May 4, 2011 Back to School, Back to School, to Prove to Korea that I'm Not (or at least somewhat of) a Fool.

경복국/Gyeongbok Palace

It's the start of the Spring 2011 Korea study abroad!  It's going better than I thought.  Sleeping at the temple dormitories went well.  The beds were comfortable but it was a bit awkward in the morning for a couple reasons.  One, I didn't met any of the girls until I woke up except one.  I met Rachael Caldwell about an hour later after I settled into the dormitories.  She's half Korean like me but at first I didn't know she was half Korean.  She's so sweet and very easy to talk to.  We talked a little bit and got to know each other but soon we were getting tired that we went to bed.  I had a long day and she just barely flew in so she was exhausted.  When I woke up, the other two girls were in the room and talking to each other.  Yeah, it's a bit strange seeing people in the same room as you that you didn't see before you were awake.  The other two are Victoria Morris-Cartagena and Michelle Morgan.  I knew Victoria a little bit because she was in my Korean class for a couple days but I've never met Michelle or Rachel before.  We all had the study abroad prep class but that wasn't really a time to get to know each other.  I was scared at first because I really didn't know anyone that was going on this study abroad besides Victoria but even I didn't know her super well.  But so far we all get along.  Victoria, Michelle, and I love K-pop and dramas so that's a plus and Rachael has a very easy-going personality.  Two, showering is very different in Korea compared to America.  It's still a private thing but I feel America is more private when it comes to bathing and showering.  I'll try to make some sense out of what I'm trying to say.  I already explained how they don't really have tubs and that everything drains in one spot.  As you know, in dorm showers, there's not much privacy but these dormitories I felt had very little privacy compared to what I was used to.  The showers are lined up side by side and they're only separated by half of a glass curtain/divider.  If you were curious, you could peek and go over to the next shower with no problem.  Although the front was blocked by a curtain, someone could still see you when they go into their shower.  Also, they don't use full towels.  In Korea, they use towels that are more considered hand/face towels.  It's actually more convenient.  Technically you don't need a long towel but for instances like these, I longed to have one at the moment.

The girls!  Me, Michelle, Rachael, and Victoria at the subway 지하철

The girls + Ben Blackhurst.  We love Korea!

Once we (the girls) got up, we got to know each other and starting talking.  We had to pack quickly because we needed to move into the temple house where Professor Peterson and the boys were staying.  The temple house isn't as nice as the temple dormitories but it was still clean and welll kept.  So far I haven't had to sleep on the floor yet and so tonight will be the first night.  So exciting!  That's one of the things that I remembered from my other visits to Korea is sleeping on the floor.  I find it refreshing and pretty fun!  The only problem is that you eat on the floor, study on the floor, etc.  You have a little table but why it's hard for me is that if I'm in the same position as how I sleep (which is on the floor), I will sleep so I feel tired whenever I sit, eat, study, etc.  Other than trying to keep myself awake, sleeping on the floor is not bad.  There's no internet here at the temple house!!!!!!!! GRRRRR!  It's especially hard for most of the students because most don't have cell phones here and the internet was their only source of communication to anyone really.  We had breakfast (American style; haha and I was just getting used to Korean style) and had a little devotional. 

Seoul, South Korea temple house.  Our housing for study abroad while we stayed in Seoul 서울.

Our cute door!  Haha yeah I'm weird like that but these doors remind me of my other visits to Korea and I thought they were so adorable and different from America.  Most houses have gates and door surrounding their house whereas in America most people don't have a gate guarding their house.

예수그리스도 후기성도교회.  The first two lines are "The Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints" in Korean. (yeh-soo-geu-ri-soo-do hoo-gi-sung-do-gyo-hwe).  So exicted to go inside.

Moving in

It's a Kenwood sandwich!  This is Kenwood Huh.  He's Korean but claims New Zealand as his home.  He was actually born in Provo and then for his childhood moved to Korea and then most of his life has been in New Zealand.  It's so cool when he speaks.  He has the New Zealand accent but then when he speaks Korean, he has the Korean accent and the New Zealand accent disappears.  It's so cool!



Girls room

Our beds

My bed! 

Bathroom includes: toilet, sink, and shower.

Shower

After unpacking and getting settled in, we took a couple field trips.  It'll be field trips until next week.  We had a couple come with us and so it's mostly field trips (aka tourism with learning).  The couple is more older but they're lots of fun and easy to get along with.  Our first stop was Gyeongbok Palace 경복국.  I was excited because I didn't get to explore it in detail so it was cool to visit it again. 

Walking out

We took a taxi to the palace and we rode in groups of 3 for language practice.  Some of us got lost along the way but we eventually all made it there.  Luckily I wasn't in that taxi.  I'm still not familiar with the city and the transportation system yet.  It's still new to me.  Even though it was my 2nd time at the palace, it was still interesting because I got to learn more about it in depth.  It was hard to pay attention at first because I don't know much about Korean history so everything seemed overwhelming.  I think it'll get better as the sutdy abroad progresses.

Haechi 해치/Haetae 해태.  These are mythical creatures similar to sea lions that would eat fire to protect the palace.

Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion 경회루 (gyung-hwe-roo).  According to the pamphlet, Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion 경회루 is a two-story pavilion built on an island in the middle of a lotus pond.  Its construction was based on cosmic principles expoused by the Book of Changes.  The king used this pavilion to entertain foreign envoys or hold large-scale banquets for his ministers.  King Sejo liked archery and had several targets set up in the lotus pond and shot them from Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion 경회루.  He is said to have been such an excellent archer that none of his arrows ever ended up in the pond.  This is also said to have been the place where the boy king Danjong was forced to abdicated the throne in favor of his uncle King Sejo. 

After seeing some of the most important parts of the palace, we took a lunch break and ate at Jeonju Bibimbap 전주 비빔빕 which was across the street from the palace.  If you're not aware of bibimbap 비빔밥, it's rice mixed with vegetables and meat in a spicy, red hot pepper sauce 고추장 (go-choo-jang).  It was filling and tasted so good.  Ah man, I LOVE Korean food.

Jeonju Bibimbab 전주 비빔빕

Bibimbap 비빔밥

After lunch, we had free time because Professor Peterson had to run a couple errands.  Most of us just stayed at the palace and explored it more in detail.  We also visited two museums they had. I went to the Folk Museum 미속박물관 (mi-sok-bang-mul-gwan).   I already went to the National Palace Museum 국립궁박물관 (guk-rip-goong-bang-mul-gwan) with Young Min 영민 but decided to go again to explore the other floors of the museum. 

Back row: Me, Junil Kim

Front row:  Rachael, Michelle

Hanbok 한복 (traditional Korean clothing) cutouts

We got so many looks from people when we took this picture.  Tee hee hee.

Haha as well as this one.

Hyangwon-jeong 향원정

After looking outside for a while, we went to the National Folk Museum of Korea 국립미속박문관 (guk-rip-mi-sok-bang-mun-gwan).  Most of the museum concentrated on the Joseon 조선 dynasty.  It was very fascinating to see the relics and artifacts again and to explore what life was like in Korea about 500 years ago.  Something awkward happened while I was inside the museum.  I was looking at a timeline inside and came across a part about the Japanese colonization of Korea which had a part of imposing Koreans to speak Japanese.  I repeated out loud the phase because I was curious just like most museum goers do when all of a sudden this guy, who I assumed at the time American, said this,

"Yeah it was like that until my country came and sushed/pacified them (referring to the Japanese)." 

I then said, "Where are you from?" 

He said, "America.  Oregon"

.............................Wow, dude, are you dumb???  I have an American accent and you referred to America as your country.  That wasn't the bad part; that was just dumb. 

I then told him, "I have family in Oregon." 

He then asked, "Where are you from?"

I said, "Utah."

He asked, "Are you Mormon?"

I said, "Yeah."

He said, "Oh, well, I won't hold that against you."

......................Huh?  What's that supposed to mean pal?

I said, "Come again?"

He said, "There's lot of missionaries; everywhere; it's kind of annoying."

I said, "Um, not really."

...................Alright buddy, you are just dumb.  This isn't venting; just embarassed by ignorance.  One, how you couldn't tell just from me talking to you that I was American should be an automatic DUH slapped to your forehead.  Two, you can't tell just by the words, but his tone made him proud that Americans "pacified" the Japanese was a bit out of line.  Do you remember how we "pacified" them?  It wasn't peacefully.  I'm not pro or anti Japanese but making yourself holier than thou people is low.  And the whole Mormon thing was just awkward.  Like, he said he won't hold it against me but then say how annoying it is seeing missionaries.  He shouldn't have said anything in the first place and should have dropped the conversation.  As Americans, we don't consider ourselves to better than any other country, race, etc. by placing ourselves above everyone else.  As Americans, we believe in religious freedom which means we respect other religions that are different from ours if they produce good and do no harm unto others.  Mr. Oregon, you better be glad that you were speaking to an American because if I was anything else, especially Japanese, you should feel even more ashamed of yourself.

Me and my zodiac sign 띠 (ddi) the ram/lamb 양 (yahng).

Ram/Lamb 양

Clothing from the Joseon 조선 dynasty

I guess Korea was the original UGG boot maker haha. 

Me and Michelle doing a parody scene from Sungkyunkwan Scandal 성균관 스캔들.

Me and Michelle doing another parody scene from Sungkyunkwan Scandal 성균관 스캔들.

After the National Folk Museum 국립미속박물관, we went to the Palace Museum 국립궁박물관.  It was pretty tiring going through the museum because we have been running around and using our brains, trying to get notes down and explore the other floors in the museum.  

Royal fans

Swords and axes

After looking at so many historical aspects of Korea, we were invited to have family home evening at President Rogers's home.  He's the branch president for the English branch in Seoul 서울.  He's Caucasian but his wife is half Korean.  They both grew up in Texas.  2 of his kids are 1/2 Polynesian, 1/4 Korean, 1/4 Caucasian and his 2 other kids are 3/4 Caucasian and 1/4 Korean.  Crazy huh?  His kids, in my opinion, don't look Korean in the slightest but when they speak and read, they sound Korean.  His children are so adorable!  They're very active and loved to play with us.  We had dinner, had a lesson, and some sort of a game/talent show.  We had the most American dinner you could get.  We had barbeque chicken/pulled pork sandwiches, salad, chilli, rice, corn, and Crystal Light.  Haha, can't get anymore American than that!  Yes!  Haha lol.  The lesson was about putting on the armor of God.  After the lesson, President Rogers gave us these key chains that had all of the symbols of the armor of God on them.  His company produced the products and a mission couple designed them that was in the mission.  We then had a talent show afterwards.  Each of us had crazy body talents.  Victoria sang in a high voice, Junil disloacted his arms, Rachael did a funny kartwheel, Kenwood walked cross legged on his knees, Michelle licked her nose with her tongue, Ben made wookie noises, Stephen Baker made noises through his hands, and I licked my elbow.  Yeah, that's right, it's possible. 

Going to Family Home Evening

American food in Korea

At President Rogers's home

Family Home Evening

Family Home Evening

Me and President Rogers's kids

Boy, I'm not sure if I'm ready to go back into school mode yet.  There's so many things to do in Korea; how on earth am I going to concentrate???  Also, me and a few others had BIG culture shock coming to Family Home Evening.  The kids are totally Westernized in every aspect.  It felt like we were back in America which usually comforts people who are far away but this almost made me feel weird. One, it's now weird to see Caucasian people.  They look foreign to us now.  Even though some of our classmates are Caucasian, if we see Caucasian people here in Korea it freaks us out.   I think we have adjusted to Korea so well and become comfortable here that American culture seems so different and strange to us now.  Before coming to Korea, many of us, if we saw someone who wasn't Caucasian, immediately in our minds would come the thought, "oh hey!  They're (insert whatever race)."  But now, it's been if they're not Korean, the thought comes into our minds, "oh hey!  They're not Korean."  Is it possible for home to feel foreign?  I don't know how I'm going to function going home.  Am I becoming xenophobic (the fear part, not the hatred part)?  Hope not!!!  Other than not having any internet, Korea has been amazing and continues to amaze me every day!  I love this place to pieces!!

Seoul 서울

This is proof that Koreans love orchids

Another test of trying out my camera

So pretty!