[Part 2] 032. 2 September 2010 Thursday

I survived typhoon Kompasu...with very little sleep. I was awakened at 5am+ by the roaring wind and a shaking blind because some brilliant person switched off the entire central air-conditioning system and I had to sleep with the window open to prevent myself from suffocating in the heat without fresh air. It was so noisy that I had to switch on the light to check out the situation and I found the top part of my bed covered with specks of black dust but none on my face so maybe I breathed them in or something. Great...because my window wasn't closed -_- And it was so scary too because the wind was soooooo strong and I became paranoid that something might be sent flying into my room. At least, it's over now! But it certainly left a trail of destruction with dirty cars, fallen trees, branches and leaves everywhere. It was tree pruning day, made compulsory by circumstances and we had to walk under a fallen tree to get to the Dongwon Leadership Hall to check if our Alien Registration Cards were ready for collection. I thought that wearing slippers was the best thing to do on a wet day but I was wrong. Jeannie and I looked as if we had played soccer in a wet field by the time we reached the Business School for our Investments class. But thank goodness, a sudden gust of very strong wind blew off all the leaves on our legs before we entered the school, the effect of which is similar to using a air/water spray gun to clean one's golf clubs after a round of golf on the course (I use it to clean my clothes and golf shoes as well). Subsequently, every time we went from one building to another, we had to go to the toilet to wipe off the twigs, leaves and dirt on our legs :(
Apart from the crappy walking conditions today...I love Thursdays because school ends at 3.15pm for me and there's no school on Fridays...whee! I love Consumer Behaviour class as well and the prof was so funny! She wants us to write about ourselves on placards and attach our recent photos (after plastic surgery for those to whom this applies to). You'll only hear this in Korea!
The late afternoon and evening was spent with Byungsoo oppa 병수오빠, my NUS buddy for last semester. As both of us didn't have a proper meal for the whole day, we went for an early dinner at 4pm+ at an eatery called 멸치국수 just opposite the main gate. I absolutely love the 4,000KRW kimchi mari noodles 김치말이 Byungsoo recommended and I'll definitely frequent the place! At least I know of one more place to go to for a quick lunch other than kimbab at Mini Stop and at last, I've managed to find noodles in Korea that's similar to the thin type of noodles we have back in Singapore (don't ask me about names of food in Singapore because I don't know much; I eat to live, not live to eat and I'm not really bothered about food...I don't miss chicken rice, like how Jeannie and Yuhong do). We also realized that the world can be quite small in Korea because when I was talking to Byungsoo oppa, he suddenly realized that an elderly couple seated at the table near us are his relatives, whom he hadn't met for nearly 2 years! I can't remember but one of them is his mother's cousin. His aunt thought that I'm a Korean, haha. And Byungsoo oppa's uncle and aunt were really kind! Not only did they give us some kimbab that they ordered, they also paid for our bill when they were paying theirs! I had an enjoyable breakfast/lunch/dinner (my bread's a snack and not counted as proper food) and a nice long interesting conversation with Byungsoo oppa.

왕만두 king dumpling?

love this!

my very buff buddy, Byungsoo oppa 병수오빠, who hit the gym before we met for a meal

Apparently, Byungsoo oppa was told by many that a lot of (or most) Singaporean girls who come to Korea for exchange want to have Korean boyfriends; and when they successfully snag one, they feel really proud of themselves and want to show off. Well I wonder who has/have been giving the Koreans false impressions and here's my 2 cents worth of thought:
I totally beg to differ for myself and I would say for Jeannie as well. We didn't come here with such an expectation. Whether or not it's true for others, it's definitely not true for me. I know I've said a few times to people like Bernice and my clique that I would like to snag a rich hot Korean bf or have a winter fling BUT it was all in the name of fun (I was joking) and I don't actually mean it at all. Assuming I can even snag one...sure, it'll be great to have a hot bf but in my heart, I'll never be secure and will constantly feel vulnerable, wondering if he is or will be faithful and loyal or not. He's better off as an eye candy and not as a bf. So the best, is someone who's capable and has a good character and good values, not just because he is a Korean or not, rich or not. And of course, he must be someone I like. In essence, interior beauty over exterior beauty. Sure, it'll be great to have a rich bf to pamper you but won't you feel like a leech after awhile? Like you owe him something?
To me, a compatibility of character and values is so much more important than looks and wealth and origin (made in Korea or Singapore or USA or China,etc).
I came to Korea for exchange to learn the Korean language, experience life in Korea, experience school life in Korea University, spend time with my Korean friends, travel, make more friends and to be independent. Getting a boyfriend is not an objective...no mission, no objective, no strategy, no tactic (here's some strategic management for you, I paid attention during class yesterday). I think that you fall in love when you least expect it...not when you purportedly go out to look for it.
Alright, I'm too tired to talk more about this so I shall move on with my entry for the rest of the day. I followed Byungsoo oppa to his room near the business school as he needed to put his stuff down. At the same time, I checked out his room size. He pays less than 400,000KRW/month for a room (again, I can't remember how much and I attribute my bad memory for today to the lack of sleep all thanks to the typhoon) that resembles a 3* hotel room because it's bigger than mine, comes with a private toilet, a shoe cabinet, big wardrobe, a rather long table, and his own air-conditioner! Gargh. The only saving grace for Co-m Livingtel now is that it's in Anam and I have my own fridge. He invited me back to his place for drinks with friends another day.

leftovers from the typhoon

The evening was spent in 왕십리Wangsimni where he brought me to a big shopping mall that's quite quaintly decorated and has almost everything.

The first thing I bought was a ring from Accessorize. It's becoming a tradition whenever I come to Korea: 1) take stickers when I'm with HyunJu unni and now, 2) buy a ring from Accessorize. I bought one last year and this year, I bought this one which I've been eyeing since I saw it in Accessorize in the Express Bus Terminal a few Saturdays ago. Then, I convinced myself that this ring is not worth it and I'd rather have something like this as my engagement ring with real diamonds but now, I'm like, what the heck. I may not even get married, what more have an engagement ring so I got it. Haha. We had drinks at Smoothie King and Byungsoo oppa saved me! He helped me call up my telco operator and enquired about my plan and stuff. So we'll see how much talktime I incur for this month before deciding whether to change my plan or not. He also helped me with the cancellation of some unnecessary service that I was charged 8,000KRW for, including the awful (as Alex claimed) dialing song. Phew, thank you buddy!

I forgot to teach him how to adjust the focus area! (my favourite shop, be it in Korea or Singapore)

If only we have something similar in Singapore... I would have become a VIP member by now.

I had lemon twisted strawberry which was good!

He brought me to CGV to check out the cinema before we headed to E-mart where I shopped for more food again, this time, apples and citron tea to save my dying throat. He also got me an air freshener as a house(room)-warming gift. I learnt more about the Korean culture today, like the expectations Korean girls have of their boyfriends, etc.
As the instructions for the assembly/opening of the air freshener was all in Korean, he walked me back to my hostel, carried my heavy plastic bag of stuff and helped me open up the air freshener to spare me the torture of having to figure things out. I'm so glad that I applied to be a SEP buddy in NUS for the 3rd semester and got to meet Byungsoo oppa. He's my closest buddy ever, like my big brother who always takes care of me and gives me advice :) Thank you, oppa! I must meet you more often because I regret not having done so in Singapore, earlier this year.

New movies to be released soon

Everyone's (except mine) favourite: banana milk

I was supposed to go for 1st Armba Club Day in Anam together with Alex but given my sore throat and me feeling feverish, it's a better idea to stay in my room and sort out what I have to do.
I just got an email from Apple and the ipod touch and nano look good! I think I want to get a nano!

cheaper in SG than in Korea!

Oh yes, I just made a huge discovery today. I realised that the main switch that I've been switching on and off for the past few days is also for my refrigerator -.- Which means I actually switched off the power supply to the refrigerator for a few hours and I had to throw away my carton of milk :( I'm so brilliant, sometimes.