JANUARY 2015: Seoul National University

I began the new year by moving to Seoul for a month of language training at Seoul National University, Korea's highest ranking universities and one of the 'SKY' schools (SNU, Korea U, Yonsei U) to which high school students aspire. There are a wide range of options for Korean classes in Seoul, but I chose SNU due to its January schedule and a friend's recommendation.

Seoul National University Campus

Winter sunrise on our way to class

Overall I was pleased with the rigor and organization of the course. There were around 10 people in my class from a wide range of countries, some living in Korea and others visiting just for this class. We met five days a week from 9:00 - 1:00. Everyday we covered a chapter of the textbook, each of which included 3-4 grammar points. That means over the course of our 3 weeks we covered: the entire textbook, 6o hours of class time and ~24 grammar points. During this time we were required to complete daily homework and quizzes, write and perform two dialogues, write and perform a five minute presentation and a final written and oral exam. We were kept constantly busy by the class hours and homework — so much so that I believe it took the rest of the semester for all the lessons learned to sink in.

Our group photo at the final class of the course. Our teacher gave us all little captions. Mine says: Korean is easy! (If only, haha...)

Me and oori seonsaengnim (our teacher)

In the meantime, my friend and I were sharing a small one-room apartment in 고시촌 (goshichon), literally a village of goshiwons (cramped, cheap rooms often rented out to students and those preparing for tests). Our building sat at the top of a steep hill, so steep that when it iced over, as it does in the winter in Seoul (it was a horrible cold winter) it was almost impossible to walk up or down. Still, we were in a mecca of cheap food and warm cafes. Every morning we took the bus 15 minutes to SNU and after class, took the bus another 15 minutes to the Seoul University Subway Station. Conveniently located on Seoul's circle line, the green line, the subway could take us anywhere we wanted to go (usually, after class, to lunch).

Looking down the hill, just try to glimpse the end

Half the reason I chose to do this course was my desire to live in Seoul, just for one month. I wanted to be a Seoulite, a Seoul saram (Seoul person). Instead of taking a vacation in Seoul I really felt like a student, finding time to cross the city and meet friends between homework sessions and late dinners. I was happy to see Yumin several times during this month. Together we traveled all the way into the suburbs to visit the set of 별에서 온 그대 (Byeol eseo on geudae, My Love from the Stars) a wildly popular Korean drama from the winter before. Although parts of the exhibit were campy, being able to walk through the luxurious set apartments (actually used in the drama) was a lot of fun.

In Do Min Joon's apartment, sitting where Kim Su Hyun sat

I also got to know some of the students in my Korean class and together we went to our first cat cafe! It was amazing to meet such a global group, all learning Korean for very different reasons. Some people were there for school, others for vacation, for their job or even because they were married to someone Korean.