Man. So much news. I feel like I haven't blogged in a while (probably because I haven't). In the past week or so a lot of stuff has happened ... and I will try best to sum it up in a cutesy little blog post.
Since the last time we talked (or I typed at you) I have successfully visited the DMZ (not the department of motor zehicles), taken and passed my Korean language final exam, participated in the Fulbright talent show, graduated from Korean language class and earned a pretty stellar diploma from Korea University, and am currently packing up to move into the next phase of my journey - moving away from Chuncheon and to Hwasun, where I will spend the rest of my time here in Korea - teaching kids and promoting cultural exchange and stuff.
The trip to the DMZ was really something. It's not exactly all that I thought it would be, but it was something. To be fair, I don't really know exactly what I was anticipating ... We visited Hwacheon a small, rural town a couple miles south of the DMZ. This particular site is one where tourism is allowed, but is not very well known or frequented by foreigners. We arrived in Hwacheon after what felt like a forever long bus ride up one long and windy mountain. At some times I felt like we might really be heading to Candy Mountain or something. Along the way we stopped at several "check stops". I don't exactly know what was being "checked", as we were not allowed to get off the bus. Our Fulbright leaders talked to the guards for around 20 minutes or so until they finally let us through. God knows what they were talking about (the weather, the Yankees, what the hokey pokey really is all about?) Anyways, we were finally let through and made it to the actual demilitarized zone that is causing all this fuss. As I said before it was kind of disappointing. I guess I kind of expected some great fireworks show, a super locked down high tech security station, or at least a giant banner of Kim Jong Ill at the border.
But we were immediately greeted by a couple South Korean army men and escorted to a small building facing the much dreaded North Korea. We were given a quick talk about the DMZ and then shown a slide show of the different flowers that bloom at the DMZ during the four different seasons and pictures of North Korean men fishing (no joke - I have no idea why that was relevant). After the rousing slide show were were given 10 minutes to look at North Korea. So I looked. Then I looked some more. I didn't really know what I was looking for, but I looked for it.
We were absolutely not allowed to take any pictures that were of North Korea or directed towards the North, so I thus have no pictures to share (sorry, I'm not that rebellious and did not want to risk my life - that's how scarey they made it sound - only for a couple pictures of some mountains). However, I took a few pictures facing South Korea from the North's point of view. Looking out all we could really see are mountains and a few different fences. The fence that actually separated us from the DMZ and thus North Korea was not that tall, made out of regular fence material (whatever type of metal that is) and had those pointy, sharp circular things at the top to stop people from climbing over. I don't really know why anyone would want to climb over, but it was there nonetheless. It was pretty non-intensive ... something you would probably see at a shady school playground.
All in all it was somewhat disappointing. I didn't get to see Kim Jong Ill or Bill Clinton ... the main reasons I went in the first place. I guess they aren't part of the packaged deal. Unless you're a journalist or something.
After looking at North Korea we turned around and went back to Hwacheon and stopped at the South Korean water museum, naturally. We ate a glorious lunch of be-bim-bap (a veggie and rice dish) and toured around the water museum for about an hour. The grounds were very pretty, but kind of wet. No idea why.
Before returning back to Chuncheon we stopped and observed both the Peace Bell and the Desire Bell (I was hoping we might stop at a Taco Bell too, but sadly I was wrong). The Peace Bell in Hwacheon was really legit. It was built next to the South Korean peace dam which was built as a way to protect South Korea if the North ever released their dams as a way to flood the Southern half of the peninsula. (this was actually a strategy North Korea tried to implement, until they realized that South Koreans are also capable of building dams) So to kind of rub it in their face, South Korea built both the Peace Bell and the Peace Dam to promote national unity and to represent the continued struggle for peace. The Peace Bell is one of the largest bells in the world and is made entirely from scraps of ammunition from various wars all around the world. It currently weighs 9,999 pounds and the hope is that when the North and South reconcile and make peace the final pound will be added (in the form of a bird's wing - one decorative bird on the top of the bell is wingless). Poor guy, I bet he gets made fun of by all the other peace birds. Our Fulbright group also got to ring the bell, which was pretty exciting. The government only allows for the ringing of the Peace bell on certain special occasions, and apparently they deemed our presence a good enough reason to give it a ring. Three of the ETAs who are placed in Hwacheon got to ring it (man, I was so jealous) three times. Very awesome.
After we rang the Peace bell and had our fill of the water museum (eh?) we visited the Desire bell. Not as sexy as you would think. The Desire bell was created out of pure wood and was not given a ringer so as to remind everyone of the harsh realities of the Korean war and the continuing dispute between the North and the South. (no one gets to ring that bell, ever)
After all the exciting times had at the DMZ, we all had to return to Chuncheon and this past Monday we took our Korean language final exam. I think it's fair to say that I studied quite a bit ... our exam was 2 hours of reading and writing, one 5 minute dialogue, and one 5 minute interview with our teacher. Pretty nerve-wracking to say the least. But after studying for what seemed like forever I took the exam on Monday and am now happy to say that I did well enough to pass the class! (with a solid B/B+ average) I gong-pu-hayo-ed (studied) like it was my job and it payed off. Well, it actually is my job ... I am literally getting paid to do this. But that's neither here nor there.
Since we all for successfully completed and passed our Korean language final exam the Orientation team rewarded us with a mandatory talent show! It was pretty nice ... a lot of people got up and sang songs, danced, jump roped, recited poetry, and played musical instruments. Fulbrighters - not just pretty faces. Although I did not share any of my amazing talents, I did participate in a patbingsu (similar to ice cream) eating contest where I displayed my talent of liking desserts and my ability to eat them. I did fairly well, although did not win. I entered the contest mainly to score some free desert ... and that was a complete success. So I sat on the stage while people watched me eat it at a regular pace. It was really exciting.
Following the rousing show of talent, today we had our Korean lnguage graduation ceremony today. It was very formal and we were all presented with some pretty legit diplomas from Korea University. We were all enrolled in a 6 week Korean language course that is usually taught over the length of one semester. So it was very intensive and thus pretty challenging. We had some of the greatest song-sang-neems (teachers) we could have asked for ... they were insanely helpful and absolutely too cute for words. It was really, really sad to say goodbye to them this afternoon. I so badly wanted to put my favorite teacher, Yo Hana, in my carry on suitcase (she totally would fit) and take her with me to Hwasun.
Anyways, our teachers presented us with some fancy diplomas displayed in a red-velvety diploma case (which actually seemed way more official than the glossy paper DePauw handed me this past May). So now I guess I can say that I am a graduate not only of DePauw University, but of Korea University as well. (at least that is what it will now say on my resume ...) After the official handing out of diplomas each class put on a skit/song/dance/some type of presentation where we demonstrated our Korean language abilities to our teachers, our teacher's bosses, our Fulbright boss, and anyone else who happened to walk into the auditorium at the time. Our beginner one class put on a skit where we told a tale full of love, heartbreak, existential crises, and reconciliation - all in Korean. I, naturally, portrayed Katie Holmes in our Korean drama. It seemed to be a hit (as were all of the classes' presentations). I think it is safe to say that we all are on the way to being experts on the Korean language - or at least able to find the bathroom and order rice in a restaurant.
So now I find myself spending my last night in Chuncheon ... packing up all the stuff that I have accumulated the past 6 weeks and trying to stuff it into my suitcase. We are all headed to Seoul for the final weekend to explore, relax, and prepare for the next step in our journey (that sounds really cliche, sorry). I am super excited but also super scared. Just as I was finally adjusting to Chuncheon and able to navigate through the streets of this glorious city, they move me all the way across the country (that sounds really dramatic, but Korea is a pretty small country - about the size of Indiana, actually). As I prepare to leave Chuncheon and move to Hwasun (all by myself eek!) I can't help but listen to Green Day's "Time of Your Life" an flip through the pages of our Orientation book in a nostalgic manner (Not really. Come on - this isn't high school). But I am sad to go, and will miss certain parts of orientation ... like being surrounded with 70 other people who are going through exactly the same thing as me (and that speak English). However I cannot wait to begin the next step of my krazy Korean journey.
Stay tuned!
(also ... I posted some more pictures. Come check it out!)
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