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.