May 25, 2011 인제 축제 Inje University Festival

Today was the university's festival.  They had a lot of activities and things going on.  We had class and studied in the morning and then in the afternoon we went to the university to attend the activities.  We met up with some of the students and explored what they had over there.  Many of them ran the booths there.

There was a booth that you could have your fortune told.  It only costed about a dollar and so we thought why not.  Michelle got the best fortune told.  We all decided to do love life because those are really interesting and sometimes really funny.  Kenwood helped translate for everyone.  I believe it was just me, Kenwood, and Michelle that got our fortunes told.  The tarot card reader first asked me if I was interested in American or Korean men.  I told him American men because we thought just for fun that we would take it more "seriously" since we don't believe in fortune telling or tarot cards or anything.  He then told me that he would have to get out another deck for American men.  Hahaha, that right there made me laugh really hard.  So I said Korean men.  Well, what other choice do I have to choose from??  Haha oh this just cracked me up.  He had me draw 6 cards and then he told me my fortune.  He said that I have a lot of self confidence and a high self-esteem.  He told me that I was looking for someone tall who had a lot of talents.  He said that I wouldn't be able to find that in Korea at least for 3 months.  He said that if I do find someone, it won't work out until down the road because he's not ready.  Hahaha we just laughed at the fortunes because we knew they were bogus.

We walked around the university and we spent most of the time hanging out with 심태용 Tae Yong! 

They had food booths, balloon artists, makeup and nail beauticians, someone giving free hugs, and a singing contest. 



So I was really bummed.  We had to rotate again to go to members' houses and so Rachael, Steve, and I went to a lady in the branch's house.  The reason that I was bummed was that K.Will was performing at the festival!  I really wanted to see because I heard he's popular.  So, yay............  But the lady was so nice and it was great Korean practice.  She served delicious food and was so kind to us.  Steve ended up talking the whole time and so Rachael and I mostly ate and made light conversation.  I felt really bad because we didn't have a house/thank you gift for her.  In Korean culture, whenever you are invited to someone's house or are visiting, it's considered proper ettiquete to bring a gift.  However, we didn't have any time to get her family one so we will get one tomorrow and then visit her on Sunday. 

안 자매님의 가족 Sister Ahn and her family

Derek bought us a router and so now we have internet!  Woo-hoo!  When we all got home, it was a laptop party.  Now that we have internet, life is good.  We feel like we can talk to people now.

May 24, 2011 노무현대통령 Previous President No Moo Hyun

I would say that today has been one of the best days here in Korea.  It has definitely made my top 10.  We visited the previous president of Korea 노무현 No Moo Hyun's birthplace as well as where he died and buried.  David Lee came to take us and also gave us a lecture on Korean politics and the Korean War before we left to go see 노무현 No Moo Hyun's memorial site.  Even though it was in the same city, it was a long bus ride.

Some background on 노무현 No Moo Hyun:  He is/was Korea's 16th president (right now, the current president is the 17th president).  He's been referred to as "바보대통령" which means "Stupid/Foolish President" (pah-bo-dae-tong-nyeong) because he didn't attend college and became a lawyer.  At first, we thought it was an insult but he played on it much during his life and so it's not to make fun of him.  Even his supporters called him that which we thought was funny.  Although he didn't claim to be Anti-American, his constituents were and so many people considered him to be Anti-American as well.  So, was it awkward being there?  Just a little, not really. 

Towards the end of his presidency, he was accused of receiving bribes.  At first, he denied it but later, statements came out of him admitting that he received bribes.  This is what was reported:  He went back to his hometown and climbed this moutain called 부엉이 바위 "Owl Rock" (boo-uhng-ee-bah-wee).  He asked his bodyguards that he wanted some alone time but they said no.  Somehow, he managed to get away from them, jumped off the cliff, and they saw his body 150 feet below a cliff.  He was rushed to the nearest hospital and they announced that he was dead after a while in the hospital.  He died May 23, 2009 (so we got there just after the memorial).  We would have gone yesterday but it was raining really hard and good thing we didn't because where he committed suicide, you have to hike up it.  Although that is the story that has been reported about his death, many out there think that it's not suicide but murder.  There are many different "opinions" but I just wrote what has reported by the police.  Of course, not everything is always true.  I believe it's possible that he didn't commit suicide has some truth to it, but I'm just going to report to you what has been reported. 
We first looked at where he was born.  I can't believe they managed to keep most of it intact.  You can tell by this he lived a humble life growing up; well, I guess compared to today's standards.  As we were walking inside the house and around the memorial, sad but inspiring music (you know what I mean) was playing and everyone was very quiet. 

Next, we visited where his tombstone was laid.  The floor was covered with stones that had engraved messages on them.  They had a reflecting pond that was really nice.  Many people left flowers on the side. 

This says: "We really wish we could see you and we miss you." 

노무현 No Moo Hyun's memorial

After looking at the memorial, we climbed the mountain/cliff where he died.  It wasn't a long hike but it was steep.  It was maybe close to 3 football fields?  It was hard because it was really hot but other than that it wasn't bad because the way to hike was paved.

Each of us placed rocks on this mound.

Rock mound

My rock!

Elementary school children climbing down the mountain.  Talk about tough.  They were so funny.  All of the girls said hello while all of the boys called out "외국인/Foreigners!" (weh-goo-gin).

The top!  That looks like a backdrop huh?  It's not!  That's real!  Pretty huh?

Top of the cliff

Great view

The memorial from the cliff view

귀여운 강아지!  ^.^ Super cute puppy! (gwi/gee-yuh-oon-kang-ah-ji).  I fell in love with this puppy!!!  It was so calm too.  The dogs are really calm here.  We haven't heard any of them bark or jump on people.  IS THAT NORMAL??  Like, I literally snatched this puppy up from its mother and neither the puppy or the dog freaked out. 



After climbing the mountain, we went back down and there were a few memorials they had for the previous president so we visited them.  You could light candles for free at this one memorial so a couple of us lighted candles.  Not everyone was together and so that's why not everyone lighted a candle.

That picture of him is made up of tied yellow ribbons

We were tired because it was hot and we went hiking.  So the bus ride back was great for sleeping.  David was nice and bought us all ice cream after we ate lunch.  We visited a tombs museum nearby the house.  Close to the house is this park, I guess you can call it that, that have these horses and soldiers depicting the 가야 Gaya Kingdom a long time ago.  You could even ride them for pictures so we got creative.

The boys

You might think from this picture, "Man, Julianne, why are you so weird?"  In my defence, I was falling off and laughing.  If you know me well, you think that I did that face and posed like that on purpose but I was struggling to get on haha.

The girls

So I think Benjamin is pretty much the funniest guy on the study abroad.  He has this imitation of a guy from a television show.  I can't remember the name of the television show he imitated but everytime I watch this, I can't stop laughing.

I really liked today!  Who would've thought right?  I'm not a fan of hiking (I get bored) but it was incredible looking out at the top.  The place was beautiful.  Even though it was slightly awkward for us to be there because we were American, I thought it was still a neat place to visit.

May 23, 2011 Embarassing Neighbors

We have the weirdest and most embarassing neighbors!  :-(  They're from America (Colorado) and we found out going to church that they are Mormons as well.  They have beens staying here for a few days because the lady's son is getting married to a Korean woman and they decided to have a Korean traditional wedding ceremony here.  The man's family has no knowledge of Korean culture as we have experienced living next to them.  Very bad......

They have walked with their shoes everywhere!  Especially places where you're not supposed to have your shoes on like the veranda and inside.  It's really bad.  They left footprints everywhere, even in front of our doors.  Their room was really dirty and we saw bugs inside there.  The management thought it was us so they yelled Dr. Peterson (literally, they were furious he told us) because it was in front of our door and the neighbors.  Dr. Peterson came back and asked us if we did it and we told him it was the neighbors.  Dr. Peterson went back and explained it to the management.  However, the neighbors left before the management could talk to them. 

Also, the lady was yelling at T-Mobile ( she used someone else's phone) because her cell phone wasn't working here and that the plan didn't work.  Geez lady!  Did you do your research before you came out here??  T-Mobile doesn't work in Korea!  Everyone on the study abroad did the same thing you did and it doesn't work but they didn't have a cow about it.  Don't yell at T-Mobile; do your homework!!  Honestly, you're here for a few days.  Just relax; you're not here for months!  It's not like she had business calls or anything or was expecting anyone to come. 

The daughters are pretty nice but a little strange.  The son, that's not getting married, is just dumb.  He's 14 I think?  He's always complaining that they have to take off their shoes.  Oh my gosh kid, it's not going to kill you.  You're here for a couple days and it's not the end of the world.  Understand why taking off your shoes is a part of the culture first and then complain if you are able to.  He's also just weird.  I was doing my laundry yesterday as you know and one of my pant legs were rolled up.  He said I looked like I was part of this one gang (I can't remember the name but he said the name and not that it was a gang).  I didn't know what that was so I just stared at him and said, "What?"  Then he said, "Oh that's right, since you guys go to BYU, they don't teach you about that kind of stuff."  WHAT THE HECK IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN??  That is just like me saying to him, "Oh, and let me guess, because you don't go to BYU, you must be a pawn of Satan!!"  That statement he said is out of pure ignorance.  Instead of telling him off, I just rolled my eyes at him and said, "Um, yeah, whatever pal."  Juni was also outside and said that he knew of the gang which gave off the idea that because we go to BYU doesn't mean we're cut off of what happens in the world. 

Later today, they came by with a present.  After the wedding, the inlaws gave them this chicken that was ornamently decorated.  They came by later and wanted to give it to us because they're vegetarian and also they thought the chicken/present was very strange.  It was cooked and everything but the fact that a head was in there, even though it was harmless, was really bizarre to them.  They had this look on their faces that they've never seen a chicken head before.  If they went to Hawaii or another place that does barbeque, they would probably freak out if they saw a pig or lamb's head too.  We took it because they're vegetarian but saying that the gift was strange?  No, they're strange!  There wasn't anything strange about the gift.  No of us thought it was strange at all.  Our neighbors are seriously weird.

In other news, since it was rainy a lot today, we still went out to see a couple things that Dr. Peterson wanted us to check out.  We saw these shell mounds that they excavated centuries ago and these villages from long ago here in 김해 Gimhae.  I thought the villages very pretty.  We couldn't look inside in a lot of them but the ones that we could were really interesting.  There was nothing inside of them but it gave us an idea of what they had to work with space wise.



May 22, 2011 Laundry and Ramen with Cheese

Since it was Sunday, we attended church and chilled for the day.  Today was the first day I had to do laundry.  When I was staying at a relative's house, they graciously did my laundry.  Also, for the first load while I've been here in 김해 Gimhae, there's a lady that does laundry quick, well, and cheap so I've been giving my stuff to her along with the other students.  But now we have a little tub and detergent so now we have been doing our laundry.  Although doing my laundry, cost effectively, is cheaper, I don't do nearly as good of a job as the laundry lady.  I have clothes  such as outerwear/sweatpants that if they attract any smell, are really hard to get the smell out of.  The laundry lady is amazing; I don't know how she gets the smell out of them. 

Since we're low on groceries, we had ramen noodles for dinner.  And no, we didn't have the nasty ones that you buy in grocery stores in America.   Korean ramen noodles are so much better.  We don't know why but it is.  It's tastier.  You can find them in any Asian market.  As we were about to eat, Kenwood put cheese and 김 dried seaweed (kim) in his ramen.  He told us it was really good so we tried it.  HE WAS RIGHT!  Who would have thought cheese in ramen would be so good!  We used white cheese slices.  Koreans are putting cheese in more things now like 떡볶이 spicy rice cakes (duck-boh-gi), 돈까스 Japanese pork cutlet (dohn-ga-seh) and other things.  It's funny, cheese mixed with Asian food (especially Korean) isn't that common and so it was different seeing it on menus.  Asians are generally lactose in tolerant but now I think that gene isn't passing on as much because they can consume more amounts of dairy now. 

May 21, 2011 김수로왕릉

Today was pretty chill because Dr. Peterson is still away.  We visited 김수로왕릉 King Kim Suro's tomb.  We couldn't go up close like the other tombs because it's blocked off but we were still able to see it and the surroundings around the tombs.  This tomb is more cooler than the other ones because Kenwood is the descendant of him and so it adds something to the visit.  Otherwise, it wouildn't be as cool.  It would still be cool but Kenwood makes it that much cooler haha.

We had a free day so we just relaxed and had dinner together.  As much as we love sightseeing and getting our days worth, some days of taking it easy are amazing; but not a lot of the days.