[Part 1] 31. Nampodong

Finally had jajangmyeon 자장면 for lunch today. So happy!

OOTD: Topshop peplum top, printed pants from Seomyun 15,000원, Accessorize necklace 

I did some (window) shopping at Lotte in Nampodong before spending the rest of the afternoon in Caffe Bene, listening to music and studying a bit. The cafe was pretty empty because it’s the eve of Chuseok and most people were travelling back to their hometowns/getting ready for Chuseok.

Had dinner at Sapporo Ramen in the evening- our default dinner place whenever we are in Nampodong. I think I should stop eating the butter corn ramen though…it’s so sinful and fattening!

Lotte

[Part 1] 29 & 30. Good food

Thursday
We were given our Student ID cards today and all of us had a good laugh over the names that appeared on our cards. Our names are longer than a typical Korean’s so the school apparently shortened our names -.-  My card only had my Christian name.

After class, I went to the cafe right in front of my dorm for tea with my Korean buddy. It was my first time at my dorm’s cafe and it’s actually pretty nice with a beautiful view of the school and Sasang. When I was doing my exchange at KU, I spent most of my time in cafes. Now that there’s a cafe in my dorm, I actually don’t go there at all. I’d rather study in my room than pay for a drink to study in the cafe. I’m not the same as I was back in 2010. Then, I spent my money as I wished. Now, I think twice before spending because I want to spend within my monthly allowance and even save some money for my 1yr+ in Seoul, and not use the money my parents gave me. I can’t help but think about my opportunity cost of being here too when all my friends are already working and having a steady income :( But nevertheless, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to come back to Korea again to study Korean for a year and do my masters! 

Went for ice cream at Baskins after dinner :P I miss the peach melba flavour, wish they could bring it back again!

Friday
Today, I discovered that I can buy ramen from my dorm cafeteria for 1,700원. Didn’t noticed that it was on the menu until I saw my friends eating it. So delicious!

I got a free Etude House earrings stand after spending more than 40,000원 there the other day. But after figuring out that my own accessories stand is better for all my dangling earrings. I decided to give the Etude House stand to my classmate who loves earrings like me. And look at what she gave me in return! So touched because I didn’t expect anything at all.

Bookmark and a leather pouch from her country- Mongolia

I had dinner at an Italian eatery in Pusan National University area. The place’s so far away from my dorm :( It’s about 18 stops away and it took us about 1 hour to get there from Sasang Station. But nevertheless, I’ll probably be going back there again. The shopping there seems good and the place feels like the shopping areas in Ewha and Hongdae; more lively than Sasang!
Got a set meal for 12,000원: salad, bread, main course and a drink.

[Part 1] 28. Gwangali

Class ended earlier by 20 minutes today because we had to leave school at 1.20pm for Busan Cultural Centre 부산문화회관 for a Korean Traditional Music & Dance Cultural Experience.

There wasn’t any private transport arranged for us so all of us took the subway to Daeyeon 대연 Station with our classes which was pretty cool since it was the first time I had such an outing with my classmates.

The whole program was actually really short…it was just 1 hr long but we watched numerous performances: soojecheon 수제천, folk songs with the gayageum 가야금중주 민요메들리, samullori 사물놀이 and cheonji-hyeonhwang 천지현황. We weren’t allowed to take photos of the performances so I don’t have any photos. I like the gayageum and traditional dance performances so I enjoyed those the best. I’ve always been fascinated by Korean traditional dances ever since I watched Hwangjini.

With one of my Korean teachers

Class E 

After the program, 8 of my classmates and I took the subway down to Gwangan 광안 which was just 4 stations away. To get to Gwangali Beach, come out from Exit 5 of Gwangan Station and walk down all the way.

Love my blouse from Gmarket

We had a great time at Gwangali Beach, just looking at the sea, taking photos and fooling around. I spend most of the past 1 month cooped up in my dormitory and only going out on during the weekends. So much so that I didn’t feel like I’m in Busan at all; I’m just in Korea. But after going to the beach today, I really feel that I’m in Busan :) Intially, I was quite upset and disappointed at being sent down here to Busan. But now, I’m really glad that I was sent here. During my MBA program, I will be so busy with school and probably wouldn’t travel out of Seoul at all. Besides, I’ve already covered most of Seoul during my exchange. Now’s the best time to explore Korea, especially the southern part! I’m beginning to fall in love with Busan too…it’s so beautiful! Also, 2 out of the 3 presidential candidates are from Busan. Speaks a lot about Busan :)

Dinner was at a small eatery near the beach and I think the lady boss was quite amused by us, seeing a group of foreigners speaking only in Korean. I speak in Korean to my classmates most of the time because English isn’t the 1st language for most of them and they are actually more comfortable speaking in Korean than in English. 

After dinner, we went back to Gwangali Beach again to take pictures of the Diamond Bridge before grabbing some ice cream from Lotteria and making our way back to school. 

Big paper spoon

I really love my class :) Can’t wait to go for another outing together again! I think our MT in November will be so much fun :)