Schedule in the Making... TO ...Schedule 'Set'?

Today concludes the first week of classes at Korea University (KU). I cannot tell you how many times I have rearranged my schedule but this may come as no surprise to those of you who know my character. Sometimes I wonder why 'simple' is not part of my vocabulary (at least when directed toward myself), but when there are several voices planning out at least three possible scenarios for given situation this cannot be helped. Oddly enough, it is often not the voice that speaks the loudest, but rather the voice that carefully selects when it is to be heard that I end up following. I like to believe that a trustworthy someone or something behind this soft-spoken but opinionated voice.

Originally I enrolled in a North Korean Human Rights and Refugee Issues course, but after accessing the Korean KU portal system from an Explorer browser-friendly Windows computer (many Korean websites are not compatible with Macs) I discovered that the North Korean department held most classes in a different KU campus. Nice little twist to keep life interesting. My determination to audit a Chinese course complicated my schedule, but I settled for a class that I had been told to avoid due to a possible 'schedule conflict'. Well it 'could not' be avoided so I registered...oops. :) Well this oops led me to a class with an enthusiastic professor, Chinese classmates to 'language exchange' with, and packed Friday schedule that left me with little time to worry about the outcome of morning 발표 (presentation), which is an added bonus. :)
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It feels good to have my internship (interview was a success!), as well as Flagship and classes set, not in stone, but set. ^^
My class schedule change landed me in a 초급중국어 (Beginner Chinese) class taught in Korean and Chinese instead of English and Chinese, but given my previous language learning experience in Pohang (with Japanese taught in Korean), this seems appropriate. Wouldn't want to break the norm. :)

Alright Seoul what else do you have in store?

(brief silence)

This question was answered sooner than anticipated... That's Korea :)

Kids will be kids

Kids are seemingly the same no matter where I go.

After having two Transformer figurines virtually destroy each other, my friend's son pulled out a stethoscope to exam my heart. After this check up, he gave an extremely scientifically ambiguous diagnosis saying (누나 아파요...) "You're sick". He continued by describing my treatment plan.
-Eat chocolate (초코릿 많이 먹고...)
-Sleep (잠을 많이 자고...)
-Take medicine (is he referring to the mysterious assortment of colorful pills that I receive each time I visit a clinic in Korea?) (약 먹고...)
-Oh! And eat lots of rice. Okay?~ (밥 많이 먹으세요. 알겠죠?)

*Note: I clarified by asking,
Me: Eating lots of what? White rice? Or just eating (in general)? (뭐가 많이 먹어야 되죠? 밥은 무슨 뜻이야? 흰쌀? 하얀 생깔?? 아니면 그냥 아무 것도 먹으면 돼?)
(because in Korea it is common for the word 'rice' to hold the general meaning of 'meal')
(But yes, he meant rice)
Little 'Doctor': Yes rice! (네 밥! 그 색!)
Me: No, kimchi? (그럼 김치 안 먹으면 돼?)
Little 'Doctor': Yes kimchi too! (네! 김치도 먹어야 돼요!)

So maybe all kids aren't exactly the same... hence my insertion of the word 'seemingly'. Hooray for having one's culture shine in the most random situations. ^^

Which visa is it this time?

Who knew that visiting immigration offices in Korea could bring such amusement. Outside of Seoul I stopped by a smaller office in which the staff mainly consisted of young men fulfilling their military service. As you can imagine the general atmosphere was quite a bit different from the larger offices in Seoul. I applied for my F-4 visa (for people with Korean heritage) back in the states, which may or may not have eased the process in Seoul. I suppose either way the experience made familiarized me with the visa process.

For instance, I was not aware that I had to officially renounce my Korean citizenship. I've heard about complications with my Korean-American friends (2nd or 3rd generation) who had to officially 'choose' one citizenship when they reached the age of 21. However, I was not aware that as a Korean adoptee I also was still listed a Korean in some capacity (sort of). Namely, I was told that Korean adoptees are still included in the Korean population statistics, but are not actual Korean citizens unless they apply for dual citizenship. (Dual citizenship became available to Korean adoptees in April 2010). I needed to get my F-4 visa in a somewhat timely fashion, so I went through the process in the states, but am aware that it may complicate my application if I decided to apply for dual citizenship in the future. Not a worry at this point in time.

All I can say is, do your research and gather the necessary documents in advance. Quite the process but an educational one at that. In the end, I am happy to have yet another colorful ROK visa to fill a page in my passport.

'Back' in Korea

Here I am back in Korea. This time I find myself saying the word 'back' with a with a new sense of comfort. Often people roll their eyes upon in response to comments about 'this or that place/person becoming a part of someone' but like anything such cliche lines too originate from a source that beholds truth to someone. However, I try not to allow these lines to escape my lips too freely; mainly because it will make me cringe inside... This time I do not cringe.

A once prominent birthmark on my left wrist has begun to fade. Perhaps my body is making a statement about Korea transitioning from a short-lived trip to a belief that this place, culture, language needs to play a role in my long-term life plans. I am now left tottering here and there in search of what in the world this means. I can interpret my fading birthmark as my body's way of sending a message that my body no longer needs to leave such a bold physical reminder that I came from somewhere different from the place I was raised in the states. Or perhaps it is God's reminder that my life in Korea, Minnesota or anywhere I lay my eyes on is in my own.
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My semester in the rainbow haven of Manoa (Honolulu, HI) has come to an end and I am back in a country that gives all seasons a chance to make an appearance. Winter has definitely shown face this year as I bustle through the streets readily stretching out my clothing with thick leggings hidden beneath skinny jeans and layers of long-sleeve shirts bunched below a sweater. In the name of fashion...? No, in the name of saving my skin from a biting chill that a Minnesotan 'should' be used to by now...

This past month has consisted of a hunt for:
-apartments/ one-rooms (a housing culture quite different from the US)
-part-time jobs to offset the cost of finding a cozy one-room conveniently located near campus
-classes
-internships (to compliment my classes and/or add another experience onto my class load that will NOT leave me 'desk warming' as the foreign worker in an organization)
-street food that my body despises but my taste buds love~~
-etc...

I finished my intensive language program and am currently back in the city I previously taught at to visit. Glad to be back before the insanity begins~ ^^

Will write more soon~

Back in the Mainland~

Home for the holidays (first time in 2 years)





Texans and Minnesotans Reunited ;)
(a welcomed family reunion)



Visit to the Big Apple:
Times Square with sis~




Attempt at taking a photo of my cat... ;)

Master Cleanse

A friend in my program and I decided to bind together and commit to trying the Master Cleanse.

First, my disclosure:
Our reasons are not based on 'losing weight.' Neither of us believe in diets that do not incorporate exercise and allow your body to shed pounds gradually over time. This type of 'diet' would not be healthy for the sole purpose of losing weight. It's too extreme in that regard (not to mention lacking in some much needed nutrients if done for an extended period of time). For me, this cleanse is a way to detox my body, better understand the role food plays in society, as well as my relationship with food. Essentially it is a challenge for the body and mind cleansing test of will. I am only doing the 10 day challenge (plus the 'ease out' days). That's long enough.

Anyways, enough with that spiel. Here are some of my thoughts in a nutshell (or since I'm in Hawai'i... my thoughts in a apple-banana peel).

Journal처럼: (일기처럼)
*Of course this 'journal' is leaving out other aspects of this graduate student's life. Just some tidbits of information to chew on.

Day 1: (Tuesday)
-Not so bad. I only consumed 3 cups of the 'special lemonade' consisting of lemon, (real) maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water.
-Note to self... bad idea. Follow the directions which state AT LEAST 6 and do not forget to bring the nifty ingredients with you. (규칙 잘 따라야지. 알았어...)
-Awareness of how often I think about food. What kind of energy do I actually need? Am I really hungry or just under the assumption that I am hungry (out of habit).

Day 2: (Wednesday)
-Salt water is bad. That did not get better. (마시기가 안 좋아... ><)
Chugging 1 L of salt water is no walk in the park... (절대로 그렇지 않아!)
-Awareness of how often I hear others mentioning food.
-Temptation isn't so bad. (생각보다) Very endurable actually.

Day 3: (Thursday)
-Free lunch? What? It's not Pizza Hut but actual food? Wait... I can't partake. This blows....
(5 minutes later) Didn't give in... strangely feel empowered. Awareness of my desire to eat for economical reasons.
-I love my lemonade. No professor it is not whiskey (maple syrup bottle apparently bares resemblance to a whiskey bottle ㅋㅋ). ^_^

Day 4: (Friday)
-Food really is ingrained in culture; not just 'our' culture but all culture. In part, it defines a society, social interactions and so much more. Awareness brews.
-Still hate salt water... "This is chicken soup. This is chicken soup." Ummm... I guess my mind power isn't that convincing. Darn. Good try.

Day 5: (Saturday)
-I feel alive (at least during the day). Feeling good. (기분이 좋다 ^_^)
Cashier: "You must be making some lemonade". (Brings back memories of buying out the Chex cereal at Home Plus (in Korea) for my high school students' "American snack" class)

My response: "Nah... Wait. Actually I am". (*wink*)

-It appears that this Master Cleanse is also "bipoloaring" my daily 'condition' (meaning: discomfort level mood, energy level, etc). Never a dull moment... Then again my 'episode' was self-inflicted to an extent, but I prefer to blame it on my 'studies'. I didn't want to disrupt my study groove so I decided not to return home for my lemonade. This led to a stomachache and a choice to deny myself a lemonade when I returned home. In short, no lemonade. Just study, chit-chat with housemates, and 바로 sleep.
-Awareness of the repercussions of denying your body what it needs (not wants but needs). "Listen to your gut" has a whole new meaning.

Day 6:
-I have made petty comments about having 'experienced hunger' such as "I'm starving...", "I need food now... so hungry" but more often than not it is a mind game. I find that often a non-premeditated thought will spill from my lips, including comments about hunger, a need to buy something, a dislike for something petty... the list continues. I'm aware that I am "a bit" sensitive about the my surrounding environment (general or individual moods) but this realization pertaining to hunger has been thought-provoking to say the least (for lack of better of words).

-Lifting my head was an effort; let alone cutting a lemon. But to an extent this was a mind game as well, or rather a test of will. I had not followed the rules down to a tee and was suffering from those decisions. Therefore, "Get up," I order myself and managed to make two cups of the lemonade. Felt infinitely better. Wow. That was intense.

Day 7:

-Not bad. Awareness of the declination of my indulgent cravings. I feel less antsy, calm around the aroma of delicious entree or dessert.

-Entering the garden on my property was where the urge to verge from the lemonade increased. I was craving veggies. Not bad not bad. :) But the chocolate piano that was shared in the study room was something I wouldn't have minded digging my teeth into. :)

Day 8:

-Feel energized.

Day 9:

-Nothing special. Just feels like another day.

Day 10:

-Last salt water cleanse! Let me tell you. Nothing could make me happier (Exception: if I could sneak a peak at the day after finals to assure myself that I did indeed come out alive^^).

-I keep telling myself that I should extend the 'Cleanse' but actually extend. This also is playing a trick on the mind. Knowledge that this is the last day spurs temptation for some reason... So fool the mind. ^^

-Just bought a carton of 100% organic juice. This better be good because it did a number on my wallet. Then again why am I complaining? I am avoiding the original instructions stating that I should juice enough oranges to produce 2 L of orange juice for tomorrow's 'Ease Out'. This should be sufficient.

Day 11:

-10 days are up! Home "free". Just 'easing out' of the Cleanse at the recommended pace. Now here is the test. Will I remember what has been learned? Looking forward to a yogurt though. ^^

*Note: If you haven't heard of the 'Master Cleanse' here is a link to some basic information:
http://themastercleanse.org/

One month?

As my tutor handed me a box of 'Pepero' (빼빼로), a cookie stick dipped in chocolate, it hit me. There is only one month remaining (of the semester).

*Note:
Korea tends to have more than the average number of commercialized holidays, one being 'Pepero Day'. On this day people buy pepero for their friends, significant other and so on. The reason? Two sticks laid side by side give off the appearance of an '11' making November 11th (11/11) Pepero Day. Nice marketing scheme huh? Well, it works. I just landed myself a box early.

The rest of the semester will require me to put writing skills to the test. Hopefully writing all those 발표 (presentation scripts) was enough to sharpen my writing skills to a manageable level. We shall see. Aside from papers and regular assignments (such as translations, hanja (Chinese characters) and weekly presentations), my current task is to prepare for the year in Korea. My second and third semesters will be spent studying and interning in Seoul. I've been researching a few internships that strike my fancy enough to compel me to research a bit further and find a concrete tie between my end thesis paper/presentation and the internship. We have to present our top choices tomorrow in class. Wish I could intern in all three organization/NGOs that I took a liking to. One step at a time Emily.

...Better get back to writing that resume and personal statement...but my mind is concentration is wavering between the work I have to get done; Korean-related things that have nothing to do with the program (such as a Korean film called 'Sunny'(써니) and a novel titled 'The Crucible'(도가니); and the 'Master Cleanse' that I my friend and I have made a pack to be successful til the end.

If I close my eyes, will I find myself shivering as I wait for my 'drying machine heated' blanket (as bad as that is for the environment...) fighting with my cat for the warm spot on the kitchen radiator? Not yet, but there is still much to do, skills to build, and places to see this before this semester is up ;) This is what I keep telling myself. But despite the fact that I often find myself barely able to lift my eyes slowly resembling that of a set of 'matches' (성녕) as my professor and housemate joked (not about me in particular), I am grateful to be in this program in Hawai'i. Let's just hope that it likes me enough to give just as pleasant of a grade. ;)

*Note: Reference to "a set of matches": This must be one of those 'Korean phrases' that does not translate into what would be concerning a "PC" English phrase in the states haha. Oh cultural differences. Oh Korea :-)

Time does fly. Just like I will right... now. More writing to come from giddily sleep-deprived Emily. ^^

Happy Belated Halloween!