July 17, 2009

• Ahn Nyung!

  I'm in Korea! Sean is here for work for Liquidmetal so I decided I'd tag along.

  I was originally supposed to go to the Harbin Institute of Technology summer program for international students, but that was canceled because of swine flu concerns. Totally legit...but the way that the Chinese people handled it was very poor. They failed to notify me directly, in fact, at all. I had to call them. I originally was trying to find out where my info packet was that they promised they would mail, but I immediately found out that the program was canceled, only a few days before, and that the international offices of the universities were contacted. However, no one contacted me at all. And this was less than 2 weeks before the start date of the program. This is very inconsiderate and a very bad reflection on them and how they do business. They are very disorganized and failed to respond to e-mails many times before. They said the program will be offered next year, but I certainly will not be attending next year! I purchased my plane ticket and visa, and now I am $300 in the hole. I really DO NOT like Chinese mannerisms and their way of thinking. This would never happen with an American institute.

  Anyway... I'm in Korea now for 2+ weeks. Sean has to work most of the time so I will be playing housewife and catching up on those nice pleasant hobby things that busy grad students never have time for - like knitting, reading non-technical books, and learning Korean through Rosetta Stone. My first trip to the grocery store was a little intimidating. I didn't get a label for my baked goods, I kept pushing cancel after signing for my credit card, and then I didn't have a bag to put my groceries in. I was a clueless foreigner, holding up the whole grocery line. I wish I were white so they would immediately know I was a foreigner and would expect these slip ups beforehand. Oh well.  What can you do?

  I am now watching TV and utterly surprised at these channels with gamers on them! These people are just playing Starcraft and it's displayed on a huge screen where a whole stadium full of people are sitting there watching! People sitting there with their soda and juices to last them the whole time so they won't miss a minute, girls sitting there, tons of Korean boys, and Korean families too! Mom, Dad, little sister, everyone is there watching! And they're holding those blow up slapper things that you get at basketball and football games, the ones that you clap together to make a lot of noise. They say Starcraft on them and everyone is waving them around. I am in disbelief at how big it is here and how engrossed everyone is with this. There have been comments about how this is a social problem...but seriously, this is a BIG problem. No wonder those Korean boys can't get a girl. What's going to happen when SC2 comes out?! I'm so glad I won't be here then.

  I will hopefully report on more eventful experiences in the coming days...

  Korean Music Video of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve-Z3RBR_84

  • 3:15 am
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