Around the School Part II

When we have exchanges we meet in the Flec Building Global Lounge. Even when we don't have exchanges most of the internationals hang out in the lounge. Either we have a short break and are waiting for our next exchanges or sometimes it's fun just to chill out and chat and possibly attach myself to another person's exchange.

Here we are just chilling out:

Hae Seong, Maiday (eating the Big Chicken Mayo which is SUPER delicous), Maiko & Amanda

Hae Seong has a name tag on. Most majors will make their freshman students wear name tags. It's a way for the seniors to identify them as freshmans and so they don't have to keep asking them for their names. Here seniority is BIG. The freshmans are required to bow to their seniors and speak in polite speech. It's a very interesting cultural concept.

On Friday April 1 we had a HUGE pillow fight outside in an open field. One of the international students set this up and it was awesome.

It was sunny and finally started to feel like spring! It was the perfect weather to hold this outdoor event. I think we're trying to create another event like this soon. A water fight maybe...

Here we started to randomly attack people just passing by...haha

That same night I went with a few girls to a hot spring. Here the hot springs are separated guys and girls because you strip down and are naked. Clothing is NOT an option, so no bathing suits. It was the strangest experience, but once we were in there it wasn't that hard to get used to. People of all ages are there just relaxing and sitting in the hot spring baths. Each pool has a different temperature there is indoor and outdoor. There is a wet sauna and a dry sauna as well. We also got this scrub where these ladies scrub all the dead skin off your body and your skin is left feeling SUPER smooth. It was really worth it.

We went to Dogo Hot Springs which is a ten minute bus ride from our school. Entrance fee was 6000 won (student discount, 10 000 normally) and the scrub was worth 20 000 won. I went with Maggi, Kristen and Akiko! We also went at the perfect time, 2 hours before closing so it wasn't crowded at all.

When heading back to the school we realized the front gate of the school is really pretty at night. All the restaurants and stores are at the back gate so we've never actually seen the front gate of the school but it has really pretty lights!

I also got to try some drip coffee from one of my Korean friends here. He's a barista and was making coffee. I normally don't drink coffee cause I find it too bitter, but he gave me a piece of chocolate to eat before drinking the coffee and it was absolutely delicious. I now understand the concept of dessert and coffee.

On Sunday April 3rd I went to Seoul - Gangnam to meet Christina and Jin! We ate at Red Mango, it's one of those frozen yoghurt places where you pick what type of yoghurt you want and how many toppings you'd like to add. I had a fabulous time catching up with them! I haven't seen Jin since he left Vancouver back in June...it was some what surreal meeting him in Korea.

Here in Korea major jackets are really popular. It's not a big trend in Canada, but I know in the US they are popular too (letterman jackets). The international students all wanted to get a jacket after seeing all the Korean students walk around with them. I tried on my friend Paul's (pronounced Pao-ul) jacket and I love it. Especially since maroon was my high school colour.

Here each major has their own colour and design for the jacket. Their major is normally written on the back of the jacket. It's neat seeing them all around the school. I think the Physical Education majors tend to wear their jackets more than any other group. I always see them in their blue walking around.

Wednesday (April 6) my friend Jun took Kristen, Maiko and I to this favourite Korean restaurant around Sin Chang. This place serves more traditional Korean food and it was fantastic. We had plates and plates of food on our table. It was also vegetarian (besides one plate of fish) and is super healthy.

The restaurant looks like a house so it's really cozy. We had a few rounds of food, I have no idea what the names of the food are but everything was super delicious. These are the appetizers.

The main course round included a bean curd type soup with rice, noodles and another new assortment of side dishes! I was very full by the end. 30 000 for 4 people not a bad price at all.