May 2023 – Journals from Abroad

May 31, 2023

Spring Or Summer?

May in Korea has been beautiful if not a bit challenging. Things got hotter earlier than they usually do and the temperatures in May are now 70-80 degrees (Freiheit). With this weather comes monsoon season as hot weather is mixed with rain. I have to say this heat is making things hard as I realize I am not built for this. Walking in the heat to my classes was something I did not think of. Luckily if I want to go somewhere else the buses and subway are kept cool.

Underwood Hall. — Walking by Underwood Hall In All Its Glory.

Walking by the many school fountains was so tempting in this heat. However, everyone around me seemed to not let the weather change how they dress. I walk the only one that seemed to be struggling with the heat.

I decided to try and enjoy some of this sunshine while I was out in nature. I walked through this beautiful nature area that Yonsei had on campus.

Thick green bushes. — So Much Green Everywhere

beautiful green bushes with a tall tree next to a pond. — Beautiful Pond

After walking back from Korean class I went to the ATM and then to a convenience store. One of the many convenient things about South Korea is that you can pay for your national health insurance by visiting the convenience store with cash and your bill. I was freaking out about it more than it was worth as it went smoothly.

In the evening I went and met up with a new friend in Gangseo-gu. I took the bus by myself for 30 minutes (each way).

Korean street busy with traffic. — Busy Area! One of Many Food Alleys in Seoul

This area is not as traveled by foreigners as places like Sinchon or Hongdae. I had a great time and we laughed a lot. She showed me one of her favorite restaurants and we enjoyed some ramen.

Han River through a window on a bus ride. — Peaceful Bus Ride.

As I traveled home ( On what I hoped was the right bus) I enjoyed staring out the window. We passed over the Han River and it was a beautiful sight.

Walking home at night in Korea can be comforting because it is always full of lights and people going places.

Korean street filled with motorcycles and buses. — Motorcycles Are Everywhere

Crosswalk on a Korean street. — Off the Bus

Food stall along a Korea street. — Fried Korean Treats.

I had such a good time exploring and enjoying seeing others out and having fun as well.

However, at 7 AM, I was woken up by my phone with a very loud emergency alarm. I had to translate what the warnings were saying and it said I might need to be ready to evacuate. In the past, I had gotten a small one of these for an earthquake that turned out to just be a test. I was hoping this was the same. I reached out to my American friend that lives here and she said that North Korea had launched something. She did a good job calming me down but I was defiantly rattled until they sent out the alert that everything was okay.

Emergency alert text on my phone. — The word Wartime scared me so much.

Living here takes a lot of courage. I was only focused on everything positive about Korea and I over-looked this important issue.

I hope I can continue to look towards the bright side though and enjoy this warm weather with new friends.

Gracie

May 16, 2023

Café Culture

Since the Japanese colonial period when coffee was introduced to Korea, it has become an important part of the culture. The culture is known for its fast-paced nature and thus many people find it hard to keep up. Coffee swoops in to save the day and there is a cafe every 2 buildings. Which was how I found myself at a cafe called A Twosome at 9 pm. Whoever let cafes be open until 11 was either a madman or a genius. I went to meet up with my friend to work on our final project proposal for our class “Understanding K-pop”.

Red Books on a coffee shop table. — The Duality of Literature. (I Only Know Winnie The Pooh)

When the weekend arrived I went to go get my nails done in Hongdae at a shop I found online that was supposed to be friendly to foreigners. The woman was very nice and my nails were very cute.

Afterward, I went to a Korean bbq place in Hongdae that specialized in eating alone. It was my introvert heaven. I ordered through a touchpad and no awkward sitting at a table alone.

Korea raw meat, rice, soup. All for $16! — All Of This for $16! ( Plus A Drink)

It was a very relaxing day for me and as I walked back to the subway station the streets of Hongdae were filled with people enjoying an evening weekend stroll.

The next day I saw this big blow-up balloon!

Large inflated Snoopy (dog from Peanuts cartoon) balloon. — Snoopy!

When I went to the mall I discovered there was a pop-up store! (Pop-up stores seem more common in South Korea).

Purses for sale in a pop-up store in Korea. — So Cute!

I bought two cute bags for myself and an AirPods case for my boyfriend.

South Korea is defiantly a fast-paced culture but when you get to stop and look around it feels freeing.

Gracie

May 9, 2023

Road Trip with My Family

It has been a whirlwind the last couple of weeks. With the Easter holiday, mid-semester break, and my family visiting me, a lot has happened. Let’s start with Easter. I am still amazed by the kindness New Zealanders have. By some distant connection, my flatmate and I went up to Christchurch to spend the holiday with a family. They took us in, hosted us, and fed us amazing food. It was a refreshing break from the college meals weʻve been having. I truly will remember this kindness others have been showing me and one day pay it forward.

Following the holiday in Christchurch, my tutu (grandma) and aunty met up with me in New Zealand. They explored the North Island and then flew down to the South Island to see me. This was the start of our epic road trip through New Zealand. When I say epic, I mean EPIC! Here is how it went.

Starting in Christchurch, we drove to Lake Tekapō, then to Lake Pukaki. We stayed in Twisel for a night, then went on a four-mile hike in Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park the next morning. It was a gorgeous day with stunning views of the mountain. After that, we drove to the town of Wanaka and enjoyed the immaculate view of the lake and the iconic Wanaka tree. This trip took place during mid-April, so it was the peak for Autumn colors. We even went jetboating on the lake and up a river in Wanaka.

Arrowtown was the best place to see the bright yellow and orange trees. We briefly stopped here on our way to Queenstown. Queenstown was another beautiful stop. We enjoyed a lamb and potato dinner since sheep are a staple here in New Zealand. In fact, there are about 7 sheep for every New Zealander that lives here. During our long drives, counting how many sheep we saw in the fields was impossible. The next day we took a day trip to Milford Sound. This place has to be the number one place I have visited thus far in New Zealand. I was overwhelmed by how beautiful it was. It is a glacier-carved fiord filled with waterfalls, dolphins, seals, and epic sea cliffs.

After Queenstown, I got to show my tutu and aunty my University. Although when we first got back to Dunedin, there were large wind gusts, the weather turned out perfectly sunny. After giving them a campus tour, we went to see the blue penguins on the peninsula. This is my second time seeing these tiny ʻfairyʻ penguins; it never gets old. They are now my new favorite animal.

That is all my updates for now.

Best,
Kahiau

(Faith)

May 9, 2023

Subway Surfing

I ventured out on my own when I went to Hongdae to get eyelash extensions. The lady spoke English and was very efficient. On the 20-minute walk home, I passed by a shop where 90% of the items were on sale. I bought 2 dresses and the total was $42. On the way home I stopped and got a brown sugar boba from one of the many coffee shops that have an electronic kiosk you can order at. It was a nice sunny day and I was proud of myself.

girl in dress. — The Nice Older Lady Agreed This One Would Look Good On Me.

It has been a very eventful few weeks as I have finally discovered how to use the subway. Sinchon Line 2 has been my best friend as I have begun to branch out more. I first rode it with my friend to Myeong-dong to get to a mall. Before we arrived we stopped at a restaurant to have some iced peach tea and pasta.

Myeong-dong had impressive skyscrapers but I also saw some interesting old-style architecture among them.

The mall we went to was called Shinsaegae and it was way too expensive for me. I learned I have expensive taste when I picked up a dress and saw it was $1000. I did not buy anything but my friend bought a wallet and a belt.

We went to another mall on Wednesday named CoEx Mall. The subway ride took 40 minutes. On the way there we got to sit but we had to stand the whole way back. My feet hurt so bad at the end. For lunch we had sushi and I bought a shirt and skirt set that was very comfy. This mall is also the home of the famous Starfield Library.

The Library had a cute cafe on the second level.

Cafe inside the library with beautiful hanging light fixture. — So Sparkly!

I also discovered a store called Pop Mart which sells collectible figures in mystery blind boxes. I am now officially obsessed and have started to build an army.

Store which sells collectible figures in mystery boxes. — This Is the Mall Location. I Have Also Visited the 3-Story One.

Today I went to Hongdae with my friend and we first went to a shoe store she had been wanting to visit. My friend takes a long time to pick something she likes but I came in knowing I wanted some cute white shoes. I ended up paying $22 and the kind store lady made sure there were no imperfections on them.

white dress shoes. — So Cute! So Many Outfit Options!

I am looking into a large mirror and taking a selfie. — Selfie Time! Cute Mirror!

My friend then went into a store across the street but I wasn’t interested in it so I waited outside and look at a shop that had some jackets out on the street. The Older lady inside saw me staring at a jacket then pulled it and me into the store. She had me try it on and told me it would be better for me to wear because it is a jacket for spring. I was wearing a winter jacket at the time and agreed a thinner jacket would be nice. She was sweet and tried to tell me how to style it (my Korean is not that proficient yet but I tried).

Grand Ave. New York. Newtown. — Stylish! She Said It Would Be A Casual Style.

On the way home I took the subway alone for the first time. I was standing holding onto the handle of the train. A nice older lady patted the seat next to her and let me sit by her. When I got off I waved to her and she waved back. It was a small interaction but it made me smile.

Using my transportation cad I can pay to get on any bus and subway with it. I enjoy the subway more than the bus so far. The subway system is built great with trains always there to hop on. My confidence is building thanks to the subway.

Gracie

May 9, 2023

Living My Best Life In Ecuador

¡Hola desde Quito!

It is crazy to think that this blog will be one of my last before I leave Ecuador! It’s even crazier to think that it is already May and that four whole months in a foreign country have passed. In one sense, I’m happy that my departure day is coming soon (only 20 more days!) as I do miss my family, friends, and Oregon. The other part of me, however, feels a bit bittersweet as I’ve made so many friends here and have experienced many one-in-a-lifetime activities. For now, though, I’ll just focus on persevering through finals and exploring Ecuador just a little bit more!

As I have mentioned, finals season is approaching, which means I have been wrapping up my final assignments for each of my classes. For my History of Baroque class, I recently completed my final presentation, which was to analyze any Baroque artwork of my choice. I was very nervous about this, as I, the only international student in the class, was the first to present. However, I think that my presentation went really well, as my professor really enjoyed my content and only provided feedback that would further enhance my argument. As for my other classes, there has been a recent focus on just being present and enjoying the space that we exist in, which has been a very fun shift in the regular class schedules.

Pictured are a group of students sitting at desks in a classroom. In this photo, one of the students is spinning a wooden toy with a pointed top on the desk. — College kids playing with traditional Ecuadorian toys!

Pictured here are two college students sitting on the floor playing a game of jacks. — A serious game of Jacks

Pictured here are marbles and a wooden toy spinning on the floor. both the marbles and wooden toy and within a square, which was made by white tape. — Marbles and wooden tops

Besides focusing on my coursework, I’ve also taken some opportunities to just spend time with my exchange friends. A few weekends ago, some of the international students celebrated our friend Ellie’s 21st birthday, which was both casual and fun! Throughout the night, we just relaxed, talked about life, and played uno until very late in the night; I don’t think I arrived home until two in the morning! My favorite part of this experience was being able to directly spend time with my friends without having any external pressures affecting our get-togethers, such as school and travel.

A week or two after Ellie’s party, a few friends and I went to get our nails painted at one of the many local peluquerías. If anyone ever ends up in Ecuador, I strongly recommend getting nails done, as they are so much cheaper here than in the United States; the current nail design that I have, which would normally cost $50 in the U.S., only cost me $13 here in Ecuador!

Pictured here is a selfie of myself with many of my international friends. All of us are sitting in a circle enjoying Ellie's birthday party. — The photo quality may not be great, but our experience was!

Pictured here is another selfie of myself and a few friends. In the photo, we are sitting in a Mexican restaurant, waiting for our lunch. — Girls day!

Pictured here is a close-up view of my friend and I's nails that we just got painted. Both of our nails are very colorful with shape designs. — Our painted nails!

This past month was full of adventures and exploration! Besides going to the Galapagos (which has a blog all to itself), I took trips to Otavalo and Cuenca, which both did not disappoint! Even though my group only spent one day in Otavalo, I really had a blast there! Our trip started out with a hike around Cuicocha, which is an earth-made lake just outside of Otavalo’s city limits.

The hike was a bit challenging, as it had a lot of uphill action, but it was so cool to see the varying angles of the lake in pure sunlight! After this hike (and an unexpected boat ride on the lake itself), we visited a very large artisanal market. For me, it was a bit difficult to enjoy the market, as I hadn’t had dinner and was a bit tired from the hike; I was both hungry and not in a shopping mood.

Pictured is me at the front of a speed boat posing for the camera. In the background, there is grey colored water, green mountains, and a cloudy sky. I am also wearing a life jacket too. — My boat ride on Cuicocha

Pictured is the Cuicocha lake. The greyish-blue lake centers the photo, with green mountains surrounding the lake. — Lake Cuicocha

As for Cuenca, I absolutely loved that city and wish I had more time to explore there! Cuenca is known for its historical, elegant, and catholic town set-up. While there, my group and I visited Cajas, which is a national park outside of Cuenca, and Museo Pumapungo, which is a museum that shares indigenous artifacts and the past indigenous history of Cuenca’s land. The museum even had authentic past ruins, but sadly that part was closed off and we weren’t able to visit it.

Throughout our trip, we also visited a few artisanal markets (which I did end up buying stuff this time!), chocolate shops, and older buildings/churches. I really wish that I had time to go back to Cuenca, as this town is filled with so much, but I don’t think it’ll be possible due to my sudden departure back home.

Pictured here is three friends and I eating dinner in Cuenca. We went to Negroni, which has rooftop sitting. In the photo, older buildings can be seen in the background. — Us eating at Negroni in Cuenca

Pictured here is a parade in Cuenca. The dancers pictured are wearing traditional clothing and dancing traditionally down the streets of Cuenca. — A parade that we ran into!

Pictured is part of the city of Cuenca. Present in the picture is a road, which is surrounded by hills and greenery, topped with a cloudy, but somewhat blue, sky. — Rural Cuenca

Pictured is a white wall that has black and white photographs depicting the indigenous lifestyle. — One section of Museo Pumapungo

Pictured is me on the side of a road in Cajas. Pictured behind me are alpacas, which is why I look so happy in the photo. — Me posing with wild alpacas.

Pictured are my friends and I taking a selfie. Behind us in a lake in cajas, which is surrounded by mountainous rock and green shrubbery. — A lake in Cajas

My last update for this blog is on the sadder side. Santiago Gangotena, who was the founder of USFQ, recently passed away due to a brutal bus accident. To many in Ecuador, he was a father figure to many and someone heavily involved in the community. Due to his passing, everyone associated with USFQ got a day off from school to recover and remember the legacy that was Santiago. Last week on campus, staff members had created a memorial for him, which included many flower displays and words of gratitude. Even though I really didn’t know him, it’s been heartwarming to see the local community band together in hopes of retaining the memory of their beloved.

Pictured is a memorial for Santiago. In the picture, there are many flower wreaths and crosses propped together to create a closed-off section for viewing. — Santiago’s memorial on campus

¡Chao!

Cassie Klagge

May 2, 2023

A Month Away – Māori Performance

Kia Ora,

As you may be following along, I am enrolled in a Māori performing arts class. Today marks 30 days from our concert performance. We so far have learned three songs, two of which have complete dance actions with them.

This past Saturday and Sunday, we had our wānanga, which translates to “to meet and discuss.” Essentially, it is a gathering of learning and knowledge. These days were full of learning and practicing the waiata (songs). We came into the weekend only knowing the words to one song. We then came out of the weekend having learned the actions of that song and knowing two more songs. Of course, my group and I rewarded ourselves with ice cream after such a long weekend of learning.

Large floor area for practicing — Practice area

A key part of this class is to learn the songs in the dark. Te reo Māori (Māori language) has traditionally been strickly an oral language. Writing was not introduced until the Europeans came around. Before that, all of the Māori whakapapa (genealogies), creation narratives, and stories were passed down orally. There were also certain times of the night that these were taught and they were usually in the form of song.

Our next song involves the poi and haka. The poi is a common dancing instrument used in Aotearoa. It is a foam ball wrapped in plastic attached to a string. Typically, the women dance with the poi, and the men do the haka; however, it is not required that we stick to those gender designations. I am learning the poi performance, and I am not as grateful as seasoned dancers make it seem. Since they grew up learning to dance with poi, I am giving myself a bit of grace. Hopefully, in the next month, I can practice enough to look somewhat good.

Best,

Kahiau