Winter Program in Korea (Day 4 and Day 5)

Assalamualaikum and hi! This entry will be the continuation from the last entry. I know it's been awhile, so forgive me. I was having finals so I cannot continue updating you guys about my journey. However, here I am to share with you guys my experience for the program on day 4 and 5

Our fourth day there happened to be on 31 December 2018 (Monday). So, you guys can expect a lot from day 4.

It is our first Korean language class. I've been watching lots of Korean drama and listen to a lot of Korean songs but do I know their language? Maybe. I knew certain words but I have zero ideas on  Korea alphabet (Hangul). Oh, I only know how to spell my name because I googled it. So the class became very exciting for me. The class starts at 9 a.m and end at 12 p.m. Tbh, if it is an accounting class I would be dead because 3 hours is not a short period of time. However, I enjoyed that class a lot because it is new for me and I think 3 hours is not enough. Our 선생님 (teacher) cannot speak in English so it was a little hard for us to communicate in class but she manages to teach us a lot. 

So this is the view of the class from my sit. Nothing much to see but a better view is coming in next entry maybe. 

After our class finished, we have free time we can basically go anywhere we like and we need to gather at 2.30 p.m for next scheduled. We always move to classes or for scheduled together just to make sure everyone was there and nobody was left behind. 

So at 3 p.m, we went to the city tour. Just to let you know that I always have a problem in remembering places name so, I'm sorry if I didn't include the places name (I try my best to google it.huhu)  However, all the places we went to that day are only in Daejon. Daejon are famous for its science and technology stuff so basically for the next city tour also will be related to science.

The first place that we went to was the Hanbit Tower and Expo Bridge. We need to do a task which is taking funny photos there. So, nothing much happened but it was fun. I'm not gonna include the funny photo because I can't find it and my group didn't win. Guess it is not funny enough.

Did I mention in the last entry that we need to walk a lot? Yea, we still need to walk a lot on this city tour. I remember exchanging cultural information with my Korean buddy. She was interested in Malaysia a lot. I think I do a pretty good job of promoting Malaysia. Hahaha. It was fun.

Then we go to a public hot water pool spa kind of place where people soak their legs in hot water. I personally didn't soak my water because I'm just too lazy to take off my shoes. It is a free time for us so we can either go back to the dorm or go anywhere we wanted but it's getting dark and we will be having another activity later on that night. So most of us decided to go back.

I think this is my most favorite event that happened for 2 weeks in Korea. We went to a New Year celebration in Daejon Town Hall I believe. I'm not so sure where is it specifically but it is in the center of Daejon. 

We went there by groups so my buddy decides that we gonna take the taxi because subway will be too crowded and we need to go earlier. So, we split into 2 groups to take a taxi. There was almost no taxi that night because it was a night before the new year. There was one guy, hmm.. an Oppa to be exact. He was a buddy to the other group but he was so kind that he wait with us till we got a taxi. He got his own car, he wanted to bring us all together but we just can't fit in. He was so kind T.T 

When we reached there, my group and his group walk together and it was so packed with humans. Literally PACKED! I don't know how should I describe to you guys but it was so so so so packed. Anyways we found a spot that is not so packed so we just stand there and listen to the performances. 

After the performances, the countdown begins and after the clock is 12 a.m sharp they (Koreans) release the balloons that they were holding as wishes for the new year. Then there was a speech by important people of Korea. hahaha idk who. And there was a lucky draw as well until 12.30 a.m. The most awaited moment, the reasons we went there is to watch firework performances.

The photo is all mine

The firework was based on the song that they played so basically the firework was dancing. hahaha. I got to improve my photography skill as well during the firework. 

After the firework end, we need to take a taxi back to the dormitory. Sadly there was almost no taxi. My buddy Seonmin, need to run all over the place to find taxis for us. I feel bad for her because it was so cold and late at night. I'm so touched when she working so hard to make sure we went back safely.  선민, 너 최고야! 

We reached our dorm at 2 a.m it was a tiring day but I enjoyed it so much. 

The next day, It's a holiday so there was no class. Our activity starts at 3 p.m. It was an International Day. We need to prepare a presentation about our own country. So my team present about Malaysian food and also a Malay song (which is Hari Raya song). We got to learn about other countries as well as German, Bangladesh, China, America and more. Guess what? our team got the best presentation! It was so unexpected. 

And yea we wear Baju Kurung in Winter. By the way, on the 5th day, 1st January 2019, I experience my first ever snow! I was so happy that day!

So, guys, that's all for this entry. Day 4 was a bit longer maybe because I enjoyed that day the most. You guys can go to my Instagram and checked out my Korea journey on the highlight area. I was planning to edit my videos for vlog but I'm not really feeling it. Need some motivations I guess.

Thank your for spending your time <3

Winter Program in Korea (Day 1 to 3)

Assalamualaikum and hi, I'm back in 2019! If you guys haven't updated with my life yet (as if anyone does) I went to Korea for Winter Program as an exchange student for about 11 days. I'm not sure if I should update all 11 days in one post. I think it will be super lengthy and you will be tired from reading. I'm just gonna continue with day 1 until day 3.

There are 30 students from my university who joined this program. Each of us was appointed to do some task while in Korea. So I became a photographer. Anyway, on day 1 nothing much happened. We arrived at Incheon airport around 2 p.m Korean time. Chungnam National University is in Daejon, from Incheon airport (Seoul) to CNU take about 3 hours. So nothing much really happened in day 1 cause we were just busy traveling.

On the second day, we have our orientation. We learn about CNU and about Daejon a little bit. Then we were given buddy. One Korean buddy with five Malaysian buddies.

My Korean buddy's name is Park Seonmin. She is very cute and nice. After "ice-breaking" session she brought us to a local restaurant that sells noodles. I don't really know what is the exact name of the noodle but it was good. The portion of the meals is freaking huge! I can't even finish my food. After we had our meal, she brought us to another side of University. There is a downtown that has lots of shops. She introduced us to Korean bubble milk tea. It's great you guys should try it if you went to Korea. Being in Korea we really need to walk a lot. I'm serious! it's A LOT!!

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Then for the evening session, we have like a class about Korea. They just tell Korea history and places to visit.

After that session finished, we have free times. So I decided to follow my friends to go to the downtown which known as Gung dong. Well, there's a lot of shops but there is no halal food. That's sad.

This is Gung dong.

On the third day, Seonmin brings us to Jungangro. It was my first time to take a bus and subway in Korea. I've only seen it in the drama and I was so so so excited.

We went for some window shopping and we also spent some time in the arcade. Korean arcade isn't different much from Malaysia arcade but they do have more games than us. You can actually play archery, shooting, AR bike and a lot more. We also had some foods there. Sadly, Daejon isn't a foreigner place and there is no Muslim around, so looking for halal food was so hard. Then we just wandered around until we decide to go to the dormitory. At that night I didn't go out, just staying at the dormitory. 

Yeah that is it for this post. Day 4 will be more exciting but it is too long to include in this entry. It's late at night and I'm already tired. So, see you in next post and have a nice day ahead!