If I'm not Korean, I'm Japanese

Mmhmm.

When the Koreans figure out that my Korean isn't all that great, they ask if I'm from Japan. Haha, happened three times now since I've arrived here.

The first time was last Sunday, when I was looking for the catholic church around my school, but came upon a Presbyterian church instead. One of the workers there started to talk to me, and I said that I couldn't speak Korean well. So, he asked if I was from Japan...

Second time was actually Friday when I went to go register for classes. There were other foreign students there too, some from Japan. A teacher came in and apparently, he could speak Japanese well since he engaged in a conversation with a Japanese student. After his meeting with her, and I was still choosing which classes to take, he asked in Korean if I was Japanese. He heard me speak English to Nalae Jin, another International advisor, and a little bit of Korean, so he figured well, since she may not be Korean, she must be Japanese. Hahahaha, I said the same thing to other people, I'm not Korean, and no, I'm not Japanese either. The teacher wanted to know what ethnicity I was anyways, so of course, I said Vietnamese. As expected, he was surprised, 'cause he wouldn't have guessed I could be Vietnamese. I'm getting used to this reaction, at this point.

Yesterday was the third time. Moving into the dorms was tiring enough, but I still find it so amusing that I'm assumed to be Japanese here. The dorm manager/janitor/ahjussi was a little stressed out with helping out the incoming students moving in, and who was allowed to move in because there was some confusion about who has been to the Health Center to check for influenza and all this other stuff I wasn't really aware about. I almost had to stay at the Guesthouse again. >.< Thank God, I passed whatever it was.

While I was waiting for the confirmation, a Korean woman and two Japanese exchange students whom I think the woman was housing until that day, came and talked with the ahjussi and ran into the same problem as I did. We let the ahjussi figure out what he needed, and assuming that I didn't understand much Korean since I spoke it primitively to the ahjussi earlier, she asked if I was Japanese first in Japanese, then in Korean. xDDDDD

I didn't bother saying what I really am, just said no. See, I do blend in quite well here, but on closer look, and maybe engage in conversation, the Koreans can tell that I may be not from around here. I have to explain that I'm Vietnamese but I'm actually from the States, much to their confusion. The poor people.

Poor me? Ah, maybe. Maybe only in Vietnam will I be assumed to be Vietnamese.

Anyway. So classes start on Tuesday, September 1st. Here's my schedule as I know it now:

Mon: Oriental Watercolor 11-1 pm, Painting Studio 1-5 pm
Tue: Drawing 9-12 pm, Oriental Watercolor 2-5 pm
Wed: Basic Painting 9-12 pm, Korean 3-5 pm
Thu: Basic Painting 9-12 pm
Fri: NO CLASS

Muahahaha, yes, I still managed to keep my three day weekends xD. In total, this schedule is 12 credits. There's only one Korean class, and I assume it's for all levels. Nalae suggested that I take the class anyway, even though I already know the basics, perhaps I can practice one on one with the teacher or something since that's all I really need. I know how to write it and read it fine, but I still sound pretty dumb trying to speak it, heh ^^;;

I was worried if there was going to be a lot of homework from the Korean class, but Nalae said not to worry, there isn't much, and with my level I probably should have no problem with this class interfering with my other more important classes. If anything, I could use this class to ask for help on my assignments if I don't understand what all of it is asking.

The studio art classes have to be approved by the corresponding teacher, so I won't know for sure until tomorrow if I'm allowed to take these classes, but we're taking the benefit of the doubt and saying yes, this is my schedule. The only class I'm particularly worried about is Painting Studio, because that class was already full when I signed up for it....hopefully I can still take it.

I've taken pictures of my room, before and after I unpacked, so I'll be uploading those pretty soon. I have not met my roommate yet. I'm assuming she's been going to Hongdae for awhile, as some of her stuff has been boxed away and shoved to her side of the room. I'm only here for one semester, but I sure pray to God I will get along with this roommate and not have another Shawfay/Teresa episode *shudders*.