Insadong

A side street in Insadong

My friend and I set out this morning to find Bukchon Hanok village, where you can see traditional Korean architecture. After getting off at the correct subway stop, we decided to walk around Insadong first, which is a souvenir shopping area. Well...we never did make it to Bukchon! Maybe next time!

Street artists

The film shoot 

Along the way, we ran into a film crew. I'm not sure whether this was for a drama, commercial, or what not, but it was fascinating to watch the director talk to the actors, etc. After stopping in numerous shops, and after spending more money than I had meant to... (hehe..yeah...) we stumbled upon the Insadong-cultural center. Here you pay 3000 won (equivalent to 3 dollars) and get to play dress up in traditional Korean clothing! (Hanbok)

Below: The pictures

Traditional umbrella hat?

Beautiful!! ^^

Saturday afternoon ramblings

I'm sitting in front of 학생문화관 (Student Union Building). As I sit on the wooden benches situated in front of the building, a soft breeze plays with escaped wisps of my hair. The air is void of humidity, and thus quite comfortable to the touch of my skin. Sunlight breaks through the branches of exotic trees enclosing me in their shadow. Because it is Saturday, there are only a few other students walking across campus. I wanted to get outside, so I came here. I miss nature. I think that is what I miss most about my life in Austria. I have found no other country in which civilization and nature are so co-existant. However, there is nature here too. You just have to look a little harder. I think I will go to the Han River again soon. The vast expanse of the river is calming.

I have only been in Korea for little more than two weeks. It seems much longer! I have already learned so much about this country, myself, and most importantly God. I am thankful for this, and can't quite imagine how much more I will learn in the next three months. But I will, for there is always more to learn! I'm realizing this even in my courses. It worked out so I could only take three courses. This is okay, since it's the minimum of credits I need to take. My courses are 19th Century British Novel, Post-Colonnial Literature, and Korean Ceramics.

My two pinch bowels on the shelf for drying.

The professor teaching the literature courses has a unique perspective on English literature, I'm enjoying his lectures a lot, because they offer a non-native English speaker's perspective on English literature, history and culture. I am finding that English literature taught in English countries can be very biased. Korean Ceramics as well, has proved to be a fascinating course. Art is something I've always done. I'm not bad at it, but neither am I great. I just DO it. I'm especially aware of this with ceramics. Clay does NOT respond to my hands the way paint does, and this IS a bit frustrating. Perhaps I will learn to mold it into the forms I imagine in my mind...I don't know, but I do know that it is fun and poses a challenge! And that is what art should be!

Close up of the dragon fly pinch bowel. There are so many dragonflies around campus. It's quite fascinating, considering they are rather rare where I come from!

First Impressions

Bah, awful title I came up with, it is definitely not sufficient to describe my first experiences in South Korea!

These are the times when words forsake me, and my English major does me no good. These are the times when life offers such potent experiences full of flavor and color, that there are no languages (French, German or English) to describe the impressions. These are the times when Art is the only way to express what goes on around me.

HOWEVER, I haven't had time to paint yet! In fact, I've had so little time to paint that I'm choosing to stay in my room tonight, and miss all the fun, so I can paint. I suppose that might seem like a waste to some, but I need to process my first impressions. So I paint.

To give you guys a little taste of my experiences, here are some photos.

View of the campus from the main gate.

Today was graduation, this means that dozens of elderly ladies stood close to the campus selling flowers, ribbons, and teddy bears wearing gowns. Every now and then one of these ladies calls out, "Flowers, beautiful flowers for your graduating friend/daughter/sister! Buy beautiful flowers here, for only "man won" (10 000won)" At least, that's what I imagine they are saying, for all I understand is "man won".      

 Yesterday all International students were invited to come to a local pub/club to party and taste Korean beer. I too, joined the throngs, and was met with some dazzling lights in downtown Seoul.

Talking and bonding over Korean beer. 

I'm coming back here to shop!^^

And last but not least, a sketch of the skyline view out of my room window. 

Here is a round view of the campus.

Finally, drumroll please....

After an hour flight, a 10 hour flight, and a 3 hour layover in between, I have arrived in Seoul!!

The flight was uneventful, except for the flight attendants being extremely cordial, which in this day and age is quite an event in it's own right! :P
Incheon airport vaguely reminded me of DC, because of it's carpeted hallways. If you, dear reader, can't tell yet, then let me inform you that I haven't slept for 31 hours, and so my thoughts (and writing) are rather non coherent! :)
So instead of boring the world with my writing, I will let these first pictures of Seoul speak for themselves.

My first glimpse of a Korean skyline, coming from Incheon Airport

Night life in front of the University's main gate. The stores, the stores!! I can't wait to spend money!! hihihi

Ewha or 이화여자대학고, my home for the next 4 months.