School is about to start in a couple of hours. And before I become busy again, I decided that I should write again.
Facebook has started showing people what their status updates were this time last year. And today, it caught my attention. This time last year, my status message was: "gusto ko pa ding maniwalang may patutunguhan ang paghihintay kong ito. Papa God, give me more faith please. || Focus Nich, FOCUS.=|"
This time last year, I was distracted mainly because of the impending result of the scholarship I applied for. Yup, I am talking about this scholarship in Korea that I am in right now.
Six months here in Korea and I still think that everything is a dream for me. I still think that one day I will just wake up and find myself in the Philippines already. I still can't believe that I am here right now...that I have met a lot of wonderful people and experienced life-changing events here.
Six months passed by very fast. The second semester is going to start in a few hours and before I even notice, I'll be coming home soon.
I realize now that I have to make the most of my stay here in Korea. Time is my enemy, and sadly, it's really tricky.
Later, I have to go to my Korean class, I just hope that I will see familiar faces in the classroom tomorrow. My classmates last semester were awesome...and it would be really great if I would be able to spend another semester with them.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
here I go again
I should be resting now...or doing something productive because school is about to start in a couple of days but then, I don't know why I am here again blogging about this stuff.
I am really confused right now. I don't want to write about it in detail. I just want to write I am confused right now.
Friday, August 19, 2011
fun Friday
Right now, I am taking a break from making all those paper cranes. I think I have made more than 100 and I still have a couple more months to work on it, so I really don't want to rush making 1,000 and doing it badly.
Anyway, this week, I met a new friend. Her name is Jane and she came from Estonia. I've been taking care of her, showing her around and introducing her to people...and I really don't mind. I mean, I'd love to do something rather than just stay at the dormitory and sleep a lot.
Yesterday, we went to Homeplus and I helped here buy some stuff for her room. We bought what she needed to have first. Oh, but before we went to Homeplus, something scary happened. We were walking towards the bus stop when a policeman said we couldn't pass that way. I knew another way out so I told Jane we'll go out that way. As we were walking to the bus stop, I heard planes. They were very loud and I've seen them for the first time. I was starting to be scared mainly because they were loud, so I thought they were flying low. Furthermore, Jane told me, they were war planes...which made me panic more. But then, everybody around us seem not to care. So I thought, maybe this was something normal to them. But still, I am IN a foreign country...what makes it worse is, I am IN a foreign country wherein there is internal war. So I was panicking and becoming my usual paranoid self again. But then, maybe after around 5 minutes, the traffic went back to normal...and soon, everything went fine.
Today, I went to 광양 to visit Esther. Esther is a very sweet kid that I met in the Christian church. She is the eldest daughter of the pianist in the church. Last Sunday, she asked me when I will go to their house, and we decided that we go today because today is her free day. So I brought Jane along with me since I figured that she wasn't doing anything and this was a good chance for her to go around the city.
We took bus 77, and honestly, I was a bit panicking because I hadn't been to their house yet. But I knew I could read and listen to Korean well enough that I probably wont get lost. The bus got a bit full so when some old ladies rode on the bus, Jane and I decided to offer our seats to them. They were very thankful. I was actually happy because when they talked to me in Korean, I did understand them. I mean, my goal here is to be proficient in Korean, and maybe I am one step closer to that.
One old lady noticed my ballers and asked me why I was wearing such. I said I just felt like wearing them. Then she started talking to me. She started asking me where I came from...and then she asked me the never-ending-question if I came here to get married. I instantly said no and explained to her that I came here to study as an exchange student. I was a bit pissed off with this question but I didn't mind. But I was happy that at least I could understand what they were saying to me. The old ladies were helpful enough to tell us that we would get off at the next station.
Then, we met up with Ms.Sarah and together we went to pick up Esther. She was so happy to see me that she literally jumped in the car and sat on my lap. I was so happy. Then we went to their house and did some paper-folding. Then Esther gave me a very cute envelope with her drawing in it. It was very sweet. Then, she gave me her present, it was candies and lollipop, too bad I couldn't eat them next week, I have to watch my diet. I also asked her to play the piano for me. Ms.Sarah said, Esther didn't like playing the piano for other people, even for her family. This was the first time she played the piano for me.
For lunch we had kimbap. It was Jane's first time to eat kimbap and odeng. After lunch, we came to look at the nearby fashion shop. The clothes there were much more cheaper than the ones in the nearby downtown. There was a great pair of red wedges which I REALLY wanted to buy, but I have no money now because I payed for my mother's stay here. Ms.Sarah said I could return anytime there and I could just give her a call and she'll take me there.
Then, we came to see Abraham and Grace. They were in kindergarten. Grace was so excited to see me that she said goodbye to her teacher already. Abraham was still a bit shy but at least he was answering to me now. The kindergaten here is very nice. It looked like a palace to me...really. When we were leaving, the young children were not shy that they said goodbye to us a couple of times. I was very happy.
Then we returned to their house. It was a nice, big house. I really liked it. As Ms.Sarah prepared fruit punch, Esther and Jane played chess. Esther was really good. Then we had some chips, fruit punch and ice cream. We chatted more and Esther showed us some of her ballet dances. She was very good.
Then, Jane and I decided that we should go home to rest for a bit because we still have a housewarming party to go to tonight. As I was saying goodbye, it seemed that Esther didn't want me to go. She hugged me very tight and kissed me a lot. And when I was putting my shoes on, she was pulling me back. So I said don't worry, we shall see each other on Sunday.Then Jane and I took the bus again back to the university.
Today was a very happy day. I wanted to play more but I think it'll be better to play more next time. It was also a bit sad that I didn't get to play with Grace and Abraham a lot, but at least I saw them.
I think it's going to be really hard for me to go home because of these three kids. These three kids are very sweet and nice that I really want to see them every week.
Anyway, this week, I met a new friend. Her name is Jane and she came from Estonia. I've been taking care of her, showing her around and introducing her to people...and I really don't mind. I mean, I'd love to do something rather than just stay at the dormitory and sleep a lot.
Yesterday, we went to Homeplus and I helped here buy some stuff for her room. We bought what she needed to have first. Oh, but before we went to Homeplus, something scary happened. We were walking towards the bus stop when a policeman said we couldn't pass that way. I knew another way out so I told Jane we'll go out that way. As we were walking to the bus stop, I heard planes. They were very loud and I've seen them for the first time. I was starting to be scared mainly because they were loud, so I thought they were flying low. Furthermore, Jane told me, they were war planes...which made me panic more. But then, everybody around us seem not to care. So I thought, maybe this was something normal to them. But still, I am IN a foreign country...what makes it worse is, I am IN a foreign country wherein there is internal war. So I was panicking and becoming my usual paranoid self again. But then, maybe after around 5 minutes, the traffic went back to normal...and soon, everything went fine.
Today, I went to 광양 to visit Esther. Esther is a very sweet kid that I met in the Christian church. She is the eldest daughter of the pianist in the church. Last Sunday, she asked me when I will go to their house, and we decided that we go today because today is her free day. So I brought Jane along with me since I figured that she wasn't doing anything and this was a good chance for her to go around the city.
We took bus 77, and honestly, I was a bit panicking because I hadn't been to their house yet. But I knew I could read and listen to Korean well enough that I probably wont get lost. The bus got a bit full so when some old ladies rode on the bus, Jane and I decided to offer our seats to them. They were very thankful. I was actually happy because when they talked to me in Korean, I did understand them. I mean, my goal here is to be proficient in Korean, and maybe I am one step closer to that.
One old lady noticed my ballers and asked me why I was wearing such. I said I just felt like wearing them. Then she started talking to me. She started asking me where I came from...and then she asked me the never-ending-question if I came here to get married. I instantly said no and explained to her that I came here to study as an exchange student. I was a bit pissed off with this question but I didn't mind. But I was happy that at least I could understand what they were saying to me. The old ladies were helpful enough to tell us that we would get off at the next station.
Then, we met up with Ms.Sarah and together we went to pick up Esther. She was so happy to see me that she literally jumped in the car and sat on my lap. I was so happy. Then we went to their house and did some paper-folding. Then Esther gave me a very cute envelope with her drawing in it. It was very sweet. Then, she gave me her present, it was candies and lollipop, too bad I couldn't eat them next week, I have to watch my diet. I also asked her to play the piano for me. Ms.Sarah said, Esther didn't like playing the piano for other people, even for her family. This was the first time she played the piano for me.
For lunch we had kimbap. It was Jane's first time to eat kimbap and odeng. After lunch, we came to look at the nearby fashion shop. The clothes there were much more cheaper than the ones in the nearby downtown. There was a great pair of red wedges which I REALLY wanted to buy, but I have no money now because I payed for my mother's stay here. Ms.Sarah said I could return anytime there and I could just give her a call and she'll take me there.
Then, we came to see Abraham and Grace. They were in kindergarten. Grace was so excited to see me that she said goodbye to her teacher already. Abraham was still a bit shy but at least he was answering to me now. The kindergaten here is very nice. It looked like a palace to me...really. When we were leaving, the young children were not shy that they said goodbye to us a couple of times. I was very happy.
Then we returned to their house. It was a nice, big house. I really liked it. As Ms.Sarah prepared fruit punch, Esther and Jane played chess. Esther was really good. Then we had some chips, fruit punch and ice cream. We chatted more and Esther showed us some of her ballet dances. She was very good.
Then, Jane and I decided that we should go home to rest for a bit because we still have a housewarming party to go to tonight. As I was saying goodbye, it seemed that Esther didn't want me to go. She hugged me very tight and kissed me a lot. And when I was putting my shoes on, she was pulling me back. So I said don't worry, we shall see each other on Sunday.Then Jane and I took the bus again back to the university.
Today was a very happy day. I wanted to play more but I think it'll be better to play more next time. It was also a bit sad that I didn't get to play with Grace and Abraham a lot, but at least I saw them.
I think it's going to be really hard for me to go home because of these three kids. These three kids are very sweet and nice that I really want to see them every week.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
5 months
As I've written in my first blog post, I am currently here in South Korea as an exchange student. The first three months were definitely hard for me. This is my first time away from home and away from my comfort zone. I spent most of the nights crying myself to sleep because I miss home so much. After a couple of months, I felt comfortable living here in South Korea. I feel so comfortable here now that I can live here for a few more years.
Well, that's not exactly my point here. What I want to write about is my realizations while I stayed here. So that after a year or two, I can still go back and re-read whatever I have written here.
Here in Korea, they have a standard of what is "beautiful". Beautiful=big eyes, white skin, slim body. It's either these criteria or you're out. And of these three criteria, I only have one, big eyes. Girls here are dying to be able to qualify in all three, and honestly, it's not good. I mean, I met two Korean friends here that are pretty. If you put them in the Philippine society, Filipino guys would definitely find them attractive. They have a very fresh face and they always smile, and that is what makes them attractive. Most importantly, they have a very good personality...something that we find really attractive. But if you ask them, they don't think of themselves as pretty...just because they don't have "big" eyes, "white" skin, and a "slim" enough body.
I'm dying to tell my friends how beautiful they are in their own way.They're pretty because they have a very nice smile. Also, when they laugh, they laugh heartily. They're bodies are proportionate to their height. Likewise, they carry themselves well and exude an aura of confidence.
And because of this reflection, I also realize how much I need to appreciate myself more. I need to appreciate myself more despite of all my imperfections. Yes, I have big arms and big thighs and I have to live with it. All I have to do is to focus on my assets and work on it. I have learned to accept my sort-of-chinky eyes, my cleft chin, my arched eyebrows,and my smile. Realizing where my strong points are, I know, I am beautiful in my own way.
Someday, I"ll convince my friends that they are too.
Well, that's not exactly my point here. What I want to write about is my realizations while I stayed here. So that after a year or two, I can still go back and re-read whatever I have written here.
Here in Korea, they have a standard of what is "beautiful". Beautiful=big eyes, white skin, slim body. It's either these criteria or you're out. And of these three criteria, I only have one, big eyes. Girls here are dying to be able to qualify in all three, and honestly, it's not good. I mean, I met two Korean friends here that are pretty. If you put them in the Philippine society, Filipino guys would definitely find them attractive. They have a very fresh face and they always smile, and that is what makes them attractive. Most importantly, they have a very good personality...something that we find really attractive. But if you ask them, they don't think of themselves as pretty...just because they don't have "big" eyes, "white" skin, and a "slim" enough body.
I'm dying to tell my friends how beautiful they are in their own way.They're pretty because they have a very nice smile. Also, when they laugh, they laugh heartily. They're bodies are proportionate to their height. Likewise, they carry themselves well and exude an aura of confidence.
And because of this reflection, I also realize how much I need to appreciate myself more. I need to appreciate myself more despite of all my imperfections. Yes, I have big arms and big thighs and I have to live with it. All I have to do is to focus on my assets and work on it. I have learned to accept my sort-of-chinky eyes, my cleft chin, my arched eyebrows,and my smile. Realizing where my strong points are, I know, I am beautiful in my own way.
Someday, I"ll convince my friends that they are too.
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