I can't believe it' already three weeks (on sunday). The longest I've stayed away from home was three weeks. I keep expecting to pack and get ready to go home. I constantly remind myself that I still have a little bit over three montths left.
I'm getting the hang of taking the city bus and going to the grocery store. There's always so many people everywhere I go. I really miss seeing famaliar faces (white skin and hair color that is not black). I've seen tourists but I'll like to see other people besides that. Somehow, I feel really out of place in Korea but I'm slowly adjusting and getting used to the culture. I wished that I was more prepared with knowing about the culture norms and the language (like knowing how to ask, "where is the bathroom" or "how much is this"). Everyon here minds their own business. It's alot more liberating here because there's always something to do any time of the day, especially the night time. Night life here is crazy and completely exhilirating. I think I am starting to like this night life...not that I stay up too late, mind you!
The second week of school is much better. I like all my classes! I finally got the class that I really need on monday (last day of drop/add period). Last week was so stressful because I felt like everything was out of my control with registration. I didn't know where or whom to talk to and the people whom I wanted to talk to were not here. This experience has been very challenging for me because I've alway had things the easy way. I guess it's good to experience a little obstacle once in a while. So, I signed up for two classes that is back to back with a 10 minutes break. Hmm...I don't know if this was a good or bad idea. The thing is, those two classes are at opposites sides of each other separated by a huge hill with steep steps! The last five minutes of class would be constant worrying about being late for class and coming up with strageties of the fastest way to get to class. It's good excercise...I guess!
I feel like I should be doing a lot more things but I've just been very exhausting. My schedule every weekday is 7am-7pm. I'm still amazed by the heels that the girls where up and down the hills. Someday, I would like to just sit at the corner of the hill and watch them walk up and down and maybe gain some profound insight. I'll post some pictures up of the girls in heels but I'm afraid it'll look a little wierd...I'll try though!
I have yet to find a quiet place to study. I've tried the library but it's so crowded at any time. The library is so large and tech to that I don't know where to go in the library or how to work anything. It'll take a day of just exploring the libary. The two buildings that I constant lately have very cute cafe type restaurants. The food is cheap and they have really good kimbaps! The bathrooms are kind of smelly though. Anyways, there's a lot of internationals from all over the place. I've actually met a few Hmongs from the States. Apparently, South Korea is the new hang out place for us Hmong people- the Korean wave has swept across the Hmong population too.
Sunday was Choosuk (Korean Thanksgiving) therefore we got monday off. Some of the people in the program went home, Lotte World, and some stayed in their apartments like myself. I'm still getting acquinted with my surroundings! There's time to explore Korea : ).
Until the next time !
