Bye Bye Korea

It's time to say good bye but hopefully not for good. During these last four months I've seen so many wonderful and beautiful things, met so many awesome and charismatic people that it makes me wonder if I've done something good in life to deserve this all.
But everything nice has to come to it's ending and today it's my turn to leave this country. One week Christmas holiday in Bali with my lovely friend Sonja is ahead of me :)

Later, I will still summarize my Korean experience and maybe write more about studying in Korea, since I haven't yet described it enough.

But, for now I'm just gonna wish

MERRY CHRISTMAS

This will be missed..

The end of exchange is closing incredibly fast. Today, only four weeks left before flying to Bali. I'm mentally starting to prepare myself leaving Korea. Even though I've been occasionally missing Finland so bad that it made me sick, I'm starting to feel a little sad leaving my other home. During the vacation in Tokyo, I felt homesick to Korea :) It seems like a good time to think about the stuff that I love about this country..

The dearest thing to me has been Korean style of going out. Best nights have consisted of several rounds of different places, dishes and drinks. Actually, last weekend we had four rounds of Korean night out: we started with a new generation style of Korean barbeque with shots helping to digest the meat. Second round led us to a cosy makkolli (Korean traditional rice wine) place with different kind of pancakes, which are by the way salty here. Third round consisted of soju, beer (also them mixed: somek) and mussels. On the fourth round we found our selves in a Japanese style place having soup and kiwi soju. And all of course seasoned with first class company.

I was quite shocked in Tokyo when I noticed that stores were closing in the evening: Korea never closes down! Well, never is slight exaggeration but close to truth. Clothing, cosmetic etc. stores stay open till late night and in some areas u can do shopping after leaving a club at am hours. Finding local food during night time is also much easier. Actually, I saw an article in Helsingin Sanomat about this Korean phenomenon of night time life.

An important social thing here is taking care of others: So many times I've found juice, coffee and fruit from my desk given by my lovely roomie. And altogether there is a culture of giving small gifts, which I love :)

And of course, since I'm a sweet tooth: in every corner there are coffee shops and bakeries where u can get delicious muffins,bagels, cookies etc. And the most important thing: cakes are so pretty, good tasting and cheap :) I'm gonna be in trouble in Finland when graving a hot latte and my chocolate muffin in the middle of nowhere..

I will probably get back to this same subject when the reality hits me in January. But for now, I'm going to enjoy my last weeks in this cute and tasty country with no hurry and start living the Christmas fuss that is about to start. And of course, finish my classes..

H

Trips, trips..

Tonight I counted with friends how much time we have left in this country: 9 weeks!! And then there was panic.. How on earth are we going to do all the stuff we want to do?

This weekend I'm heading to Jeju Island which is located in the south of Korean peninsula. Some call it the Korean Hawaii and it's supposed to be totally different from other places in Korea.

But the most exciting trip is going to be in November when I'll be traveling to Tokyo with my AWESOME exchange FAMILY. First I wasn't suppose to travel to Japan, but with reasonably priced tickets I just couldn't say no. And of course Christmas in Bali!

With all the plans going to a temple stay weekend, field trip, Seoul and other crazy expeditions I'll guess that next time I'll be sleeping is in Finland, next year.

By the way, I've also been able to do a little school work as well.. The mid-term papers are submitted and next week I'll start my mid-term exams. This is the first time in years that I haven't been stressing about exams and papers. It's a little bit odd since all the time I see Korean students doing 12 hour days with their schoolwork and still it seems that it isn't enough. Maybe it's because I'm used to not sleeping in the class during lectures :) Here it's quite normal..

Good luck with the weather in Finland, I'm still waiting for the proper Autumn to come..

Home sweet home, Korea :)

Time goes by so fast. Soon it's going to be October and I feel like I just arrived to this country. Life has been so hectic :)

During the past month I've experienced so much, that it's hard to wrap my mind around it. I've sweat in crowded clubs, relaxed in jimjilbang, admired the Sea of Japan in the night time in Busan, tasted chewy raw fish, had mind-blowing conversations with my new friends, lost my soul in Seoul and more :)

Maybe the best thing during my stay in this country has been our Chuseok-holiday trip to Busan and Seoul. It is said that traveling removes prejudice and I totally agree. I've never been this open to trying new things in my whole life and I've never felt more relaxed than now. There's something about this country that makes me forget my worries and appreciate life as it is.

Cutie cute umbrellas

First week in Daegu is over, on one hand finally and the other already. Weekdays have been really hectic and full of all kinds of hazzling. From choosing courses to getting internet all the everyday stuff has been complicated. Things really work differently than in Finland. Despite of all the hazzle I've settled down very well to the campus life. It feels like home here :) I've met some really amazing people!

The past week's theme was cutie cute. Everywhere you go, there is always something cute: cute little unnecessary stuff, cute clothes and all the korean girls look really cute, I'm so jealous :) The best purchase I've made so far is sun umbrella, and it's soooooo cute. I'm starting to think that by december I've transfered from cynical scandinavian to all cute, over energetic happy person :) So you guys back at home, prepare yourselves!

Keimyung campus is really beautiful! It's nice to be surrounded by nature in a big city. Now the area is green, but I can't wait the autumn and the change of colours. Of course I'm looking forward to autumn for another reason: It's so hot! Daegu is the hottest city in Korea and it's been sunny all week :)

After the drop and add period the classes are starting with full speed today. We'll see how well I'll adapt to the korean way in studying ;)

For some reason, I haven't been able to download any photos to the blog :( I hope that some day I'll be able to do it!

H

Heavy rain in Seoul

Third day in Seoul and I've learned the true meaning of heavy rain. Though, the rain makes the heat more bearable.

So far, it's been really pleasant here, though I had a little change of plans at the last minute on Helsinki-Vantaa airport. I got an email from my hostel telling that my reservation had been changed to another hostel because of leakages caused by the heavy rains. Still. my arrival to the new hostel went very smoothly. They arranged me a transportation from the original hostel to the new one. Koreans are really helpfull and friendly; I'd been in the city for like 15 minutes and already someone offered to take me where I needed to be. I took a KAL limousine bus from the airport to the city, which was really easy.

First day and night here was pretty odd for the jet lag and poorly slept night flight. Still I managed to eat my first korean dinner, bulgogi at a small restaurant in Jongno Gu, near my hostel. It took a little time to find a place where they had name of the dish on the list in english. The best way to have dinner here, is in groups of two or more. One dish, in my opinion, is enough for two people.

Yesterday I explored the area near SKKU, the uni where my friends are studying for the semester. It was more western than Jogno Gu with all the american chain restaurants. The area had many shops, so I think I'll head back during this weekend before leaving to Daegu on Monday.

The rain has stopped and it's time to explore another side of the city.

Bye Bye Finland

Well, though it seems impossible, the summer is passed, and it's time to head to the airport. I'm feeling really excited and at the same time a little sad for leaving Finland. But only for few seconds, then I remember what an amazing four months I have ahead of me. I've been stressing myself to the edge, and now it's time to enjoy :)

To all lovely friends at LUT and around Finland: enjoy the autumn and its events to the fullest! Miss you already!

Till next time,

Hanna

Stressed

Now I know what they mean when talking about travel fever. I wish I could just step in a plane without planning and arranging. Bored with waiting and stressed with all the things to be done in two weeks!

I've been also a little bit worried since I realized that they speak Korean in South-Korea :) I would guess that knowing how to count to ten in Korean doesn't help that much..

Relief

I finally booked flights to Seoul and back to Finland! A sip of cold cider after sauna and I can finally take it easy with preparations. Almost everything has been taken care of except for travel insurance and one final e-mail to KMU international services informing them of my arrival schedule. And of course planning trips around South-Korea and Bali where I'll be heading for christmas with my good friend Sonja who'll be spending the autumn in New Zealand.

When the final admission certificate arrived from Keimyung just before midsummer I felt extremely stressed due to all the paper work that had to be done. Two weeks and the paperwork is done, and I still had time to enjoy traditional midsummer at summer cottage in Central Finland and a superb weekend in extreme heat in the extremely beautiful Savonlinna.

Basically the most difficult thing with preparations is the visa applications. The Visa can be applied via traditional mail, but is quite complicated with all the annexes: original admission certificate from the receiving university (with your signature!), original student certificate from home university, visa handling fee, passport, and registered mail envelope for returning the passport. My brain capacity just felt too small to remember all this.

I've also sent confirmation and medical self-evaluation forms to Keimyung, and visited the occupational healtcare for getting a medical certificate from a licensed health professional stating that I don't have pulmonary tuberculosis and hepatitis B :). I've also been wondering about my finances during the trip. Jut for precaution I've given my mother rights to my bank accounts.

Now, I'm just going to concentrate on my Lonely Planet -guide, and plan my first holiday (five whole days!) since 2005 which I'll be spending in Seoul before heading to Daegu on the 29th of August.

H

Decisions, decisions

I've been lately filling out the application form to Keimyung. Selecting courses is really easy, but I'm having huge problems in choosing between two halls of residence.

There are several halls of residence near the campus, but the two most likely for an exchange student are Keli-house and International Learning and Residence hall. In Keli-house you'll be living in the same room with a korean student and english is the only spoken language allowed. The thing that matters to me the most is the size of the room and facilities. In Keli-room you can find a bunk bed, one desk and bookshelf.. For two persons!!!!! It's about 400 euros cheaper per semester than the International hall, but still! And of course shared showers and bathrooms in each floor...

In the International hall you will share the room with another student, but you'll have your own bed and desk, and for me, the most important thing: every room has a shower and bathroom with warm water throughout the whole day. I think in this case paying 400 euros more is justified :)

Back to bed! Too early for more sensible thoughts...

H

We're on!

This is it! Confirmation of my semester abroad has arrived and I couldn't be more excited. This August I'll be heading to South-Korea, Keimyung University.

For a long time, I've wanted to visit Korea, the motherland of Taekwondo, a dear hobby of mine since the mid 90's. So, when the opportunity occured how could I have resisted? My friends' and family's reactions have so far been "whaaaat? are you kidding? of all the places in the world? there must be something wrong with you..."

I hope this blog will answer why I chose South-Korea, while I write about my preparations for the exchange and of course, most importantly, my adventure in the other side of the world.

Tataa!