From Hawaii to Soonchunhyang

하와이 에서 순천향 까지

Hawaii eso Soonchunhyang kkaji

안녕하세요!

Annyeong Haseyo! (Hello)

The Seasons

계절 (Kyejeol)

            When I first arrived in the 'land of the morning calm', on a chilly February night. The deers were still frolicking and the snow covered the ground.

            When school started, spring was in the air and so were the cherry blossoms. It was a sight to behold on the campus' Phoenix Field, when a light breeze would knock thousands of these gentle flowers, showering over all the people who passed.

            The Summer kicked in way too soon and without the cool trade-winds we're so use to back home and the abundance of beaches, Korean heat was a nightmare in the countryside abode I called home away from home. Then came the armies of spiders, the swarms of mosquitoes, and the song of cicadas.

            Now its fall, the creepy crawly bugs have all but disappeared along with the heat. Instead, all the greenery in the mountains, in the trees, on the ground have rusted away with the season. With the rain and the ankle-biting, chilly wind; slowly, all the leaves will scatter across campus. Winter is coming.

Soonchunhyang University International Global Village C/O Spring 2014- Final Day

Statue of Chinggis Khan in Sukhbaatar Square, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Overview

요약 (Yoyak)

            It’s been a while since I've written, nearing Day 250 (nearly eight months) since I've left Hawaii. Still can't believe it’s been only that long, it feels like I've been living in South Korea for years. With the seasons changing, I've seen the departure of many close friends from the spring. Looking back to the summer, traveling from East Asia to Southeast Asia, it was all memorable, life-changing, even enlightening to travel independently, and experience things I never would have imagined before. It kept me in good spirits and the optimistic thought that I'll see my friends again, one day in my travels.

                                                                                                                                 


The Sights in Korea

한국의 명소 (Hanguk ui myeongso)

            Soon after my return to South Korea, it was one trek after another across the peninsula in dozens of cities, towns, and villages from the DMZ and the border city of Panmunjeom, to the many districts in Seoul, the far-away Everland amusement park in Jeondae, the southern seaside port of Busan, the ancient capital of Suwon, the weekend beach get-away in Daecheon, and the historic Hanok village in Jeonju, among countless of other crazy places.

The English Camp
영어 캠프 (Yeongo Kaempu)

            My adventures did have a toll on my wallet, having to relieve myself of a month before the start of the fall semester, I worked at the English Summer Camp with the university as a camp counselor/teacher's assistant. Those were my fondest memories, working with Korean children who were so cheery, uplifting, and not the troublesome punks I use to work with back in the islands. Every one of them, victorious champions when it came to team competitions at the camp, they worked as one, and I was so proud of being with them every day while teachers come and go each week. I was probably the first foreigner they've met for, and I had gained their trust immediately, truly felt like a big part of their lives. It was through them, I adopted the Korean name of 김대성 (Kim Dae-Seong), Dae-seong meaning "great sage". As the camp came to an end and it was time to say 'goodbye', the kids sent me many hand-made gifts- from a traditional paper fan to origami pieces, their little drawings, and their little notes about wanting to visit Hawaii in the future. :') 

Team Yellow-2 “The Lemoncrazies” on the Last Day of English Camp

            It's the halfway mark, seven weeks into the semester and eight weeks till the end. I've made many new friends and kept in touch with the many old ones who've left- from the spring (former suite-mates, exchanges, students, and the international friends scattered across the globe).

The Lotus Lantern Festival in Insadong, Seoul

                       At Panmunjeom, the UN-administered border of North and South Korea                       

Let's Go and Travel

여행하고 가자 가요 (Yohaenghako kaja kayo)

I still have a few more things left on my Korea Bucket List:

X         Buy a Gaeryang Hanbok (Korean traditional robes)

X         Hike Mount Seoraksan (the highest mountain range in South Korea)

X         Travel to Gyeongju (Kingdom of Silla in the east, known for temples)         
X         Travel to Jeju Island (the 'Hawaii' of Korea, a vacation paradise)

–         Do a Temple-Stay at Yongjusa Temple in Hwaseong

X         Walk around Nami Island (many Korean dramas filmed in the winter)

X         Tour Cheongwadae (the 'Blue House', Korea's White House)

X         Chill at a cat or dog cafe (just because)

For the next installation of my Korean adventure, hopefully I'll write up a brief review of my university's hometown, Sinchang; focusing on the many food options. Till then, Kevin Tangonan signing out.   

~ 건배 (Geonbae), Cheers.

Sawaddee kha!

Mahidol University International College Overview

Mahidol University International College, often referred to as "the IC" around campus, is merely a cluster of buildings within Mahidol University in Salaya. The university itself is quite large, with several canteens in different faculty buildings and an almost infinite number of spots to eat, study, or relax. There is a restaurant in the IC called the Herb Garden and small cafes where hotel management and business students can work and receive training. I have heard estimates of about 20% international students and 80% local students, and it certainly looks like it, but don't quote me on that. The campus is beautiful! Mahidol actually has other campuses: Bangkok Noi and Phayathai, which house medicine (and hospitals) and other sciences including dentistry and pharmacy. It's a huge university that seems to only be making more strides this year. My roommate, who is Thai, says Mahidol is ranked #1 in the country this year. I'll take her word for it!

On the edge of Mahidol University's campus

I'm taking mostly elective classes considered to be lower-division at HPU, but as a senior, I believe you can still challenge yourself in any class to keep up your academic momentum. MUIC's extracurricular life is actually quite active. I stopped by the Writer's Club, Photo Club, Muay Thai Club, Volunteer Club, and Art Club. There's definitely something for everyone, and it's possible to create a new club or group. Several guys in my dorm have even organized informal football (soccer) games.

Daily Life

I had a surprisingly easy time adjusting to the local culture, though it took a while longer to get accustomed to things like transportation and the language barrier. Personally, I found the culture to be familiar in many ways because I have lived in Hawaii and the Philippines. Lots of rice and noodles, and I was not too surprised by the amount of spiciness in the food. However, it's easy to ask for no spice, or just "nitnoy"--"a little"!
Because Salaya is not a huge city like Bangkok, you might notice here how incredibly kind and accommodating the locals are to non-locals needing help. The only downside is that outside of cities, it can be difficult to communicate as not as many people speak English. Fortunately, signs and menus do have English and photos; in a pinch, you can simply point, nod, and hold up numbers on your fingers, but it feels better to practice speaking Thai when ordering, asking for directions, or telling the taxi driver where to go.

A tuktuk in Bangkok's Chinatown

Transportation is a bit tricky at first. The taxis start at 35 baht (~$1). It's easy to compare taxi prices to the U.S. and think it's a great deal, which it is, but buses and minivans are cheaper; the caveat is they require some time to get used to. Mahidol actually has shuttle vans that can take students to various malls and into Bangkok for free. Be wary of tuktuks in cities like Bangkok and Pattaya; in the latter city, you could be charged upwards of 100 baht for just a few minutes.

The Green Park neighborhood's spirit houses

Everywhere you go, you'll be reminded of two things: the royal family, and Thai Buddhist practices (including animism). In shops, outside of establishments, and even along the roads, there are photos of he King and Queen with ornate frames, sometimes with flowers or other decorations. There are also small areas in each shop or restaurant, sometimes on a shelf or a small platform on the floor, where the owners will place offerings in Buddhist fashion. Finally, in every house--even my dorm's neighborhood--you'll find small spirit houses with similar offerings of food, drinks, and flowers to the spirits of the land. Thais believe that each part of the land, from homes to large, empty fields, is home to a local spirit/guardian. (Learn more about spirit houses on travelfish.org)

Green Park Home

In front of Green Park Home

I may be biased, but Green Park Home has to be the best Mahidol dorm! It is small but very cozy, with a central common room where it is easy to meet and simply hang out with international and Thai students alike. I felt a great sense of tightly-knit community from my very first day here, even though I moved in later than everyone else. We (try to) have daily workout sessions, occasionally go out to eat together, or just have a chill movie night in. We consider our housekeeper as more of a "house mom"; she's very sweet and funny, knows us all by name, and even cooks for us. Just a minute's walk out of the Green Park neighborhood are several restaurants, cafes, street food vendors, and a 7-Eleven (there has to be at least one 7-Eleven per block in Thailand...). A five-minute walk brings you to Image Mall, which has not only shops and restaurants, but also an open market on the weekends where you can buy produce, clothing, and other goodies. While the dorm is a 10-15 minute drive to the university, there is a regular shuttle van every weekday. It is also near the main road, making it easy to catch a taxi, bus, or minivan to Bangkok. Because my roommate is a local Thai, she has been extremely helpful when it comes to finding out the best places to find groceries, shop more cheaply, and overall just getting around daily. I think I chose the right dorm!

Even More Traveling Plans

Phrayanakhon Cave in Hua Hin

It seems as if the Green Park community is in a perpetual state of planning the next trip. My next adventure will take me and a few others to Chiang Mai during Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival) in November. I'm very excited, as not only will we experience this beautiful once-a-year festival, but we've also booked a day trip to the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, a famous elephant sanctuary which allows visitors and volunteers to feed and bathe elephants that were formerly exploited for elephant rides. I know it's very popular for visitors to ride elephants in Thailand, but knowing that I can hang out with and learn more about elephants in a responsible way is more than good enough for me! After the elephant sanctuary, we're heading 2-3 hours north to Chiang Rai to  visit perhaps the Mae Kok River and the Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) before heading back to Bangkok.
This weekend is actually the very first weekend I've spent at home in Salaya. I've already taken many weekend trips with my fellow Green Park residents. Our previous destinations included: Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Koh Larn, Ko Chang, and Hua Hin. Each location is quite unique, rich in history, and has an adventure of its own; Salaya itself has a couple of historical sites. I'll share more about these places  in the next blog! 

Hello/Aloha/안녕하세요 from South Korea

여러분, 안녕하세요!저는 얼재이 가윌리 입니다. 지금 대한민국에서 공부하고 있어요. 반갑습니다!
Translation: Hello, everyone! I am Earl Jay Caoile. I am now studying in South Korea. Nice to meet you!

My language classmates and I (graduation of SKKU SLI 3-week language program)

It has been a little over a month since the fall semester began in South Korea. For whatever reason, the fall semester starts at the same time as HPU, but the spring semester doesn't start until March. Oh well, that's a problem I will worry about later.

Samsung Library at SKKU Suwon Campus

Anyway, I have actually been in South Korea since August 1st of this year. I am studying at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Natural Sciences Campus (성균관대학교자연과학캠퍼스) in Suwon. In order to more smoothly integrate myself into this country, I decided to take a 3-week language class in addition to the one semester of Korean language I took at HPU. This was done through the same school except I attended their Seoul campus. My language proficiency is definitely not enough yet, but I do have a certain edge over the majority of exchange students. If anyone else is considering studying abroad, I would recommend learning as much of the host country's language as possible.

Banpo Bridge (failed attempt at a water show - too much wind)

I noticed there is a recent post of South Korea before me so I will try not to be redundant. I think a more personal perspective will help keep things unique. I remember during the exchange student orientation a warning about culture shock. I somewhat knew what to expect coming to Korea so I was not too surprised by what I saw after arriving. The one frustrating thing about living in Korea is my lack of language proficiency. Unfortunately, that means a lot if you want to communicate with people.

Exchange Students and HI-Club Members at SKKU Orientation Party

There seem to be plenty of exchange students who are perfectly content with not learning the language here, and that totally blows my mind. The old folks in particular open up to you if you're at least making an effort to speak in their language. I was totally expecting elders to dislike foreigners, but there have been a few occasions where elders helped me out when I was lost. They did so without me even asking!

녹차 빙수탑 [nokcha bingsutap] - green tea ice cream dessert of sorts

오묵 [omuk] - fish cake

There is a lot that I could talk about, but one of the most important subjects to me is food. While Korea as a whole doesn't have tons of high-class food, they do have a lot of food, in my opinion, that is at least good. I think the real downside is that the imported foods tend to cost considerably more. As a result, it is easy to get burnt out on Korean food if you are used to the variety that Americans have. Fortunately for me, I receive a monthly housing allowance through the GI Bill, and I am not afraid to spend it on food. Nom nom nom!

Dynamic Duo (Korean hip hop group) at SKKU Fall 2014 Student Festival

I really have mixed feelings about living here, but I think at this point I would rather be in South Korea than back in Hawaii. I hate to admit it, but despite some shortcomings that SKKU may have, they put so much more effort into both their campus and the school activities for both locals and foreigners. I understand that there are budget/land restrictions that prevent HPU from doing more, but the college environment can do a lot for a student's morale.

Aloha from Gulu, Uganda (SIT Post-Conflict Transformation)

On our drive to Rwanda:

My name is Leissan and I am studying abroad in Gulu, Uganda this semester with the School of International Training (SIT) focusing on post-conflict transformation.  We have spent time in Gulu, Kitgum (rural north, near South Sudan), Kampala and now we are in Kigali, Rwanda. 

While in Gulu we went to the king’s palace in Gulu.  It was very interesting meeting with the rwot (king) and talking to him about some of the roles that the king plays in the community.  It is very traditional.  The king is hereditary and a lot of trust is placed in him.  One example he was giving us deals with immunization initiatives.  The people would look to the rwot to decide whether or not they should have their children be immunized.  Some other roles that the king has involve cultural preservation and development.  We also had a chance to walk around the compound and see some artifacts.  At the end, we enjoyed a ceremony of dancing and singing at the palace.  The dancers also invited us to dance with them, and while we were making our way up to the “stage” you could hear people saying “munu dance, munu dance.”  Definitely was a good time!

We also spent time at the Gulu Women Economic Development and Globalization (GWED-G) site.  It was very humbling to hear about their work.  They are involved in women’s rights issues including health, peace building and peace conflict resolution, and economic empowerment, to name a few.  Unfortunately, it rained too much for us to actually go out to a site and see some of the work that they do first-hand, but hopefully we can come back another time.  These are just a couple of the sites we visited.

While in Kitgum, we stayed with local families in traditional grass huts.  Unfortunately, my rural home-stay was cut short because I fell sick my first night.  I spent two days and one night at the hospital.  Not only was this my first time in the hospital, it was in rural Uganda.  The facility was very nice and I was able to recover within a week. 

Before leaving for Kigali, Rwanda, we had a chance to visit Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) in Kampala, Uganda.  We had a chance to talk with some of the refugees and hear their stories.  The way that the refugees were able to come together and organize themselves to help each other out is no less than amazing.  They are completely independent of the government, and are supported by outside donations and also by portions of some of the income the members are able to generate.  The women’s group, that partners up with YARID, makes different types of bags and such, they then sell it which allows them to generate income for the group.  Seeing the organization and talking with the refugees was absolutely incredible and very humbling.  It really provides perspective and makes you think twice about the problems that you are facing.  Your problems become so small compared to some of the issues that they are facing.

Following our interaction with urban refugees, we visited the Nakivale Refugee Settlement.  We also had a chance to talk with the refugee population.  It’s also very humbling to hear about their stories and how they have come together.  One of the groups that we talked to was able to generate funding to build an adult school.  The school would employ the refugee population allowing them to make money in a trade other than farming.

While in Rwanda, we will be visiting a lot of memorials.  I am taking time to prepare for the week ahead, as I am anticipating it to be very emotional.  

-Leissan S.

Aloha from Korea!

Changdeokgung Palace

Annyeonghaseyo! ("hello" in Korean)

It's been about a month since I first arrived in Korea and it's been a blast so far! Within the weeks I've been here, I've made a lot of friends from both Korea and around the world; I'm grateful for that. My adventure so far has been filled with traveling to different cities, trying new foods, experiencing authentic Korean culture, and of course having fun!

When I first seen how visually different this place was, I was even more excited to explore this it's beauty. Studying and living in the countryside of Korea (Sinchang), I feel that I can grasp more of the authenticity of Korean culture.

Being here in Korea really opened my eyes to a whole new world. Studying here at Soon Chun Hyang University and staying in their 'Global Village' dormitory, I'm learning a lot of new things everyday about Korean culture. In my suite, I live with a large number of Korean students. Not only they were welcoming, but they really had an interest in learning more about my culture as much as I wanted to learn about theirs. I often learn a lot of useful Korean words and phrases from my suite mates a.k.a. my suite brothers. With that, I also try to understand their customs and traditions. This usually means the customs of eating, drinking, and also addressing elders. Significantly, these customs focus around the idea of 'respect'.

Changdeokgung Palace

In addition to developing friendships with a lot of Korean and international students, I've been traveling around learning about Korean history, food, pop culture (fashion, music, art), and business. During my trips to Seoul, I would usually try to visit few historical places such as Changdeokgung Palace. This palace is one of five "Grand Palaces" built by kings of the Joseon Dynasty. Another place I visited was Bongeunsa Temple which allowed me to see some religious practices take place. I've also visited Namsan Tower (Seoul Tower) which gave me an awesome 360 degree view of Seoul.



Namsan Tower

When it comes to food, I can't complain. Not only the food here is cheap, but you'll definitely get a lot more than what you pay for. For example, a bi bim bap (mixed rice dish) in Hawaii would cost around $8-$9. Here in Korea, it will cost about half the price, so about $4. I'm always open to trying new foods and with my experience so far, I enjoyed everything I tasted. From street food (tteokbokki, mandoo, kimbap, fried squid), raw beef, bi bim bap, spicy chicken, and kampitang (just to name a few), I'm satisfied with not just the price of each dish, but how delicious the food is here. To be honest, I might've gained a pound or two in first week I arrived. There's a lot more things I do want to try while I'm here.





Samgyeopsal dinner with my suite brothers in Sinchang

Here's a few things about the eating culture in Korea: 

• Sharing food is common (eating from the same pot)
• Table is always filled with Banchan (unlimited side dishes)
• Oldest usually eats first
• Rice, Soup, Chopsticks & Spoon, Main Dish
• Sometimes drinking (soju, beer, makgeolli) while eating
• Slurping is okay (noodles)

 It's really interesting to see how different their culture is when it comes to eating with others.

Alongside this unique characteristic of Korean culture, pop culture is something that makes Korea come alive. If you're walking down the streets of Seoul, you

"Selfie" in the streets of Myeongdong

can definitely here k-pop songs on every street block or corner. Whether it was shopping in Dongdaemun or Myeongdong, I would often hear these kinds of songs and at times sing along to them. They're pretty catchy once you hear them a bunch of times. I also noticed how everyone here is fashionable. It's really interesting to see how similar everyone dresses. Reflecting on my sense of style, I feel that I do dress a little different from the Koreans. One significant thing to keep in mind would be the clothing size. I wear mediums in America, but here, I'm more of a large. Clothing sizes run pretty small in Korea. I learned my lesson after buying a medium shirt that almost fit like a rash guard.

When I first went shopping in Seoul, I was introduced to the concept of bargaining. Similar to it's already fast-paced lifestyle, street vendors try to sell their products as quickly as possible. Bargaining usually refers to getting something for a cheaper price. I've experienced this situation about 5-7 times now and I always find it so unique. There were some cases when some of the ahjummas (older ladies) would stare at me for a while, trying to convince me to buy a shirt or backpack. One good bargaining experience I had was getting back pack for half the price. Instead of a $40 bag, I got the bag for $20. It was an interesting, funny, and lucky experience. I'm sure that I will encounter a lot more bargaining in the near future.

As I write about my first month here in Korea, I really have a lot more to say and a lot more to show. I often wake up in the morning and realize that I'm thousands of miles away from home and yet, I'm making the best of my time abroad. So far, I'm really grateful to have the opportunity to experience something so unique. I still have a lot more things to explore and experience before traveling back home. This is only the beginning of my wonderful adventure!