Team projects, Assignment and School Stress

After the midterm is over, in general, people start to work on their team projects. A lot of stress that the midterm causes, now it will only get worse. Presentations, reports, final papers and assignments has to be done before you even realize. In general, I'm trying to finish my individual assignments as quickly as I can, so I have more time working on my team projects. The team projects are worth more points that will be added to the final grade than the individual assignments, so I figured, that it's better to put more time and effort doing the team projects. Soon after these projects are done, it's time to get busy with the books and start to read for the final exams. How will I manage to survive this? I spend all my days at my favorite café keeping myself busy with projects so I won't be home all day watching some series.

I was a bit nervous before we got divided into groups. In the english courses, there is people who have difficulties with the english language, to communicate or even participate. I must say, I'm so satisfied with my team mates I have had so far. They are bringing a lot to the projects, coming up with ideas and I have even made new friends while working with people I didn't know before, and probably wouldn't know if it wasn't for the projects. I'm nervous, but at the same time curious how these projects will turn out and I believe that we will do an excellent job!

All together, I have five courses this semester, and four team projects that I have to finnish with my team in 2-4 weeks. The subjects of my team projects are pretty interesting I think. The first project that has to be done is to do a marketing plan for a unpopular city in South Korea. Our group chose the city called Sangju. The city has a lot of opportunities, but is not that known. Another project is to analysis a company's quality program and figure out what else they could do. Third project is about comparing a country's culture and manners with South Korea. It was important to have any relation to the country, so we chose Iran (since I'm half iranian and Finland was already chosen by another team). Iran and South Korea, surprisingly, has a lot in common, which I find very interesting. The last project will be about consumer behavior. We will research about music, but the main topic is not set yet. Wish me luck!

First Snow

Before I came to South Korea, I thought that the winter was going to be cold, but without snow. Today I look out and what do I see? Snow! Not the first time I experience snow, since I live in one of the snowiest countries, but for my other friends, this was a big deal. There is many people who are studying at Kyung Hee University from Singapore for example, who have never seen snowflakes in their life. While they are studying abroad, they will also experience their first winter. It's hard for me to imagine that there is people, who have never seen snow, when it's such a normal thing in Finland. The snowfall only lasted for a few minutes and now, the sun is shining over Korea again. 

 My view from our classroom. 

Autumn

As Finland, South Korea also got four seasons. It was pretty warm and humid for a long time and lately it has been cold evenings. In a week, the whole campus transferred to a colorful paradise. Leafs in yellow, orange and red puts smile on all students faces while walking around the campus. The campus at Kyung Hee is famous for being one of Seoul's most beautiful and it's a popular place to visit for couples and even tourists. I decided to take some pictures of the campus and I will take similar pictures during the winter, spring and summer season. Will be nice to see how it changes during the year.

Thank to my friend Natalie, who is crazy about almost everything when it comes to kpop and korean drama, she found a video from EXO that shot a video to Melon Music Awards. The video was shot from our university last week. I know you will laugh to the video, because it's so Twilight, but out university looks beautiful at least.

Kyung Hee University Medical Center

From day one, people have told me where the hospital is and if I ever need help, I should ask someone to go there with me. After coughing for 3 weeks, my heart started to hurt very badly. I never thought that I would have to visit the hospital here, but now that is done. I woke up in the morning, to weak to go to class. My dear friend Choeun guided me through the meeting with the doctor, which I thought was so nice of her. First I had to register and pay for the appointment. The funny thing is, they asked for my nationality, and well, I'm from Finland but in Korea you pronouns Finland as Phinlandu. Even though I repeated the work Phinlandu many times, when I received the certificate of my medication, my nationality is Russia. How funny is that!

The doctor asked me a bunch of questions and in many cases I wondered what he will do with that kind of information. But after asking a bunch of questions, he wanted me to take a x-ray picture of my chest. In the end, I received my medicine. 3 pills that I had to take during the day and also some kind of drinking medicine. Tomorrow, I will head back to the hospital and meet up with the doctor again. Hopefully everything is OK with me and its nothing serious. 

Chueun was such a sweetheart helping me out and she even bought me a cake. It's so amazing, I mean when you really get to know someone who is Korean, they will treat you as you have known forever. You will receive small gifts every now and then, which is completely different to the culture in Finland.  How am I supposed to be here for one year, getting used to all of this, and then all of sudden be back home in Finland? Lucky me, I still got many months left to enjoy all of this!

Seoul Lantern Festival 2013

This update is a bit late, I'm sorry for that!

Last Friday there was a Lantern Festival in Seoul. This festival started in 2009 and is now held every year in November. The festival has managed to put some remarkable lanterns on the famous Cheonggyechon stream. During the festival, hundreds of lanterns will be lit on the stream. Each lantern has a unique design and tells a story. The lanterns are made by international artists and local citizens. 

I visited the festival with Natalie, Christina, Nhung and Martin. We were all amazed by the colors and how they reflect to the water. The festival was free of charge, it was very beautiful and I'm happy that we wen't there!

Pepero Day

A day filled with chocolate sticks. It's Pepero Day and just a perfect way to start off a new week. All students are eating these sticks in class and giving away Pepero sticks to their friends. The supermarkets and small 7 Elevens are full of chocolate sticks in all shapes and sizes. This day is quite famous here and year by year becoming more important. It's almost like Valentine's day. I got myself a few boxes of Pepero sticks, so I will enjoy a couple of those today!

11.11

In South Korea, they celebrate everything. There is a lot of holidays, that doesn't really exist in Europe, or at least not in Finland. In every month the 14th there is a special day. Korea is definitely a country for romance and for couples. There is a few days that are really famous and after asking my korean friends, a few of them are not known and probably only a day for couples.

Tomorrow its the 11th of November, the day called "Pepero Day". In all stores you will see these chocolate sticks in big packages. This day originated ten years ago when a couple of teenage girls exchanged these sticks as a wish to grow tall and slim. Tomorrow is a day for couples, friends, families and colleagues, and it has become a major occasion as important as Valentines Day. 11/11 represent the sticks, which is the reason why pepero day is on this specific day.

These are other days that are celebrated in a way or another. The hearts will represent how important, known and special these days are.

14th of January (♥) is a day to symbolize the new year with Diary Day. Couples exchange yearly planners in which they mark their upcoming plans, anniversaries, birthdays and other important dates.
14th of February (♥♥♥♥♥) is a day we all know - Valentines day! The streets of Korea begin to line itself with chocolate filled lace baskets about a week before Valentines day. This is the special day for women to show their love and express their feelings for their boyfriends.
14th of March (♥♥♥♥♥) is the day when it's the mens turn to show some love to their woman by giving candles and gifts. This day is called White Day and the customary gift is candy, not chocolate, jewelry and flowers. This is really an important day for women and if their men forgets this day, there will be some consequences.  
14th of April (♥♥♥♥) The day called Black Day, is dedicated to all the independent women and men out there who are still single. After two super romantic days, it's time for all single people to get together and have some Jjajagmyeon, black noodles. Many people will also be dressed in black, including black accessories and even black nail polish.

14th of May (♥) is a romantic day again, Rose Day, when couples exchange roses with each other.
14th of June (♥) "Kiss day". Kiss everyone you meet on this day. Is this really true? This doesn't sound like something Koreans would do. I had to ask my friend about this day and she said that this is not really true. Again, probably a day only for couples.
14th of July (♥) exchanging silver accessories on the Silver Day is what people do today.
14th of August (♥) is called Green Day, a day when couples seek nature and relax, while those who are single drink Soju to drown their loneliness.
14th of September (♥) a day when you better look fly. The Photo Day, is the day when you have to take a picture with your loved one in a romantic place and put in a special place to look at.
14th of October (♥) is the month when Korea starts to get chilly. Wine Day is perfect for a cold evening in October. Have a glass of wine with someone special today.
14th of November (♥) is when the Autumn arrives to Korea and it's time to chose a great movie or go to the cinema on this Movie Day. 
14th of December (♥) and it starts to get really cold. Today is Hug Day! Couples hugs each other in order to chase away the cold.

Bungee Jump

The day has come. Finally I will experience something I have always wanted to do - Bungee Jumping! Our journey started at 10am and our trip to the Youldong Park took us around 1,5 hour. Youldong park is the perfect place for jogging, picnic and hanging out with friends, and if there´s courage enough, there is bungee jumping available. We got our equipment and took the elevator up to the top so we could jump from 45 meter. It doesn't sound that high, but when it's time to jump and you are standing on the edge, it gets scary. Since no one wanted to jump first, I decided to be lucky number one. While being on the top, we got some information how to do the jump. We all got to practice on a mattress and then it was time to actually jump. Lucky me, I got to see a few other people jump before me, so it felt better to jump whenever it was my turn. When I was up there, I was feeling so confident, but when it came to my turn, and I looked down at the water and all people watching me from the ground, I got a bit nervous. The man, who worked there, told me to jump as far and high as possible so that's what I did. Woah, what a feeling! I can't describe how it felt and it was definitely the most awesome thing I have ever done in my life. After the jump, I was running around of excitement! 

The Jacket

Finally, we all got what we have been waiting for - Our University Jackets! When I received my jacket, I hugged it and jumped around like a little child. Now you can see all foreign students walk around with the same jacket and I must say, I love it! I have a similar jacket back home in Finland, but this one, this is something special and definitely the greatest souvenir I can get from South Korea. I was also in desperate need of a jacket, so I'm happy I got it. Let's see how long I survive with this jacket. I mean look at them, they are hot! We also had the opportunity to get our names on the sleeve, so I decided to have my name written in korean and english! I love it! I bet, the new students who will come to Kyung Hee University Spring 2014, will be dead jealous when they see our jackets!

Halloween

The Halloween Holiday is something big here in Korea. Shops are decorated with pumpkins, spiderwebs and ghosts, people are dressed in crazy costumes and there is a Halloween party wherever you go. Yesterday, IFCC organized a halloween party in Hongdae in a club called Katakomb. Before we arrived to the party, we gathered at Natalie and Christinas place for drinks. 

A lot of people attended to the party in crazy clothes and scary makeup. I don't know where they hide all the Halloween costumes here in Seoul, but I didn't manage to find anything. So I decided to be a "crazy A+ geek!". Anyways, it was a great party!