After I return?

Some people might be wondering what I will be doing on this blog after I return.
Honestly, I don't really have any idea since I won't be in Korea anymore and won't have new things to talk about.

However, there are certain things that I haven't covered in my posts, so I might just reflect back a little and perhaps post about Korea and how I experienced it, in general.

So don't worry, I will try this keep this blog up as much as I can. In the event I have nothing to write, I might start a new blog or something. =/

I started this blog to help my fellow juniors in school intending to take up a programme for studies in Korea, as well as to help people who are going to such programmes... People from anywhere. Or people who want to know about Korea in general, from a student's point of view.
Therefore, I can't use this blog for my personal thoughts or anything that isn't Korea! We must stick to its original purposes! >_<

In any case, I hope it did help people around the world. If you have friends who are intending to go to Yonsei for exchange programmes, or to Korea University for summer programme, feel free to share my blog with them (:

I answer questions too, so they can choose to drop me an email, or leave a comment on one of my posts~

Once again, thanks for reading!

A little taste of Singapore

A long overdue post, my apologies! Now that I am done with school (for now), I can start writing about some of the stuff that I've missed out during my exchange..

One of which was the Singapore Embassy event. To be honest, I am not a very 'hapz' person, so I don't usually go to such events, especially during school days. However, I saw that the Cedar Girls' Secondary School Choir was going to be putting up a performance then, and I just HAD to go!

It would be cool, right, to meet Ms. Chye again? (:

So after we were done with lessons on a tiring Tuesday, Rekha and I met up with MengYu and Lea, and we took a cab down to Lotte Hotel near Myeongdong. Rekha and I didn't dress up that awesomely because we thought we couldn't go. They had some RSVP list and we didn't make it, but we went anyway on last minute notice... And found out that, apparently, there was absolutely no need to be on the RSVP list to attend the event. (Scammed!)

There was a short opening address by the Ambassador, and to be honest, it was pretty heartwarming to hear the Singapore accent again. To top it off, everyone there just spoke in our uniquely Singapore accent, and it was cool. For once we didn't need to speak in pretentious accent just so people would understand what we were speaking. (Koreans learn English the American way, so they can't comprehend our Singapore accent that well) 

After which, the Cedar Girls' Choir performed. They sounded angelic! Ms. Chye, doing excellent work with her choir as usual...

The choir gown is still the same color, but I thought the white looked really good on them. Well, the weather was too cold to wear ONLY the gown. They sang Singaporean songs, one of which was the medley of three songs - Geylang Sipaku Geylang, Ikan Kekek, Chan Mali Chan. I still remember during my time, we sang that exact sang medley. It brought back SO much memories. Haihz.

They sang a few other songs, which were really impressive as well. Ms. Chye seemed to be in a good mood. (:

After the choir was done with their performance, they invited SKarf to give a performance too! For those who don't know, SKarf is a 4-member girl group, with 2 girls from Singapore, and 2 from Korea. So apparently, MengYu is friends with one of them. Wow!!!
SKarf performed two songs, and I guess it was cool because usually when there are celebrities, it is usually a screamfest, or something crazy happens. But since it was a small, private kinda-of setting, it was cool. Just chillin', watching some KPop.

After that we managed to take a photo with them (:

And after all the performances were done, we could start eating. Initially we didn't want to take the food because they only catered for people on the RSVP list. But we didn't really care because we were getting hungry, and had some realllllly good food. Buffet style, with Singaporean flavours, taste of home!!

This was just a small portion of what they really had. Lots of seafood, some chicken, sushis, wow!
Had a really good dinner (:

Oh yes, and I managed to go greet Ms. Chye, who, to my pleasant surprise, still remembers me (:
It's really a conincidence. I haven't been back to Cedar much ever since I left, but now here we are, saying HI to each other in a foreign country (: FATE!

It was overall an enjoyable night~ Left me smiling widely the entire night, haha~!

Thank you, Singapore Embassy!! <3 and SKarf, and most importantly, CGSS Choir!

A smile for you, my dear readers! <3

Travel Tips: Packing!

Whenever I return from a trip and open the luggage, my mum always go, 'Wah!'
Because I pack well. Not the sort of very neat well, but I pack very efficiently.

Traveling from one accommodation to another while on my 6-month trip to Korea, packing has become one of my fortes. And here I am to share my tips with you!
(Fact: International House at Yonsei is the 5th place I've moved to within 6 months.)

Before leaving for a trip
Packing before leaving on a trip is pretty easy. First, you got to make sure you know how long your stay is so you can plan appropriate amount of clothing. And on the topic of clothing, you need to consider if you are going to be doing laundry. If you are, you can actually reduce the amount of clothes you bring, and it is absolutely necessary for long trips.

Tip #1: Open your luggage early and put whatever you remember into it
When I am anticipating a trip, I take out my luggage bag at least one week before the actual date. This is because a person cannot remember every single thing at last minute. So during the week when I remind myself that I need to bring something (especially if you do not use it regularly at home), go get the item, and throw it in the bag.

Some things that I find can be packed early are...
- Travel soaps (those small bottles, surely you don't use travel-sized things at home...)
- Winter apparel (now, in Singapore you don't ever use them, so put them in first.)
- Travel adapter (you don't use this at home, duh.)
- Medications (if you need it while at home you can retrieve from the bag)

Tip #2: You need space for shopping
If you have to force everything into the bag, chances are that you will not have enough space for your shopping. Your other option is to buy another luggage while on your trip. Before the trip, pack your things in comfortably. The zipper should close easily. If you need to sit on it for it to close, you're doing it wrong... Try a larger luggage or removing what you don't think you need.

Hint: Some people think that the bigger the luggage, the better. I beg to differ. If you're taking a plane, chances are that the maximum acceptable weight is 20kg. If your bag is too huge, you will be incurring extra weight charges. If not, you'll find that you will not be able to utilize your luggage space fully.

During the trip
Whether you should unpack or not depends on the duration of your stay in that place. If it's for a long period, then feel free to unpack. If not, then don't unpack.

Tip #3: Laundry
If you are planning to do laundry, check whether the place you reside in provides detergent. If not, a bar laundry soap may be good for doing your laundry in the sink (:
You might choose to bring a string to hang your laundry too.

Tip #4: Organize your shopping
Try compressing your shopping frequently. You might end up with a lot of shopping bags, but it will be good if you can compress all those shopping into minimal no. of bags.

Preparing to return
Oh no! Is it the end of your trip already? Well, no matter, you gotta go home anyway!

Tip #5: Roll up your clothes
Remember you didn't roll your clothes when you came? Well, they are just buying you extra space. Fold the clothes, and roll them up, stack them, compress them in their rolls. Magic happens and you get so much more space! (:

Tip #6: Fill up those boxes
Have some boxes? Open them up and put small things inside to fully utilize the space inside the box! If you have no space, surely you do not want to waste it on carrying air in your luggage!

Tip #7: Hand carry winter jackets
If you really need more space in your luggage and have no vacuum packing, consider hand carrying your bulky winter jacket. You don't have to hold on to in for most of the time, so just chuck it in the overhead compartment and remember to retrieve it later on!

So these are some of my tips for travelling and packing your luggage!

I took so long to write this because I had to pack my own luggage towards the end, as I finish my school examinations and prepared to move to a temporary accommodation (:

Have a good trip!

SNOW WHAT?!

So I haven't been here in a long time, as usual. Time flies really fast. So okay, to be honest, I wasn't blogging for a long time for a few reasons, as listed below.

1. I failed two midterms, and has been feared into studying as and when I could, weeks before the finals. So not the life of an exchange student...
2. I like to play computer game.
3. I sleep late everyday.
4. Communicating with people back home.

So I do actually want to blog about things over here. I don't go out as often anymore because it gets so cold here and the cold just makes me want to snuggle up to the blanket on my bed. 

Few things that I haven't blogged about and eventually would (even if it is after I return home).. are

1. Singapore Embassy Event
2. Ski Trip to YongPyeong

Honestly those are the two things I've attended so far.

So today I decided to blog because we experienced our first full-blown snowfall today! Over the past few weeks, we only ever had two incidents of snow flurry. Very tiny bits of snow falling randomly from the sky that melted as quick as it came.

Then the weather forecast predicted snow today, and indeed it came!

It occurred while we were in our Introduction to Family class. The lecturer was going on about family therapy when she exclaimed in Korean that it was snowing outside.

Synchronously, the Korean girls in the class went 'WooooaH~' and everybody just stopped to look out of the windows.

Yes! It was snowing heavily! Then the lecturer mumbled to herself about the snow and resumed lesson.

We were all distracted throughout the lesson due to the snow. Haha!

And after it ended, Rekha and I spent some time taking photos in the snow. In an hour, the snow settled on the ground to form a significant sheet of snow. Suddenly the campus looked unfamiliar as it was dressed entirely in white. 

Sir Underwood, are you feeling cold there?

Even the forest path back to the dorm looked like winter wonderland. There were people there making snowmen even! 

Snow after lessons!

Rekha doesn't even need to try to be cute.

Anyway, it may all seem so amazing here but there is more to snow than just the beauty of it.

Today we learnt how difficult it is to walk when it's snowing.

Look at how thick the layer of snow is! And the thing is, the more people walk on it, the more compact it gets, and dirtier it gets.

So when we walked through the snow with our umbrellas, we realize it doesn't help much. Despite the umbrella being all glorious shelter its user, the snow flies in from everywhere else to stick to your pants, coat, bag, boots, and if you're unlucky, your face.

And because of that, we get damp whenever we enter a building and get warmed up -_-

Not only that, snow makes everything slippery. Especially compacted snow. When the treads in the boots get filled up, and you step into a building with normal flooring, it's slipping galore! >_< No I didn't slip, but there were many near experiences. No joke at all.

Even on snowed floor, there were people slipping! Rekha almost slipped off the curb onto the road -_-

But the snowy weather brings about emotions... Especially on exchange where you're away from friends and family, you kinda just miss their warmth in the coldness of winter. And also, seeing something so beautiful, and something you don't get to experience in a tropical country... You just wished you had them to share it with.

A loved one who you know will be there for you even when you're cold and lonely ^_^

So about this snow thing, there is mixed emotions... Like it, but don't like it at the same time, haha!

My many expressions in the snow...

Not sure what to make of this snow..

Frustratedwith snow flying into me!

Like a grandma taking a stroll through the woods

Damn I look so ugly in all these photos -_-

I made it back into the warmth of my dorm safely anyway~!! ^_^

And oh yea! Today is Jacqueline's birthday~ She must be blessed for the snowfall to occur on her birthday ^_^ Happy 21st~

Signing off,

Cassie!