room 503

The month of February consisted of me taking a second swing at learning Korean. While the classes I took during my six week orientation gave me a grounding in the language, I wanted an opportunity gain a firmer grasp on conversational skills. So filled my suitcase and headed back to Jungwon University (the original orientation site) along with forty-two other ETAs. Not only have the last three and a half weeks helped my language ability, but in them I have deepened friendships with other Fulbrighters and created friendships with Korean university students.

I was nervous entering the CLEA program. I did not feel confident in my Korean, especially my speaking, and this course was daunting. Korean language for six hours a day, six days a week, totaling 126 hours of class seems like a mission of insanity. But the anxiety dissipated as the classes began. Life became a strange timeless routine of waking up, going to class, eating, studying, sleeping, and repeating. I brought games and activities, thinking I would have a couple of free hours. That thought was a little too optimistic. Instead of playing games with friends every night, I grabbed my books and notes and headed to study room 503 for three to five hours of reviewing/practicing the material covered in class.

The study rooms were one of the few places that students could actually hang out at Jungwon. Room 503 had a consistent group of five to eight students every night. While the focus was primarily studying, we had our share of conversation, goofing off, and ordering pizza throughout the weeks. Some of the best evenings were when we invented games to learn the different Korean concepts. Not only were there American students, but we had a couple of  Korean students who came by to work on English (and were more than willing to help me with my Korean homework!!).

Leaving at the end of CLEA was tough. There was an odd mixture of relief that the class was over, excitement to go back to my students, and sadness that I was leaving some incredible friends.

On the whole, my second attempt at learning Korean was a huge success. Not only did I understand what was happening during class and on the exams (!!), but I was able to use my newly developed skills as soon as I got back to my homestay, and when I started teaching again. It was definitely worth the investment of twenty-four days of class with only three days off!!

 

here is a class photo

  some of the primary 503 members

 with my two instructors

change is in the air

I stepped out of my apartment this morning to welcome the smell of snow. Mind, snow has not yet fallen, it just smells like it is coming. Crisp, clean, and freezing the inside of the nose. I love the necessity of a heavier coat and the excuse for a scarf and gloves. And then there are the coloured leaves gathering in piles on the sidewalk. Let's just say that I have been in Southern California for too many "falls" and "winters".

Chaos adequately defines yesterday. After a full day of teaching (six classes), I had a short respite before heading off to Taekwondo for the most intense workout I have had since moving to Hongseong. I worked on a kick that begins as a front kick and then pivots partway through, turning into a side kick. For the whole hour. Exiting the academy happy but exhausted, I then hopped in a cab to attend my first Korean language class in Hongseong. But the driver didn't understand the address! I paid eight thousand won to be dropped off at my co-teacher's house so she could drive me to the language class. Em (my friend who lives in Yesan) joined me for the class, so at least I didn't walk in late alone. (Just as a general note, I would much rather skip out on any given event than walk in late). I was a little weirded out by seeing this high of a concentration of Westerners in Hongseong, but I am really excited to be able to meet other foreigners. The class went well and the journey home was uneventful.

Currently my days are busy but fulfilling, even though I am a bit more homesick than I expected. I keep wondering how cold it will get here this winter. :)

pomp and circumstance

I graduated from my Korean language course!! On Monday, we celebrated the completion of the course at Korea University (where our teachers are from). The ceremony began with the presentation of certificates of completion and concluded with presentations by each class. My group created a video, "The Amazing Race: Goesan" that was entertaining and will soon be posted on youtube. It was surprising how bittersweet the occasion was. From all the stress and studying of this class, I have bonded with and grown to appreciate my eleven other classmates. I tallied up the class time, and we spent eighty hours learning Korean. That is the class time equivalent of two college semesters, jammed into six weeks. In addition to becoming friends with my classmates, I got to know my two teachers and will miss spending four hours every weekday with them. I learned a lot of Korean and hope that I will be able to use it in the coming months.

language school begins!

First thing this morning, I had language school! I am in a beginner class of twelve and we have two professors. Today, we worked on the basic sounds of the alphabet and common greetings. Hearing the difference between aspirated and unaspirated stops is much more difficult than I thought it would be. Hopefully I will be able to pick up on the subtleties soon :) The remainder of the day consisted of meals and meetings. After dinner, I wandered around the university and took some more pictures. The cooler evening temperature was refreshing.

This is from exploring Goesan, a twenty minute walk from the university. We did a photo scavenger hunt and to eat dried squid, arm wrestle in front of a store and do push-ups in front of a market.















Here is a part of the university campus. I was walking around at sunset and it was beautiful. I love all the intersecting paths and bridges as well as the many ponds and fountains.