Korean Way of Camping

                     Our camping tent car!!!!!

 Panoramic view of Yongin MBC Dramaia Village 

The crisp smell of the forest, the aroma of pine trees filling the air, mixed with the enticing aroma of meat cooking on a grill, the buzzing of the bees and the busy mosquitos looking forward to dine on our blood. Add the morning dew and fresh smell of campfire and marshmallows cooking over an open fire. The children are gathered around the campfire making smores with  their faces covered in chocolate,  marshmallows, and graham cracker crumbs.  This is how Oregonians or per say Americans camp!

I went on my first Korean camping trip.  I was anxious about how Koreans camp. Will it be the same as camping in the USA or will it be different?

I was really surprised by how the camping facilties are well maintained and clean.  Our camping car tent as Koreans like to call it, had a clean bathroom and our own shower facility.  We had a kitchen with gas stoves for cooking our food. We had a sink and the camp supplied us with plates and bowls as well as eating utensils.   They even supplied 4 sleeping bags, pillows, and hygiene products.

It felt really calming to get out of Seoul for a night and 2 days.  Away from the big city with sky high skyscrapers and 22 story aparments et cetera and into the green lushy countryside and into the forest.

The only downside to camping are the blood thirsty mosquitoes as I got bit numerous times.  My niece and I shared the same fate but we avenged ourselves and took matters by using a slapstick to kill the bloodthirsty mosquitoes.

Overall,  I will definitely be going camping again in Korea and can't wait to go camping in the US with family and friends!!!!

The root of the start of a new journey

I was born in Seoul, South Korea in the year 1986. In 1989, my family emigrated from South Korea and immigrated to the United States of America. My parents worked hard trying to earn a living and also became American citizens so that going to college in the United States would be easier for their children.
It was really hard for me in school growing up, because I learned English as my second language being that I stayed home with my mom until I reached Kindergarten. I spoke Korean at home and spoke broken English but managed to get better in my grammar and English pronunciation. As I mastered my English and reached my teenage years, I had forgotten some of my Korean. It was difficult talking to my parents sometimes because I had used more English in my later years. My oldest brother, whom I respect a lot grew angry at this and told me that I am a Korean person, I should never forget my language and my culture and who I am. As I heard this, I was deeply saddened that I had forgotten my culture, my people, and most importantly who I am. I felt like a stranger. In college, I even tried joining clubs at my university and tried to make a few Korean friends.
When I heard about the Yonsei University Korean Language Institute I got instantly excited! This program can help me find who I am by mastering Korean in the best possible place, Korea! I will be surrounded by my own people, living the Korean life, and experiencing Korea and my culture to its fullest! I'm very passionate about being reunited with my Korean heritage and this wonderful opportunity to live in Korea for at least a year. I believe this will also help me in my career plans. I plan on using my Korean and English to make my dream come true by working as a News Reporter or even a bigger accomplishment, working as a Interpreter or Translator for the United Nations(UN).
I believe that after completing the regular program at Yonsei University I will be very passionate about my Korean heritage and culture and never forget who I am, a Korean person(한국 사람).

Update

I just set up this blogger account today so bear with me for not posting anything! It has been roughly 9 months since I arrived Seoul, South Korea. I have been on many adventures til now. If you would like to see pictures of my adventures in South Korea feel free to add me on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/parkgster