IVF Farwell

Today was the farewell event of IVF - we had meet up for lunch together. You can notice on whom was an active member to IVF all of those who come for lunch too. I guess this type of culture stays the same across the globe. It was nice to have some lunch in one of the local restaurants near the university. We had the opportunity to eat some nice food and have lovely discussion. 

We went then for a coffee and tea in the nearby coffee shop on whom still was open for business for the people who work and live around. As the others had been closed due the majority of student left the university already.  I had to solve a few issues in the university before I return back to the IVF meeting.

We then formerly said good bye in the church building of KNU and token final pictures together and I manage to get the group picture of IVF to remember on the good time we had together, even so I did not understood a word of Korean. I had been happy that they just integrated me into the group and token me to the trip "Happy Camp". I hope that more foreign students will join IVF in KNU and maked great Korean friends for life.

Campus Pictures

Its Tuesday already and only a few days left on campus. It is actually the last week before I will go to Seoul on 18th December for the final stage of my stay in Korea. It would a different stay and hope to get another great month in Korea. 

Today I had been wondering around campus to take final pictures of libraries and class room to memorize myself in the future on how they have look like. If any chance I can return to Daegu and take a look inside it will probably all be change into modern and new designs. We never know which parts going to be change on campus and is just to show back home to friends on what the campus is looking like in KNU.

Today had been no IVF meeting as there will be a special one for the farwell on Friday - so keep tuned to read up what will happen. 

Thursday

Today was the first farwell saying. Just lets skip the day time. In the evening after class I joined up a bible study group another one from IVF, the attendance is mainly by member of staff and doctoral students. Is a very small group and conducted in English by an American. Next week he would not be here in Daegu and therefore it was the last bible group for this semster, but the last one for myself. It was a pleasure to know this people.

The days are also getting now colder and colder. Not as cold as we would experience in the UK, but from warm temperature as I was reporting having BBQ in the mountains end of November and now is starting hit zero degrees is not pleasant anymore. 

Tuesday

Most of you already know what occurs on Tuesday. 

I actually don't want to believe it would be less of them day by day and wish I could spend more of this days here in KNU. 

Unlucky times do run and sooner or later I will need to return back to my home institution for final studies before finding myself settle into some good work.

Later in the evening I attended the IVF meeting, and given a small "Love Thank" speech. I really wanted to do it, as coming to all the meetings along I want to share my Thanks to a member of the group who helped me to over come the language barrier of the society. We also had been watching the original movie tape, which was done very professionally. 

Happy Camping

(25th - 27th November)

Today was the day to go to Happy Camp! I was feeling better again - as some remember I been last week to Haeinsa temple (My friend actually has some good picture from it if you like to see it). 

I received various text message during the day to make sure to wear warm clothes - and I replied back if there would be a lake for swimming. 

We had met up with Keimyung University in the South East of Daegu before going on the charted buses to the south. I do not know until today where I was and therefore you can not find a pin point on the map. (Also in reminder please select second page - you must now scroll down or download the KML file if you have Google Earth).

When we arrived after around one hour journey we had some small food and introduce ourselves. As it was already 10pm we gone all to bed and would meet tomorrow each other again.

It was a very cold night indeed in the mountains and when we woken up and had a walk after breakfast we could see that the small pond actually had some ice. It was a bit cold to walk outside, so good that it token place indoor the event where we had various activities going on. In the afternoon after lunch we actually have gone outside and as the hall has no window I was very surprise to see that it was warm. We did not needed our jacket anymore. The temperature feeling was like late spring. 

In the outdoor we had played some funny games, such as running like Spider Man or X-Man, throwing chopsticks to one end and the other.

After playing the games - most people gone back to the houses to take a rest. My friend and me decided to go for a walk around this small village to experience the real Korean culture. 

Along later this evening we had an International night as most from us come from different country we would perform a show or a dance from our country. As I had been the only international of KNU to the event we perform a Korean dance style.

It was a very good ending of the Saturday where we also had the activity to paint a t-shirt for ourselves on what we have learnt in the camp.

In the next day we had been wrapping up on what we had learned through out this weekend and for lunch we had BBQ. Yes BBQ end of November. It was an amazing cultural experience, as I had BBQ in Taiwan before. I been aware that Asians are health concious but combine health concious with Korean culture it is not a good combination. I never seen in my life before so many times a BBQ going on fire. I told them not do it fast - enjoy it take it easy it will get warm soon.

After all it was a very good weekend. 

Thursday

It is now the last day of studies as next week and next week after would be exams. Most of the teaching is now wrapping up this semester of studies.

My friend has asked me to come to his work place Exco today where the German Toursim branch (DRV) has their annual conference. As one of my class was cancelled and I had a big gap between to the next class I decided to go over to Exco and find my friend.

My others friends who also been working there, been very surprise in seeing me to come over. I had a small view around on what they are doing/working. I could not stay to long and not hold them up from working either, then I made my way back to the university to attend my last two classes.

In the evening I had bible study inside the KNU campus again with some friends from IVF.   We also have arranged a time to meet up tomorrow as we will be going camping together somewhere outside of Daegu with the other universities and IVF members. 

International conference

Today is Tuesday again.

In the evening we had our second conference with Hungary. It was a little bit more interactive and engaging as last time.  As this time we could get points for participating which has encourage the team to think about the answers. 

After the conference I gone to IVF to socialize  with them. Nothing special has happen then along this day.

Study - again!

Yes it is Thursday - Study time.

Today was just again one of my busy date to study from early in the morning until the evening.

In the evening I had joined up a new Christian fellowship group in KNU campus - which is conducted in English by an ex-American soldier.  The fellowship consist of students and professors of KNU. It is a great experience to study with them on campus for two hours and get to know new faculty in the university.

Tuesday - It is Tuesday

Oh you are very clever reader from the title. Yes Tuesday.

Those who recently join this blog - on Tuesday I have a full pack of classes - so nothing interesting to report. If you like to find out more feel free to leave a comment.

In the evening after the Korean class I joined IVF, but today they have met up in a new place. I knew where it was - just the difficulty on how to get there with a bike. As currently the university is repairing the roads and the road which links from the language centre to the west gate had been closed off. I also try to avoid climb the mountains so I made my way through still through the mountains.

The meeting already has come to the end by the time I had arrived. As they meet at 5pm but I can join them by 730pm only.

We gone then to the nearby restaurant and had a meal together before people headed back home.

IVF

Lets go straight to the evening.

Today was again the society meeting of IVF. We had a new member to the group and this time I could take pictures for my memories one day to review it again and show my friends in the UK to may improve our society.

Today's topic had been on the key issue grace and that we shall be thankful for it that God has given it to us. After the dinner we had look a small movie done by the members on what they had done this long weekend together. I could not join them as I been away, but next time.

After our fellowship some of us have gone to the library to study for the exams. I token the time there to practise the writing of the Korean words and try to build bridges to memories word. Try to see some similarity and maybe that it makes stand out that it will be the word. After the exam I will work on the pronunciation. Actually in Korean is better to learn speaking first and writing simultaneously as every sound which is spoken out is also written down. There might be just a few words where it is not the case, but if spoken slowly it will be every sound written down.

Study Day and IVF

Today is back to Tuesday. I had my study day, which started of with the first group quiz in the Logistic class.
 It was an interesting experience on how the group quiz was organised. As even though answer could be discuss the class had been silent and everyone first solved the question on their own before asking the group if the answers are right.

Let me know skip to the evening.

Today I had visited a new society a Christian society called IVF, which is a very nice society. I had met various type of people and we had been warmly welcomed. I hope by joining this group I can improve my Korean skills as it is straight after my class.

They have two parts of the meeting, but I only will be able to attend only the first part due to being in class for the first part of the session. I guess it also would make it difficult for them and happy that I can join only for part two as all the discussion are held in Korean.

I also forget to bring my camera for this day, so I could not take the picture on how they welcomed us. They suddenly all jump up and coming running towards us and started to sign a song.

I guess I will bring some of the ideas and things they do back to Newcastle for the society there.