Sunday, August 1, 2010

Encountering Koreans: Friends, Students, & Classmates

June 2006
      Meet my friends & Peter..Peter's studies in my university during 2006-2008.  He's the first Korean I knew.  I don't even know about South KOrea.  Really, I thought his just purely Asian as me.  As I recalled; during the first day of my English class, it was early morning and only like 8-12 people inside the classroom.  Deciding where to sit, I finally choose a seat in the very center of the classroom.  During that time, he sat somewhere behind me...And since teacher didn't came yet, it was really boring.  
     The next thing I knew, someone poked me on my back..and it was Peter.  Funny thing was he spoke Korean.  During that time, my mind went blank..so, I asked; "What language was that?!"..and he replied; "Oh! Sorry, I thought you were Korean.."
     At first, he had a hard time talking to me..trying so hard to communicate, I just realized during that time that he was holding his class schedule and trying to asked me if we took same classes..So, that's it..we became classmates for 2 semesters in some of the subjects..
     Funny thing about I learned about him is that, most of Korean guys really liked to be called "OPPA"...simply means as older brother or kuya (in Tagalog)..no matter if you're a friend or so, age is really important in Korea..to show respect towards a person..that's something about their culture that they couldn't get away with..even if your age gap is just for a year!...During that time he was 27, and I was 17..and he's the type of person who loves to group with us and talk..even if in class, he was the oldest guy.
   
     As far as I know, Korean guys go to military for 2 years..Peter is somewhat an important officer that he stayed in military 6 years..
      Weird things my group described about him:
            1. He loathed someone when somebody touches his hair..he's into fashion and all..
          2. He likes things very fast..he hates slow services such as waiting in a long line to eat at a fastfood   chain..but he walks, talks, and his gestures are really slow.
      Last thing I new about him was that he went back to Korea to get married..sad thing is..during 2009, my cellphone was snatched..so, I couldn't kept contact with him..>.<



May 2009
      Meet Park, Hee Sun.  She's one of the youngest Korean friend I ever had.  She's my first "Dongsaeng-ah", or what you call younger sister in English.  I met her the first time at my old dormitory.  At first, she's quiet and shy..but she's the most talkative and noisy Korean you'll ever met.  Things I knew about her is she's too young, too sensitive..and really over the top crazy about KOrean IdOl groups..I think most of young koreans do.  She loves to be treated by her "Unni" or older sister.  She's mainly the sweetest and friendliest girl..but we sometimes clash because of different points of view..she's very sensitive..and am too frank..





August 2009
     Meet the Ki Couple.  Sean Ki and his wife; having their first trip to Cebu, Philippines and meeting them by chance at Ayala, Cebu.  They're really friendly couple.  I knew Sean through a website www.ontue.com.  Ontue is a site were you can post your profile and be an English Language Tutor or Teacher.  Either online or private class, part time or full time job.  He became one of my good friends in ontue.  Communicating him at Skype or Hotmail.  Well, mostly Koreans use KOrean emails such as hanmail, daumnet, naver, and so on...other than that..they usually use hotmail than yahoo.   
     The greatest thing they gave me is a wonderful book.  Survival Korean is a basic language guide for foreigners in learning "Hanguel" (Korean Language).


December 2009
     KOrean friends hanging out in Ayala, Cebu.  Usually, we spent our time at TimeZone..eating..or window shopping..and it's mostly every weekend.  My closest friends are Ayesha, the girl beside me (am on green shirt and she's wearing a black one), Michelle (She's the oldest and acts like a mother to us.  She's beside me on the right).  Reggie, in black shirt.  Yin (actually she's Chinese who studies in Korea. She's the one with a big glasses on in the middle. And Charley, the guy sitting in left-front picture. ^^  Curious about the V-sign?  They said it's their way on trying to be cute in front of camera.  Fact thing is that KOrean guys usually don't smile in the picture.  c(-.-)o




April 2010
    Meet Jenna.  Jenna became my student and a friend for a month during summer.  She actually went to Cebu for a vacation.  And my university friend, Claire told me that her Korean friend is finding a part time tutor for Jenna.  So, she became my student..and she's one of the smartest one.  It's really easy for me to teach her; she can easily understood every topic I'm trying to discuss.  Now, she's back in Korea, having a busy life doing a part time job in a coffee shop, teaching kids to ski..and probably busy in preparing to go to Australia.




May 2010
     





     Lovely days of summer..spending time with my Korean friends, especially with Ayesha. In a hot blazing sun..all we did was going around the city.  Spending time together, eating korean ice cream..taking pictures at the streets..sharing secrets, beauty tips..it was a fine day for us girls. ^^












     I don't really want to forget anyone..but my Korean friends, students, and classmates are too many to count..>.<  To know about them takes a lot of time..they may be Koreans, but not all Koreans are the same..some Koreans are rude too..Even my Korean friends doesn't want to hang out with old Korean groups..they said that mostly the old groups around 30+ are rude and their attitude is hard to handle..but as I said, it depends..not all Koreans are that..they were born as humans like us before they become Korean..I'll be updating my blog and pictures soon..so if you have questions, feel free to ask me.^^




     

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