Language Exhange

Language Exchange

In each KUBA Group, Shout out to Group 8, Power8ade; we had the opportunity of being in a language exchange group of about 4 or 5 people. It was cool because it was not only for korean language but i know people who did chinese and French so basically the korean buddies as well as exchange students got to yeah or help friends learn their language. It was really cool because my korean friend Soehyun is studying abroad in France next semester so she did language exchange with one of my French friends. Anyway, I digress.

I was in a Korean-English Language exchange group. It was me, my friend Imelda from Indonesia, Anna Lee, who is korean but studies in japan, my Buddy MJ, and Seohyun. They helped me and Imedla with korean and we helped them with english. We tried to meet every friday early afternoon, especially since most of us didnt have classes on friday.

My group had difficulty being on time or actually attending, including myself. Mostly because of traveling on the weekends and like me getting locked out of my room thursday night haha.

Language exchange was always really fun. I used to write down new words and spellings of things which always became a distraction because people then wanted to draw in my book. Fun times.

Here are some of or artistic drawings:

1rst day of language exchange

best "dayo" drawing

"Buddah Dayo" my favorite :)

our group members

Thanks to Anna Lee-"Anime Dayo"

 Apart from this formal group for language exchange, everyday in korea is like language exchange haha. Talking to friends in class and in my acapella group. Whenever i learn something new in class i try to use it and then my friends help me make sentences and I also help my friends with english. Even with my exchange friends i learn new things. Learning how to say "I love you" in German is just soo funny and it really does sound kind of angry haha. I also learnt how to say a few dutch phrase, which was really cool!

My most rewarding language exchange though has to be when i am at Acapella Practice since i am the only foreigner. Trying to understand someone explaining to me how they want me to sing, take breaths, the mood we are trying to create skills of singing acapella can be quite frustrating and hilarious when you both speak different languages. BUT I GOT THROUG IT! My first song we practiced was a traditional song "Arirang" so i feel quite accomplished! I hope by the time i leave korea i can sing a pop song at norebang! Setting Goals.

For now,

Jal Gayo( Goodbye)

찜질방(Zim zil bang)

찜질방(Zim zil bang)

This weeks Group activity was going to "Zim Zil Bang" . Zim Zil Bang is similar to a Spa. When you get there you are given special clothes to change into. The Place has game arcade, Multiple sauna-caves with varying temperatures, sleeping areas, salt saunas, massage, facials, bath house, food area and more. The place we went to Dragon, is one of the biggest in seoul i believe. It was also egyptian themed. 

when we first got there we were divided by gender to go to the changing rooms.

The entrance

Excited for the Spa!!!!!

Then we got our clothes and went up to change!

 

on the elevator lol

All dressed: 

 Me and my language exchange partner :)                                

 The Egyptian theme!

There was a large room/halls that had all the sauna caves, cold room and sleeping rooms and concession stand! this was at the entrance part.

one of the Saunas

concessions

We all went in the sauna and sleeping rooms and ate. we also played some games. yuika, sjoerd and I did a marathon as i called it in the sauna. We started in the "hot" sauna then to the "hottest" then to the cold room and then "hot" "hottest" and back to cold. Then we went to the sleeping rooms were we lied on top of peebles/rock to relax. after we tried traditional drinks. One was made with grain powder and initially tastes like iced-coffee/hot chocolate, the other i don't remember the taste but it had rice in it. We also ate a lot of eggs.

we spent about 4 hours at the spa. After we changed and returned to Anam for dinner.

 in the women's room after we changed :)

By the exit:

 Group Photo:

At the train station:

Dinner:

For Dinner we all got individual dishes and we shared "pancakes"

My individual dish was a chicken soup! I and others who had it were quite disappointment it was really bland! My first let down with korean food but the pancake was great!!

This was a seafood pancake! its made of potatoes and it has squid and shrimp. Suprisingly i really like squid! I have had it in a couple meals and its really good lol!

well it was a great relaxed day and a fun time with POWER8ade!!!!

Living Life on the Wild Side: DMZ

Living Life on the Wild Side: DMZ

Hi guys! so its been a while but school is now getting more serious so im not always able to blog immediately.

So last sunday, despite the emails from the International SOS, American Embassay and learning of the news that North Korea ended their peace treaty with South Korea. Some KUBA groups went to the DMZ.

For those of you who do not know what the DMZ is, the DMZ is the " De-Militarized zone." Ironically it is "militarized" and it is the dividing line between North and South Korea that runs along the Korean Peninsula that acts as the "buffer zone". It is probably the most intense in the world, when you think about it.

We all got on buses and went about two hours out of Seoul to the DMZ . On the bus ride the tour guide gave us some historical information about the DMZ. When we arrived  lets just say i was definitely confused.

Our First Stop:

This was the first stop on the tour! It was probably the most bizarre also. The DMZ is being turned into a "tourist" area so this part was like an amusement park with rides, balloons, flying kites, food, souvenirs and this really creepy "happy music" it made me feel uneasy. It was also funny how they tried to mitigate the atmosphere of the DMZ by doing such things.

see the rides o_0

2nd Stop:

This was when we were actually entering the DMZ and before entering a soldier came in and looked at all of us  lol

Here we got to go by this peak/ledge which overlooked North Korea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Not really sure what was in that building but it was in front of the peak thing.

"End of Seperation, Beginnning of Unification"

There were telescopes to look over the peak but you couldnt take pictures beyond the yellow line that enclosed the area with the telescopes lol. So we had to ask someone on the other side of the line to take pictures. 

I GOT A PICTURE WITH A SOLDIER!!!!!!!!!

one of the KUBA buddies tried to get everyone to try "korean cookie" which was really some fried/steamed, im not even sure, bug or worm! i couldn't get myself to do it.

3rd-Stop
The third stop was where the museum was. We watched a short video on the history of DMZ, and the tunnels within the DMZ that North Korea Built.

 Then we went to the museum, which was connected to the theater.

model of the DMZ

 While there Ruby and I practised reading hangul.

Then After we went to the Tunnels. The government made another tunnel near the one built by North Korea and tourists are able to walk in in and then at the end of that one you are able to walk in a part of the real tunnel. The real tunnel is so short so have to bend down and they also give you helmets. i unfortunately don't have any pictures in the tunnel because i didn't take my camera but i have to get some pictures from other people of us.

map of the tunnel

Last Stop

The last stop was to the Dorsan station. This a train station that is supposed to used to be for sending and delivering packages globally and has trains that would/could take you to Europe however, because of the divide between North and South Korea the train station cannot be used because it runs through both countries. The station is just there and part of the Tour, and its a really nice and modern station.

this was a map of the train routes

the inside of the station

ANOTHER PICTURE!!!!!!!!

We had to buy a ticket but we were then able to go out to the station to where you would board the train.

me and stefan :)

Well, we went, we saw, and and we left ALIVE ! Whoohooooo

                          Back to Seoul!