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Published: October 13th 2008
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Dorm is a dorm...
My first stop was in Seoul for orientation at Konkuk University. Hello!! Wow, I never expected I'd be one to start a blog...I guess living abroad is all about new experiences right? Hmmm...well I want to welcome everyone to my very new, very first blog! Initially I was against the idea of writing a blog because I felt that it would like having my diary published for everyone to read. I’ve come to realize however that the simplest and most direct way to keep everyone updated on my travels and experiences overseas would be to figure out the crazy world of blogging. That said, I will continue to email everyone, it will just be a lot less time consuming for me to only have to write about my adventures once. I’ll have more time to actually see Asia and subsequently write to you all about it! Just to bring everyone up to speed this is a flashback of sorts and I'll likely spend the next few entries getting caught up on the past 2 months in Korea (I can't believe how fast it went!)
Well, to begin, I began my living abroad experience about 2 ½ weeks ago in Seoul, S.Korea. I spent the first week back at college
Feet in white slipper disguise
My first picture in Korea was of me in my complimentary & mandatory slippers iat the dorm. Konkuk University, Seoul. (Konkuk University) going through an orientation program with EPIK, which was pretty intense. They had us in lectures from 8am ‘til dinnertime and then after we ate (by the way, dorm food is bad everywhere!) they had required movies and cultural performances which were interesting and I would have enjoyed them 200% more had I not been so tired. Luckily for me, I miraculously escaped being jetlagged, though when I first landed it was rough. I had not really slept on the plane so when I arrived I was exhausted. The bus was just getting ready to leave when I boarded and it was probably 7:30pm. It was a good hour drive from the airport in Incheon to the Unversity and it was one of those awkward situations where you are forced to make small talk with someone when you aren’t feeling your best. I was nice but I also hadn’t slept in over a day so…it was a bit weird. I was so happy to get off the bus because foolishly I thought at nearly 9pm it would be time to sleep! Was I mistaken! We got off the bus and it was raining…then we filed into a lobby
Reflective Seoul
Looking out at Seoul from Konkuk University's campus. waiting area so that we could be de-briefed on our housing situation and the schedule for the following week…I guess this was somewhat important but they could’ve told us this on the HOUR long bus ride to school. Anyway, then we were led into another room to get various colored tee-shirts based on where we were going (I got orange in case the suspense was killing you,) and a small bag with fruit and a cord so we could connect to the internet. At this point I’m thinking we’re almost done…WRONG! Then we were walked like 2 yr. olds through the schedule of events for the next day…ironically these people want us to teach English yet they don’t think we can manage to read? Hmmm…So at this point we are instructed to haul our lugguage to our buildings and turn in for the night. After all it was 11:30pm, bedtime in most countries. So I walk outside to find the luggage at the bottom of 2 double flights of stairs, in the rain. Goody! I guess I was more fortunate than some who brought 4-5 suitcases, this also means I will be the worst dressed person in the group at
Next stop: Busan!
Picture this at night in the rain and that was our arrival scene... Konkuk University, Seoul any given time, but at that moment it seemed like a stroke of luck!
Seoul was an interesting place and I plan on making several trips back there because I didn't get to see nearly enough of the place. There were so museums and other sites I wanted to visit but because of orientation was unable to. I guess it's lucky I've got another 10 months ahead of me! Busan is far more my speed and in a lot of ways reminds me of home...it's a much more manageable and liveable place than Seoul, I think. So much more to come...my bug eating experience, my friend the Korean Jude Law, weekend hikes, the beaches and boat rides, and of course the infamous Norae-bangs (karaoke) usually accompanied by heavy doses of Soju, and my tearful run-in with the dog markets are all ahead...I bet you can't wait!
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beth
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lets see a picture of the korean jude law!!