Hey everyone!
It's been another busy week here in Seoul. I can't believe that it's now November and I've been here for over 2 months. I really don't want the exchange to end, but time is flying by. I really appreciate all the comments/messages I've been receiving regarding my blog. It's good to get some feedback so I know if you are actually enjoying it, and that it's helping you to understand what life is like, here in Korea!
My blog has now received an astounding 2000+ views since I started it in August. THANK YOU!
If you would like to add me on Facebook to have a chat about study abroad experiences/choices etc, please just send me a message or add me to see all of my pictures of my exchange/experiences. :)
https://www.facebook.com/ben.philip.750
I thought I'd start off by saying Happy Halloween! Last night was crazy! I think because there is a big American influence in Korean society that Halloween is actually a big thing here too. Many restaurants etc decorate and many Koreans last night were out partying, dressed in their best scary costumes. However, I would say that perhaps to some more Conservative Koreans, Halloween is still a bit of an alien concept. I know I was dressed as a Zombie, but it seemed that some passers-by really didn't know how to take passing a large group of ghoulish looking foreign students!
We started off our night in one of the local bars in Wangsimni called 'Bar 37' where they offer all you can drink cocktails all night for 15,000 KRW ( £7). We then headed off to one of the international party districts of the city, Itaewon. It looked like every International student in Seoul had descended on this area of the city to celebrate. Many Koreans were also around, and some invited us to go and drink with them. Little did I know, that I would be introduced to some interesting Korean delicacies. Last night, I ate chicken heart, pig intestine and pig skin. YOLO! And I've lived to tell the tale! In theory I was already dead....being a zombie and all!
We went to a nightclub, and bizarrely I experienced something I never thought I'd get to experience...I felt like a celebrity! So many Koreans were coming up to me asking to take a picture with me. At one point there was an actual queue in the street! My 5 minutes of fame- OVER! Maybe I should paint my face every day...
It's been another busy week in University. Despite the Mid-Terms now being finished, there is still a lot of assignments and presentations due over the coming weeks. Juggling 5 classes is difficult, but rewarding when you think about what you have accomplished. I had to submit a single portfolio video this week for my Television production class. It was open themed, and had to be 1 minute long, just to show our confidence in basic video editing etc. I filmed it all from my Iphone and based it on the Seoul International Fireworks Festival which was at the beginning of October. The video is below :)
This week my China trip scheduled for 2 weeks time has been an emotional roller coaster. First off, the news came that a suicide bomber had driven into a crowd of people in Tienanmen Square, killing 5+ people. The very square which is pretty high on my list of sights that I want to see whilst in Beijing, and also the very square where the hostel I've booked is a 3 minute walk from!! The next situation was that it was looking likely that I wouldn't be able to apply for a Chinese Visa meaning I would have wasted money on booking flights and accommodation. There was a slight oversight from myself and the group I'm travelling with, that since July 2010, foreigners applying for a Chinese Visa from within Korea have to have at least 6 months validity on their alien registration cards. Mine is unfortunately only valid until March, because I have no reason to be in Korea after then as my exchange will have been completed. What I was confused about was the fact that the Chinese authorities were basing their requirements from a British passport holder on a Korean documentation, despite my BRITISH passport being valid until 2023?! Thankfully we managed to find a loop-hole in that International students can apply for a Chinese visa through their university travel agency department as long as a 'certificate of enrolment' is included in the application. THANKFULLY (There is a God) I received an email today saying my Chinese Visa application had been successful and I would be able to collect it next Wednesday. I'M GOING TO CHINA!! =D
I seem to have accumulated a lot of things in my wallet over the months I've been here. I think it's time for a clear-out, so here is what I've found:
It's been another busy week here in Seoul. I can't believe that it's now November and I've been here for over 2 months. I really don't want the exchange to end, but time is flying by. I really appreciate all the comments/messages I've been receiving regarding my blog. It's good to get some feedback so I know if you are actually enjoying it, and that it's helping you to understand what life is like, here in Korea!
My blog has now received an astounding 2000+ views since I started it in August. THANK YOU!
If you would like to add me on Facebook to have a chat about study abroad experiences/choices etc, please just send me a message or add me to see all of my pictures of my exchange/experiences. :)
https://www.facebook.com/ben.philip.750
I thought I'd start off by saying Happy Halloween! Last night was crazy! I think because there is a big American influence in Korean society that Halloween is actually a big thing here too. Many restaurants etc decorate and many Koreans last night were out partying, dressed in their best scary costumes. However, I would say that perhaps to some more Conservative Koreans, Halloween is still a bit of an alien concept. I know I was dressed as a Zombie, but it seemed that some passers-by really didn't know how to take passing a large group of ghoulish looking foreign students!
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| Zombified! |
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| They do celebrate Halloween in Korea! Student dressed up as Japanese Animie character, Kaonashi (Faceless) yesterday outside the Hanyang University Subway Station. |
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| What a Ghoulish bunch- was Seoul ready for us?!! |
We went to a nightclub, and bizarrely I experienced something I never thought I'd get to experience...I felt like a celebrity! So many Koreans were coming up to me asking to take a picture with me. At one point there was an actual queue in the street! My 5 minutes of fame- OVER! Maybe I should paint my face every day...
It's been another busy week in University. Despite the Mid-Terms now being finished, there is still a lot of assignments and presentations due over the coming weeks. Juggling 5 classes is difficult, but rewarding when you think about what you have accomplished. I had to submit a single portfolio video this week for my Television production class. It was open themed, and had to be 1 minute long, just to show our confidence in basic video editing etc. I filmed it all from my Iphone and based it on the Seoul International Fireworks Festival which was at the beginning of October. The video is below :)
This week my China trip scheduled for 2 weeks time has been an emotional roller coaster. First off, the news came that a suicide bomber had driven into a crowd of people in Tienanmen Square, killing 5+ people. The very square which is pretty high on my list of sights that I want to see whilst in Beijing, and also the very square where the hostel I've booked is a 3 minute walk from!! The next situation was that it was looking likely that I wouldn't be able to apply for a Chinese Visa meaning I would have wasted money on booking flights and accommodation. There was a slight oversight from myself and the group I'm travelling with, that since July 2010, foreigners applying for a Chinese Visa from within Korea have to have at least 6 months validity on their alien registration cards. Mine is unfortunately only valid until March, because I have no reason to be in Korea after then as my exchange will have been completed. What I was confused about was the fact that the Chinese authorities were basing their requirements from a British passport holder on a Korean documentation, despite my BRITISH passport being valid until 2023?! Thankfully we managed to find a loop-hole in that International students can apply for a Chinese visa through their university travel agency department as long as a 'certificate of enrolment' is included in the application. THANKFULLY (There is a God) I received an email today saying my Chinese Visa application had been successful and I would be able to collect it next Wednesday. I'M GOING TO CHINA!! =D
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| After dinner drinks with Chinese classmate, Waleem, and Korean classmate Soon-Wook |
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| RGU students in Seoul! Stacey Kerr (4th year Sports Science & myself 3rd year Journalism) |
- Shinan Bank Manager business card
- Mt Fuji information leaflet
- Icafe stamp card
- Coffea Coffee stamp card
- Tokyo Metro One-Day Open Ticket
- Club Cocoon- One Free Drink Coupon
- Tokyo Maid Cafe polaroid group picture
- Kachi Kachi Yama round trip ticket to view Mt Fuji
- 3,400 Yen bus ticket to Mt Fuji Great Lakes
- Mori Arts Centre Observatory- Tokyo City View ticket
- Seoul subway map
- Hanyang International Hospital ID card
- Subway sandwich stamp card (1 stamp from completion until my free sub!)
I'm hoping to collect more weird and wonderful things before the end of my trip and create some sort of scrap book!
It's a really beautiful time in Seoul at the moment. The Fall (Autumn) is really here and the trees are changing colour every day. Hoping to go for a hike in Seoul National Forest in the coming weekends, before it gets too cold. At the moment it's clear during the days with highs of 17 and lows of 6 at nights.
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| Seoul National Forest- taken by a friend this week. |
In other news, before I come to the end of my blog post, Abercrombie and Fitch opened their first ever flagship store in Seoul yesterday. Those of you that know me well, know that I'm an absolute sucker for anything A&F. I took the 3 subway-stops journey to Cheongdam and had a wee browse and purchase of some items. I'm sure it won't be the last time I'll pay them a visit!
Well, that's all for this week folks! I hope you all enjoy your weekend. I'm gutted I'm missing out on some of the Christmas build-up, because let's face it- Halloween is now over, so cue the Christmas adverts and decorations in the coming weeks! This weekend I plan to lay low and get some of my assignments etc completed. Tomorrow however, I'm going to a local football derby/play-off. Seoul FC are playing Suwon. Seoul are 4th and Suwon are 5th in the K-League, so I'm heading down to the Seoul World Cup Stadium to cheer on my local team!
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| Christmas decorations this week in Myeondong. |
Take care,
Ben :)
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