미안해요 (Sorry!)

Well, it's been about six months since I've posted, which is probably not my longest hiatus, but still, pretty disgraceful. If you were reading back in July, needless to say, my blog/study challenge failed miserably. As always, life gets busy, priorities have to be made, and somehow I always seem to put wine, binge eating, and trashy TV above studying Korean. It's a problem.

But I'm happy to say I haven't been completely useless in the Korean department. I went back to class at 오누리교회 and basically got free 1:1 lessons with my favorite Korean teacher ever, 안진명선생님. She's the best. I brainwashed a bunch of my friends to come with me too. Now everyone loves studying Korean! The month I spent living with my in-laws probably did a lot for me too, at least comprehension-wise. Oh yea, did I mention I got married? More on that later.

Anyway, now I'm back in Canada. More on that later as well. After three years abroad, it's a big adjustment. I feel a little like I've been rewired, and now I'm trying to go back to a previous version of software. Seriously homesick for Korea, so I'm back to this blog. Now I'm thinking have I become one of those annoying white people who tries to be Asian? Probably.

Well this post is kind of lame, but restarting the blog is always a little awkward, especially when you're pretty sure you no longer have any audience. But now that I'm funemployed (unemployed with out the life crushing stress of looking for a new job/worrying about bills), I'll have more time for updating. I promise better programming in the near future... Maybe.

Blog/Study Challenge Episode 5

Today's Word:

Chapter 3: Personality 부지런하다 (to be diligent)

1. 우리 오빠가 부지런해서 날마다 회사에 늦게 일을 해요.

2. 부지런하고 열심히 공부하는 학생들이 시험을 잘 봐요.

3. 저는 요즘 이 브로그를 하루하루 쓰니까 부지런해요.

I think I kind of deserve this word after successfully completing my challenge for five days in a row!

Blog/Study Challenge Episode 4

Today's Word:

Chapter 3: Personality 명랑하다 (to be cheerful)

1. 정예진 씨는 명랑한 사람입니다.

2. 성격이 명랑하니까 일이 생기면 괜찮은 것 같아요.

3. 친구의 명랑한 미소를 볼 때 행복해요.

Finally something a little more positive! Doesn't match my mood today, though. Is it Friday yet?

Blog/Study Challenge Episode 3

Today's Word:

Chapter 3: Personality: 게으르다 (to be lazy)

1. 비가 오면 못 나가서 마음이 게으러요.

2. 처음에 제가 게으렀어요. 하지만 요즘 열심히 공부해요.

3. 게으른 학생이 못 공부해서 시험을 못 봐요.

More negativity today! Though I do imagine this word will be very useful for describing myself!

Blog/Study Challenge Episode 2

Today's Word:

Chapter 2: Emotions: 불안 (uneasiness, restlessness)

1. 요즘 일이 많으니까 불안해서 잠을 못 자요.

2. 공포 영화를 본 다음에 혼자 집에 있을때 불안해요.

3. 친한 친구하고 싸웠어요. 잘 못 해서 불안해요.

Man, why is it I'm learning all these negative words first?

Maybe I've been too positive in my Korean conversations thus far...

Blog/Study Challenge Episode 1

I have realized two things about myself lately. I suck at blogging, and I suck at studying.

So now I'm recommitting to both in a self-imposed Blog/Study Challenge!

I bought this book about 3 million years ago:

and still haven't finished it!

I'm definitely not a beginner anymore, but my vocabulary is still weak-sauce.

My challenge:

Learn a word a day from this book (skipping words I already know) and use it in 3 sentences on this blog to hold myself accountable. Blogging/studying problem practically erased!

Are you studying Korean too? Help me out if my sentences suck, or give me encouragement on the long 2000 word journey ahead!

Today's Word:

Chapter 2: Emotions: 그립다 (to be missed, to be longed for)

1. 5년 전에 우리 어머니는 돌아가셨습니다. 그래서 우리 어머니가 그립습니다.

2. 한국에서 만나는 친한 친구가 미국에 돌아갔아요. 그 친구가 그리워요.

3. 한국에 온지 3년 됐어요. 제 고향이 그리워요.

Kind of a sad word to start with... makes me a little homesick.

But reinvigorated with the awesomeness of learning!

Happy to report I knew all the words from Chapter 1, yay!

추석와 난타! (Chuseok and Nanta!)

A few weeks ago was the Korean harvest holiday, Chuseok, which probably should be a post on its own, but I didn't actually do anything really "Chuseoky" except make 성편 with the nuggets at school. However, I did manage to harvest (not sure that's exactly the right word here) a visit from my little brother! More details of our week to follow in another post, but one of the highlights was definitely seeing "Nanta" in Myeongdong.

Nanta is a non-verbal comedy cooking performance. Seoul has several of these tourist friendly shows each housed in their own theatre ("Jump" is another one). I'd never seen any of them, so when brother expressed an interest, we couldn't miss it.

The show was energetic, exciting, and hilarious. Korean drum rhythms coupled with chopping knives and very showy culinary tricks are the staples of the show. Participation of the audience and jokes played at the their expense make it unforgettable.

The tickets are a bit pricey at 50 000 won per person, but if you can get into one of the open rehearsals where the tickets are cheaper, it's not so bad. If you've got the money to spare or a special reason to spend it (relative visiting), it's a pretty good way to spend 50 bucks.

Photography wasn't allowed, so all I've got is this crappy shot of the stage before the show. Please check this show out if you need a good laugh.

Oh yeah! And then we ate awesome french fry coated hot dogs after! I'm thinking about doing my top streetfood countdown soon. Stay tuned...

Ashu