After 3 glorious weeks of Thailand I finally made it back to Korea, and I was greet by an unexpected, if not pleasant, surprise. I actually didn't get back into school until two days into term, not because I planned it that way, but because I came down with something when I came back, due to temperature change? I am not really sure, but there seems to be a stomachal side to it that is still lingering. Anyway, to the surprise. So I was sitting in class today, trying as hard as I could to stay interested in what we learning, all material that I knew and could comfortbly use in conversation and what not, and after class was over today, my former taecher came up to me. He asked me sort of jeering, how easy level 3 was, and I sort of gave him a borede-to-death look, and he then asked me how I would like to jump into level 4, and consequently, I was beaming. So he arranged for a quick interview for me, no pesky paper test or anything, I had it, and I was even asked if I wasn't of Korean or Japanese decent or whether I had grown up around the language, I was quite flattered. Anyway, without a doubt that teacher that interviewed me, arranged for me to start level tomorrow, and I couldn't be happier, nothing I dislike more than a classroom that is moving too slow.
I got my report card back today too, and as one may expect, it was slightly over satisfactory. It was quite a peculiar little report card; it had a portion where it graded you on Global Tasks, and I did really well on that section. It was sort of an elementary school report card, with hand written teacher comments, boxes to check with either, Poor, Fair, or Excellent, quite nostalgic.
I'll talk a little more about Thailand. Ayatthuya, the former capital of Thailand was quite nice. No Angkor Wat, which I didn't get to see ultimately, but still nice. I did a lot of drawing/sketching during this trip. I used to draw a lot before I started getting preoccupied with other things around the same time I started doing the whole world travel thing, but I have gotten back into it as of late, and I hope to keep at alive as something I do, and not just have turn into a " I used to". This fellowship has been quite remarkable that way. Not only am I really learning the Korean language to an extent not possible at this rate, or any rate at all really, in the States, not to mention learning about the culture as well, but I am also having a lot of time to do many of the things, of all magnitudes and sorts, that I ahve been meaning to do for the first time or again for quite some while. So this is truly the "year off", "leave of absence" ecperience that I was hoping for and much much more.
After Ayatthuya, I hitched a ride to Chonburi, about 45 minuted from Bangkok. I spent about a week or so in this area, a lot more than I had expected, but there was just so much to see and do! I didn't make it to Angkor because I got caught up Island hopping, Koh Lan, Koh Sichang, etc, and it was glorious. I felt like I could spent the rest of my life on those islands, although I also got island fever soon there after, I am quite bi-polar about those kind of things. I went clubbing some as well, and the only way I can describe the nightlife, at least what I saw, it was like that Disney movie Pinocchio where the bad boys are on that island with no rules and then drink the beer and subsequently turn into donkeys, total chaos, and everyone looks so young, there wasn't even a cover for most places, it was still fun though. At one place my friends and I started dancing in the bathroom area to get out of the way of the chaos, and it ended up being quite nice, cooler, etc.
After my own little exodus out in the Chonburi area, doing the beach thing, checking out a giant hill with a lasered image of a giant buddha, atving through a vineyard ( It was quite beautiful), jet skiing, etc. I made my way back to Chantaburi to see my bro again. He had had a grand ol' time with the other exchange students, and it was great to see him again. My last couple days with him before going back were very realaxed and quite nice, especially after my crazy week and a half alone, I even kayaked almost every other day for chrissake, great week and a half, still exhausted though.
Impression of Thailand: Very Awesome. Definitely settle down someday material for me. I am a person that has a poignant, however profound understanding regarding the invetability of globalization, however, I truly shudder at the fact. There are few things that make me as sad as the shape globalization has taken. Anyone who knows me well, has probably heard my rant about why and what not, but that is precisely why I liked Thailand so much. I felt like it was country that was at least putting up a respectable fight. Obviously not being bellicose or anything about it, but standing their ground at least. Of course there are certain historical circumstances, and what not, but the same cannot really be said about say, Japan or Korea. Anyway, I don't want to get started, because I'll never stop writing, I need to get some sleep, to fully recover form this bug I have got. In short, I really like Thailand; it's a good place. Of course, me enamoration with the place is quite young and naive, given I have only really been a vacationer there, no substantial to way to gauge how one views or reacts to the country and all its nuances and intricacies. As I always say, live there or don't go at all....that's an exxageration, I admit, and I really don't say that.
Finally, today I was able to make it out to the jaw-dropping Van Gogh exhibition that they hauled into the Seoul Museum of Art from the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam today. Van Gogh is some pretty powerful stuff up close, I'll have to go back in in a couple of month to re-absorb it. That is one thing that the "developed" or "trying really hard to catch up with the developed, ahem the US" has, at least, access to fine art, culture, etc, cosmopoltanism....The only problem I feel is, particularly in the East, is that their own unique culture is being indelebly and terribly affected and tainted forever by the desire to be Western, or up to par, as good ol' Nietzche mentioned, it is not "progress" the Germans needed at the turn of the 19th century, it was to strive towards a self-regulating culture that belonged to Germany, and Germany alone, still interacting with others, sure, but THAT was what was more important, more important than progress. Anyway, we all know how that ended up, Nietzche sort of predicted a lot, in an interesting way, interesting guy. Anyway, I have been reading a bunch of Nietzche lately. That's another thing this "time off" has afforded me, a lot of time to read, I have recently come off a fad with Dostoevsky. It has been good, and I have plenty more stuff to get through in the coming months. Anyway, there is an update for now. I will be headed off to Mexico City on December 19th for winter break to see my mom and sisters; I can't wait. I'll try to put in another post before then, if not, next time from the DF. Adios.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Chilling in Thailand
Tests went very well, and I have been in Thailand since last Thursday evening. Thailand is quite the trip, and it is definitely a great break from the stressful life of Seoul. I am here with my younger brother, Julian, in a place called Chanthaburi, whose claim to fame is its gems. I have been into to Bangkok a couple of times since the airport, but have mostly just been relaxing around here. It is very cheap here and also quite delcious, and my Thai isn't half bad. It's a very esay language, especially easier than Korean per se. I am working on learning how to read it and write it right now, and I figure it could be another little piece of frosting on ye ol' resume.
I have been mesmerized by the gems here, and I have started to learn the ins and outs of the gem dealing business, I am particularly in to the blue sapphire, and diamonds of course, but they are a little out of my league yet.
I went to this dolfin adventure land place, and I saw some really awesome species of dolphin that I had never seen before, one of them looked like something right out of pokemon, and theo other one was straight up pink, I'll be exploring more of Eastern Thailand throughout this week, and heading to Ayathuya on Friday. Ayathuya is the former capital of Thailand, Thailand's Kyoto if you will. That should be quite nice. Then, on Sunday, since my brother is heading out on a school trip, I will be hanging out in Chon Buri at a friend of his's apartment for a couple of days, and then making my way into Cambodia, after that my return to Seoul will be approaching. Until then...
I have been mesmerized by the gems here, and I have started to learn the ins and outs of the gem dealing business, I am particularly in to the blue sapphire, and diamonds of course, but they are a little out of my league yet.
I went to this dolfin adventure land place, and I saw some really awesome species of dolphin that I had never seen before, one of them looked like something right out of pokemon, and theo other one was straight up pink, I'll be exploring more of Eastern Thailand throughout this week, and heading to Ayathuya on Friday. Ayathuya is the former capital of Thailand, Thailand's Kyoto if you will. That should be quite nice. Then, on Sunday, since my brother is heading out on a school trip, I will be hanging out in Chon Buri at a friend of his's apartment for a couple of days, and then making my way into Cambodia, after that my return to Seoul will be approaching. Until then...
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Good Weekend
Only a few more days, and I will be off to Thailand. I am so ready to get a break from the hustle and bustle of Seoul. I have changed my mind regarding school a little bit, and I realized that I would benefit a lot more from the program if went through the levels the way I am supposed to. It is so interesting how my inner-overachiever that I am trying to get away from this year off just creeps up on me. I spoke to some guy at Sogang who is speeding through it. However, he needs to get to a certain level as soon as possible so he can get into a graduate program. He also told me that if he had the time and money, he would do it the right way and give every level the time that Sogang allots. Thanks to the Light Fellowship I have both the time and hte money to study Korean thoroughly, and there is no reason to speed through because of my competitive nature or what not. Actually the way Sogang is set up really lays down great foundations one after the next level by level so that you never ever forget it. They are not preparing us for a test, but to truly function as Korean speakers. Swallowing my pride and competitive nature, I am going to do Sogang the right way, I mean, who am I trying to impress anyway right?
Last Friday, a friend and I actualy partied with the most famous heiress in the world, Paris Hilton. BMW threw a benefit with Paris as the center piece in the ritzy neighborhood of Apgujeong, and through a girl my friend was dating who works for an entertainment company, we we were able to get in. The best club experience I have ever had, and it was just surreal being two feet away by the girl who is always on the front age of the tabloids, haha. Yesterday, I wrapped up filming for the documentary, and I will have a copy of the finished version of it by the beginning of November. I have forged some great relationships with those who directed and produced it, and I am sure I will continue to see all of them throughout my stay here. The director, has become sort of like my Korean mother, taking me places, paying for stuff, and of course let me talk my heart out in Korean about anything and everything( this is exactly what helped me develop my other languages, long night convos with my host moms, Thank God for adopted moms abroad, I wonder how much longer I'll be able to pull it off, it may be pver aftert twenty, haha). Then today, I went to Seoul Grand Park, a massive park which was beautiful thanks to the beautiful Korean autumn foliage. I love fall!! I walk around these beautiful parks in Seoul and a, blown away by the hues of red, orange, and yellow that that paint the mountainous landscape. I have been a lot of places, and without a doubt, Korea in the fall is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I also satiated my long overdue desire to go to a zoo today, it was a lot of fun; I hadn't been to a zoo in years. I topped the day off with going to, potentially, Korea's best art museum: The National Museum of Contemporary Art. Korean contemporary art continues to blow me away with motifs and a sensibility that differ completely than any other art I have ever encountered; I am very excited to continue to explore Korea's art scene.
The next few days will be filled with review for the finals, tightening up of loose ends before Thailand, and hopefully, at least, a little bit of strolling around under the beautiful oaks and elms around our campus.
Last Friday, a friend and I actualy partied with the most famous heiress in the world, Paris Hilton. BMW threw a benefit with Paris as the center piece in the ritzy neighborhood of Apgujeong, and through a girl my friend was dating who works for an entertainment company, we we were able to get in. The best club experience I have ever had, and it was just surreal being two feet away by the girl who is always on the front age of the tabloids, haha. Yesterday, I wrapped up filming for the documentary, and I will have a copy of the finished version of it by the beginning of November. I have forged some great relationships with those who directed and produced it, and I am sure I will continue to see all of them throughout my stay here. The director, has become sort of like my Korean mother, taking me places, paying for stuff, and of course let me talk my heart out in Korean about anything and everything( this is exactly what helped me develop my other languages, long night convos with my host moms, Thank God for adopted moms abroad, I wonder how much longer I'll be able to pull it off, it may be pver aftert twenty, haha). Then today, I went to Seoul Grand Park, a massive park which was beautiful thanks to the beautiful Korean autumn foliage. I love fall!! I walk around these beautiful parks in Seoul and a, blown away by the hues of red, orange, and yellow that that paint the mountainous landscape. I have been a lot of places, and without a doubt, Korea in the fall is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I also satiated my long overdue desire to go to a zoo today, it was a lot of fun; I hadn't been to a zoo in years. I topped the day off with going to, potentially, Korea's best art museum: The National Museum of Contemporary Art. Korean contemporary art continues to blow me away with motifs and a sensibility that differ completely than any other art I have ever encountered; I am very excited to continue to explore Korea's art scene.
The next few days will be filled with review for the finals, tightening up of loose ends before Thailand, and hopefully, at least, a little bit of strolling around under the beautiful oaks and elms around our campus.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
It's been a while
It has been so long, that finals are now just around the corner. School has been quite easy. For that reason, my teacher approached and told me that if I was up for it, I could skip a level (3) and move onto 4 next term. This is exactly what I am going to do. I have learned most of the items from level 3 through my own curiousity, so this week I am going to spend some time filling in some of the gaps and once I return from Thailand, I should be in level 4. Ideally, by the end of my experience here, I would love to graduate Sogang's Korean program; we'll see how that goes. Well that's the school update.
Quite a bit has happened since I last wrote, so I'll hit some of the major things that have happened.
I went to the DMZ. The DMZ is the demilitarized zone, a 4 kilometer wide border from coast to coast which keeps North and South Korea divided. it is a truly remarkable place. One can truly feel an acute sense of tension when you are in the JSA, or Join Security Area; it is then also fascinating to discern that the DMZ is also one of the world's thriving ecological paradises in terms of myriad species of flora and fauna. I guess that's what happens when there is limited human contact for over 50 years.
We saw everything from the JSA, and the blue buildings where many important decisions regarding the destiny of the divided peninsula have taken places, a place where North Korean soldiers have come in to dance barefoot on the conference tables and left permanent marks that can't be washed out, makes you wonder what sort of dire conditions the North Koreans are enduring.
The are is guarded by South Korea's best, men who are constantly vigilant in a pose that prompts those around them that they are ready at any given moment to attack. Opposite of the South Korean red cross building is the building that severa years ago was nothing more than a hollow facade of a building. Similar to this previously counterfeit building, stands the one North Korean city that can be seen from the DMZ, propaganda city. A hollow shell of a city, that up until 1998 was off and on populated by North Koreans just for show. Nothing in th city is functional, and all the buildings are as real as a set of giant legos. Towering above this city that makes a ghost town seem inviting, is an imposing North Korean flag believed to be the largest in the world ( I believe), so much so that it needs to be taken down when it rains if not it is said that it will rip under its own weight. Right next to propaganda city, you can see the industrial complex that was constructed at the beginning of this century as a sign of partnership between the North and South, a place where South Koreans can purchase cheap labor. The North Koreans, or Kim Jong-Il perhaps, also benefits. South Korea provides a steady flow of electricity for the availability of the factory workers to do anything from assembling cameras to peeling potatoes.
We also visited the network of tunnels that were discovered by the South Koreans in the late 70s. These tunnels were dug by the North Koreans and came as close as 90 kilometers to Seoul. Above ground it would ahve been even a little more difficult, given that there are collapsable walls all over the DMZ , and even some in Seoul it self, to stop invaders, particularly those in tanks. When the tunnels were discovered the North Koreans hurried and painted the walls of the cave with coal, claiming that they weren't tunnels meant for infiltration, but for mining coal, yeah sure North Korea. Anyway, the U.S. military has set it up quite nicely where you can take a train ride remeniscent of a theme park into these once threatening tunnels.
It was truly a remarkable experience. Upon entry, we were told we would be entering the Twilight Zone, doo doo doo doo doo, and they were not joking. I am not really doing it justice hear, but hopefully you can get an idea of what this place is like. If I have the time and money later, mostly money (the tour runs a few hundred a day), I would love to go into North Korea, no worries, I have a Mexican passport, probably not going to happen though.
On the topic of North Korea, I went to an art gallery in Seoul's broadway if you will, Tehangno ( literally university street), of perhaps the most important Korean contemporary artist, Lee Bang. Most of his artwork revolves around the DMZ and the idea of "expansion". He is a very abstract artist who uses a lot of mixed media, and views the canvas itself as the piece, with very powerful pieces ranging from massive 5 square meter canvases plastered monochromatically with acrylic and systematically punctured through out, to relatively disturbing pieces of abstracted limbs in plaster on acrylic. The former simply called "winter in the DMZ", and the latter the "5 ways of accidental death". Some of his other pieces include humongous mixed media collages of current affairs in Korea, that probably say more than most sensational news we hear on the tube. I was truly moved, particulary after having visited the DMZ.
Last thought on the DMZ. I am planning to begin volunteering with a program that the church I have started to attend is flagshipping. It is sort of an adopt-a-North Korea program. You help them get adapted into the bustling and connected world that is Seoul; imagine having had absolutely no contact with the outside world, having virtually no freedom, and suddenly being thrust into the free world, overwhelming? yeah, quite. Anyway, I will be going to a North Korean church this weekend to start meeting some of them, and I am basically just looking forward to establishing a meaningful relationship with a North Korean relationship. I don't say this as the naive "I think it'll make a difference type" either. When I lived in Japan, some of the most influential people I have met in my life were refugees, from Chechnya, Iraq, Sudan and Cuba. These people have literally shaped who I am today and are people I keep in touch until this day, so I am hoping I can find that sort of friend through this program. There is also one more volunteering activity I am thinking of doing. This one has to do with all the orphns here in Korea. I have always been astounded at the number of adopted Koreans living in the US, but do we ever think of those who aren't getting adopted? I didn't think so, anyways.....
My documentary has been going splendidly. I have been quite busy because of it, doing a lot of interviews, and it gets a little tiring having a camera follow you all the time, but who I am I kidding...I love it. I'll be going in this Saturday, to the studio, to start recording my narration, in Korean of course. I believe it will hit cable television some time early next year, hopefully it can hit some festivals as well.
Speaking of festivals and what not. I am really finding my scene here in Seoul, the places I like, where things are happening etc. Before coming, I was a little afraid that Seoul wouldn't have to great of an art scene for example, but boy was I wrong, some new Chagall, Dali, and Van Gogh have just come in, something I found out at a little cafe in a Korean art journal, and I am continuously pleasantly surprised by the countless pockest of culture in this city. It keeps me busy and intelectually satisfied, and the great thing is, that Seoul is still pretty much overlooked globally, pity.
Besides the above, hopefully there will be another performance for Lucas and I before I head off to Thailand, and I also need to start cramming those few holes in my brain with some level 3 knowledge. Hopefully, I can write, before Thailand, but it'll probably be during or after. Thanks for reading, kind of long, I know. And I am still having trouble with pictures! I have them, but I just can't manage to post them. Till next time.
Quite a bit has happened since I last wrote, so I'll hit some of the major things that have happened.
I went to the DMZ. The DMZ is the demilitarized zone, a 4 kilometer wide border from coast to coast which keeps North and South Korea divided. it is a truly remarkable place. One can truly feel an acute sense of tension when you are in the JSA, or Join Security Area; it is then also fascinating to discern that the DMZ is also one of the world's thriving ecological paradises in terms of myriad species of flora and fauna. I guess that's what happens when there is limited human contact for over 50 years.
We saw everything from the JSA, and the blue buildings where many important decisions regarding the destiny of the divided peninsula have taken places, a place where North Korean soldiers have come in to dance barefoot on the conference tables and left permanent marks that can't be washed out, makes you wonder what sort of dire conditions the North Koreans are enduring.
The are is guarded by South Korea's best, men who are constantly vigilant in a pose that prompts those around them that they are ready at any given moment to attack. Opposite of the South Korean red cross building is the building that severa years ago was nothing more than a hollow facade of a building. Similar to this previously counterfeit building, stands the one North Korean city that can be seen from the DMZ, propaganda city. A hollow shell of a city, that up until 1998 was off and on populated by North Koreans just for show. Nothing in th city is functional, and all the buildings are as real as a set of giant legos. Towering above this city that makes a ghost town seem inviting, is an imposing North Korean flag believed to be the largest in the world ( I believe), so much so that it needs to be taken down when it rains if not it is said that it will rip under its own weight. Right next to propaganda city, you can see the industrial complex that was constructed at the beginning of this century as a sign of partnership between the North and South, a place where South Koreans can purchase cheap labor. The North Koreans, or Kim Jong-Il perhaps, also benefits. South Korea provides a steady flow of electricity for the availability of the factory workers to do anything from assembling cameras to peeling potatoes.
We also visited the network of tunnels that were discovered by the South Koreans in the late 70s. These tunnels were dug by the North Koreans and came as close as 90 kilometers to Seoul. Above ground it would ahve been even a little more difficult, given that there are collapsable walls all over the DMZ , and even some in Seoul it self, to stop invaders, particularly those in tanks. When the tunnels were discovered the North Koreans hurried and painted the walls of the cave with coal, claiming that they weren't tunnels meant for infiltration, but for mining coal, yeah sure North Korea. Anyway, the U.S. military has set it up quite nicely where you can take a train ride remeniscent of a theme park into these once threatening tunnels.
It was truly a remarkable experience. Upon entry, we were told we would be entering the Twilight Zone, doo doo doo doo doo, and they were not joking. I am not really doing it justice hear, but hopefully you can get an idea of what this place is like. If I have the time and money later, mostly money (the tour runs a few hundred a day), I would love to go into North Korea, no worries, I have a Mexican passport, probably not going to happen though.
On the topic of North Korea, I went to an art gallery in Seoul's broadway if you will, Tehangno ( literally university street), of perhaps the most important Korean contemporary artist, Lee Bang. Most of his artwork revolves around the DMZ and the idea of "expansion". He is a very abstract artist who uses a lot of mixed media, and views the canvas itself as the piece, with very powerful pieces ranging from massive 5 square meter canvases plastered monochromatically with acrylic and systematically punctured through out, to relatively disturbing pieces of abstracted limbs in plaster on acrylic. The former simply called "winter in the DMZ", and the latter the "5 ways of accidental death". Some of his other pieces include humongous mixed media collages of current affairs in Korea, that probably say more than most sensational news we hear on the tube. I was truly moved, particulary after having visited the DMZ.
Last thought on the DMZ. I am planning to begin volunteering with a program that the church I have started to attend is flagshipping. It is sort of an adopt-a-North Korea program. You help them get adapted into the bustling and connected world that is Seoul; imagine having had absolutely no contact with the outside world, having virtually no freedom, and suddenly being thrust into the free world, overwhelming? yeah, quite. Anyway, I will be going to a North Korean church this weekend to start meeting some of them, and I am basically just looking forward to establishing a meaningful relationship with a North Korean relationship. I don't say this as the naive "I think it'll make a difference type" either. When I lived in Japan, some of the most influential people I have met in my life were refugees, from Chechnya, Iraq, Sudan and Cuba. These people have literally shaped who I am today and are people I keep in touch until this day, so I am hoping I can find that sort of friend through this program. There is also one more volunteering activity I am thinking of doing. This one has to do with all the orphns here in Korea. I have always been astounded at the number of adopted Koreans living in the US, but do we ever think of those who aren't getting adopted? I didn't think so, anyways.....
My documentary has been going splendidly. I have been quite busy because of it, doing a lot of interviews, and it gets a little tiring having a camera follow you all the time, but who I am I kidding...I love it. I'll be going in this Saturday, to the studio, to start recording my narration, in Korean of course. I believe it will hit cable television some time early next year, hopefully it can hit some festivals as well.
Speaking of festivals and what not. I am really finding my scene here in Seoul, the places I like, where things are happening etc. Before coming, I was a little afraid that Seoul wouldn't have to great of an art scene for example, but boy was I wrong, some new Chagall, Dali, and Van Gogh have just come in, something I found out at a little cafe in a Korean art journal, and I am continuously pleasantly surprised by the countless pockest of culture in this city. It keeps me busy and intelectually satisfied, and the great thing is, that Seoul is still pretty much overlooked globally, pity.
Besides the above, hopefully there will be another performance for Lucas and I before I head off to Thailand, and I also need to start cramming those few holes in my brain with some level 3 knowledge. Hopefully, I can write, before Thailand, but it'll probably be during or after. Thanks for reading, kind of long, I know. And I am still having trouble with pictures! I have them, but I just can't manage to post them. Till next time.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Long week, couple wees actually
Hello everyone.
Tests are over, and they went well. I worried a little much about them, as I usually do. We had a writing test, a listening/reading comprehension test, and then a speaking test, with a subsequent mock interview in Korean.
Before I forget, I don't think I have talked about it yet; I'd like to introduce the Chimchilbang. It is this massive sauna/spa type place, where for a mere 8 dollars or so you can spend the night, and enjoy all sorts of different specialized rooms, like the ice room, which is pretty much just a giant freezer, the medium, and high temperature rooms, or ou can sleep in the giant bucket of warm clay balls. If all of this doesn't sound bizarre enough, you come into one of these at night and there countless Koreans sleeping on the ground, where ever they can, lying there heads on either books they have taken off the shelf or wooden blocks that serve as pillows. This is where we stayed when we went to Busan, and I was quite surprised to say the least.
Last weekend, I went on a retreat with a church that I have started to attend. I really needed to get out of the city after exams and everything, and it turned out to be a remarkably restorative trip. Here, I also came across something unlike anything I had ever seen before. When my friend Lucas and arrived at the retreat site, that looked like some gigantic post-nuclear-fallout fortress more than the typical cabin in the woods that at least I associate with the word "retreat" with, we came across loud chanting in front of a cemetery. Being the curious individual that I am, Lucas and I started climbing the hill that was the cemetery and there were Koreans praying passionately in front of gravestones, and yelling out the "Father", along with a group of people at the top in a dark hut chanting. I wasn't really frightened, just really thrown off; it was a really interesting experience. We later found out that it was an old prayer mountain turned cemetery. If anything, Koreans take their Christianity seriously, at least a lot of them do. However, our retreat was quite different, thankfully. The congregation has a lot of young people, foreigners, who are in Korea for certain amount of time much like myself. I met some great people there, a couple from Portland, a Korean pop-star (he is the praise team leader), and a bunch of music producers. I met some people that'll be hanging out with Beyonce when she hits up Seoul this month. I'm so jealous...not really, haha.
Then, this coming weekend, with this church, I'll be going on a trip to the DMZ (demilitarized zone), the really wide border between North and South Korea, thanks to some special connections, we'll get into a little of North Korea, and we are going to pray for those in North Korea on that ground.
I need to speak to the people organizing the trip to see if I can bring a camera man along, haha.
The documentary is going very well. And it has been confirmed. I will be appearing on Korean cable televison. I'm so excited. Before I get to that though, my class at school threw the people in our class a surprise belated Birthday party. It was really nice. Sogang's goal is to provide students with functional Korean skills and help create long-lasting relationships, and I really think they're doing well at reaching that goal everyday.
Yesterday, Friday, I got followed around by the cameras all day. It was a really exhausting day. But I love it! It started out in the morning with them filming miscellaneous living scenes, and then of course my daily wlk to school, and then all day at school. Then Lucas and I had our first legitimate performance yesterday, and it went great. So the camera's followed me to the South side of the city to go rehearse with Lucas for our gig. And along with all the following, I also had to do bunch of interviews whenever we could find a picturesque background.
The term at Sogang is halfway finished, and I am really looking forward to heading to Thailand next month during our break between terms. That's my next trip on my intermittent Asia tour. I am gonna go visit my brother for a couple of weeks, and since he has a trip of his own for about a week, I may head Malaysia, or just chill in Thailand. See you all in a week or so!
Tests are over, and they went well. I worried a little much about them, as I usually do. We had a writing test, a listening/reading comprehension test, and then a speaking test, with a subsequent mock interview in Korean.
Before I forget, I don't think I have talked about it yet; I'd like to introduce the Chimchilbang. It is this massive sauna/spa type place, where for a mere 8 dollars or so you can spend the night, and enjoy all sorts of different specialized rooms, like the ice room, which is pretty much just a giant freezer, the medium, and high temperature rooms, or ou can sleep in the giant bucket of warm clay balls. If all of this doesn't sound bizarre enough, you come into one of these at night and there countless Koreans sleeping on the ground, where ever they can, lying there heads on either books they have taken off the shelf or wooden blocks that serve as pillows. This is where we stayed when we went to Busan, and I was quite surprised to say the least.
Last weekend, I went on a retreat with a church that I have started to attend. I really needed to get out of the city after exams and everything, and it turned out to be a remarkably restorative trip. Here, I also came across something unlike anything I had ever seen before. When my friend Lucas and arrived at the retreat site, that looked like some gigantic post-nuclear-fallout fortress more than the typical cabin in the woods that at least I associate with the word "retreat" with, we came across loud chanting in front of a cemetery. Being the curious individual that I am, Lucas and I started climbing the hill that was the cemetery and there were Koreans praying passionately in front of gravestones, and yelling out the "Father", along with a group of people at the top in a dark hut chanting. I wasn't really frightened, just really thrown off; it was a really interesting experience. We later found out that it was an old prayer mountain turned cemetery. If anything, Koreans take their Christianity seriously, at least a lot of them do. However, our retreat was quite different, thankfully. The congregation has a lot of young people, foreigners, who are in Korea for certain amount of time much like myself. I met some great people there, a couple from Portland, a Korean pop-star (he is the praise team leader), and a bunch of music producers. I met some people that'll be hanging out with Beyonce when she hits up Seoul this month. I'm so jealous...not really, haha.
Then, this coming weekend, with this church, I'll be going on a trip to the DMZ (demilitarized zone), the really wide border between North and South Korea, thanks to some special connections, we'll get into a little of North Korea, and we are going to pray for those in North Korea on that ground.
I need to speak to the people organizing the trip to see if I can bring a camera man along, haha.
The documentary is going very well. And it has been confirmed. I will be appearing on Korean cable televison. I'm so excited. Before I get to that though, my class at school threw the people in our class a surprise belated Birthday party. It was really nice. Sogang's goal is to provide students with functional Korean skills and help create long-lasting relationships, and I really think they're doing well at reaching that goal everyday.
Yesterday, Friday, I got followed around by the cameras all day. It was a really exhausting day. But I love it! It started out in the morning with them filming miscellaneous living scenes, and then of course my daily wlk to school, and then all day at school. Then Lucas and I had our first legitimate performance yesterday, and it went great. So the camera's followed me to the South side of the city to go rehearse with Lucas for our gig. And along with all the following, I also had to do bunch of interviews whenever we could find a picturesque background.
The term at Sogang is halfway finished, and I am really looking forward to heading to Thailand next month during our break between terms. That's my next trip on my intermittent Asia tour. I am gonna go visit my brother for a couple of weeks, and since he has a trip of his own for about a week, I may head Malaysia, or just chill in Thailand. See you all in a week or so!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Back from Busan
It's been a week since I got back from Japan. Last week school was quite relaxed, a pretty intense contrast with this week and its midterms.
Last week Sogang had its yearly culture festival. The slogan was, " fall in love with the world with Sogang." There was also no school last Wednesday, some important person's birthday, I think. Then one day was spent participating in the festival. We played games, and then set up booths with typical food from the countries of the people in each of our classes. Last week was fun, but this week calls for some buckling down. I have my writing midterm on Wednesday, and then the listening/reading, and speaking portion are on Thursday. Then, we have a mock interview next week. I am in second level. I thought I was going to be in level 3 when I got here, but there was still quite a bit to learn in level, and given all the adjustments, I felt it was better to spend my first month at Sogang, in a sense, reviewing, so I could get all things pertaining to lifestye settled. Now the new stuff is coming out, and it is quite exciting. However, the same it was with Japanese, when it comes to language, I do most of my learning outside the classroom: watching tv with dictionary in had, talking it incessantly with Koreans, etc. So, although, at first, I was bit dissapointed with getting into level 2, but since I am in the country, it doesn't make that much of a difference, because I am basically swimming in a big pool of Korean 24/7. And, also my Korean is a lot better than my Japanese was when I had only been there for a month, so I think that is a good sign, especially since Japanese people think I am half Japanese, and in Korea whenever I speak Japanese to Japanese-learning Koreans, they ask me if I am from Japan, so I am gonna forget my inner Yalie for now, and not let a number on paper bother me. Being here, completely immersed, is the true reward of the fellowhsip. Also the friends I am making at school are great, and I probably wouldn't have met them had I not been in the class I am in. I am personally a big beleiver of fate and what not. One them is Shao Nan. He is Chinese and a really nice guy. We are gonna start doing some language exchange, some Spanish for some Chinese, that way I can get a head start for my what I am hoping will be ayear abroad at PKU at some point, probably junior year.
Enough about school, I went to th Cannes of Asia this weekend, and it was amazing, but it was even better because I went there being the star of a documentary! Unlike the Seoul festival, this festival was HUGE! Over a 100 films, and they all got sold out. I got to see a concert with Japanese and Korean hip-hop artists. I saw m-flo, and SOUL'd OUT. This probably means nothing to anyone outside of Asia, but I love these guys. I got really hooked on them when I lived in Japan, and it was really surreal to see them live in Korea.
It was so refreshing to see an entire city, Busan, so dedicated to its film culture. It was also surreal, that last year at Yale, I had written my final paper for my film class on Korean cinema and talked a lot about the Busan film festival, and, now, I was actually there. Too good to be true.
I saw a Thai film for my brother, a Slovenian film (which was amazing, I may have a new favorite director) since I had never seen a Slovenian film, a Canadian film (French) which I had also not yet seen, and then Paranoid Park, a film my Gus van Sant, from Portland, Oregon!!! The movie was actually questionable, but the reason I saw it is because, I auditioned for this film and got a callback, but I was already at Yale. So had I not been at Yale, I may have been in this film, maybe it would have been better, haha. Just kidding.
Being in this documentary is pretty ironic. Why do you ask? Well, this summer, in Argentina, my job was to cater to all these rising actors, and at times I wouls be overcome with all sorts of day-dreaming and wishful thinking, but then I would remember that I was just an assistant producer. But now, although the documentary isn't that big of a deal, the production is really hooking me up, and it is quite fun to be followed around with a camera, and get interviewed just like the kinds Argentina had been; it's a funny little irony of the universe, and I am enjoying it thouroughly. They will be coming to my school a couple of times this week to film me, and then they will film Lucas and I at the club where we played last time at well, then I have to go to their studio to do interviews. The director is a lady that used to work for MBC, a major broadcasting company in Korea. She has been all over the world, and is so nice and funny. I also get to narrate in Korean, and all the extra attention I get from production is really helping my Korean.
Wht's the documentary about?? well, I finally found out. It is about happiness. I consider myself an extremely happy person, and this lady was convinced enough to put me in the documentary as the happy foreigner. The documentary is going to follow three subjects: Me, a Korean housewife from the southern part of Korea, and a Korean indie rock band. Her vision is to make a documentary that will contage people with happiness, and inspire them to dare to be happy....etc, etc, you get the jist. So am I quite honored to become the face of foreign happiness in her documentary, haha. It's a blast.
This is getting really long, so I will wrap it up. Basically, Busan was amazing, I ate raf fish on the beach while watching fireworks, and a beautiful light-up bridge (I ate raw sea worm, it looked disgusting, but it was glorious), saw amazing films, and was able to experience something that until recently I had only read about. Thanks Light Fellowship! Well, I need to get to studying. Until next week!
Last week Sogang had its yearly culture festival. The slogan was, " fall in love with the world with Sogang." There was also no school last Wednesday, some important person's birthday, I think. Then one day was spent participating in the festival. We played games, and then set up booths with typical food from the countries of the people in each of our classes. Last week was fun, but this week calls for some buckling down. I have my writing midterm on Wednesday, and then the listening/reading, and speaking portion are on Thursday. Then, we have a mock interview next week. I am in second level. I thought I was going to be in level 3 when I got here, but there was still quite a bit to learn in level, and given all the adjustments, I felt it was better to spend my first month at Sogang, in a sense, reviewing, so I could get all things pertaining to lifestye settled. Now the new stuff is coming out, and it is quite exciting. However, the same it was with Japanese, when it comes to language, I do most of my learning outside the classroom: watching tv with dictionary in had, talking it incessantly with Koreans, etc. So, although, at first, I was bit dissapointed with getting into level 2, but since I am in the country, it doesn't make that much of a difference, because I am basically swimming in a big pool of Korean 24/7. And, also my Korean is a lot better than my Japanese was when I had only been there for a month, so I think that is a good sign, especially since Japanese people think I am half Japanese, and in Korea whenever I speak Japanese to Japanese-learning Koreans, they ask me if I am from Japan, so I am gonna forget my inner Yalie for now, and not let a number on paper bother me. Being here, completely immersed, is the true reward of the fellowhsip. Also the friends I am making at school are great, and I probably wouldn't have met them had I not been in the class I am in. I am personally a big beleiver of fate and what not. One them is Shao Nan. He is Chinese and a really nice guy. We are gonna start doing some language exchange, some Spanish for some Chinese, that way I can get a head start for my what I am hoping will be ayear abroad at PKU at some point, probably junior year.
Enough about school, I went to th Cannes of Asia this weekend, and it was amazing, but it was even better because I went there being the star of a documentary! Unlike the Seoul festival, this festival was HUGE! Over a 100 films, and they all got sold out. I got to see a concert with Japanese and Korean hip-hop artists. I saw m-flo, and SOUL'd OUT. This probably means nothing to anyone outside of Asia, but I love these guys. I got really hooked on them when I lived in Japan, and it was really surreal to see them live in Korea.
It was so refreshing to see an entire city, Busan, so dedicated to its film culture. It was also surreal, that last year at Yale, I had written my final paper for my film class on Korean cinema and talked a lot about the Busan film festival, and, now, I was actually there. Too good to be true.
I saw a Thai film for my brother, a Slovenian film (which was amazing, I may have a new favorite director) since I had never seen a Slovenian film, a Canadian film (French) which I had also not yet seen, and then Paranoid Park, a film my Gus van Sant, from Portland, Oregon!!! The movie was actually questionable, but the reason I saw it is because, I auditioned for this film and got a callback, but I was already at Yale. So had I not been at Yale, I may have been in this film, maybe it would have been better, haha. Just kidding.
Being in this documentary is pretty ironic. Why do you ask? Well, this summer, in Argentina, my job was to cater to all these rising actors, and at times I wouls be overcome with all sorts of day-dreaming and wishful thinking, but then I would remember that I was just an assistant producer. But now, although the documentary isn't that big of a deal, the production is really hooking me up, and it is quite fun to be followed around with a camera, and get interviewed just like the kinds Argentina had been; it's a funny little irony of the universe, and I am enjoying it thouroughly. They will be coming to my school a couple of times this week to film me, and then they will film Lucas and I at the club where we played last time at well, then I have to go to their studio to do interviews. The director is a lady that used to work for MBC, a major broadcasting company in Korea. She has been all over the world, and is so nice and funny. I also get to narrate in Korean, and all the extra attention I get from production is really helping my Korean.
Wht's the documentary about?? well, I finally found out. It is about happiness. I consider myself an extremely happy person, and this lady was convinced enough to put me in the documentary as the happy foreigner. The documentary is going to follow three subjects: Me, a Korean housewife from the southern part of Korea, and a Korean indie rock band. Her vision is to make a documentary that will contage people with happiness, and inspire them to dare to be happy....etc, etc, you get the jist. So am I quite honored to become the face of foreign happiness in her documentary, haha. It's a blast.
This is getting really long, so I will wrap it up. Basically, Busan was amazing, I ate raf fish on the beach while watching fireworks, and a beautiful light-up bridge (I ate raw sea worm, it looked disgusting, but it was glorious), saw amazing films, and was able to experience something that until recently I had only read about. Thanks Light Fellowship! Well, I need to get to studying. Until next week!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Back from Japan
I got back from Japan a couple of days ago. I came back to school for a pretty relaxed weeks, probably because we have our midterm next week. Today, October 3rd, is a national holiday, and tomorrow all of the foreign students at Sogang will participate in Sogang's yearly cultural festival. it is currently taking place, from October 1st to the 5th.
Japan was truly wonderful. It was so great to see old friends, and all of my former host families. I spent the first half in Niigata, and then I spent the rest in Tokyo. I also checked out the small village of Kamakura, the former capital of Japan almost one thousand years ago, the location of the great Buddha, the giant 35 foot Buddha statue.
As for new developments, there are a bunch of live music clubs by where I live, particularly one right next door, at which my friend and I played before I went to Japan. The owners want us to play once a week, and I am more than willing. As for the documentary. I was given a camera to film myself during my trip in Japan, and this Saturday they are funding my trip to the Busan International Film Festival, the largest and most important film festival in Asia. They will film my entire trip there. This will be the first major shooting of the documentary, and beyond that they will probably start following around Seoul and in to school and what not. I am so excited. Busan is about 3 hours away on the KTX, which is like the equivalent to the Japanese bullet train.
It is a city on the south coast of South Korea, and it has a ferry service to Fukuoka, Japan.
I have made a bunch of Korean friends at parties and what not, and they have become instrumental in the improvement of my language skills. Little by little, my Korean is getting better and better. It is all about getting past the first three months, and then it is smooth sailing from there on, it's been that way with the German and the Japanese.
FIGHTING!
Japan was truly wonderful. It was so great to see old friends, and all of my former host families. I spent the first half in Niigata, and then I spent the rest in Tokyo. I also checked out the small village of Kamakura, the former capital of Japan almost one thousand years ago, the location of the great Buddha, the giant 35 foot Buddha statue.
As for new developments, there are a bunch of live music clubs by where I live, particularly one right next door, at which my friend and I played before I went to Japan. The owners want us to play once a week, and I am more than willing. As for the documentary. I was given a camera to film myself during my trip in Japan, and this Saturday they are funding my trip to the Busan International Film Festival, the largest and most important film festival in Asia. They will film my entire trip there. This will be the first major shooting of the documentary, and beyond that they will probably start following around Seoul and in to school and what not. I am so excited. Busan is about 3 hours away on the KTX, which is like the equivalent to the Japanese bullet train.
It is a city on the south coast of South Korea, and it has a ferry service to Fukuoka, Japan.
I have made a bunch of Korean friends at parties and what not, and they have become instrumental in the improvement of my language skills. Little by little, my Korean is getting better and better. It is all about getting past the first three months, and then it is smooth sailing from there on, it's been that way with the German and the Japanese.
FIGHTING!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
I am trying to remember what has happened in the last 12 days. I fixed my camera, so soon there will be pictures.
I am currently in Niigata, Japan, the place where I completed my junior of high school, and I am having a great time meeting up with old friends and host families. It is currently a Thanksgiving-esque holiday in Korea, and I will be back in school come October 1st.
Life has been good. I am continuing to learn Korean, and I have made quite a few Korean friends with whom I can practice my newly acquired language skills. As for truly interesting happenings, there was one thing in the past 12 days. I got cast in a documentary that will appear on Korean television. I went to an international party a couple of weeks ago, and there was a documentary director in the midst of it. The reason that she was there was that she was looking for a truly happy foreigner that was living in Korea. I told her a little bit about myself, and she apparently got a happy vibe from me, because she decided to make me the focus of her documentary. It will be a documentary that will be aire by KBS, Korea's major broadcasting company. Shooting is likely to start as soon as I get back from Japan, and I am quite excited. It has always been a dream of mine to be on TV, especially in Asia. Later on in life, I would actually really like to live in Japan, or maybe even South Korea, and make a living off of appearing on variety shows; this may be my start, or kikkake, as they would say in Japanese, don't know what it is in Korean yet though.....haha.
Besides that everything has been going quite well. I am developing a good routine that allows me to complete all my Korean studying and also experience everything around, maybe routine isn't the best word to describe since it is actually a pretty spontaneous approach.
I watched a total of 25 films at the film festival and met a bunch of up and coming Korean directors. It would be great to volunteer some time later on once my Korean gets better to get some experience towards my film-making career, especially since, on the international level, Korea, along with Iran, is one of the countries currently making the most intriguing films.
My class dynamic at school is great. I take Korean with quite the assortment of interestin people; there is the Israeli ambassasdor to Korea's wife, who is a very nice lady, and Japanese, Mongolian, Chinese and Indonesian people who range from early twenties to the middle age. As usual, I am the baby, at 19, which I turned on the 20th of this month. Every thinks I am at least 26 when they meet me. I even got 34 once, not sure if that's good or bad, haha.
I really like my teachers; during the 4 hours of daily Korean, I have 3 different teachers. In the morning from 9 to 10 am, we do writing, and then after a short break, from around 10 to 11 we have listening, and then the rest of the day until 1 is speaking. It is a super interactive approach, so I love it, and it is also super reminiscent of Yale's own Angela Lee-Smith's teaching style, who once also taught at Sogang for some time .
Well, I will be here in Japan for another week or so, so I will write again when I return to Korea. Mata Ne.
I am currently in Niigata, Japan, the place where I completed my junior of high school, and I am having a great time meeting up with old friends and host families. It is currently a Thanksgiving-esque holiday in Korea, and I will be back in school come October 1st.
Life has been good. I am continuing to learn Korean, and I have made quite a few Korean friends with whom I can practice my newly acquired language skills. As for truly interesting happenings, there was one thing in the past 12 days. I got cast in a documentary that will appear on Korean television. I went to an international party a couple of weeks ago, and there was a documentary director in the midst of it. The reason that she was there was that she was looking for a truly happy foreigner that was living in Korea. I told her a little bit about myself, and she apparently got a happy vibe from me, because she decided to make me the focus of her documentary. It will be a documentary that will be aire by KBS, Korea's major broadcasting company. Shooting is likely to start as soon as I get back from Japan, and I am quite excited. It has always been a dream of mine to be on TV, especially in Asia. Later on in life, I would actually really like to live in Japan, or maybe even South Korea, and make a living off of appearing on variety shows; this may be my start, or kikkake, as they would say in Japanese, don't know what it is in Korean yet though.....haha.
Besides that everything has been going quite well. I am developing a good routine that allows me to complete all my Korean studying and also experience everything around, maybe routine isn't the best word to describe since it is actually a pretty spontaneous approach.
I watched a total of 25 films at the film festival and met a bunch of up and coming Korean directors. It would be great to volunteer some time later on once my Korean gets better to get some experience towards my film-making career, especially since, on the international level, Korea, along with Iran, is one of the countries currently making the most intriguing films.
My class dynamic at school is great. I take Korean with quite the assortment of interestin people; there is the Israeli ambassasdor to Korea's wife, who is a very nice lady, and Japanese, Mongolian, Chinese and Indonesian people who range from early twenties to the middle age. As usual, I am the baby, at 19, which I turned on the 20th of this month. Every thinks I am at least 26 when they meet me. I even got 34 once, not sure if that's good or bad, haha.
I really like my teachers; during the 4 hours of daily Korean, I have 3 different teachers. In the morning from 9 to 10 am, we do writing, and then after a short break, from around 10 to 11 we have listening, and then the rest of the day until 1 is speaking. It is a super interactive approach, so I love it, and it is also super reminiscent of Yale's own Angela Lee-Smith's teaching style, who once also taught at Sogang for some time .
Well, I will be here in Japan for another week or so, so I will write again when I return to Korea. Mata Ne.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
First Week
Unfortunately, my camera ceased to function right before arriving in Seoul, therefore I have been unable to snap any pictures thus far. However, hopefully, I'll either get it fixed or get a new one. In the meantime, I'll with do my best with prose.
I arrived in Seoul a little over a week ago. I have found a place to live, a "living-tel", a boarding house type place with a small room with a television and refridgerator and, thank goodness, air-conditioning. However, I was told that I arrived right as the weather begins to make its transition to autumn; it has stil been pretty hot though. The "living-tel" has a bathroom for each floor. The fourth floor, where I reside, is an exclusively male floor, and the landlord is pretty strict about enforcing these rules. There is also a communal kitchen which provides us on this floor with unlimited rice and kimchi, a definite plus. My room is quite small, however very cozy.
School is a blast. I am learning a lot, four hours worth a day, and it literally zips by, and my Korean has improved immensely already, so I am quite excited to see where I am at come June.
This past week, and until this coming Sunday, I have religiously attended Seoul's very own International Film Festival; it has been cinematic bliss. The timing of my arrival in Seoul couldn't have been any better. I have seen films from all over the world and have also had the chance to meet with Korean national directors and award winning directors from France and Spain, not to mention one of the forme editors for Cashiers du Cinema. It has been quite the trip. Come October, Korea's most important festival will be coming up in the Southern city of Busan, and I will be there, at least for a weekend.
At the end of this month we have a holiday called Chuseok. I am not entirely sure what it commemorates, but I will make sure to post it as soon as I know. I will be going to Tokyo with a fellow Yalie that week to rendezvous with my former Japanese host family to spend a not so lonely birthday in my times of world travel.
I'll end this post with some peculiar things I have noticed since my arrival. First off, couples here often match, as in they are wearing that exact same outfit, and the couples here, as for the whole overall culture regarding human interaction out in the open are surprisingly warm, especially compared to my experience in Japan. Maybe it is the spicy food, probably no though. Interesting fact though, it seems to be that the reason Korean food is as spicy as it is is due to trade that they did with Mexico back in the day. I feel quite at home, not completely missing mi madre's cooking.
Next on the pecularity list is that maps here show Korea as just that, one united Korea, no 38th parallel or DMZ demarcated on their maps here. Cities and everything, although not very many, are marked just as relevantly as those in South Korea, and don't try to tell any South Korean Kim Jong-Il is a bad guy because they will not take it kindly; he is just another Korean, one of them with some serious, quite serious if you ask me, issues.
Lastly, a little trivial, but I still think it's hilarious, at the movie theatre, where I have been for near thirty hours in the past week, whenever you are going to give your ticket to the person who guards the gates to the theatres they do this little dance. That also reminds me, I was walking around my boarding house the other day, and randomly this music started blasting and what looked like people dressed in shampoo bottles, to me at least, with big asian animation-style eyes started dancing hip-hop. I later discovered they were soju, the Korean sake if you will, ah the far East, or at least Japan and South Korea's, sensibility for cuteness. Until next week.
I arrived in Seoul a little over a week ago. I have found a place to live, a "living-tel", a boarding house type place with a small room with a television and refridgerator and, thank goodness, air-conditioning. However, I was told that I arrived right as the weather begins to make its transition to autumn; it has stil been pretty hot though. The "living-tel" has a bathroom for each floor. The fourth floor, where I reside, is an exclusively male floor, and the landlord is pretty strict about enforcing these rules. There is also a communal kitchen which provides us on this floor with unlimited rice and kimchi, a definite plus. My room is quite small, however very cozy.
School is a blast. I am learning a lot, four hours worth a day, and it literally zips by, and my Korean has improved immensely already, so I am quite excited to see where I am at come June.
This past week, and until this coming Sunday, I have religiously attended Seoul's very own International Film Festival; it has been cinematic bliss. The timing of my arrival in Seoul couldn't have been any better. I have seen films from all over the world and have also had the chance to meet with Korean national directors and award winning directors from France and Spain, not to mention one of the forme editors for Cashiers du Cinema. It has been quite the trip. Come October, Korea's most important festival will be coming up in the Southern city of Busan, and I will be there, at least for a weekend.
At the end of this month we have a holiday called Chuseok. I am not entirely sure what it commemorates, but I will make sure to post it as soon as I know. I will be going to Tokyo with a fellow Yalie that week to rendezvous with my former Japanese host family to spend a not so lonely birthday in my times of world travel.
I'll end this post with some peculiar things I have noticed since my arrival. First off, couples here often match, as in they are wearing that exact same outfit, and the couples here, as for the whole overall culture regarding human interaction out in the open are surprisingly warm, especially compared to my experience in Japan. Maybe it is the spicy food, probably no though. Interesting fact though, it seems to be that the reason Korean food is as spicy as it is is due to trade that they did with Mexico back in the day. I feel quite at home, not completely missing mi madre's cooking.
Next on the pecularity list is that maps here show Korea as just that, one united Korea, no 38th parallel or DMZ demarcated on their maps here. Cities and everything, although not very many, are marked just as relevantly as those in South Korea, and don't try to tell any South Korean Kim Jong-Il is a bad guy because they will not take it kindly; he is just another Korean, one of them with some serious, quite serious if you ask me, issues.
Lastly, a little trivial, but I still think it's hilarious, at the movie theatre, where I have been for near thirty hours in the past week, whenever you are going to give your ticket to the person who guards the gates to the theatres they do this little dance. That also reminds me, I was walking around my boarding house the other day, and randomly this music started blasting and what looked like people dressed in shampoo bottles, to me at least, with big asian animation-style eyes started dancing hip-hop. I later discovered they were soju, the Korean sake if you will, ah the far East, or at least Japan and South Korea's, sensibility for cuteness. Until next week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)