Everybody loves mahjong

Yes, I know this is my third blog post today, but I actually have a little free time to write some of my thoughts down about the time I spent in the Philippines. Plus, I'm watching Inkigayo live right now. :) In no particular order:

1. Practically everyone in the Philippines is bilingual (Tagalog and English), even trilingual depending on where they live (for example, my mother's side can speak Ilocano because they originated from Ilocos).
2. The cities are crowded. Very crowded. Why? I think it is because the Philippines is a very Catholic country where practices such as abortion and birth control are not commonly used among young men and women (resulting in many babies).
3. Churches are the place to be on Sundays since Catholicism is so widely practiced. Filipinos especially love the saints and the Virgin Mary, as demonstrated by the many rosaries hanging off of jeepneys. A special note - Communion is absolutely crazy. People, regardless of where they are sitting, rush to the front in order to receive the Eucharist. It's wonderful that they are so excited, but it could be done in a slightly more orderly fashion.
4. Filipinos get around by jeepneys and tricycles. The traffic is absolutely horrendous. There are no stop lights and the traffic control guys all fail at directing traffic. As a result, roads become a free-for-all where cars stop, go, and turn as they please. It's survival of the fittest.
5. If you are rich you hire a driver to take you everywhere because of that very reason. If you have family in the U.S. who sends you money you can also probably afford to go shopping in the air-conditioned malls (crucial) and get facials and massages. The great divide between the rich and the poor is astonishing - slums and hotels are side-by-side and children sell flowers for food while others throw away leftover Jollibee sandwiches.
6. Virtually every fast food restaurant serves fried chicken (since chickens are plentiful) and/or spaghetti (which is slightly sweet and comes with hot dog pieces).
7. Filipinos place a great deal of emphasis on beauty - many beauty pageants are held every year and women are expected to conform to the standard of beauty. If you watch Filipino TV you can see a lot of commercials for skin whitening products (even for men) as well as makeup and hair and things of that nature.
8. Gay men, known as bakla, are accepted as a part of Filipino society and have carved a place for themselves as trendsetters and reliable companions for women with troubles. They, however, are still looked down upon by the people of this very religious country.
9. Women love matchmaking. If a friend of a friend has an unattached son and you so happen to have a daughter (I'm looking at you, Mom) they will inevitably find a way to make them meet (much to their amusement/annoyance).
10. K-pop has invaded the Philippines! I kept hearing the "Nobody" song (by the Wondergirls for those of you who don't know or care) play on the radio and even sung by a saleslady! There was even a documentary about fangirls who love TVXQ! and a special on Sandara Park of 2NE1.
11. Moments of complete silence are extremely rare. There is always something in the background, whether it be the chirping bugs or an old lady yelling at everyone to buy her fresh produce.
12. There are more salespeople than customers in the stores - labor is cheap and there are always people willing to work for the whatever money they can get. They are also very annoying because once you demonstrate the slightest interest in a product they will jump on you and follow you either until you buy the product or leave the store. The salesladies at the cashier staple your bag though, so that is a plus.
13. So many Filipinos leave the country in search of jobs abroad because they cannot earn enough money for a good education for their kids in the Philippines. It is more common nowadays for kids to be raised by helpers (women who live in the household and do the chores as well as care for the children) rather than their mothers because the moms are working abroad in order to send money home. However, the kids need their mothers in their lives, not just as a source of income!
14. Men whose wives are abroad but need female companionship have three options - they can properly care for their kids who also miss their mom, drown their sorrows in bottles of alcohol, or find a mistress. Unfortunately the last option is becoming more common because that is a way men demonstrate their 'machismo' or something akin to that.
15. Bring your own toilet paper! I found this out the awkward way.

Santos in Hawaii

This past May I took a class in Hawaii about multiculturalism. I got an A-, which is still good but I think I failed at the final paper or something. I did write it in a week when we had two months to do it ... Anyway, here is a little snippet that did not make it into the final draft - my paper ended up being 15 and a half pages! I just didn't want this part to go to waste so I saved it.

The argument can be made that Hawaii is indeed a place of equal opportunity for all races and ethnicities by considering the sheer amount of interracial marriages that have occurred in the state as well as the laws in place to protect such couples. Equality can also be seen through all of the residents’ willingness and ability to adapt and identify with the local island culture of Hawaii. The “aloha spirit,” the spirit of respect and good-will, is a manifestation of the local culture. The residents all have a knowledge and commitment to Hawaii, as well as regard life with a good-natured and laid-back attitude. The local island culture also emphasizes the importance of being able to appreciate the diversity of the islands and subsequent blending of all the cultures. The idea of multiculturalism is a grand one that fails to take into account the one ethnic group that resided on the islands before the first immigrants ever came – native Hawaiians.

What do my (two) readers think?

Do you have happiness?

The Seoul subway system is so convenient yet confusing at the same time. This morning it took me over an hour to make my way to Myeongdong and then another 20 minutes to search for the Cathedral! You would think a Catholic church would be easy to find, but with all the exits you can take it is very easy to get disoriented very quickly. I made it in time for the most important part though! Next week I will leave 30 minutes earlier just in case.

My second week in Seoul has been a learning experience, to say the least. Tuesday was a mini-orientation at the DMC where I met other international students studying at Yonsei. I met other fangirls who are just as crazy as me! :) In the afternoon CIEE students met with four Yonsei volunteers who attempted to get us cell phones (failed) and then took us to a Chinese restaurant where I ate my very first bowl of black soybean noodles (자장면). Eating something I have only seen in dramas was very exciting, and it was delicious! After that we went to a karaoke place (노래방) and everyone sang hit k-pop songs! In my case, I sang the English parts and faked the Korean ones. That was so much fun!

The next day the Yonsei volunteers split up the CIEE group and took us on a campus tour. I already love Yonsei's campus, hills and all - it has that real oldschool feeling that I really don't get at IWU. It's VERY big though, so hopefully I get used to walking 20 minutes from one building to another (it takes 5 minutes to get from one side of IWU's campus to the other, no joke). After the tour (the library has touchscreens!) I met with my 'buddy' through Yonsei's global lounge, and we all went to first eat cold noodles (냉면) and then drink. Yes, I actually participated in drinking games. I think I had a shot and a half of soju ... my Korean mentor is really cool, as well as my fellow buddies, a girl from Singapore and a girl from Sydney, Australia.

Thursday was a big day - I finally got a cell phone! It's a slidy one, which I have always wanted. Korean phones are a million times cooler than American ones - TV, internet, mp3 player, camera, cool sound effects and cheesy ring tones - I wish I could keep it when I come back to the States! While waiting to get the phone a friend led our small group to Insa-dong, which I seriously think is the souvenir capital of Seoul. I saw socks with boy band members on them as well as more traditional fans and a bunch of key chains and cell phone charms. I plan on going back to buy souvenirs there come December.

On Friday friends and I went to eat at Pizza Hut (potato pizza with 불고기 anyone?) and then made our way to COEX, this huge shopping mall. I am currently on a mission to buy earrings (so the holes in my ear don't close), a nice tote bag/big purse with a zipper (to better prevent theft), a belt (to match a shirt I bought), and gladiator sandals (the current fashionable footwear trend). I have yet to find any I am willing to pay for ... this next part may shock you.

I, Janelle, actually went clubbing. Yes, it's true. Korea is turning me into a shopaholic and a party animal. But not really. These same friends and I went to Hongdae (홍대), where every last Friday of the month you can get into any club you want if you buy a wristband worth roughly $20. We first went to get drinks (I got a very girly ice cream cocktail that supposedly had Baily's and everyone had a shot of vodka, including myself). Afterwards we went to a place called S Club, where foreigners got in for free but everyone in the club was seriously smoking pot or something. We quickly left and caved in and spent the 20,000 won. It was worth it - the next club we went in had live rock music and I think my friend fell in love with the lead singer. Hehe. We left only after the band was done. It was an experience - everyone was jumping to the beat and I got stepped on at least three times. I don't know if I would do it again (I would rather stay in and watch anime) but I am glad that I went at least once. Hey, it's a part of Korean culture, right?

After recovering from the previous night we went out for lunch the next day and I got a spicy thick soup (육개장) to distract me from my broken sandal (the happy foot one my aunt got in the Philippines). I was walking barefoot to the food court! We then had an adventure getting to Namdaemun Market (남대문 시장) thanks to Seoul's subway system. But we all got there in one piece and shopped around - I got this very cool, kind of plaid green and white shirt, my third shirt purchase in Korea! By the time I get back my suitcase will be stuffed. Dinner was slightly disastrous - we went to a Japanese restaurant that turned out to be expensive and full of smokers. The dish I got, the Japanese equivalent of a savory pancake (お好み焼き) had nuts and shrimp, much to the displeasure of my stomach. Don't worry Mom - after my friend discovered that fact I quickly took 2 Benedryl. I only had a spoonful! お好み焼き is not supposed to have nuts or shrimp, at least I thought so!

Seoul is an amazing city where you can have a good time no matter where you go. Next Tuesday is the beginning of classes, so I need to savor the free time I have left. I plan on acting touristy tomorrow! I am excited for classes so I can have a schedule and finally start my second to last semester of college!

Southern Korea

Yesterday I got back from a three day excursion to the southern part of Korea. We explored many traditional Korean folk villages and did a number of cultural activities. The first day we went to Jeonju, famous for its good food, and ate huge delicious bowls of bibimbap (비빔밥). After lunch we went to a paper factory and made our own paper, learned how to do traditional Korean masked dance, toured the village, grilled our own samgyeopsal (삼겹살), and went shopping. For those who know me I don't really shop in the States, but I figured if I can find clothes that fit me (Korean girls are so tiny!!!) with engrish on them then why not. I have already bought two Korean shirts and only a week has passed ... but everything is so cheap here! I digress. We stayed at a traditional Korean inn and slept on hardwood floors with very minimal padding. Needless to say, I was not ready for the three hour hike I went on the next day.

My roommates and I woke up to Girls' Generation (소녀시대) Genie thanks to our tour guide's cell phone alarm. Side note - I love it when I am just browsing stores and I here k-pop songs that I know play on the radio, such as SHINee's Juliette or Super Junior's Carnival. It makes the fangirl in me so happy. I also love that I can discuss this love with my fellow CIEE students. Anyway ... we went to a Confucian school and then drove to Namwon, the City of Love (apparently) because it is the setting of the famous Legend of Chunhyang. I recommend you google it (since I know the CLAMP manga better then the actual story!). Lunch was wonderful soondubu (순두부). I never thought I would like tofu so much! The mountain hike was next. It seemed pretty steep to me (this comes from someone who is perpetually out of shape) but the view was totally worth it. After that we ate dinner at a Buddhist temple with monks and observed a worship service. Dinner rules were strict - we had to only get what we could finish, talk in low tones or not talk at all, and wash our own dishes. The service started with a musical performance (?) by the monks.

We stayed at a hotel that did not have beds but instead comforters for the floor. The room was bigger so it was an improvement. My friend was gracious enough to come with me to find the one Catholic Church in the area. This was at night, so it was a little bit sketchy but everyone we asked for directions was extremely helpful and even went out of their way to help us. We were mistaken for being Chinese by one man, but he was kind enough to leave his meal and show us the church behind his motel. Unfortunately the church only had mass on Saturdays at 7:30 PM so I totally missed it. It was an adventure, though, one that made me realize how nice Koreans can be if you make the effort to reach out to them.

The last day of the excursion we went and made green tea! We learned how to do the ceremony Korean style and were able to actually experience drying out the tea leaves. Parental units, I got a box of green tea for you so I hope you will enjoy it! After that we explored our final folk village (there were ostrich) and had a delicious lunch where the local policemen come to eat. We got back too late for me to attend mass (travel dispensation? I really tried!) but my friends and I went out to dinner and basically analyzed everyone's behavior thus far.

I just got back from a culture shock workshop, which I found to be very informative since my knowledge of Korean culture is based on k-pop blogs and the few dramas I have watched. Hopefully I will learn more and have fun doing so!

DMZ

August 19 was DMZ day, so we met at the extremely early time of 8AM to get on the bus. I probably should not have stayed up doing nothing on the internet! We first went to the U.S. embassy, where a panel of employees described to us their jobs and the U.S. stance in South Korea. I must admit I did not really think of foreign service with the State Department as a possible employment option (I do not want to take the test) but they made it sound like a lot of fun. Traveling every three years to a new country? Getting paid to learn a language? Right now I am paying IWU tuition (which is ridiculous) to learn Korean! The possibilities are limitless! :) In reality, I would really like to do Peace Corps. The whole application process takes a long time but I think if I stick with it and show that I am dedicated to the goals of Peace Corps (as well as have plans beyond the time of service) it is possible.

Back to Korea ... after the embassy we rode to the military base and ate lunch in their mess hall. I had this very very spicy kimchi and pork dish which I could not finish despite the amount of rice I tried to balance it out with! It was SO HOT! There were military men everywhere, either serving with the U.S. or with South Korea. It was intimidating, to say the least, but not as intimidating as when we finally arrived at the DMZ. Before that, we got an hour lecture on the history of Korea by a retired officer who served as our tour guide (along with his two half-Korean daughters).

I didn't realize just how big the DMZ was until we got there. The area is teeming with wildlife as a result of the strict don't cross the border unless you want to get shot policy enacted by the Koreas. We were able to look at North Korea's landscape via a tower (I got some illegal pictures!) as well as actually step into North Korea in a building meant for communication. Trying to make the soldiers laugh was pretty hilarious. Our tour guide, a U.S. soldier, told our group that we were the loudest one he's had. On a more serious note, a North Korean soldier watched us the entire time with a pair of binoculars and I just had to wave but was quickly told to stop. We also went down into a tunnel, the third of four discovered tunnels dug by North Koreans as a way to sneak into the South. Going down was pretty sweet but coming back up was horrible! I was covered in so much sweat! Side note - Korea is extremely humid and every time I have gone out I have seriously sweat up a storm. Disgusting. Luckily the showers at the DMC complex are wonderful. We ended our time at the DMZ with a look at the over-priced souvenir shop (I was tempted to buy some North Korean currency).

Thanks to the tour I have learned just how blessed I am. North Koreans are struggling every day just to survive, and soldiers in the army, those you would think to be the best treated, are malnourished up to the point where U.S. soldiers can see the white tips of their fingers! They cannot even afford to properly arm their soldiers even when all the money is going into the military! I can't even imagine just how worse off the citizens are. I keep reading the Koreans desire reunification but how exactly is that going to happen? Will North Korea ever stop wanting nuclear power? I don't know but I do pray that one day the two Koreas will become one country again.

After coming back I got some delicious kimbap for dinner and over-priced ice cream for dessert. I love that I have gotten to eat so much delicious Korean food and a week hasn't even passed yet! Today is a lazy day (I will probably go out exploring later) but tomorrow CIEE students will go on an excursion to the southern part of Korea. Will blog more later!

Santos in Seoul, finally!

I just registered for the classes I will be taking at Yonsei. If all goes according to plan, I will be taking Korea through Ethnography, Korean Social Welfare, Intercultural Communication, and Beginning Korean Language I. Classes start on September 1st and I am anxious to begin!

I arrived in Korea August 17 and was about an hour late meeting the CIEE people. When I first stepped out into the arrival gate I panicked since I did not see a yellow sign. I walked around clearly lost for about 15 minutes and was about to risk using a public pay phone (with a handy instruction manual in English) when I decided to check one last time. Thankfully the assistant program director and her friend were there! Crisis averted. I met three other people on the program and we all rode a taxi to our 'home,' the DMC Complex. I discovered that we all had problems getting our student visa and that we were all super excited to be in Korea. We went to 7/11 for dinner (yay instant ramyun!). The area I am in seems to have a lot of 7/11's ...

The next day was our orientation. Suzanne, the program director, threw a bunch of information at us that I still need to sort out but I anticipate that this semester will be a great learning experience for me. The other students in the program (most of them are Korean and know the language) seem pretty awesome so I can't wait to get to know them better. One thing I have in common with some of the girls is our mutual love for k-pop! Hopefully we can attend the 2009 Asia Song Festival (and I can see Super Junior live!). We went to Yonsei's campus, which is HUGE, and were shown where most of our classes will be and the student lounge with a conveniently located bank.

After the orientation some of the girls and I took about an hour trip to Itaewon via walking and the subway, where there are foreigners everywhere. We ate at a little Korean place with delicious ddeokbokki (쫄볶이) and I got to discover just how large the subway system is. Must learn how to navigate!

Santos in Marungko

I am having quite the time finding internet in the Philippines. I have visited several sketchy internet cafes, as well as leeched of the internet of my aunt's friend's daughter's (who was watching a Tohoshinki concert much to my amusement).

Anyway ... I am now in the impressive house of the Santos side. I have finally seen where a whole lot of money went, and I think it paid off quite well. Both my paternal grandparents are doing well, as far as I can tell. Of course, my lola just fell off her rocking chair in an attempt to transfer to the sofa so all I can do is continue to pray. I never realized the extent of the Santos family until I kept meeting cousin after cousin and constructed a family tree.

Now for Santos in emo-mode ... I have never felt so incompetent or so much like a disappointment until now, visiting family in the Philippines. The fact that I just can't speak Tagalog is going to haunt me for the rest of my life (or until I actually learn). Why didn't I learn in the 21 years (almost 22) that I have been living with my parents? Their reasons for not teaching me and my sister are as follows:

1. They did not want us to have a difficult time learning English.
2. They did not want us to have an accent and be teased by peers.
3. We said it "sounded funny" when we were young. What did we know then?
4. My mom said it was easier yelling at us in English then in Tagalog.
5. We were enrolled in a Tagalog class but apparently due to low enrollment it was canceled.

I know, I know, I should just get over it and teach myself so I can stop feeling like a failure. However, I just can't learn a language on my own. I need accountability, encouragement, grades! I know how important it is for me to learn ... my own grandmother (who is 93) is sitting a few feet away from me and I just can't talk to her! But it just hasn't been working.

So, a word of caution to all those Filipino-Americans out there - learn a little Tagalog before visiting the Philippines, even if it kills you. I have heard that Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur are effective. I have been teased constantly by my own parents, all my aunts and uncles, and especially my cousins for not knowing how to speak. They make fun of my futile attempts and especially my pronunciation.

I have also felt like a disappointment to my parents because of my choice of major in college. When my mom tells my relatives "International Studies and Sociology" they look at her and wonder what that is supposed to amount to. I know my mother wonders the same thing. I think she wants me to be a lawyer because that would bring prestige to the family the same way a doctor (or nurse) would, which I have repeatedly said I have no talent for. I know that being an idealist doesn't exactly amount to job opportunities, but that's what I enjoy doing. What to do ...

Santos in Batangas

I am currently in the Philippines for two weeks visiting family and taking advantage of the low prices. The flight over was pretty sweet - Asiana Airlines serves bibimbap for airplane food, and there is free internet at Incheon Airport! I have eaten so many delicious Filipino dishes, but the best one by far that I have never tried before is balut. Not for the faint of heart, balut is a duck egg with the embryo still inside. You slurp the juices and then eat the nearly formed chick. Delicious.

Anyway...I am staying with my mother's side of the family. The reason I am here is because my lola (grandma) wanted to see at least one of her American grandkids. I feel so American here! There isn't much of a language barrier because English is the second official language of the Philippines, but it gets very frustrating when the relatives speak rapid Tagalog I have no hope of following, or attempting to talk to sales clerks who know English but expect you to know Tagalog. On the bright side, my aunts and uncles are amazing and my grandparents are alive and kickin' (for the most part). I am able to blend in with the crowd until I open my mouth since everyone is Filipino (I have yet to see more than a handful of foreigners).

I love being here and making my lola happy, even though I mostly bum around the house. The home-cooked food is amazing and prices for everything are ridiculously cheap. I also saw the Korean version of Boys Over Flowers playing on one of the cable channels, as well as this strange show where males impersonate female celebrities and compete to win 50,000 pesos. Yay for the Philippines. :)

New to this, can you tell?

Since I'm going to be studying abroad in Seoul, I thought it would be a good idea to blog about my experiences, just as thousands of other college students have done. What makes this blog different from those other ones? Nothing really, just my own perspective, I suppose. Anyway, feel free to follow me (and give me tips) as I attempt to learn a new language, experience a new culture, and hopefully not get too lost exploring South Korea's capital city.

Why did I choose Seoul? Here are five reasons:
1) I wanted to study in the Philippines in order to learn about my heritage, but thanks to the travel warning issued by the U.S. government, my school (Illinois Wesleyan University) wouldn't allow it. So I chose South Korea because it is only second to the Philippines in having the largest amount of practicing Christians (and Catholics, yay!), and Seoul because of CIEE.
2) I took Japanese in college in order to fulfill the language requirement for Asian Studies so I considered going to Japan. However, after going on the Technos trip to Japan and seeing just how secular the country is, I didn't think I could live there for four months. I love Japan a lot though, so I'm very lucky that my program is taking a three-day excursion there!
3) Thanks to a friend of mine back in freshman year, I was exposed to Korean boy bands. As I delved deeper into k-pop I became intrigued with Korea's contemporary culture and desired to learn more about it. I even started taking Korean lessons with that same friend (who is AMAZING at languages and absolutely LOVES Korea, by the way). So by studying abroad in Seoul I figured I could attend concerts and act fangirly and not be seen as too strange.
4) I am considering international social work as a profession, so after checking the course listings as Yonsei University I discovered they had a class called Korean Social Welfare! Lucky me, huh? I am excited to learn about Korea as a part of my academic career.
5) The food. I absolutely love Korean food - it is so delicious! I have also heard that kimchi is good for weight loss.

My top 5 reasons for concern:
1) I am definitely not thin in any sense so in that regard I am in the minority. Koreans are very health conscious and might initially judge me based on physical appearance. I know everyone does that, but I think more so in Korea. K-pop stars are seriously anorexic, no joke.
2) I am not Korean and therefore a foreigner, so according to everything I have read about Koreans I will perpetually be viewed as an outsider no matter how hard I try to learn about and practice Korean culture.
3) I am Filipino-American. Filipinos in Korea often work in the service industry, which means more often then not they are of a lower social standing. My tan skin and features automatically mark me as not Korean even though I am Asian. So much for blending in! Don't get me wrong - I love being Fil-Am (whatever that entails - another blog post?) but in Korea I might face prejudice? Maybe? Can anyone correct me?
4) Despite taking Korean lessons, I definitely DO NOT know any Korean besides common words in k-pop songs. I can read (and kind of write) hangul but that's about it. Immersion is a good thing, yes?
5) I just packed yesterday and am leaving today. Procrastination at its finest. I hope I haven't forgotten anything too important!

Overall, I am very much looking forward to spending my second to last semester of college in Seoul. With luck and God's grace I am sure that my experience will be life-changing. :)