Do you have what it takes to join the Drumming Club?

Imagine a small room lined with mats, traditional Korean drums (such as 장구 janggu-->hourglass drum and 북 buk-->barrel drum), shoes smashed into a corner and the smell of ja jang myun 짜장면 (Korean-style Chinese noodle dish). This is the "hang out" room for one of Yonsei's drumming clubs.

--Side note: I have never seen so many umbrellas. To simplify the situation, attempting to work your way through a crowd is a challenge. People use umbrellas when it's raining (even drizzling), snowing and to protect from the sun, but sunglasses are not popular even on the sunniest days.--

On a rainy day this was the perfect place to escape the dreary day and this group definitely puts everyone in a good mood. Saturday was initiation day in which the club welcomed new members and invited former members to a watch a performance and participate in various activities. Being the only "foreigners" in the group, my friends and I had no idea what the day entailed, but this adds to the element of surprise and excitement right...?

First, the new members gathered together to plan some form of entertainment for the rest of the club. Bouncing back ideas was quite amusing because it was difficult to translate "creative" ideas. Let's just say that my cell phone dictionary and I became quite close. After formulating a plan we were escorted to a more spacious room in a neighboring building. After our performances, the group formed a large circle. All of a sudden select members entered the center of the circle with to introduce themselves, recite some kind of chant, drink a "special" mixed drink and sing a short solo. My shoulder muscles tightened when I realized each new member (including the foreigners) were expected to partake in this as well.

One by one, we entered the center of the circle to bring an empty 괭괴리 gwengwari to a sunbae (mentor or someone with more experience) of our choice, who was someone we wished to become closer to. Following the group's tradition, we had to choose carefully because some sunbae would be kinder than others in what they chose to add to the gwengwari (besides alcohol). Each member from a particular group (newbies, seniors, etc) was responsible for finishing the contents of the gwengwari . Bottoms up... We cringed as additional ingredients were being mixed into the gwengwari including morsels of food and coffee. It was a special treat to watch the chosen members wash their hands (or feet) and swirl the liquid in their mouth and graciously return it to its rightful place in the gwengwari . I have never endured anything that remotely resembled this experience, but what a rush. All I can say is "Well-done group!"

Just survive serenading the group with your "wonderful" vocals and you are home free. What an adrenaline rush but once its over "phew." Oh man. Only in Korea... or more so only in this group. I absolutely love everyone in this club. This experience definitely skyrockets to the top.





Mission accomplished. Now off to watch the group perform!
(and join the festivities!)

...followed by (you guessed it) 삼겹설 sam gip sal

Randoms Thoughts

I apologize for my delay in creating a proper post. Updates are on their way!

Random Thoughts:
*Commercialized Holiday: March 14: White Day- guys buy flowers, candy, etc for their girlfriends (Valentine's Day there is a reverse of roles)
*Entertaining Konglish(콩글리시): topless car= convertible
eye shopping= window shopping
secret number= password
*Why is notebook paper longer than the folders?

*Food/snack/drink highlights: -Tuna Gimbap (잠지 김밥)
-Kimchi Chigae (김치찌개)
-Bibimbop (비빔밥)
-Samgyupsal(삼겹살)
-Ddeokbokki (떡볶이)
-Green tea latte (녹차)
-Milk (유우) is much better in Korea--- including the flavored milk (banana, soy... yeah...)





-I'm also a fan of ice cream even when it's chilly outside: melon bars, walnut, etc (corn ice cream is tasty) ------------->


**Cell phones have the best pre-made "expressions" for text messaging. Much better than the typical :)
(even though you all know that I am a big fan of this classic smiley)



*My Shopping Recommendations: Myeongdong, Dongdaemun Market, near Ewha University,


Insadong-->

-making 떡












*Constant playing of music while roaming the Yonsei campus, Shinchon streets


Yonsei University--------------------------->

*Note to self: -keep my hands firmly by my side when someone aggressively shoves a piece of paper or some other tangible item at me...
-pushing in a subway or adamantly claiming your place in line at Grand Mart is NOT rude (아주머 do not feel bad about pushing you aside haha)

*Fun activities: -Jump performance (Comedy Martial Arts)

<--- hilarious show!





-Mountain Climbing (Do Bong Mt.) ------------->

Happy Easter everyone!

Good Morning Korea

Stumbling off my bed onto the heated wooden floorboards. My vision is blurred without the help of my contact lenses or plastic frame glasses. Waking up in Seoul, I feel a similar sensation as my predictable daily Minnesota world is thousands of kilometers away. I close my eyes only to discover that a scooter or car has decided to take a spin on the sidewalk past a group of stylish girls strolling through the streets in their high heels, leggings and colorful sweaters. Food venders fill every street corner with rice cakes, kimbop, fruit and various items covered in chili paste. I keep my hands by the side as I decline to take advertisements from individuals practically shoving pieces of paper into my face and turn my head to one of the food venders.

I can feel my leg muscles tighten as I learn to speed walk through the crowded streets, my stomach beg to enter Red Mango and the various restaurants and my ears strain to understand the KPop music playing from cell phone and clothing stores. My definition of personal space has transformed or rather become nonexistent, as it is rare to have more than a few inches of breathing space between myself and the person in front of me. But despite all the people, I feel extremely safe among the crowds as long as I watch my step as my foot enters the pavement. Crosswalks do not guarantee your safety. I confidently stick my sneakers into the road and move with the mass of people.

Girls and guys alike are definitely up on the latest fashion. My clothing and lack of makeup most likely marks me as someone who has not lived in Seoul for an extended period of time, but my face permits me to blend in to an extent. Being a Korean-American (Kyopo), people will often speak to me in Korean, but the minute I open my mouth my nationality becomes apparent. Even when I use my short phrases and small vocabulary I am sure that my pronunciation could use a great deal of improvement. The need to study hard in my language class has increased (at least in my eyes). Luckily I am learning to navigate my way around the Yonsei campus in a speedy fashion, so library here I come! Or at least that's where I intend to go until I am distracted a number of other attractions. And I keep telling myself this is only the beginning, but time is escaping me.

Am I really in Korea?

I am in Korea. No really. I am LIVING in Korea for a semester. This minor detail did not really start to register in my brain until… today. People who have studied abroad in the past have told me that this realization process slowly sinks in as time elapses. So according to this theory, I am right on track. Some friends from my program and I were skirting through the streets of Sinchon bouncing-off-the-wall-and-heated-floors thrilled (somehow excited does not quite cut it) to take in the bittersweet smell, taste, unraveling hints of freedom. Apparently this is what a weeklong orientation session does to a college student (or maybe it’s just me). Although I was a completely captivated as the “master” of ceramics created pot, bowl, pitcher… (you name it) at one of three folk villages we visited. We attempted to follow his skillful example as we sculpted our own piece of pottery. And we were able to take advantage of the heated floors as we ate dinner on a low table with seat cushions. Being the Korean-food-loving nut that I am, I have no complaints about the food. J During the weekend in Kyeong Joo, we also watched a traditional mask dance, Korean seesaw and drum performances.

When I was growing up, my family and I made our own Korean seesaw with wooden boards from Menards and by “borrowing” sandbags from the street corners. I am assuming that the construction workers didn’t lose too much sleep over the mysterious disappearance of their sacks of sand. I wish I could concoct a more high-tech version of the seesaw, similar to the one at the folk village, so when I return to the states… here is yet another thing to add to my to-do list.

The most interesting place we visited was the DMZ (demilitarized zone between North and South Korea). With our hardhats and leg muscles, our group walked through one of the four tunnels that was discovered between the seventies and nineties by South Korea, which offered proof that North Korea may have been planning an attack on the south yet again.

By last night I was exhausted and eager to be released from released from orientation. Jumping into my bed in Casa Ville (hotel/apartment) never sounded more appealing. My roommate, Kelly and I crashed hard into the beds, which are literally an inch away from one another.

Today was my first day of classes, but before walking to the Yonsei campus, I went to Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS) to find an open volunteer time at the adoption agency. I had visited the agency on my previous trip to Seoul, so once I located the building the interior looked familiar. I was given a blood test (I am determined to “overcome” almost every fear I have while in Korea… that includes needles…) and selected a time on the weekend to volunteer. I will be helping take care of infants and toddlers, which I am excited about this opportunity.

After leaving ESWS, I wandered back to Yonsei. The campus is quite a bit larger than St. Thomas or at least it seems this way since I am not familiar with the university yet. I can’t wait to explore of the campus (and Seoul… and Korea in general) these next coming months. My language class will begin tomorrow. Well, I shall leave you with a swift goodbye since I should probably attempt to get some rest since I have find my class tomorrow morning. Goodbye for now!