JUMP!!! :))

Only 5 more weeks left in Korea. The closer the time gets the more i hate to leave! I truly have come to love this Country! At first i wasn't sure if I was going to make it the whole 5 months because of all the differences in cultures and the way of living. But now I have grown to admire the differences between the my culture and Korean Culture. i have made some great friends so far and I'm going to miss them so much when it's time for me to leave. Some of them are already planning their trip to America to come visit me next summer! lol Two of my friend Min and You Ra took me to a non verbal play called  "JUMP". I wasn't sure what to expect since there was no speaking and if they did do any speaking it would be in Korean. However, I understood everything that happen during the play. It was amazing to me, that even though there were no words except for a little Korean, I still got the message of the play! After the play, they took me to this festival on the river in Jon-ro, Seoul. There were all these beautiful artworks and each artwork had some kind of Korean story. My friends walked around the whole park and they would just point out pictures and tell me the stories behind the pictures. That meant so much to me that they wanted to share their history with me. They didn't mine if we took longer looking at the pictures than others because they had to explain to me the meaning! I love all the friends I have made here in Korea and I hope our friendships last forever!

Halloween in Korea 2011

Wow! I thought I had a good time with Halloween in america but Korea definitely top any of the Halloween parties I've been to. At first I was afraid to wear a costume because I didn't think that "the costume part" of Halloween was popular! BUT I was wrong! I went to Hongdae, Seoul for Halloween with friends and the streets were filled with Koreans and foreigners with costumes, face paint, mask etc. There were so many Halloween parties to go to and everyone had a good time. After the big Halloween bash that took place. The international office at the university of Incheon decided to throw a Halloween party for the International students. I was so happy and thankful that they tried to bring some of the American Culture to their school to make us feel more like at home. The party was so much fun! There was games, magic shows, music, food and prizes! I was fun to share this American tradition with the Korean students. But not only the Korean students, but also with the Chinese, Japanese and Spanish students! I can tell that everyone really enjoyed themselves that night!

Goodbye Midterms----> Hello Nami Island!!

It feels like it has been forever since I wrote on my blog!!! That's because it was midterm exam week here at Incheon University and I had 4 big exams to study for. I spent my days and night in the study room that they provide in dormitory. But i'm glad I studied as hard as I did because when I went to take each of my exams, I had confidence for all of them. I finally finished my last exam Monday and it was definitely time to be awarded for all my hard work! I guess Incheon International office, thought the same thing because they had planned a trip for the foreign students to visit the Nami Island. The Nami Island is about 3 hours from Incheon (Song-do), so it took awhile to get there but it was worth the wait! We took a boat over to the Island and when we got off the boat, I was so amazed my the beauty of this island! All i wanted to do was take pictures. I got so caught up and taking pictures, I forgot I had to meet everyone for lunch! lol I had so much fun at Nami Island, the Korean sculptures were incredible! I also got to take pictures inside a traditional Korean home. I thought this was fascinating because I have never been inside one because most of the Korean homes that I had been to were apartments. Well This weekend coming up is Halloween and I'm very surprised that Korea has a lot going on for Halloween! A lot of the students and I are planning on traveling down to Seoul for Halloween and participate and some of the Halloween events! So make sure you come back to read that blog! Well I have a dictation quiz in my Korean Language class today, so I better get to studying! Annoyonghi Kasayo!!

MR. CHOI !!!!

Well its been a while since i wrote on my blog and I apologize. Also i have to upload all my pictures which should be on by the end of the week! But here in Incheon, I have really been missing home and my family, and I seem to miss them more on the weekends, when most of the students go home to be with their family. However this weekend was full of surprises for me. MR. Choi who works in the international office at The University of Incheon, asked me if i would like to tutor his daughter and friend in English on Saturdays. I was so excited about this because one it would give me something to do on Saturday mornings and two I love sharing my English knowledge with the Koreans. Today was my first day of tutoring and I was so much fun. The two girls and I spent most o the time laughing and talking about which celebrities are the cutest and what we like about school, etc. They shared stories with me and I shred stories with them and it felt as if we we knew each other for years! after the tutoring session, Mr. Choi took all of us out for lunch and we had HAMBURGERS!!! I was so happy to see hamburgers! Not that I'm not enjoying Korean food because i still love Kimchi and rice, but I missed the taste of a juicy hamburger and it was so yummy! I'm so thankful that Mr. Choi thought of me as the tutor for his daughter because I really did enjoy myself today! I think I should go ahead and plan a study lesson for next saturday while I have some free time. But right now I think I'm going to head to the gym and work off that burger! lol TTYL

MERRY CHUSEOK!!!

Well usually this time takes place in late November in America, but here in Korea we have just celebrated Thanksgiving! I remember the first time i heard about this holiday was my first day of class when my teacher was going over the syllabus and talked about how there would be no class because of Chuseok. I thought to myself "just great, thanksgiving is coming up in Korea and i have nowhere to go!" my plan for that holiday weekend was to pack up on some noodles and watch movies. The next day at school, I ran into one of my new Korean friend Yun Joohee. She asked me what I was doing for the holidays and I told her my plans that included movies and noodles. She was like "oh no Nicole, you will come and join my family for Chuseok and I did. When i walked into Yun Johee's  house i was greeted by her father and he then we walked into the kitchen and that is where i saw Johee's grandmother sitting at the kitchen table pullings some type of green veggies in a big bowl of water and her mother was standing over the sink also  with food in her hands. There was so much food on the table and and the stove and it reminded me so much of Thanksgiving back home with my family. Johee's mother said something to her in Korean and the Johee looked at me and said my mother said you will be cooking too today! lol I couldnt help but smile because not only were they nice enough to invite me to their house but she let me be a part of a family tradition. The next day there so many family members that came over and the family broke into groups in sat on the floor. There was the young people group (Johee and I were part of this group), there was the male group and there was a woman's group. Each family group had a plate of Asian peaches and a cup of tea. We talked and laugh and talked and laugh some more and I felt so welcomed! after johee's family left, we all sat on the floor around the table and  ate our Chuseok meal and it was DELICIOUS! every bite of it was so tasty! Johee's family asked me if I miss my family in America and i said "yes, very much" and that's when Johee's mother said something to her in Korean. Johee smiled and looked at me and said my mother said we will be your family. I wanted to cry because the kindness and care that this family showed for me was incredible and I was a total stranger. I really enjoyed my experience at Yun Johee's house. Her family was so amazing! Even though we spoke two totally different languages, we were still able to laugh and have fun and enjoy Chuseok together.

You help me and I'll help you

Well I have finally got to the point where I can go to the cafe and order food all by myself!  lol I think I'm addicted to kimchi however. So many exciting things took place this week and i never had one dull moment. I think the biggest surprise was was being invited to the opening of the new exhibition hall at the university of Incheon. I got to meet the president of the university and then he invited me up to the ribbon of the new building. I was so excited and happy to be standing next to the president of the University during this exciting moment. This week I also started class. At first class was a struggle because I wasn't sure how everything would go with me not speaking Korean and not knowing anyone. However when I met my professors all that changed. All of my classes are taught in English and all my professors have taught school at American Universities, and when I do get lost in class the Korean students help me out a lot! I even had a group of Korean students who were taking an English class ask me if I could help them study for their upcoming test. I was so excited because they help me out so much and now I got to return the favor. I have made some really great friends here and because of them I don't feel like the "weird American" We share stories of how we grew up and what types of movies and music we like. I thought it was funny that even though we didn't know much of the same music and movies, we all agreed that Beyonce and Lady Gaga were AMAZING, and that Jackie Chan will only get better as he ages, lol

First week in Incheon

After 21 hours of flying and (bad butt aches) I finally made it to Incheon, Korea! I was so nervous when I got off that plane bc at that very moment I realized that I was ALONE! I knew NO ONE!  I prayed and prayed that I would see a poster with my name or someone yelling "Nicole" so I wouldn't feel so out of place. And right wen I walked through the foreigner passenger gates, I saw a smiling face waving at me and he said "HELLO" All I could do was smile because I knew he was there for me! That guy was구완서    or American name (Leo)!  All my butterflies and nervousness had went away at that moment. We took the bus to he University and  had lunch! That is where i fell in love with Kim chi! It was so yummy and delicious! But throughout the week I have met some really great people at the University and we all hung out and even went to a karaoke place and sang and laughed all night! Class starts Monday so I'm curious of how that will go and I will be sure to let everyone know in my next post! I'm so excited for my next adventure with my new friends! TTYL!