Last Day

On my last full day in Korea, I met up with 'Emily' at the subway station. Intent on making my last day memorable, Emily and I went to Tom N Tom and had 허니 버터 브래드 (Honey Butter Bread) and coffee while we exchanged letters and took pictures on her polaroid camera.

Knowing we only had about 5-6 hours together, we decided to stay in 홍대 (Hongdae) and go to a 노래방 (private karaoke room). My second experience at a 노래방 was definitely more exciting than the first time. Emily had warned me that she was “pretty crazy” when it involved 노래방, and boy, she delivered. Dancing around like fools, we spent over 3 hours in the room. I was sure the people at the front desk were watching us because because instead of giving us the standard 30 minutes for service (ice cream), they kept adding time right before it ran out, giving us over an hour and a half of service.

After spending the afternoon at the 노래방, Emily took me out for dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant. The BBQ was delicious, but she made me try Korean rice wine, which to me, did not taste so good, but I pretended to like it anyways so she wouldn't feel bad.

Suddenly, Emily had to leave and I went back to the guesthouse to pack my things. After done packing, I stayed in with a German girl I met and we watched subbed movies together in the common room. She even made cake with another Canadian guy that was staying there because I was leaving the next day. The cake was delicious to say the very least. I didn't even know a person could make a cake out of Fanta, but somehow, she managed it.

It was a great last memory in Korea before I left in the morning.

Being a Tour Guide

명동

연세대학교

파파

Bright and early on my 3^rd last full day in Korea, I took the subway to 용산 (Yongsan) Station to pick up my friend from Jeonju who was coming to visit me in Seoul! Full of excitement, I waited at the station, unable to keep my hands still. As she walked into the main area, I really could believe that I was able to see my best friend twice within two weeks.

We went back to the guesthouse to put her things away and went to 홍대 (Hongdae) for breakfast. If you remember my last adventure in 홍대 during the morning, imagine it with even less stores open. 홍대 is a very busy place at night, especially Friday night, but one would think it was a ghost town on a Sunday morning. We found a shop, ate breakfast and left since it was not busy.

Then we went to 연세대학교 (Yonsei University) to look around. It seems like it would be a bit boring, but we were both extremely excited to be there because we both want to study there, her in the hospital as a Chemistry major, and me as foreign language exchange student.

Since my friend had not been to Seoul very many times, I was her official tour guide, which felt a bit weird since I was in her country. I already knew a couple places where we could go, and since there was so much to do in 명동 (Myeongdong), we went there next. We walked around, took sticker photos and did a lot of talking to each other.

Of course, knowing my best friend, we had to go back to the guesthouse just because her favourite singing competition was on TV that night. I didn't mind because it's also one of my favourite shows, and coincidentally, she was the one who introduced me to the show!

Later, we went back to 홍대 to enjoy some of the street music and look around. There were a couple performers that we okay, but there was one guy who was amazing! I almost felt bad for the other because everyone was around one person and no one was listening to them. We ate supper in 홍대 as well and then went to watch a movie. The movie, called 파파 (Papa), was awesome because it was half English, half Korean, so I could understand everything. It was weird because we were the only people in the whole theatre, but it was a lot of fun to be the only ones there.

Day with Ayumi-chan

While staying in홍대 (Hongdae) at a guesthouse, I met many people, including a girl named Ayumi from Japan. She was staying at the guesthouse until her friend came from Japan to meet up with her, so we were both there alone.

Although she didn't speak a lot of English, I didn't speak a lot of Japanese and we both didn't speak a lot of Korean, we bonded with each other over the time we spent in the guesthouse. On this day, we decided to go out together for the day.

First, we just wandered around 홍대, getting to know each other as best as we could and we also tried to look for a coffee shop. Doesn't sound like much of a challenge? Hardly anything is open before 10am in 홍대.

After finally finding a place to have coffee, it was already lunch time. We walked for a bit before we passed a Japanese food place. I could tell she wanted to eat there, so I suggested it and her whole face lit up. She recommended something to me, and I ordered that, but it turned out to be something different and it was unbearably spicy.

We left 홍대 and went to 인사동 (Insadong), where she helped me to pick out some gifts for my family back home. 인사동 is a more traditional area with a lot of culture and a lot of the souvenirs are historical.

We went shopping for a bit in 명동 (Myeongdong) and I found out she really likes the same music as me. After trying to talk about it and pointing to virtually every image we could find around us, we laughed a bit and headed back to the guesthouse, but we ended up getting lost. By some miracle, we bumped into a older Korean lady who also spoke English AND Japanese! Sometimes I wonder how much of a coincidence that was.

The next day, Ayumi had to leave and although we had no common language, she cried and through a translator, she told me that if I ever visited Japan that I had to see her.

'Emily' and 'Jason'

남산골 한옥마을

남산골 한옥마을

NOTE: I'm going to re-name my friends with English names in this blog so they can stay anonymous.

While staying with my friend (Emily) in Seoul, we met up with one of her guy friends (Jason) for a day. Because Emily had French class in the morning, Jason and I went to see an morning showing of an English movie in 명동 (Myeongdong). It was strange to be watching an English movie with Korean subtitles as I am used to watching Korean movies with either English subtitles, or no subtitles at all.

After we watched the movie, Jason and I went for coffee and Starbucks is exactly the same in Canada and South Korea, but there's a cafe in 홍대 (Hongdae) that sells Koreano coffee instead of Americano.

We wandered around 명동 for a bit when Emily was finished her class and we also took sticker photos. We stayed in 명동 for lunch and ate Korean-Italian food at a place called 리미니. The only difference is that the cream pastas aren't as creamy.

We went to a traditional village in Seoul called 남산골 한옥마을 (Namsan Hanok Village) in hopes of dressing in traditional clothing, but they no longer offered it. I almost think Emily was more disappointed than me!

Instead, we went to Kyobo Book Store, which is the largest book store in all of Korea. I think even their English section was larger than most book stores here!

When it got a little bit darker, we went to 청계천 (Cheonggyecheon Stream). The 청계천 is a stream that was very dirty during the Korean War and now it is much cleaner, but they are still working to make it better. It runs through the middle of Seoul and has nice lights at night in certain places.

Sweet Goodbyes and Cheerful Hellos

The last day I spent in Jeonju was full of mixed emotions. My friend and I had a great time and it created some amazing memories, but I knew that that was the last day I would spend in her city.

For breakfast that morning, we had to tell her mom to make less food and although she made half as much as she did the morning before, we still didn't finish it all. One of the things I miss most about Jeonju, besides my friend, is her mom's cooking.

After breakfast, we went to museum. This was not a typical museum though. The museum was 2 floors of various 2D art that when posing in the correct manner, one looks as if they are part of a 3D interactive art display in a photo.

For lunch that day, we went to a restaurant and ate 비빔밥 (mixed rice), for which Jeonju is famous and 불고기 (bulgogi). I can't say the 비빔밥 was my favourite, but it was pretty good.

After lunch, we went to the train station where it was time to say goodbye. I knew my friend was still going to visit me in Seoul a week later, but leaving Jeonju was emotional all the same. Whenever we say goodbye to each other, my friend and I promise we will not cry, no matter how long we will go without seeing each other, but as soon as the train pulled out of the station, I silently cried a little bit.

Being on the KTX train was probably my only bad experience while in South Korea. The people on the train were rude and some laughed as I tried, along with two other girls, to lift my 50lb. suitcase above my seat.

When I arrived in Seoul at 용산 (Yongsan) Station, I met another friend. We wandered around 홍대 (Hongdae) for a bit before going to her house.

That night, I had Korean ice cream for the first time! I know you may not think it is that exciting compared to exotic Korean dishes, but if you haven't had Korean ice cream, you are missing out! They have so many more flavours than here, in Canada and if you have a chance, you should try the melon flavour! 

The Two Worlds of Jeonju

전주 한옥마을

비빔국수

노래방

Welcome to my blog! During the end of January and beginning of February, I had the opportunity to travel South Korea. This will be an account of a couple days that I enjoyed the most.

The first day I spent in Korea I stayed with my best friend in the city of Jeonju. We met up with her friend and the three of us spent a day in the city.

Before we left, my friend's mom made breakfast for us. If you ever visit anyone in Jeonju, you should know that they are known for their food, 비빔밥 (mixed rice) in particular, and when a family has a guest, there is always a lot to eat.

The first half of the day, we explored a traditional village called 전주 한옥마을 (Jeonju Hanok Village). We spent the morning making traditional crafts including traditional painting of fans. We ate 비빔국수 (mixed noodles) at a traditional restaurant where everyone sits on the ground.

After lunch, we made our way to the area of Jeonju where most young people like to spend time. We spent a couple hours in a Japanese-style photo booth store where you can decorate the photos after you take them and then they transform them into stickers.

When we were finished taking pictures, we went to a 노래방 (private karaoke room). For a first experience, it was a lot of fun! At first, it was a bit difficult to sing along to the Korean lyrics that were rapidly passing on the screen, but it became easier when I knew some of the songs.

Next, we went to see a Korean movie called 댄싱퀸. Although I could not understand some of the conversation and slang, the motion pictures really helped to understand the plot and emotions of the characters.

After the movie was over, we spent some time in the area and went shopping for little while for uniquely Korean things like stationary and Korean clothing.

All in all, it was an amazing first full day spent in the Republic of Korea!