Started Thursday night, lasted until Sunday ish.
But the highlight of the weekend was Friday night, after the first farewell party Madison and I attended with our friends from our painting studio. After karaoke, we joined with the Aussies and Myriam our French friend for one last clubbing night for Madison. And I guess for me too.
And while at club m2, I got preeetttyyy comfortable with a certain Asian Australian I had slightly crushed on, and before I knew it, I was getting a lip locking lesson. ^^;;
Several...lessons....in front of like. Everyone.
Whew. *blushes*
Unfortunate that I'm leaving in like three days....he's pretty bummed out about it. And Esther's totally giving me crap that we should have started sooner. Sigh, oh well, it's probably better this way.
Showing posts with label hongdae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hongdae. Show all posts
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
A.ll R.isk T.aker
One thing I'll miss about drawing class here, is having the freedom to do rap videos like this, lol.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Quick concert recap
The concert on Friday was really amazing. One of my best times ever so far in Korea.
It was at a smaller venue, and I still wasn't able to get right up close enough to the stage because I got there about half an hour before opening time and the line went allllll the way up to the roof...., but the crowd was pretty darn close to the performers.
The opening acts were Supreme Team, D.N.G., Beatbox DG and Beanizzimo (spelling?? Don't remember.) and of course, Epik High. And dude, DOK2 is two years younger than me! Dammit, younger kids who are more accomplished than me...
Every time I see these hip hoppers, I get closer each time. And dude, I totally have a big crush on Beatbox DG now. The man is freaking HOT. And actually, there are quite a few attractive hip hop artists in the Korean hip hop/rap scene. Keke. xD One of the guys in Supreme Team is really really cute.
I'm getting more exposed to Asian Hip Hop obviously. The Korean scene is just the beginning. There are Japanese Urban artists that I was just about to get into before my laptop crashed and died.
Is going to these concerts having an adverse effect on me? I don't think so, I just hope this new path might take me somewhere someday.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tango lessons in drawing class?
Only possible with American art teachers, haha.
Yesterday was a good day, until I went to a birthday party and got myself stuck surrounded with Koreans gulping down the beer and soju. >.<
I haven't been sleeping well lately, I think mainly due to upcoming finals stress plus the bittersweetness of going back to America soon, and after last night, I woke up today with fifteen minutes to get to my morning class on time.
I know the time will come for me to take my first serious shot of alcohol at some point, but right now I don't think my mind, body, and soul is ready for the impurity yet. I don't know I think like this. And it's not a relgious reason that I don't drink. It's actually more quite personal, but at this point, I don't really know how to explain it anymore.
I'd go more into detail, but I really want to go back to my dorm and take a nap.
All I'll say is, being around alcohol stresses me out. More so to me than other people who has had alcohol before and prefer not too drink for whatever reason. For me, I either get bored or get worried about the people around me. I'm sure if I had some in my system, I wouldn't be worrying as much and enjoying myself more, but something about this whole drinking culture.....I just can't bring myself to be a part of it. Not yet anyway.
So really, I can be TOTALLY Korean in a lot of aspects; the look, the language, the music, a lot of things EXCEPT for the drinking.
Mmhmm.
Yesterday was a good day, until I went to a birthday party and got myself stuck surrounded with Koreans gulping down the beer and soju. >.<
I haven't been sleeping well lately, I think mainly due to upcoming finals stress plus the bittersweetness of going back to America soon, and after last night, I woke up today with fifteen minutes to get to my morning class on time.
I know the time will come for me to take my first serious shot of alcohol at some point, but right now I don't think my mind, body, and soul is ready for the impurity yet. I don't know I think like this. And it's not a relgious reason that I don't drink. It's actually more quite personal, but at this point, I don't really know how to explain it anymore.
I'd go more into detail, but I really want to go back to my dorm and take a nap.
All I'll say is, being around alcohol stresses me out. More so to me than other people who has had alcohol before and prefer not too drink for whatever reason. For me, I either get bored or get worried about the people around me. I'm sure if I had some in my system, I wouldn't be worrying as much and enjoying myself more, but something about this whole drinking culture.....I just can't bring myself to be a part of it. Not yet anyway.
So really, I can be TOTALLY Korean in a lot of aspects; the look, the language, the music, a lot of things EXCEPT for the drinking.
Mmhmm.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Art update, post midterms!
My Oriental Watercolor Midterm presentation was on Tuesday. I uploaded the ppt file for anyone willing to see the sketches of mountains, rocks, and trees I've done for that class up until now.
It's surprisingly big for a powerpoint file....but it has pictures of all my work in this class so far, if you're interested to see how I progressed. Er, I'm presenting it this way because I accidentally deleted the original pictures from my laptop...^^;;
Oriental Watercolor Midterm Powerpoint Presentation
Download Link
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Still life painting is done. It's not perfect, there are some perspective issues, but I'm pretty ok with how it turned out.
In Basic Painting class, we've started on our third painting, and it's also our second figure model painting. I think also, this is my breakthrough piece in terms of painting and in understanding the human body. Quite excited to see how it turns out.
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My second painting in Painting Studio class, the one where I did the eye painting for. We're required to work on 50F size canvases, and they are HUGE. I'd say about.....three by four feet or so. How in the world will I send these paintings to the states, I do not know.
Anyways, the point of this painting is to explore space, and how objects take up space naturally/unnaturally. We need parallel objects and unparallel objects. This is a snapshot of the inside of my desk drawer, which I found to be a little too literal, but the perspective makes for an interesting composition. I want to add something else to make it less literal, and maybe more symbolic. Or maybe put in some interesting textures somehow. I don't know for sure yet, I just hope I'll figure it out while I paint it.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Club Day and Halloween
So there's a slight difference between clubbing in South Korea, and clubbing in America. In Korea, they play a bit more Korean popular songs in addition to mainstream American stuff, but also, there's a small cultural difference.
Granted, I've only went clubbing one time in America, so I don't know if this judgement has enough basis. But anyways.
Every month on the last Friday, the Hongdae area has an event that they call Club day, where all the clubs in the area are discounted, and you can club hop until midnight for the price of one entry. Pretty sweet deal if you plan on dancing everywhere, haha.
The plan was for Madison and I to meet up with the Frenchies and the Aussies after their drinking binge/party/evening plans or whatever, and then club all night long. We left a little after midnight, only to find out that we did miss that one detail about Club day ending at midnight....but it didn't matter because we only needed one club.
Most of the French bailed on us, except for Myriam, who doesn't hang out with the main French group anyways, and she was with two Korean friends, (I forgot the guy's name, girl is Reina) who are in the same design program as her at school. The five of us went ahead for some ice cream after discovering this one club I've been to for my first club outing with the Aussies a week earlier, m2, had a loooooooong queue.
We were at Cafe Tiamo, eating our ice cream for an hour or so, when we decided to walk around until we found a club that seemed appealing ie, short line, haha. Reina, who's been to most of the clubs at least a couple times, was our guide. The guy Korean friend left a little bit afterwards at this point, as he said he had to work early the next morning.
Finally, us four girls remaining decided on a hip hop club called Cocoon, which is very near the school campus. I texted the Aussies and told them to meet us at this club when they're ready, but due to a pool game of sorts, they didn't come until almost 4 a.m. =_=
Ahaha, and them boys totally missed out on us girls rocking it. I LIKE clubbing in Korea, so far. Girls can freely dance without having to worry about unwanted grinding. From my first clubbing experience in America, it was harder to get away with that as EVERYONE IN THE CLUB was doing the whole freak dancing thing. It's interesting to see, though, how Seoul keeps trying to westernize itself. Halloween here might be popular ten years from now. Only the American foreigners were really dressing up for the Halloween thing.
But here, guys are more, shall we say, shy? And they only approach when they're interested in a dance, or maybe more in other cases of course, but I digress.
I had a lot of fun dancing with them girls (Reina and Myriam left soon after the Aussies came), and the Aussies (when they finally arrived) made it pretty fun too. Too bad they arrived a little too late, when Madison and I were getting tired. We were in Cocoon until six in the morning. >.<
And I started to get pretty hungry at five ish, so after getting quick kimbab for breakfast with Madison and one Asian Aussie guy, I came back to my dorm room at around seven a.m. the sun was rising.
Epic night is epic. The dancing was totally good for my system. I'm down for going again at the end of November xD.
There was one thing I kinda wish I didn't do, though. While us four girls were taking a break and waiting for the Aussie team to arrive by the stair entrance, one cute Korean boy did approach and started a conversation. He totally had the hiphop look going, with the black hoodie and cap, lol. First he asked how old I was, which I preceded to tell him (I couldn't quite tell how old he was, though...) but it's really hard to carry out a full conversation with someone in a club. The music deafens you >.<
I told the guy I wasn't Korean, so he asked if I could speak English, in English. xD But unfortunately, the Aussies arrived at that moment, so...that was it. He fell back after I said that yeah, they are my friends. Sigh. Oh well. Maybe next time something interesting will happen, lol.
Also, I'm quite glad we decided to go the day before Halloween. Because it rained like a mother the very next day, all day. No warning. Oh, the joys of weather.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
In progress updates
This painting's done! The critique was last Monday. I didn't get much feedback from the professor, though...
The still life is still a work in progress. I have to finish the chair, the red thingy, and the cup under the chair and in front of the wood. Sigh, when you think you're almost finished with a painting, add 10 more hours to it.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Midterms........T_T
It seems everyone has the case of the stresses currently. Ah, the joys of midterms.
I started two other posts before this one, but they both are still simmering in the writing department. And of course, Red Striped Sketcher's dream interpretation is long overdue. I have to mention it often now, to force myself to get on that as soon as possible. But I haven't seen her posting much these days. Probably because of busy midterms. Go figure.
I just got back from dinner with Madison. We decided to make it a weekly thing, to go eat out for dinner the two of us. One, so that we get to go outside, and two, so that we actually get a decent meal at least once a week, haha.
We went to a Korean restaurant called Yoganeh, and it was actually a pretty good place. I would go there again. Then, we decided to get waffle ice cream for dessert. The Belgian waffle thing is the current craze right now in Seoul. There's a waffle shop everywhere.
Anyways, so while most of you have papers and tests to study for, I have paintings and sketches to finish, yaaaaaaaay. The still life painting is due next week, and Chang Sara kyosoonim (the other teacher in my Basic Painting class, with the German guy) is checking both that and the nude painting from the very beginning of the semester. Sigh, I guess I really have to finish that this time. Tsk, I just know I can do better on the next round of figure painting, but I guess I have to face the mediocre attempt that is my first class assignment. Well, that should be interesting.
In Oriental Painting, I have to prepare a slideshow presentation with all the sketches I did at Bukhansan Mountain and talk about my progress from the first sketch until now. Can someone say NERVERACKING. T_T
Han Kyosoonim said I can do it in English, and then Esther goes "No you need to practice your Korean!" Omg.
I had a critque in my Painting Studio class this past Monday, and I did that in English and that was very very very nerveracking. I just can't think in art terms and stuff in Korean....not yet.
Hmm, what else? Oh, and I have to make a pinhole camera for Drawing class. Our sketchbook is our midterm grade.
I have a healthy amount of busy this semester. Esther and I talked the other day how we were very much busier in the States. Right now at Hongik, we seem to have more spare time on our hands, so she persuades me to go to the KIMCHI debating often. Only yesterday's debate got canceled because most of the Koreans are really busy with their midterms, haha.
Well, good luck all my peoplez with your midterms. I hope I see the Infamous Trio of Nerds posting more soon.
I started two other posts before this one, but they both are still simmering in the writing department. And of course, Red Striped Sketcher's dream interpretation is long overdue. I have to mention it often now, to force myself to get on that as soon as possible. But I haven't seen her posting much these days. Probably because of busy midterms. Go figure.
I just got back from dinner with Madison. We decided to make it a weekly thing, to go eat out for dinner the two of us. One, so that we get to go outside, and two, so that we actually get a decent meal at least once a week, haha.
We went to a Korean restaurant called Yoganeh, and it was actually a pretty good place. I would go there again. Then, we decided to get waffle ice cream for dessert. The Belgian waffle thing is the current craze right now in Seoul. There's a waffle shop everywhere.
Anyways, so while most of you have papers and tests to study for, I have paintings and sketches to finish, yaaaaaaaay. The still life painting is due next week, and Chang Sara kyosoonim (the other teacher in my Basic Painting class, with the German guy) is checking both that and the nude painting from the very beginning of the semester. Sigh, I guess I really have to finish that this time. Tsk, I just know I can do better on the next round of figure painting, but I guess I have to face the mediocre attempt that is my first class assignment. Well, that should be interesting.
In Oriental Painting, I have to prepare a slideshow presentation with all the sketches I did at Bukhansan Mountain and talk about my progress from the first sketch until now. Can someone say NERVERACKING. T_T
Han Kyosoonim said I can do it in English, and then Esther goes "No you need to practice your Korean!" Omg.
I had a critque in my Painting Studio class this past Monday, and I did that in English and that was very very very nerveracking. I just can't think in art terms and stuff in Korean....not yet.
Hmm, what else? Oh, and I have to make a pinhole camera for Drawing class. Our sketchbook is our midterm grade.
I have a healthy amount of busy this semester. Esther and I talked the other day how we were very much busier in the States. Right now at Hongik, we seem to have more spare time on our hands, so she persuades me to go to the KIMCHI debating often. Only yesterday's debate got canceled because most of the Koreans are really busy with their midterms, haha.
Well, good luck all my peoplez with your midterms. I hope I see the Infamous Trio of Nerds posting more soon.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
In progress paintings
Remember when I had put up those sketches way back when, and I had to choose between the books concept or the eye concept?
That was many weeks ago, but I had chosen to do the eye painting. It's due next week in Painting Studio, and I took some in progress pictures to show you all where I'm at with it right now. Sorry I didn't get down to it sooner!
This is where it was going for a week or so, but I ended up changing it to this.
I think I'll put some red back into the eye lashes and shadows. I also need to make the lashes longer. The overall mood seems too cool for me. The red was a nice contrast.
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In my Basic Painting class, we're working on our second painting now. The first was a nude painting that I didn't finish all the way through, but I don't really like it so I'm not bothering with taking pictures of it. We're doing a still life of glass, and it's actually quite enjoyable for me. We just finished our second week of working on this painting. The above two pictures is a before and after working on it in class yesterday. I have only one week left to finish this so I might actually have to go in this weekend to work on it more in order to have it done in time.
That was many weeks ago, but I had chosen to do the eye painting. It's due next week in Painting Studio, and I took some in progress pictures to show you all where I'm at with it right now. Sorry I didn't get down to it sooner!
This is where it was going for a week or so, but I ended up changing it to this.
I think I'll put some red back into the eye lashes and shadows. I also need to make the lashes longer. The overall mood seems too cool for me. The red was a nice contrast.
****************************************************************************
In my Basic Painting class, we're working on our second painting now. The first was a nude painting that I didn't finish all the way through, but I don't really like it so I'm not bothering with taking pictures of it. We're doing a still life of glass, and it's actually quite enjoyable for me. We just finished our second week of working on this painting. The above two pictures is a before and after working on it in class yesterday. I have only one week left to finish this so I might actually have to go in this weekend to work on it more in order to have it done in time.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Meh
So technically I'm in class right now, supposed to be working on my painting, but I stole away to head back to the dorm so I could pick up some books and a different sketchbook. But also, to update my blog since it's been quite a while and I'm falling behind on the things I'm supposed to be talking about. >.<
I have to constantly write to do lists in all aspects of my work, so that I can somewhat keep track of things. On this blog, for example, I have yet to get that dream interpretation out, discuss the Epik High concert, and now the Cheonju trip.
That trip really threw my schedule off. >.< It was fun to go to a different city and learn all those cultural traditional stuff, but zomg my homework.
In Oriental Watercolor class today, I found out I actually didn't have to finish those mountain sketches 'cause they weren't actually homework, and the homework that WAS due, totally looked lamed (it got ripped in the wind T_T) compared to everyone else's, but we have to do that particular assignment over anyways. Then in this Painting class right now, I realized Madison and I are painting on the wrong size canvas, but the teacher said it was okay, but still.
Fail.
Sigh. All of a sudden there's all this homework due, and I'm getting a little frazzled o_O. Once this week is over, I'll be able to breathe a little.
This week is Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving holiday, so that should be some good rest time. Hopefully.
I have to constantly write to do lists in all aspects of my work, so that I can somewhat keep track of things. On this blog, for example, I have yet to get that dream interpretation out, discuss the Epik High concert, and now the Cheonju trip.
That trip really threw my schedule off. >.< It was fun to go to a different city and learn all those cultural traditional stuff, but zomg my homework.
In Oriental Watercolor class today, I found out I actually didn't have to finish those mountain sketches 'cause they weren't actually homework, and the homework that WAS due, totally looked lamed (it got ripped in the wind T_T) compared to everyone else's, but we have to do that particular assignment over anyways. Then in this Painting class right now, I realized Madison and I are painting on the wrong size canvas, but the teacher said it was okay, but still.
Fail.
Sigh. All of a sudden there's all this homework due, and I'm getting a little frazzled o_O. Once this week is over, I'll be able to breathe a little.
This week is Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving holiday, so that should be some good rest time. Hopefully.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I climbed a freaking mountain today.
Oriental Watercolor class. 'Nuff said. I'm too tired right now to go into details, but I definitely will tomorrow.
Instead, I'll ask you guys to help me out with this. Well, more like ask for your input.
What you see above is a word by word copy of a translation a nice Korean student gave me and Madison of the topic sheet for our painting studio class yesterday. Last week our teacher Choi Inseon, handed out this topic sheet (in Korean of course) but they ran out before I could get one, so I was at a loss yesterday about how to go forward with this assignment, until Madison showed me this translated topic sheet given to her by another student.
Even for other Koreans, the topics we had to choose from are just plain weird. Translate that into Engrish and you get serious WTFage. Yes, I copied this exactly as I saw it. That does say "Japan and condom," and "leggings on toilet" to name a few.
Anyway, we were supposed to have a few sketches based on these topics, and do a painting of it due in two weeks. Ideally, Choi Kyosoonim should check your sketches before you choose one to go forward with. However, I was told several different things by Madison, other classmates, and the professor himself. After all the confusion, in the end I really just choose whatever sketch I want, and next week the professor will check our painting progess and ask us about how this relates to the topic, etc etc.
So. Help me choose one, I ask all you readers. Whichever one that you think would look most interesting as a painting, has the most interesting concept, whatever.
"Love that is piled up and added."
"Diamond shape that makes us sad."
"Being in existence."
"Faster, higher, stronger, white fear."
Haha, again, I didn't translate any of that....>.<
Once I can narrow it down to I guess, two sketches, I'll do a tighter more final sketch on those topics, and then decide the final one.
Instead, I'll ask you guys to help me out with this. Well, more like ask for your input.
What you see above is a word by word copy of a translation a nice Korean student gave me and Madison of the topic sheet for our painting studio class yesterday. Last week our teacher Choi Inseon, handed out this topic sheet (in Korean of course) but they ran out before I could get one, so I was at a loss yesterday about how to go forward with this assignment, until Madison showed me this translated topic sheet given to her by another student.
Even for other Koreans, the topics we had to choose from are just plain weird. Translate that into Engrish and you get serious WTFage. Yes, I copied this exactly as I saw it. That does say "Japan and condom," and "leggings on toilet" to name a few.
Anyway, we were supposed to have a few sketches based on these topics, and do a painting of it due in two weeks. Ideally, Choi Kyosoonim should check your sketches before you choose one to go forward with. However, I was told several different things by Madison, other classmates, and the professor himself. After all the confusion, in the end I really just choose whatever sketch I want, and next week the professor will check our painting progess and ask us about how this relates to the topic, etc etc.
So. Help me choose one, I ask all you readers. Whichever one that you think would look most interesting as a painting, has the most interesting concept, whatever.
"Love that is piled up and added."
Haha, again, I didn't translate any of that....>.<
Once I can narrow it down to I guess, two sketches, I'll do a tighter more final sketch on those topics, and then decide the final one.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Burger
My current roommate, Juyoung, is so nice. Well, we both started leaving each other snakes and stuff on each other's desk since the semester started. Juyoung started the trend, I think, to be nice and make me feel comfortable, but I started to give her treats too in return, and it's been like that since. Today, she got me a little mini burger for dinner from the convenience store. It's not a fancy dinner, but the act is very nice of her. I'll be leaving cookies on her desk tomorrow morning, haha.
What you see here is a picture of the Olympic Hall that Epik High will be performing at. My ticket gets me standing in that Purple Section B part in front of the state on the right side.
I spent about an hour grinding ink today. For the Oriental Watercolor class. I bought premade ink too, though that is just for practice, and probably in class. Tomorrow, we start sketching plants. I'm a little nervous for tomorrow. While I am well settled in my other classes, it's only the second time I meet tomorrow's teachers, since the semester started on a Tuesday and not a Monday after all. I hope I don't make a total fool of myself. >.<
What you see here is a picture of the Olympic Hall that Epik High will be performing at. My ticket gets me standing in that Purple Section B part in front of the state on the right side.
I spent about an hour grinding ink today. For the Oriental Watercolor class. I bought premade ink too, though that is just for practice, and probably in class. Tomorrow, we start sketching plants. I'm a little nervous for tomorrow. While I am well settled in my other classes, it's only the second time I meet tomorrow's teachers, since the semester started on a Tuesday and not a Monday after all. I hope I don't make a total fool of myself. >.<
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Paintbrushes and the Shoutout
It's done! The rap is finished! xD
I still don't' know how my creative process works, so when I start formulating raps, it takes a couple of sessions before the final thing is set. Just now, I finished working out the tough spots and it's ready for video! YAY.
The internet wasn't working last night, so I couldn't post this blog like I wanted to. Just some notes about painting class so far:
Finally started painting Wednesday =D. We're just working on painting nude models and stills for several weeks. Each painting is worked on for three weeks. This first week is over now. The class has four models, two men and two women, and they pose at both ends of the classroom, so any student sitting anywhere has a view and choose which set of models to study from.
My first time painting nudes. The process is a little different from drawing nudes. Where I'm used to warming up and doing a lot of gestural drawings of one model, and having that model pose many different ways, painting nudes require them to pose the same way the whole time. We sketch initially onto the canvas first, and that is where you should be able to work out all the proportions and compositions first before applying paint.
And that is where Koreans really excel at. Their technical skill is really amazing. One of the big reasons I decided to go to Korea for study abroad is to improve my technique. What one of the painting teachers, Ingo Baumgartensomething mentioned to me yesterday, though, was that he could tell my painting style was quite different from most Korean students, and that I should be happy about that.
See, these Korean artists studied in an art academy (high school?) prior to taking classes at Hongik where they practice their technical skills all the time. However, their work all looks the same. What my drawing teacher Timothy Blum said once was that most Koreans don't have a distinctive voice in their work, despite the amazing technique behind it. In other words, the conceptual stuff I learned at CCA won't really help me much here, but it's keeping my own voice and style distinctive in my paintings in addition to learning as much technical stuff as I can during my short time here.
I wish I had brought more of my anatomy books but that would have just added another 10 pounds or so in my luggage. >.<
Oh yeah, and the other painting teacher Chang Sara told me that my Taklon brushes aren't suitable for oils and I should get harder bristle paintbrushes instead. Sigh, sorry Mr. Rainbow. I can't use the brushes you gave me for my birthday after all. T_T I really hoped I didn't have to buy more brushes here....gah, the money T_______________T
I still don't' know how my creative process works, so when I start formulating raps, it takes a couple of sessions before the final thing is set. Just now, I finished working out the tough spots and it's ready for video! YAY.
The internet wasn't working last night, so I couldn't post this blog like I wanted to. Just some notes about painting class so far:
Finally started painting Wednesday =D. We're just working on painting nude models and stills for several weeks. Each painting is worked on for three weeks. This first week is over now. The class has four models, two men and two women, and they pose at both ends of the classroom, so any student sitting anywhere has a view and choose which set of models to study from.
My first time painting nudes. The process is a little different from drawing nudes. Where I'm used to warming up and doing a lot of gestural drawings of one model, and having that model pose many different ways, painting nudes require them to pose the same way the whole time. We sketch initially onto the canvas first, and that is where you should be able to work out all the proportions and compositions first before applying paint.
And that is where Koreans really excel at. Their technical skill is really amazing. One of the big reasons I decided to go to Korea for study abroad is to improve my technique. What one of the painting teachers, Ingo Baumgartensomething mentioned to me yesterday, though, was that he could tell my painting style was quite different from most Korean students, and that I should be happy about that.
See, these Korean artists studied in an art academy (high school?) prior to taking classes at Hongik where they practice their technical skills all the time. However, their work all looks the same. What my drawing teacher Timothy Blum said once was that most Koreans don't have a distinctive voice in their work, despite the amazing technique behind it. In other words, the conceptual stuff I learned at CCA won't really help me much here, but it's keeping my own voice and style distinctive in my paintings in addition to learning as much technical stuff as I can during my short time here.
I wish I had brought more of my anatomy books but that would have just added another 10 pounds or so in my luggage. >.<
Oh yeah, and the other painting teacher Chang Sara told me that my Taklon brushes aren't suitable for oils and I should get harder bristle paintbrushes instead. Sigh, sorry Mr. Rainbow. I can't use the brushes you gave me for my birthday after all. T_T I really hoped I didn't have to buy more brushes here....gah, the money T_______________T
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Painting, Writing, Drawing, Singing?
So today marks the official first week of class at Hongdae for me.
Monday, I had the Fundamental Oriental class with the second teacher, Choi Changbong, and then I finally had the Painting Studio class with Choi Inseon (Insun? Which way looks prettier?).
I mentioned before how limited space is here. But, dude. Seriously, a class of thirty students cannot fit all their 2 or 3 foot canvases, easels, art supplies, and their bodies, plus the bodies of the teacher and the models, and the model stand, in a classroom the size of an average living room.
No.
Gah, I'm worried about storage space for me, too. There is no way I'll be able to keep all my paintings in my dorm room over time. Mm-mmm.
Well, all that first intro stuff aside, things are finally settling in around here at school. I got my tuition bill and my student ID card, which also acts as a bank atm card (so I technically have two accounts now? o_O) and I've made probably one friend/acquaintance in each of my classes, so I feel more comfortable coming into class and not having to worry about being lost the entire time. Thank you, God. T_T
Anyways, some random notes unrelated to school and class since I don't have the motivation to express all that in minute details yet:
Took some more pics of the classrooms and random shots of the interiors of the school buildings to give you all a closer look. =)
Met another student from America, but this one is fully Korean, haha. Her English name is Esther, and she goes to the Art Institute in Chicago. She's in my Fundamental Oriental Watercolor class. It's really good having met her, because during lectures I can copy down her notes, even though they're in Korean, I feel more prepared and have more stuff to look up after class so I'm on top of things.
Also, next week, my Oriental class will be taking a hiking trip to a mountain, I forget the name at the moment, to do some field sketching. It's going to be exciting, but the trip there sounds very daunting. One would have to take the subway, and transfer to a bus, and walk up half a mountain by the time class officially starts (on Tuesdays, the watercolor class starts at 2 pm, which is the day we're having the field trip). In total, the whole trip is at least an hour, give or take 20 minutes. Esther is going to the mountain by car, since her parents are both here, in fact, her dad is a math teacher at Hongdae, and she offered to take me with her.
I'm so lucky, seriously. T_T We're also planning to go to Insadong this weekend (ironic how I had just been there this past weekend with Madison and two other French girls to help Madison get her own Oriental materials) to get our brushes and paper, etc. This trip I most definitely looking forward to. It would be so cool to get some authentic Oriental watercolor materials and inks. =D
Sadly, it just means my wallets burning a hole. Hopefully, the need to get art supplies will stem down soon. I bought a few canvases today, and I really hope that will suffice until a couple more weeks later.
Hmm, been writing a lot lately. In addition to this blog, I've been diving back into my fanlyrics/poetry stuff. It's kind of nice having a little bit more free time during the school year after all, because now I can seriously dish out more videos and fanlyrics. As of right now, I have written English versions to:
Anyband
*Promise U
DBSK
*One
* O Jung.Ban.Hap.
BoA
*Song with no name
*If you were here
Utada Hikaru
*Flavor of Life
And they all follow closely to the original meaning. I use several translations for each song to come up with these lyrics. It's a rule of mine ^^;;
I have some raps here and there, too, some of you guys already know of like Britney Spears' Circus, and a couple of Epik High covers.
Now, there is one more English version to add to the list: Tohoshinki's (DBSK) "Beautiful you."
Mmhmm. I'm actually quite pleased with this one. During the music climax, instead of keeping to Uknow's and Micky's original two lines, I replaced it with a rap instead. If my computer would stop freaking out every so often, I might be able to record more videos of this music project of mine.
Anyways, I have a couple more songs lined up to write to like Yui's "Goodbye Days," Loveholic's "Flowerpot," DBSK's "love in the ice" and "Why did I fall in love with you?" and I think I have another BoA one in there somewhere. I'm open to requests from people as I don't want to limit myself to a couple of singers' works. It's just that these artists have influenced me alot....obviously, lol. I don't know what brings me to choose a certain song to do an English version to. First, I have to really like it, of course, but I also look up lyrics and translations a lot, which may or may not lead me to like the song even more. Eventually, if I think it's something I can work with, and if I imagine it to sound pleasing in English, I add it to the list. Something like that, anyway. >.<
There's also a shoutout rap I'm almost done with. It's for everyone in the States. And, I'm thinking of doing a rap video for this self portrait assignment in my Drawing class. Actually, today was when the self portrait was due, but the teacher, Timothy Blum, liked what we did so much, he's asking us to do the same assignment again for next week. Like a part two to our self portrait.
I did an ink/watercolor in black and blue of a butterfly (haha, go figure) but initially, I wanted to do a rap to go with the butterfly thing. Unfortunately, this past week I wasn't able to get to writing and recording for that video, so I was just left with the watercolor piece. Perhaps, this is a second chance to really get this video self potrait started.
Monday, I had the Fundamental Oriental class with the second teacher, Choi Changbong, and then I finally had the Painting Studio class with Choi Inseon (Insun? Which way looks prettier?).
I mentioned before how limited space is here. But, dude. Seriously, a class of thirty students cannot fit all their 2 or 3 foot canvases, easels, art supplies, and their bodies, plus the bodies of the teacher and the models, and the model stand, in a classroom the size of an average living room.
No.
Gah, I'm worried about storage space for me, too. There is no way I'll be able to keep all my paintings in my dorm room over time. Mm-mmm.
Well, all that first intro stuff aside, things are finally settling in around here at school. I got my tuition bill and my student ID card, which also acts as a bank atm card (so I technically have two accounts now? o_O) and I've made probably one friend/acquaintance in each of my classes, so I feel more comfortable coming into class and not having to worry about being lost the entire time. Thank you, God. T_T
Anyways, some random notes unrelated to school and class since I don't have the motivation to express all that in minute details yet:
Took some more pics of the classrooms and random shots of the interiors of the school buildings to give you all a closer look. =)
Met another student from America, but this one is fully Korean, haha. Her English name is Esther, and she goes to the Art Institute in Chicago. She's in my Fundamental Oriental Watercolor class. It's really good having met her, because during lectures I can copy down her notes, even though they're in Korean, I feel more prepared and have more stuff to look up after class so I'm on top of things.
Also, next week, my Oriental class will be taking a hiking trip to a mountain, I forget the name at the moment, to do some field sketching. It's going to be exciting, but the trip there sounds very daunting. One would have to take the subway, and transfer to a bus, and walk up half a mountain by the time class officially starts (on Tuesdays, the watercolor class starts at 2 pm, which is the day we're having the field trip). In total, the whole trip is at least an hour, give or take 20 minutes. Esther is going to the mountain by car, since her parents are both here, in fact, her dad is a math teacher at Hongdae, and she offered to take me with her.
I'm so lucky, seriously. T_T We're also planning to go to Insadong this weekend (ironic how I had just been there this past weekend with Madison and two other French girls to help Madison get her own Oriental materials) to get our brushes and paper, etc. This trip I most definitely looking forward to. It would be so cool to get some authentic Oriental watercolor materials and inks. =D
Sadly, it just means my wallets burning a hole. Hopefully, the need to get art supplies will stem down soon. I bought a few canvases today, and I really hope that will suffice until a couple more weeks later.
Hmm, been writing a lot lately. In addition to this blog, I've been diving back into my fanlyrics/poetry stuff. It's kind of nice having a little bit more free time during the school year after all, because now I can seriously dish out more videos and fanlyrics. As of right now, I have written English versions to:
Anyband
*Promise U
DBSK
*One
* O Jung.Ban.Hap.
BoA
*Song with no name
*If you were here
Utada Hikaru
*Flavor of Life
And they all follow closely to the original meaning. I use several translations for each song to come up with these lyrics. It's a rule of mine ^^;;
I have some raps here and there, too, some of you guys already know of like Britney Spears' Circus, and a couple of Epik High covers.
Now, there is one more English version to add to the list: Tohoshinki's (DBSK) "Beautiful you."
Mmhmm. I'm actually quite pleased with this one. During the music climax, instead of keeping to Uknow's and Micky's original two lines, I replaced it with a rap instead. If my computer would stop freaking out every so often, I might be able to record more videos of this music project of mine.
Anyways, I have a couple more songs lined up to write to like Yui's "Goodbye Days," Loveholic's "Flowerpot," DBSK's "love in the ice" and "Why did I fall in love with you?" and I think I have another BoA one in there somewhere. I'm open to requests from people as I don't want to limit myself to a couple of singers' works. It's just that these artists have influenced me alot....obviously, lol. I don't know what brings me to choose a certain song to do an English version to. First, I have to really like it, of course, but I also look up lyrics and translations a lot, which may or may not lead me to like the song even more. Eventually, if I think it's something I can work with, and if I imagine it to sound pleasing in English, I add it to the list. Something like that, anyway. >.<
There's also a shoutout rap I'm almost done with. It's for everyone in the States. And, I'm thinking of doing a rap video for this self portrait assignment in my Drawing class. Actually, today was when the self portrait was due, but the teacher, Timothy Blum, liked what we did so much, he's asking us to do the same assignment again for next week. Like a part two to our self portrait.
I did an ink/watercolor in black and blue of a butterfly (haha, go figure) but initially, I wanted to do a rap to go with the butterfly thing. Unfortunately, this past week I wasn't able to get to writing and recording for that video, so I was just left with the watercolor piece. Perhaps, this is a second chance to really get this video self potrait started.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Quick recap
And so, another day of cloudy sunny weather greets me in the morning as I sit in front of my journal contemplating which course of action to take for the sake of a better experience.
Yesterday, in front of the Technique of Traditional Painting class, I hesitated. Thoughts of "Should I take this class?" "Where is the teacher?" "This is a studio room, not a classroom..." "Maybe I shouldn't take this class..." "Why shouldn't I take this class?" "10 credits seem so little...." "But it's four studio classes already, five could kill you!" "But some classes are only once a week...and I have no idea what the homework load is going to be like.." "But I have to decide on a schedule by Monday.." ran around in my head for the twenty minutes I stood and walked outside of D201.
*************************************************
The above is what I had started to write at the end of Thursday last week. It's Sunday now, and I wasn't able to get the motivation to finish writing that post. But now I realize there was nothing to go on until more things happened.
As I said before, I am really considering dropping the Korean class. This past weekend, I spent a few days hanging out with Madison, the other American student from Utah, going places eating lunch and dinner, and we discussed about what our schedules might end up like, and what the work load should be like. We still have no idea what to expect from a schedule of four or five studio classes with only around 12 credits. How busy do I want to be this semester painting? How much free time do I want to explore Seoul, to improve my Korean, and to hone in on my other interests?
It's really difficult to gauge studying at Hongik compared to American colleges. Some of my classes I only have once a week, some are twice a week, and they range from two to six hours a week, but they're all studio classes, so I don't know if we'll be spending the same amount of time to do homework a week...it's all very confusing. And I have to finalize all this by tomorrow. >.<
I've slowly accumulated more art supplies for these next few weeks. I start painting in the Basic Painting class this week, and tomorrow I'll have the Painting Studio class for the frist time. I hope I can get some studio space. Space is so limited here.
This week has felt like several. Is it because I have so much free time?
Yesterday, in front of the Technique of Traditional Painting class, I hesitated. Thoughts of "Should I take this class?" "Where is the teacher?" "This is a studio room, not a classroom..." "Maybe I shouldn't take this class..." "Why shouldn't I take this class?" "10 credits seem so little...." "But it's four studio classes already, five could kill you!" "But some classes are only once a week...and I have no idea what the homework load is going to be like.." "But I have to decide on a schedule by Monday.." ran around in my head for the twenty minutes I stood and walked outside of D201.
*************************************************
The above is what I had started to write at the end of Thursday last week. It's Sunday now, and I wasn't able to get the motivation to finish writing that post. But now I realize there was nothing to go on until more things happened.
As I said before, I am really considering dropping the Korean class. This past weekend, I spent a few days hanging out with Madison, the other American student from Utah, going places eating lunch and dinner, and we discussed about what our schedules might end up like, and what the work load should be like. We still have no idea what to expect from a schedule of four or five studio classes with only around 12 credits. How busy do I want to be this semester painting? How much free time do I want to explore Seoul, to improve my Korean, and to hone in on my other interests?
It's really difficult to gauge studying at Hongik compared to American colleges. Some of my classes I only have once a week, some are twice a week, and they range from two to six hours a week, but they're all studio classes, so I don't know if we'll be spending the same amount of time to do homework a week...it's all very confusing. And I have to finalize all this by tomorrow. >.<
I've slowly accumulated more art supplies for these next few weeks. I start painting in the Basic Painting class this week, and tomorrow I'll have the Painting Studio class for the frist time. I hope I can get some studio space. Space is so limited here.
This week has felt like several. Is it because I have so much free time?
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Day two of classes
Wow, it's only been two days, but it feels like I've been here forever already. Feels like the days have been pretty long. Well, maybe it's because I've been here for ten days prior to moving into the dorms, but still. Feels like I've seen a lot for two days, which is probably true.
So I had the Basic Painting class today. There are two teachers for this class, a German dude named Ingo Baumgartensomething or other, can't remember off the top of my head, and the other is Chang Sara. Sara was the only one present this morning, and tomorrow we will have our first day with Ingo German man. This class is three hours Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
And, Sara dismissed class after forty minutes of roll call and self introduction. Gah, those are always awkward, and more consciously so when you're an international student. >.<
Also checked out the Korean class later this afternoon, and I'm considering dropping it. It's waaaaaaaaay too easy for me. Definitely designed for the absolute-beginner-only-here-for-a-short-while student. The teacher himself encouraged me to forego the class. In which case, if I do drop this class, I might just pick up another studio class, maybe Techniques of Tradtional Painting, which means I would have a 5 studio class 12 credit course load. Wow. What do you guys think?
So I had the Basic Painting class today. There are two teachers for this class, a German dude named Ingo Baumgartensomething or other, can't remember off the top of my head, and the other is Chang Sara. Sara was the only one present this morning, and tomorrow we will have our first day with Ingo German man. This class is three hours Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
And, Sara dismissed class after forty minutes of roll call and self introduction. Gah, those are always awkward, and more consciously so when you're an international student. >.<
Also checked out the Korean class later this afternoon, and I'm considering dropping it. It's waaaaaaaaay too easy for me. Definitely designed for the absolute-beginner-only-here-for-a-short-while student. The teacher himself encouraged me to forego the class. In which case, if I do drop this class, I might just pick up another studio class, maybe Techniques of Tradtional Painting, which means I would have a 5 studio class 12 credit course load. Wow. What do you guys think?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Day one done!
I need to get me some stickers. For my sketchbook and moleskine. Or something interesting enough to grace their covers at least.
Well, it was an interesting first day! The drawing class is definitely not what I expected. The teacher, Timothy Blum, has taught at Hongik for three years now, got married this past June, went on a honeymoon to China with his Korean wife, and is actually a sculptor. Not a drawer or painter. A sculptor.
And he's teaching a drawing class.
That's all fine and everything, but he approached this class not as a technical class, but a conceptual, idea class. Like I haven't had enough of that already. I came here to Korea almost primarily because of the technical skill. Kids here draw like gods!
I thought about reconsidering taking this class for the first half hour or so of class. The funny thing is, he figured out quite easily that I'm from the States, and before letting me answer what school I go to, he commented that he taught at California College of the Arts for a year.
I excitedly told him that is where I am from. Tim then said he hated that school, and was the reason he stopped teaching for a while.
WELL.
That wasn't an awkward first meeting at all.
Granted, it was about ten or eleven years ago since he's been there, and I'm sure plenty has changed since. But it made me quite determined to prove myself that I'm not some angsty rebellious art stonehead student showing up to class just to argue with the teacher, oh no. I am here to freaking gain something out of this. And if Tim's not giving us technical teaching, well, I probably should take a different class.
However.
He talked about what he does teach. That art is integrated in all ways of life. Last semester he mentioned how he taught a segment about the history of rap music, and in one week, hired dancers to teach his drawing students how to break dance. That....actually sounds kinda cool.
Also, he encourages going against the rules, especially the teacher's rules (but no hating, of course). For example, some of his past students brought written songs as part of their project. The point is, drawings sometimes aren't enough to communicate.
Tim says he's more interested in changing how we think. Not about our technical skill. Honestly, he sounds more and more like CCA by the minute.
In the end, I decided to try this class out a little longer. It's obviously not what I expected from a freshman drawing class, where techinical skill should be developed further, but maybe that's just what I think I need. Maybe, in my case, starting back from the bottom means first the way of thinking needs a reevaluation, not the way of drawing. Hmm.
The next class is the Oriental Watercolor class, which I was most apprehensive about but looking forward to a lot. But, I wasn't ready for the two hour lecture in Korean about the history of the philosophy behind Oriental watercolor (at least, that's what I thiiiiiiink he was talking about >.<).
A couple of notes, this class switched rooms with another class from the F building (which is where all of my classes are at except for Korean and previously, watercolor) but now all my studio classes are in one building, which makes traveling easier for me. However, the way the buildings connect is CONFUSING as hell. Omg, I really don't know how these staircases and secret walkways make any logical sense in these Korean heads. I'll explain more about this craziness with pictures later. And, there was actually one other student, named Madison Pope, from the States that I had met earlier last week, who is actually from Utah State. The crazy coincidence, eh? She was actually in the other class, Seal Engraving, that switched rooms with Watercolor, but ended up dropping by this class because the teacher couldn't speak English, and the level may be too hard for a first timer.
Also, this class alone is 90% female. I was so amused. As the classroom filled up, I realized how much estrogen was in the space (and for several minutes I thought the lady with paperwork going in and out of the room was the teacher, another female) and thought, omg, I didn't realize the Oriental style was a girl thing around here....
But actually, I was correct in my previous post, that the name Han Jinman sounded like a man's name, and it is. An older man walked in and startec calling roll, alas, he is the real teacher. Oh, and at the very last minute, a handful of guy students rushed into the already crowded room. Hahaha, this is going to be an interesting class.
If Oriental Watercolor is 2 hour theory, and 4 hour practice, is it really ok for international students to be taking this class? The syllabus is all in Korean and I can only guess at what most of it means. Plus, there is a midterm and a final test, it seems. Well, as long as the teacher writes notes up in Korean, I can just copy that down, and research that on my own time to at least cover the material, right? Nah, he goes and starts writing names in Hanja (freaking Chinese Characters!) and goes on with the lecture. Great.
Han Kyosoo-nim (Kyosoo is professor, while Seonsaeng-nim is for teacher) dismissed the class early as well (Tim let out class after an hour. Way early.) and we waited till everyone left before talking to him. For me, I could probably manage to get by, as long as I figure out how to research the lecture materials on my own if I can't understand it at all during class, but Madison doesn't know any Korean at all. She should at least take a class where the teacher can speak English. I was afraid that Han Kyosoo-nim doesn't speak English, 'cause he didn't seem to be the type. Very traditional and oriental oriented. But lo and behold, after I told him that Madison is from the States in Korean, he said in ENGLISH that it was ok, he doesn't lecture much, and starting next week, we'll draw. I signed my name on the roster immediately afterwards. Madison did too, and apparently she'll be depending on me for a brief translation of any lectures he'll give in the future.
Sigh. At least, Han Kyosoo-nim didn't turn away international students like some other teachers. He seemed more encouraging. Hopefully, just doing studio work will be enough. Even though this might be one of the harder classes I'll have, mainly because of the language, as long as I feel comforted by the teacher that he will still teach me, I'll be able to learn.
On a side note, I have totally been slowly eaten by that damn elusive mosquito. Today, I officially have multiple bites on both arms, plus I found one on my leg just two minutes ago. I subtly complained to my roommate by asking her if she had been bitten at all, and she said no. GAH. What is it with my blood???! STAYAWAYFROMMYBLOODPLZKTHXBAI.
Juyoung is very nice. She gave me some mosquito wipes, and said that she will get some mosquito repellent spray later. Bless her soul. T_T
Well, it was an interesting first day! The drawing class is definitely not what I expected. The teacher, Timothy Blum, has taught at Hongik for three years now, got married this past June, went on a honeymoon to China with his Korean wife, and is actually a sculptor. Not a drawer or painter. A sculptor.
And he's teaching a drawing class.
That's all fine and everything, but he approached this class not as a technical class, but a conceptual, idea class. Like I haven't had enough of that already. I came here to Korea almost primarily because of the technical skill. Kids here draw like gods!
I thought about reconsidering taking this class for the first half hour or so of class. The funny thing is, he figured out quite easily that I'm from the States, and before letting me answer what school I go to, he commented that he taught at California College of the Arts for a year.
I excitedly told him that is where I am from. Tim then said he hated that school, and was the reason he stopped teaching for a while.
WELL.
That wasn't an awkward first meeting at all.
Granted, it was about ten or eleven years ago since he's been there, and I'm sure plenty has changed since. But it made me quite determined to prove myself that I'm not some angsty rebellious art stonehead student showing up to class just to argue with the teacher, oh no. I am here to freaking gain something out of this. And if Tim's not giving us technical teaching, well, I probably should take a different class.
However.
He talked about what he does teach. That art is integrated in all ways of life. Last semester he mentioned how he taught a segment about the history of rap music, and in one week, hired dancers to teach his drawing students how to break dance. That....actually sounds kinda cool.
Also, he encourages going against the rules, especially the teacher's rules (but no hating, of course). For example, some of his past students brought written songs as part of their project. The point is, drawings sometimes aren't enough to communicate.
Tim says he's more interested in changing how we think. Not about our technical skill. Honestly, he sounds more and more like CCA by the minute.
In the end, I decided to try this class out a little longer. It's obviously not what I expected from a freshman drawing class, where techinical skill should be developed further, but maybe that's just what I think I need. Maybe, in my case, starting back from the bottom means first the way of thinking needs a reevaluation, not the way of drawing. Hmm.
The next class is the Oriental Watercolor class, which I was most apprehensive about but looking forward to a lot. But, I wasn't ready for the two hour lecture in Korean about the history of the philosophy behind Oriental watercolor (at least, that's what I thiiiiiiink he was talking about >.<).
A couple of notes, this class switched rooms with another class from the F building (which is where all of my classes are at except for Korean and previously, watercolor) but now all my studio classes are in one building, which makes traveling easier for me. However, the way the buildings connect is CONFUSING as hell. Omg, I really don't know how these staircases and secret walkways make any logical sense in these Korean heads. I'll explain more about this craziness with pictures later. And, there was actually one other student, named Madison Pope, from the States that I had met earlier last week, who is actually from Utah State. The crazy coincidence, eh? She was actually in the other class, Seal Engraving, that switched rooms with Watercolor, but ended up dropping by this class because the teacher couldn't speak English, and the level may be too hard for a first timer.
Also, this class alone is 90% female. I was so amused. As the classroom filled up, I realized how much estrogen was in the space (and for several minutes I thought the lady with paperwork going in and out of the room was the teacher, another female) and thought, omg, I didn't realize the Oriental style was a girl thing around here....
But actually, I was correct in my previous post, that the name Han Jinman sounded like a man's name, and it is. An older man walked in and startec calling roll, alas, he is the real teacher. Oh, and at the very last minute, a handful of guy students rushed into the already crowded room. Hahaha, this is going to be an interesting class.
If Oriental Watercolor is 2 hour theory, and 4 hour practice, is it really ok for international students to be taking this class? The syllabus is all in Korean and I can only guess at what most of it means. Plus, there is a midterm and a final test, it seems. Well, as long as the teacher writes notes up in Korean, I can just copy that down, and research that on my own time to at least cover the material, right? Nah, he goes and starts writing names in Hanja (freaking Chinese Characters!) and goes on with the lecture. Great.
Han Kyosoo-nim (Kyosoo is professor, while Seonsaeng-nim is for teacher) dismissed the class early as well (Tim let out class after an hour. Way early.) and we waited till everyone left before talking to him. For me, I could probably manage to get by, as long as I figure out how to research the lecture materials on my own if I can't understand it at all during class, but Madison doesn't know any Korean at all. She should at least take a class where the teacher can speak English. I was afraid that Han Kyosoo-nim doesn't speak English, 'cause he didn't seem to be the type. Very traditional and oriental oriented. But lo and behold, after I told him that Madison is from the States in Korean, he said in ENGLISH that it was ok, he doesn't lecture much, and starting next week, we'll draw. I signed my name on the roster immediately afterwards. Madison did too, and apparently she'll be depending on me for a brief translation of any lectures he'll give in the future.
Sigh. At least, Han Kyosoo-nim didn't turn away international students like some other teachers. He seemed more encouraging. Hopefully, just doing studio work will be enough. Even though this might be one of the harder classes I'll have, mainly because of the language, as long as I feel comforted by the teacher that he will still teach me, I'll be able to learn.
On a side note, I have totally been slowly eaten by that damn elusive mosquito. Today, I officially have multiple bites on both arms, plus I found one on my leg just two minutes ago. I subtly complained to my roommate by asking her if she had been bitten at all, and she said no. GAH. What is it with my blood???! STAYAWAYFROMMYBLOODPLZKTHXBAI.
Juyoung is very nice. She gave me some mosquito wipes, and said that she will get some mosquito repellent spray later. Bless her soul. T_T
Monday, August 31, 2009
My new Korean roommate has arrived, and some dorm facts.
Her name is Shim Juyoung, and she is a graduate student majoring in art history. She arrived late Saturday night. She seems to be quite nice. We talked a bit (in broken English and Korean, haha) after she unpacked her boxes that were already here. I think we'll get along just fine. =)
My current dorm living look is a little different from the picture shown. But I still can't find any freaking hangers. Why is it so hard to find hangers in a market around here?? T_T I've been looking forever. Ugh.
So, anyway.
That is my room number. I live on the sixth floor, the very top floor of the international student dormitory. It's conveniently the closest to the bathroom and the stairway entrance. But guess what? There's NO elevator. Had I already mentioned that?
Think I have to climb six flights of stairs to get to my room? Nah. Luckily, the main floor is a floor that separates floors 1-3 down below, and then 4-6 going up. So actually from the entrance, I only have to climb three flights of stairs.
However.
The laundry room is in the basement. So if I wanna do laundry, I have to get ready to lug all my dirty clothes down seven flights of stairs to wash them, and them climb back up seven flights of stairs after they're washed (there's no drying machine, by the way. We have to dry them old school style). Also, the Hongdae campus is all about freaking hills. I thought I finally managed to get away from the hills of Oakland and San Francisco for at least just a little while, but nooooooooooooo. >.<
I guarantee you, by the end of four months, my leg muscles will have muscles. Ew.
This is the view of Hongdae from our floor balcony. Despite those godforsaken stairs, this is a nice sight. But this picture was taken on a rainy day, so uh, pretend that sky there is wonderfully blue and bright.
On my very first night in my dorm, a mosquito somehow flew in the open door while I was unpacking. The next morning, I woke up with three bites. One on both arms, and one on my neck.
Now, I haven't had a serious allergic reaction from a bite in a while, but the bite on my left arm has gotten pretty bad, and it's only been the second day. Compared with the picture above that I just took this afternoon, right now, this bite has probably swollen even more. It's quite disgusting. And frightening. And the bite area itself is a couple degrees warmer than the rest of my body. I hope the swelling stops and the bite fades away soon. The itching is ridiculous. And I don't want to have to try to find allergy medication in Korea. What if I take the wrong drugs??
Sigh. Well, it's been the busy weekend. Now tomorrow, the real interesting stuff begins. I start my first ever overseas courses tomorrow. And I'ma be drawing, hopefully.
I'm pretty nervous, but the first class is instructed by a non Korean, so I hope that would ease my anxiety a bit. His name is Timothy Blum. Doesn't that sound like a voice actor of some sort? Haha. I'm more nervous about the watercolor class, because there was a prior class to take before this one, although, I'm not sure if it's necessary to take them consecutively. There are two teachers for this class, Han Jinman and Choi Changbong. They sound like male names.
Well, wish me luck! Let's pray that my Korean skills will have to at least improve a little bit after a couple weeks of classes. =)
My current dorm living look is a little different from the picture shown. But I still can't find any freaking hangers. Why is it so hard to find hangers in a market around here?? T_T I've been looking forever. Ugh.
So, anyway.
That is my room number. I live on the sixth floor, the very top floor of the international student dormitory. It's conveniently the closest to the bathroom and the stairway entrance. But guess what? There's NO elevator. Had I already mentioned that?
Think I have to climb six flights of stairs to get to my room? Nah. Luckily, the main floor is a floor that separates floors 1-3 down below, and then 4-6 going up. So actually from the entrance, I only have to climb three flights of stairs.
However.
The laundry room is in the basement. So if I wanna do laundry, I have to get ready to lug all my dirty clothes down seven flights of stairs to wash them, and them climb back up seven flights of stairs after they're washed (there's no drying machine, by the way. We have to dry them old school style). Also, the Hongdae campus is all about freaking hills. I thought I finally managed to get away from the hills of Oakland and San Francisco for at least just a little while, but nooooooooooooo. >.<
I guarantee you, by the end of four months, my leg muscles will have muscles. Ew.
This is the view of Hongdae from our floor balcony. Despite those godforsaken stairs, this is a nice sight. But this picture was taken on a rainy day, so uh, pretend that sky there is wonderfully blue and bright.
On my very first night in my dorm, a mosquito somehow flew in the open door while I was unpacking. The next morning, I woke up with three bites. One on both arms, and one on my neck.
Now, I haven't had a serious allergic reaction from a bite in a while, but the bite on my left arm has gotten pretty bad, and it's only been the second day. Compared with the picture above that I just took this afternoon, right now, this bite has probably swollen even more. It's quite disgusting. And frightening. And the bite area itself is a couple degrees warmer than the rest of my body. I hope the swelling stops and the bite fades away soon. The itching is ridiculous. And I don't want to have to try to find allergy medication in Korea. What if I take the wrong drugs??
Sigh. Well, it's been the busy weekend. Now tomorrow, the real interesting stuff begins. I start my first ever overseas courses tomorrow. And I'ma be drawing, hopefully.
I'm pretty nervous, but the first class is instructed by a non Korean, so I hope that would ease my anxiety a bit. His name is Timothy Blum. Doesn't that sound like a voice actor of some sort? Haha. I'm more nervous about the watercolor class, because there was a prior class to take before this one, although, I'm not sure if it's necessary to take them consecutively. There are two teachers for this class, Han Jinman and Choi Changbong. They sound like male names.
Well, wish me luck! Let's pray that my Korean skills will have to at least improve a little bit after a couple weeks of classes. =)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
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*.
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*.
Picture Post
A lot has happened today and yesterday that I didn't get to write about, but I figured I should do a pic blog post first before I get to the events.
This is the butterfly charm that started the whole zomgisthebutterflymysymbol? thing.
It's not completely blue, but one of these days...I'll probably end up making a self portrait based on this idea.
Seoul Forest.
Can't turn down ice cream, even in another country.
Olympic Park. I really like the feel of this place. Definitely would like to go again.
COEX Mall. Great hangout spot for us young'uns.
Hongik University, under the umbrella sheltering from the rain.
I found this store at COEX. Just love seeing these signs pop up everywhere.
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