Korean classes!

My first day of Korean was Thursday. Why they would want to start on a Thursday, I have no idea, though perhaps it is because of the holiday this coming Monday! As I believe I stated previously, most of what we are doing is wonderful review, though the teacher gives some wonderful explanations I would never have known otherwise. It is very enriching in the education department.

The class is a mixture of nationalities: 2 from Singapore, 3 from China, 1 from Vietnam, 1 from Japan, 1 from Sweden, 1 from DR Congo, 2 from Spain, and then me! I have been hanging out with the one from Congo, the one from Sweden, and the two Spanish. We help each other with our Korean and just chit chat about nothing. Yesterday, I with the Spanish girl to the university that is right across the street from my own to meet another Spanish girl. It ended up being 3 Spanish girls and myself; with them all talking in Spanish of course! Then we met up with yet another Spanish woman and a guy from Italy.

We went to Krispi Kreme donut shop! The sell Hello Kitty donuts! I think next time I may just have to get one! My friend took a picture, so when she gets it to me, I will post it. Do they sell Hello Kitty donuts in the US?

I spend a lot of my time studying these days. I think I am actually keeping on pace, but I am really not sure. I seem to be reading everything, and getting my postings done on time. I think I took the right combination of classes to be able to take the amount that I did. I just hope I can keep it up when my Korean course starts getting really difficult.

On a housing note. I am still in the guest house (code name for hostel), and it looks like I will be until the 11th. I am not happy about it because it is a little more expensive than I was expecting or can afford. I think I may have found something that is only $350/month and includes breakfast and dinner. This will be very helpful.

Another Beginning in Korea

After waking up at 3am yet again, I decided to get some homework done. I ate breakfast, and then more homework (a pattern seems to be forming here). Then, around 2pm, I decided to go to lunch. I was told that there was a Kimbap Changkuk nearby, so of course, I went.

Kimbap Changkuk is basically a fast food restaurant that serves many different types of kimbap (California roles), ramen, and other soups and such. These things are necessarily good for you, but they are relatively quick and quite inexpensive. The first restaurant I went to when I came to Korea the first time was the Kimbap Changkuk, so it was fitting that it was the first restaurant I came to this time as well! And it is interesting that it only went up about 50 cents in 8 years!

It appears that my search for a place to live will continue. I was told that they have a room here for $25/night, but that comes to like $750/month and it should be no more than $500/month. The Language school apparently can help people find a place, so I need to remember to ask them for help tomorrow during orientation. We shall see if it works out.

Seoul (?) Searching!

I arrived safe and sound, if not overly tired, on Sunday night/Monday morning at my new home for approximately 10 weeks: Seoul, South Korea. Unfortunately, I am scheduled to stay for only 3 days in this establishment and need to find a more permanent location for the remainder of my time here. Fortunately, I also discovered that the owner of this place also does long term rentals for students and business men! I just need to find out the particulars to see if it will include everything I desire and still be affordable as well.

Yesterday I went to the Yonsei University Korean Language Institute for a placement test. This was a rough experience for me as I know enough Korean to not be an absolute beginner, but not nearly enough to be even a beginner! This is going to be a course of both review and new information! Perhaps this is best as it gives me more time to focus on not only learning the language but experiencing the culture as well. Though in addition, I will have to make sure to stay on top of my seminary classes as well! Overwhelming? Yes. Impossible? No.


After my test, I wondered around the Sinchon area in search of signs advertising boarding houses. There were tons of them! It made me wish that I had a phone, and that I could already speak Korean! It appears that there are no real shortages of people running boarding houses, but I do not know how many will be available, or how to contact them without a phone. I will look for a Korean person to help me within the next day or so. Orientation isn't until Thursday, so I have a little bit of time.

This section of the city is a little overwhelming. I did notice that with all the restaurants, there are Korean, Japanese, Italian, Thai, and Indian. I was very surprised at the amount of Mexican restaurants in the area, though. Of course there were also the ubiquitous American chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, among others. There was even an Outback Steakhouse and Caribou Coffee! I went to Starbucks to see about the prices, and if they would take my gift card. There was a picture of it on the door, and something a reference to the gift card, but I couldn't tell what it said. The person at the counter wouldn't take it, so I just paid cash for my grande iced Kenya coffee. Interestingly, I had been walking around with "my" travel mug, and when she saw it, she asked if I wanted my coffee in it. I decided that it was a good idea (even though I may have gotten less coffee; something I need to check on), and I actually saved around 30 cents because of it! To think, I wasn't even planning on getting coffee when I went out, and I saved 30 cents because I had taken coffee with me on the walk!

After the walk it was homework! I read some history of Methodism, and learned that I need to look at syllabuses more closely! I apparently have to write a 6 page sermon on grace by the weekend. I have never written a sermon before and have no idea even how to start! I guess that is what I get for taken seminary classes!!

Arrrgh! A Pirate Outing to Remember.

The LA area has a lot to offer; most of which I have decided I was not interested in partaking. I was able to meet up with one of my friends here in Long Beach, and we went on a outing to Pirate's Dinner Adventure! I had never heard of this relatively modern version of Medieval Times. It is an adventurous Pirate show in which various audience members get to play a part. This all happens while you are enjoying a nice filling meal. I had one of the best times I have had in quite a while, even though I did find that the credit card charged me 1 cent more than what was on my receipt!

After the wonderful show, my friend and I returned to her place for a couple hours of wonderful conversation. It seems that we all have things to learn and things to do, and to be able to have someone to talk about those things with is very helpful. This time was not only enjoyable, it was also quite productive! I am generally not very productive, but I guess I need to make an exception every now and then ;)

I am hoping to be able to some time again have such an evening; it was good for my stomach, good for my mind, good for my heart, and good for my soul! (Even with fried Mac&Cheese and fried sweet corn!)

The days following!

It has been a few weeks since I left Denver. Most of it was spent at my brother's apartment where I visited with family, met up with some old friends and interacted with them and their children. A very dangerous activity to be sure, but one I enjoy very much.

Now I have made it back to Houghton, MI: the area which I spent much of my time during my collegiate years. It is good to be back, though I think it will be a very busy time for me. There are people passing through, people who live here, and people who live elsewhere, who want me to stop by to visit. As much free time as it may seem I have, I really have very little. I have responsibilities no one knows about, and some that they do but may not realize how much time they take. For having very little tangible in my life, I am very busy. Perhaps I need to relook at the the cost-return ratio of my life!

I am happy, though, so there is no need to run out and change to much for the moment. That being said, however, I must bid you farewell as I go work on some readings, studyings, musings, and postings.