My Piece for the day

Date - 22/09/2017 Today we tried Gimbap for the first time. It is a famous Korean Vegetarian dish. In Korean Gim means Seaweed and Bap means rice. The leaf is placed in round shape and filled with a layer of cooked rice and the innermost part is filled with sliced vegetables. For me Korean food is like when I have my first bite, I love it but then I feel it tastes a little weird. Korean food is strange and strangely delicious but I just can not complete a single dish alone. I am still trying to develop a taste for the Korean food. I can be really picky when it comes to food but here I don't want to miss out any chance to try any of the Vegetarian Korean dishes available.  😉😊😊😊😊

Date -21/09/2017 Today we had a fire drill in our dormitory. We were informed about it in advance during our inspection and were asked to be present in our rooms at that time. There was a fire alarm and we had to run out of our rooms (no use of elevators) and rush to the sports ground. But honestly it wasn't really a drill. All the students assembled in the ground and there they gave us some instructions and demonstrated the use of Fire Extinguisher. The instructor spoke in Korean so we couldn't understand anything. Although Sheetal Di told us the basic PASS rule for using the fire extinguisher. Pull the pin Aim at the base Squeeze Swirl all around.

Date - 20/09/2017 Today was Deepika Di's, Aizhan Aappa's and Anu Manhotra Ma'am's birthday.  Deepika Di was my senior in Shoolini. She was one of the seniors I have always admired and looked upto. Wishing her a happy birthday was one of the first things I did today. She is intelligent, confident, classy, beautiful, helpful and a sweetheart. I haven't known her for a very long time but it has been a great experience to know her.  I got to know about Aappa's birthday through facebook. I wasn't sure what to do. I was thinking about it all day. I had just planned to gift her a small choco pie which I had but then did not felt like gifting that alone.  I just thought that probably a letter with some birthday wishes would seem nice. I don't have any clues about Kazakh so I took a little help from Google.  I just wrote happy birthday in Kazakh and the entire message was in English. I also wrote Happy birthday in Hindi in the end. She was very happy and delight

Date - 19/09/2017 Today Sheetal Di was just coming back from her class when she was greeted by an unknown Korean girl. She asked Di from which country she is from. Knowing that Di is from India she further asked if she knows Hindi. Since Di knew Hindi she insisted on talking in Hindi. Di was just way too happy to speak in Hindi. The name of Di's new friend is Sunaina. When Di asked her about the reason for having an Indian name, she told her that it is difficult for many foreigners to pronounce a Korean name. But when she used the hindi word 'उच्चारण', Sheetal Di was really impressed. Sunaina told her that there is a group in Seoul where they teach Hindi. Probably all of us will meet her next tuesday when she would also come with her other friends. All of us really want to meet her. Amidst so many foreign language speakers, we are just happy to find people who can speak and understand even a bit of English. So you can well imagine the delight of meeting a Hindi speaker

Date - 18/09/2017 Today my day began with the Korean homework. Since I hadn't studied during the weekend, I had to do my homework as well as prepare for the test today. But my first class was in the afternoon, so I had a lot of time to do it. When I went to my Financial Management class, Laylo had already been waiting for me. Even I was looking forward to meet her today. Today in the Korean Language Class our teacher recorded our conversation like role play. My partner was Lee Jia Lin. She is from Singapore and sits next to me in the Korean class. She is confident, cheerful and very helpful. Whenever I cann't understand something, she always helps me out. I really enjoyed doing that role play with her. I had done my homework very carefully and I was glad finally there were no mistakes in it today and I also performed better in today's test. Every tiny step seems like a small mile stone. It gives you that further motivation to work hard and also improves our self confid

Date - 17/09/2017 Today I had planned to study but as usual  not really studied. I rather utilised my holiday to rest and relax. I jotted down some important Korean words in a diary and whenever I get time I will try to write all the important new words I learn for my reference. In the evening, we went to buy groceries from a nearby store. We also opened our pack of Rasugullas we had ordered with the other stuff from an online site for Indian food in Korea. Having some Indian Sweet dish here is definitely a treat for us, although we are having proper Indian food for meals. So no problems with the food. But search to find and try a few vegetarian things is still On. I talked to some of my Indian friends today. Weekends are always the best time to have some good conversations and catch up. Swati Di is another student from Shoolini ( my home University) who has went to Taiwan for  a Student Exchange Program this semester. Although we are in different places but sharing our experiences

Date - 16/09/2017 Today we went to the Hongdae Street. There was a lot of street food available but most of the stuff was non - vegetarian. Beef and pork are commonly used ingredients in a lot of Korean dishes. At one stall, a man was selling really big ice creams which was around the double size we find in India. All my other Indian friends ordered Choco-vanilla flavour and I ordered the Yogurt- strawberry flavour. For the first time I tasted a sour ice cream. It was really yummy. While coming back we went to Diwali. It is an Indian restaurant near our University. Last time when my friends went there they served it with a sweet sauce. We have seen that in the Korean dishes and we just don't like it. They really did not like the food. But this time we asked them not to put it and food was nice. It was a nice day and this Saturday, we have already decided our plan for the next weekend.

Date- 15/09/2017 We sang a verse in Korean with our country groups. So there were the three of us from India, me with Varsha Di and Anamika Di. We prepared well but we got nervous, forgot a lot of it and it was really hilarious. We also played a game, one person was blindfolded, we gave her the directions in Korean and she had to hit the balloon. There is something new in the Korean class everyday. They tell us a lot of new words and we do remember a few of them. I am planning to write all the new words I learn in Korean in a diary whenever I get time. Because I just cannot remember so many words all at once. After the end of two weeks we have learnt  some Korean words, made a few new friends, some small ups and downs, getting along well with my Indian friends and finding a new support system in them because at this point in my life noone can understand me the way they can because we all our probably going through the same. Its nice being here and I am really glad to have come her

Date - 15/09/2017 Today I was sitting on the front desk alone and wandering which seat should I choose next week. Then suddenly a girl came and asked if it was vacant and she could sit and I was really glad to let her sit there. Her name is Laylo and is from Seongnam itself. She is a freshman and it was just her second day in the University. We couldn't really talk much today but exchanged our Ids on messenger. I am looking forward to seeing her on monday. Back in India, it might have made no difference but here it always feel good when you are still thinking who you can talk to and suddenly someone stops by first. I always enjoy meeting new people and making a few friends and what could be better than knowing a little more about Korea from some Korean friends. And we were really happy that today we had no homework for the Korean Language class. Classrooms always keep that kid inside you alive. I haven't even opened my bag tonight. 😃😃😃

Date - 14/09/2017 Today we had a test in the Korean Language class. Because of the bad performance by many students we got a retest for tomorrow. This time I had studied and prepared for the test and performed better than the last one. But I was so nervous for the test today, I have wrote the correct spelling for all the words that were difficult for me. But I fumbled on the ones I clearly knew. This time it wasn't that I didn't knew but rather my stupid mistakes. I just don't want to do that again. But thankfully I wasn't the one who performed the worst in the class. No comparison but I hate being the last one. But despite everything I am happy that I am finally learning a few words and its getting better. I am happy about that. We also learnt the counting in Korean. In the end, our teacher also taught us a small drinking game (Samyuko) although without Soju (the traditional Korean drink). In English we refer to it as 3-6-9 game. In the class me and Lawrence also

Date - 12/09/2017 Sometimes just a nice morning is all that it takes to begin a great day. I just tried to approach everything positively today. I just decided to let go of the things that I cannot change or help. We recorded a video of self introduction in the Korean class. It was fun and something I will always remember and probably even laugh at later. I want to keep all the little memories (both the good ones and the bad ones) of my student exchange forever with me through this blog. Since I was a little free I read a couple of articles today. One was about being an exchange student, having the feelings I couldn't interpret or express right now just reading that article felt really good. Another one was about learning a foreign language. I have decided to try not to compare myself to anyone else and learn things at my own pace. To take my Korean lessons outside my classroom was yet another thing I learnt. While reading these articles I realized, one thing that is common

Date -12/09/2017 I think everyone should try to learn a new language as you grow up. It not only adds one more language to your knowledge but I think it also improves your command on the Languages you already know. Learning Korean is a little tough but once I got along the basics and began to practice a bit on my own it just became interesting and fun. Actually after practicing the corrections in the test I got to understand what I was getting wrong. I was now able to understand things more clearly. Waking up on time and working a little actually gives you a good feeling and help you start the day fresh.

Date -11/09/2017 Today, my first class was of Finance Management and I learnt about Balance Sheets, Cash flows, etc. I was worried but it is not really that hard. We had a test in the Korean Language class and I performed really bad. Although since I hadn't really studies for it I didn't feel bad but it was embarrassing. I think I really need to get a little serious about my studies here. We also learnt how to introduce ourselves in Korean today. My brief introduction would be Anneyonghaseyo! Vaishnavi yeyo. Jonon Indo Saaram I-e-yo. Chega Haksung I-e-yo. There might be some mistake in this incase there is I will make the corrections soon after checking with my teacher tomorrow. Writing down things on the blog actually helps me out to reflect on my days and analyze things. But I think an exchange program is just not about visiting a new place but there is so much more to it. It is just not all about those adventures and excitement but I am also learning to adjust to new

Date -10/09/2017 I had planned to study and revise this weekend but I actually did nothing useful. I spent most of my day sleeping today. Even when I was free I wasn't feeling like studying so I simply did not. But in the evening I talked to my friends and I guess that's the easiest way to cheer up. That's all for today actually.

Date - 09/09/2017 Yesterday after writing the post I was just lying on the grass, when Do Yoon Kim suddenly came and asked if I was a University student and what I was doing. Then I sat down and he very politely asked if he could sit with me for a few minutes and I was glad to let him. We just talked for sometime then he had to go to his home and I had to return to my dormitory room. I call him James that is his English name. He is also a student of Gachon University and his major is Chinese Language. He told me he had just returned home three months back after serving for two years in the army. It is compulsory in South Korea to serve in the army for at least two years. It had been a tough experience for him. Even getting back to society, studying the subject that you had forgotten a lot about is a little difficult. So he is trying to adjust to a normal life again and make a few new friends. Our conversation was really short but we decided to stay in touch. He has also said to sho

Date - 08/09/2017 Today we were talking about green products, innovation and sustainability in the Development of goods and marketing class. Lawrence told us that in Uganda all most of their buses are electric and run on solar energy and they are also designing vehicles that can run on Kinetic Energy. I think that's a great idea because you are utilising the renewable resources and also saving on the fossil fuels on the same time. Even in our country a lot of innovative things are done to promote eco friendly products and ways of living but most of the things are in their development stage right now. I think whether you like it or not Eco-friendly products and Sustainability have became really crucial for the survival of entire human race. Finally my first week of classes is over. The first two days were a little tiring but it was good otherwise. Even all the classes are fine. This weekend I am just planning to study Korean and revise all my subjects a little bit. So I can easi

Date -07/09/2017 Aizhan Aapa is my first Friend here, besides Sujin Onni(my mentor). Actually her name is Aizhan but she is elder to me so I call her Aizhan Aapa. We both like it that way. Aizhan Appa is from Kazistan and is majoring in Korean language here. It is her second year here and she will be here for two more years. Apart from studies, she also works as an assistant in the dormitory office on alternative days here. Today I went for an evening walk with her. I always enjoy talking to her and spending some time with her. She is friendly, helpful and sweet. A lot of times when we are stuck with something or don't know how to do something in the dormitory she always tries to help her out. One day we got locked outside our room because all of us had forgotten our cards inside. Even on that day, she opened the door for us with the master card with a polite caution not to repeat the same mistake again. She is a huge fan of Indian movies especially Shah Rukh Khan. Today we tal

Date - 06/09/2017 Today we submitted our final Course Registration Forms. So I cannot drop any other courses or choose a new one. I have chosen four Business courses. Honestly I already had written my blog post for the day and loved it but I deleted the draft by mistake before I could save it. I just did not want to write it because I couldn't exactly remember what I wrote but then I realized my entire article was all about being positive and motivating myself again when I feel demotivated. So here is a small piece from my side for the day- It doesn't matter how many times you fall down what matters is how many times can you rise again. It's not that hard workers don't get tired, they are just eager enough to work harder, get tired and feel that pain because their hearts know it is worth it. That's something I read recently - It's not about not having problems but rather choosing them more wisely. #MarkManson Whenever I feel a little down or demotivated

Date - 05/09/2017 Today, on 5th September we celebrate Teacher's Day. So I began my morning with wishing my teachers a very Happy Teacher's Day. This year I had planned to do something special on my part for Kuldeep Sir. Since I was not in India, I just posted a message for him on Facebook that I wrote recently. I am really glad he liked it. His reply was heart touching and overwhelming. I am not gonna describe him here because I don't think I am getting the right words. I just don't want to write something that does not do him the justice. But whenever I am down I like talking to him because he is so positive and I just get so motivated after talking to him. He is an amazing teacher and a great human being. But it was a bit of a mixed day for me. From the last few days, I was kind of hap upset, I was just getting pissed off on every small thing. I don't know if I was feeling a bit home sick or these were mood swings but sometimes I think its just better let tho

Date - 04/09/2017 Yesterday, after talking to Kuldeep Sir and Vipin Sir, I was finally satisfied with the courses I had chosen for this semester. I was glad and all good to go. Our classes began today and I was really excited for today. Today I had my first class of Financial Management with Prof. Sungju Chun. It was a good class and will be taught entirely in English to my relief. Even the Professor was very friendly. It is going to be a little difficult for me but I think I am gonna enjoy it. Today Prof. Kim Ja Hye took our Korean Language class. I was so worried that maybe our teacher for the Korean class has been changed because Prof. Kim was teaching most part in Korean and I just could not understand a lot of it. But thankfully Prof. Park Sun Kyu will be taking our class. I have heard she is a very good teacher and is also very fluent in English. So, I was very happy to know there are no changes. In the Korean class, we learnt to write a few Korean alphabets and their pronunci