More Pictures!

After not being able to post pictures up for over a week, it was hard selecting ones that I should post. This week was my first week at the Yonsei Special Summer Program, where more than half of the students went on a 3 day trip to Min Sok Chon and Gyeong Ju. It was an optional portion of our program but I think everyone who went would agree that they were glad that they had gone. This is where we were given the chance to really get to know people.
I found out that most of them are from the States and are in their 1st/2nd year of university. There are some that have just graduated from high school and will be going to university in the fall!
sigh.. i feel so old!
However, first with pictures with the remaining time with my cousin's:




They have KimBab Chung Gook (translates to KimBab Heaven) in Toronto but they are everywhere in Korea!! and the so much cheaper!! So after seeing many Kimbab Chung Gooks, I felt like having some KimBab but my dear cousin offerred to make them herself, saying that her's tastes better. And mmm.. they were pretty good! To go along with the Kimbab, we also made Ho Dduk (korean pancakes with a sugary/nutty filling)!! yup:)

Before dropping me off at Yon sei University, we visited the Korean Performance Arts Centre, which was close by my uncle's office. Here I got to see a bit of traditional korean art and instruments... play with them:)

This picture I had to take because I found it actually really funny that someone had hung these signs all over the tree. It translates to: "Chemicals were strayed on the tree so please do not eat."

So I got into the dorm, thinking that I had a single room because my name wasn't paired up with anyone else's on the list that they gave us, but I walked in only to see someone's personal belongings all nicely arrange on the other side of my room. Supposedly someone who actually attends the university as a full time/summer student has been and is living there.
So it was a bit disappointing but she hasn't been around all week, so I have yet to meet her!

The day after I got in, I went on the 3 day trip with ~120 others.

MinSokChon is a Traditional Korean Folk Village that they set up for people to see what it was like many years ago. It's basically the same sort of concept as Pioneer Village back in Toronto. Here are some pictures of the the performers. First are these girls doing Yeul Dee Gee, where they jump on either sides of a board that's kind of like a see-saw. They were amazing!

This was crazzzzy! This man walks on a tight rope but with no harness!! He's completely free standing/walking on the rope and then he does all these cool tricks on the rope such as walk backwards, hop across with one foot, sit on the rope then stand again, etc.

After we made our way to Gyeong Ju, which is about 5 hours drive away from Seoul. This city holds many of Korea's historic and national treasures, especially from the 7th century during the Silla Kingdom. I was afraid we were going to stay at some sketchy motel but we ended up staying at a very nice hotel. The only weird thing was that it had it's one No Rae Bang (Karoake Rooms) and Night Club, which we all took advantage of the both nights we were there!

Me and some girls in a No Rae Bang, singing the night away~

While we were in Gyeong Ju, it was non-stop. We went to two famous Buddhist temples, one of which being the Seokguram Grotto, one of Korea's national treasures. The temples were absolutely beautiful because they are mostly up in the mountains. They hold so much culture and history since Buddism influenced much of Korean culture at some point.

It was foggy that day so the pictures didn't turn out that great.

This is me and tw first from my bus, wearing our free Yon Sei University T-shirts:)

Here I am drinking the "holy water" at a Buddist temple. The water comes from a spring that flows down from the mountain and at the point that it flows out, a Buddhist statue was placed on top of it. Thus, they believe that the water is "holy" and whomever drinks it will become more youthful.

This is an astronomical observatory tower that is considered to be one of the oldest surviving observatories in East Asia, and one of the oldest scientific installations on Earth

Just imagine this picture was rotated 90 degrees clockwise..

This is a burial mound of one of the Silla Kings, one of the few that they have dug through so that people can go inside. There are many of these in the city... when I saw them, i thougth that they best way to describe them was to say they look like Teletubbie houses but without windows or doors. It's quite interesting.

We also visited the Hyundai Heavy Industries, which was ok... they're huge here in Korea but i guess people who are more techy and into that stuff would appreciate it more. However, Samsung and Hyundai owns almost everything here.

Once we got back, we met the rest of the people in our program and took a placement test which had both a written and oral component. I was hoping to get into a lower level because I didn't want to be working while I'm in korea but for some reason, my intentional half-ass effort on the test didn't work. So i'm placed in a level 4 class, which I'm finding it to be probably at the right challenge level... i guess I'll be learning while i'm here. hahah..

Classes run from 9am to 1 pm, so have the rest of the day to do whatever we want with consideration that we homework. Many people complained that the curfew (yes, we have curfews..) is too early at 12am, but I found it being more than ok because by that time, I'm SO tired. First off, the campus is HUGE and it's on a friggin mountain!! A friend who went on the program last year warned me about climbing a moutain to get to the dorms and oh man, he wasn't joking!!! I takes me 20 mins to get to the front gate from my dorm but it takes atleast 30 min back uphill to the dorm rooms, so i'm definitely getting my exercise while i'm here, haha....

A group of us explored the surrounding area of Shin Chon. It's a pretty busy area that's filled with young people.

A few of us in Shin Chon area again, at Red Mango for some Frozen Yogurt..Mmmm

On another day, we went to Myung Dong, which is like the fashion district of Seoul. There are stores after stores selling clothes, accessories, bags, etc., all lined up with salons, cafes and restaurants. We only got to look around and not shop that much.. too overwhelming but I must go back there sometime!:D

Oh.. and there was a "Free Hugs" guy there so we decided to get a free hug. haha.

A highlight this week was to see two friends from back at home. I met up with Monica and Katie both of whom I attend Queen's with. Monica took me to the Foreign Missionary Cemetary, where we saw the graves of many missionaries that came and influenced Korea. I was really surprised to see how much of an influence missionaries had on Korea. They set up schools (including Yonsei University!), hospitals, and even influenced the national anthem!

This picture is of Monica and Katie in InSaDong, where we had dinner~

This picture is of the man-made stream that runs through the city. The stream was originally there naturally but when they were building the city, it was paved over with construction. However, recently in the past couple years, they rebuilt the stream... haha

Alright.. now for some pictures of food from the week!

Again, imagine it rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

I didnt actually eat this. My friend did instead because I actually had some stomach problems that day from something I ate.. not fun. But it looks really good...

Above is Hae Mul Gam Ja Tang (Pork Bone Soup with Seafood!) I haven't seen this in Toronto, where it comes with seafood. And on the left is some alcoholic drink that's made from wild strawberries. It was pretty good.. kind of like a really sweet wine.

Ahh.. these updates take forever!:P