Monday, June 27, 2011

hangul jal motaeyo

I'm getting really frustrated with how little I've progressed with Korean. I might have said this earlier, but in my Korean class, we burn through chapters in something like 2 days, which means grammar points have just been flung at me, and while that in and of itself isn't difficult during class, it's a completely different thing once I'm in a situation where I need to use it.

Because being able to use particles correctly when they are in a worksheet in front of you is not the same as being able to use them correctly when talking to someone.

We move from grammar point to grammar point so quickly and without having enough practical use to feel neither comfortable nor competent. When I'm actually talking to someone I can't make heads or tail of anything and so my korean fails me.

I realized yesterday that I haven't actually put together Korean sentences. This is not okay.

I'm hesitant to sign up for the next class. It's a difficult situation because I like the class--the people are great--and the teacher is wonderful, but its the structure of the class that I'm frustrated with. Grammar is important, of course it is, but I need to be able to speak. I need conversation practice. I need to be able to use what I've supposedly learned.

Incidently, the things that have really stuck with me thus far and the things I've learned from taxi drivers or out of necessity. Taxi drivers are great--sometimes--for teaching you odd words that have oddly enough become very handy. Likewise, when I wasn't feeling well and had to stumble into a pharmacy, I learned how to say what hurts.

Maybe it's because the korean we're learning in class is, like most studied languages, not the way in which you speak. Maybe the class isn't for me. Maybe I need to try a new method. Maybe I need to step up my studying game.

Which is another point of concern. Maybe I'm still burnt out over all that schooling that I've done, but I don't understand how lazy I've become in terms of studying Korean. Sure, I mean when I was a student the only thing I was really responsible for was studying, and thus made it a point to study, but I don't see why that has changed now that I have this 8-5 job. This bothers me, because I don't like feeling like a slacker.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I need to make up my mind soon.

Also, I'm supposed to meet my Korean language exchange partner tomorrow. I'm already dreading it.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Gwanghwamun, night.

Gyeongbukgung, 경복궁

Living at the opposite side of the city, I don't often get the Gwanghwamun (광화문) at night. This is where Gyeongbukgung (경복궁) is, as well as Admiral Shin's plaza. Cheonggyecheon (청계천) stream is nearby, and there are many business centers around...so not much to do by way of relaxing.

But it was definitely one of those nights whre I was happy I was alive and living in Seoul.

Admiral Shin & his plaza

I was lucky enough to get this picture seconds before the water and lights turned off. The water glows blue here, but the lights change from blue to green to purple.

It's definitely heating up in Seoul and many people and families come her to play in the water :)

King Sejong, (세종대왕) called Great, creator of the Korean written language

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Reunion with Totos, or, I eat very well in Korea

You might have remembered that I when I first got to Korea, I had to go through a 9 day orientation, where I was placed in one of four classes. Each class was led by a Korean English instructor, and ours was named Totos.

A few of the girls from our class came together last week to hold a mini-reunion with Totos!

We headed out to my favorite area of Seoul, Samcheongdong (삼청동). The area is known for its cute little shops, its coffee and tea houses, and being next to the Blue House. The whole area is quite quaint and just very charming.

And we basically went on a food crawl.

First up, macaroons at Cafe Amandier in Insadong (인사동).

(Mine: left column, top to bottom: Olive oil, coffee, sesame salted caramel)
(Friend's: right column, top to bottom: Tiramisu, green apple, chocolate hazelnut)

I've tried a lot of macaroons at Amandier, where a Belgium chocolatier makes a whole of other deliciousness besides macaroons, but olive oil I think is my favorite. yummmyyy.

After that, we were off to 삼청동 proper. First up, mandoo (만두), Korean dumplings.
these were amazing. this one was meat, but the best one was the vegetable one, not pictured.

From then we headed to get some soup and I wished I paid more attention to name of what I was eating, because it was really good. Seafood in soup is never a bad thing. Plus we had potato pancakes and I fail because I didn't take pictures of any of the food. So instead, here's us at the restaurant.

Julie, Totos, and Olivia

with Christina and Cherish

Lastly, we headed to one of the cute little cafes for coffee and dessert. Something that I like about Korea cafes is that Royal Milk Tea is almost always available :) For dessert? Giant waffle with green tea ice cream.

I eat very well in Korea.

It was a wonderful night spent in the company of good people, good conversation, and great food. Totos remains one of my favorite people, within Korea or not, and I admire her a lot. I can't wait for her wedding later this year :)

Saturday, June 18, 2011

My Everest, called Bukhansan

Seoul is surrounded by mountains and tons of people go hiking on the weekends. Bukhansan is the "big mountain" which has many different trails that differ in difficulty. A few mondays ago, a couple of friends and I went to tackle this mountain.

I had been dying to get to some nature. Seoul is a great, metropolitan city that has a lot going for it, but I am, and will always be, girl that needs open spaces and nature . Since going to Busan, I hadn't really been around anything but this concrete jungle, and was nearly desperate for some clean air, some green spaces, a different skyline.

After like an hour bus ride, we arrived at the Bukhansan national park. After purchasing a map (not worth it) and asking the guard for the easiest trail, he recommended to us Baekundae Peak.

Baekundae, it turns out, is the tallest peak at Bukhansan. 836 meters! 2700+ feet!

Let me just say that if this trail is supposed to be one of the easiest in the park, I don't want to know what the others are like. For some reason I thought there would be a lot of switchbacks and a gradual incline. That was not what I got.

The first part of the trail is fine and really pretty. You walk the trail along a pretty ravive and there a few big rocks to climb around but other than that it's relatively easy. That is maybe, the first half hour of the estimated 2 hour trek to the peak of Baekundae.


From that point on, it's less hiking and more like rock climbing. The way you get up the mountain isnt on a ground trail, but basically a rock/stone path. all the way up, up, and UP. My calves were dying. On parts of the trail, you walk along sheer rock, where you pull yourself along using this cable that was put on the path.


It's only a 3.3 km hike, but the vertical climbing makes it seem a lot longer. Instead of taking 2 hours to reach the peak, it took us 2.5 hours because we stopped a lot along the way. I really liked that, thought, because while on the trail you really have to watch your footing to make sure you step correctly among all the rocks, and it's only during these rest stops can you see the park before you. As you get higher, the town below disasspears into the trees and all you can see are bits of sky and horizon inbetween the trees :)

And then, the final part to the top is a long set of steps. I'm not sure if this was better or not than the rock climbing. But then, once you get to the top of the steps you get a pretty awesome view of the park. It's here that you can stop, relax, eat some lunch...

Or, you can continue up! From here continue up towards the peak, which is essenctially an giant granite rock. The way you get around this peak is by pulling yourself up nooks and crannies using nothing but the pull wire. It's a bit dangerous, and I suppose if I were afraid of heights, then I couldn't do it. But be it as I neither care about heights, or apparently my safety as I wasn't wearing even proper hiking shoes, we headed to the top and took pictures with the ahjummas and ahjussi's who climb baekundae on the weekends as if they were just going for a casual morning stroll.



I had a lot of fun hikinhg Bukhansan, and would definitely like to go back, but next hiking trip I think I'll opt for another mountain, equally as beautiful, if not a bit less killer on my calves. I was wobbling around for 2 days after!

Monday, June 13, 2011

The Ides of June

I've been remiss about blogging. Things have just gotten crazy busy the last two weeks with classes, more classes, and oddly enough, a semi-social life. To catch on the things I've been doing...

Namsan Tower

I said I would get to Namsan every 2 months or so, but I didn't count on me going at night. I basically avoid namsan at night because it's even more of a couple destination then than in the daytime! Thanks to a friend for making me go~~ it is rather pretty :)





Sports Day!

My school held it's annual sports day, which was on a Saturday (I never work Saturdays), but I came in just to see the students. Each class made their own shirts/costumes and rather than being sports events like we think of in the States, they were more like games. Unexpectedly, I was forced to join the tug-of-war. Lost both times >__<


National Museum of Korea

I've been trying to cut down my spending, since summer vacation is coming up and I need to save up~~among other things I need to pay for~~so I've been trying to go to things that are free. And the National Museum of Korea (permanent collection) is exactly that. I really enjoyed this museum because it takes you through the history of the peninsula--from the paleolithic to the Joseon Dynasty.



The historian in me was really pleased with this timeline. It showed the accomplishments of the Korean people set against those of both China and the West. It definitely peaked my interest, since I am, as a historian of the West, more familiar with the European course of history, to see Korean history display against the events I know so well.