asyastudieskorean

[asyastudieskorean]

08.02.2025 — 안녕하세요. 오늘 한국어로 자기소개서를 썼습니다. 그리고 전 처음 비 부츠를 샀습니다. 가을에 비가 많이 옵니다. (Hello. I wrote a self introduction in Korean today. I also bought my first pair of rain boots. It rains a lot here in the fall.)

[asyastudieskorean]

08.01.2025 — My longterm goal is to translate all the poems in “얼음이 얼어 죽으면 어쩌려고“ to the best of my ability. I am still very much an intermediate Korean level, and poetry is usually the exact opposite of straightforward, direct translations. I’m having fun with it, nonetheless. While in Korea, I bought a simple lined notepad that I’ll write a clean copy of the poem in English on, and stick it in each page. I think at this point, or for any level of learner really, even if you’re busy or haven’t studied for a while, at least interacting with Korean in some way is good for practice. Or maybe that is obvious.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.22.2025 — 안녕하세요 여러분. 오늘은 화요일이에요. I finished my three-hour morning class, then grabbed a quick lunch with a friend. No other plans (or time for plans) today, other than staying in to study and do some work on my computer. Tomorrow is the last day of class, aka our final exams. I return home on Friday.

Back home, I’ve ordered a new desk and some other bedroom things, so I’m very eager to get back and refresh my study/work space. I truly blame my eagerness to spend money on myself to this trip, where I spend money every day, multiple times a day. 🥲 It’s definitely saving time when I get back and settled. Everyone, good luck today!

[asyastudieskorean]

07.21.2025 — Study time.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.20.2025 — Made the most out of what might be my last full free day in Korea. Took the train early (by myself, yay) all the way to Lotte World Mall, and tried to see as many of the shops as I could (truly impossible in a day because the place is massive). I found an affordable bookstore, which was my goal, and bought a poetry book. I’m going to slowly work my way through it, translating each poem. Class again tomorrow morning, then a study session at a Twosome Place for finals.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.19.2025 — Studying late tonight after a long drive back to Seoul from Sokcho. With two final exams on Wednesday and group activities in between classes, there’s really little time to prepare, especially for the oral exam, which is done with a partner. I really don’t know how so many students go out this late to drink or party…

[asyastudieskorean]

7.17.2025 — Pouring rain, lighting, and thunder today. My final classes of the program are next week, then a written and speaking exam.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.16.2025 — 지금 연습하고 있어요. 또 비가 오고 있어요. 드디어 오늘 날씨가 안 더워요.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.14.2025 — 수업 끝낸 다음에 산책을 했어요. 오늘 비가 많이 와요. 그런데 제 생각에는 비가 너무 더운 날씨보다 더 좋아요. 안경점에 갔는데 너무 비쌌어요. 내 방으로 돌아가기 전에 커피와 케이크를 샀어요. The condensed milk cold brew from A Twosome Place is the best coffee I’ve had so far while in Korea. I highly recommend for those who want a strong coffee that is sweet. 내일 시험이 있어요. 쉬울 것 같아요.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.12.2025 — This was Thursday, our Friday of the school week. I happen to sit right in front of the professor but I don’t mind it (though it is encouraged to change seats freely to practice with different students, which I’ve done a couple times). I also don’t know how people take clean or pretty notes while also trying to keep up with the lesson and be prepared to answer? It’s a skill I’ve never really had to master as a mostly online college student.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.08.2025 — 안녕하세요 여러분? It’s only about 2:45 PM here in Seoul, but I feel like I’ve already done a full day’s worth of things.

☕️📚 This morning, I got coffee with a friend before barely surviving another 3-hour class. We have a quiz tomorrow so I need to study for that and take some new vocab notes. 

🥪 After class I got my favorite go-to lunch from the convenience store (an egg sandwich and those tofu rice things, lol) then rested in the dorm for a bit.

🚶‍♀️Then, despite the 95-degree weather and beaming sun, I took a short walk (about 10 minutes) to a pharmacy to get a medicine I needed. I was nervous, but the pharmacist was really nice even though she didn’t speak much English. There was no one else in the store at the time I was explaining what I needed so I felt more comfortable. On the way back, I treated myself to a vanilla bean latte and chocolate cake from a Twosome Place.

💻 Now back, I need to study and work before showering. There is a scheduled field trip to a baseball game tomorrow evening that I am signed up for, but I am really not looking forward to the heat. I think I should still go, but dang it’s gonna be hot.

[asyastudieskorean]

7.7.2025 — Today’s very messy notes and a cold brew to get me through the rest of the day. We spent 2 of the 3 hours of class learning about “~하고“ (and or with for 2+ nouns) and “~고“ for connecting verbs (i.e, 먹고 공부해요.) It was a lesson that could have been done in 20 minutes or less. I took notes, nonetheless. 🫩

[asyastudieskorean]

07.04.2025 — Craving a sense of routine and productivity, so I’m doing some review pages in my workbook after grabbing coffee and bread down the street. My laundry is almost done, so I’ll have to take yet another journey down to the basement laundry room.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.02.2025 -- Last class day of this week, thank god. We had a wildly easy quiz, and did review for units 1 and 2. Now for a heart-to-heart you didn't ask for (skip if you want, lol): These days I feel really conflicted about how Korean fits into my personal and professional life. Being in Seoul now, I realize how different/distant I feel from the language and culture, which, granted, is a given, considering I am not Korean, never will be, and this is my first time here, but still. I hate to sound dramatic, but I have already realized I will never fit in here, not fully, and there are way more people/students who seem to know more about or be more invested in the culture. I am a realist and pessimist, lol, so I can't help feeling this way. Before coming, I kept trying to prepare an answer for why did you come to Seoul? or why did you choose to study Korean? But now I am not really sure. At first, it was because I love aspects of Korean culture and I have a deep interest in linguistics, then it was so I could get a job where Korean was required (like translation, editing, or just at a Korea-based company), but now I don't know. When I return home, I wonder if I will keep studying (or taking a new class, if I can find one) or if I will just move on. To move on feels like a total waste, but to continue studying (and paying for classes) without a true purpose or end goal also doesn't feel right. That is, I feel too far along to quit but too far behind to consider gaining anything or being good enough to get a Korean translation/etc. job. I also want to start pursuing something else, like returning to piano or violin lessons, writing fiction again, etc. I haven't written in so long, it's almost like I've forgotten or abandoned a part of myself. As you might be able to tell, I've really just got a lot on my mind, lol. I guess I'll take the rest of my time in Korea and this summer, to think it over. If you read this far, thanks.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.02.2025 — Another long day. 3-hour classes are actually crazy. I always lose all energy by the third hour.

If you have any questions or curiosities about my summer study program at Sogang, please feel free to direct message me or submit an ask if you think it would help others too.

[asyastudieskorean]

07.01.2025 — Grabbed lunch and coffee after class. Now homework.

[asyastudieskorean]

06.30.2025 — First class went well. Both of my professors are nice, and the students are all accepting of the various levels we are at. So, so far so good. Classes are Mon-Thur, 10 AM-1:00 PM. Very happy about the extra free weekday. After class today, I bought my textbooks, post-it notes, and a notebook.