Taekwondo & one of my biggest goals while i'm here

During Orientation, we are given options of extracurricular activities to do to help us introduce us to Korean culture. One of the things I signed up for was Taekwondo, I was a little hesitant at first when the instructor showed us a video of a ripped man flying through the air doing kicks and breaking bricks ... my first thought was, “um, how did I ever think I could do any of this?! Should I sneak out of the door now?” But, I’m really glad I stayed because I am realizing that doing taekwondo is helping me live out one of my biggest goals while I’m in South Korea, which is to learn how to be more still on the inside as there is so much noise/clutter going around on the outside. In a way, when I am doing Taekwondo I notice that I am so much in the present moment that I am NOT having thoughts, which is huge because I am always daydreaming.. even know as I write this. I really appreciate that clarity of thought..its something id really like to be a part of my life when I am not in taekwondo too. One last thing Taekwondo is teaching me is something Olenka emphasized early on about the “sport.” While doing it, you are constantly reminded about the concept of “mind over matter.” It is really empowering for when you come out to Taekwondo and face everyday life and you notice that you find yourself mentally stronger and somehow have more willpower to do something you never thought you’d try.

* oh, the picture above is Dave and I @ Taekwondo class..you would think we are holding up our fingers like that because that is the norm in S. Korea, but we are really just holding up our V's .. haha always got Villanova in our hearts.
** the picture is dedicated to Jane Morris who is absolutely awesome <3

Ahn-young-haseo!

I can’t believe I have been here for a little over a week now.. it feels like it has been a lifetime! I knew Fulbright orientation was going to be intense, but I didn’t expect it to be this incredibly busy! So, my sincere apologies for not being able to keep in touch with everyone as much as I want to.. but I miss you guys so much! Thank you all for making my birthday so special and all the support for this new chapter of my life in Korea.

Honestly, I think it was one of the best birthdays I have ever had. I love how so many people said that it was perfect because I usually like to hide on my birthdays (there are reasons) and what better way to hide than being up in the air on a plane haha. But no really, it was great birthday because I met so many wonderful Fulbrighters on the plane ride to South Korea. They organized it so we all sat together on the plane. It was just (and it still is!) really refreshing to learn about so many different people from many different walks of life, all with this passion for doing some good in the world (yeah, I know how cliché that sounds).

So, what is my life like so far in Korea? Well the 7 weeks of Fulbright orientation is in this rural town called Goesan, which is about a 3 hours bus ride from Seoul. We are staying at Jungwon University, which is more like a MARBLE FORTRESS. It was just recently built, which means that it has basically everything you can imagine! Some things I didn’t expect to have on campus: a golf course, a green house, a spa, a rocky mountain park, a botanical garden, a pool to go kayaking in (with a mini water slide.. say whaaa?!).

Olenka and Eileen in front of Jungwon University :)

Dave, Amy and I went to check out the outdoor pool

Olenka, me and Eileen on the "rocks"

All the Koreans at the university have been super kind to us. The greeting or “insa” in Korea is a 90 degree bow while saying “Ahn-young-haseo”. No wonder Koreans are so fit, they are bowing most the day. Interestingly, I am still so used to the fast-paced lifestyle of America where you say hello to everyone while walking past each other that it is hard for me to get used to literally STOPing and bowing. Instead, I have been bowing WHILE I am walking.. which now that I think about it.. im surprised I haven’t walked into anything while bowing haha. But, no worries, practice makes perfect. Oh, and I also find myself getting an ab workout everytime I am in Korean class.. which we have FOUR hours everyday from 8:50am – 12:50pm. They have many aspirated consonants in Hangul (Korean alphabet) and they are somewhat hard to hear, so of course, that is all we have been practicing haha. Expect SIX-PACK ABS by the time I come back to America for Christmas. After Korean class, our days are jam-packed with cultural and teaching workshops. I will have more to say about those in a later post.

I need to mention how I have an awesome roommate, Olenka. We are similar in many ways, yet different enough in other ways that we can still challenge each other to grow (while having a hell of a good time doing it!). Most importantly, she shares my passion for talking to strangers! We have made many Korean friends while walking around! We actually have a date with a few of them tomorrow and we are going to play badminton <3

There are also extra-curricular activities during Orientation to help us get immersed in the culture. So far, we have started “Glee Club”.. but don’t get too excited its nothing like the show .. well, actually do get excited because it’s a forum for Korean students and the Fulbrighters to discuss issues, exchange ideas and have that “mutual understanding” that Fulbright is all about it. In a way though, it is kind of like Glee because we do go out to sing at Karaoke and Jamie, one of the Korean students, has danced for us on numerous occasions haha.. I have a few videos of it.. I’ll upload them at some point (promise).

@ "Glee club" talking to our Korean friends!

Eileen - me - Clint - Jillian

Ah, definitely needed a break from kim-chi and got some pizza <3>

me - Lara - Beilin - Amy - Grace :)

By far the best afternoon was spent seeing MIKE !!! :) :)

I really wish I had been better about writing a little bit every few days.. so much has happened.. I have met so many wonderful people and have had so many thoughts about this unique culture. But right now, I am pooped. I have to work on my very first lesson plan as I will be doing some “practice teaching” next week. I can do any type of English lessons I want as long as it has to do with music, literature and home etc. I need to get those creative juices flowing! I am excited, yet a little anxious. It will surely be a challenge to manage the classroom with a language barrier, but truth be told, there is nothing I love more than a good challenge ;) Ah, till next time, sending warm wishes your way <3>

Always,

Shreya

p.s How long will it take for kim-chi to grow on me?

­­­­­“Human nature never allows complete contentment” – from Jai Ok Shim (Executive director of Fulbright South Korea)’s speech to us