The Top Ten things I Love about Korea!

Hey everyone!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know. I've been awful about updating. But it's really because I got sick and then I've just been so busy every day. Even now I'm taking some time while I'm at my homestay family and I will have to rush to get everything all down. (But I write in my journal everyday so don't worry it will all eventually go up).

So the first day I woke up in the middle of the night and threw up (eck.) and the next day I was sent to the hospital to get checked out (I've been the only one so far in the hospital :) The one guy thought I might have hepatitis (AHHHH!!!) but the more experienced doctor said I should just go and rest for the day and come back if I did not feel any better. It took me about two days to feel totally recovered, but I feel great now.

So now yucky nasty scary bloodtests for me, thank you very much!

Oh! Guess what!

I'm even wearing my contacts more often and getting used to them and they're not bugging me as much anymore. But they're still kind of weird - my eyes are kinda "wu-zey". (sorry, had to make that Veggietales reference...). Just forget that just happened.

Anyways:

The first day I felt better we went to a palace but we got hit by the back end of a typhoon that day so we were getting soaked and they shortened the tour :) and we got to shop at Insadong, the traditional market. I'm crossing my fingers that my cousin will take me back there on Sunday when he takes me to dinner. I'm hoping he'll take me to a bunch of places but we'll see about how that goes. I got a cute ring and two fans and I want to go back to get more stuff for my awesome friends and fam whose birfdays I'm sadly missing (it's ok Michelle, the picnick is going to happen when we get back from both our trips!)

My homestay sister's name is Min Jeong (actually Kim Min Jeong, but, formalities, forshmalities). She's a year older than me in American age but she's 18 in Korean age (Korean's count you as one the moment you're born and count you're age every new year from them. So everyone's two years older here in Korea). And the teenagers here have to think for a little bit to figure out how old they are in American age.

They're all really, really studious here, and from what I've heard, they start school at 8:30 in the morning and pretty much study until 11 at night. A lot of it is self study, and some even stay up until 3 in the morning to study! But that's just in high school though. It's really hard to get into the few universities they have here, but once you get in, it's a lot easier and you can have a lot more fun. Most of the students here say that they don't really have that many memories in high school because they are studying so much.

But nonetheless they're still very similar to American teenagers - the girls love shopping (!! :)) and when they're done taking exams a lot of them go "eye shopping" or window shopping as we call it in the states. And they like icecream.... and shoes. And taking pictures (I'm going to have a ton of cute ones with my homestay sister when we're done here this weekend).

Ok, love you all, but I really have to go! I was going to make a list of differences here in Korea... but that plan died. So next time? gotta go play in the sun here in the Korean country side... and take some sweet pics with my sista here!

LOVES!

Patty <><

Exits are found immediately to your right.

Hey everyone!

I am officially in Korea. Goodbye USA and apple pie and baseball! Hello foreign asian country of my ancestors :) (Woah - weird moment there).

It's almost too unreal that I'm here, meeting all the people I'm meeting from all over the U.S., and getting to experience a totally different culture. They've given us today as a rest day, which is really nice since I get to relax and get over my jet lag (staying up late watching House on the plane was not... the best.... choi....zzzz)

But anyways, I've met a ton of new people, and it's just so awesome how friendly and open everyone is.

Especially my roomies: Annie, Priyanka, and Meghan (Annie's the only one who's actually my room mate but the rest are with me here in the beautiful city of Seoul in our suite!). And man, it's hot here, but so beautiful. The area's so lush... yet still it's the city. I just love it. And am resolved to learn Korean.

Sometime.

Soon.

Other than that, my plane ride was fun (as said before, I stayed up late fascinated by the touch screen tv) and I sat next to Austin (who'se from Texas. And no, he's actually from Dallas. I know what you were thinking!) who pretty much is the self-appointed spokeperson for Texas. And he's 6'4''. We had a great 12 hour plane ride :)

Another important fact about Austin: he talks like he's on stage when he's trying to be quiet. It's like a mega-phone twenty four seven. Except, that he's blond. And doesn't have the cool siren thingimabobber.

Ok, I'm sorry guys, but I'm going to have to end here. It's WAY to hot up here in the room with the only available computer. The air is sticky and hot. I need to go relax in the beautiful airconditiong :)

Love you alls! Please keep praying, and thanks for those of you who already are!

Patty <><