Here comes the final day my stay in KAIST, Daejeon. It has been 4 months since I came to Korea and a lot of things are just happened over this period. Aside from traveling around, I have experienced the Korean academic environment, made few awesome Korean friends, understanding their culture, fostered new friendship, gone through the dark period of campus series suicide and many more unforgettable ones.
In terms of academics,I have learned a lot through my group in Chemical Product Design and Sociology. As one of the best teams in product design class, I really glad that we able to design a 'Color Changing Bottle Cap' using piezoelectricity technology and design methods learned in class. We have gone through ups and downs as a team but finally everything comes to a peaceful ending. On the other side, I am really proud of our sociology presentation team, which has topped the class for all 3 presentations and appeared to be the elite of the class haha.
I have met friends of different nationalities especially of Korean. Besides my teammates, Dasom Kim and Eunsu Kim are my best classmate who always take good care of me (providing me the answers for assignment). Besides that, friends from the Chinese circle, especially from Singapore have made my SEP stint memorable one. We fostered our friendship through interaction, hangouts, trust and support. I am really sad to leave u all as you all have made an important chapter in my life.
I believe I will come back strong as what I believed I would be. Circumstances has made me more mature and ready for new challenges. The Korea SEP is a stepping stone of success and it is an integral part of life experience and memories.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Spring comes
Spring comes and winter is gone, a bunch of exchange students came and are going to left soon... We shall cherish the moment we left in KAIST and hope for a better future when all of us will meet again somewhere in the world :)
Good luck for exams everyone!
Good luck for exams everyone!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
3rd World Food Festival
After trips to Cheongwadae, the President's Blue House, and DMZ (pictures check out at fb!), we are left with 2 weeks of school and exams. Today is public holiday and we participated the 3rd World Food Festival organized by the Hanbit Church. There are total 18 countries, including Malaysia and Singapore. I helped out in both stall and it was really a wonderful experience though it was hectic!
We prepared the food for Singapore stall since last week, with lots of times of trial and error, and finally came out with 1) Friend Hokkien Mee, 2) Prata Cheese Sausage and 3) Milo Dinosaur (this is really representing Singapore ha). Malaysian side we have Nasi Lemak, not much preparation as we got help from the Hanbit Church people, my only contribution to the Malaysia stall is just help to cook before the event starts! All credits to Suyi, our Malaysian Nasi Lemak tastes really best and good sales followed of course!
I slept last night 5 am in the hall after cooking (actually I was there to enjoy the atmosphere of cooking only) and woke up 7.30am to help out Suyi to prepare the food. I was so tired today but the event was successful, filled with fun and joy, and definitely wonderful memory for my exchange stint, aside from travelling, reveling in the binge, and whole new academic experience.
I am proud of myself, my country, and NUS in providing such opportunity to my life. As time passes, there are 2 weeks left and there will be less outing, I suppose. I am an EXCHANGE STUDENT, however, this weekend I am heading to Seoul again to meet up with Zhen Tian, and other classmate from LAK NUS! Cant wait to meet you all :)
Sunday, April 17, 2011
KTO Hanok Village Experience
16 April, a very fine day I was invited by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) to attend an event called KTO Hanok Village Experience. This is an event organized to create awareness of importance of korean traditional heritage and to promote Hanok (the korean traditional house) as a living heritage of Korea. The total team consists of 30 members, me and my friend from KU, are the two selected Malaysian members along with other members from China, US, Germany etc.
After the opening ceremony by the Mayor of Jongno district, the day started with a Bukchon Culture Guide program where we strolled around the Hanok village, situated in Jongno district, Seoul. The Hanoks scattered here and there and the whole forms a vast area of Hanok village. We paid visit to the carpenters' houses, looking at their interior and exterior design of Hanok, some of them are newly conceptualized Hanok design. The distinctive feature of Hanok is the Cheoma (roof) which extends all the way out forming a curve, and it is said to resemble the wings of a flying bird.
After lunch, we had Kimchi and Tteokbokgi(fried rice cake) making class where we get to make Kimchi by our own hands! It is really a exciting experience as I always wanting to make Kimchi, after long mesmerized with the unique taste of it. The session lasted for 2 hours before we went to the Sachoom Hall in Insadong to watch a exhilarating dancing Sachoom performance (please take some time to google about it, it is really an awesome dancing performace with a plot).
We had our dinner in the Gwangjang market, which is one of the oldest market in Korea. There are stalls selling traditional food like bintetteok (the representative korean thick pancake), sundae (stuffed pig's intestine), and traditional cake for wedding, along with stalls selling traditional art crafts and Hanbok (the Korean traditional costume).
The day ends with the traditional performances such as Arirang and the Hanok stay in the Hanok Village region. Two people are assigned to one host family that live in a Hanok, me and another Indonesian member are assigned to a 30+ years old married couple who own a Hanok of 3 rooms. The Hanok is a very comfortable place to reside, for my host Hanok, there are two blocks separated by a small garden and each block serve for different purposes. We are allowed to sleep in the smaller block which is originally the host's office as a psychological cousellor. The floors of Hanok is warmed by Ondol (the Korean traditional heating system) and it is just no reason to sleep on a bed there! We had so much fun time with the host as we talked and played Kosutop (Hanafuda in Japanese, a traditional card game) till the midnight ;)
The second starts after we say Annyeong to our host hamilies. We went around Bukchon Hanok Village again to attend traditional crafts making classes. We are split into groups and my group attended the korean traditional box and mirror making class! It is a little awkward to make art craft after a long time since secondary school, however, and the class ended with much joy especially when our handmade pieces are done.
The whole trip is paid by the KTO, all credits to them, which including meals, transports, accomodations, tour guiding, and much free gifts from them. The trip is really a remarkable one where we are able to experience Korea from a different perspective, and able to appreciate and preserve the traditional beauty of Korea. I simply LOVE Korea!
P/s: I went to Lotte World with my KAIST exhchange friend right after the trip ended. And we had so much fun there especially during the Angel Price Music Festival, where I watched SNSD for the second time in Korea. Taeyeon hwaiting!
KTO Sign in front of the KTO building
After the opening ceremony by the Mayor of Jongno district, the day started with a Bukchon Culture Guide program where we strolled around the Hanok village, situated in Jongno district, Seoul. The Hanoks scattered here and there and the whole forms a vast area of Hanok village. We paid visit to the carpenters' houses, looking at their interior and exterior design of Hanok, some of them are newly conceptualized Hanok design. The distinctive feature of Hanok is the Cheoma (roof) which extends all the way out forming a curve, and it is said to resemble the wings of a flying bird.
Hanok snapshot
A flying wooden bird
Chief chef from Malaysia
We had our dinner in the Gwangjang market, which is one of the oldest market in Korea. There are stalls selling traditional food like bintetteok (the representative korean thick pancake), sundae (stuffed pig's intestine), and traditional cake for wedding, along with stalls selling traditional art crafts and Hanbok (the Korean traditional costume).
The Gwangjang traditional market
The day ends with the traditional performances such as Arirang and the Hanok stay in the Hanok Village region. Two people are assigned to one host family that live in a Hanok, me and another Indonesian member are assigned to a 30+ years old married couple who own a Hanok of 3 rooms. The Hanok is a very comfortable place to reside, for my host Hanok, there are two blocks separated by a small garden and each block serve for different purposes. We are allowed to sleep in the smaller block which is originally the host's office as a psychological cousellor. The floors of Hanok is warmed by Ondol (the Korean traditional heating system) and it is just no reason to sleep on a bed there! We had so much fun time with the host as we talked and played Kosutop (Hanafuda in Japanese, a traditional card game) till the midnight ;)
Traditional dance performance in the Hanok guesthouse
My stay of Hanok for the night
The second starts after we say Annyeong to our host hamilies. We went around Bukchon Hanok Village again to attend traditional crafts making classes. We are split into groups and my group attended the korean traditional box and mirror making class! It is a little awkward to make art craft after a long time since secondary school, however, and the class ended with much joy especially when our handmade pieces are done.
The Seongsaengnim is teaching us earnestly
My handmade Korean art box, which is going to send away as gift LOL
The whole trip is paid by the KTO, all credits to them, which including meals, transports, accomodations, tour guiding, and much free gifts from them. The trip is really a remarkable one where we are able to experience Korea from a different perspective, and able to appreciate and preserve the traditional beauty of Korea. I simply LOVE Korea!
Picture took with the host family
P/s: I went to Lotte World with my KAIST exhchange friend right after the trip ended. And we had so much fun there especially during the Angel Price Music Festival, where I watched SNSD for the second time in Korea. Taeyeon hwaiting!
In front of the Lotte World castle
Taeyeon is looking at me!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Gyeongju, Busan and Jinhae (SAKURA!!!)
The Jinhae station, Busan station and Gyeongju station
Last weekend was awesome with trips to 3 places each for one day: Gyeongju, the living history of Silla dynasty, Busan, the famous Haeundae beach and Jinhae, the town of cherry blossoms. The experiece is unforgettable as we went to many places, have lots of exciting activites (go cart racing, KTX experience, picnic under cherry blossoms, bicycle riding around Gyeongju, playing sand at Haeunde beach.. and so on!) Its time to back to study and plan for the next field trip:P!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Fate of Suh Nam-pyo
After two days closing of school, KAIST is going to resume its normal operation on Wednesday of 13 April. The situation may not be turning any better, however, for the president Suh Nam-pyo, who has faced criticizm and forces for his resignation within the past few days after a series of suicides of sudent and a professor of KAIST.
KAIST is in the spotlight in that way it has never been. Alongside news reporters sprawling around the campus, the Ad-hoc Student Assembly is gaining heat with the petition for Suh Nam-pyo resignation and call for school policy reforms. The Ad-Hoc student Assembly, an immediate assembly formed under the Central Executive Committee of KAIST Student Association, aimed to fight for the rights of students in participating the school policy making procedure and right to vote for the next school presidential election.
According to the Ad-hoc Student Assembly, president Suh Nam-pyo is responsible for his 'failed' revolution of tuition fee system. Under his education policy, students are shoved into the realm of 'unlimited competition (무한경쟁)' and creativity is not anymore a product of education due to the fierce competition; The first priority would be the scores and there is no room left for creativity. The Ad-hoc Student Assembly is collecting signatures from students since early Monday, as 202 signatures (1/20 populaton of KAIST) are required to file a memorandum which is to be discussed and submitted on Wednesday 7pm during the student assembly.
A booth set up in front of cafeteria to collect comments and suggestions from students
There are 3 major points to be discussed in the upcoming student assembly:
1) The participation of students in the school policy making procedure
2) The implementation of students' proposition
3) The acknowledgement of president Suh Nam-pyo's failure of his educational
revolution
It will be a tough journey for president Suh's second presidential term of 4 years and it requires strength and wisdom to steer KAIST out of the troubled waters and continue to stand as the first ranked institution in South Korea. Pray for the souls of the deceased.
A last respect for the 4 studets and the professor who committed suicide in the last 3 months
Monday, March 28, 2011
로마에 가면 로마법에 따라라!
Perplexed by the title? It simply means, when you are in Rome, do as the Romans do! We had a wonderful weekend again in Daejoen (haven't been out from Daejeon for period of time). Out of a sudden wimp, we decided to take a night stroll over the central area of Daejeon at the friday night with BIkEs!
Central area of Daejeon 
Designated area for bicyclesWe rode to the so called McD bridge and have photoshooting session there before we head to Emart for night shopping! For you information, there is a nicely designated area for bicycle on the road sides and it is so bicycle-friendly in KOREA. We rode in a almost zero degree wether and yet feel heart-wamrming at the camaraderie we shared.
:) You won't believe this, we went to an arcade in Gungdong area where university students gathered around till 7am in the morning! We had lots of fun at playing drums, basketball, doll catching machine and time crisis 4! wow long saved money gone in one crazy night :) Before we back to dorm for belated sleep, we witnessed the first sunrise we have in KOREA, a good start for the day and for our sleep.
A dawn snapshot outside KAIST
Sunrise for hopes
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