Not many people are into politics in the United States. Some don't vote and don't even think about it twice. Maybe the U.S. should learn about political tactics from the Koreans. They really know how to keep voting real. Today the three of us girls decided to go for a swim this morning. We were so excited, walking out of our all-girls KAIST undergrad dorm, heading over the to the pool. All of our excitement ended when we realized that the doors were locked. Although we couldn't understand what the paper on the door said, all we got was that the pool was closed on "National Holidays." What's so great about June 2nd? Then we remembered-- the library also had a door notice saying "closed on Wednesday for elections." Now everything else made sense.
During the week while we walked over the galleria area we always noticed different groups of Koreans either all wearing blue, or green, or pink.. with numbers printed on their clothes like "1", "2", "3." Korean music is always playing in the background while these Koreans are dancing to it together, all synchronized with thumbs up and moving like a slow Macarena dance.
The first day Annika, Tiara, and I decided to explore the city a group of pink dancers with the politician in the middle made us get in front of them while they chanted something in Korean-- and another guy was filming this. I'm not sure if they were a well liked party, since not many people were happy with them .. and I hope they weren't against the US or using us to display a US approval of their party, but we were definitely on camera. Anyways, it all adds up: Koreans display their politician party runners as fun, happy, and ordinary dancers. Some of them stand up on a small stages that are part of a small car and bow to everyone that passes by (even cars) as Korean patriotic music plays in the background. I would like to share some interesting situations we've found ourselves in since we've got here:
1. Most restrooms contain the toilets we're regularly used to. Yet, once I found myself staring at the floor and looking at a small hole. I have no idea how to use this public restroom, and I'm not about to try it now!
2. Milk is great here! ..but first you have to choose which color carton you like best. I mean, it's not like you can understand what "두유" and "염소 우유" means, so you might as well randomly point at one. I was holding a "Calcium plus" blue carton milk this morning with lots of Korean writing everywhere, until a man that worked there came, gave me a green one, and pointed at it so as to say -- "this one not that one." I wonder what was so bad about the blue one.
3. I love going to Kroger at home, especially during lunch time because of the small food samples they give out. The second day we were here they KAIST students took us to "Home Plus," which Anthony later nicked named it as "Sam's Club on Crack." I think the grocery store was on the second floor. Each aisle had at least one lady giving out iced coffee, juice, shrimp, bread, coke, yogurt, milk samples. And, they were all dressed up according to the brand name of the food. The seafood section was crazy. There was a whole section for dry seaweed, squid, and I don't know what else. I tried to find a plastic bowl for my cereal, but they didn't sell plastic ones so I got a little plastic jar that I found for about 1000 won (equivalent to less than $1). A few days later I found my jar in the basement of the Galleria being used to carry beans.
3 1/2. Picture posing: I find it very interesting how Asians use their hands and make bunny ears when they pose for pictures-- it keeps your arm from feeling awkward. Not just that, but sometimes girls get very 'girly' and 'cute' just for fun. I added a picture of us with two random Koreans that we were talking to by the Galleria. I didn't know they posed like that until I saw the picture. Ha and they were ubber excited when we asked if we could get a picture with them.
4. Music is always popular anywhere you go. After our Structural Dynamics class yesterday the T.A.'s decided to play us some popular Korean videos of two bands: Girls Generation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGbwL8kSpEk&feature=related) and Rain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJPWr_5cGWk). The first time we watched it I couldn't help but smile.. those weren't the videos they showed us.. I'll try to find the really good ones. Haha.
5. KAIST is amazing. I love this school. It's such a great scientific school. I think it's like the equivalent of MIT in the U.S. Tuition is paid for by the government. Their library is amazing-- I'll be spending a lot of time there. Each engineering department has a 3-4 story blue building. The campus is beautiful, and everyone rides bikes so it makes me feel like I'm at A&M.. but better. :) Our dorm has an exercise room with weights and everything. And the food is great, and cheap. I'm definitely getting a KAIST shirt before I leave, and I might have to consider applying here for grad school.. even though I probably have no chance getting in.
That's all for now. Need to go research some :)
-Allie R.
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