Tag: Filipina-American

Learning 한굴 (Korean)

안넹하세요! It’s been a while since I’ve shared about how my life has been here in South Korea. Well, it’s been a busy past two months and we’re wrapping up the current term while looking forward to the short break.

Since the beginning of this term, I’ve been putting more effort into learning Korean. So when I sent a message to 아리 (Ari) about helping me, I was very lucky that she said “Yes”. 소비 (Sophy), 아리’s best friend, has joined us. Both ladies were actually my former students. Thus begins an exchange program where they both co-teach me how to read and speak, and I help them improve their conversational skills.

This experience has been teaching me the following:

  1. Pronunciation is IMPORTANT. You are one sound away from saying “a three-wheeled bicycle” (세발자전거) to a very bad word…
  2. Grammar is quite different between 한굴 and English. For example, “할아버지다 오레산 키쿤나무” reads out to be “grandfather is older than tall tree” when in reality it means the reverse: “Tall tree is older than grandfather.” So one moment as I pull out my “Korean for Beginners” and review things…

We’ve been meeting once a week and I’m enjoying the laughter and stories we’ve been sharing between us.

Learning from a textbook and a children’s picture book.

So here’s to my slow, yet steady, learning.

 

-A

 

P.S. I’ve accomplished Day 36/100! Check out my Instagram of what those 36 moments and things are.

 

Places And Spaces To Be In: Suncheon

Another adventure from South Korea.

Suncheon prides itself in its wonderful botanical and ecological parks. Their parks are a wonderful place to spend an afternoon (or day – if you want) walking about. If you ever make the trip out, don’t forget to look down. You will be able to spot some crabs and Goggly-eyed mud fish hopping about! And if you’re adventurous enough like my friend an co-worker, Jessica, try catching crab with a reed! She NEARLY caught one, but it let go in the last minute.

This trip wouldn’t have been possible without the suggestion from Jessica. Initially, I suggested that we go to Gokseong (another video to share in the future). However, she convinced me otherwise. So, I’m very grateful that she was willing to take Mecha and me out to a new place.

So here’s to having friends who are willing to introduce you to new places!

-A

#happyarvedays

I’ve accomplished 17 days out of the 100 Happy Days Challenge.

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Day 1: Happiness is… smiling big because you’re surrounded by one of your favorite things: flowers.

This challenge was the rage a couple years ago and was begun by the 100happydays foundation. Their goal is to make the world a happier place. The foundation claims that 71% of those participating in this challenge failed to accomplish it, due to time. In a world that is fast-paced and quick to look for the next, up and coming thing, it’s no wonder why such a small percentage were able to accomplish the challenge.

The foundation challenged the internet world with one question:

Can you be happy for 100 days in a row?

Like the 71%, I started to do this challenge about two years ago, and failed on the 46th day.

So, for the past 17 – going on 18 – days, I’ve been challenging myself to find the things and moments that make me happy. It doesn’t matter whether they are big or small, pertaining to one’s self or towards others, as long as it makes you happy in a healthy and positive way. I say healthy because there are many things that could make us happy. However, such happiness is bad especially for our mental, physical, and spiritual health. I seek to find things that invigorate me positively and healthily in those three aspects.

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Day 11: Happiness is when you successfully get your students to enjoy the class material you’ve planned.
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Day 17: Happiness is having a brother and (future) sister whom I could talk to.

So here’s to restarting the #100happydayschallenge.

-A

 

P.S. Check out my #happyarvedays on Instagram! I hope it makes you smile!