Sat for my Level 2 Korean Language test last week and officially ended my Beginner's Level of Korean class.
I dropped slightly on my writing, but improved on my oral, so still got the same result as I did in Level 1, 97%. Glory to God.
So I'll be having a week-long holiday, with lots of stuff to prepare: computer test coming up, Chinese character tests, Korean Language Proficiency Test by the Korean government and so on.
I'll be starting my Intermediate Korean lesson next week, Level 3, which we heard there's a field trip going to Jejudo Island planned for us. Can't wait for it.
But the most depressing thing came up yesterday when I was in church. The preacher was using Psalms 23 as reference, which I knew quite well and thought I'll understand the message easily.
But to my disappointment it was one of the hardest compared to the ones I've heard this year. And considering I just finished LEVEL 2!!
Well, maybe the problem is with me not having enough patience, but it's not easy being the one who sits there blankly when everyone else is laughing like they just heard the funniest joke on earth.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Good Habits
The pastor was preaching about the importance of good habits, quoting from Luke 22 on Sunday. Though I could hardly catch most of what he was talking about, but I believe the 1% that I so happen to understood was the main point: the combination of all the small habits that we have produces our character, thus a person who has lots of good habits will have a good character.
But even after looking into the mirror I went away without doing anything. But I did share some of my thoughts with a friend. And his reply was that he's always had the habit of waking up late and going to class late(something which the pastor touched specifically (Koreans?)), and so the next day he decided to wake up early and start his day doing better stuff.
Well, that's a quality I don not have. The reason is simple, because I think that even if I changed for the coming weeks, I'll eventually fall back to the same situation again.
There are numerous times where I said I want to change but look and me right now. All the New Year resolution down the drain!
But anyway, I took his words as a challenge and decided to do likewise. So since yesterday morning I've manage to wakeup earlier and do my devotion (which is actually part of my New Year's resolution...)
I guess it's in my genes that I need some challenges to move on. I am the type who likes competing with others.
So please do pray for me....
But even after looking into the mirror I went away without doing anything. But I did share some of my thoughts with a friend. And his reply was that he's always had the habit of waking up late and going to class late(something which the pastor touched specifically (Koreans?)), and so the next day he decided to wake up early and start his day doing better stuff.
Well, that's a quality I don not have. The reason is simple, because I think that even if I changed for the coming weeks, I'll eventually fall back to the same situation again.
There are numerous times where I said I want to change but look and me right now. All the New Year resolution down the drain!
But anyway, I took his words as a challenge and decided to do likewise. So since yesterday morning I've manage to wakeup earlier and do my devotion (which is actually part of my New Year's resolution...)
I guess it's in my genes that I need some challenges to move on. I am the type who likes competing with others.
So please do pray for me....
House Warming
Went to the house of a women who's learning piano at the same place where I am last Saturday.
She just moved into this new apartment recently and invited our piano teacher and us 4 Malaysian students over to her place.
The apartment is situated quite near where I'm staying, about 5-7 minutes by bus.
We arrived at her place around 1pm.
As this lady wasn't so used to cooking, she catered some Chinese style Korean food, which includes something like butter prawns, some black sauce (oyster sauce?) noodle, wanton and seafood noodle. Yum! yum!
And after the meals, we had lots of fruits as dessert: bananas, strawberries, kiwi, tangerine, pear and also some tidbits.
That's the best thing I like about house warming, the endless amount of food:)
She just moved into this new apartment recently and invited our piano teacher and us 4 Malaysian students over to her place.
The apartment is situated quite near where I'm staying, about 5-7 minutes by bus.
We arrived at her place around 1pm.
As this lady wasn't so used to cooking, she catered some Chinese style Korean food, which includes something like butter prawns, some black sauce (oyster sauce?) noodle, wanton and seafood noodle. Yum! yum!
And after the meals, we had lots of fruits as dessert: bananas, strawberries, kiwi, tangerine, pear and also some tidbits.
That's the best thing I like about house warming, the endless amount of food:)
Friday, January 14, 2005
Scolded
Celebrated my friend's birthday yesterday night. It's unbelievable how long we've managed to survive in this hostile world despite all the natural disasters and accidents all around.
Finally we've come to the final year of out teen-age years.
It seems that I've not been replying to my mails as of late. Got a phone call from my aunt yesterday, was quite surprise actually.
I used to do my e-mail checking and writing in the afternoon before going to piano lessons, but ever since the piano class was changed to the afternoon due to the winter vacation I've not been able to do so.
Will try to work on it....
On the other hand, my culinary skills are improving by the day. Been cooking quite a lot at home since I'm now free in the evening.
Among the most successful one was the spicy squid rice, which was even spicier than the Malay's food. My housemates had stomachache after eating it.
Studies have been quite ok. We learned the plain form this week. At least now we know why we were SCOLDED by one of the 아줌마(Mak cik/ middle age women) as if we murdered her puppy few days ago.
This plain form is a form of speech used among close friends and by a person with a higher status(seniors etc) to a lower status (juniors etc), or by an older person to a much younger person, and between some other types of relationships.
It's considered very rude when a younger/lower status/juniors use it with older/higher status/seniors.
Well, still trying to get use to it so I that won't run into trouble gain next time.
Finally we've come to the final year of out teen-age years.
It seems that I've not been replying to my mails as of late. Got a phone call from my aunt yesterday, was quite surprise actually.
I used to do my e-mail checking and writing in the afternoon before going to piano lessons, but ever since the piano class was changed to the afternoon due to the winter vacation I've not been able to do so.
Will try to work on it....
On the other hand, my culinary skills are improving by the day. Been cooking quite a lot at home since I'm now free in the evening.
Among the most successful one was the spicy squid rice, which was even spicier than the Malay's food. My housemates had stomachache after eating it.
Studies have been quite ok. We learned the plain form this week. At least now we know why we were SCOLDED by one of the 아줌마(Mak cik/ middle age women) as if we murdered her puppy few days ago.
This plain form is a form of speech used among close friends and by a person with a higher status(seniors etc) to a lower status (juniors etc), or by an older person to a much younger person, and between some other types of relationships.
It's considered very rude when a younger/lower status/juniors use it with older/higher status/seniors.
Well, still trying to get use to it so I that won't run into trouble gain next time.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Happy 2005
My first post for 2005.
It's the third day of this new year yet everything seems like last year except the change of date and calendar.
Well, frankly I didn't think of making any new year resolution, given my past record of not archiving/continuing most of them till the end of the year.
But looking at my current state, I really need to make some resolution, even if I only stick to them for the first few weeks of the year.
So here goes:
a) First and foremost is my devotion. Been neglecting it quite a lot, though I've come up with "reasonable" excuses, it shocked me when I realized that I haven't finish The Purpose Driven Life after more than 100days since I first started reading it in October.
Will try to sleep earlier so I can wake up earlier and start my day with some quiet time.
b) Academically I've been doing quite a lot of last minutes lately. Think I should at least complete all the work and extra exercises so that my intellectual mind doesn't go rusty.
Will also try to start on Matriculation/STPM/A-Level Science subjects by my own. I'm hoping to enter university after my language course(that is if the JPA allows) rather than doing my diploma in a college first.
Well, I guess that's all...And ya, might try to go through the Bible in Korean if possible,well, at least the New Testament =)
It's the third day of this new year yet everything seems like last year except the change of date and calendar.
Well, frankly I didn't think of making any new year resolution, given my past record of not archiving/continuing most of them till the end of the year.
But looking at my current state, I really need to make some resolution, even if I only stick to them for the first few weeks of the year.
So here goes:
a) First and foremost is my devotion. Been neglecting it quite a lot, though I've come up with "reasonable" excuses, it shocked me when I realized that I haven't finish The Purpose Driven Life after more than 100days since I first started reading it in October.
Will try to sleep earlier so I can wake up earlier and start my day with some quiet time.
b) Academically I've been doing quite a lot of last minutes lately. Think I should at least complete all the work and extra exercises so that my intellectual mind doesn't go rusty.
Will also try to start on Matriculation/STPM/A-Level Science subjects by my own. I'm hoping to enter university after my language course(that is if the JPA allows) rather than doing my diploma in a college first.
Well, I guess that's all...And ya, might try to go through the Bible in Korean if possible,well, at least the New Testament =)
Friday, December 31, 2004
Last Day of Year 2004
New Year's Eve...........
It's shocking how fast time flies...The time between my SPM exams and now seemed to be lost somewhere....It was just like yesterday when I was sitting in the examination hall in my former school and now suddenly I'm transported through time and space and sitting in front of a computer in Seoul.
But in reality when I sit down and recollect all the things that have happened this year, there's actually quite a lot of it.
(i) Got my SPM results. Not as good as I hoped for, but I can live with it.
(ii) Got my first pay check, and I mean CHECK, working as a administrator and teacher in a tuition centre.
(iii) Got my driving license, though I'm not sure whether I still remember how to drive.
(iv) Was accepted into Labuan Matriculation College where I stayed for 2 weeks before
(v) I was offered a scholarship by JPA to pursue an engineering degree in Korea. Though it wasn't the country I applied, I took the offer anyway, not knowing what lies in store for me but putting my trust in God.
(vi) Went to INTEC Shah Alam for 3 months to undergo a Korean language preparation course. Most memorable thing about INTEC was that I met lots of friends there.
(vii) Came to Korea in September and experienced the worst Orientation I had for the past 18 years.
(viii) Started my one and a half-year-long Korean Language programme.
(ix) Learnt a bit of calligraphy, learning a bit of Korean traditional folk dance, and finally got my chance to learn piano as well.
(x) And ya, got my chance to see snow for the first time^^
I guess I did went through a lot of things this year, but everything happened so fast I just didn't really have time to save it on my brain....
But that's what blogs are for isn't it? To save all our experience on the net.
It's shocking how fast time flies...The time between my SPM exams and now seemed to be lost somewhere....It was just like yesterday when I was sitting in the examination hall in my former school and now suddenly I'm transported through time and space and sitting in front of a computer in Seoul.
But in reality when I sit down and recollect all the things that have happened this year, there's actually quite a lot of it.
(i) Got my SPM results. Not as good as I hoped for, but I can live with it.
(ii) Got my first pay check, and I mean CHECK, working as a administrator and teacher in a tuition centre.
(iii) Got my driving license, though I'm not sure whether I still remember how to drive.
(iv) Was accepted into Labuan Matriculation College where I stayed for 2 weeks before
(v) I was offered a scholarship by JPA to pursue an engineering degree in Korea. Though it wasn't the country I applied, I took the offer anyway, not knowing what lies in store for me but putting my trust in God.
(vi) Went to INTEC Shah Alam for 3 months to undergo a Korean language preparation course. Most memorable thing about INTEC was that I met lots of friends there.
(vii) Came to Korea in September and experienced the worst Orientation I had for the past 18 years.
(viii) Started my one and a half-year-long Korean Language programme.
(ix) Learnt a bit of calligraphy, learning a bit of Korean traditional folk dance, and finally got my chance to learn piano as well.
(x) And ya, got my chance to see snow for the first time^^
I guess I did went through a lot of things this year, but everything happened so fast I just didn't really have time to save it on my brain....
But that's what blogs are for isn't it? To save all our experience on the net.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Christmas
Went to church in the morning. Few of my friends who were not Christians came along as well. I was actually quite surprised.
After service went back home, called a Korean friend to wish him "Merry Christmas" and then slept till evening before a friend phoned and asked me to go 구경 (walk-walk, lepak).
This time we went to Myeongdong, a popular shopping district in Seoul. There were lots of people there, fully packed as usual.
We went to Lotteria and had dinner. This time I tried the Squid Burger. After that, it was like the previous night, walking around aimlessly till we were tired and then went back home.
Got back and phoned my sweet Malaysia ^^
Thus ends my first Christmas in Korea:)
After service went back home, called a Korean friend to wish him "Merry Christmas" and then slept till evening before a friend phoned and asked me to go 구경 (walk-walk, lepak).
This time we went to Myeongdong, a popular shopping district in Seoul. There were lots of people there, fully packed as usual.
We went to Lotteria and had dinner. This time I tried the Squid Burger. After that, it was like the previous night, walking around aimlessly till we were tired and then went back home.
Got back and phoned my sweet Malaysia ^^
Thus ends my first Christmas in Korea:)
Christmas Eve
It was my first Christmas in a foreign land....
There was a Christmas dinner at church. Registration fee was 10,000won, which is very cheap at other times but rather expensive at the moment as we won't be receiving our allowance till February next year.
So on Christmas Eve I went 구경, walking around Gwanghwamun and City Hall with 11 of my friends.
Our lecturers told us that there'll be lots of people there, and indeed it was quite true: lots of couples dating there......But nothing to our interest.....
Ironically despite the cheerful atmosphere around me, I kind of felt....lonely....out of place....What on earth am I doing here!!!??? I was quite curious and still do, how did I spent all the Christmas Eves back home?
Went for dinner with my friends, had Squid Fried Rice...of all things for Christmas Eve
As we couldn't find anything else worth doing, we decided to go for Noraebang (Korean style Karaoke). One of my friend was given 20,000won by a Malaysian women she accidentally met at Everland the night before. So we decided to spent the money together.
It was my second time to a Noraebang, but this time I just wasn't as joyful as the first time. Firstly because I didn't have the mood and secondly it was already 12midnight!!!
By the time we reached home it was about 2.30am, and as there were no more buses, I stayed overnight with a friend in Oryu.
There was a Christmas dinner at church. Registration fee was 10,000won, which is very cheap at other times but rather expensive at the moment as we won't be receiving our allowance till February next year.
So on Christmas Eve I went 구경, walking around Gwanghwamun and City Hall with 11 of my friends.
Our lecturers told us that there'll be lots of people there, and indeed it was quite true: lots of couples dating there......But nothing to our interest.....
Ironically despite the cheerful atmosphere around me, I kind of felt....lonely....out of place....What on earth am I doing here!!!??? I was quite curious and still do, how did I spent all the Christmas Eves back home?
Went for dinner with my friends, had Squid Fried Rice...of all things for Christmas Eve
As we couldn't find anything else worth doing, we decided to go for Noraebang (Korean style Karaoke). One of my friend was given 20,000won by a Malaysian women she accidentally met at Everland the night before. So we decided to spent the money together.
It was my second time to a Noraebang, but this time I just wasn't as joyful as the first time. Firstly because I didn't have the mood and secondly it was already 12midnight!!!
By the time we reached home it was about 2.30am, and as there were no more buses, I stayed overnight with a friend in Oryu.
Everland
One thing different about the Malaysian programme at our Language Education Institute is that we have more fun than the international programme.
And the peak event for this year was - EVERLAND.
It's the biggest Theme Park in Korea and is the 6th most popular theme park in world ranking.
And many thanks to our lecturer who manage to strike a miraculous bargain for us: 10,000won for a one-day pass which also includes dinner and transportation. (The normal price would have been about 50,000won)
We went to Everland on 23rd December. The location of the theme park is outside of Seoul, and the journey took about an hour from Yangjae.
One of the most popular things in the park was the snow sledge, which unfortunately due to the lack of snow and the relatively warm winter this year, 3 of the most exciting course wasn't open.
I went in agroup of 6 people. We tried a few of the thrilling rides, but my memory of Times Square still haunts me so I didn't go for ALL the rides. Furthermore my friends were not so keen on the thrilling rides as well.
We went for the safari as well. The cool thing about it was that we hop onto a bus and the bus brought us into this park where the animals roam around freely and the animals were just inches from us right outside the bus.
But above all, the most interesting thing was the snow sledge. Although the more interesting course weren't open we still enjoyed ourselves. After all, it was the first time for nearly all of us.
Took our dinner at Maharajah. Our lecturers asked them to prepare Seafood Fried Rice in advance, as the Malays can't eat the other stuff.
At night we watched the "Magic in the Sky"- a fantastical fireworks and searchlight performance, then followed by a "Moonlight" parade.
We really had a great time at Everland, despite the untimely lack of snow. A wonderful remembrance to end this year....
And the peak event for this year was - EVERLAND.
It's the biggest Theme Park in Korea and is the 6th most popular theme park in world ranking.
And many thanks to our lecturer who manage to strike a miraculous bargain for us: 10,000won for a one-day pass which also includes dinner and transportation. (The normal price would have been about 50,000won)
We went to Everland on 23rd December. The location of the theme park is outside of Seoul, and the journey took about an hour from Yangjae.
One of the most popular things in the park was the snow sledge, which unfortunately due to the lack of snow and the relatively warm winter this year, 3 of the most exciting course wasn't open.
I went in agroup of 6 people. We tried a few of the thrilling rides, but my memory of Times Square still haunts me so I didn't go for ALL the rides. Furthermore my friends were not so keen on the thrilling rides as well.
We went for the safari as well. The cool thing about it was that we hop onto a bus and the bus brought us into this park where the animals roam around freely and the animals were just inches from us right outside the bus.
But above all, the most interesting thing was the snow sledge. Although the more interesting course weren't open we still enjoyed ourselves. After all, it was the first time for nearly all of us.
Took our dinner at Maharajah. Our lecturers asked them to prepare Seafood Fried Rice in advance, as the Malays can't eat the other stuff.
At night we watched the "Magic in the Sky"- a fantastical fireworks and searchlight performance, then followed by a "Moonlight" parade.
We really had a great time at Everland, despite the untimely lack of snow. A wonderful remembrance to end this year....
Out with Piano Teacher
Went out with my piano teacher on the 18 of December. She invited all 5 of us Malaysians student over to her place for Christmas celebration. One of our teacher's friend was also with us.
We went for a movie at Gwangmeong in the morning to catch the first show of the day. In most cineplex in Korea, all the first movie of the day is about 30% cheaper.
We wanted to watch the Incredibles, but it was dubbed into Korean and there were no subtitles, so we watched Taxi instead.
After the movie we went to our teacher's house, where she prepared Seafood soup for us. It was kind of like our Malaysia's tomyam soup. The cake and fruit salad were also splendidly delicious.
After resting for a while, we went to 노래방(Noraebang), which literally means "music room". It's kind of like a karaoke, but much "cleaner and safer", though I've never actually been to any before....
It was my first time to a Noraebang, and I really enjoyed. It was kind of like a revision of all the Korean songs I know.....not that much though....
We went for a movie at Gwangmeong in the morning to catch the first show of the day. In most cineplex in Korea, all the first movie of the day is about 30% cheaper.
We wanted to watch the Incredibles, but it was dubbed into Korean and there were no subtitles, so we watched Taxi instead.
After the movie we went to our teacher's house, where she prepared Seafood soup for us. It was kind of like our Malaysia's tomyam soup. The cake and fruit salad were also splendidly delicious.
After resting for a while, we went to 노래방(Noraebang), which literally means "music room". It's kind of like a karaoke, but much "cleaner and safer", though I've never actually been to any before....
It was my first time to a Noraebang, and I really enjoyed. It was kind of like a revision of all the Korean songs I know.....not that much though....
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