새해 복 많이 받드십시오 - Happy New Year!
I'm back from my backpacking adventure in Japan where, despite sleeping in elevators, bathrooms, and on the roofs of buildings in sub-zero temperature, we emerged unscathed. The Japanese police even brought us soup one night. (I think they were worried we might actually freeze to death, a concern that I only allowed to vaguely cross my mind. If one is thinking about death all the time, you miss out on living.)
A new semester of Korean studying has started, and although I like some of my classmates, I rather dislike the instructor. There is just something about her that puts me off, both as a person and a teacher. Since I am generally fond of teachers, or at least sympathetic to them, I find my displeasure oddly unsettling. Oh well. We get a new round of instructors in about four weeks, so I should be able to make it through class until then. (A friend pointed out that I can technically skip a day of class per week and still pass the course. I am not planning on doing this - although I have already skipped a day - but just knowing that is reassuring.)
The lunar new year begins this weekend, and I will be going to spend the holiday with my relatives on the east coast. I'm looking forward to that, partly because I really like seeing my family members, but also because it forces me to be in an environment where I have to interact in Korean. In Seoul, it is far too easy to get by every day in English.
More updates to come, primarily in email form.
A new semester of Korean studying has started, and although I like some of my classmates, I rather dislike the instructor. There is just something about her that puts me off, both as a person and a teacher. Since I am generally fond of teachers, or at least sympathetic to them, I find my displeasure oddly unsettling. Oh well. We get a new round of instructors in about four weeks, so I should be able to make it through class until then. (A friend pointed out that I can technically skip a day of class per week and still pass the course. I am not planning on doing this - although I have already skipped a day - but just knowing that is reassuring.)
The lunar new year begins this weekend, and I will be going to spend the holiday with my relatives on the east coast. I'm looking forward to that, partly because I really like seeing my family members, but also because it forces me to be in an environment where I have to interact in Korean. In Seoul, it is far too easy to get by every day in English.
More updates to come, primarily in email form.