Orientation Part 2/ City Tour

For dinner after orientation day 1, my new two German friends (Anna and Connie (Connie is also my roommate!)) went out for Korean BBQ! This is probably a food that Korean cuisine is most famous for.  BBQ is when you have a little grill of hot coals at your table and cook you own meat (with side dishes also). It is super yummy (but maybe a little too much meat lol).

The BBQ set up

Action shot of Connie flipping our meat

Yum!

------------------

Yesterday was the second day of the exchange student orientation. The morning was used to help us apply for bank accounts and fill out forms for our KU i.d. card. It will be nice because our KU i.d. card will also be our bank card. We had a lunch similar to the one the day before (Korean, cafeteria style). Then in the afternoon there was a presentation about life in Seoul. This was really helpful because the presenter (originally from Saskatoon!) shared a lot neat facts about population, geography and lifestyle/cultural tips that will make it easier for us foreigners to adapt to life in Seoul. He said that the gesture of clenching your fist with your thumb tucked in between your fingers (like when you play "got your nose!") is 100x more offensive than what the middle finger gesture would be in North America.

In the evening we had our KUBA group one after-party where our whole group went out to a restaurant to hang out. This was so awesome because I met even more people (Korean and foreign). Everyone here is so nice and friendly. I've met one other person from Canada (he's from Vancouver) and we talked about hockey/ the Jets. There was also an American I met you once she found out I was Canadian, not American, her first reaction was: "Oh wow, really? Why don't you have a Canadian accent?". 

------------------

Today was a fun day where KUBA organized a tour of the city. We went to the Gyeongbukgung Palace, had lunch/went shopping in Insadong, and then saw a famous Korean play: Nanta. 

The palace was so amazingly gorgeous! There are a many buildings on the property, each with a different purpose. It was a lot more colourful than what I expected it to be.

Here is the main gate to the Palace

The underside of all of the roofs were like this. Everything was handpainted.

A second entrance gate with the mountains in the background.

I thought this shot was kinda fun. The Palace is right in Seoul so it really contrasts with the modern high-rises.

Korean guards

This is the main building where the King and Queen would greet the people and listen to their problems. My Korean friend Julie said this was/is the most important building.

Throne inside the main building.

The colourful and detailed roof.

Scary statues are put on the roofs to scare off evil spirits. 

Another building, used by the King to mediate each day before making important decisions. 

Inside that building.

Taller building, also where the museum of artifacts is located.

Julie-me-Melisa (she is in my KUBA group and is from Peru). We are in front of the building used for parties. As you can see it is surrounded by water. So pretty.

This was located right outside Gyeongbukgung. This is the Korean president lives. Korea just elected a new president (a female, for the first time), and she was inaugurated this past week.

In Insadong we ate Korean bulgogi (or beef) with side dishes (kimchi of course). We then had some time to check out the shops in the area. There was a bunch of clothes/ accessories shops and a lot of others selling touristy trinkets. 

We then went to see the play Nanta. It would probably be best described as like a silent comedy play but then the sort of drumming style from Blue Man group. It was really fun!

So far everything is going well! I'm making lots of friends and have already settled in quite well. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers. Miss you!