Anyounghaseo! It is hard to believe I have been in Seoul for over a week now! The time has passed so quickly because the program orientation has been hectic. Being here is a definite step in positive directions for me, mainly socially and culturally. I feel happy to have selected such a wonderful host country and program to help me grow up into an open-minded lady. The people are so kind and smile a lot. Many people speak English here, but I cannot wait to start learning Korean and practice with the locals. I have perfected some phrases so that I can order my food and ask how much things are when I am shopping. I think I have shopped the most here so far :0 I cannot wait to karaoke here and for my stomach to enjoy Korean food 24/7.
I wanted to add some more to the post I made yesterday about the weekend excursion as well as my Yonsei class schedule. I forgot to mention how much I liked the Korean rest stops! They were very accommodating and very unique. Korea seems to have its own fast food culture; you can encounter it in the streets as well as at the road rest stops. I tried fried dough, a pizza hot dog, fried chicken with sweet sauce and fries with what seemed to be the Kraft Mac 'N Cheese sauce. Delicious! Also at one of the Buddhist Temples we visited, two girls screamed when they saw me. Don't know if they were frightened or excited to see me haha.
I plan to take Contemporary Korean Cinema and Society, Giftedness and Creativity, Beginning Korean Language, Modern Korean History and my program's seminar on Living and Learning in Seoul. I will try to add an international economics course, however, if I am denied entry into that class, I will not be too upset.
Today, I visited the US embassy and had a briefing about what to do in case of emergencies and such. They discussed North Korea/South Korea/US relations in detail. The Embassy was located right next to an army base and close to the police station. Next, I had lunch with some friends. We ate in Sinchon area and had chicken galbi even though I was dying for chicken bulgogi. Bulgogi is my favorite and I have not had it yet. The picture above has been my favorite dish, spicy beef and squid with vegetables. I made a Korean Bank account and signed up for a local phone. Finally, we had the chance to go to a Lotte Mart to get some essentials. I got a much nicer blanket and pillow along with some breakfast snacks. It started to rain heavily in the night, so we took a taxi back to Yonsei. I am very happy here and wish my family could be here too. My dad will visit me later this Fall. Haha I talked to him today and made him look bad when I said I experienced no jet lag traveling to Seoul...Goodnight friends and family! Or better yet, good morning in the States. Love Katherine
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