White Clouds and Blue Skies

From San Francisco to Seoul, here is my adventure

[sftoseoul-blog]

Sea Parting Festival! I was left behind! Oh No!

I am here! I have a juicy story and details of a trip that I just took! So recently, I went on a trip with my friend Sarah to the Jindo Sea Parting Festival (진도 신비의바닷길축제)! Jindo is about 5 hours away from Seoul without traffic, but with traffic, it can take up a good 6-8 hours which isn’t too bad! It was an overnight trip starting Friday 11 pm and we didn’t arrive till 5 am! The moment we got off, we were given torches and told to walk for a good 15 minutes to the sea parting area to do the opening ceremony. It was honestly too early for fireworks, but it was a beautiful experience to know that Koreans were this excited for a sea parting. 

(Can you tell I’m exhausted?) 

We ate after the whole fireworks and torch lightings, but shortly after that, I took a nap on the bus. Haha, Sarah said I slept for so long and came back on the bus about a good 2-5 times to check up on me? She even Kakaoed me! I felt so bad that I woke up at noon and kind of just waisted my day, but it was okay, I was still able to do a lot of activities. I was able to touch the beach again, water. It was honestly so relaxing, so perfect... The water was not too cold, the sun was shining, the wind was breezing through my body, whispering to come into the water. 

After relaxing with Sarah for a bit, we took another nap into our hostel and then we headed out towards the color festival. The sea parting wouldn’t start till around 6-7 pm, so we had plenty of time. It was honestly one of the best events that I have ever done. So much color in the sand, hair, and body. I was wish I can redo that event again. It was just too perfect, everyone was by the beach and just throwing color at each other. My hair was covered in pink chalk or dust? I covered Sarah in what she calls “Shrek” color. I could only reply “Korea does like Shrek, haven’t you seen Baskin Robbins? Face masks at Olive Young!” 

(This picture basically describes our friendship haha) 

Finally, we were able to see the “sea parting” It wasn’t like how in Moses where the water splits (I wish, it would have been great for the snaps), but it was just a really low tide. Sarah and I were able to walk about more than half way through before they started making going back. Of course, we wanted to go all the way there, but the sun was setting and the tide was coming back quickly. So many people there, just walking, it really felt like in Biblical times where people were walking across the Red Sea to be set free from Egypt. 

So once we got back, we were able to eat and rest and ready for the next morning to head home. Here is where the panicking starts! (Uh-oh!) We got up the next day, got ready, packed our stuff, placed our stuff in the bus, got breakfast, and then we decided to head towards the cafe so that we can get some coffee and lattes. Along with Sarah and I, two of our roommates came with us and a friend of theirs. We arrived at the cafe by 10:25 am. We were scheduled to see a dog show at 11:30 so we assumed that we would leave at 11:30! At 10:25, we realized that the cafe wouldn’t open till 11 am, but we said that was fine cause we would just get our drinks and then speed walk back to the bus. However, this is where it gets horrible. At 10:54 am, Sarah received a phone call from our bus leader. He told her that they were leaving now, but Sarah had specifically said that we would be there as fast as we could. 

We told the three other girls that they were leaving, so we began to run, however, one of the girl asked to call the bus guy back because they wanted to see if their bus had left. (There were multiple buses, but all the same program. Sarah and I were in bus 7 while the three other girls were in bus 5). Jessica (one of the girls) called and asked if their bus had left, he replied that they had already left and that they would have to take a taxi. Apparently, they had made an announced around 10:20-10:30 that they were planning on leaving earlier than expected because it took 40 minutes to get to the dog show. They were making announcements when we woke up, around 8:30, saying that check out was at 10:30, but we just assumed that the hostel wanted us out as soon as possible, not because we had to leave early! Sarah and I began to panic and ran faster, but by the time we got there, 11:03 am, the buses had already left. We were so shocked and just called our bus leader back so that they can call us a taxi (Cause we didn’t know how to order a taxi) and we didn’t know the address! They called a taxi for us, but at that time, we see a couple walking towards us and saying “Where are the buses?” We had told them that they had already left.  

One of the other girls (I forgot her name, but I’m sure Sarah remembers), had called one of the leaders and said that they we were all angry that they didn’t announce that they were leaving earlier and that they were not clear with the instructions. The couple was also from bus 5 (Yikes! That means 5 people were missing from that bus), and they were not at the hostel like the rest of us, they had an option to sleep at a different hotel to make it more private for them, SO THEY CAN’T HEAR THE ANNOUNCEMENTS AT ALL. I REPEAT, THEY CANNOT HEAR THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND NO ONE HAD TOLD THEM. THEIR BUS LEADER KNEW THEY WERE AT A DIFFERENT HOTEL, BUT DID NOT BOTHER TO TELL THEM. The young girl was still on the phone and was on the phone with the bus leader, let’s call him Andres (it was Andrew), and he said “Only 4 people are missing.” Snorts. She could only reply, “No, 5 people are missing...” She had repeated their names and of course it got more stressful. Luckily, the wife/girlfriend of the man was Korean and was able to call a taxi for themselves. We were not planning on paying for this taxi and neither was the couple. We came to a conclusion that it was the group’s fault for not waiting when we had told them we would be there as fast as we can. The sad part is that no one from bus 5 leaders had called any of the tourists to tell them that they were leaving. If it wasn’t for Sarah, then they would have been left stranded. 

It’s irresponsible to not call your clients and tell them that they were leaving. I understand that it’s our responsibility to be on time, but it’s also important to tell people the same announcements at the same time, not scattered. Luckily, one taxi came, and Sarah and I were able to take it along with one of the girls (the one that called and told them the full story). The taxi drove pretty quick that we were able to watch the last 20 minutes of the dog show. Of course, we didn’t pay because it was pointless when it wasn’t our fault. Yes, I did panic, but the panic is over. I was able to get back to Seoul safely with Sarah and it’s now just funny memories that we will never forget! Thanks for reading! 

[sftoseoul-blog]

Spring in Seoul

I know it’s been awhile. I should really update here often, but I tend to forget or just get tired. It’s exhausting to keep up with the world and tell everyone how life has been here when it’s the same questions all the time, but it’s okay, I hope you don’t mind that I’m late. 

Well, it’s April (almost ending) and the cherry blossoms finally bloomed, but we all know that those flowers don’t las for a long time, but when they were out there, it made Seoul look much more brighter. I’m more of a fall person. Why? It’s not too cold, but as well not too hot (Sometimes). So you would think I would enjoy Spring as well? Err, not quite right. Spring here is.. humid. Well so is the summer, but if you know me on a personal level, I don’t like sweating (unless I’m working out), but I just don’t like the feeling of being melted. Like there is no point on putting on make up if the make up is going to wipe off the moment I step outside. 

Aside from me hating the heat, I began my last semester here in Seoul. Time goes by so fast. I booked my ticket back home and I’m not going to lie, the day I leave is going to be a bitter sweet moment. I didn’t go home for winter break, like so many students did, so I haven’t touched American grounds since August 2016. I still remember the feeling when I left my family to go to Korea. It was such an odd experience, but now thinking about leaving Korea is going to be another.. odd feeling. I’ve lived in Korea for awhile now and it feels like I’m a native. I know my way around, I can read a map fairly well, I don’t get lost as much anymore, and it just feels natural to me. 

The moment I step off the plane in America, it will feel so foreign. My US passport does not mean much cause home will be changed. I don’t know what’s changed around my hometown, but I’m sure I will be confused and asking many questions to those around me on what happened. Even here in Korea, many buildings constantly change about every other month, but I’m use to it cause I’ve been here for so long now. It honestly feels like I’ve been here more than a year. Not to mention, I just witnessed an impeachment and I’m about to witness an election, how much more native feeling could that get?? 

Korea is home now. When I leave it, I will be leaving a part of my heart because it’s just something so comfortable to me. Whether I comeback or not (I hope to comeback cause this country is amazing in so many ways), I will never forget or regret coming here. Yes, I’ve had the worse case of home sickness back in October/November and even around the holidays, but Korea is just wonderful. I hope someone would come ask me to join them on another Korea journey and show them around apart of my home. I’ll be leaving some pictures of food I’ve eaten and the cherry blossoms~ Also, if you want to see more of my food adventures here in Korea, follow me on instagram @ eatnessa! 

(I don’t know why my pictures aren’t clear) 

[sftoseoul-blog]

Winter break part... 1?

Well hello dear readers! I know I am so behind in my “diary” I guess, blog? Blog! Haha! It’s been awhile and I have lots to tell you! I am thinking that this is only going to take place from the end of December for this first part. My winter break was from December until March 2nd, and I know I should have updated sooner, but I did get lazy and I just didn’t know where to start! But let us begin! 

First off, my winter break started off slow. I was waiting for my family to come in (Christopher and Jenny) on December 24th? 

I don’t remember haha. But regardless, I had a few free time. I was able to hang with some of my Korean friends such and Lisa, Kyuri, and Yeonwoo~ They took me to this wonderful place called “Pie Hole”. It’s kind of a Yonsei hideout for Yonsei students! Basically it was just an ending to a semester, but as well it was a goodbye to my friend Kyuri, who was leaving Korea to go to study abroad to Washington DC! (I hope you’re having fun Kyuri!) 

But yes, after meeting up with my friends, I had to wait for my family. I waited a few more days, till it was finally the day that I can pick them up at the airport. The feeling was something out of this world cause I felt like a native. How nice is it that I know how to get to the airport and pick up my brother and cousin? I was nervous as heck practicing my Korean with them, but I hope that I did well with them! My Mami demanded a picture of all us together from the moment they stepped off the airplane, so here it is! 

They were tired and I was just awkward, but regardless, I was happy that they were there! I am not going to go day by day for this trip because I feel like it would bored everyone, so it will mostly consist of pictures of what we did and you can def ask me on facebook or on here, tumblr, for where exactly those palaces were or where we were at that time! On the first day that they were here, I took them on the limo bus because it was more relaxing, rather than a crowded subway (lol they know the experience by now). Finally arriving at Sinchon (it took an hour! D:), we settled in their bags, then I took them out to get 순두부 찌개 (Soft Tofu Soup).. and let’s just say.. someone had a hard time eating the spicy soup! 

They slept their first night, and finally it was Christmas in Korea! Wow, imagine spending a holiday in a different country? It was my first time and I’m pretty sure it was theirs as well and it was perfect. I was overwhelmed with joy knowing that for once, I didn’t feel alone. All my friends had gone home for the break or just left because their programs were only a semester, so yes, it felt like I was the only person there in Korea, but I wasn’t. For that one week I felt like I was back at home in San Francisco, except, without everyone speaking English (or Spanish) it was just Korean. 

Oh yes, Christmas! You’d be surprised that everything was open! Unlike in America, everything seems to be closed and the streets are quiet, nobody really leaves home, unless visiting other family, but Korea was just as busy as any other day. We took a family portrait at Ewha Women’s University (yes, it was the school that had a scandal with the South Korean President) because the school is breathtaking.

I showed them around Hongdae 홍대 right after this (they know funny stories about Hongdae with me). I showed them the sheep cafe, which of course they enjoyed. This is where it first hit them that life in Korea is not like America. In America, everything is so fast passed, you have these Starbucks drive throughs, people rushing to get their coffees, but do you actually see anyone sitting down and having a conversation for at least an hour or two? Even if you do, it’s most likely someone studying with each other. In Korea, people are at cafes for hours on end, there is no rush, it’s just common to sit down and have lattes with bread or cakes and let there be no hurry. At these times, it feels like there is nothing to worry about. 

Trust me, we had plenty of sugar throughout the whole vacation! This was just some for the Sheep cafe! Which reminds me, if you have an instagram, you can follow me on my foodstagram @eatnessa. It has all kinds of cafes an restaurants from Seoul! I try to update it as often as I can! But back to the where I was! Oh yes! See.. a part of me wants to write about the whole vacation I had with them in showing them around Seoul, but then again I might as well just post the pictures. I’m not sure.. I can show you pictures of the following day cause it was mostly sugar high and shopping. 

My cousin Jenny, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES HELLO KITTY. And Korea is one of those countries that has a Hello Kitty cafe, so I brought her to her happy place! I hope she has full memories of this place! I know it made her happy and I’m glad I was able to do that for her! 

The rest of the pictures after Hello Kitty are all from the same day! We were at Myeongdong 명동 and our feet were killing us!!!! But it was a wonderful day! I will cut it short here! I will post another part of the winter break series with more pictures and writings. It’s currently 1:00 am as I am writing this! I hope you enjoyed this post!

[seokjinmakeup-blog]

The Pie Hole Seoul, Sinchon, South Korea

[seokjinmakeup-blog]

Adventures today!

[seokjinmakeup-blog]

Sinchon, Seoul, South Korea

[sftoseoul-blog]

내 방 My Room

Wow! I am so late! This should have been one of my first posts here in Korea (한국), but I totally forgot?? I am so sorry! Haha, finally, I can give everyone a full room tour after.. almost.. 3 months? 

Who could be living in this room? Oh yes! I am on on the fourth floor of my Goshiwon. Now for those of you who don’t know what a Goshiwon is, it’s basically a boxed room (literally). Sometimes Goshiwons have Ahjussi’s or Ahjuma’s where they own the building, offering housing for foreigners (외국인들). They range from prices depending on the size of the room, as well as offer a place for your shoes, a kitchen (which they offer rice (밥), kimchi (김치), and ramen (라면)), and deliver your mail once it is received into their front office. My Goshiwon is the closest from my university, Sinchon (신촌), Seoul (서울). 

Now let’s see how the room looks like! 

TADA~ You see me through my bathroom mirror, but basically this is it. To give you a size idea... it’s probably way off, but it’s probably 2 1/3 of me both vertical and horizontal (I’m 5′6″ or 168 cm) so it is not much. Funny, when I first showed my mom how my room was, the first thing she said is, “It looks like a playhouse for you.” Of course I laughed cause it sounded funnier in Spanish and my mom’s voice always makes me laugh, but aside from that, it does look like a doll house. It felt like it too when I first began to get adjusted. Due to the high humidity that Korea has, everyone room must have at least one window, not much, but enough so that I can breath. 

My closet! It’s small, only three drawers and one big closet area. I do have hangers everywhere, but they are not visible in the pictures! I have hangers everywhere because I am required to air dry my clothes! D: I was fine with air drying when it was hot because my clothes and blankets would be dry within a day. However, since it went from 70-90′s with extreme humidity, to sudden 30′s-50′s, it’s been harder to dry my clothes, so if anyone has any advice on how to air dry clothes faster (even though I have a fan??), please let me know! It’s an emergency! D:

The extra storage place which consist of my make up products, food, books for school, cleaning supplies, and kitchen supplies. I also have another row but it’s not important so I excluded it out from the picture. Sorry! Not much to say here. 

My desk space! I don’t use the desk, only to put stuff down. I don’t know why, but I cannot study in desks? It’s always been a habit of mine to study on my bed or on the floor. Either way, it’s just there for my placing. Yes, my toilet paper is there because I forget to take it out from the bathroom when I shower and it gets all soaked so I decided to leave it out of the bathroom (RIP). I don’t use the TV, so it’s just there. The refrigerator is down below, really tiny, but enough for me, also some more books for school because they don’t fit in the shelves. 

Lastly my bathroom! I suddenly miss the bathtub and the amazing space that it gave me to put all my appliances from up high to down below. Ahh, American bathrooms. It’s all in one... although it saves me time to clean, it’s a struggle to not have water running down on me. Yes, you don’t see it clearly, but I have to turn the thingy on the sink and the lift up the other thingy and then (you don’t see the rod) press the button on the rod and let the water go down on you. So it’s manual. I just miss standing under the water not doing anything lol, but this is how I am living and I have been adjusted. Side note, the dorms at Yonsei have bathrooms like these as well (for single rooms), just a heads up if anyone decides to study abroad in Korea! 

Thank you again for reading! It is Wednesday, 9:00 PM. I know most of you are starting your Wednesdays, so I hope it goes well! Days like these is when I miss the Wednesday Youth Nights back at Cotati. I extremely miss the youth both back at TDLF and at New Hope Church. I can’t wait to see everyone again! Pray for me as finals begin to approach! I hope everyone enjoyed this blog! It was lengthy but now everyone knows that I am living in this “boxed room”! Haha! See you guys in the next post!

[sftoseoul-blog]

My Experience At Inkigayo! AND CULTURE SHOCK!?

So I went to Inkigayo last week Sunday, (November 6) with a close friend of mine! We have been tumblr friends since 2014, and it was the very first time that we have been able to meet! She was originally from LA, but once she graduated from high school, she and her family moved to South Korea! Anyways, long story short, we got in contact with each other again once I was in Korea. She told me she too was in Korea and that we should meet up. We have been planning it for awhile, but never had time. One day she asked “Want to go to Inkigayo with me?” Of course I had to say yes because it was a once and a lifetime experience! 

It was also during the time BTS was promoting their new album “Wings” with their main song as “Blood, sweet, and tears”. I honestly didn’t think that I would be seeing BTS at all, but here I was, going to see them for their goodbye stage. But basically, she was able to talk to her dad and her dad was able to talk to a friend of his that worked in SBS building. He gave us the two tickets, and I was able to meet up with her! 

On the day of the show, we had some coffee and bagel before the big show. We waited about an hour outside, but the way the tickets are set up is that it has a number, and by that number, you have to stand outside like that so that you could go in without any issues. Also because it’s more organized while the artists are going back and forth from their dressing room and the stage. 

When I was finally able to go inside the building (not the auditorium), I was able to see BTS from up the stairs and couldn’t help but to keep staring. It was honestly a beautiful moment and before I knew it, fangirls began to scream for them and they began to run towards the stage so that they can rehearse. I was close of going inside the auditorium, and next thing I know Monsta X comes out and Shownu is looking down at me. I think I was still in shocked that I saw BTS that my mind wasn’t processing that I was staring at Hyungwon and Shownu was looking down at me. 

(BTS group photo from their latest album)

(Hyungwon, whom I was staring at)

(Shownu, who was staring down at me)

Finally I was able to sit down, but I was placed in the opposite end of my friend, but everything was going to be okay! I was able to see VIXX as well, I cried so much because VIXX are one of my favorite boy groups. She told me earlier that I wasn’t allowed to record, but I tried and I was able to record the practice version of “Blood, Sweet, and Tears”. Once their practices were over, they were about to star the show. I saw Chen, Baek, and Xiumin, I was about to take a picture but the security lady stopped me. She saw that I was a foreigner so I assumed it was a warning towards me. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RECORD IN INKIGAYO. You will be asked to give your phone, erase the pictures/videos, and you will be kicked out. Don’t ask me why, I think it’s copyrights issues, but I don’t know.

(VIXX! Rare boyband who are all at least 6 feet tall)

I didn’t bother to record the show, but I loved seeing all the acts. It was an experience that I will never forget. I was even introduced to some more bands that I have never heard of, but I enjoyed listening to because they have talent! Overall, it wasn’t what I expected. If it was pre-recorded, the artists will get their and lip sync and then leave half way. Not what you expected right? Neither did I. Of course, not all are pre-recorded. My friend says she believes it’s the comebacks that are pre-recorded, so basically, the first time back on Inkigayo! Example of this would be Black Pink’s comeback! 

Here is another crazy, culture shock experience that I dealt with on that Sunday. So you know how there is pictures of the idols in their cars and waving at fans? Okay, so you wait outside the parking lot and like on the sidewalk. A lot of the fans know the plate numbers to each car (so scary) so they waited in front of them. Whenever their managers would take the cars to the parking garage (cause the band members go in quietly and secretly and with security), fans would get excited and start jumping, getting their fancy cameras ready, all zoomed in. Suddenly, they come out towards the street and wave at fans or sometimes just drive off. ONCE THEY LEAVE, FANS START TO CHASE THE CAR??? LIKE WHY?? I was really shocked?? Like how much energy and time do you have to chase a car for a few seconds?? I’m so confused? But overall, it was fun, just... startling towards the end. 

See you guys next time!

[sftoseoul-blog]

What Am I Suppose To Do After I’ve Been Accepted Part 2

I know it’s been awhile since I have written a “what to do now” kind of post, but I haven’t found the right words, but as well I wanted to keep you all updated on my life here! So here is the summer process! 

As you are constantly checking your portal, you should keep a planner or an alarm indicating that something is due! Although the due dates are spread out, I suggest you finish them as soon as possible to avoid any delays! 

I also recommend that you get a summer job. Depending on where you go, housing/tuition can range. I really recommend you to save! REALLY SAVE. My money lasted maybe a good...or is lasting for a good 4 months, but that is because I paid for my rent for the first two months. My parents are helping here on out, but if my parents had helped me paid my living cost in the first place, my money could last up till December. (I know that sounded rude but I’m telling you an idea of how long money can last)

If you are planning on working at the country that you are going to, you are going to need to go to the counselor that is in charge of all study abroad students from that country and request a working visa which can be fixed at the immigration office. (We will get into more detail about alien registration card later)

At this time, you are also working on your VISA. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. You need to find the local immigration office of your designated country. Usually you need certain documents from the school, which they should mail to you. If any laws are changed, they will contact you. In my case of my Visa, I only needed the papers from the school, my passport (everyone will need this), a passport photo, money, transcripts (unofficial/official) and bank statements. 

I went directly to the immigration office because South Korea’s immigration office was located in my city (There is 2 in California SF and LA), so I went there directly. In my experience (San Francisco) they actually didn’t care about the bank statements and my transcripts. On the website it says that they want all those documents, but they didn’t accept them. Funny thing about this, between LA and SF, they were.. inconsistent. 

What do you mean? 

So like I said, I went directly and in the website they wanted all these documents. If you wanted Single entry it was $45 dollars, multiple entry is $90 dollars. I wanted multiple just in case I wanted to leave Korea like to visit Japan or Australia. The lady told me that I can ask for that in Korea, so they gave me single entry. I said that was fine. 

In LA, they wanted every document so many of my friends had to go back and forth. In LA, they automatically gave everyone the multiple entry and only paying the $45 dollars. It was very inconsistent because nobody knew what documents to bring to the immigration office. Many were frustrated, but I am telling you this now that YOU SHOULD BRING EVERYTHING. Even if they don’t want it, it’s better than going back and forth.

I had another friend who didn’t have the luxury to go into the city to visit the office, so she had to mail it. Sadly, immigration offices don’t pay for shipping, so you need to make sure you have paid for the returning mail so that they can send you back your passport. 

Once you get your passport (It took me only one week!), you slowly make your way on your living situation, classes, and how to invest your money.

Okay! So if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask me any questions! I will be making another of these “how to” with living outside campus, classes, and your ARC (Alien Registration Card)! Until then, thank you!

[sftoseoul-blog]

Two months! Sorry for the lack of updates!

FRIENDS, FOLLOWERS, AND EVERYONE ELSE OUT THERE!

It’s been two full months since I have been in Korea (한국 HANGUK) and oh boy it feels like I have been here for more than two months! Time flies, next thing I know I’m going to be back in America (미국 MIGUK/MEEGUK/MEGUK I don’t know how people really pronounce their I’s or E’s so I giving everyone options) and return my life as “normal”. But enough about the future, it’s about now and here is the update~

Last month around September, I found out that I needed my bottom wisdom teeth taken out because they were already growing in the back! So I made an appointment to get both of them out. I was planning on taking out both on Thursday morning (Wednesday for many of you), but they told me that they were only going to take out one first because that tooth specifically was by the nerve and that nerve was connected to my tongue. So they wanted me to have a full safe recovery! It would have been better if it was both at the same time so that I didn’t have to go back to take out the left side, but the position that I am in right now, makes me glad that I only took out one. 

So they took one out, which only took less than 10 minutes, I was done, they gave me the gauze in my mouth, gave me the paper with instructions, okay time to go home and rest for the rest of the weekend? Nope. I had midterms this week! I had already missed a midterm (which I was able to make up) just for this surgery, so I went home, napped, then around 3:15 pm I began to hike walk to class because I had to take 3/4 exams for my KLI (Korean Language Institute/Intense (I’m not sure)) class. I have not swollen up yet, in fact, the drugs began to ware off, but I was “fine”. My friend Sarah (She came from the same university as I did (GO SEAWOLVES) was checking up on me and as well as the rest of the class. I was thankful that I had met wonderful people as them because they told me how to make my healing process to go smoother. Once I was done with the reading exam, I went home, bought a cup of ice as I felt my face starting to swell up. Side not at the store, the lady was asking if I wanted to put in ice coffee in my cup, and I shook my head and put the cup by my cheek to give her the message and she began to smile and said “cute” as I was shy cause I knew the hard part was going to start. I kakaoed (messaging app) Sarah maybe a dozen times that night as I was began to panic cause I wasn’t so sure what to do, I was reading about dry socket (I really shouldn’t be given a phone during a time when I just had surgery) and blew up her phone. She told me not to worry just as long as I don’t let food go on that side and as long as I kept it clean, I should be okay.

Friday comes along, I have 3 exams all back to back. I woke up early to study a lot more, then an hour before my first exam, I walked out of my Goshiwon, went to the GS25 (Like a Korean 7-11 but they are EVERYWHERE), bought a cup of ice and hiked walked to my class. At that moment when I sat down again, I wanted to go home because it literally looked as if a baseball was in the corner of my mouth and the ice was not helping at all. I sent a picture to my mom right in the morning to show my mom how swollen I looked and of course as a mother’s instinct, she did get worried. I finished with one exam while holding an ice pack throughout the whole time, I waited an hour to do start on my second exam (Which my mother called me in the of cause she thought I would be home resting XD), and finally I was able to go grab something to eat. I had fries because everything around my next exam was either made with rice or too big for my mouth to open or just I couldn’t eat at all. So fries was my only option. My plan after eating was to get another cup of ice from the underground student store by the dorms, but they didn’t have anything so ice cream was my option but it didn’t help with the swelling so why did I bother -__-.

As I waited for the exam to start, I sat in the couches trying to study but as well kakaoing Sarah because she was wondering of my location. I told her where I was and all of a sudden I hear “BANESSA-SSI” I quickly turned to see my Tuesday/Thursday Korean instructor 김 선생님 (Kim Sonsaengnim (Teacher Kim)). He looks at me and smiles cause he could tell I was having a rough day, but he tells me that he was looking over my past 3 exams and said I did well. I was relaxed knowing that I was doing well so far despite bombing the speaking portion of the class, but knew it was going to be okay. I met up with Sarah outside the exam room, watched her eat rice and something else, but I was envious that I couldn’t have rice. Again, she told me not to panic about the dry socket issue because it’s rare for someone to get it and if I’m doing everything as instructed, I should be fine. The exam began, I finished, went home, bought two cups of ice by my goshiwon, and began to place it again my heavily swollen cheek as I knew it was going to be a long night. I came home around 5:30 pm, which was early, but I was already exhausted so I decided to “nap”. My nap ended up being from 6:00 pm - 12:00 am. I stayed up for most of the night, but went back to sleep either way. 

So now, it’s Saturday, after a day of just sleep (approx. 16 hours+ of sleep, I am planning to go to the store to buy more ice for my face which isn’t as swollen as it was since yesterday, but still pretty big), I have been watching “That 70′s Show” because Hulu and MANY Netflix movies/shows are banned here in Korea *sad face emoji*. But anyways, I was looking at myself in the shower and began to cry. At that moment I began to think about my mami and I how I wished I was in her arms, taking care of me during this long process of my wisdom teeth extraction. I stood in the shower about 10-20 minutes just crying and thinking about how I had wish I had taken my wisdom teeth out back in America so that I wouldn’t have felt so alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that Sarah and many of my friends from my Korean class are encouraging me and giving me wonderful messages, but it’s always that mom’s touch that I miss. At that moment, I truly realized how homesick I was. Even now as I type this, I’m crying and blowing my nose cause I miss her so much. Being at Sonoma State isn’t the same as being here in Korea. I went from being 50 miles away from my mami, to 5,607 miles away from her. I am grateful to have this experience to study abroad, but times like these, I do miss my mami...

Thank you for reading! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day/evening/night. I’m sorry for such a long post, but I hoped everyone enjoyed this! 

~Vanessa

[sftoseoul-blog]

One Full Month

So it’s been one month since I left home. It doesn’t feel like it’s been a month, it honestly feels like it’s been a year already? I don’t know. It just feels this way. I’ve done a lot so far, traveling all over Seoul and I even went to Busan! 

Busan was a wonderful experience (not so much the bus ride). I enjoy visiting Busan Tower~ Although I was only there for about 20 minutes? It was a beautiful view and if I had more time, I would have loved to stay longer. What I didn’t like about the trip is that we came in Busan around 5 pm? That’s already more than half of my day gone. If we had arrived at noon it would have been better and I would have explored Busan tower a bit more, especially the shopping area that, but that didn’t happen, instead I knocked out and explored around the local area. 

However, I did do a ton of shopping on Saturday and even explored some special parts of Busan, it reminded me of home because of the beach, but the humidity was killing me! I went to one of those spas where you get butt naked and they clean the dirt off your body, totally worth it. Although I was insecure, I enjoyed the feeling afterwards and I think I learned to love my body a bit more. We finally went home by Saturday, which took the whole day, I went home, rested, and had the Sunday left to rest. That was my Chuseok holiday!

For those of you who don’t know what Chuseok is, it means Thanksgiving! So I just had my first Korean Thanksgiving! It felt weird having thanksgiving so early in the year because in America, Thanksgiving is in November, so it was different, but worth the adventure!  This is an update on my life here! I will be getting back more on the process of studying abroad, but for now, it’s an update for everyone! 

[sftoseoul-blog]

My wording may be a bit weird, but is your exchange program run directly through your school, or through an independent party? My current school has an exchange program, but it doesn't include South Korea.

It’s run through my school. Or well… The system? My school is part of a state system cause there is 23 other schools, so the whole state goes through the same school program. I hope that made sense?

[redrover-redrover]

It did, thank you! One more question, do you happen to know if independent programs differ much from school programs, application-wise?

[sftoseoul-blog]

I would want to say yes? Cause you're asking for a whole new system. The reason why schools have the systems within because it fits the requirements that they want on whatever you're doing. If you do it by an independent program, the classes you choose will not transfer over to your university.

But yeah, the application may differ and it may be harder.

[sftoseoul-blog]

My wording may be a bit weird, but is your exchange program run directly through your school, or through an independent party? My current school has an exchange program, but it doesn't include South Korea.

It’s run through my school. Or well… The system? My school is part of a state system cause there is 23 other schools, so the whole state goes through the same school program. I hope that made sense?

[sftoseoul-blog]

I met some Kpop Idols!

I know I’ve only been in Korea for two weeks, but I already met two members of Astro! I was going to my corner store to go to the ATM, but they told me that they were doing filming. I ended up leaving and went to another place for the ATM, and then went to the sheep cafe in Hongdae (picture below this post). I went back to Sinchon cause my class was going to start in a few and wanted to get some snacks and coffee before my Korean class. We didn’t know exactly who was in there because there was a lot of fangirls around the area and taking pictures so my friend asked and the manager said it was Astro. (My friend has a funny story about Astro before they began to record but that’s her story to tell~) I really just wanted to get my snacks and coffee cause it was close to campus and cheap. They looked at my friend and I (foreign looking) and let us in faster than most other fans. 

I got my snacks and coffee and met Eunwoo and Sanha~ They were adorable. Eunwoo spoke more English than Sanha, but it was okay. They asked where I was from (California) and Sanha said that he wanted to go there one day and I told him that he can. I spoke to them in Spanish and they smiled. I asked for a picture and they took one together with me, along with my friend. Cutest day ever~ I don’t know whether or not I will be on TV cause they were recording, but it was amazing~ I have several pictures and the picture with them and I, but I am too afraid to show the picture cause I am afraid that fans will bash me about it. If I get enough requests, I will maybe post it up, but other than that, I met Eunwoo and Sanha only~ Hehe!

[sftoseoul-blog]

Went to the sheep cafe today! Lots of good food and cute sheep!

[sftoseoul-blog]

Update here!

I know! I’m sorry it’s been so long! I just finished my first week or... first two days of school and it’s been amazing so far! My Fridays are pretty packed, but I am going to be okay!

Professors here are literally cool! I have had the best experience so far. Hopefully the rest of my classes will go smoothly. Well.. technically I know all my professors already. Anyways! I am just so excited to be here. I am excited that school is back in motion. Yeah, it’s going to be a lot of work, but it’s going to be okay! I’ll be updating again! Sorry if this was so short! I’m sorry!

[sftoseoul-blog]

Some sweets here in Korea~ (along with some kpop albums. COUGHS)