First Experience of Tour Guiding

Love locks on fence at Namsan Tower

June 18 - June 20, 2012. A three days tour guiding a family from Indonesia around Seoul area. There were a mother and two daughters, one is a 10-year old. This was my first time to be a paid tour guide. I was really nervous and afraid if I could not satisfy them. But it turned out well and I pretty much enjoyed it. I hope they did, too. Equipped with my experience wandering around Seoul, verbally-ok Korean language skill, and a smart phone with smart map, here is the story.
My client were pretty much shoppers. I actually made a list of what to do from the first day until the last day, but it turned out that we did not go according to the list. They decided to go to Namdaemun market (남대문시장) on the first day, to shop. Therefore, I took them to Namdaemun market after I picked them up at Gimpo International Airport. We spent the whole day just to shop. I translated what the seller said and what they wanted to say to the seller. Also, upon request I tried to convince the seller to give discount for them, which happened many times. I do not know if I do good in bargaining, but we did get discount like at least KRW 1000 for cheap things. Sometimes up to KRW 20,000 (They bought 8 pieces of DVD which originally costed KRW 100,000 but after bargaining they ended up paying KRW 80,000 only). I did many "moves" to convince the seller to drop the price for them. For instance, I said that they came from far away and it is pretty sad if they have to pay a lot, or sometimes I said something funny to them, you know, to make the atmosphere good, and we did get discount. They bought a lot of things especially clothes. Later that day, since the hotel that they were sleeping at was really close to Myeong-dong (one of famous shopping centers in Seoul), one of the daughter wanted to go to Etude House, a cosmetic shop, at Myeong-dong, so I took her there.
The next day was another shopping day at another famous shopping center in Seoul, Dongdaemun (동대문시장). Dongdaemun is a pretty organized and modern shopping center than Namdaemun. They are inside buildings so it was much convenience to shop around. I did nothing new this day since it was only taking them around and translating what they wanted to say or what the seller wanted to say. They said Dongdaemun was better because it was cheaper and the quality was better than the ones in Namdaemun.
The last day was finally a bit of non-shopping visit. Even though before I met them they did a little shopping (yeah, they shop hard!) we went to Namsan Tower. There were some traditional instrumental and martial arts performances and we watched it before going up to the tower. I think they were pretty impressed by the love lock on the fence. I was impressed to when I went there for the first time. The other thing that I think was pretty impressive for them was the view from the bus window on the way to Namsan Tower. They pretty much enjoyed the trip on the way to Namsan Tower. We took cable car from Namsan tower down to Myeong-dong. Then, we went to a cathedral. This was my first time to go to a cathedral and I went inside. It was really beautiful with ornament on the wall. There were people singing and praying. I think it was beautiful. Before going back to the hotel and making payment to me (^_^) they did again go shopping at Myeong-dong.
I felt so good after tour guiding. I want to do it again! Interested with my service? contact me!

angga | 앙가


PS: They paid me KRW 60,000/day and paid for food but it is negotiable, lol.

Uncertain

Dear Readers,

Have you ever once thought about what you really want to do? Have you already been satisfied or happy about what you do for living? Do you know you passion? Do you enjoy your job?
Life, it is only once, people say. Yet, do you agree with me that many people among us wasting it doing something that they actually do not enjoy. Example, someone who enjoys fishing works as a bank teller with salary USD 15K/year. Well, he might be happy with his salary, but does he enjoy his life?
After graduating from school, you will work for the rest of your life. Wake up in the morning and get back in the evening doing the same thing that actually you don't have passion in. I think this is serious ... and this is exactly what I uncertain of.
This is not the first time this big question pop up in my mind. What will I do after I graduate? Of course get a job. But, what job? I read one of the article from a quite interesting and famous travel blog about someone who likes traveling. She used to work in an office and later she realized that she does not really enjoy it. Then, she wrote on her blog that some professor from her university said to her about this "passion". And of course I do believe if you work with passion, you will enjoy it. The blogger finally became a full time traveler and travel writer. She is paid to travel but she has to write about it which is the two things she says she enjoys the most. What a lucky woman.
It would be so amazing if I could be like her. But that's not as easy as picking your nose, my friend. I should say, she is bloody talented. Her words is like digital moving image on my brain when I read her blog. It feels real like we actually on the place she is writing about. Second, she has travel hour way more than me. She has been anywhere way before blog even exists, I assume. Experience, that what she has got. Of course, I would trust and pay her to go travel and write because she has so much talent and experience. I do enjoy traveling but that's the problem my man. I am just a free writer, lack of experience and no talent at all. I am not being modest, but I know my self. Who would pay me to go travel?
Now I go to my other option which pretty much real. I mean it has chances to be realized. I am a student in Computer and Information Engineering and I am pretty much good at it. But 'good' does not mean I enjoy it. I do like challenges, like solving a problem, googling, reading the whole forum just to make a diamond shape by using asterisk sign using C++ codes. Being a programmer is the most likely i will be after graduating. But remembering that I am going to sit down in a 4x4 cubicle with a desktop, a pile of papers, coffee, and a sticker says "My life is good" for 8 hours everyday really turns me down. I have internship experience in one of foreign company in my hometown when I was in high school. I was in IT department and I can see a pack of programmer there. And believe me, they are fat and boring (and damn bored-looking).
I remember one day, when I was at my hometown having vacation. I was with a good friend sitting and drinking chocolate milk at a cafe. We were talking about many things, and of course we also talking about this. He is a senior in one of university in Indonesia, but he also works in a newspaper, I think as a journalist. He also has internship experience in the same company that I did my internship, only he is in different department and different time of course. He asked me whether I want to work at that company again, and I said, no ... why? because my whole life will be doing the same thing until I die. Wake up, work(office), lunch, work (office), go back home. If you don't understand what I mean, you really have to know the company. It is a huge company and the office is just a room and you are obligated to stay there. The only time to go out is to eat or to pray and that's it for the whole day. He agreed with me. Then he told me that he really enjoy his job at the newspaper, but yet again, he whispered to me "But the salary ...". Urgh!!

앙가

PS: The woman that I put on this post is Trinity. She has this really interesting blog and she also has some published book. Go to naked-traveler.com and you will enjoy her story, so much! just like me.

Another Story Has Just Begun

February 25, 2010

Finally moved to Inha University in Incheon. I am gonna live with other 3 people and all of them are Korean. Two of them are majoring in Business and one of them is majoring in Electronic. I met one today, he likes basket ball and other sports. His name is류형훈 and he is one of the two whose major is Business. I played basket ball with him for 20 minutes today.

So far so good, despite the fact that the shower room is public which I find it kind of uncomfortable, but I will get over it. The area is really nice, the view is awesome, food is really close. I like my dormitory even though CNU dormitory is still better. But socially, I think it would be better in here, knowing that I will live with other 3 people.

I want to go around the universities ... I'll post the report later :D

2011년 2월 26일

ㅏㅇㄱ

Congratulations for the Noonas

February 25, 2011

That day was the graduation day of Chungnam National University's students. Before going to Incheon to move, I went to meet one of my friends who graduated that day. And unexpectedly I also met my other friend who is also graduated.

It's weird ... I am supposed to graduate this year, too ... hahah, but far from being graduated, mine has just begun.

Me and 은정누나

Mas Edvan and 혜진 누나

Congratulations ...
for making me envy you ㅠㅠ

2011년 2월 26일
ㅏㅇㄱ

Good Bye Chungnam National University | 충남대학교 안녕!!

Main gate of Chungnam National University

March 30 2010 is the date of my arrival to Korea, I started my study of Korean language in Chungnam National University. And now, February 23 2011, I left Chungnam National University (CNU). Here, I would like to write something about CNU.

As a language student, I studied in Language Center of CNU. Located near by the main gate of CNU, it's a five stories building with I think a really nice lounge room, but ... most of PCs in the lounge room is not working. For Korean classes there are up to 6 level offered. From my experience some teacher are really cool and easy going, but just like a coin, there are also some teacher who a lil bit insufficient in bringing up the class to be lil bit interesting. There are also good staff who will help foreigners who need help.

CNU Language Center

Overall, CNU is a large scale university and the dormitory is really good, but then for me I am not really satisfied with the food that they provide. Since I am a muslim and I can't eat pork. Some Koreans that I know said that the fee to study in CNU is cheaper since it is one of national universities. There are also some exchange students from several countries come to CNU to study for at least 1 semester.

Anyway, I am leaving CNU, I decided to continue my bachelor study in Inha University in Incheon. Enough for CNU ... let me leave the good memories and the bad ones, too ... just there.

2011년 2월 24일

ㅏ.ㅇ.ㄱ

선욱 형~나이가 한살 더 많아져서 축하합니다 ...

Actually his birthday is on 8th of February, but instead we celebrated it on the 7th. SeonUk was my supporter when I first came to Korea, as I mentioned on my previous post about him, he helped me a lot in settling things up since at that time I did not speak any Korean at all. Anyway, it's not about me and him, it's about his birthday.
First, me and Felicia made the cute card.

Prepare all the weapons and ready to fight

Tadaaaa ... from our wild imagination into a masterpiece =]

Then, we went to buy the cake and met them [SeonUk and Yungam] to eat pizza :)

Next, we went to TalkHolic to (at least as the original plan) eat the cake, but accidentally [and fortunately] met the GP [Global People] which is a club who helps foreigners who come to Korea. SeonUk is a member. So, we celebrate it together :)

Happy Birthday 선욱 형

2011년 2월 8일

앙가

N에 지나지 않다 | N에 불과하다

http://files.youngsamsung.com/uploads/campus/editor/make_1190456420441.jpg

You might be wondering what does this post about, what is that picture, etc. The title of this post is about some grammars that I learned from my teacher in level 4. And the picture above is 정심화국제문화화관 some kind of hall where they can hold concert and etc, it is located in Chungnam National University, right next to Language Center. But, what's the relation?

Yeah, when I was in the class and leaning that grammar, my teacher gave us one interesting example. So, the grammar is about something that is not really a big thing. For example:

10.000원에 지나지 않다 -> it's not more than 10,000KRW

So, my teacher told us about this story of a grandmother who, for her lifetime, used to sell Kimbab (rice roll?)  for like 500-1,000KRW and she then collected the money and gave it to Chungnam National University. Do you know how much did she give? ... I was very surprised, too ... she gave like, according to my teacher, 1,000,000,000KRW and the money was used to build that building.

"It's not much ... this is all that I can give" ... that's what she said.

I was touched. :)

2011년 1월 23일

앙가

New Year 2011 in Korea

One of interesting fact in South Korea is that as the year changes, you get older by one ... so it doesn't depend on which year, month and date you were born, but it depends on which year you were born. As an example, I was born on July 7th, 1989 (please remember ... I expect presents), then, my age is 21 and it's going to be 22 by July 7, 2011. But then in Korea, as soon as the year changed to 2011 (January 1, 2011) I -in their term- eat one more age, so my age is 23 on January 1, 2011. wait ... isn't that supposed to be 22?? Nope~ because in Korea as soon as you are born, you are 1 year old :). Yes~ I am 23 years old.

The last day of 2010, in Korean language class I asked my teacher what will happen that night in Korea. I was expecting some fireworks like what Indonesian always do every new years, but nope ... she said there would be no fireworks ... instead, in Seoul there is an event where they ring a very huge bell for 33 times. 33 because a long time ago there are 33 important people in history of Korea. And the ones who will ring the bell are 33 famous people in Korea. Seoul would be crowded by people instead the fact that it  must be freaking cold!! that's what she said.

What did I do last night to spend last night of 2010?? Friends!!yeah, I spent my time with special friends I met in Korea. Felicia, Edvan, Yongam, Sophia, and a lil bit late with Seon Uk. These specials people, with a small celebration has left a very special memory in 2010 =].

Three of us first went to a chicken restaurant called Chicken Island to eat ... chicken of course hahah. The chicken restaurant is located in Gung-dong and its a pretty place.

Next, as I mention about the interesting fact in Korea that as soon as the year changed we gain one more age, I had this idea to buy a cake to celebrate our "birthday". We then went to BaskinBRRobbins and buy the cake. 

and we (5 of us, excluding Seon Uk) went to Edvan's house and there we played poker hahahah and you know what the bet was ... candies ^^.

And as the year changed, we took that quite nice picture that I put up there, where all the cellphone's clock are either 12:00 or 00:00 and we ate the cake while saying our resolution for 2011, the best thing in 2010 and the worst thing in 2010. Mine was:

Resolution for 2011 (common wishes excluded):

- I want to get accepted in one of university in Korea.

- I want to go to other countries at least one

- I want to have "someone"

That's all. then Seon Uk came and we ate chicken (again!!) and continued playing poker until we were exhausted.

Other things are that every new year, I always remember my best friend birthday in Indonesia. His birthday is on the last day of the year =]. And my family called me and hearing their voice made that new's year eve ... really special. I felt like they are always there next to me =].

Happy New Year 2011~~

January 1, 2011

앙가

겨울 | 冬 | Winter | Musim Dingin

You guys know what winter is, right? It's not always with the snow .. but for me ,,, snow is winter :).

I love snow ... it's white and when I step on it it feels so crispy. I wish there were winter that is not cold and has snow ... 

Anyway ... My first winter in Korea, but not my first winter though. Nothing much different than my previous winter experience. The same snow, the same slippery road.

I have been busy with the university admission things. I applied to 4 universities which are KAIST, Pusan National University, Inha University, and Chungnam National University where I study Korean language courses. And I did the admission on winter :).

I was so happy when KAIST admission team called me for an interview which means I passed the document screening as the first selection of the admission. But then, when I was very nervous and excited at the same time, it was all destroyed by my incapability in interview. I said I was ready, but the truth was I wasn't ready for something bigger than I thought. I did not expect some questions coming, I was like "stuck". My defense system was destroyed ... alright it might be too much for that situation. Anyway, I did my best ... and whatever the result will be, I believe it is the best thing for me. They are expert, and they know whether I am ready to study at KAIST or not, so ... I believe they will make the best decision. But yeah~~ POSITIVE!!!

Pusan National University admission team also called me today, it was kind of interview via phone. Today, i thought I was done with this admission things, but I got another task. The university needs the prove that I am one of the 10% best students from all graduates (at the same year) in my school. I am not even sure or even have any confidence that I am one of them. It is because my average score of high school was below 8.0... I know scores do matter. Those numbers are magical. Anyway, I will try my best to get that prove before 3 of next month ...

During the conversation over the phone, the lady asked me why did I get this scholarship when my score was below 8.0?? I was kind of shock ... and kind of thinking .. what should I answer?? ...

I don't know the reason ... the government does ... they chose me, which means there must be something on my application package that made the Government of Republic of Korea trusted me and granted me this scholarship.

Well, I did not say the exact thing like i wrote just above this ... hahah. I said that I don't know the reason, but it might be because that I have good scores in my college that I attended for 1 year and 2 months. But it did not change the fact that I have to get the prove that I am one of 10% of best students in my school. Yup,,, like Korean said ... Fighting!!

I also did my admission to Inha University. I had some problem because I did not send some required documents and just today I sent the missing documents so I am safe ... for now.

And Chungnam's interview will be on January 13.

Actually I am really concern about this, because if I failed to get the admission in any university, my scholarship is to be cancelled and I have to go back home.

I know there is no relation between this and the title ... but what I meant was that ... all this things happened in winter :) ...

Wish me luck, everybody ^^

2010년 12월 29일
앙가

I hate when the snow is melting ... it's dirty :( ... well ... coins always have 2 sides :)

漢字 | 한자 | Hanja | Chinese Character

Yup, it's been a while. I have been busy with university admission things and I almost finished everything. I did one interview and it went really bad. I really sucked ㅠㅠ. Anyway, the result will be on 11 of January, nice date, huh? 11-1-11. well, I won't expect much .. but yeah POSITIVE!!

anyway, just want to tell that I am starting to get interested in chinese character, so I am learning about it. I am learning it slowly because it's really difficult. I don't even know how to pronounce it. Just learn how to write and to know the meaning. And since some Korean words derived from chinese word, so I think it might help me to understand more. These are some of them:

―  =  1     六  =  6     百  =  100               山  =  산 Mountain   夏  =  하 Summer
二  =  2     匕  =  7     大  =  대 Great        水  =  수 Water       屋  =  옥 House
三  =  3     八  =  8     民  =  민 People      地  =  지 Earth         服  =  복 Clothes
四  =  4     九  =  9     國  =  국 Country    天  =  천 Sky
五  =  5     十  =  10   火  =  화 Fire          冬  =  동 Winter

I know some more, but ,,, maybe later I'll write it more. From those character some characters I could combine it into a Korean word, for example

大  =  대 Great

韓  =  한

民  =  민 People

國  =  국 Country

大韓民國 = 대한민국 [Daehanminguk] Republic of Korea

韓  =  한

屋  =  옥 House

韓屋 = 한옥 [Hanok] Traditional house of Korea

韓  =  한

服  =  복 Clothes

韓服  =  한복 [Hanbok] Traditional clothes of Korea

中  =  중 Middle/Center
國  =  국 Country

中國 = 중국 [Jung-gook] China

火  =  화 Fire
山  =  산 Mountain

火山  =  화산 [Hwa-San] Volcano

大  =  대 Great
田  =  전 Field/Farm

大田  =  대전 [Daejeon] Daejeon --> City that I live ^^

安  =  안 Peace/Safe/Secure
家  =  가 House

安家  =  안가 [An-Ga] A safe house --> This is my name!!!

2010年 12月 28日
安家

우리 형 - My Brother

우리형 [My Brother] - I just finished watching this movie. This is a 2004 released movie and I like this movie very much because ...

Well, the story is about the two brothers who don't have father. The older brother has harelip which makes their mother puts more attention to him than to the younger one. I believe because of that the younger brother becomes a rascal and is good in fighting, whereas the older brother is good in studying and later studies at one of the best university in Korea which is Seoul National University. The mother puts a very big expectation on him but feels hopeless with the younger brother.

The mother keeps giving more attention to the older brother and the younger brother gets upset day by day and one day there is a big fight and he left the house, and the reason is because of his jealousy that their mother puts more attention to younger one. The younger one gets into this organization which does the money renting and will do anything to have you pay the rent, including violence. One day when that fight happens, he goes to one of house which borrows money from that organization and since they don't want to pay, the younger one destroy their properties and beats the son of the house owner ragingly since he is also upset because of her mother.

After that, the younger one decided to get out from the organization but then, it is the beginning of a big problem. Things are getting better after that brothers has a conversation accompanied by alcohol. They start to understand each other and forgive each other. The night before when the older one has to go back to Seoul, he was hit by the son of that house owner who got beaten by the younger one because they couldn't pay their debt. Anyway, the older one died.

At the end of the story, the mother receives a letter from the older one that is written before he died as a card of birthday. He tells that he is sorry for his younger brother and asks her mother to put attention to the younger brother.

It's not exactly same like my story. But indeed I feel the similarity. I have an older brother, but he is not good in studying, but yeah I heard he was a rascal when he was in a high school, and I am as the younger one I am kind of good in studying. Just like the story, my mother actually puts more attention to me than him, I do not want it, though. One day my older brother got really upset and left the house because my mom gave me more shrimp than him ... Of course I felt guilty and I did not want it to happen. I often fight with him too, of course it's his fault ... well ... maybe sometimes it's mine. Anyway, just like in the movie, my mom put a big expectation from me, like I will get a good job and make them happy, someday. But my mom does not expect that big from my older brother, it is good if he can pay his own spending by him self, instead of asking money from mom. Anyway, I suddenly remember him, though ... He is actually a good guy and just like in the movie, the younger one (which is the rascal one) said something like "I have my own way to put attention to you (older brother)" and I believe my brother also has his own way to put attention to me, I can feel it. We often share our clothes, well, actually he has more clothes than me hahah. I have never called him brother, though. 

Actually one of the reason I was so eager to go out of the house was because of this, I wanted them to be ok with each other, I wanted my mom to put less attention to me and more to the others, not that I don't want the attention ... but I had enough ^^.

I am sorry to him, if I ever hurt him directly or undirectly ... I believe I have ever done that. Let's do the best as we can ... and for my mom ... you know we love you ^^.

His name is Nobel Yudhistira ... and he is my brother.

I know we don't look similar ㅎㅎㅎ

December 13, 2010

앙가

려려 回头见!!!

오늘은 흔히 있는 날이 아니다.
수업 중에서 중국에서 온 려려라는 친구가 GoodBye한다고 전하러 학교에 짬깐 왔다.
아버지의 병이 너무 심해서 돌보기러 중국에 아주 귀국해야 하기 때문이다.
원래 난 려려랑 친하지 않은데 내일 려려를 못 보는 것을 알게 되어서 슬퍼졌다.
그 때 ... 마음 속에 뭔가를 잃어버리는 느낌이 생겼다.

암튼 ... 다시 만남이 난 믿는다. 어디에선가, 안젠가.

려려 안녕 ㅠㅠ

2010 년 11월 18일
앙가

Pepero Day in Korea on 11-11

Yup, in Korea ... every November 11 (11-11) they celebrate Pepero day. What's pepero? it's a snack, it is chocolate stick. With the shape of number 1, they make it the special menu of Pepero day. So, they give and receive Pepero from/to lover or friends ^^.

I unpredictably got some from my students at the volunteering place :) really made my day. Thanks ^^~~

November 11 2010
앙가

Pray For Indonesia

Tsunami at Mentawai Island and Merapi Volcano Eruption ...

Let's pray for those who have lost their life, family, home.
Let's pray for this to be soon ... over.

October 27, 2010
앙가

Wedding ala Korea

Yay ~~ after going through a hard time deciding whether I should go to the wedding ceremony or not ... finally --by borrowing my friend's white t-shirt (which I haven't returned it yet) and with a big bravery-- I attended the wedding ceremony ... the first time, in Korea =].

So, he is my Taekwondo teacher, and he has this black belt license I guess he is level 5 ... or something like that and he is very handsome and cute ^^. He sometimes gives me like inspirational words ... you know one day he suddenly said like "study hard today for yourself, for future, for your parents", it was the day when I said to him that I was kind of lazy to study. But actually he is not that serious type of person, he likes joking. 

임재종 [Lim Jae-Jong]

Yup ... he is not the one who got married :) ... but his sister did. So, I got the invitation from him and he said it is a really good thing to see wedding ceremony ala Korea, so I was like ... persuaded by him hahah. What happened on that day?

Well, the bride wearing the wedding dress and the guy wearing the suit, the guy got inside the wedding hall first, and then the girl. And the one who married them were talking about something in Korean which I did not really understand, I guess it's like you know "are you ready to live with your wife in happiness and difficult time" something like that. But then after that, this one is I guess kind of different. The guy and the girl then approached the both parents and did the bow. The interesting part was that the guy did the full bow, like he had to touch the ground, but on the other hand the girl just do the bow while standing, you know like when you greet someone in Korea you bend your back a lil bit, something like that. And after that you know what happened ...? so the guy then -in front of the people who attended the ceremony- screamed 만세 [Mansae] 3 times ... it means hurrah, hurray, hooray based on naver dictionary. It was kind of ... interesting =].

After that, I also witnessed 폐백 [Pyebaek] -- based on naver dictionary :

traditional ceremony to pay respect to the (bride)groom's family by the newly-wedded couple right after their wedding

The right woman is 임혜진 [Lim Hye-Jin] - my friend's sister and her husband ^^

It was a great decision to attend the ceremony ... you know, to learn something new is always fun ^^.

Hey you know what, just like in Indonesia, we have to bring and give money if you attend wedding ceremony. Actually my friend told me to not give anything but at that time I saw all Korean came and gave money before getting the ticket for food and I got it without giving money ... I am really embarrassing ㅠㅠ; I should have brought and given money ... so, to all Korean, don't hesitate to invite me to your wedding ceremony ^^.

So ... when is YOUR wedding ceremony??

October 25, 2010

앙가

-- I should study~~~~~~~~~~~ TOPIK test next two weeks ㅠㅠ;

바람이 좋은 날 - 나윤권

바람이 참 좋은 날

나는 너와 함께 걷고 있었다

기억을 따라

오늘 같았던 어느 계절의 바람 속에

이 길을 걷고 있었던 우리

정말 행복했었다

어떤 기억으로 남아 있을까

나는 너에게

바람 좋은 날.. 쓸쓸해진 마음에 부는

너의 기억에 난 기대어 본다

외롭고 지친 마음 마다 함께해 준 너였어

깜깜한 하늘 밤 오직 하나였던 별 처럼

아프고 슬픈 마음 모두 내겐 너였지만

가장 행복했던 순간

이런 눈물이 좋아

입 가에 미소가 번져 흐르는

눈 가의 추억

너를 부른다.. 사랑한단 말은 못해도

그리움으로 널 잊지 않을게

외롭고 지친 마음 마다 함께해 준 너였어

깜깜한 하늘 밤 오직 하나였던 별 처럼

아프고 슬픈 마음 모두 내겐 너였지만 

가장 행복했던 순간

맘 졸이며 기다리다 잠들었고 추억 보다 가까이 있던..

그 이별에 미치도록 아파했던.. 그 때도 난 그랬었지.. 

너와의 기억이 전부일거라고

여전히 난 그런 것 같아.. 이런 날엔 그리워

바람이 추억이 되어 내게 오는 날

여전히 널 외로운 마음 곁에 두고 싶어

한참을 그렇게 너와.. 머문다

I was alone ... and played random song on YouTube. This song was played and I loved it. I did not understand the lyrics at the first time I listened to this song. But somehow ... I liked this song. After knowing the lyrics, it still doesn't have any meaning to me, but yet ... I still like to listen this song.

google it =].

October 3, 2010

앙가

I am a sensitive boy ... I know!!

What Saftira Did on Chuseok Holiday - Second Day

Pocket Ball

Nintendo Wii

Invited to taste Korean Food on Chuseok at Eo-Ryeong's Aunt's house

Rice Cake

Karaoke to end the second day

all pictures by: Siti Farhana

September 25 2010

앙가

-- Sorry, I am so tired today ㅠㅠ;

What Saftira Did on Chuseok Holiday - First Day

For those who don't know what Chuseok is, read this. At that day, Korean get together with their family and do the bow to the ancestors. And there are some special food like rice cake. I had no chance to experience how Korean celebrate Chuseok, but on these 3 days holiday, I tried to do something.

The first day of the holiday, I went out to have dinner with a friend of mine. He is Korean but I think he looks like Japanese. Anyway, we went to a restaurant in Gung-dong not far from my dormitory. He is a nice guy and funny ^^.

이창헌

That's him, his name is 이창헌 [Lee Chang-Heon]. He is very tall and he likes Electric Music genre songs. It was a good night, I did not speak really much though, since I am not really good in Korea. But the nice thing about him is he wants me to speak Korean with him always, which means he purely wants my Korean skill gets better. And the night ended with a cup of coffee at 2Pigs coffee cafe. 

He said he likes things because of its weirdness hahah.

September 24, 2010

앙가

A Letter From 1-Year-Ago-Saftira for Current-Saftira

Yup, after the brazilian guys announced that they already got the letter from 1-year-ago-their-selves, it's my turn to get my letter from 1-year-ago-myself. He (1-year-ago-Saftira) did not write a lot of stuff, though. But for me (Current-Saftira) it is a lot enough to remind me of the life in the US. He wrote about what I did, where I went, what classes did I take on each season. He really took me back to the life of 1 year ago. There is a line that he wrote that made me smile ... this one

I'm fine, how are you doing? Are you working right now? Or probably you are in another place outside of Indonesia to study (please smile --> which means "that's right!!")

And I smiled =] . Yes, 1-year-ago-Saftira ... I am in South Korea, now ^^.

Thank you 1-year-ago-Saftira for the letter and Thank you and hugs for SS for sending me this letter.

I miss you so much.

September 22, 2010
앙가

--추석 잘 보내세요 ^^

From a Supporter to Become a Friend

윤선욱

윤선욱 [Yoon SeonUk] -- That's his name. He was (or maybe has been) a supporter of mine. What is supporter? I had asked the same question to him. Supporters in Korea are Koreans who help foreigners to settle up and to help solving foreigners problems. Anyway, this post is not about general supporter, this is about my supporter who has become a friend of mine ... a good one.

Born and grew up in 구미 [GuMi], he is now a junior student of Chungnam National University majoring in Mechatronics Engineering. He has a great passion in learning language, though. Even though at the first time I met him we had some problems with communicating in English, he purely helped me as best he could. And now, because of that passion and his habit of studying hard, I think we have no problem in communication anymore.

He is also now learning Japanese, because he said Japanese language is very cute ... and the girls, too ... hahah. He has been to Japan for like 2 weeks (I think), and the crazy thing he did was that he went there carrying his bicycle and planning to ride it to Tokyo. But after discovering that it would take much more time than expected, they (he and his friends) decided to stop the biking thing in the middle of somewhere in Japan and continue the trip by public transportation. He seemed to have a good time.

It has been more than five months since my arrival to Daejeon, and it means more than five months I have been maintaining friendship with him. As time went by, the label "supporter" to him, I think is not a necessity anymore. Because what I understand about supporter is that they only help you, right? But friend is another thing. Friends are there even when you don't need any help. And that is exactly what we are.

Yesterday we went to a restaurant and ate unlimited beef meal set and it was delicious and was a good time. 

I call him 형 [Hyeong] and he is a part of my adventure life in Korea. Thank you 형. ^^

September 20, 2010

앙가

-- 오늘 수업이 재밌없었어요 ㅋ