The LSAT

Just finished taking the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). I sat for the exam at Yonsei University in Seoul. First things first, the campus is absolutely beautiful! So much greenery everywhere and the feeling of an old campus with a lot of history. It's a really nice place to walk around and take in the sights, although this particular morning my head was in a different place.

There were more than 100 people at the test. The June LSAT is only offered at one place in Korea so no matter where you live, you had to come to Seoul to take this exam. It was difficult but I felt prepared. A few people walked out and I overheard a couple people on their phones after the exam saying they canceled (you can opt to cancel the test if you feel that you did horribly.) Having a feeling about how you did and your actual score can sometimes be quite different; I'll know mine around July 16th! Until then I can relax knowing it's over and I can get rid of the thick Princeton Review books and get back to reading some fun summer romance novels :)

Miguk! Miguk!

For the U.S. World Cup games, many Yeonsu teachers headed to Touchdown, a local western-style bar in our neighborhood. For last week's game against Slovenia (before the goal was rudely taken back) when it looked like the U.S. had the game at 3:2, the entire bar was shouting, "Miguk! Miguk! Miguk!" which means America in Hangul/Korean. It was a pretty awesome moment!

Here's to hoping the U.S. takes care of business tonight against Algeria! Until that final whistle, I'll be cheerfully chanting, MIGUK! MIGUK! MIGUK!

Korea v Argentina (Ampitheatre!)

Quick post-

I went with a group of teachers in Yeonsu to watch the Korea v Argentina World Cup game. We sat outside at the ampitheatre at a local park and watched the game on the big screen. While the team lost (4:1... yikes), the atmosphere was incredible. Everyone had blankets and buffets of food and beverages. The group in front of us even shared their boiled corn on the cob (it was very different from the corn back home, but after a while, it was pretty delicious). The weather was perfect and it was one of those nights in Korea that was very simple (blanket, friends, beverages) but really spectacular.

Namsan Tower

Namsan Tower (N Seoul Tower) is located on Namsan in Seoul. It's a must-do for tourists, although the view isn't any better than the mountains in Seoul (like Bukhansan). In fact, I'd argue that the view from the mountains is beautiful AND has the reward of just climbing a mountain. But I digress. You can take a cable car up to the tower, walk or drive. We took a cab. I was half tempted to limp after getting out of the taxi just so people would think we had an excuse for being lazy foreigners. To our credit, we didn't know the guy was going to drive us all the way up to the tower!

N Seoul Tower 5/29/2010

 On the first floor of the tower is the Seoul Teddy Bear Museum. It is a museum of Korea's history but played out with teddy bears. It's a little freaky and a whole lot of awesome.

Chase, my fiance, 5/29/2010

no big deal. just some bears, building a temple.

our friend, Austin - "Beard Envy"

Like most observatories in city towers, on the windows were the distances to major cities through out the world. We tried to get a group shot in front of the Washington, D.C. (I know what you're thinking. We were all a bit shocked to not find an Erie, PA, USA sign on the windows!)

Some Northwestern PA folks in Seoul, 5/29/2010

The final destination for the Namsan Tower trip was the "Locks of Love." We purchased a lock and marker and sealed our fate! Wouldn't it be great to go back in 10 years and try to find it?!

Our Lock of Love at Namsan Tower, 5/29/2010

... i hope we remembered a permanent marker...

An Engagement in Gyeongju

Front Page News - Chase and I are engaged and will be tying the knot in 2011! 

Before I begin the fairy tale, I will admit that I am missing him very much these days. I am in quite a routine now, get up, go to work, grab dinner, head home, try to sleep, wake up and repeat. I'm antsy for something more and I've realized that my 'something more' is in grad school at PSU. I don't want the next four months to go by too quickly because I truly love Korea, but I can't help wishing my true love were in Korea.

Back to the story! For his first weekend in Korea, we traveled by train to Gyeongju. May 21st was a national holiday in Korea celebrating Buddha's Birthday. Unfortunately, it rained the entire weekend, but it was still nice to have a long weekend away from Incheon & Seoul. We didn't take the high-speed KTX, we took another train, which was actually a bit nicer (in my opinion). At 11am on Buddha's Birthday, Seoul Station was insanely packed but we fought our way through the crowds and arrived in our extremely comfortable seats!

Chase (in Woninjae) preparing for the voyage ahead!

The calf cushions were KEY for a restful journey.

En route to Gyeongju

Gyeongju is a cultural mecca, although I'll be honest here, we didn't see any of the tourist sites. I'll be in Korea for another 4 1/2 months so maybe I'll head back there. We did, however, have the most AMAZING barley bread. The smell is intoxicating and the small pancake-like bread is sometimes layered with red bean paste (my favorite).

En route to Gyeongju

 Speaking of Korean foods, Chase wasn't having it. To his credit, he tried for the first couple days, but just couldn't do it. Korean ingredients and flavors are very unique and most take some getting used to. I think if a person knows they will be here for a year, eventually they begin to enjoy the flavors, but if you're going to be here for a week or two, then after the first initial bites to 'try them'... western options seem a better choice. In fact, there are many teachers here (and native Koreans) who don't eat very many traditional Korean foods.

 Chase- confused and jet-lagged

The view from our 'resort' ... this was the weather the entire weekend!

 We stayed at NewCastle. I highly recommend this pension for visitors to Gyeongju. It's a little pricey and not right in the center of town, but wonderful for spending a relaxing weekend away from everything. 

Korean BBQ at NewCastle Pension (the proposal meal!)

Updates soon!

Apologies!! I've been neglectful of my blog because I had a very special visitor from the U.S.A. who happens to now be my fiance! Chase came to visit and pulled out the big guns while we were visiting the southern town of Gyeongju during the holiday weekend celebrating Buddha's Birthday.

Pictures and Korean cultural updates coming soon!