Spring semester has come and gone. It's time for most of us to pack our bags and go back home. So, I asked 28 Konkuk University exchange students: "What will you miss most about Seoul?" No one said noraebang.
6.29.2014
28 university exchange students on what they will miss about Seoul
by Matt Dela Peña
Spring semester has come and gone. It's time for most of us to pack our bags and go back home. So, I asked 28 Konkuk University exchange students: "What will you miss most about Seoul?" No one said noraebang.
Spring semester has come and gone. It's time for most of us to pack our bags and go back home. So, I asked 28 Konkuk University exchange students: "What will you miss most about Seoul?" No one said noraebang.
5.08.2014
Overnight stay in Sokcho
by Matt Dela Peña
Most tourists visit Sokcho to climb Seoraksan. But what do you do when you're only in town for less than 24 hours? The five-day weekend everyone was anticipating finally arrived last Friday. Since it was the closest thing we had to a Spring Break, I sought out any opportunity to finally leave Seoul and explore other parts of Korea.
Most tourists visit Sokcho to climb Seoraksan. But what do you do when you're only in town for less than 24 hours? The five-day weekend everyone was anticipating finally arrived last Friday. Since it was the closest thing we had to a Spring Break, I sought out any opportunity to finally leave Seoul and explore other parts of Korea.
5.07.2014
In remembrance of the Sewol tragedy
by Matt Dela Peña
My semester in South Korea has been a rather eventful one; one that I unfortunately cannot express in a lighter tone. A lot of terrible things have happened, none of which I, thankfully, was ever a part of. The most horrific event was undoubtedly the ferry that capsized off the coast of Jeollanam-do on April 16th. Most of its 476 passengers were students from a high school not too far from here. All but 173 of them drowned. Through this heartbreaking loss, I'm reminded of poem I heard from long ago:
My semester in South Korea has been a rather eventful one; one that I unfortunately cannot express in a lighter tone. A lot of terrible things have happened, none of which I, thankfully, was ever a part of. The most horrific event was undoubtedly the ferry that capsized off the coast of Jeollanam-do on April 16th. Most of its 476 passengers were students from a high school not too far from here. All but 173 of them drowned. Through this heartbreaking loss, I'm reminded of poem I heard from long ago:
4.30.2014
Jeju Island with my ISA family
by Matt Dela Peña
For some reason, it takes a crap ton of effort just to get our entire ISA group to gather in one place. Sometimes, we even have to lie about what time we're supposed to meet up at the square just so everyone shows up (okay, most of the time—okay, always). But in the rare instances when this dysfunctional family does manage to assemble, it's one hell of an awesome time.
For some reason, it takes a crap ton of effort just to get our entire ISA group to gather in one place. Sometimes, we even have to lie about what time we're supposed to meet up at the square just so everyone shows up (okay, most of the time—okay, always). But in the rare instances when this dysfunctional family does manage to assemble, it's one hell of an awesome time.
4.28.2014
10 very touristy places to visit in Seoul
by Matt Dela Peña
Since arriving in Seoul three months ago, I have had the chance to play tour guide on several occasions for friends that visited as well as for Kelli's parentals. Consequently, I also became a campus tour guide for the International Office here at Konkuk University. So trust me when I say that I'm pretty okay at showing people places, and that if you ever visit me in Seoul, I'll show you some pretty neat stuff. In fact, let me name a few...
4.12.2014
Korean fried chicken addict
by Matt Dela Peña
First of all, there's a thing here in Korea that I really wish was a thing in the U.S. because often, putting pants on takes too much time. That is, the food delivery system in this country straight up phenomenal. For every restaurant that exists in Seoul, pretty much 9 out of 10 deliver to your front step. And most of them deliver no, not pizza—but chicken, and that's exactly how a certain fried poultry addiction of mine all started.
First of all, there's a thing here in Korea that I really wish was a thing in the U.S. because often, putting pants on takes too much time. That is, the food delivery system in this country straight up phenomenal. For every restaurant that exists in Seoul, pretty much 9 out of 10 deliver to your front step. And most of them deliver no, not pizza—but chicken, and that's exactly how a certain fried poultry addiction of mine all started.
3.13.2014
Left Coast Artisan Burgers @ Itaewon
by Matt Dela Peña
After three consecutive weeks of never-ending meals from our dorm cafeteria, my friends and I were finally overdue for an American burger fix. Luckily, a few days back, we made a new friend from the States who also happen to be a part of the previous batch of ISA students. His name is Chris from almost-the-Bay Area Tracy, California.
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| Not Chris. |
After three consecutive weeks of never-ending meals from our dorm cafeteria, my friends and I were finally overdue for an American burger fix. Luckily, a few days back, we made a new friend from the States who also happen to be a part of the previous batch of ISA students. His name is Chris from almost-the-Bay Area Tracy, California.
2.25.2014
How to feed yourself in Seoul
by Matt Dela Peña
When I went to China last summer, the one thing I did not get to try was street food and I'm probably going to regret it for the rest of my life, or until I go back to China. Street food vendors in Nanjing could not speak English and I, likewise, did not know a lick of Chinese.
So last year, when I finally found out I was going to be living in Seoul for four months, I knew that the first thing I needed to learn was the how to order food in Korean. And after having been here for two weeks already, I'm pretty convinced that my decision to study a little was completely worth it.
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| Kimbap from Dongdaemun |
When I went to China last summer, the one thing I did not get to try was street food and I'm probably going to regret it for the rest of my life, or until I go back to China. Street food vendors in Nanjing could not speak English and I, likewise, did not know a lick of Chinese.
So last year, when I finally found out I was going to be living in Seoul for four months, I knew that the first thing I needed to learn was the how to order food in Korean. And after having been here for two weeks already, I'm pretty convinced that my decision to study a little was completely worth it.
2.21.2014
Best worst week of my life
by Matt Dela Peña
Things don't always go as planned, but rarely are these things ever a big deal when they happen. Other things, however—like things that require months in advance of meticulous planning and sunk costs of up to several hundred dollars—these things are a totally different story. When these plans go unrealized, all hell breaks loose and life changing lessons subsequently come into play.
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| Where I'm writing this post. |
Things don't always go as planned, but rarely are these things ever a big deal when they happen. Other things, however—like things that require months in advance of meticulous planning and sunk costs of up to several hundred dollars—these things are a totally different story. When these plans go unrealized, all hell breaks loose and life changing lessons subsequently come into play.
11.25.2013
Seoul-searching
by Matt Dela Peña
Living abroad can be an overwhelming experience. The influx of new sights, sounds, and smells can really stir the senses into a dizzying spiral of both awe and confusion. Yet somehow I am lovestruck with this feeling; it is my natural high. I'd love nothing more than to grow a pair of wings and take flight, and spend a few days or weeks or even months in a foreign land.
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| [seoulrhythm] |
Living abroad can be an overwhelming experience. The influx of new sights, sounds, and smells can really stir the senses into a dizzying spiral of both awe and confusion. Yet somehow I am lovestruck with this feeling; it is my natural high. I'd love nothing more than to grow a pair of wings and take flight, and spend a few days or weeks or even months in a foreign land.
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