Pura Vida en Costa Rica

I have been in Costa Rica for about 5 weeks now, sorry I am late on posting, but I did not have too many thoughts when I arrived. Nothing seemed different. I did not realize I was in another country until about week 3. When I arrived at my home stay I knew I was no longer in Kansas. The house is not the most extravagant, but my Mama Tica was really sweet. She is a short elderly lady with the most pleasant smile and warm hugs. The house is two stories, but her son and grandchildren live upstairs. There are three bedrooms and one shared bathroom downstairs. The kitchen is a nice size and there is a courtyard where clothes are washed, as well as where the dog (Happy) resides. I immediately realized that I did not remember as much Spanish as I thought and I had not taken it in a while. The program states that we do not need to have taken Spanish before arriving, but it does help because my Mama Tica speaks no English.
It was a little uncomfortable because my roommate had not arrived and I was only able to speak Spanglish. However, my roommate was advanced in Spanish. So after she arrived things were a lot easier because I understood more than I spoke. We did not spend more than hour or two speaking at dinner because we were tired from our flights.

A Few Misconceptions I had of Korea

1) Not all Korean food is as healthy as I thought it'd be

I thought Korean people eat very healthy things every day. Boy was I wrong. It turns out that even though traditional Korean dishes do contain a generous serving of meat along with what could be unlimited vegetables (available at some Korean BBQ (samgyeopsal) restaurants). That's just those meals. That doesn't include things like chicken...and burgers...and hot dogs...and ramen...and snacks. It's actually a cultural norm to share snacks with each other so never buy for just yourself. Oh and there's street food, various good foods fried in a lot of oil and filled with things like red bean paste, or chocolate, or even a hard boiled egg. They all taste really great, but, they are in no way healthy for you.

 Korean BBQ, also known as Samgyeopsal. The meat is pretty cheap and the sides are free.

 Jjigae,  Traditional Korean Soup. It comes in a variety of flavors and is served in a hot stone bowl.

2) I do a lot less walking than I thought I'd have to do

So, public transportation is a pretty big thing in South Korea. A vast majority of citizens take the subway each day to get from town to town. I thought it would be like home where I'd have to walk to the station every time because there is no easy way to get there. Wrong again, there are taxis. From Global Village (my dorm) to the station here in Sinchang, it takes about 5 minutes in a taxi and costs only 3,400 KRW ($3.40). On top of that, since its best to travel in groups around here, you'd be splitting that cost with up to three other friends. Therefore, it only costs me a dollar or two.

The train station that can take you from Sinchang to other cities, including Seoul.

What about food? Sure there are very few good options to eat at on campus (costing only 4,000 KRW on average, which is cheap compared to Hawaii). All the better eateries around here are outside of campus down a long hill. Meaning, if I want to eat something good I'd have to walk all the way down and all the way back up. Wrong again. There is this amazing system called delivery, and it works for more than just pizza. Over here you can call a restaurant to deliver some chicken, burgers, or even burritos straight to the dorms. So the most walking I'd ever need to do is to the front door. Of course there are more options if I do the walk, but it's still a little bit too cold for that.

Pizza that was brought back to the dorms. It's always better eating with friends.

The only serious walking you'd have to do here would be for going to class from the dorms (there are a lot of hills and stairs on this campus) or traveling from landmark to landmark if you're in Seoul. But, the bus system is so cheap (650-850 KRW) that its probably better to take that for far distances. I didn't even have to do the hike up Namsan mountain in Seoul because there's a bus that takes everyone near the top.

 The short hike to Namsan Tower in Seoul. You can see the tower itself in the background.

 Convenient little carts that take you around Seoul Grand Park. It features a zoo, a camground, and an amusement park.

The long hill that we have to walk to get from the dorms to the back gate, where the food is.

Since Seoul- 32 Days Later

안녕하세요!

A lot has happened since I last blogged my adventure in South Korea (on the first night). It's been about 32 days since then, I've been journaling a lot of my experiences, 72 pages and counting. The first week or so was solo traveling through Seoul to all the big tourist spots.

Day 2 - Traveled to Ichon and spent almost the whole day in awe of the National Museum of Korea, it dwarfed the Bishop Museum in Hawaii by at least a hundred times.

Day 3 - I walked six kilometers from Seoul Station all the way to the summit of Namsan Mountain and made it to the top of N Seoul Tower to see the beautiful sunrise and the snow at the top. Well worth my Sunday.

Day 4 - I went to check out the Ewha Women's University campus before heading out to embrace Gangnam and all that is PSY.

Day 5 & 6 - A trip back to Namdaemun and Myeongdong Market for the haggle shopping wonder. So many awesome socks (for a 1,000 won), hats for (3,000 won), and shirts (3 for 10,000 won). Along with the endless rows of street food, savory smells abound.

Day 7 - On my way back on the Airport Express to Incheon International Airport for the school pick-up. Just my luck, the victorious South Korean National Olympic Team (including Kim Yoona) was returning from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Being a foreigner with a legit camera, I sneaked into the foreign journalists clique and watched the whole official press conference for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games during the wait.

From then on, I was in Soonchunhyang University-hundreds of kilometers and hours away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul, in the countryside town of Sinchang-myeong. Life was significantly better here surrounded by new friends-Koreans and internationals. The campus is huge in comparison to HPU and has so many resources available conveniently, six cafeterias and an actual fitness center. Food options are great too, at most I spend 10,000 won or less on food expenditures since housing, utilities, and airfare is provided through the program plus a weekly stipend. My weekends either spent in Seoul touring the rest of the international students since I've had experience and familiarized myself with the city or on grocery / essentials excursions to nearby cities like Cheonan, Asan, Pyeongchaek, and Onyang-oncheon.

At the end of the long informational orientation week, there was a huge Matriculation (Opening) Ceremony for internationals and freshmen Korean students. Their gymnasium could fit 3,000 students, shoulder to shoulder, there were massive school banners overhead, and dramatic lighting everywhere. An ROTC Honor Guard, swords and all crossed over our heads as we walked on the red carpet. The shocker of the whole event was that during the video message greeting from all of SCH's alum was a greeting from EXO, a K-pop boy band. Towards the end of the formaltries, such fanfare as trumpets echoed and firework-like blasts of confetti, millions upon millions of pieces showered everyone.

It's been a chilling 30 degrees Fahrenheit almost daily and rare snow covered nights with the freezing Korean wind brushing against the surface of everyone's legs and arms despite the many layers clothing and the protection of fully clad jackets. I'm just here outside in the cold with them in shorts, a loose short sleeve casual shirt, and slippers, months in advance ready for summer. Still too warm.

Three weeks in and the official start of school has begun with Cultural Internship Discussion being a repeat of the cultural lessons learned during orientation; Korean Speaking and Writing I, a bit more fun despite the early 9am timeslot; Korean Politics and Diplomacy all about singing, waffles, and self-reading; International Relations of East Asia was just a lecture-based class and self-read but luckily later in the afternoon; and Beginning Korean Dance was so much more interesting than all the classes combined (especially Samulnori (Korean Traditional Percussion)), we learned how to walk like Koreans in the first class.

Last last weekend, I led a bigger group of international friends on a whole day excursion to Seoul. In which, I took them to the National Museum of Korea, explored the incredible War Memorial and Musuem in Yongsan Military Base, and ate out in a traditional Samgyeopsal (Korean hot pot & BBQ) restaurant in culturally diverse Itaewon. We ended our day at the Gyeongbokgung Palace and toured the other three palaces before heading to Gwangwhamun Square (Admiral Yi & King Sejong's Statues). We got caught up in some kind of political rally and witnessed hundreds of police officers crossing the street with riot gear (helmets, shields, batons, and all).

Last week, I've met all nine of my exchanges (Korean students we've been assigned to tutor and converse in English with, befriending them, hanging out and planning events with, an hour each week). They were all so interesting, each with their own stories, uniqueness, and kind personalities. I've met all ten of my Korean suitemates who also were just as friendly and hilarious, the people I'll probably be the closest of friends with for the next semester or two. Finally, I've met the Conversational Korean class I was assigned to TA for on Friday afternoons. At first with almost all the people I've met initially, they were all just as shy as me since they fear their English speaking skills are just as flawed as my Korean speaking skills. After some encouragement and talking about our similar interests, making friends is a piece of cake. I've truly decided that Soonchunhyang for another semester is highly a possibility, four months is way too short to experience everything I can possibly obtain in a country so amazing like South Korea. Till the Next post, 건배!

One of My first exchange of the week, So Min-Ji (Sunny) in Front of the FLEC Building at SCH. # shakapower

On my first excursion to Ichon, this was the beautiful Pagoda Lake in front of the National Museum of Korea.

On my Sunday morning six kilometer jog up Namsan Mountain to view the sunrise from N Seoul Tower.

While waiting for the school pick-up at Incheon International Airport, I was caught up in the foreign journalist group to spectate the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games Press Conference and the return of the SK Olympic Team.

The awesome Opening Ceremony concludes at the Soonchunhyang University Gymnasium, so much hype!

The Gyeongbokgung Gate to the Four Palaces of Seoul towards the end of the day, last last weekend.

FIRST DAY IN SEOUL! AWESOME TO BE A FOREIGNER...

February 25th, 21:30pm...

Finally i arrived Seoul, couldn't believe it was real. I'M IN SEOULLLLL!! The airport was really nice and clean. I met several international students there from different universities and have some small talks with them

The only problem that lead to other problems is...my luggage was missing. I had kept in the airport like 1 hour to look for my luggage and do some paper work for them to send the luggage to me by he next day. When i got out of the airport...then there was no more pick-up service from the school ( I supposed to have somebody from the school picked me up and help me get to dorm), I guess because my flight arrived really late and plus the time i have to do paper work, nobody could wait that long for me. My phone was also dead by that time, and there was no internet in the airport. Looking at the watch, it was already 10:30pm. The dorm was going to close at 12pm....Took a risk, i decided to take subway (which i never try before)...
One advice here is, always ask people!!! (try some international students first and then try ask native people if there is no more option). And yes, I sticked with a group of international student and asked them for help. They gave me a map and show me all the way to Seoul station and how to get to dorm by Seoul station. After they got off, another gentlemen Korean guy asked me if i am knowing the way to go. Knowing that time consuming, he recommend that i should take a taxi to Hyehwa station (where my dorm's located) and also helped me to get a taxi and made sure the taxi driver know where to go and what to do with me. After being sure that i'm going to be safe, he gave me his business card and tol d me to call him if i have any other trouble while living in Korea...The most amazing person in this story is the taxi driver. He talked to me by Korean, I talked to him by English and...WOOhooo!! We understand eachother ...(somehow idk)!! When we got to the dorm, it was already 12:30 and the dorm was close. Surprisingly everything was close by that time in Seoul...He was the one helping me go to every hotel asking people if they are still have room and helped me in everything until i got to my room....I gave him 20000won for the help but he gave me back the rest of the money and only took 11500won for the taxi fee...I said keep it but he told me i'm taehakseng (college student has no money) and told me "good luck".... yes, in that freezing weather of a different country, i feel myself warm from the kindness of that taxi driver :)...

The motel i stayed on the first day! They basically have everything i need, even some skincare for a night :)

The next day, i got to school and here you are, my beautiful place i will be study in a year. Sungkyunhwan University!!!

Some other picture of this beautiful city i want to share with you all:

Welcome to Tropical Northern Queensland, Australia!

Well I am a little late starting my blog but here I am! My adventure began Wednesday February 16, 2014 12:00am when I left my home in LA California and landed Friday February 18, 2014 for my first stop in Brisbane, Queensland Australia...

I attend James Cook University which is located in the northern, tropical region of eastern Townsville, Australia. What's even more cool is that the school is just minutes with a short boat ride to the world renown Great Barrier Reef!

This is my first time living out of the U.S. and so far it seems that I have adjusted very well. At first though, I was a little taken aback about how the cars drive on the opposite side of the street haha! As I am in Australia, there are many things that I would see back home in California and even in Hawaii such as restaurants, clothing stores, etc. However the things that I believe distinguishes Townsville from the rest of the cities on the east coast is that it is very small and still developing. Stating this, there are smaller shops that are unique to the area and very different from back home.

The people here are really nice as well! My previous perceptions about Australia was that there were going to be nothing but White people, however I was mistaken big time haha! Like the U.S., Australia is very diverse, having citizens from all around the world, in fact 45% of Australians were not born in the country or had parents that were not born in the country. I also love the fact that I walk among Indigenous Australians. Their culture is really fascinating and everyday I learn so much more about them! Majoring in Environmental Studies at HPU, many of my classes here are based upon that. Not only do we learn modern Australian and global environmental topics, we also go into great detail about indigenous or, "First People's" values and attitudes about the environment.

Going back to actual school, there are things that potential study abroad students should consider. The first thing is to plan out everything months before you even go. For me, I decided to come to Australia on sort of a last minute ordeal, (I decided to go the semester before my departure lol -_-). The HPU study abroad office as well as my academic adviser did an excellent job in helping me coordinate my classes so I didn't have a problem with that at all. The next step was applying for housing. Now for my case this was kind of tricky because the time period JCU wanted exchange students to apply was after the housing application deadline, but that didn't mean they were not going to consider. So to make long story short, I did not receive on campus housing when I arrived in Townsville, but instead I am living with a local Australian family! This actually turned out to benefit me better because I've heard other student somewhat complaining about the dorms haha. My exchange family is really nice and caring, in fact, the mom insists that she do all the cleaning such as washing the dishes, clothes, etc. It got to the point where she sometimes told me to leave and not to see me in the kitchen washing again! Haha, but exchange families can be really fun, so don't let that option go. But again, MAKE SURE YOU PLAN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BEFORE YOU LEAVE!! HAHA!

And last but not least, make the most fun out of your stay...I know I am!

 

Spring Break Argentina

Hey guys-

So one of the best parts of studying abroad is the ability you have to travel during long weekends and vacations. After my intensive class ended a couple weeks ago, I took advantage of a week off and traveled all around Argentina.

I left last Saturday night around 2am to head for Mar De Plata, one of the biggest beach towns in Argentina. The bus ride lasted about 6 hours, and I was at the beach by 8am. I explored the city a little bit before I dropped my things off at my hostel and went out and hit the beach. After a couple hours, I decided to head back to my hostel where I met my roommates for the next couple of days. I was rooming with 7 Argentinians, who didn´t really speak any english. However, they had a car, and invited me to tag along with them to another beach just outside the city. Generally, it isnt a great idea to jump in a car with people you just met, but I went for it. For the next 6 hours I made friends with my roommates and we spoke only in Spanish all day. The new beach was awesome, as it was much more of a small beach for locals.. After the day at the beach, we got back, barbequed, and headed out for the night. After a long night, I returned home ate breakfast and checked out of the hostel. It was the last day of Carnival, so I checked out a parade for a couple of hours before getting on the bus to my next location: San Carlos de Bariloche aka the northern part of Patagonia.

After 20 hours or so, I made it toBariloche. I had a couple of friends already staying there so I met up with them the first night. We went out and ate Argentinian steaks and drank Argentinian wine. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. Something that would easily cost one well over $100 each here is the USA, only cost us roughly $15 each there. I spent the next couple of days running up the mountians and kayaking in the lakes. Then on Thursday, some friends I had made from France told me that had rented a car, and had an extra seat open if I wanted to come explore Patagonia with them. I went for it, and we spent two days exploring the 7 lakes in north western Patagonia, towards the Chilean border. One of my favorite parts was that we did not bother looking for a hostel, we just camped on the beach at night. I ended up not even using a tent, and just slept in my sleeping bag on the beach. I can´t remember ever seeing so many stars. We got back Friday night, just in time to go out and experience the Bariloche night life. I explored the city a little bit the next day, and then got on the bus for the 22 hour bus ride back home in Buenos Aires.

Traveling in Argentina is awesome. Everything is relatively inexpensive, and the people one can meet are incredible. I had one of my favorite spring breaks and can not wait for my next long weekend to jump on another bus and explore more of Argentina.

My computer still is not working, so I can´t upload any pictures of Mar De Plata, but luckily, my friends took some in Bariloche. Here are a few of the better ones:

Going for a swim in Lago Hermoso.

Another lake near Chile, right after lunch on the beach.

Apparently I can build fires now? I acutally slept on the sand right near that bush.

One of the first lakes we went to.

A little off center, but not bad for a self timer.

Intensive Month

Hey guys-

So if you study in B.A through AIFS, they give you the option to arrive a month early and take a one month, 5 credit, intensive Spanish class. This is class is pretty demanding as it is 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. This means that in the one month long course, you are taking about 100 hours of Spanish. To put this in perspective, it´s about as much Spanish as you would take in a week and a half at HPU every single day, or as many hours as you would take in 2 semesters over the course of one month. It´s probably the most demanding course I have ever taken, however, it helps. I did not enjoy going to this class every day, but I learned a ridiculous amount very quickly.

Basically, if you´re serious about improving your Spanish, take the class, but understand that it is a lot of work. However, the final was yesterday. I survived the class and now I have a week off until the regular semester starts. Carnival is this weekend, so I´m about to jump on a bus and head to Mar Del Plata to hang out on the beach for a few days.

Shoots