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!!
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!!
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