Korea

I've been in Korea for sometime and I am getting the lay of the land.  The first thing I noticed is the cars- Hyundai (현대) or Kia.  I don't see a lot of Chevy, Chevrolet, Toyota, Subaru, etc.  I also see a lot of 삼성 (Samsung).  I wonder if it is that Korea takes pride in their companies (can't forget LG too) and use the products that are made there.  I probably sound like a downer when I say, I wonder if the US takes "pride" in the items they produce in the US.  It's not that I think the US refuses to take pride in "homemade" items, it's just that I think Korea has this sense of pride when they use their items.

Another thing I noticed in Korea is that Seoul seems like a "busy" city with people walking, subways being filled to max capacity, and a lot of cars driving in the streets.  Aside from being a busy city, Koreans seem to take time to see the small stuff and still get to places on time.  It's busy but at the same time people are not in a hurry and still make their appointments.  I am amazed by that.  As a result of Seoul being so big and populated, people bump into each other, but no one gets mad, it's almost like they expect it.  It's not intentional and I think it's because it's busy and really populated.

These are the newest cultural experiences I have noticed.

Age in Korea

In Korea, I skipped the age of 25 and went straight to 26.  Don't forget I am 24 in America.  I'd gladly remind my family members in America that I am the youngest.

When people ask my age, I say 89 (because that's the year I was born in), then people can determine my age. In Korea, I am still the youngest in my family- "막내" (mag-nae).

In Korea, when children are born, they are 1 at the time of their birth.  Every New Year everybody gains a year.  Koreans may say they are a couple years older than they really are because of their age system.  I found out from 오빠 that I am 26 (in Korea).

How I found out my age was that I was messaging with my 오빠's friend.  She called me "언니." (unni)  I was shocked because I'm used to  "언니" with my friends.  It felt weird, plus I thought she was older (another thing of being the youngest, I always think I am the youngest...kidding).  I also use "언니" with my friends whom are girls, older than me, and whom I am close with.  Plus, my brother is older, so I thought ranks would play an important role in how I should address her.  I use "오빠" with my older male cousins and "언니" with the one girl cousin I met.

오빠 [oppa; the pp are pronounced]: It is a term for a girl to call an older male
* This can also be used to call older male friends, or a term for a boyfriend
언니 [unni-eon-ni]: It is a term for a girl to call an older female
*For me, I have to be close with them

I do have (a) female cousin (s) in Korea, whom I call "언니."  I think I have more males in my Korean family than I do females; I was bored and wanted to count how many females and males I had in my family instead of doing my housework (kidding).

If I was a boy.  I would have to call my brother "형" (hyung).  I would have to call my older sister "누나" (nuna).
형 [young and put an H in front of it]: Older brother to a boy
누나 [noo-na]: Older sister to a boy
형님 [hyung- nim]: which is more respectful than "형".  This can be used in the work place or with an older male whom you're not close with.
누님 [Nu-nim]: Again, more respectful than "누나".

If I had my way, everybody would be called "야"  (Thank you Running Man).  They use "야" a lot on that show.  I just picked it up from there.  "야" means "Hey" and it's informal.  My friends in America and I use "야" so we can find each other.  If I use "야" with my relatives whom are older than me, I would be in trouble.  I also tell my friends "야" is my term for endearment...which they think is funny and will leave me alone forever.  Sometimes, I call my animals "야" but that's because I love them a lot.  I haven't called my parents "야" and I don't think they would respond happily.

I also use words like "eldest" and "second oldest" when I describe my uncles and aunts from Korea to family in America.
큰아빠: [keun-appa] is oldest uncle.  {Literal translation: big-dad}
작은 아빠: [Jak-eun appa] is second oldest uncle {Literal translation: small-dad}

When I am in Korea and describe my sisters to people I use:
큰언니: [Keun-unni]: meaning big/oldest sister
두번째 언니: [doo-bun jae unni]: meaning second sister.

I use words like: 엄마 (mom or mommy) when I talk about my mom and 아빠 (dad or daddy) when I talk about my dad.  I can use 어머니 (Mother) but that is formal and meant for kids who are getting married. I can use 아버지 (father), but same as mother.

초카 (Cho-ka) is niece or nephew (can be used as both).  I use 여초카 (niece) and 남초카 (nephew).

When I speak with my cousin who are older than me I use formal language where I add "요, 입니다, 습니다" when I speak.  There's an age gap and trust me, I have not used "야" at all.

That is all I can say about age.

Travel to Korea

I made it after what seemed to be a day of craziness.  I arrive at the airport early (during a snow storm).  One bag was 6 pounds over weight, so I had to leave some summer clothes, swimsuit and a pair of my black converse (Chuck Taylor) shoes behind.  

I was able to get on an "early" flight to Chicago.  I was suppse to leave at 8:30 but it was cancelled and I was bumped up to the early flight meaning.  We leave MSP at 9:30.  Unfortuanately, we had to de frost the plane, wait in line at the runway and a passanger says they want to get off.  We have to go back and let them off, de-frost again and wait in line.  Not the best timing.  I would have said "leave them and let's go."  

In Chicago, there was a group of people boarding to go to Seoul (some to other places and they had a stop in Seoul).  We were sent in circles trying to find Asiana Airlines.  We found it and had 30 minutes until it took off, so we got to go through the checkpoint first and RUN.  I got my exercise in for the year.  I ran with my 2-ton backpack, and giant "personal" bag, jacket and all that fun stuff.  

13 hour plane ride to Incheon (인천).  I went through customs, immigration, got my luggage.  Now, when I went through immigration, I could have chosen from 3 guys and a girl.  The girl's line was shorter.  I went through the girls line.  

On my plane ride, I watched three Korean movies.  This is HUGE accomplishment for me because I cannot sit and watch a movie, I have to do something while I watch TV or a movie.  I watched No Breathing (Seo In-Guk, Lee Jongsuk and Kwon Yuri of SNSD/Girls' Generation) are in the movie.  It's a great comedy movie.  I can relate to it since it was about swimming.  The next movie I watched was Wish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wish_(film)).  It made my eyes water A LOT.  It was so moving and touching.  The last movie I watched was The Flu (Jang Hyuk and Soo Ae) it was a pretty decent action movie and there was a sweet love story.  I love the beginning sences  becuase they are funny.  I recommenend to watch the last two.  The first one is a funny one.  I REALLY recommend Wish!!!  

Seoul seems different from the last time I was here (which was 2007).  It seems like there are bigger buildings, more cars on the streets and more places to try.  All I see are Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks...it might be a long year without Caribou Coffee.  I attempted to try my Korean language skills and I became flustered and mumbled a lot.  I'm gonna try my hardest to be able to communicate.  

Unfortunately, I decided to leave the US with an almost dead phone and camera battery.  Goal tomorrow: find an E-mart and guy some prong-plug stuff.  My computer battery is halfway gone.  

I am totally jet-lagged and tired I will update y'all another day.

오빠 여동생 날 (Older brother- younger sister day)

The one think a lot of people do not know about me is I do have an older brother (오빠) in Korea.  (Yes, my family in America is all girls, no brothers).  Also, I have been in contact with 오빠 since June of (2013).  Ever since I arrived, I have been in contact with my 오빠 through kakao talk or facebook.

드디어 만났다. 2014년 02월22일. 박기경이오빠 랑 나.

Yesterday, February 22, 2014 was the best.  I woke up at 4:30am (seriously; I have a habit of sleeping in- FAMILY mark it on your calendar!!!).  I couldn't sleep my stomach was in knots.  I was hungry, but nervous.  I couldn't eat anything.  I woke up, got ready to catach the train at Seoul station at 7:30.  I almost got on the wrong train, but I asked someone with my super limited Korean if it was the right train, they said it was the next train.  I waited for the KTX train.  I found my car and seat.  I pulled out my iPod and listened to music hoping it would help me get some sleep since I didn't get any the night before.  Again, I was paranoid I would miss my stop (which was 2hours and 30 minutes away).  All I could do was look out the window.  After years of being a nail-biter and trying to stop; I finall stopped and chewed gum to try and take away my nervousness.  

I arrived at Ulsan train station at 10:00.  I get off the train and walk to the first floor.  All I have is a picture of 오빠 on my phone.  I see a sea of Koreans.  I was able to get wifi at the train station to tell 오빠 where I am located.  I see someone walk around and they look like they are looking for someone.  I wonder if that's 오빠.  It was not; good thing I didn't follow.  I'm not sure what to do.  I turn around and 오빠 is behind me.  This time, I think I am turning into a "fangirl".  I bow to 오빠 and say "아녕하세요".  (my informal Korean is not the best and 야 [hey] will get me into trouble).  오빠 carries my bags to the car.  Throughout the day, I kept thinking it was a dream.  

오빠 and I walk to his car.  오빠 and I go to 경주 (Gyeongju) and visit 안압지.  오빠 takes me to lunch for 닭갈비.  Then my brother drove to his house to meet 아빠 (dad).  I think my dad didn't know who I was and how could I have said something...?  The first question 아빠 asks is "생일 몇살이야?" (When is your birthday?).  I say 89년 03월19일 (March 19, 1989).  아빠 gives snacks to eat.  오빠 pulls out a photo album my mom made when we first traveled to Korea.  He looks at it with me and shows me his photo album growing up.  I see my 언니's album too.  I show 오빠 my cats and dog (Lola, Edgie and Nelly).  I also show my nieces and nephew.  

오빠 and I go to Ulsan and walk around the coast.  (shocker I am from a coastal city in Korea, I would love to live on the coast and I apparently love water activities

a lot).  I get the gift I prepared for 오빠 a photo album, letter and chocolate.  오빠 and I get coffee.  I show 오빠 the album and tell him there are no actually cute and normal pictures of me as a baby.  I was always eating.  I could only choose from eating, sleeping, or some milestone picture or some picture with my hair done.  I informed my 오빠 that I am the "rebellious" (maybe independent) child.  Parents say, "go anywhere, see the world."  I say, "Okay.  Keep my stuff in my room, don't sell it, watch my animals.  See ya whenever I choose to comeback."  How I described rebellious was my parents would say one thing and I don't listen and do as I want to.  

오빠 takes me back home to say my goodbye to 아빠.  I'm not sure if 아빠 recognizes me or not.  오빠 and I go shopping and 오빠 says to me, "오빠 선물 사줄게" (오빠 will buy you a gift).  A winter jacket since I am from the land of snowstorms (not 10,000 lakes).   

오빠 takes me to the train station where we eat dinner.  Inside I felt bad for not being able to stay longer.  All I could say was "오늘은 고마워요" (Thank you for today.)  오빠 and I walk to the train platform.  오빠 carries my bags.  The train comes and I get on.  I listen to music and look out the window because I feel tears starting and I don't want people to see.  I hold my tears in.  I leave for Seoul.  

Truth is, I requested not to meet with the other aunts and uncles for fear that I would be overwhelmed and not sure what to do.  I chose to meet 오빠 alone and one-on-one.  We used kong-lish (Korean-English).  

오빠 또 만나요.