My first days back in South Korea has been hectic. Lunch, coffee dates, dinners, shopping etc. Also, a few of my friends graduated and they will leave Korea and go home. So sad to see that everybody is leaving, without knowing when we will meet again. It's nice being back though. I haven't had a second to just be at home, so now I finally have time to unpack and get my side of the room in order. My roommate, Inhaeng, hopefully I got it right, is a new dorm assistant and my new roomie. Have only seen her once, but I'm sure that we will get along. Something that is a typical korean thing is to give gifts. Doesn't have to be anything special, big or expensive. My roommate left me nice notes and snacks on my desk, even though we really don't know each other yet. I'm so looking forward to hang out with her. Since she gave me some snacks, I though that she just have to taste some salty licorice or salmiak and also xylitol from Finland. Let's see how she likes it.
A few of the new exchange students have already arrived. Just talking to them and see their excited faces makes me thing of how it all started for me last august. What came as a chock to me was their nationalities. Last semester, most of the students were from Germany, France and Finland. There was no one from more "cool" or special countries. Today, the group of students I met were from Venezuela, Pakistan, India, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Thailand and Uzbekistan. So interesting to listen to their stories and expectations.
During this week, the new exchange students have been dropping in one by one. I'm excited to get to know new people, since they come form exotic countries, places I don't have that much knowledge about and countries I want to know better. Today, Kyung Hee University, had an organized pick-up service from the airport. Three of my korean friends were at the airport, and the rest of us were waiting with excitement for them to arrive. With happy faces, we gave them a great welcome to KHU and Korea. After, it was time to show them were they would sleep for the coming four months.
Last semester, I got plenty of new friends, mostly from Korea. They were all members of IFCC - International Friendship Culture Club, which is a group of koreans who helps the exchange students. A few days ago, I got an surprising message from the president of IFCC, Jongyoo, who is also a good friend of mine. He told me :
"Hey my dear friend, as I told you before,
YOU are recruited as a honorary staff of IFCC!! YEAY!!!! I finally got an
agreement of every members about recruiting you into IFCC. Congratulations and
thanks for joining here and it’s my great honor to spend my best semester in my
life together with you".
Great guy, I love him! So what does this mean? I will be one of the jumping, energetic, excited staff members of IFCC who will organize, help and create an unforgettable semester for the new exchange students. The cool part is, that me and Jani, a finnish guy, we are the first non-koreans who have ever been a part of the IFCC, ever. I feel honored and I'm ready to do my best and work my ass off.
Tomorrow is the official orientation day, that I once attended last august. It will be weird to be up on stage, be presented as a staff of IFCC and to have a speech to all the newbies.
A long, but a good day. Here you got some pictures from today!
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