Seoul

Today the day has come when I will move to Seoul for another month. 

I woken up early to wash my blanket and leave it in the room for the next student in case they want to use it, as its to bad to through in the bin which just had been used for a few months only.

Then I token a walk around the campus to take final snap shots and returning back to wait for my friends who will help me to get me to the bus terminal before I will set off to Seoul.

My arrival to Seoul is expected at 4pm and I notice is my first time a direct bus to Seoul as the other times I arrived by train. Train is always convinent if you don't have to carry much with you and second the host stay family lives not far of the bus terminal station.

I given them the call a bit to late as I was not aware buses had "blue lines" a lane for themselves - so I waited a bit at the station and met a student from South Africa whom just return back for the Winter break. It is great to see that S Koreans go anywhere in the world to gain a university place.

I met my guest family and settled down with them for the evening. We even had been after dinner to my new office - as my plan was just to explore by myself. Maybe they had been worried I would get lost - so they droven me along the bus route and shown where to get off. The air distance from the apartment to office is only 5km, but the bus route is 10km. I will be looking forward to join the commute early in the morning and gain this experience for future life. I think this was also a good reason to stay in Homestay family to learn getting back home for dinner time and able to commute through the dentist populated city to work and being on time.

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.

Goodbye Exchange KNU

Today was the day on when the final was and to say good bye to fellow exchange students and those Korean buddies who will leave back home for the vacation. The time had gone really fast in Korea. It just seems like yesterday when I wrote the first entry into the blog and now its already time to go.

I hope I will be able to stay in touch with most of my friends and able to meet a few of them in Europe and where ever it will take me in the world. 

I had been given today with another student from France our personal notice to the students off our stay in Korea. I have recall on the old man from the subway on the way to IAAF stadium on whom himself been an exchange student in Germany. I recall his words of language barrier which shall never had been a problem for myself, in which I was false and shown language barriers and learned what it meant to have a language barrier. I had define language barrier in my own words and that it is ok not know any Korean and English to get around S Korea. I been telling the story of the mountain trip to Palgongsang and revering backwards on it what I have improved from this journey. 

There was also presentation on the students who won a bit of cash to travel around Korea on there special route - it was nice to hear on where they had been going and on what they had done. 

Later in the night we had been given certificates of attendance and got ready to go to a bar in town for a few drinks of those who did not yet needed to catch a flight back home. 

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. 

Football and Study

Today I had token a walk around campus and decided to have a look onto the football match for a while. I don't really like to play and watch football for a long period. I guess out of solidarity I shall had at least once watch the a game which had been set up by the exchange students whom played against KNU schools students.

I could not stay to long for the match as later on we had a meet up on Skype (even we all live on campus) to discuss the exams question in Strategy. I see strategy never has a right answer, it is a debatable question if a theory will work - it can be supported with evidence of research of probability that it works in practise. Therefore the study debate on Skype we had was basically among the theories a Korean company can use and how to apply them. 

Birthday

Its Friday and its my birthday. I am really happy to celebrate mine birthday in S Korea. It adds some value on being here, as in the next years I will always experience UK or German style birthday. I believe also as older I will get the less fun the birthday parties would be - rather then just having coffee and cake. 

I greeted my friends at the North Gate for lunch and we had some good time together. I try to avoid to walk by fountains and lakes, as my birthday is just not in a good month to be thrown in one of them. Even I had mention I wanted to have the full experience on my birthday. 

Some of my friends still had classes or needed to study, so we stay not all to long in the restaurant. With other friends who did not need to go yet, I had some talks with them while walking along the campus and other I meet between there classes. Later on myself I needed to go to they Youth centre for volunteer work. It would be the last one today. I already could notice that the time has gone by past very quickly since arriving to Korea. 

We had a small farewell party in the Youth centre and been presented our certificates and provided a calender and video to memorize the good times. "We will never forget you" - had been the slogan of the children. It was a really great experience to volunteer abroad. 

In the evening we token a walk back to campus and meet up with my friends and more who had been invited by there friends for a small birthday party in one of the bars at the North Gate. It had been great that many of my friends come along to the party - even they had been busy with preparation for next week final exams. 

Wednesday

In the morning hours I had Strategic Management class. Afterwards I had sorted out my banking and payments. The banking issues here in S Korea are very easy and strict forward. If you want to do a payment, you just need to find an ATM machine and pay through the ATM a business or person. You don't need to fill out documents or stand in a queue. 

I transfer the payment to the host family and then received couple of hours later an email with the full contact details of the family so I could let them know where I will arrive and what time. 

The further along this day, I did a bit of studies and preparation for examination and video conference. Also not to forget my birthday is soon approaching. I try to figure out on what to do - to have two separate parties one with close friends and one with whom I knew. I went one of the restaurant to reserve a table (or big one) and also I given up an order on the food. Later this days I just informed my friends by face to face or text messaging to keep this lunch time free on Friday (clue).

Tuesday

I guess if you had been a loyal reader to my blog - I can stop here. You can comment below and give suggestion what has happen today.

Rather in the evening I had met up with friends for a cup of coffee/tea and afterwards we just headed back to the campus. I bought some manderins of the vendor who stands by the university under a negotiated price. Its good that he stands on the other side of the street, as he is aware I must cross and he must sell. So I got it for a good value and shared with my friends who decided to do some late night studies in one of the buildings which is left open through the back door. 

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. 

Relax in KNU

Today is back to Monday, only one class in the morning - Strategic Management.

After the class I meet up with two of my friends and we gone to eat some lunch at the North Gate. We decided to try something new and it was big rice cakes. They had a variety of choice - we could not make our mind up which to choose so we bought a set of six different rice cake.

After the class we headed back to university as now the final weeks approach and final exams due to start and team work needs to be handed in. It is a very busy starting soon for some of the students. Especially as my friends are now preparing to be them self an exchange in the other universities.

Later in the day I attended the Toastmaster meeting in the KNU - another great way to socialize at the KNU campus during the evening on a Monday. It is always great fun to come to Toastmaster.  

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. 

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.

Hyundai

Today is Monday and most of the exchange student had asked for a leave. Why? Maybe the title gives a clue. We went to the Hyundai Motors and Hyundai Heavy Steel plants today in Ulsan to observe and have a look onto the Korean firms.

It was very amazing to see a car plant - the size and also on how really fast it goes to produce a single car. In the plant it self is probably more people working then the area of Heaton in Newcastle living. Surely it has more hospital then a small town itself and restaurants. The bus service alone to bring people from one place to another. 

If you get the opportunity visit the plant for yourself in Ulsan - also the Heavy Steel plant. The dimension is high - six ships get build simultaneously. 

We had spend around three to four hours in Ulsan to visit both plants. Afterwards we return back to Daegu and I gone to the Toastmaster meeting.

Conference

(18 - 19th November 2011)

Today we had visit from my professor from the UK and I introduce to her one of my friends who will join us in January. We had a small discussion on my life here in Korea and also I told her my recent journey to N Korean border which for me seemed like yesterday and not Monday. The week has gone so fast in the recent days.

In the afternoon a two day conference has started here in KNU. I joined the innovative session on Friday and been listen to great scholars from Asia on their opinion and research in this field of studies. In the second day the conference was an open one with a mixture of government speakers and academic staff. The speakers come as far from America and Japan. I had the opportunity to learn more about the Japanese culture and academic field of studies in Supply Chain Management.

It was a great conference, from which I could learn myself more and think more into detail on what I have learned and experiences so far. It was not just only the conference - but able to observe on how to behave among academics in a Korean environment. 

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.

Study Time

This is very surprising  for most of you who followed the Blog for a while now - that also a Wednesday states study time. It is just because now most team works has started for some of the module due that the final exam period is slowly approaching and for Strategic Management we had a few case study.

This time I spend to work on a few cases studies for the university and meet up also later in the evening with my friends to get a balanced into my life.

Study times

Today is again the busy date of school studies - I am sure those who follow me skip all my Tuesday and Thursday nows - only if I write a fancy title.

But today a class was cancelled due to that the professor had a meeting so I token the time to go into the town instant sitting in my room until next class.

As I already token today all my text book with me - I could take this opportunity to go into town. There was a kind of celebration or graduation going on those who passed the "Red Cross" Training.

In the evening I gone to IVF but today was nothing special to report on.

Bible Study

Today I had met my friends after my studies in the university. We decided to go there house instant of the seminar rooms in the university.

It was my first experience to go inside into a real Korean house with one floor level and the sealing very low. It was a great experience, the house owner has preprepared a meal for us.  It was very nice meal afterwards we had some bible study.

Later in the afternoon I went into the downtown to do a bit of shopping. I did not had to much time as today was also Toastmaster Meeting in the KNU.

Dongshin Church

It is Sunday - and I did not had any plan. I had been informed that in KNU Church is an English service. So I wanted to check it out for 2pm. I just did not been aware that first Sunday of the month they meet earlier and I must them on the way out, but the pastor invited me to another church, Dongshin Curch. Is around 15mins by car away from the university.

It was very nice of him to take me there. It was a great experience to see on how the service gets done in Korea by American and Australian speakers.

At least I did not spend my Sunday in the room, and gone to explore new things. Meet some other oversea people rather then all the time students in the recent weeks. When I come back to university I drove the bike around the campus before heading back to the dorm.

In the evening I had meet my friends for a cup of coffee.

Tuesday

You think I did not go to class? - Wrong. I did go to class.

Yes it was a bit hard, as my feet still been dancing. I manage to survive the day in the university and do all the work great as I always do.

Today was no IVF meeting, a bit good for myself - so I could taken a rest from last night to be totally fresh for the next day.

I have something to add from last night, to fill up this post not to make it look weak. I totally forgot to write that before we gone out I meet up with the KNU Toastmaster. Not many people come so we decided on what kind of action to take to recruit more people to come along to the event. Such as hosting some fun activities on campus with a speech to make people wonder on what is going on. So on Wednesday I will give a speech and invite people with wrong meaning to the place with the title "Fun at the Fountain".  It is fun for those who will enjoy being part of it.

Lets tell me you tomorrow if it had works out.