Week One of Korea!

It went something like this.
1. Mom drops me off at the airport. I am a little offended by the rest of the family. They all came to drop me off when I got shipped to Boston, but nowadays, no one cares when you go to Korea!
2. I fly to San Diego.
3. I only have 15 minutes before my flight to Korea leaves! To the international airport!
4. I have to run!
5. I have to run onto the plane!
6. Why am I such a sweaty person?
7. Out of all the Asians flying to Korea this day, I get seated by another American exchange student going to study in Korea! Her name is Sada. She is from Nebraska (fields) and she is splendid.
8. They play only four terrible movies so I watch 17 Again, and the Disney Channel. I decide that Nick is the best looking Jonas, but I can’t whole heartedly decide this because he reminds me of Forrest Bodily, who is my 5th cousin and primary wet willy giver.
9. 11 hours later…I am in Korea!
10. I am met by two students who take me to the Bebop Guesthouse!

The Bebop Guesthouse
This place kicks! The Bebop guesthouse is free toast and eggs for breakfast, a collage of indie movie posters, super friendly and helpful workers, friendly travelers, good music, and overall-just super chill.

The Swine Flu-it will get you every time.
I arrive on Wed, I'm supposed to move into my dorms on Friday, but receive an email telling me that I can't move into the dorms until I've been in the country for seven days. This is so I will not infect the school with the Swine Flu. However, I will work on infecting the guesthouse, and spreading it throughout the city as a whole! bwa hahaha! and the nations, I think I've met people from 9 or 10 countries in the guesthouse alone. At any rate, it works out fine since I get to hang out at the Bebop! My new favorite place.

Is it Beach or B****?
Today’s lesson in English is helping my French friend Magali pronounce beach when she is worried that it is in fact sounding like the b word. I demonstrate what each sounds like, and then we practice the words together!

A siege of foreigners!
I have been conversing with people from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, America, France, Germany, Finland, Ireland, England, Denmark, Russia, and Israel!


Turns out the world is small after all
I think I am the only American at Hongik until I meet Marion! When I ask her where she is from, she says, “California.” I’m all excited! West coaster! So I tell her I’m from Utah and then she says, “I was born and raised in Utah, in Salt Lake! I just go to school in California!” If that doesn’t set you off on a mind trip, I don’t know what will!

Weekend Warriors
I get all my school business done by Friday, and hit the town with Magali! We go to an awesome cafe and then wander around "The Fringe Festival." We see some video art, an insane drum circle, and a ridiculous amount of drunk foreigners. A Korean musician starts talking to us so we go to a bar together, (I drink water) and then get into a club for free (techno madness, and everyone cheers for us when we start dancing). It's after 3 in the morning at this point and I am so happy to finally head back home! The city scene is still going strong, these people never quit!
I spend Saturday night recovering from clubbing- that stuff always stresses me out. ha. I hang out at the Bebop where my Japanese photographer friend shows me his work, I chat with a French dude, 2 Austrians and and another French boy come in for a moment-are wildly entertaining-I fall in love with all of them, I get to better know my Korean friend/part owner of the Bebop, I chat with Magali, and hang with some Korean girls. A lot can happen when you stay in one place.
Sunday! I go to the English speaking LDS branch! It's awesome!

Back To School
Today (which is Sept. 1st) I started my first day at Hongik University. This week will be trying out classes and seeing which professors speak English and are willing to work with my embarrassing inability to speak Korean. Most of the classes that I'm taking are mainly studio art classes (less lecture) so it should work out all right. hot cha.

Also, the craziest thing that happened to me today after an Oriental Water Color class. As I passed a stairway, I saw the looks of nature at the top. Following this lead, I found some nature at the top! I saw a trail so I started scouting it out. I walked on it for a while and turns out, I find this huge forested park! It's full of hiking trails, play grounds, a temple...all sorts of crazy! Just what I need to escape the city! It was totally awesome. I also got especially excited when I realized that I'd just had a trippy Narnia experience!

Korea is wonderful so far. Even though I don't speak the language, I've still been able to get around. Most everyone speaks at least some English. The people are so friendly and willing to help, I've been so blessed! :D