"And people laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas you have to use big words to express them, haven't you?"

*phew* Long day. Loooong day. All the foreigners went to Gimhae, as I was telling you we were going to. There was a lot of walking, a lot of tombs, a lot of learning about gruesome burial practices. All in good fun, though, I assure you. It was fun to get to know some of my fellow internationals...now classes will be a LOT more fun! One of the girls I got to know a bit sounds like ET...for REALZ. It's a creepy little voice that she has...and I looove listening to her talk. haha! That is probably not a very complimentary thing to say...but I have nothing but love for people, and I don't mean it in a bad way. It's just so true!

It was also an interesting day in communications...I met a dude from New York today, so shooting the breeze, was, well, a breeze. Everyone ELSE though was another story. I love being in this environment, I really do. I am constantly intrigued not only by the amazing new things I learn about Korea, but by the other cultures here also. A challenge, though, is getting one's meaning across during a discussion. And these aren't high falootin' discussions either...we might be talking about where we want to eat for dinner, or when one of us is flying back to our home country. 'Tis difficult sometimes! But we make it work and somehow end up being friends anyway. Weird.

Another discovery: everyone listens to Eminem. They do! It doesn't matter if a person likes him or not, everyone listens. There must be something terribly mesmerizing about him...maybe he has some really grand things to say. Or maybe everyone just thinks that everyone else thinks Eminem is where it's at. I really couldn't tell you...I wasn't really going anywhere with this. :) hehe.

One more note: tonight I ate at a restaurant call "Dontong" (I think, anyway) who's name doesn't really have a meaning...but it kind of mean "Pig Pile" or something. You know what we ate? Yeah, pig. Each table had a little cook pit thing in the center, and waiters and waitresses would come roast meat and vegetables on it for you. I am really coming to like this "eating in common" with everyone at the table, where everyone shares dishes and food. It's more cozy, I guess, than what I'm used to. I had a lot of fun hanging out with Minjee, Willie boy and Harry (still have to learn his Korean name...darn blast it all) after the field trip today. Still gotta get past that language barrier! But we're working on it...we'll get there.

"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear."

Or he may be Korean and has no idea what you're saying.

The plan for today was to explore Pukyong National University's campus more extensively in addition to completing some homework for my Business Ethics class. Korea seems to think negatively about that idea, though, because it's actually cold and rainy outside. Korea has a subtropical climate...and it changed it just for me. I should probably take that as a sign of good feelings...but instead, I will spite it and go outside anyway! It's actually a nice change from the usual ridiculously humid and hot fare we usually get.

The library shall be defeated today, one way or another. It becomes a task more difficult, though, when asking people for directions, etc, is a long and laborious process. I realize that most of the people here speak very little English, and I respect that. I don't expect people to know exactly what I'm saying...I just wish it they wouldn't feel embarrassed to use the little English that they DO have and point me in the right direction. I suppose it must just be a personal issue that I need to get past...I can do this on my own if I am persistent enough. So...on to the library!

"You're doing it wrong"

Ah, the phrase. It's been a good companion this past week or so. I've never been to Korean English class, but from what I've experienced it must be the first phrase taught to young Koreans. In the past few days, I've learned the correct way to do many things...like how to mix my food yesterday, take the "even floor only" elevator and get past the "push only" door. Such things wouldn't be a problem if I could read Korean. Or had common sense.

Despite such issues, I am beginning to feel more at home here. Locating my classroom is a cinch (woot :p), I've gone off-campus without becoming terribly lost, and I've used a Korean phone with some sufficient level of skill! It is all quite wicked, as my British peers would say. Today's challenge was to find and use the campus ATM...and I was half successful. It was victorious this round, but it shall taste my vengeance soon! haha. It shall offer up its many units of Korean won sometime...maybe after I take a nap.

In other news...I was saddened to find no midget bananas in the cafeteria today...they're some of the few things I can actually identify among the options there. In a supposedly "fair" substitution, though, there WAS banana milk. Maybe it's a special day in the cafeteria...I have yet to see. There are many things I have yet to see and experience. This weekend, for example, all the international kids are going to Gimhae, one of the historical districts in South Korea and hometown to my roommate, Jeongmin. I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the foreigners...I don't even know how many of us there are! As odd as it may sound, I rather enjoy being a minority. Is that weird? Perhaps. But who wouldn't be pleasantly taken aback by being informed that one's hairstyle looks like those of fictional comic book characters? I may not know much about Korea, but I think that counts as a compliment. Similarly, a "you're doing it wrong" comment is almost affectionate...or maybe that's just in my case. Anyway...the field trip should be pretty cool. I only hope that there's "push only" doors and even-floor elevators. Cuz I'm totally a pro at those.