, and the rest of her crew who live in S-House (one of the dormitories for the Yonsei summer International program). Their place is SO FREAKEN NICE! It is set up suite style, sort of apartment-ish. They have a main door, living room, FREE LAUNDRY, and a big Kitchen! Seriously if anyone is planning on going on the summer EAP program to Korea they should request to live in S-House. From the people I know who live in I-House, they all complain about where they are living. After hanging out with them for a while I depart while they go off partying in Hong Dae, another little college party town. I decline the offer because I feel too guilty to my aunt and uncle. But after I come home, I realized I had FREAKEN 11 MOSQUITO BITES, which is ridiculous, BUT I also get permission from my Uncle saying that I should go hang out with my friends a lot as much as I can, YAY!. As Mikey would say, "LIVE IT UP, YO!"

Ouch

Mission failed!

Today, was seriously the most free day I had in Seoul. I mean I know my around the city, and I decided on not really doing anything during the day -_-! Well let me re-phrase this a little.

I fully wake up and get out of bed at 9:00am, which is pretty late considering everyone else is awake by 7, and breakfast by 7:15. I eat breakfast by myself while watching my aunt and uncle get ready to go out. They leave, and I decide to lounge around the house for about 3 hours, checking my e-mail and actually getting to talk to Brad and ESTHER CHONG (about time I talk to her, after all she is in the same city as me right now, 5,000 miles away from home!)

As I'm trying to decide whether I should wear some summer heels or not, I decide on wearing them. BAD CALL! I tried walking around the house with them for a few minutes, thinking if I am okay now, I'll be okay for the rest of the day... Oh boy was I wrong.

I make it to Sinchon, the city where Yonsei University is located; its around a 45 minute subway ride and a 15 minute walk to the acutal main gates of the university. I'm on a search for a memory card on my trip towards Yonsei, it's getting ridiculous not being able to buy one. No luck, POOP! I go to then check out which buildings my two oreintations are going to be held, just to make sure I don't get lost. GAH! My feet died literally. I have 2 blisters on each foot, making it a total of a whopping 4 BLISTERS! UGH!

I rush back home because I can't stand the pain anymore and I get a call from my uncle asking me where I am, I tell him I'm going back home, but leaving again later. I guess in Korea once you leave the house there really shouldn't be much reason to come back home. Well... I think this is particualy with my uncle's house because his house is located on the other side of the Han River.

Either way, I was the first to come back home before my aunt started dinner. It was so delicious, some home-made koh-loh-keh, the fried pastry that I had yesterday on the street and some mo-mil guck-su. YUM! I loved home cooked food, surprisingly they haven't taken me out to any DELCIOUS restaurants (probably because it's finals week in Korea and my aunt starts guilt tripping for not giving extra attention to my cousin during these times).

Anywho, I go out again, and I meet up with my friend Esther Park who is attending Sook Dae College during the summer. She takes me around Sook Dae to some shops and a yummy waffle house. It was pretty good, but I think there are better ones around Korea f'sho. I also ending up buying a gorgeous cream bag, YAY! I love the service in Korea because you get a whole bunch of free stuff when you do buy something, but I think this is only at certain stores.

After getting ready and meeting more of Esther's friends we went to Itaewon, the #1 tourist city in Seoul. There are practically more foreigners there than there are Koreans. We went to a trans-gender club called Musseo, haha so much fun. It was ladies night meaning that ladies get into the club for free and get FREE DRINKS! I didn't go too nuts, I had a Tom Collins, Rum Coke, Jin Vodka, and a cup of beer. I tried a chugging contest with a guy named Mike, but he drank that stuff in like 3 gulps while it took me 20 to finish hahaha! Ended up not going home that night and instead spending it at Esther's place because the subways stopped running and there was no way I was going to take a long ass taxi ride across the Han River by myself while being drunk.

At the club its pretty chill, since we were at a place filled with foreigners people were still grinding as they do in America. From what I hear the Korean boys DON'T grind, they actually dance! What I found interesting is that I have never seen so many black guys ever in Korea. I think its a perfect for Chonge (who I have yet to see).

Until next time, Ahn-Nyong.

Wowee!

Everyday seems to be an adventure for me, after all it is the first week! :]

I RODE THE SUBWAY ALL BY MYSELF, [and I didn't get lost riding them, bonus!] Today was so much fun, I traveled all over downtown Seoul. (Anna, Cho, traveling and learning the subway system in both Seoul and Tokyo is simple; my uncle said that they're both similar and easy to explain.) It takes me a little longer than the native Koreans to make sure I know that I am heading in the right directions, but as the day went by I was soon learning my way around the subway system: like which doors I should stand in front of to make the shortest trip to the stairs, or even which way I should stand in order make sure I can exit the subway in time.

In Korea and in any other country there are of course a lot of young and old people. Today, at one of the subway stops I thought I saw my grandfather who had passed away a few years ago, but then again I realized a lot of grandfathers look similar to my own, as this was not the first time this has happened to me. They're really cute and friendly.

I actually had a brief chat with a Korean grandfather today. Me being me, nervous that I will end up somewhere totally wrong in Korea, I was carrying around the subway system map. In Korea it seriously is customary for them to stare at you and you can totally feel their eyes on you. Personally, this doesn't really affect me because I just go ahead and stare right back then they look away really quickly to make you think that they weren't staring at you... doesn't really work. Anyway, I saw that this grandfather kept staring at me, so I made eye contact with him and we smiled at each other. Then out of the blue he asks if I'm Chinese... I reply with in English, no with a head shake. The next question caught me off guard... he asked if I was MONGOLIAN! hahaha. Me thinking okay, that was ridiculous reply in Korean no. He gets shocked that I can speak Korean and I start conversing with him in Korean for the one short stop we are on the subway together.

I am without a doubt a Korean tourist for now... I understand it's hard for both my aunt and uncle who are both busy with their lives and taking care of my cousin (who is going through junior high finals, which is rigorous in Korea); it is hard for them to hold my hand the whole way through during my trip. BLAH! I can find my way around and explore. hehe.

For today, I filled my day by going on one of those big red/blue Seoul City Bus Tours! HAHAHA!

I went all over downtown Seoul in an air-conditioned bus, it got really cold. The whole point of the tour bus is you pay around 10,000 won, approximately $10 and they take you to all these designated places on the map, and it's your choice where you want to depart and explore. Once you're done exploring a bus comes back to the same bus stop ever 30 minutes, and you just get back on the bus and go ahead onto the next destination. They have these little devices that provides information about the different stops in about 5 different languages. It's really convinient because you can ride these buses all day at any stop, but then I realized I started getting lazy and didn't really want to get off the bus and explore during the hottest part of the day. My thought process was I'll ride the whole tour without getting off then get off during the 2nd round...that didn't really happen. I think I'll see these places again either with my uncle and aunt or when my parents and brother come to Korea.

I'm not going to lie, I'm having the worst luck with having memory in my camera to take a whole bunch of pictures, but the few pictures I took will be up shortly. During the time I did have memory to take pictures, I looked like a camera whore because I went on the tour by myself, but it was fun just walking around in general.

One of the places I went today is Namdaemun Market. For me it really was a surreal experience. I first got lost once I arrived at Namdaemun and went to some underground stores, which seemed weird to me because not many people were there and they sold a lot of school craft supplies. I finally found the real true Namdaemun Market and it was CRAZY!! First, the market is located behind a whole bunch of normal camera stores, I mean there are like 20 camera stores all lined up together, then all of a sudden in like a back alley this whole market explodes in front of your face. So many different foods and designer knock-offs, it reminded me of how downtown L.A. is like. There are different sections in the sense that there's one part that sells designer knock-offs, another full of kiddy toys, clothes, and food. The food looked so good, I actually bought a pastry called Ko-lok-keh, haha I haven't had these in so long that I called it a Donkatsu instead. The pastry is a fried pastry that is filled with chopped up vegetables, so tasty. The only time I've seen these type of markets were in Korean dramas, it made me so happy instead to finally know the different smells and what it really feels like to be in that type of environment.

Another stop, was at the North Seoul Tower. The view from this tower is amazing!!! It's on top of this mountain and you and a 360 degree view of all of Seoul. I haven't gone entirely up the tower, but even the ride up there was amazing! Definitely have to go to the top of the tower before I leave.

I also went to Dongdaemun, which is another shopping area, but it's madness! Dongdaemun focuses more on clothing, but there are like a million stores for both genders. There are two huge buildings that are each at least 10 stories high filled with these little mini-stores, and they almost all have similar style clothing. One of the shirts I always laugh at says, "I gots crumps" in neon colored writing repeatly on a black t-shirt. Oh got to love them Koreans. haha. My friend John, who went on the same EAP program as me last year said that the ladies physically drag you back to buy some merchandise, but I experienced the opposite. As I was browsing the floors, I eventually ended up on the guy section. I think this was culture shock for me... at every different store section (whatever you want to call it) there were these guys staring you down to somehow attract you to their store. They also holler at you and go, Miss, miss have you ever tried this before...??? I got caught by this one guy and I just had to start walking faster and shaking my head no... OY VEY!

Adding to my adventures of the day, my friend Esther Park from Sepulveda contacted me to hang out at night. I, of course took the offer since I wanted to hit up the bar scene in Korea. She had already been to Seoul for a previous semester and returned during May for a Summer program. She had befriended all the bartenders at Na Moo, and to me seemed to know the ins and outs of the small but nice bar. I have finally cut my sober streak! Everyone in Korea, including the bar tenders and the grandfather I met today seemed surprise at how well I speak Korea, but I always thought what I spoke was the norm... who knows. For today, didn't have any soju, I have yet to taste that. Instead, I was treated to a White Russian and a drink that was half Kalua, half Baileys, which tasted like ice coffee. YUM! THANKS for the night out Esther! :D

I realized that the night life in Seoul is definitely different compared to that of either the Valley or Irvine. There were surprisingly a lot of people out at night. I thought on the way back home from the bar that I migh face some creepers on the subway, but nope, lots of people going in and out. Thank goodness.

One thing that I think I will have a hard time adjusting to is the way the women in Korea wear heels. Don't get me wrong, back in the States I love wearing heels, but then again our college society's style of clothing is based on a more casual style. The women of Korea consistently wear heels I would only wear when going to formal events, I have no idea how their feet don't die on them. They wear all these cute different shoes and their feet are completely fine! I want magic feet!

Just the Beginning

Day 2 in Seoul, and my journey finally beings. After a whole day of being stuck inside my uncle's house with me, myself, my book, and my cousin's pet poodle, Sasha; I am finally let out into Korea to begin exploring.

I surprisingly woke up at 7:30am! WHOO, go me! I was preparing myself all night, so I don't look shameful to my relatives who have graciously offered me their place during my trip. My mom kept reminding me before I left, to not disappoint her like I do at home with all my laziness and never wanting to clean my room or do dishes, so hopefully I'm making her proud! haha.

The morning is interesting because I bow and show my respect to my aunt and uncle, brush my teeth to get rid of the morning breath, and eat breakfast. I never eat rice for breakfast and I never eat kimchi either, but it's Korean custom so I better get used to it. I remember when I arrived in Seoul yesterday, instead of preparing rice and the Korean sidedishes for breakfast, my aunt gave us Korean pastries to eat. For my uncle, who is a traditional Korean man, he kept saying I feel so hungry as if I didn't eat anything... he needs rice to feel right and full, something which I found interesting. After breakfast, I brush my teeth again, to get rid of the kimchi smell, I guess I found the smell more apparent in the U.S. because the Korean people seem not to notice the smell anymore. I have definitely already started to appreciate kimchi more already.

My first experience outside the house was amazing! I don't think I would ever see a more magnificent river in another capital. In Seoul, the Han River is amazing; it's large, beautiful and fits in perfectly with the surroundings of the hustle and bustle that continues in Seoul all day. The best part is, that I have a clear view of this river from my bedroom window although its a tiny view stuck in between two apartment buildings, I love and appreciate it so much. From the kitchen I could see two points of the river, I feel and I will fall more in love with this the longer I stay. My mom used to always tell me, that in our family, we all need some water around us, whether it's a simple water fountain in the house, or some water in a cup; WE NEED WATER! [so does everyone else, it's how we survive].

I can now say that I got the opportunity of what it was like for a typical Korean to go to the spa in the morning, feel rejuvenated and finally start their day. My aunt and uncle took me along their regular morning routine to the Sofitel Hotel Spa. For those of you not accustomed to what a Korean spa may be, let me explain. At a Korean Spa, all the men and women get naked (only allowed in the specified gender area), then they shower and do everything you would to typically to wash yourself and then spend at least 30min-1 1/2 hours in the sauna, dry room, steam room, or the ice cold water pool. The alternating temperatures of dunking your body into hot hot water and icy cold water is refreshing and allows your body to have more circulation. The dry and steam rooms allows your body to produce more sweat to get rid of the toxins in your body, hence why all the clothes needs to be taken off your body. Going to the sauna consistently definitely helps explain why Korean people can look young and healthy, [and perhaps why they may be so pale, other than the fact that they protect their skin to a ridiculous amount, and they do not produce as much melanin compared to other ethnicity].

I finally road the SUBWAY! I finally get the chance to learn and experience how to ride the subway by myself. It isn't the first time I ever rode a subway, but the times I actually did ride them, I was in a big group and someone was always guiding us, not anymore for me! YES! The Seoul subway system has around 12 different lines you can ride, but it is fairly simple because all the lines are color coated and displayed on a colorful maps of where all the lines lead. Hopefully I can find myself around Seoul, actually I know without a doubt that I can ride these babies and have the time of my life in Korea! I am definitely excited to try to find my way around this amazing city by myself. YAY!

Also, got to visit my aunt and uncle's store named Clue. It is really cutely decorated with so many different Korean accessories, all of which I loved. The theme is pink and black with adorable victorian, 70's poodle skirt, pin-up girls style with a modern twist on all the adornments. I learned that it is a franchise brand and there are around 70 stores all around South Korea, and is definitely popular with the younger generation of girls.

Last but not least, my journey finally ended with me traveling to YONSEI UNIVERSITY! The university's campus is BEAUTIFUL! I love it!!! It is something I always looked for in a university with its charming old architectures, and forests that are spread throughout the campus, its simply wonderful. I will definitely post my own pictures instead.

AAHH!! I seriously hope that every college students considers studying aboard during their undergrad or graduate experience. It is truly like no other, and I have yet to experience all the good stuff, I haven't even really done anything extreme in Korea and I'm loving it already. I have always been an advocate in studying abroad, so make the most of life and experience something new. Enjoy!

[*Disclaimer: I'm sorry to say, but the pictures used for today, yesterday and possibly the next couple of days, will be pictures searched from Google, I will definitely upload my own pictures as soon as I purchase a memory card. The pictures are used for visual interpretation and to get my point across, of what I am experiencing in Korea. Oh, and my posts will hopefully most likely always be long, as this is a memory of what I experience throughout the day. ENJOY!]

Welcome to Korea

"Ladies and Gentlemen, you have now arrived at Incheon International Airport."

Those were the words that were music to my ears. After a long 10 1/2 hour flight, I had finally made it to my destination of South Korea or better yet know as the "Motherland". This is technically my 2nd trip to South Korea, but the first trip that I am actually going to remember. The first time I came to Korea was when I was 5 or probably younger...

The flight seemed shorter than expected, but then again I was sleeping half the time. I learned before I boarded the plane that there were around THREE HUNDRED people going on the same flight as myself, which I consider nuts and amazing; just to picture all those people trapped aboard a large plane traveling across over 5,000 miles of water to finally arrive in Korea. Now imagine three different airplanes doing that same journey in a single night. WOW.

The food on the plane was great, and so was the service provided. All the flight attendents look like the one pictured in the Asiana commericals, all put on a smiling face, ready to serve the customer; now that is great training. In my opinion, the service provided on Asiana Airlines seriously puts American commerical airlines to shame. Moving along to the food, all the customers had a choice of foods: bi-bim-bap, traditional Korean dish or a more western type food, Steak. Both looked delicious, but I opped out for bi-bim-bap, yum. :]

After an hour of waiting to go through customs and getting my luggage I was finally in Korea at 5:25 am. Incheon Airport is amazing, it's so technology savvy and the architecture is very modern; I love it. *Random tidbit, Incheon airport was named the #1 best airport in the world, I guess it was all understandable once I arrived.

The first thing I noticed and is very apparent about Seoul is all their apartment buildings. I was talking to my uncle in the car because he was showing and explaining the different things about Seoul, he said that all the concrete, the buildings that are designed for apartment living has become a culture in Seoul. A good majority of the buildings we passed by on the freeway were all apartments. When I saw my first set of apartment buildings, I thought they were like corporate office buildings the ones I am used to in downtown L.A., but boy was I wrong.

With a little jetlag, I basically stayed inside my uncle's house the whole day, no exploring done whatsoever. I have yet to experience their hot humid weather that everyone has been telling me to look forward to...but even though my uncle does not have air conditioning, I survived day one. What I thought was the most interesting is that while I was reading my book I smelled the different Korea foods that were being cooked inside the different households, I thought it was fasinating and funny. They were cooking some type of fish and what I though smelled like kimchee chi-gae. I would never get to experience that living in Northridge, the only time we would smell other families' cooking is if people were BBQing. Not here.