Currency Exhibition @ Itaewon Station

Out of so many currencies being displayed, I didn't know why I got this infatuation to the North Korean currencies. They just looked so eerily interesting to look at. 

Oh, they also use Won as its denomination. Just realized about it. 

There were so many other countries' currencies on display.  

And this one is from Laos. I think this is the most impressive of all.

Just look at the intricate side bar that circles this banknote!

It's also from the North Korean currencies. 

This one, too. Now come my question: is it the same worth as that in the South?

I don't think so.

Attending PAS Meeting @ Cheonan

I visited Cheonan which just located around 85 km south of Seoul. And the picture above is KTX speed train station. Nope, I was taking taking the train to KTX. I was picking up one of our colleagues who were supposed to be in Cheonan, too. But, instead of going with us by car, she took the train. So, we got to pick her up at the station.

I was in Cheonan to attend the PAS (Pacific Asia Sociey) meeting. PAS was about to dispatch its student members to Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, and other Asian countries for a 3-week long program of voluntary work and cultural exchanges.

 After the meeting, held on May 26, we took a picture in front of the Youth Center where the orientation program was held.
Mr. Lee Chung Pyo, me, and Mr. Lee, Heung Hee. Both of them are two dignitaries who are in charge of PAS team activities in Indonesia for the past 6 years. This year, Mr. Lee Heung Hee will be the supervisor of the PAS team in UGM in July, 2012.

 Another picture , but this time, Mindae sonsaengnim from Mongolia--the one we met at the station--was with us to take a pic.
 * This year, PAS team will be in UGM from June 29 until July 19, 2012.

* This meeting was held to prepare the Korean students to meet the new frontier and experiences of meeting with new culture and friends in their respective countries where they are assigned to.

House warming or jibteri

It is a Korean culture to invite friends and relatives to one’s newly built or rented house or homeJ So, we did, too.

We invited some friends to come over and have the food that we prepared and see where we live. Most of them were my friends from other countries who happened to be studying in Korea.  As the pictures show, our friends Laos (Changmi), Ghana (Felix), Uzbekistan (Jobirson), Japan (Chika & Akane), Kazakhtan (Ilya), Cambodia (Borey), China ( Arin & Iwol), Algeria (Maya), Indonesia (Wawan), and our family. Others were also coming afterwards to have dinner with us. 

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The house did become warm since lots of us came and sat together in one place. I thought that the house was big enough to hold all of our friends...but....then....it felt like so small...but that was the whole point. Being one in a two-room house would make the house warm.

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.