Phombies (Phone Zombies) ^^*

I am having the vague feeling that something hasn't really happened until I post it to Facebook or my Blog.
Oh NO......I'm addicted.


* http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/30/opinion/greene-smart-phone-addiction/index.html

Drink and Get Drunk, anyone?

Wow, I don't Drink: that's one thing.
Let alone get Drunk: that's another thing.
I found it intriguing to see all of those kitchen wares spread
all over the place, some were in their place: I presumed.
Some were out of place: If I was not mistaken.
To see them just barely lay there gave me an idea of
taking a chance of using one of those to strike...
a pose.
Got it right there...
as if a jar of makkeolli* gushing through my throat
swashing away...
the heat of thirstiness....
(wait: it's Autumn)..
Anyway...it was a mere pose
of someone narcissistic
like me...
(wait: are you?)
* Makgeolli, aslo known as Makkoli or Makuly (takju) ( and referred to in English as 'Korean rice wine'), is an alcoholic beverage native to Korea. It is made from a mixture of wheat and rice which gives it a milky, off-white color, and sweetness.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makgeolli) for further reference.

South Pole, anyone?

Yes, it is easy to find South Pole 남극점. At least the direction is clear should we go there from Suwon. Yes, this road sign stood majestically visible at the entrance towards the Suwon palace. I wonder why someone bothered putting it here in the first place.

The funny thing is that....if South Pole is into that direction, why is it that Sydney is any different?

I thought they were in the same direction....hmmmmmm

Red Cho-Cho Train @ Suwon Haenggung

red choo-choo train...

It was after lunch time.
Since we had about 30 minutes or so to stroll around the area before continuing our journey, I asked Emmi to take a look at the area we did not yet cover in the first place.

 to soothe Emmi's feeling ...

Gosh, we wished that we had gone this earlier since we found this tourist-train that would take us for a 20-minute ride around the hill to see the whole city of Suwon from up above. Well, we had barely 15 minutes left before departure. So, it was unfortunate that we could not take a ride on the red train. Emmi, especially, was a bit sad since--judging from the look on her face--she really wanted to take a ride on it. Instead, I just asked her to sit on a seat of the train for a pose. It did work on her, for a change.^^

Suwon Haenggung or 수원 행궁

Joseon Dynasty Guards

I went there with a bunch of our friends from HUFS International Students Association (ISO). Our ISO has been actively inviting and preparing cool stuffs and programs for us--foreign students--to experience Korea in ways beyond our imagination. I mean: They do all the stuffs of preparing numerous arrays of activities that suit our interests. One of them is this one: a cultural trip to Korean heritages.
So, on October 29, 2011 we went to Suwon Haegung which is said to be the best place to see a detached palace architecture of Joseon Dynasty.

If other do it, why don't we?^^

I learned a bit about this architecture which was famous for being the filming location of the phenomenal Dae Jang Geum TV drama--which stirred lots of international interest in Korean past.
=> Oh, that was the reason as to why I saw lots of tourists from Japan, Thailand, China, and other countries, too -- I supposed--who were visiting this palace.

Arrays of Daejanggeum's costumes
from child to adulthood

Ok, this palace was established around Mount Paldalsan under the authority of King Jeongjo(?) hmmm I hope I spelled it right:). It was used as a Suwon government office and a temporary residence or palace for dignitaries I supposed. Oh, let's see when it was built: oh, it was in 1780s or 1790s. Not sure. Gosh, I should have listened or known it. Oh, well.
Anyway, I just came to realize that it was still relatively intact and well preserved.
Of course, it came into existence as an exhibit today thanks to the rigorous Korean government in re-enacting the real-life back then.
Lots of guys dressed in cloaks and olden days' Joseon Dynasty's soldiers greeted all the guests or visitors to the palace...and what's more interesting was that we could take pics with them.



And..that was exactly that drew the flocks of people to see and taste it--I guess.
Actually, there was supposed to be a cultural performance there, but since it was raining ....it was cancelled. too bad, though.

whos' there?

the wall surrounding the palace

So, instead, we went to see the back of the palace and found ourselves trapped within the walls surrounding the palace. We wanted to go up the hills, but instead we were just circling around the area since it was dead-locked. We did not find any way out. So, we might as well take some pictures.
The chilly windy Autumn set in.
It was a nice trip, except for the chilling Autumn. So much so, I did enjoy it all the way.^^

Paint Ball War

Would the real-war would give time
for its soldier to take a pose, eh?

The first time ever for me. Well, the first thing that came up to my mind when I read an announcement about it was ....that...hmm.....it would be worth to try. Oh, well.
It was indeed, really.
How would I miss such a hilariously fun time 'killing' and 'shooting' our own friends in the real-field and war-like   'jungles' ^^ (chuckles).
I thought that I might just quit the stance when I first got a chance to listen to the instructor of the 'game' on how to's and what's not to's during an orientation. It sounded so tempting and dangerous at the same time. But, I might as well do it since I was there all along. I may have regretted it had I not tried it on.
Yep, it was true.
I was glad that I decided to play in the game.

bla-bla-bla safety precautions

We arrived in a remote area I did not know where. ^^ But, I am sure that it was still in the vicinity of Suwon.
There were around 60 of us; divided into two groups: Asian guys with mostly European girls (group B) VS European guys with mostly Asian girls (group A).
I did not know what in the world should we be divided into such a criteria....Oh, swell.....it did not bother us.

....
Off we went to change our clothes. The first impression: OK. got to do it. Looked so fun.

action!!! see the smoke?

The helmet: cool. the guns: cool, only to find that they were in different sizes for girls and boys. Oh, swell. I got mine which was a bit heavy, actually.^^
The trousers: hmmm that green Army-look type trousers....which were too big for me^^
But wait: there were some restrictions and precautions that we must take heed of since we did not want to injure others or let alone ourselves simply out of stupidity of -- say -- not locking the safety pin when taking a rest:) or the bullets just blow us off.^^ WHaat? : well, that was what the instructor said..:(
...
Off we started the games.

hmmm.....where are my friends?

We loaded each of our guns with yellow bullets made out gelatin. They were as big as usual marbles. Look so intimidatingly cute but, what if they hit us?
IT TURNED OUT to be so painful. especially when it hurt our arms or legs.

serious-looking Jobirson

It would not be a big problem should the bullets hit our helmet for they would easily melted, dissolved, or splashed into colorful arrays of colors^^. Mostly, yellow and blue.
I wouldn't imagine them being red!!
Oh, the sound of the speeding bullets spreading around the 'jungle' was ear-splitting though actually it was just a pop with a hissing sound. I would not imagine what it would be like in the real wars. Guess, never want to get one of those.
The four-round game lasted for about 2 hours. An exhausting game, but it was really fun, especially for me: the first timer.
Once again, was it worth-it? Oh, yeah.

Halloween again

Yes, it was another Halloween in campus. Only this time, it was held by the English classes. I was passing by the corridors of FLEX center at my campus when I saw a commotion.







I dropped by to take a look at what the fuzz was going on there. It turned out to be the Halloween party or costume contest where students showed their best (read: worst) look ever.^^

It was fun to see that each class was designed differently in a such a way that anyone interested in coming in would be so tantalizingly intrigued by the idea of having to taste and drop by at each room....which I did not have time to do.

I kinda like it, though.

Instead, I was taking some snapshots of what they were doing today. Oct. 28,2011. The day when my midterm exam just passed us by^^

Korean Language Mid Term Exam

It's been two months since I became a student again.^^.
I felt the sense of jittery and restless prior to taking the exam.
Guess, that was what my fellow students back home might have felt whenever they were preparing for any test.
So, being in a Korean class might not seem so challenging for some. But, it was for me. And it is.
I never thought that vocabulary is so strenuously distressing in the first place.
I did not know what to do with the bombardment of newly induced vocabularies every day. I said: Every Day. Yes, I felt like being choked up.
I got to swallow, gulp, chew, lick, smear, sense, feel the new senses of vocabularies.
Not to mention the seemingly out-of-place idioms that adorn the Korean language.
Well, all of these are challenges too interesting to overlook^^
So, I might as well fight for it.
And..that was the simple reason as to why I was struggling and keeping myself awoke late until  the wee morning to study (or: memorizing) the patterns and other related trivia.
I thought that the Reading section was so difficult that I used most of my time being in the room.......learning.
Then, this morning, it turned out that Reading was ok, but...on the other around, Listening and Structure were way too out of imagination for me. Sure, I did it quite well, to some extent.
I came out of the exam room with a smile on my face; hinting that I did it quite well. At least to the point of where I was going.

Open House: Come on in, Girls....into my room^^:)

Open House at my dormitory was a bit shocking for me since it was not a good timing. I was preparing for the midterm when the male dormitory was packed with the female fellows of my friends who were using their best chance of looking or peeping into the world of male dormitory. Some of my friends did not heed the flow of girls passing by at the corridors, and neither did I. I just let my clothes hanging on the corridors' racks. Well, I saw that none of the boys did change the way their rooms looked. And neither did I.
I was busy preparing for the exam the following day when I overheard lots of laughter outside my room. It was a bit different situation where most of the nights or days, I barely heard any noises over the corridors.
Well, irrespective of the fact that I may find it distracting, at some point, I found it cool, too. Eh?
First thing first, I found it out of any ordinary days in the dorm.
Actually, I was planning of inviting my friends over to my room so as to let them know what it may look and feel to live in a dorm. But, I did not find it a good idea. Well, I would've invited them over, had it be held on another day^^
Oh, an interesting thing occurred when the time limit for any visitors was setting in. I remembered the management team announced or sort of reminded about the curfew or deadline for any visitors should they be still inside the room. It was broadcasting both in English and Korean.

Thought to ponder: I wonder if any boys came to the female dorm at that day.^^
I bet some did.
* the title of my blog did not suggest any other meaning, but ....the simple fact that some female fellows did have curiosity about our male dorm.^^.
It was a great time, though.

Welcoming Dinner @ Seoul Olympic Parktel

then....

Off we went to Olympic Park where Seoul Summer Olympic was held back then in 1988.

I went there to attend the welcoming dinner held for the participants of PAS (Pacific Asia Society) gathering at Seoul Olympic Parktel. This time around, as many as 20 students from 10 countries (?) participated in the program. 

I got a great dinner there.

^^

One thing for sure, I met the professors and the dignitaries from PAS and my students.

It was indeed a great time to reflect to.

HUFS & Kyunghee University

Kyunghee Univ.

This time around, I got no other options but to see my own campus (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies) and my neighboring campus ( Kyunghee University). What I meant twas that....I got to take my friend, Eddo, who came all the way down from Sookmyung Women's University to visit me.
He told me that he wanted to come to my campus and see what it had to offer for him.
I took him to take around the campus for a while until we were so freezing that we decided to have some chocolate and coffee at Paris Baguette just around the corner.

HUFS slogan

awkward pose in front of HUFS main building

---
We took some pictures at HUFS and then we went to Kyunghee's famous landmark, i.e. the church(?) that the university built.

Kyunghee Univ.

Since it was a bit late in the afternoon, and what's worse...my smartphone was not that smart in capturing the moment. I did turn on the flash but it did not help at all.^^

another angle of the univ.

So, we might as well use the camera.
---Then
off we went to a Smartphone shop where I bought mine. My friend was interested in buying the new one.
it's a 4G LG U+ Smartphone. A more sophisticated gadget than mine.
---not yet decided as to whether he would buy it.
Off we went to the station to catch the metro for another event...^^

Another Angles from the Mosque at Itaewon

Actually I took these pictures about two weeks ago, but I do not think I have blogged something  'bout it. Since I am oblivious of whether I did put these pictures or not.. I might as well put them onto the blog again. As usual, after the Friday Prayer lots of people were gathering outside the Mosque--chattering and talking over stuffs or catching up the latest news (gossips:) among themselves. Well, it was a kind of weekly informal social gathering that they can do at least once a week.

As for some others, they preferred staying out late inside the Mosque listening the additional sermon offered by a cleric who usually come from different nationalities. It was also a kind of activity that some did after the prayer.
I got a chance to take a snap of what they were doing.
As for me, I'd prefer to take myself into the line or queue for some snack and a box of milk offered for free. ^^

Animal Earmuffs and Headmuffs(?)

It is really cold outside. (the Glee's 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' rings in)...^^
Anyway..I just want to share the picture-taking we had this morning in the class.

Our Japanese friends--Chika and Akane-- happened to come along with the earmuffs and headmuffs they were putting on their heads. All of a sudden, we wanted to try put them on on our heads since it looked so warm wearing them.
So, the Doraemon and the Horangi (white tiger) headmuffs they brought were kind of cute.
I tried putting it on my head..even our sonsaengnim, too.
It was indeed like a a feeling of being sucked into the state of child-prone jubilation.
Indeed.
Love it.

2000 visitors

Well, it might not have been an achievement compared to other sites or blogs.
But, still it is a great rewarding experience and thing for me ...for there are some of you who have been here for some reasons. I am glad that the readers find the blog worth-reading.:) Hopefully.
I hope I will be able to jot down what I have in my daily trivial life into the blog...to share with all of you.

it might be too obscure...but it shows the 2,000 visitors

A Memoir to My Akung

He has gone now...
Yet, his warm and wise words will always linger on my mind.
Someone of Patience. Indeed.
A loving father to all of us... He is.
irrespective of how and who we are as his children.
Akung, I will never forget you....
Your sincere smile hugs me every time I remember you, Akung...
Your warm hugs feel like just yesterday...
I know you are so sincerely patient in every move you made in this world
look at how Akung has achieved so far...
You've dedicated your life......
to make us proud to be your children...
A loving Akung to our Ibu...
A loving Akung to all of us as a family...
Bandung & Gelatik Dalam would never be the same without you....
Yet....I won't falter....
you've touched me in the ways......I haven't yet expressed to you
I love you, Akung....
May Allah Embrace you in Peace...

Lunch: Yeongyang Deolseot Bibimbap

영양돌솥비빔밥 or literally translated into a 'mixed rice full of nutrition in a hot bowl'
That was what I had for lunch. Thanks for Yumi who invited me to have lunch with her.
Oh, it was also her celebration for she has been accepted as a staff at KIEP research Center in Seoul.
It means she passed all of the requirements to be eligible staff at the center.

Yumi 

맛있다!  hmm yummy

it was only half of what we had on the other side of the table

 She seemed to be pretty happy about it, for I know how hard she tried. We did have a rehearsal of how to face the interview should any Indonesia-related questions might came up.
Though, none of what we rehearsed was present during the interview, one thing for sure, she got a job!
I am happy for her, too.

autumn really sets in.....

Oh, the meal was sumptuously presented before us with lots of banchan or side dishes on the table.
It was a treat indeed.
It was indeed a great time.


oh, the picture of the school: out of my curiousness while waiting for Yumi at the main gate.

Gasan Digital Compelx (가산 디저털 단지)

This place is called : Gasan Digital Complex. But....this name itself is so misleading. Indeed, it is misleading. For foreigners it would be deliberately associated with any electronic stuffs or gadgets. So, the first thing that came up to our mind was that this place was gonna be packed with all of the latest gadgets in digital products:)
But, we were wrong.
It was more like a fashion district. Lots of malls selling branded stuffs were sprung up along the intersections and lanes of the district.
Well, it was a funny thing to be there in the first place.
I was informed that I can get some cheap and bargain stuffs there. I thought it would be some digital products, but it turned out to be fashions.
Well, since we also wanted to check the place out...we might as well stroll along the block:)
It was fun, then.
The interesting sight that I noticed was the fact that even the fitting rooms are served on the pavements or sidewalks. It was a nice thing to look at, though.
We (felix and Jobirson) got there by metro that took us for about 1 hour or so (including the time when we missed the station where we were supposed to transfer).

The place is famous among Koreans but not among foreigners, let alone tourists. Tourists would prefer (or they did not know actually) to go to Namdaemun or Dongdameun or Myeongdong, instead of going to this Digitally fashioned complex (hehehehe). Koreans love branded stuffs and they want to show the image of being well-off by purchasing lots of branded stuffs. You name it, you Got it here: Nike, Adidas, Puma, etc...all of those sport apparels. The shops were lining up along the streets as long as we can see.
Then, Calvin Klein, Zara, D&G, Abercrombie, Zalvatoirre(?), well..could not name them one by one..
They are just amazingly scattered along the district.
Well, is it worth-visiting? well, if you are into the branded stuffs at relatively cheaper price...it is.
I ended up only buying one winter jacket for my daughter. Of course, it was on sale, it was 59,000 Won...and discounted into just a mere 10,000 Won.
Yes, it happened there.

종이에 적어 보는 일

여기에다 적을 것들이 주제 없이 제가 그냥 마음대로 쓰고 싶은 점이다....

4급이 진짜 어려워서  반복하게 되면 어떻게 할까? 5급으로 못 올라가면끝장이다. 공부하는 것이 너무 힘들다. 그래서 책상앞에 있는 벽에다가 자식의 그림을 걸어 두면 언제든지 함께 있는 것 같다. // 평생이 무너진 것 같다는 생각이 들면 이번호로 전화를 걸어서 얘기해 보라고 했는데 그럴 리 가 있을까? // 고향에 와 보니까 옛날에 같이 공부했던 친구들이 깡그리 없어졌다. //오늘의 뉴스에 의하면 정부가 믿을 수 없는 쇼핑몰의 상품을 매매하는 것을 금하고 있대요.// 그 사람이 심각한 문제에 젖어 있기 때문에 일을 하는 둥 마는 둥 하고 있다는 걸 봤다.// 어제 만난 쌍둥이가 인생관이 다른다. 동생이 비관적이고 형은 낙관적이다.// 전에는 이바지가 까만색이었는데 시간이 흘러서 퇴색했다.// 방금 산 과일이 변질 되지않도록 냉장고에 넣어 야 한다.// 미래에 대해 막연한 생각을 가지고 있는 젊은이들이 많다.// 그 사람들이 의리가 있는  것 같다. 사장님이 하라는 것들을 따라간다. 그런데...의리 때문에 그럴까? 약속을 지키고 싶어서 그럴까? //   OECD 자료에 따르면 요세는  양호한 경제를 가지고 있는 나라가 몇 개 밖에 없다고 발표되었다.// 지금까지 우리반 선생님으 말씀을 여석개의 항목으로 다시 적을 수 있을 까?// 이런 문제를 간단하게 단정하지 말고 좀 깊게 생각하면 방법이 보일 것이다.//
...
마지막 문장이 맞을까?
요리를 하다가 소금을 설탕인 줄 알고 넣는 바람에 요리를 그르치고 말았어요.  (?) ^^

blitzkrieg paper

Within three hours I managed to finish 3-page long paper in Korean--that frankly I am not satisfied with.^^ Well, I got no other choices but to squeeze the ideas out of my head just to make this 3-page long paper that I wish I could have done it better.
The thing was that...I was planning not to take the exam as I was jut a non-regular or sit-in student in this class. That's it.
But then....I was wrong...I did not know that it would be a different pose should I not do it.
Actually, I was bold enough to send an email asking a permission for not taking the exam...but......as what I had feared.....an instant message snoozed into my inbox informing me that I should (the euphemistic way of  saying 'must') write the paper as others did. ^^
The deadline was just three or four hours left...and I got no ideas to write down.
It was a good thing that I did send an email for confirmation.
....
Now that I had done it, the frenzy feeling of being released from the upside-down shell ...bestowed me.
I was exhilarated..............
Although deep down I was kinda worried since I did not check my Korean grammar as to whether it was acceptable in term of paper works in academic area. Oh, swell...at least up to the moment..I can just talk myself in.....that it was over...for the meantime^^.

classmate's birthday

Yesterday was the first time ever that within 6 hours I had meals three times. For sure it was not completely me at all. I had a late lunch  after class (2.pm) when my friend asked me to accompany her for her late lunch...at 5pm. Well, since it would be a good time to talk since I had not met her for quite a while....
Just when I had not yet finished having my 2nd lunch....my friend, Taekcho, texted me...informing that it was our friend's--Illiya--birthday. So, he asked me to make a surprise party for him. Since Illiya sits next to me and he's been more like a brother to me...I could not help but agreeing to his plan.
So, we met again at 8pm.
Since it would not be any birthday party without any cakes, we decided to buy some at Paris Baquette near campus. It's a good thing that I had my LG membership card for additional 10% off. ^^ (one of the so many privileges of having this LG Card--not to mention the free movie ticket every month for any movie I want to see in any cineplex) ^^ what a treat.
back to the party...

then we met four other friends and off we went to a Chinese restaurant.
It was the first time ever for me that a restaurant in Korea served lamb satay and fried eggplants just like what I had back home in Indonesia. Hmmm what a treat. So, we did have a goooood time celebrating Illiya's B'day. The dish (though we felt so sorry for not being able to eat them all) was good and the cake was yummy.




Since we were in Korea..and this would not have been any close to Korean culture should we just go back home after party.....we ended up throwing ourselves into another 2-hour session at noraebang or karaoke room. It was a shocking revelation to each of us since most of us sang! we did sing songs that actually kinda portrayed the true and real personalities of who we were individually. It was a good thing that we spent the time together like this since it would eventually work just fine for our friendship.
It was 1 in the morning.
We were strolling back to the dorm.
..........and today...two of us...came late to class.
and what's worse.....we were a weezzzyyyyy sleeeepppyyy...during the class:)
our sonsaengnims were wondering as to why we were kinda tired.......
Oh, swell....

classmate's birthday

Yesterday was the first time ever that within 6 hours I had meals three times. For sure it was not completely me at all. I had a late lunch  after class (2.pm) when my friend asked me to accompany her for her late lunch...at 5pm. Well, since it would be a good time to talk since I had not met her for quite a while....
Just when I had not yet finished having my 2nd lunch....my friend, Taekcho, texted me...informing that it was our friend's--Illiya--birthday. So, he asked me to make a surprise party for him. Since Illiya sits next to me and he's been more like a brother to me...I could not help but agreeing to his plan.
So, we met again at 8pm.
Since it would not be any birthday party without any cakes, we decided to buy some at Paris Baquette near campus. It's a good thing that I had my LG membership card for additional 10% off. ^^ (one of the so many privileges of having this LG Card--not to mention the free movie ticket every month for any movie I want to see in any cineplex) ^^ what a treat.
back to the party...

then we met four other friends and off we went to a Chinese restaurant.
It was the first time ever for me that a restaurant in Korea served lamb satay and fried eggplants just like what I had back home in Indonesia. Hmmm what a treat. So, we did have a goooood time celebrating Illiya's B'day. The dish (though we felt so sorry for not being able to eat them all) was good and the cake was yummy.




Since we were in Korea..and this would not have been any close to Korean culture should we just go back home after party.....we ended up throwing ourselves into another 2-hour session at noraebang or karaoke room. It was a shocking revelation to each of us since most of us sang! we did sing songs that actually kinda portrayed the true and real personalities of who we were individually. It was a good thing that we spent the time together like this since it would eventually work just fine for our friendship.
It was 1 in the morning.
We were strolling back to the dorm.
..........and today...two of us...came late to class.
and what's worse.....we were a weezzzyyyyy sleeeepppyyy...during the class:)
our sonsaengnims were wondering as to why we were kinda tired.......
Oh, swell....