Taking
Korean Air Line flight about 5 hours directed from Cambodia to Republic
of Korea, I first arrived conveniently at Incheon international airport
located 70 Km away from Seoul the capital of Korea in late August 2010.
Landing safety, I was very shocked with the airport’s structures and
decorations to which related my field of Civil Engineering closely.
Taking on by bus moved forward to my destination about 4 hours in
duration, I could see many modern and standard infrastructures along the
way including transportations, high rise buildings, building
condominiums, high ways, bridges, tunnels, super centers, houses and so
on. I immediately recognized that Korea is the right place to further my
study in field of construction. Then I arrived at Konyang University by
which Korean’s administration division located in Nonsan, a city of
Chungcheongnam-do Province. I was served enthusiastically by university
staffs for dormitory stay and class of Korean language. Two days later
as on 1st
of September I started Korean language class with mix of foreign
students mostly Chinese and Japanese. It is the fact that I am old in
age but young in living life in Korea which gives me many experiences
such as weather of four seasons, hot and spicy foods, shopping
packaging, sharing room with Korean students in dormitory and studying
Korean language. I have found my Lifein Korea is really interesting and
challenging.
First
of all, I would like to share my experience of getting new season.
Because it was autumn the weather is same as one in Cambodia so that I
easily adapt it. However nowadays winter is coming soon compels
temperature sometimes fluctuates. To me, people used to live in a
country consists of two seasons of spring and summer which the
temperature is between 25 to 37 degrees Celsius, it is extremely cold
some days. Certainly it surprises me when the temperature reaches to 0
degrees Celsius. To protect myself from this low temperature I was
advised to have some necessary things such as winter clothes body lotion
and have exercise schedule. Winter in Korea must be one of my new
challenge and favorite season that I have never met.
I
would like to keep my report goes on by describing Korean foods or, my
personal calling, spicy foods. Living here I am not only face with
weather but also foods. I cannot forget my first lunch which surprised
me because I just ordered one but I got lots of side dishes. I try
eating 김치,a well known in Korea but everywhere serves Korean cuisine,
because I wanted to taste to find out why every meal time Korean people
eat 김치. I cannot answer immediately I just found that it was a little
bit pungent. My first unexpected Korean food was 된장찌개 the most pungent
food that I ever eat. I wondered why Korean people eat such hot food
like this, as Iknow eating many of hot foods affect stomach but I see
Koreanpeople are healthy, beauty and handsome. Moreover, because it was
autumn and I ate hot food I felt very abnormal both inside and outside
of my body. Without knowing Korean language Iused to order foods that I
could not eat at that time. It was when I did not know the name and kind
of food and just try ordering. However the time passes day by day and
Imust eat those of foods I can adapt Korean food very well because I
know the name and taste of each food and not all Korean foods contain
many spicy.I have found my favorite foods such as 비빔밥, 돈가스, 된장찌개 and
참치찌개.
Other
thing to be shared is my funny of paying for plastic bag. Before I came
to Korea I used to think that there must be have many differences such
as weather, food, living style, culture and so on. But there is one
thing that Ihave never thought ispackaging. I cannot forget a funny
story of my first buying snacks. After seller checked bill I got only
those snacks. I wanted a plastic bag but I could not speak this in
Korean so I went nearby and pointed it. She understood my gesture and
took one for me. I handed the bag and she said 20 won. I was shock with
funny after giving her 20 won. I wonder why they sell such this small
goods which is generally free when we buy goods that need it to carry in
my country. After that day I used plastic bag very efficient that habit
maybe the reason why plastic bag is not free.
I
would like to further my description with my life of living in
dormitory with Korean students. My dormitory life experience is one of
much enjoyment and frustration.t is my first time of moving away from my
parent’s home. Because of different culture, previous unknown,
different habit especially that I could not speak Korean to my roommate
made my living really not easy at the beginning. At our first meeting I
could not tell him and he could understand what I wanted to say. We used
computer anddictionary to translate word by word to reach the meaning
and sometime we miss understood. But nowadays my roommate and I have
recognized each other and we live happily. In addition life in dormitory
is sometimes made me homesick. It is experience that joining outside or
school activities and realizing environment has brought me a ways of
feeling homesick. Moreover I have found my living in dormitory
inconvenience when I am not allowed to cook and have my clothes ironed.
If cooking is available I will I surely make Cambodia food and eat with
my family through video chatting. But that is just thinking when cooking
is not allowed is the dormitory rule.
Starting
Korean language class is one of my unforgettable experiences. I study
Korean language at Konyang University which is one of leading
universities in Korea. I am here with helpful of university staffs,
helper, teachers and friends. Most of problems have been solved by
university staffs who work day and night, weekday and weekend.On
the other hand, I met a Korean student coincidently and letter by
arrangement of university he become my helper. It is my luck to know 이모찬
who warms me although I am far away from home. I cannot express my
feeling about him by just writing. I just know this guy help me a lot.
One day he told me "Lymei when you unhappy pleasecall to me because I
understand your feeling as I use to be far away from home the same as
you are now." It is not just the words but actions. This guy teaches me
Korean language and tells me Korean culture and guides me through
everything in Korean. I think that it is very helpful for foreign
students to have helper. Similarly Ihave learned politeness and
respectful culture of Korean expressed whenever and wherever in their
living. Couple with my class, I learn Korean language uneasily because
Cambodia language and Korean language are far similar however I am
taught by pedagogy native Korean teacher who are very kind and helpful.
My Korean is starting from nothing to a little and I hope it becomes
better and better.I
am in classroom with foreign students. Actually because of different
languages we are difficult to communicate but it is good that we can
practice ourlittle known Korean. We, also, share our cultures and
customs and we found activities in class very friendly and actively. It
is the university’s principle creation ofstudy tour activities to
cultural sites which allow us to study about Korean culture and compare
to ours. I get more interest on Korean culture while I found it has some
part similarly to my cultures of my friends and mine. From my point of
view the more we share about culture and more we get close. Therefore
please teach and share me Koreanculture and other cultures and share you
back mine and we will found something very fantastic.
All
things mentioned above are my two months experience which can be
shorted as protection from weather, recognition of hot and spicy food,
paying of small plastic bag, life in dormitory and environment of Korean
class. Without Korean language foreign students are very difficult to
communicate; therefore we must enjoy study Korean both in and out class.
Day by day my living is changing from good to better.