The Countdown

As I've only got less than a month left until I depart for my year abroad in Korea, I've gone into preparation mode. I like to make sure I have a good amount of myself composed weeks before big events that way I have less to worry about the week of.

Thanks to the power of Google I've come across many tips, secrets, and general knowledge about studying abroad. My two favorites would have to be The Study Abroad Blog (TSAB) and GRRRL Traveler (GT). TSAB has many great tips on studying abroad including what to bring and how to pack efficiently. GT is a personal account blog by someone from Hawai'i who has been all over the world including Korea. I've been studying both diligently to better prepare myself.

Speaking of studying, I've been freaking out because I've got less than a month to get my Korean back up to conversational level. Sure I can still type but only because I have a lot of time to think and can correct any silly mistakes in an instant. I'm pretty sure I can't spend my first few months in Korea typing out everything to everyone. I know people tend to adapt quickly to the local language but I want to make sure I have my foundation back at least. That's why I've started another journal of sorts (link) to document anything new that I learn this summer. It will act as a reference point, at least until I start perfecting the grammar points.

I plan on documenting what I bring with me and share some tips I've learned about packing efficiently. I'll start preparing all of that in a week or two.

Shoots!

Introduction

Aloha and welcome to my blog! My name is John Peter, a student at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa focusing on a BA in Family Resources and a minor in Korean. For the start of my senior year, I will be attending a year of school at 서강대학교 / Sogang University in Korea as part of an international student exchange agreement. I've always been interested in traveling but my points of interest were mainly in Europe. With this wonderful opportunity, I will actually be able to travel a good part of Asia while I am away, which is several steps closer to my goal of hitting the best places around the world.

I first got interested in the Korean culture in high school when my friends introduced me to Kpop and all it's glory. Like with most others exposed to the addictive sounds of Korea's top groups, I quickly became hooked. My interest eventually expanded on to the dramas, the people, and ultimately the Korean culture. I knew I wanted to go to Korea some day, and I'm lucky to have found a way to do so while still focusing on my studies.

I'm currently still in the waiting stages right now. I just need to finish up applying for a student visa and everything will be set for my departure. The first day of classes is scheduled to start on August 27. My friends (who will also be studying in Korea) and I are leaving Hawai'i on August 16 so we can explore the city and get acquainted to our environment before starting formal schooling.

If you are reading this, I thank you for taking the time to check out my blog, and I hope you check back once in a while to see what I have seen, learn what I have learned, and get a glimpse at life in Korea. I've been blogging for many years now but I'm still inexperienced in the ways and wordings of professional blogs so I apologize in advance if I sound incoherent in the majority of my posts. ^__^;; (And I tend to make my own words at times, so please ask for clarification when needed (ー_ー)!!)

As a small note, I will be writing the majority of my posts in English, but I will probably attempt to add a few in Korean every now and then. Please feel free to follow me on my other networks (listed on the sidebar) but please respect that I will only add people I know on my Facebook. But I'm always looking to make new friends. :)