Summer classes

Hello everyone!! How was your summer? Fall is coming and you have no idea how happy I am!! Summer in Korea is very hot and humid,I hope that somebody will invent a portable shower until next year.Comparing with Romania where the summer holiday is 3 months long (July until October) without any summer classes, in Korea you have classes, but they are not compulsory(unless you played around the whole semester and now you need credits). I was "blessed" with summer classes,every day from 9am until 1pm Korean class and from 2pm until 5pm SNU International Summer Institute (ISI). Nevertheless I had a good time,because during the ISI I had the chance to learn more about Korean culture and art., made new friends and visited some places.During our art class we were asked to express our feelings,so here is mine.^^

Confusion

 

 We also had a pottery class and if you think its easy,you are wrong.You need so much strength to control the potter's wheel and also imagination and a steady hand when you paint on a bowl or do some sculpting.

don't they look cute?

We also had to design our own names and use ink and brush to put it down on rice paper

pure art

During the ISI we went on a trip to Jeonju- which is know as the "Capital Food City" of Korea.We tried so  many nice dishes including Bibimbap (a mixture of veggies and rice) for which this place is famous for.

Bibimbap!!!!!

 

 

 

  We tried many traditional Korean foods and here is our dinner

we sat on the floor-love,love,love

We went to a Folk Village  and also visited a Fan Shop,I didn't wanted to leave that place.

Iljimae anyone?

 Here is the artist/painter of the shop,he was very nice and got a chance to talk to him for a few minutes.

at work

We also went to Jeonju Museum where we divided in groups so that we can experience different aspects of Korean culture:cooking,wedding ceremony,martial arts and I picked traditional music.

Janggu-percussion instrument

And I am sure that you want to see our teacher.Here he is.

^^

The trip was fun,I learned many new things about Korea and it was a good get-a-away from Seoul.

Lets not forget about my Korean class,where I had so much fun and I met people from different countries around the world.Some of them are former classmates from my first semester.We were waiting for other friends to finish their speaking exam so that we can have lunch.We stayed at school from 9am until 1pm

Japan,Thailand,China,Malaysia,Romania

 This is in a nut-shell my almost 3 months summer school at SNU.Fun,right? So how did you spent your summer?If you are from Romania I am sure that you went to Constanta-sea side or camping in Brasov or other beautiful places around the country.

Happy reading.

First things first

   Hello everyone!!!Its been a long time since I last posted and because of that I would like to apologize.I have already started the fall semester and I have so much school work everyday that sometimes I forget my own name.I thought that it would be nice to post a few things about my first semester at SNU.From now on I will use SNU when I refer to Seoul National University,and trust me it will be many times.

first meal in Korea

After a long journey (traveled for  almost 24 hours) I arrived in Korea on February 25th 2010 (Cluj-London-Dubai-Seoul) at 5,30pm. It was a foggy day and I was very tired,but as soon as I landed I felt like home.I was excited to be in Korea but in a way I felt as if I have been here before and now I am just coming back after a long time (Korean dramas anyone?). Pastor Kwon waited for me at the airport,and I stayed at his house in Ilsan for a few days.The Kwon family is so warm,godly and welcoming that I didn't wanted to move in the SNU dorm. My birthday was on March the 1st and that's when I had to move in the dorm but I still managed to celebrate it 3 time in one day.That's record^^

Bday Breakfast with Seaweed soup-Miyuk gook

The SNU Campus is huge and I am not kidding when I say that.I got lost so many times in the first 2 weeks that I lost count after just 3 days.Life in Korea is all about being fast and efficient and that rule applies to students as well.Later I will make a post entirely about SNU!!!
Even though was very difficult to meet my old friends that I already had in Seoul it has been a great experience to meet new people and I will introduce them to you later.I will just mention about SNU Buddy because that's how basically I got to meet so many wonderful people.
SNU Buddy is a voluntary students organization within the university who helps the exchange students getting used to life in Korea.They were of great help to me and other exchange students who came  in February to study at SNU.We have a similar program in Romania  and I believe that exists in other countries as well.
Korea is a beautiful and exciting place and I am enjoying every day!!!

Hello everyone.^^
This is my first time writing a blog so if I make any mistakes please be understanding.
My name is Maria and I am exchange student at Seoul National University.I came here through a scholarship program for one academic year and I will be returning to my home country,Romania,in December this year.

I believe I can fly ^^

I have been in Korea since February 25th and I have enjoyed every single day.I've met many wonderful friends from different parts of the world.My major is Korean Studies and in Romania I study at Babes Bolyai University in Cluj.

Nice meeting you all.

If you have any question please post them here and I will try my best to answer them.

Have a lovely day!