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Being foreigner in Korea.

Anonymous asked:

koreanere er mot utlendinger? (How does Koreans threat foreigners?) 

I just want to start off by saying that what I write now is my experiences being foreigner and "different" in Korea. And other people might have different experience than I do. 

I remember my first day in Korea. After arriving in Korea I stayed the first days at my friends home because I could not move into my dorm-room before some days after arriving. My friend did not live in Seoul, so I stayed the first day in Gimpo. Not to far from Seoul, but outside Seoul.

I remember we went to the store to buy some foods I could eat, to try to make me feel more like home and find foods I could enjoy. When we went inside the store all the people there had to greet my saying "Hallo" in english, school girls giggeling when greeting me. When we came back home the first thing my friend said to me was "You are like a celebrity!" I guess it was not everyday they could see a weird viking women like me..

The day after me and my friend had his coworkers coming over to his house, because they wanted to see me. Something that I found quite weird. Why did they want to see me?

Here in Norway I'm not used to get many compliments about my look. But from his coworkers all told me how pretty I looked, that my eyes looked like the sea. Because I was not used to hear such things, I really had a hard time saying "thanks" because It kinda felt like they were lying or something loool

My experiences throughout my whole stay,and later travels in Korea has been the same. 

Being in Korea has made me feel better about myself because of many people telling me I look good, something I never hear here back home in Norway. 

I have had people give me discounts when I go shopping because Im pretty, guys working at shops wanting to give me hugs,people on the street giving me complements. 

But the thing I felt was most weird was taking the subway.

It have happen 30392 times that people on the subway has been touching my face, and my hair.I think the combination of being blond,having blue eyes, and curly hair is something that they find super exotic. I mostly had problem with older females touching my face on the subway. The first times I thought WTF are they doing??? But after a while I did not really care, because Im sure they are just curious. 

But I do remember the first time I took the subway with a friend of mine who is dark skinned. While waiting for the train we were just standing there talking when it came 3 older females touching my friends skin, beliving it was not real.

My first semester at school, my teacher start to call me Doll. And many of my Korean friends call me doll also. Strangers also say I look like a doll...I guess for Koreans a doll is blond? Because I can't really understand why they think I look like one. Because I don't. 

Its also very normal that people wanna talk with you. Because they are curious, and want to try to speak english. If you go to a coffeshop/subway or something by yourself, its not unusual for someone to come talking with you,wanting to try out speaking english. Its not everyday people have the opportunity to talk english, so many people,mostly young adults, collage students are very talkative. So if you go alone to Korea, you can easily get friends. I have Korean friends I have met at different coffeeshops etc when I have been alone. Coming over wanting to talk with me, and ending up hanging out later. 

Many Koreans are really curious about foreigners.So don't think people are weird wanting to talk with you, they are just curious when they see foreigners. Its not like here in Norway, where we think people are psycho if someone talk with a stranger on the street.

Now it sound like its only positive being a white foreigner in Korea. But I have had negative experiences also. Like people yelling at me, telling me to get out of their store. Older people at the subway talking bad things about me, thinking I dont understand what they are saying. And older people saying many bad things if I hang out with Korean boys, and even worse if its my boyfriend etc that I hold hands with. Have happen that my Korean friends say "lets go, they are saying mean things about you!".

But honestly, I don't care.Its my choice going to a country where its few foreigners, I did know before going things like this would happen. I can't expect everybody to be nice to me when I go somewhere they are not used to see foreigners everyday. 

But if any of you wanna go to Korea, do it! Instead of being afraid of those stupid people saying bad things about you, be happy everytime someone gives you a compliment! Being In Korea has for me been mostly positive, and I don't let those negative experiences get to me. 

But I do got one advice for people going to Korea. Try to blend in! I don't mean you should try to look Korean or something. But if you wanna be liked, and not having people talk bad about you. Don't dress different, like some alternative fashion. Don't have facial piercings,or crazy hair colors. If you are a foreigner and have some crazy alternative fashion you will likely get more problems fitting in. If you dress like Kpop stars like 2NE1 or something, they will look weirdly at you. So dress normal,have natural hair color, they will mostly likely like you! Korea is not the place to dress to impress, fitting in with the crowd is the way to go!

So my tips are:

*Be natural

*Blend in

*Don't be shy

*learn basic korean

* Try to talk Korean with koreans (they will think you are supersmart)

*Don't care if people are rude or mean against you

Bored and empty for ideas!

Don't want this blog to die..

So im just wondering if anyone have something they want me to write about?

Im not shy, so I can write about whatever you wanna know about being a foreigner in korea, from dating to everyday stuff. BE CRAZY AND ASK ME SOME CRAZY STUFF GUYS.

Sorry people!

I most say sorry to everybody! (or just to myself really, because Im the only one who probly read my blog lol). I didnt have time to write about being in Korea when I was there on a vacation some months ago. I had so many plans about what to write and everything. But I never did, and now I feel bad two months after for not doing it. I wish I could write about everyday in Korea right now, but I dont remember. Hmmm.

But I still have many pictures I have not shown yet! 

I can start by showing some??

This picture is from a shoppingmall in Dongdaemun, Dongdaemun was almost my second home while I were in Seoul. Because of cheap shopping ofcourse lol. I LOVE CHEAP CRAPPY CLOTHES <3

When I saw this store I almost died. Im a very girly girl, and when I see bling I almost die of excitment. I can never get enough of sparkeling things. 

Also at Dongdaemun. I went shopping at night. All shoppingmalls are open to 4 in the morning, so good for people like me who likes both night and shopping.

pretty much what a shopping mall looks like in Dongdaemun, many floors with alot of shops.

Walking at night again I guess?

Oh yeah, one of my favourite underwear brands in Seoul. All their shops are sooo cool decorated. 

On a walk close to my guesthouse at night. Many office buildnings that looks kinda cool at nighttime, but poor people working there so late lool suckers.

Almost where the office buildnings are,just behind them is a long fake man-made river with many lights. Mostly its only cuddling couples walking there holding hands, well because it is kinda romantic there. But because Im white they probly think I walk alone because I dont know better, and dont know that this place is mostly for lovebirds. 

Last day shopping in Dongdaemun. I bought so many things. But most of the stuff was not for me! Im such an lovely person and bought stuff for my family and friends back in Norway

streetsign?

One of my favorite places in Seoul. I really enjoy walking here alone, its peaceful, and I really like traditional things, like houses etc.

At Insadong. Insadong is like a traditional street in Seoul where its alot of tourists buying korean stuff. My guesthouse was right beside this street, so it was very noisy in the morning because off all tourists walking around making alof of annoying noises when I tried to sleep lol not smart.

Waiting for my flight home to Norway at the airport..Soooo sad. But atleast Korean Air is awesome.

Eating Pizza with Felipe and Jack. Coolest people in Seoul.

Also taken at Insadong. Traditional dancers grooving.

At Lotte World with my BF. Parade!!

Eating Indian food with Ingrid <3 So yummy!Will go back to that place next time!!!

At the flight to Korea. I really love flighting above clouds, feel like being in heaven haha

And at last Pictures of me and my bff Felipe:

I got many other pictures also,but they all look alike! So it might be that interesting to see.

I just made a new blog for you guys to look at while Im in Norway (because Im sure everyone loves me?)

Maritanotinseoul.blogspot.com 

creative or what?? check it out!!!

Back in Seoul

Im now back in Seoul. Been here an week allready!Crazy or what? time goes so fast its scary. So these days Ive been busy with hanging with friends, shopping,just walking around etc. But now Im just relaxing in my bed at the guesthouse Im staying at.

Let me just tell you...My flight to Korea was damn boring! I had to wait for my transfer flight at Frankfurt airport for around 8 hours. And it was sooo boring. But hey, I got myself a new friend at the airport. A guy saw me at the check in line to Korea Air and asked me where I was from, why I was going to Korea and stuff like that. So we decided to sit together at the airport and talk for a while, so we did. So time went a little faster at the airport when having someone to talk with. The worst part was at the flight. I could not sleep.

So when I arrived in Korea I had allready been awake for 30 hours, and had plans to meet up with friends later for drinking and having fun. So I did...When I finally could sleep I had been awake for more than 40 hours. So on my way back to my guesthouse on the subway I was walking like an drunk person, but I was just really sleepy.

 

The day after we went out again. ( I swear, Im gonna become an alcoholic while Im here). So before going clubbing we went to an bar to just chill out waiting for clock to become enought to go to the club we were going to. So we went to HO-Bar.. I always thought that it was Ho bar, like in the english word HO. So I got very sad when I found out that the bar was actually Chinese, and had nothing to do with ho's at all..But wellwell, its still a great bar, it was alot of good cocktails. I tried out The green frog cocktail, that was also great! 

I have been drinking like, almost everyday, not like heavy drinking. But here in korea its normal to drink when meeting friends. So I have been drinking coctails, soju etc often now. When I have not been drinking I have done some shopping. As you maybe know, Seoul is a shoppers paradise, and has alot of great cheap clothes. So I have bought many nice clothes, mostly dresses because its easy to use when its so humid everday as here. 

Two days ago. I meet up with an friend of mine. And we didnt only drink! Belive it or not! We started with going to the 63 buildning. Koreas tallest buildning with 63 floors. Inside the 63buildning its alot of fun stuff. So we went to see the aquarium, got to see my favourite animal, penguins! and we went to wax museum. 

 

Look at this sexy waxdoll loool. Was this "horror" hallway in the wax museum with dark hallways with "scary" dolls...The scariest part was. One of the dolls really looked like an doll..So I tried to touch its nose, and it was a real man!!!! I touched someones nose hahah so stupid

Good looking couple or what????

     

Pictures taken from the top of the 63buildning. It was quite high to the top. And the elevator was so cool, like ourside of the buildning, so could watch the view while going to the top. So pretty. Too bad the pictures don't show how far down it was..But it was quite cool!

After the 63buildning we went to.......(Those who can guess will get an cookie) drink! ha ha 

well, it was super fun.. Drink, sing karaoke then we went to dvdroom and watch an Jim Carry movie. But at that time it was around 6 in the morning, so we both fell asleep while watching the movie.. So woke up at around 7, went outside and the sun was up! So it was time to go home to get some sleep! 

This will be an awefully long blog entry...I still have more pictures to show, maybe I should make a new entry tomorrow loool 

Why and how I went to Korea.

I have gotten alot of requests to write about what school I went too. And now its a perfect time, because today I'm not so busy, and at the moment im lying outside in the sun with my laptop, Relaxing or what?

Where to start....

I found out I wanted to try something new and exciting, something that not every norwegian has done before me.

I really love languages, and learning about different cultures. And for many years I've been very fascinated by asian cultures, both China, Japan and Korea. 

So I thought, well...everyone else is going to places like The US, and England to study. Why do the same? 

So I decided to go to Asia. 

Why Korea?

Well, the reason why I choose Korea was because, here in norway,you can study both japanese and chinese langauge at university. But there is no place to study korean.So I though that learning a language that not many else know in norway, can someday become useful. So my choice was in the end to go to Korea.

What did I do after deciding to go to Korea?

To be honest, before going to Korea i didn't know so much about Korea. Didn't know about good schools etc. So I used what Im sooo good at using, Google!! So I started to google trying to find out what was the best universities in Korea. So my choice was either Korea Univ. or Yonsei Univ. But after alot of reading about both schools, and looking at forums where foreigners had written about them. My choice was Yonsei Univ. Because i found only good things written about their langauge school. And ofcourse the pictures of the school, just made me fall in love with the thought of studying there.

How did I apply?

I don't remember clearly how I did it. But its not hard, even I managed to apply without any help. But to apply for university you have to send them your high school diploma with grades in English. So first I applied over their internet page. Where I had to write an essay why I wanted to study korean, and what my goal in life was, and what I will do with my korean when Im finished with my studies. So I wrote an long essay, and called my high school to make them send my diploma in english and I also had to pay for application fee. After maybe 1 month I got an big letter in the mail from Yonsei where it said they had accepted my application and wished me welcome as their student. I almost thought I was going to die of happiness that day. So my advice for everyone is just to use alot of time to google, find out about schools, and what you want. And Im sure the schools have english speaking staff to help you with applying if you have any problems! 

How did I get money to go to Korea?

What is so hard about studying in Korea is money. Getting good scholarships for foreigners = almost impossible. And getting scholarship from norway is impossible also for study langauge. I had to use 150 000 NOK on one year in korea, and thats alot. My parents gave me a loan from them, so they paid for everything. And someday in the furture I will pay them back. When it comes to taking a major in korea, if you are norwegian you can get scholarship from norway after one year, so that means you have to find a way to get enough money for one year. So now Im working hard to get money for my major in Korea. 

How to get an korean visa?

Its very simple! All you have to do is sending you acceptance letter from the school to the korean embassy in your country along with application form, application fee,and passport. For me it took only one week to get my passport back with my korea visa in it.     

After getting your visa you are all set to go to Korea! The whole process from applying to getting a visa is actually a lot more simple than it looks like. For me the hardest part was finding out what school I wanted to apply too. And I cant really help you with that. But its easy to find school in Seoul if you just google it :)

But I must say that Yonsei is a great school, and it beautiful, and so many fun things to do around the campus. So check Yonsei out if you are looking for a school. I can gladly write more about Yonsei later. But now its time to tan my stomach in the sun a little!  

 

Kimchi: the devils food or totally awesome?

My first videoblogg people!!! And sorry the video is the WRONG way, Im a totally stupid born blonde person who sucks at recording. I recorded the wrong way, my little brain just couldnt handle it, and Im not smart enought to rotate it either! An evil circle right?

Anyway,my todays video is about Kimchi. For people who dont know kimchi is like koreans biggest pride, and all korean eats it. Its a korean sidedish that is used to ALL foods in korea, korean people must have their kimchi in every meal, if not they go nuts lol

Kimchi is made off fremented cabbage ( do I need to say more) and for me personally it taste just aweful. I know many people are big fans of Kimchi. But me, nah...

Only good think about Kimchi its that its said to be one of the most healthy foods in the world!! But even so, I would more like to eat unhealthy pizza and die of being fat.

For all those kimchi loving people out there, please dont kill me for not liking it. Im trying to make myself like it, even if its really hard. But, im sure I will never be able to. I think kimchi is a sidedish that you either love or hate. So what about you? do you think like me that kimchi is the devils food? or just totally awesome?

Rosetta Stone Learn Korean

Wanna practise a new language without having to go to classes to learn it? Have you thinking about buying Rosetta Stone Learn Korea? 

Well...............Then let me tell you what i think about Rosetta Stone first.

I have done level 2 now of Rosetta Stone learn korean (not tried level 1!)....and must say I think maaaybe this would be waste of money for those people who know no korean from before. Rosetta Stone is a langauge program where you will learn langauge by looking at pictures,so you will memorize words etc by watching the same picture 84304832 times. I have allready learn alot of korean grammar, expressions etc, so for me I think its an okay program because I can learn new words. But if you are a beginner with no knowlage of korean, there is many important grammar etc you will not learn. And there is also no explanation of new words or sentences in this program, so if you dont understand the new words from seeing the pictures that are beeing showed it can be hard. So you better buy an dictionary at the same time lol.

And also have to mention that many of the pictures are hard to understand. So if you do know the words, grammar I still sometimes click on the wrong picture because they are so weird.

So for those who wanna learn korean, if you can find good books, I think it would be an much better option if you wanna learn korean that you can actually use later. Ofcourse its good to know what a "book" or an "apple" is etc, but it hard to use those world without knowing how to build a sentence. 

But for you out there like me, who does know some korean, maybe you will find it alittle helpful by either learning new words, or use this program as an reminder of things you have learned in the past (words you maybe have forgotten etc!)

Pictures from Rosetta Stone learn korean: 

So there you go!! If you do want to try Rosetta Stone you should check out their webpage where you can buy it, or do the cheap way, download it illegal ( Maaaybe not the smartest idea, but hey! Im sure Jail got yummy and FREE foods!!!)

Anyone else tried it? what did you think about Rosetta Stone??

AND ONE MORE THING BEFORE I PUBLISH THIS BORING TEXT!:

Im thinking about starting to also make some videos about korean stuff, my experiences,things I have done,or will do in Korea...Or just talking random about korean stuff....What to you guys think?? 

Videoes are almost always more cool than pictures! Right?! 

So now I just need to get paid from work so I can buy my new digital camera with better recording than the old one I have now..(so old it can soon be in a museum).

That was all fooolks!

Bored???Dance to some kpop!

Are you bored as I am right now??

Then get your butt out of the chair, bed or wherever you are sitting right now and shake that butt instead!

Yes, its dancing time!!

What better way to kill some time than dance? not only is it fun to learn some dancemooves to show off to your friends so they can envy you like crazy, but its good for your body also (watching computer + getting exercise = perfect!)

So here you go:

Find your favourite kpop songs and dance, do yourself and you body a favor at the same time! 

What are your favourite kpop danceroutine?? 

Mine is Madonna- Secret!

DANCE LIKE CRAZZZZY PEOPLE

Everland

Hello people!

The summer is here (even if it dosnt look like summer right now with all the rain and bad weather).

But maybe the weather become alot better soon, lets hope!

Speaking of summer. You guys know whats the perfect thing to do in summer, and in you're summer vacation?

Let me tell you...

GO TO AN AMUSEMENTPARK!

So for you who dont know. Korea has an amazing amusementpark called Everland (just like Peter Pan?)

And its seriously super great place to spend a day with friends and have fun. 

Everland is kinda like Disney land. Its big, has a cute theme,and alot of fun festivals. So if you are staying in korea, and always wanted to visit Disney land, Everland is the closest thing you get to Disney Land, so its worth the trip!

Photos taken by the entrance. Just look how cute it is! Like a little cute town taken out from a childrens movie. Made me feel like a little child again!

Every season they also decorate Everland in different themes matching the season. Like spring theam,halloween theme,christmas theme etc.  I went there in summer, and this is how things where decorated:

It was decoreted with small fished etc, like a sea theme. It was really pretty and interesting. 

Because Everland is so superbig they have rides for everyone. For brave people, and not so brave people like myself. For those who are brave, you should try their wodden rollercoaster named T-Express. Its the worlds six longest wodden rollercoaster, and ninth fastest, and not only that but also fourth talles wodden rollercoaster!! Its seriously hugh! So next time I go to Everland I will force myself to try. Screaming like a little girl, wanting my mommy to come save me.

 In this picture you can see the rollercoaster in the background, but in reality it looks so much biggher. So if you are a rollercoaserfan you should totally go and check it out.

 If you like animals. Everland also has alot of animals for you to look at. They also got animal safari, and animal shows. EVERLAND GOT EVERYTHING,true story dude.

See. Dont it look cool?

If you wanna go there. You dont need to visit in summer. They are open 365 days a year, so if you want to experience Everland in the middle of the cold winter, you can! 

Going to everland in summer is damn warm, and people everywhere with never-ending lines on most of the attractions. But I guess thats how it is in most amusementparks in summer. But if you are planing to take your summervacation in Korea this year. Dont forget going here, because its really cool and fun.

Its located outside Seoul, so getting there bus buss is the best option.

The entrancefee is quite cheap. Ranging from 30.000 won to 40.000 won deppending on age. So not too bad right? And I think they also got discounts for students if you check their webpage. So make sure to check for special discounts before you go there. Maybe you can get a good deal! 

Have a nice trip to Everland if you decide to go there, and tell me all about your trip!!


Check out  http://www.everland.com/ for more information!

Wow.

You guys are really weird, like...No kidding, really weird! A friend of mine told me that many people read my blog, wich i find quite weird because this blog kinda dead. And I have never told him about my blog, so how he found out that korean students look at my blog, is also a mystery. So I checked, and I still have many readers each day.

I guess the reason why people still visit my blog about Korea is that is hard to find information for foreigners about living in korea,what things to do in korea, schools etc etc.
So......


Im thinking about opening my blog again, just because seeing that people still visit my blog means that there is people out there that wants to see what the korean life is like. And I remember myself before going to korea, I had big problems finding blogs, and information about living in korea as an foreigner.

The reason why I write in english now its because most of the people visiting my blog is actually not norwegian. So it sucks to be you who dont know norwegian looooool.

So well. I will start over. A brand new start! But this time I will write in english so all can understand, not only the vikings from Norway.