포항 [Pohang]

Looks like I'm definitely going to Pohang with Ling this summer! Very, very excited. I'll be there for around 5 weeks. I'm going to help out in an English program there, and I just got news that  I'll be able to help (hopefully at least with the graduate students) at a research lab focusing on neurobiology. It seems like it'll be really interesting - the one specifically that I will be in deals with neuroscience and its connection with psychological disorders. Awesome. Reminiscent of high school and independent research class, and it even ties in psychology somewhat. I hope last semester's experience as a psych RA helps a bit in this new experience and that I will be able to improve my research methods for when I return to UMD.

I'm also super excited about the English program, where I'm supposed to be acting as a "Group Leader." As one, I would be paired up with another Group Leader and be given a group of ~5 university students. I think I'm supposed to hang out with them practically every day, or most days of the week, lead discussions, make a skit, go on field trips - all while speaking to them in English.

(SOUND FAMILIAR??? NSLI-Y 2010 Korea summer. Sounds like the roles are switched! Will I be the "supporter" this time? Awesome! haha)

I really do hope my group of students learn a lot from me! I hope to learn more deeply about the Korean culture from them as well from our discussions as I plan to make it a point to compare and contrast Western and Eastern cultures as a way of getting them involved and talking. :)

After the programs at Pohang end, I plan on going back up to Seoul, staying at Aunt's again, then hopefully doing an internship/work if all goes well.

So, I'm in the mood to read science journals in McKeldin. I have to go UMD anyway to get a signature from the study abroad program advisor, because if I send in this application (summer program at POSTECH), then I may be able to get a scholarship for me helping in research. It would probably be enough to cover all my food and perhaps mini travel expenses that may incur from staying in Pohang for the month (or maybe just food since I'm a fatass lol). Oh. Also, the English program provides a place to stay in the international dorms on campus at POSTECH I think. I also get payed for the English program. Life's good.

Mckeldin Library @ UMD! I'll see you soon~~~ Hopefully I don't fall asleep again.


-- I also picked my seats for flights! Got a window seat. Excellent. :)

다시 [Again!]

Looks like I'm going to Korea again this summer (my second time)! I think it just hit me... seeing how I'm sitting here writing in this blog again. I bought my ticket today - leaving on June 11th. I thought it was pretty good  considering how late I bought it. $1533, round trip. I hope everything goes smoothly and I make my connecting flight on time! I have about 67 minutes to switch...please flight, don't get delayed..

So, there are many plans on the horizon. Long time high school friend, Lingyan, is going to Korea also. Very, very excited! Because of Lingyan I also learned about a student English teaching position at POSTECH. I'm not sure if my aunt would be okay with me going away for a month (to Pohang) and then randomly popping up again at her place in Seoul haha. If I take the position at Pohang then I'd only be able to go to Aunt's for the month of August (and the first couple weeks when arrive). Mom called today and Aunt and Uncle don't want me going around at night. Understandable.

Much more, but I'll update as it happens. Have to start looking into getting credit at UMD for potential stuff I do in Korea. 

Less than 2 weeks until I'm in Korea!

Early

So NSLI-Y shocked me with an unexpectedly early email! Last year, I remember it was around mid / late April that decisions started rolling out. Well here I was, taking an extremely needed nap, when my mom calls to ask me to renew my brother's library books. Books renewed. Just as I was about to throw my phone aside to go back to sleep, I got an email.
...
Brought the screen down and what do I find!!! An email from NSLI-Y. I couldn't believe it. It was March 31, 2011 an inconspicuous Thursday lol

Turns out I'm an alternate for Korea 2011 semester. (very thankful to not have been flat out rejected) When I had first applied back in November, I longed to go back to Korea, but as senior year draws to a close, and college is looming closer... I don't know what I'd do. I think if I were to be offered a finalist position, I would have to seriously think about it. I suppose I shouldn't go through this unnecessary worrying though until further notice! Anyhow, I sent in the face page for the passport along with the alternate candidate acceptance form later that night and mailed the hard copy form today after school.

Disaster in Japan

In less than two minutes: earth split, tsunamis triggered, ensuing chaos...
Unbelievable right? ...

I couldn't quite believe it myself.


I'm in a mood for a haiku (largely thanks to the crazy antics of Ms. Curtin's class).

when the earthquake strikes
once waiting, biding its time
suddenly angry

*actually, I'm not entirely sure of the structure of a haiku besides the 5-7-5 syllable counts. heh....



Anyhow! Thank goodness Hiraku's family is okay! The feeling is completely different. From knowing no one, having no connection to Japan - to knowing a friend's family is in danger.

Not even in my darkest dreams...

 

surrounded by water, fire persists

 

knowledge destroyed

  irreparably broken

'방ing'!

So I havent been updating in the longest time.. .I dont really use the computer much anymore. Instead, I bought a mini notebook where I write about stuff I did that day haha

Today watched 'Salt' with a friend from the around the world day camp we did a few weeks ago.
Yesterday watched 'Inception' with Bus Boy.
Last Saturday was the talent show and we went '방ing' afterwards with friends :)
board game 방, wii 방, 노래방, and even 짐찔방 a little later! So much fun!!! What a long day..:)

Perm!

Got a perm this past Saturday! My hair is now curly / wavy.
Met host-sister's cousins, nephew, niece, and aunts / uncles that day also.
Sunday stayed in most of the day because of perm.

Monday after school went to Hongdae to visit Coffee Prince! But it was closed... but it was still very nice~
We wrote on the  boards there lol

Tuesday went out with supporters to Namsan Tower after school. Ate at donkatsu place before going there. After Namsan Tower, walked through Myungdong and went to nrb. Fun.

Wednesday learned some mask dancing. Good memories...embarassing memories...funny memories. :) Met a huge group of Koreans after school.

First Week of School

WILL POST PICTURES LATER

So Monday July 5, 2010  = first day of school.
We took our placement test that day. It was basically a packet that was fill in the blanks / multiple choice / dictation / vocabulary test. There was also a part at the end where I had to write about my hobby / about myself in Korean. After I took the paper test, I then had to have an interview. My interviewer (who later turned out to be one of my teachers) asked me pretty simple questions...i.e. 'How long did it take for you to get to Sogang from your house?' and 'Why do you want to learn Korean?'



Tuesday July 6, 2010 = first official day of school
I met up with my supporters early before school started.. around 10 a.m. My group ended up being merged with another group (group 1 + group 6 = huge group). I think it's because one of the other group's supporters couldn't be one anymore or something like that... but anyways, we basically got an extra supporter and a whole bunch of other people lol. After everyone gathered, we moved down to this building where the new supporter (Jiwoong) gave a presentation on what we would be doing in Korea when we hung out with them (aka supporters). Then we played Korean games! One was some kind of game where we had to memorize players' names...it was pretty fun. They said it's usually played to introduce people. Then we played 007빵, some kind of drinking game (instead cups were filled with traditional tea lol), and hang man (which ended up being way too easy...all the words they came up with were in their powerpoint. People were guessing the answer just by looking at how many spaces there were haha). We also played an 'American' game, telephone. It was really funny.
...."Anthony likes Melissa" to "Anthony is black"
and something with "shingles" to "Anthony is a sexy beast" hahaha turns out one of the supporters (Hyunwoo) changed it because he didnt get what I said...or he thought that's what I said lol

Ok, so after that, we went to eat shabu shabu. It was good. There was noodles in it too.
Then we went to school. (but we got ice cream before going in too!) First day of real school. I'm in the advanced class, but I'd rather be in intermediate. I can understand a good amount of Korean, but I'm bad at talking and my grammer is really suffering...

Afterschool, I ate at the same restaurant as the one I ate at with my host-sister's friend - with MaiTong, Jessica, Brielle, and Josh. Turns out Josh lives really close to me, so went on the bus with him back to the neighborhood. Later met up with Josh and my host-sister to go to the local DAISO and 노래방. First 노래방 ever in Korea! It was kind of dirty though...with a lot of bugs ...everywhere. Very happy with the mask I bought at DAISO though. Josh bought the cute kitty one and it matches perfectly with him lol


Wednesday July 7, 2010
Met up around 10 am with Jessica and Maitong before school started. Looked around the streets of Sinchon. Found out there's an ARTBOX there and we also went to RED MANGO. Met Zack and Anthony randomly on the streets so we ate lunch at some restaurant. I ate 물냉면.
After school, me, Jessica, Maitong, and Brielle went to MyungDong. Bought watches and a few shirts. Went to a Donkatsu place that didnt taste that good... but it was cheap and the guys working there were nice.



Thursday July 8, 2010
Met up at 9.50 am with supporters and group at Anguk Station. Went to 창덕궁. I'm still not sure if we really visited the secret garden or not... It was really pretty! I want to make a modern version of a hanok to live in back in the U.S. ... or a fusion hotel. Sadly, I know this would be incredibly expensive...
Ate with the group.
After school ate frozen yogurt at the waffle stand (this being my 3rd time there) and went to 노래방 with a bunch of people (Susie, DiMitri, Elwin, Brian Q, Eileen, Tai, Anthony). After singing, we went to the same restaurant again (because it's cheap and good!) We really need to start going to other restaurants though lol