Spring has come, maybe...

Hi!

Sorry for such a delay in posts... As usual, things are quite busy.  Lets see... What has happened since my last post?... A lot.

I'm actually referring to my agenda to see what has happened between then and now.
*Warning, this is going to be a long post~

Okay, well first. I finished up level 3 Korean.  My exams went better than expected, but were pretty stressful. whew.  I really really liked my level 3 classmates, so I was sad when the semester ended.

 at the graduation ceremony

 our teacher on the phone

 our class - minus a few people...

 funny picture, right?

 with our reading/listening teacher

We had a party at Hajir's house, the night after our final which was lots of fun~

with our COSTCO pizza - yes, Korea has Costco

Roxie, Hajir's adorable huskie

I had dinner with some of my former Korean classmates and former Korean teacher from my study abroad time at Yonsei University.  I hadn't seen my language teacher in 3 years!!! It was really fun to catch up with everyone.  Unfortunately, not all of us who are in Korea could make it that time, so will have to try again.  (There are a surprising number of us back in Korea).  We had Baskin Robins fondue, which was really tasty!!!

Gillian, Emily, our teacher and me 

soooo good! 

Soyeon, Sarang's sister was in Korea to visit her family, so I spent some time at their house, which is always fun!!! Soyeon and I went to this really nice park/palace with her aunt, cousin, and uncle too and took lots of pictures~ ^^ Her parents also took us to a really nice restaurant! yum~

 cute ducks!

I like the modern and the old all together in this picture

amazing. 

Soyeon and her mom 

me and her dad

Oh, I took the ASLPI (American Sign Language Proficiency Interview) exam on Feb. 28th.  (For those of you who know the TOFEL or TOIK exams, its the ASL equivalent)  I was really nervous for that, as I needed a certain minimum score for admittance into two of the graduate school programs I am applying for.  And honestly, I was really worried because after that ski trip, my ASL got kind of all mixed up.  Since I was around all KSL users, I was kind of mixing the two languages together. And I totally want to learn KSL, but after I got back from the ski trip, I made a conscious decision to not hangout with anyone who uses KSL until after my exam... haha.  Mixing the two during my interview would have been terrible; possibly a huge disaster, as the Korean sign for "correct" which looks exactly the same as the ASL sign for b*?!.  hahaha~   I had this huge fear I was going to accidentally sign "correct/right" in KSL instead of ASL, but thankfully, I did not.
Anyhow, the test was a bit difficult to set up since I'm in Korea and there was a 14 hour time difference. Plus, I needed to have to right software/equipment in order to take the test.  Luckily, one of my friends here had a video phone and was kind enough to A. let me use go to his apt. and use it, and B. be my proctor for the exam.  So, my exam was at 10 pm Korea time aka 8 am EST.  The interviewer was at Gallaudet University in Washington DC and my test was conducted over the internet via video phone (essentially like video skype).  It only lasted about 20 min. and I was surprised to get my test scores back by the end of the week!!! (On line it said it would take 2-3 weeks).  My scores was a 3.1, higher than what was required for entrance. Yes!

I also finished up the last of my application requirements for Gallaudets application, a video of myself in ASL introducing my self, educational background, and educational philosophy, and my goals statement sent off. Whew.

March 1st was a national holiday, so no school or work! woot!  I met up with my level 3 classmates for lunch at Mr. Pizza. It was kind of a going away party for Kyoko and Ayumi, who were both going to be going back to Japan soon.  Afterwards, I went to COEX mall and met up with Nathan, Hyunjeong, and Nik and we went to the aquarium.  The line into the aquarium was RIDICULOUS!!! It was like a mile long.... Everyone and their mother was there, literally. But it actually moved pretty fast. Although the exhibits were super crowded too... Even so, it was fun.

 there was totally squash on our pizza~ awesome.

March 3rd, Korean classes resumed and the new semester started.  4급 is significantly more difficult than 3급 in my opinion... there is a lot of reading, and unfortunately for the English speaking, or actually, the non-Japanese speaking students, our grammar book is lacking... But, I got my old teacher from 2급 who is awesome!!! I was so excited!!  I love her teaching style; she makes class really fun~ ^^

That weekend, March 4-6th, I went skiing again. The last time for the season, as the weather is warming up.  I went with Hyunjoo unni again.  There was one other person from the other ski trip along with one of her other friends.  We went to High One ski resort, which I think is the largest ski resort in Korea.  It was really fun and the weather was awesome.  Because we all had work, we met at Suwon Stn. and drove from there together.  We got in late on Friday, skiied on Saturday, and headed back on Sunday.
It was almost too warm.  I packed warm clothes and I was frying in them...

the view was amazing~ 

 in our condo

haha~ he fell asleep

On the way back to Seoul on Sunday we made a few detours to do some sightseeing, which was really fun!  We went to some famous restaurant that is known for their eel and smoked duck.  I'd never eaten eel before, but it was sooo delicious! I kind of freaked out though, because when they put it on the grill, the tails started moving!!! ah!!! I literally jumped back and hit the wall behind me.
Koreans find it very amusing how queasy Americans (or maybe its just me) get when they see their food moving, somehow still looking alive.  I'm getting better with it; I can eat whole fish with their heads, eyes, skin, and tails etc. and it doesn't bother me anymore; well for the most part.  But I'm still working on it with other foods. lol~
We also went to Donghae, the East Sea, that separates Korea from Japan.  It was really nice!!! wow.  And the weather was absolutely perfect.

 eel for lunch

 at Dong Hae, the East Sea

One of my best friends from 3급 was going back to Japan the following week (actually, the day of the earthquake and tsunami... thankful she was okay and her town is in the south), so on Wedesday we met up in Apgujang for dinner.  Afterwards we headed over to Gangnam and went to a bar, where one of our other classmates met up with us. It was really nice to hangout all together one last time.

 Hitomi, Muxiang, and Kyoko

Andy, me, Kyoko, Hajir, Alexandra, and Hitomi

On Friday, Nik, Henrikje (a Swiss korean drummer I met during that international drumming festival I partook in back in 2008) and I went to a drumming performance by 노름 마치 Noreum Machi, this really awesome poongmul group.  I had been incontact with the manager of the group for sometime, but hadn't managed to meet up yet.  So she invited us and gave us free tickets to the show! It was such an amazing performance!!!

On Saturday I went biking with my host sister by the HanGang River. The weather was great, and you can rent bikes for aprox. $3/hr. Nice!!! Later, I met up with Hangsun oppa, one of the guys who I'd gone skiing with. He lives in Busan, but had come into Seoul for the weekend.  We went to dinner and then watched the movie, "Rango."  Good movie, by the way.

This past Wednesday, I met up with Dewi and Ryoma, two of my Korean classmates from my study abroad time.  Ryoma was in Korea from Japan for a two week vacation, so we met up for dinner. It was really fun seeing him again! And even though Dewi lives in Korea, we don't get to see each other too often either~

Dewi, Ryoma, and me

On Thursday evening, after teaching, I went to Sogang University's sign language club.  I want to learn some KSL and I found this club and thought I'd give it a shot.  It was really fun! I totally don't have time for it, but I'm going to try and make it work... hehe.

Anyhow, I took on a tutoring job as well... It's one of my friends older sisters and she is really nice. We met for the first time yesterday to figure out logistics.  After that meeting, Nik and I hungout and watched "Modern Family."  It's hilarious and is pure 100% American humor.  I LOVE it.

Oh, also, I found out I got into one of the grad. schools I applied for, McDaniel College in MD!!! I am still waiting on one school, but am so relieved to know I have a future!!! haha.

I had to add this picture, only because I find it hilarious. Its garbage "art" in Myeongdong, one of the biggest shopping areas. 

Oh Korea... No comment.

Anyhow, thats all for now. Sorry this post was so long~ If you've read til here, thanks!

Also, I'd like to tell my Bubby to get better soon!!! If you read this Bubby, know that I'm thinking of you and I love you ^^