Hey Everyone!
So Friday night I went to Suwon and it was kind of a funny night because I took the subway by myself and it took me 2 hours and I had to switch lines 4 times!!! People are pretty nice on the subways, even if you don't speak korean and they speak very little english, you just show them one word and they'll point to the subway map and tell you that you have 4 or 6 stops more to go.. etc. There was a really nice korean woman who helped me out alot!! She was pretty fluent in English and she told me everytime I switched to a new subway line to call her to let her know I got there okay, helped me find the other line, and safely! So glad I ran into her! phew!! =) Oh man! But when I got there the new people I met told me I took a really long way. It would have been faster to take the bus or a taxi. A cool korean gal I met that night communicated with the taxi driver on where to take me which was nice. Oh my gosh! On my way home it only took 20 minutes!!!! Oh man!! I went wayy to much out of the way! lol...
It was cool on friday night, I met with some new people at a korean barbeque restaurant. A canadian dude I met told me to stay connected with him because he could introduce me to some people he knew in Bundang.. woo hoo! very cool!

Saturday I went to the Ho-Am Art Museum and Garden!! =) Located in Yongin, South Korea. Near the area of Everland, the amusement park. I was soo excited! I wanted to see korean art and learn about their history. When we arrived it was raining and also we paid the admission when we came in the car. Rather than america, at least as far as I've known about the museums, you pay when you walk literally in the museum. Now I'm not sure if it was just because of this museum or if all of the museums are like that. I think it was just because of this one because you have to walk up a hill through the Ho-Am Garden and then the museum is on the top of the hill. It was soo pretty to see everything.. It was frustrating in the beginning because we were walking in the rain and I was sharing my friend Boram's umbrella. I forgot my big umbrella! Woops! Oh well... It was still an interesting adventure. Throughout my experience with the museum. I learned that in Korea, they originally borrowed the chinese language both written and spoken until a guy, (don't know who yet) haha.. came and started the korean language where it spread throughout the country. They lived in huts and their windows were in circles and squares. Also, I looked at amazing ceramics and illustration. The Koreans had a fascination with poems and so they would write poems with black ink on fabric and they would illustrate the poem underneath. It was really cool to look at! There was also an interesting illustration of apparently a good ghost monster called the "Old Mao". I've been looking online for a picture through google.. but I'll have to research more to see if I can find a copycat. It's really interesting, it looks like similar to cookie monster or the trash muppet I forgot his name in sesame street in the U.S.A. (kids show). The garden was gorgeouS!!! I highly recommend anyone going there.. It only cost 4 won. Not bad at all. Worth the trip!

After the museum, I hung out with my korean friend.. oh man! It was really funny because I'm noticing a pattern of how koreans talk. Koreans talk, (well at least my korean friend) like, "you like, you don't like, I want, you want, you don't want, you buy". I can't think of more but I'll tell you more later as I get to know more koreans. Its interesting that they talk like that... Because not that their trying to be insulting or anything. But from my background, that can come across kinda rude sometimes or lack of education. But it's not that their lacking in education in language, it's just how they talk. It's interesting because it's kinda lazy to talk that simple. But I think it's because they push academics soo much here that they get lazy about conversation in some ways. And then I found out that koreans don't like the korean blackbird. In Korean culture and also maybe in other asian cultures, the blackbird is considered bad luck. I don't know much about it but I want to look it up more.
Also, in their eating habits, here the koreans slurp their soup. Back home, I was taught that's rude or people look at you funny when you slurp. Here it's common, it's considered a complement in some ways. I've also noticed that they eat kind of loudly. I'm not trying to offend the korean culture so if koreans are reading this please don't be offended. I've found that they chew sometimes with their mouth open and so you hear a lot of noise. Back home, those people do exist, but many don't well yes and no I guess. What I've noticed is that some koreans don't eat much. So they eat til their full which is really great. But then it seems wasteful because they just eat their food that they made ordered from a restaurant. But then the next day, they may not eat their food. So they throw out food that they didn't eat. NOT GOOD! To those koreans or whoever, with all do respect, don't throw out your food that you don't eat! Their are starving people in North Korea remember that. That food could go to people that need it. So don't be wasteful!

Also, when we walked around the river close to my house there was this bug that was making the most annoying sound!!! It's like it was having a temper tantrum.. But apparent their called in English the "Cicada Mania".. BLAGH!! They are ugly.. and I'm putting up a picture of what it looks like.. but actually they don't bite or are violent bugs.. I don't really understand their purpose. But their also referred to as "locusts". They make a song that's really loud in the hot tropics regions. Their located in the USA in the Appalacian mountains. I got this part from Wikipedia: Many people around the world regularly eat cicadas: the female is prized as it is meatier. Cicadas have been (or are still) eaten in Ancient Greece, China, Malaysia, Burma, Latin America and the Congo. Cicadas are employed in the traditional medicines of China.
But oh man... I thought grasshoppers sound were bad, their nothing! This bug blows them out of the water! haha.. Their soo annoying and really gross! Blagh! I don't know how some cultures eat them... yucko!

I've learned through my friend Boramy.. haha.. it was kinda funny because we were both complaining about outside how it was soo hot and humid.. But yet when we came back to my apartment, after she showered she wanted to dry her hair.. I'm thinking to myself.. "huhhhhh??" It is so hot outside, why would you want to?? When the hair is wet, your cooler!! =) But she said with koreans it happens now and then, but not common where you leave the home. I was laughing because she told me it was weird.. haha...
well that's it for today.. I'll have plenty to share more later.. hope everyone reads this! It's important to know about the world and how different countries work...

Oh and one more thing! When Korean guys turn the age of 20, they have NO CHOICE but to go to the army to serve for 2 years (so what I've heard). Then they can finish their education etc.

I'll be writing again soon! Ciao for now!!