Korea life - Day 26 (Week 4)

Korea life - 20 Mar (day 26 ; week 4)

Since last week, everyday there is spelling test and homework every single day. Everyday I had to spend more than 3 hours to do homework and learn spelling. Never even think of going out to play. And it's soon going to be our mid-term exam (next week)!! This week should be also a stay in week, at least till mid-term exam finish first then come and think of playing.

Back at home, even if there is work next day, I still sleep at 2am, but now everyday I sleep before 11pm and I still have problem keeping awake to listen to class. Actually first week was till all right, but recently is getting hard and hard to stay awake. Is like no matter sleep how long, I still feel like not enough sleep. When I called 'facetime' back home, even my parent asked <Why your eye bag so dark? Never sleep enough ? > I was like "LOL", everyday slept more than 7 hours.

Many asked if can get used to the life there. I find actually there is nothing much to get used other than weather. Korean are also asian, in some way, their lifestyle are quite similar to Chinese. And personally I'm all right with Kimchi and spicy food, so I have no problem with eating too. There are some Korean habit that we will never see in Singapore, but is just "ohhh" and continue what I'm doing. Is not something that is not acceptable (even if it's not acceptable, just turn the other side and walk away)

And even since I had left home and came over here, alot of time I'm alone in my room. For more than 12 hours, I never open my mouth, never said a word and I'm all right with it. With no one talking to me, no one nagging at me, although this sound bad but I like this life. I do what I want, I do what I need to do at my own timing (no one pushing me). 

Truth is I actually don't miss home. I miss my parent but I'm all right with just calling back once in a while and because I don't know what to say to them (other than the weather and life here.) Moved there for almost a month and I called home once only. 

Maybe I'm someone not suitable to stay with people, staying at home with nagging mother and (just) angry-looking father. But this current life, is something that I will never have and can't have in Singapore, therefore I will enjoy this till the max because all these will end once I'm back in Singapore.  

Korea life - day 21 (Week 3) / (Seoul) FRIENDS outing & Seoul N Tower

Korea life - 15 Mar 2014 (day 21; week 3)

Actually I read that there is this group name <FRIENDS> in Sungkyunkwan university that will bring overseas student (along with local Korean student) out to enjoy and understand more of Korean culture. It seem so much fun on Facebook and we were so excited that we could join. School had started 3 weeks now but we have not been inform about it yet. Finally last week our teacher mentioned it to us and she mentioned that this is a group that only level 1 & 2 student are able to join (level 3 and above are not invited to join , so PQ can't join [she was so sad when she know that she can't join!]) but heard from a repeat student that there are not many Korean are able to speck Chinese (most of them speck English only), so they rather don't join. 

Attended the first talk last Thursday and we are spilt into small group (around 7:2 [overseas student to Korean student]). We exchange Kakao ID and decided to go Seoul tower as our first outing. Although I been there for quite a few time now, but still went with them as the others all haven't been to Seoul tower yet (and I don't want to stay home [and PQ's friends are still in Korea so she is also not at home]).  

Meet at Hyehwa station, then we headed to Myeong-dong for dinner first. (I was surprise that some of them don't even know how to go Myeong-dong! But I chose to meet than together than head t Myeong-dong together as I still don't have Korean telephone number, it's hard for me to find them if there is no Wi-Fi.). This trip only 7(student) came, don't know where was the rest (and I don't want to care too. ) The Korean leaded us to this western food restaurant but it was pretty full when we were there and we were asked to wait for a while for seats. 

As we were quite a big group, so we stand outside and wait. While waiting, we were chatting, but we wasn't chatting together as we wasn't speaking the same language !! One Japanese unable to speak English (only know Korean), other Japanese understand abit of English only and the other 2 Chinese don't can't really understand English very well too. I was stuck in the between, need to translate for the Chinese and trying to have a chat with the Korean and Japanese.   

We each ordered one dished and shared. (just now while choosing what to eat, saw the price list and actually it's not cheap at all but because one of the Koreans has a 50% discount coupons, that is why they choose to come here and eat.) The amount of each plates are quite a lot, for a small eater like me, there is no way I can finish one plates!! 

Kofoo Plate @ Myeong-dong 

Walked up to cable car station from Myeong-dong. The queue of quite long when we reach there (but was still shorter than the last time I was here.), waited for about 1.5 hrs then it's our turn to take the cable car. In the end, we stayed up for less than 30 min!! (I knew it, I everytime come, everytime also don't stay long). The wind was very very strong up there, after few photo taking, we chose to hurry up and come down!! 

Seoul Tower @ 15 Mar 2014

After the trip ended, I didn't went straight home. With sure good weather, I sat at the park near my place and relax for a while. Although it was still a little cold but it wasn't as cold as the past few weeks. I was just sat there and stared into the dark, not thinking of anything, doing nothing. Before I headed home, checked on the time, then I notice that I sat there for almost an hour!! Maybe I should do it more often to relax myself abit. 

Korea life - day 15 (week 3) / (Seoul) 별다방미스리 & 떡쌈시대 (본점) BBQ

Korea life - 9 Mar 2014 (day15; week 3) 

I'm so thankful that I'm moving out today!! Even since I confirmed moving out, the room started to give me problem one by one. Toilet bowl can't flush . Noise made by next door was getting louder and louder. The heater of the room don't seem to be working (I had to wear 2 jackets + blanket to go to sleep) 

I can't wait to move out but too bad we had to wait till after noon then can move. We stayed in to finish up packing, reached there 1 plus with our first batch of things. But my room wasn't ready to move in yet, so I had to put my things in PQ's room first. They told us not to move the second batch first, let the owner free out my room first. 

teach you how to eat their lunchbox

So we went for lunch while wait for him to message us when is all right to move the rest of the things. We chose to go to a restaurant that we ate before 4 years ago. This places is popular because of K-variety <we got married> - sweet potato couple (CN Blue; Yong hwa & SNSD; Seohyun ). But the food was expensive (a cup of tea is about W6,500) and not very good (is really very normal and price is around W6000), unless you are a hard core fan of either sweet potato couple or one of the idols, or else there is no need to give this place a try.

별다방미스리 

Address : 서울시 종로구 동숭동 1-74  

Tel : 02 747 0939 

Website : www.missleecafe.com (is in Korean only)

How to go : Hyehwa station (Line 4 exit 2) ; is opposite 10X10 shop

lunchbox before shaking- rice; kimchi; seawee; egg; ham 

Thought of having a walk after lunch but the weather suddenly became colder so we gave up and hid in coffee bean for the OK sign by the new livingtel. We were lucky that we didn't had to wait long. It was too cold for us to walk back so we took the bus back for the last time and cab to the new place where we are going to really call in home for the next one year!!! (so not going to miss this place but I'll miss the nice Uncle and the eatery nearby)

Finally got to see my "house" (although is just a room). It was slightly different from the viewing room but is still as big. It took me almost an hours to clean up the whole place, and I was cleaning happily and willing. The best decision we made even since we moved over!! I just love this place much much more than the old place.

went out to have dinner with PQ's friend (well, actually I know all of them too as they were my secondary classmates too , just that I'm not ad close to them as PQ is), going to have BBQ. Best food we ever had since we reach Korea. It has 3 level, so there is no need for booking, we could just walk in. We were asked to head to level 3 which was seated on the floor (level 2 was seated on chairs but I believe it was full so they asked us to go to level 3) 

떡쌈시대 (본점)
Address : 16, Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 종로구 우정국로2길 16 (관철동)
Open - 11am ~12am
Tel: 02 737 3692
How to go - take subway to Jonggak station (line 1 exit 4), follow below map and you will see it
website : (in english) http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=351023

sorry ! above map took from other people's blog 

Dinner !! 

It was intro by one of PQ's friend. She tried it 5 years ago and it is still at the same place (just that the price is slightly different ). Didn't had to wait long before we could eat. The owner even came over and teach us how to eat, and cook for us (but If there are too many people, we will have to cook ourselves) 

Payment is to make an the entrances and they even have spray for people to use to remove the smell (although I don't think it will remove much). Took a small walk nearby before taking the bus back to our new home (weather was too cold to continue the walk!! ) 

Korea Life - Day 12 (Week 2) / SKKU student card

Korea Life - 6 Mar (Day 12 Week 2)

Weather is getting colder and colder these days, this morning when I left the house was -5 degree!! I was afraid that I would feel cold when I'm outside, I wear alot of layer before heading out today, wear a sleeveless, one long sleeve t-shire, 2 jacket and 1 outer coat !! even more layer when I'm in Hokkaido (because my outer coat has no fur)

Lesson today were more of conversation, I was able to follow up easier as I can understand easier just that I still have problem to ready read from the textbook. I want to speck but I afraid teacher call my name as I still can't read from textbook. Really need to start using PQ way to remember the vowels. I just hope to have more time to remember it.

Received our student card today, now I really feel like a student of Sungkyunkwan University *hehe, feel so proud!*. We are not able to use their WI-FI too, now that we had received the student card (without the student card, only some area has WI-FI for guests.)

My student ID card !! hehe 

After our afternoon class today, it started snowing !! I was like huh ?!?! Snowing in March, LOL? maybe that explain why the weather getting cold every day. I meeting PQ at the front gate as the was having class at the bottom of the slopes so we meet at the front gate easier. Weather was too cold for us to walk home, so we took the bus back instead.

I can't eat ramen anymore (had been eating for 2 days now because weather too cold for me to go out), so went to buy food first before heading back home (I won't be able to come out again after I reach home.) Have to revise today lesson again tonight before any other thing.

Korea Life - Day 10 (week 2)

Korea Life - 4 Mar (Day 10 week 2)

Today is officially first day of school. As mentioned yesterday, our class had been divide into smaller class today. We had been divided into A,B & C and I'm in class A. Was glad that I was able to made a taiwanese friend before class starts.

Class just started only and I already have problem to remember things, OMG !! going to have headache soon, don't know how to memorise all. Really too long never study, think is going to take me more time to get used to this life. Seeing the time table, mid term exam in 3 week time, I'm worry, there's no way I  don't get worry. After lunch, we headed back to afternoon class which last 1 hr 45 min but time pass super fast, had to go and buy textbook first before we can head home.

Never though of going out to play even when there were quite alot of time after school, just think of going back home. But going back so earlier also nothing to do, so we slowly walked back instead. And noticed that the weather is getting cold each day, think I would need to get ready more clothes for the following days.  Even today, it was too cold that I gave up going out to buy dinner and just stay in and just cook ramen

Korea Life - Day 9 ( Week 2) / (Seoul) SKKU first of school

Korea Life - 3 Mar (Day 9 Week 2)

Finally, today is the first day of my Sungkyunkwan student life. We had been to school before so we wasn't worry that we can't find our way but don't want to be late, so headed out an hour before orientation starts. We had enough time to buy Isaac toast for breakfast (The price here are cheaper than what we had in Ewha).

Front gate of Sungkyunkwan university 

From main gate to the school area  

One thing we really need to get used to for this one year would be getting used to this long long slope for the the whole year (just this slope took us 20 min to get up to the school building areas.) Walked up the slope as we were having our toast, with the cold weather plus the warm toast, it's really the best match. We had enough time to look at the shops around the place before heading into the theatre.

People were already waiting outside of the theatre for the door to be open to go in and get seated. Surprising there were alot of people join this spring and most of them were Japanese and Chinese. While waiting for it to start, I already can feel my stomach turning around, very long never feel so nervous. They called for our name and we were divide us into our level first and asked to take a small test before sending us to our classroom. As I had not study Korean before, I just submitted empty paper in. There were too many people and sound going around, don't even know how they going to divide us so I just follow the others that submitted empty paper out too.

Nice view in school 

We had class but it ended in half an hours time, they just teach a little and sent us back. But tomorrow we had to report to class before 8.50am as they have to divide us into small classes as our class were too big. PQ class only starts after 12.30pm, we had rice ball for lunch before sending her off to class. I walked around to look at things but PQ class ended last than half and hours too !! So I had to rush back to meet her. Weather wasn't very cold, so we decided to try to walk home from school.  It took about 40 min to reach home and decided to stay indoor for the rest of the day.

Korea Life - Day 8 (Week 2) / (Seoul) Coex ; A familiar story (Musical)

Korea Life - 2 Mar (Day 8 Week 2)

Thanks to PQ's friend, we have free ticket to a musical !! At first thought give us also no use as I still can't understand korean much yet, but the musical is in English, and since there is free ticket and we have nothing planned for today, so we went for it !

The musical is located near Coex, we decided to go there earlier (not afraid there is nothing to do, we can go Coex walk walk before the shows starts too). Took the subway to Samseong station, and followed the direction to Coex. First thing that I noticed was that, it a very big place currently under renovation. Because of the renovation, only a handful of shops are open (and some even only grand open yesterday!! LOL). Since there was nothing much to see, we went for lunch first

Twin Cook restaurant 

Cheese Ramen 

The cheapest food we can find there were this restaurant name < Twin Cook>. Maybe because of the price, it was fully packed while we went in. Waited for 5 min before there were seat for us to sit down. As many were still waiting outside for the seat, so we leave once we finish our food.

But it was still too early for us to go over to the theatre yet, so we sat at the centre area to waste some time first. At least there were WI-FI, we could do something with our phone (isn't that a normal thing to us? Handphone never leave our sight).

There was really nothing much left we could do so we just went to look for the theatre. While walking toward the theatre, I noticed that there was a photo booth that we could take passport picture, so we took a min to let me take picture first as we will need this picture to do our ARC card and might school need it too.


PQ did her homework before back home, so it didn't took long before we found it. Went to the counter to collect the ticket and was shocked with their english standard that they had !! Didn't know they can speck English! It was only after that then we know that the staff were almost all American Korean. At first they had problem looking for the ticket so it took some time, they found it and gave us special seats for letting us wait !

Tickets to <A Familiar Story The Musical by Eumin Production>

Baekam Art Hall that held <A Familiar Story>

Saw the crowd queueing outside the theatre to go in, then I know that this is a family productions for kids and families to enjoy. Many of the kids were able to speck english very well, and of course their parents too.

Shows started and is very very good show!! I had a great time watching it even though is a kids shows. The actors and actress were so handsome and pretty too *hehe, shy*. I don't mind coming back again if they have new show in the future !

When we walked out after show, we saw that the bus stop has bus back home, we just boarded the bus and sit all the way back (but we took the wrong seat, sat in from of the back door, evertime people alight, the cold air will blow toward us -_-!! LOL). Takeaway some food from nearby eatery back home to eat as the weather is getting colder (want to get back before it get any colder !!)

Can't sleep too later but don't know if I can sleep a not tonight as school is going to start tomorrow!!! OMG, I already can feel the butterfly flying around in my tummy, I'm so nervous for tomorrow !! I just hope tomorrow can pass by peaceful with nothing big that will shock me.     

Korea Life - Day 7 (Week 1) / (Seoul) Insadong

               
Korea Life - 1 Mar (Day 7 Week 1)

So fast I have been living in Korea for a week now, in just few more days school is going to start. I need to spend my days to the fullest or else once school starts there will be no time for fun !! Therefore today we are heading to Insadong

Insadong 

We had a straight bus from out place to Anguk station, so we chose to take the bus instead of subway! Bus ride wasn't long, but we were able to see thing that we normally don't get to see (normally we take subway and the subway is underground). The streets, the roads and even the peoples, so difficult from my own country.

It's a less than 5 min walk from the bus stop (and subway exit 6 too). Maybe because we were still slightly earlier, not people around but as time getting later, more people appear at Insadong. Then we know is because it was Korea's independence Movement day, there is why there were alot of people holding the Korea flag and walking around as a group. [ I still through was there a riot or what as they were moving around in very big group!! ]
(If you can read more if you are interested in Korea's independence Movement day here - http://thaholiday.com/south-korea-public-holidays-schedule-2014/ )   

The moment I saw the crowd, my headache start to ache [I really dislike places with lot of people. I like to stay away from people.]. We went for lunch to stay away from the crowd. Went to my favourite lunch place (I go back to that restaurant everytime I goes to Insadong)

Lunch - Top Bibibap ; Below Kimchi soup

I was here the last time too but I always forget the name of this place as I care the food more than the name of the place !! (haha, sorry !!) As you can see from the picture from the left, they serves 4 different small dishes for free! and our main course cost not even W$6000 (which is S$7)

Actually we planned to go Insadong to look for postcard as we planned to send back home 1 postcard per month, so by the time our parent received 12 postcard, it means that we will be heading back soon. But there wasn't much that caught our eyes, expect for this shops that sells kids drawing as postcard (other places were selling Seoul's views postcards.) And with PQ as ex-preschool teacher, kids drawing is something she can't miss. But in the end, I also can't control myself, gotten a few postcard from there too !! :p

Went to have ice-cream after that. We saw that many were queue for this ice-cream, so we also queue for it (Singaporean way, seem people queue, I also queue, LOL).   It has a very unique shape ice-cream cone. Well, it depend on how "dirty" your mind is, to see it !!!

unique shape ice-cream cone

I see it as a saxophone but do hear some other tourists talk how they see it. Well, it's too dirty for me to mention there!! *shy*. As the crowd are getting bigger and bigger, we chose to leave this places before we drown in the crowd! Since we took the bus here, we decided to do something difficult from this morning, we took the subway.


Don't want to spend money, don't know what to do, don't know where to go, so we went back home and stay in. Thank god at lease the WI-FI connection is better good in the room, or else there is really nothing good about this livingtel and we will really bored to dead.

Hahaha, sound bored ?? It is bored but is better than wasting money outside !! Being a student, we have to be care with where we spend. And I wants to go to other states in future, I need to save all I can. I don't think I can bring my family out to eat good thing when they come, as I didn't eat anything good till now (only cheap thing because want to save !!)
       

Pictures !! 

Shops selling nice kids printing as postcards

My favourite street food - Hottdok 

                             

Korea Life - Day 6 (Week 1) / (Seoul) Ewha woman shopping street ; Isaac toast shop

Korea Life - 28 Feb (Day 6 week 1)

Last night discussed with parent and we decided that we will move to the new livingtel, even if we might lost our current half month rent. PQ had informed the new livingtel via Kakao talk and they asked us to go back to submit deposit and sign contact  

We were slightly earlier than appointment, no one was there. Luckily there were nice girl helped us to call the person in charge to come down. Because the guy can't really speck english, PQ had to translate what the guy said to me. After all the explaining, we were asked to sign a contact. Actually was quite scared to sign as we can't read at all, but we had to sign since we agreed to move in. 

We headed to Ehwa woman's shopping street after all that was settled. Maybe we were still too early, many shops were still starting to open shops only. Even with the cold weather, there were people shopping and walking around. This place actually is also my favourite shopping area, just that now they had not really start selling spring clothes, so I didn't got anything. 

[if any one interested, to go Ehwa woman shopping street, just take the subway to Ehwa station, exit from either exit 2 or 3, walk straight up and you will see Ehwa university, Ehwa women shopping street is just left side of the university. ]

Ewha Woman shopping street

We don't want to be late for our appointment this morning, so we left our place without breakfast and headed here straight once we finish the chat with the new owner. Since there was nothing we were interested in, we went to look for food instead !! I remember the last time I was here, I knew there was a popular toast shops located somewhere but I can't remember where. After a few turn, we found the place !! - Isaac toast & coffee cafe. Normally is just a takeaway store for people to buy and go, but this outlet has place for people to sit down and eat. Maybe because of that the price are slightly higher than other outlet. Although is slightly highly, I'm willing to pay !! IS THE BEST TOAST IN WHOLE KOREA !! is a best try toast if you are in Korea !!  

Best toast shop in Korea !!! 

Left - Hamburger toast ; Right - Pizza toast  

Headed to Hongdae after that since it was only 2 stop away from Ehwa station. But maybe because we were there too early, there isn't much we could see (is a more nightlife place). We left that place to look for post office instead as PQ wants to send back a birthday card to Singapore. And we had to face the fact that we needed to inform our current owner that we want to move out. 

We listened to the new owner advice and bought 2 cans of beer before headed back. Gave him the beers before telling him that we will be moving. We didn't dare to tell him that we will be moving to a new livingtel, we told him that we will be moving to a friend places while is located nearer to school. At least he didn't look angry, but keep saying it is a waste as we can't get back the rest of money and waste that half month rent. 

We were so relived, felt so relax, was so nervous thinking how would he react, at least not very angry. Since is confirmed that we will be moving on 8 Mar, we need to start cooking some of the food that we bought from Lotte mart or else we will have too many thing need to move on 8 Mar. Therefore we had our first homecook after 6 days of outside food!

I'm luckily to have PQ travelling with me! I can't cook at all, so I can only leave the cooking to her and do the dishes for her after that, or else I have no homecook for a year !! Chef PQ cooked spaghetti for tonight's dinner. Too bad we can't find can mushroom in Korea (fresh mushroom were too expensive) , so we put meatball and lunchmeat in instead, but it still taste nice!!  

Didn't had things to do as we stayed in. So we choose to do some laundry. Truth is it was my first time doing my own laundry !!! Because we didn't have much place to put our laundry, we can't wash too much at one go. Now that I know that laundry isn't a very difficult thing, just that we have to split the colours on the clothes only, and as long as you know how to use the washing machine, is a super super easy job. While waiting for the laundry, PQ told me she had already started to pack for 8 Mar, I was like <so fast ?!?! LOL>. Since it was still too early to sleep and I had nothing to do, I also started to pack some things into my luggage too !! 

Korea Life - Day 5 (week 1) / (Seoul) Lotte Mart

Korea Life - 27 Feb (Day 5 week 1)

Since we had settle down in our small house, PQ and I decided was time we buy some food to fill up our fridge is better than we eat outside everyday every meal. Therefore we heard to the biggest super mart (that we know) - Lotte Mart at Seoul station 

Before that, we headed into Seoul station to look for something to eat first before heading to lotte mart. While we were eating our food, PQ told me that she is really totally unhappy and piss with the room. She felt like she was cheated as the room is totally not the same as what the guy promised her. Before because I'm not the one discuss with the guy, I just accept what we though we had booked. She suggest to go to another livingtel for viewing and see. And I was like since we have nothing else to do after shopping lotte mart , why not? So she book with the owner and we will head down this evening. 

We headed out of Seoul station to Lotte mart (which is just next to it, not Lotte mall that is connected to Seoul station). Lotte Mart is like the old Singapore's Carrefour (in suntec city WHICH already close down). There are 2-3 level selling all kind of things. We skip the other counter and went straight to the foods session. We can't buy alot of thing as there was only the 2 of us (and we will be going back to Myeong-dong to buy PQ shoe that she can't decide to buy yesterday). We only took the things that we think we need for now and want to eat. After getting PQ shoe from Myeong-dong, as we still have some time before our meeting with the other livingtel, so we head back to rest. 

What I bought from Lotte mart 

The new livingtel is located at Hyehwa, very near school (walking distance; take bus also can - about 2 stops ; current livingtel need to take 5 stops ) and there are ton of eatery nearby (current livingtel only got 2-3 only.) Most important is the living standard !! OMG, is so much better!! The place is so much brighter and clearer. Although they left with room with no toilet (only shower area which I still can bear with it), only have a small window facing the corridor and more expensive but I feel that I can take it as my home better than the current place. Because of their location and clean environment, alot of people want to stay here, they need us to give them an answer asap and hope we could move in latest by 8 Mar or else they will have to give it to other people (with means that I will have to waste my half month rent in the current livingtel and pay more to move in to new livingtel.)

Went to our house nearby eatery to eat cheap first again. For the first time I try the cheese ramen and I didn't know it was so good!! It made the soup so much nicer. Hehe, going to eat this more!! Headed home to discuss with parent if we should move or not as we need to give the new livingtel an answer by tomorrow morning 

Korea Life - Day 4 (Week 1) / (Seoul) MyeongDong ; Hyehwa-dong

Korea Life - 26 Feb 2014 (Day 4 week 1)

Yesterday finally gotten all the things I needed for the room, now I can afford to be tourist for the next few days before school starts. First stop, of course to the MOST popular place of all in Seoul -
Myeong-dong

Myeong-dong part 1

Myeong-dong part 2 

Since we were just shopping around, I tried to look for shoes as I only brought winter boots with me (was totally cheated by the weather forecast app that I downloaded in Singapore.) But the shoes were either too small (not have much big size shoes.) or I'm not interested in the design. Can't find what I'm looking for, we just went to look for food

Lunch !! - Pork Rib soup 

With nothing in mind, we walked in a cosmetic shop and we drop into buying trap. LOL. Actually was looking for face moisturiser and sun block only but in the end, we bought more than what we wanted and needed. We bought 50 pac of eye mask (with free 20 pac face mask), shoes refresher, face moisturiser and sun block while cost us a bomb. Totally felt so regretted the moment we took the money out !! -_-!!

It was still early when we finished Myeong-dong, so we chose to head back to rest for a while first, later dinner time then come out again. PQ & I were here 4 years ago and we remember that we had a great and cheap dinner at Hyehwa station. We decided to head back there for dinner today

Because earlier today we had wasted so much money on cosmetic, we need to eat cheap tonight. Headed out to Hyehwa where university student normally hang out*. This place totally look the same as 4 year ago !! Although the street food store that we were looking front is no longer here, but we still had street food for dinner (as it is the cheapest of all). Walked around and recall our memories of this place before having a cup of sommthie from Sommthie King before heading back home


*Korean student tend to hang out in these places - Ewha, Hongdae and Hyehwa - as these places have a few university located around that corner, so the thing and food there are slightly cheaper for the student.

nice restaurant that is slightly exp

My favour shop of all !!! (something like Art Box)

Smoothie King in Hyehwa 

My first time drinking Smoothie King !! Blueberry Heaven cost W$4300

Korea Life - Day 3 (Week 1 ) / (Seoul) Alien Registration Card ; Daiso

Korea life - 25 Feb (day 3 - week 1 )

After my first night in my tiny little room, felt so depressed. The room is too small that I don't like staying in, so this morning, we left the room early in the morning.

We decided to go and do the alien registration card* but I forgot my document that I had to go up that slopes again to get my thing (-_-!! ). While I was fighting with the slope, PQ study the immigration website again. And it seem like we should report to school (did I mentioned that I'll be studying at Sungkyunkwan University ? ) first as immigration office will keep our passport while they get the ARC card ready. So change of plan, we head to school instead

* [ Alien Registration Card is our national identification card that proves that we are legally allowed to live in Korea. We have to apply within 90 days of entry (we will get kick out if we don't apply it) - you can read more if you are interested - http://www.eslsouthkorea.net/alien-registration-card.html ]

There was a direct bus from the bus stop just outside my livingtel to the school. When we reach the bus the school's bus stop, there were alot of people sending flowers and people walking toward one direction. Is always easier to follow the crowd rather than going the other way, so we follow them and they were really heading toward Sungkyunkwan university. Then we noticed there were so many people is because there were graduation going on.

[OMG, there is so many people and the biggest horror was that the school is located on top of the SLOPE (OMG, SLOPE again !! -_-!!)]

But because there were alot of people walking around, we don't feel odd walking around the campus. The email that school sent to us didn't wrote where should we report to, so we walked around and looking for the admission office. After an hours of finding, we finally found the correct place to report to. In the end, we just had to let them photocopy the passport and tell them where are we staying and we are free to go !! LOL , spent so much time looking for the office to report, in the end everything is done within 5 min.

Since we are done but there were too many people, we decided to leave school and go to Daiso* to buy thing for the room. The branch located near Sungkyunkwan university have 3 level, it took us at least 2 hours to finish walking all and get our things. Luckily there is a straight bus from the bus stop nearby to our house. Then we headed to Namdaemun to buy blanket and pillow (weather still quite cold, no blanket cannot !!).

* [Daiso is a daily household items including beauty care products, stationery, laundry items, food, utensils and even cleaning supplies. Most of the places has more than 2 levels, and it offers diverse daily use items at great prices (very cheap price that students can afford). you can find out more at -  http://wwe didn't want to go to far away from home (we went back straight home after we finish shopping at Daiso) so we just had dinner at a eatery nearby our places.

My bed with my new blanket and pillow

Maybe because of the culture, the blanket selling here are so expensive !! The cheapest that we can find at least cost W$50,000 (about S$60) and the pillow itself also cost about W$20,000 (about S$30).  But the owner is a good people, know that we are student gave us discount. In the end, we paid W$45,000 only for the blanket

By the time we finish buying our thing and took the subway back home, it's almost dinner time. So we went out to a eatery nearby our place for dinner as we want to be able to reach home earlier later as we still have alot of thing await for us to arrange into our small place (thing that we bought today).

Korea Life - Day 2 (Week 1) / (Seoul) Dongdaemun's 김밥천극

24 Feb 2014 is my second day in Korea and is also my worst nightmare

Took the free shuttle bus from hotel back to the airport. We had problem to even carry our luggages up the bus, luckily there are nice uncles that willing to help us with our baggages. Found a place to sit down and eat some thing and settle the SIM card that we didn't get it settle last night. After settle with all, we took the airport limousine to Dongdaemun (동대문). To look for our livingtel* that I will be leaving for the coming year.

* [Livingtel 리빙텔 (aka Goshiwon) -
Essentially, goshiwons are for student preparing for exams temporary accommodations where they could focus exclusively on studying with not distractions from home life. While a lot of goshiwons are mainly for students from outside of Seoul and people working, it reflects its original purpose - rooms are very tiny and contain basic essentials only - a mini-fridge, small television, WI-FI, wardrobe and a bed. Price depend on which room kind of room that you choose, you can choose either room with shower stall and sink or with neither (use shared toilet) and window facing inward (facing corridor) or outward (facing outside) affects the prices too. Kitchen and washing machines are shared in the common area. You can read more here - http://danainsoko.wordpress.com/tag/livingtel/ ]

the steep slopes that I need to go up !!

I had to move 40kg of luggage around whole Dongdaemun, and we still can't find the place at all! When we gave up and want to take the cab, in the end it drive 200m ahead only and we had reached the  place  that we will be living (-_- III ; LOL)!! When I thought our miserable problem is over, a super steep slopes appeared in front of me that I need to go up before reaching the livingtel !!!! I had so many thing holding in my hand that I wasn't able to pull up my 40kg luggages up the slope myself , I had to  stop there and get PQ to help me or else my luggages will all roll down the slope in front of me!!  

[Although this is not my first time in to Korea, but only now then I noticed that THERE ARE SO MANY SLOPES AND THERE ARE NOT MUCH OF  SMOOTH SURFACE GROUND EVERYWHERE (there are alway holes and area poping up) , so different to walk around with luggages (with wheels). ]

Finally got all the thing up the slopes,  and the nightmare not over yet !! We still had to carry the things up to second floor !! ( as the livingtel is located on the second floor. ( OMG !! feel like crying, I just want to settle down !!! ))

Where I'm going to stay but I don't suggest people to stay here !! (I still have to protect it as they are nice ppl)

We were brought to the third floor, the guy opened the door of the room that we will be living, places our thing in there and follow him back to second floor. He asked us to sat down for a while while he read the email on us, then he explain some of the thing area the place to us and left us to explore our room. And OMG, the place looked totally different from the picture we saw on the website!! PQ & I was shocked until don't know what to said.

The room itself is super TINY and it smell (both the room and the toilet). I had to clean all the thing before daring to put my thing down on the table and floor. The toilet has so many dirty and black spot in the corner that I feel my hair stand everytime I look at it. I'm still consist lucky as PQ's room was much worse than mine !! And the kitchen is the worse, the place seem dark and it make it look dirty, I don't feel like cooking in this kitchen at all. Washing machines is in a cupboard and OMG it smell inside, I don't know how to throw my clothes in there to wash. OMG, this is really my worst nightmare !!!!

We took the whole later afternoon to get our thing in place, but we will have to eat. So we just left the thing and went out for dinner. We headed to Dongdaemun and chose to eat at <김밥천극 >. Heard from PQ, this is a popular place for kimbap and ramen, but we didn't choose to eat ramen as we were hungry after all the moving and clearing that we had done this whole evening. So I still can't read Korean, PQ had to translate to me then I can decide what to eat, but I'm not a picky eater, so I leave it to her to order for me.

First Dinner in Korea 

After all the food, we had to walk around to digest the food abit before heading back. Went in to look for shoes as PQ don't has boots for these kind of weather. But didn't found anything of her liking, so we headed back to our home and continue with what we left off. Tomorrow going and get things for the room to make it really feels like home.