BILK (Because I Love Korean) Field Trip

For 3 consecutive semesters now, I have been a member of the group called BILK (Because I Love Korean). Basically, it is an exclusive group for foreign students living in South Korea who are studying in the Catholic University and staying in the in-campus dormitory.  BILK is facilitated by the dormitory management. The members are current students from various countries such as: The Philippines, U.S.A. Indonesia, Thailand, France, Nepal, India, Japan, Taiwan and China. The members are divided into groups of 4 or more people and are assigned one Korean mentor. The groups meet on a weekly basis and together we learn useful and basic Korean sentences, phrases and words that we could use on a day to day basis in our 2 year stay here in Korea.

As BILK members, the highlight of the semester is when we go out on a field trip. For this semester we went to Yangpyeong. It is a 2-3 hour bus ride from the school.  Last October 20, Saturday, we assembled at 8:15 in the morning in front of the IH Building and around 8:30 we left for Yangpyeong in 2 chartered buses.

When we finally reached Yangpyeong, our first stop is Yangsuri, the upper region of the Han River. Yangsuri is often used as set for movies because of its picturesque scenery. We went for a 1 hour walk and enjoyed the cool weather. After taking a walk we then went to Sanse Art Gallery to have lunch. There, we saw a traditional Korean house and a small cozy café. The place had a really nice ambiance. They served a delicious home cooked meal consisting of hot sticky rice, grilled pork, salad, some sausages and of course a Korean meal wouldn’t be complete without Kimchi! After eating and resting we then had another bus ride to go to our final destination, the Yongmunsa Temple. The Yongmunsa Temple is somewhat on top of a hill or a small mountain. We hiked for 30 minutes (or so I think it was but it felt longer) before we reached the top. On our way we passed by many streams and took lots of photos. When we reached the top, aside from the temples we saw Asia’s largest ginko tree. The tree is about 200 ft high and about 15 ft in diameter. It is believed to be around 1100 years old!  We were also instructed to drink the water coming from the small fountain because legend has it that drinking it will make you smarter! Of course we didn’t pass up on the chance of becoming smarter. The water was really fresh, cold and sweet. It was definitely a refreshing drink. Afterwards, we hiked back down because we need to leave the area by 4:00 in the afternoon.

Everyone was generally satisfied from the trip. We all took hundreds of photos! What made this trip extra special was because it was fall. It was a nice sight to see the leaves changing colors and falling down from the trees. Living in a tropical country like the Philippines, we do not usually get to see trees filled with red or yellow leaves. That is why fall is my favorite season of all. I am now looking forward for next semester’s (my last T_T) field trip! 

- by Karla Patricia Colmenar

JGEO2 Summer Fun ｡◕ ‿ ◕｡

JGEO2 students were fortunate to go to two great places in one day. Last August 3, JGEO2 students went to Mokdong Ice Rink to enjoy the coldness of the ice during this hot summer season. Students and TAs alike had a lot of fun skating...

Afterwards, they got the privilege to go to Arirang TV. JGEO2 students were given tour in the premises of Arirang - from the control rooms to the studios... Indeed, it was a fun and learning experience for this young adults. ｡◕ ‿ ◕｡ 

Check out the pictures in Mokdong Ice Rink and Arirang TV...

Students with their skate shoes

Smile...

TAs Abby, Ilene and Ye young

(From right) The ice skating students and the teachers  ｡◕ ‿ ◕｡ 

TAs Kerwin and EJ with Team UK student

Enjoying their sumptuous lunch

Welcome to Arirang... (●＾∀＾●)

Briefing inside the control Room

Say cheese

What do you think about our Radio program listeners?

Hey, I am inside Arirang Radio  ｡◕ ‿ ◕｡

Feeling at home inside the studio...

Yey... Thanks to Arirang TV for this wonderful tour..

by: Abigail Go, Blog & SNS Editor

A Different Afternoon: GEO 18's Skating Field Trip

Last Friday, 13 July, two GEO classes headed out to Incheon for an afternoon of skating!
Before heading out for the subway station, the students and class TAs of Professors Tom C. (2-1) and Stephen (3-1) posed outside the CUK IH building.

Some of Prof. Tom C.’s students with TA Peter at Yeokgok Station. 

3-1 with Prof. Stephen and TA Mario at Bupyeong Station.

TA Jeanne with some the 2-1 students at Dongchun Station.

Here is Chiquititata.

Prof. Tom C. pausing for a photo with his students.

Prof. Stephen teaching and guiding his student on the ice. 

Resting and waiting for the zamboni to smooth the ice. 

The students’ task for this trip was simply to take photos at every station they go to and create an album which they will later discuss in class.

For lunch, Prof. Tom C. led the group over to a café called “Chiquititata.” It was a small adventure of sorts as the students had to hike a hill before reaching the venue for lunch. It was certainly good exercise!

Along the way, the group encountered a small park and fountain and decided to pose for the camera before moving forward.

 

The lunch menu consisted of pizza and juice.

 

 

  

 

The group posing outside the café.

After the lunch, the group continued to walk on towards the trip’s main destination, the Munhak Sports Complex. All the students geared up and enjoyed their moment on the ice!

 

  

 Students line dancing on the ice!

 At the locker rooms fixing up and getting ready to go home. 

What a great afternoon! #Happiness ❁◕‿◕❁




by: Lia Albano, BFA Coordinator

Insadong Escapade: GEO 18's Mission Filled Trip

Field trips are great ways to develop friendships and build strong bonds.

Last July 13, GEO 18 students went to field trips. One group went to Insadong. It was a "mission filled" trip. Students were given three missions to fulfill during the day.

TAs posing in front of  Ssamziegil signage



Excited to start the missions
Students pose for a picture while waiting for the instructions

Mission 1: Photo Hunt



Students taking photo with TA Marnel for their Photo Hunt Mission

After completing mission 1, everyone took a break and enjoyed delicious Korean meal together.  

TA Morris and TA Ga-eun with GEO students

Chitchatting with friends

Enjoying the sumptuous Korean meal

Professor Peter pausing for a picture while enjoying his lunch with students

Say K-I-M-C-H-I

After lunch, back to the missions. There were two missions left.
Mission 2: Informercial activity with classmates

And finally...

Mission 3: Interview a Foreigner

Other pictures from the trip. 

How well was the caricature drawn?

Check out the wonderful traditional Korean craft finds in Insadong

by: Abigail Go, SNS & Blog Editor

My worthwhile plan for a long weekend

I heard that the Catholic University of Korea was founded in 1855. Then it is the 157^th School anniversary this year. Luckily, this year’s School Anniversary fell on a Friday! So it is a long weekend for most of us. What do you usually do during long weekends like this?

During long weekends like this, I plan to take a trip. I want to take a trip to the city ‘Jung-sun’ in Kang-won province.

I want to ride a rail-bike in Jung-sun. In the past, Jung-sun was famous for its coal mine. So there are many rails that were used to carry mineral resources dug in mines. The rails are not used as their original object, but they are used as a tourists attraction today. It is similar to a wagon, but it works with pedals. I want to ride it and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Jung-sun.

The Temptation of Hemibarbusmylodon, a fast-food restaurant

There are also special food cafes in Jung-sun. One is “The Temptation of Hemibarbusmylodon”. It is a fast-food restaurant, and it looks like a fish (Hemibarbusmylodon) laying some eggs. The other restaurant is “The Dream of Grasshopper”. It consists of two female grasshoppers and male grasshoppers. On the first floor people can eat meals, and on the second floor they can drink some coffee.

The Dream of Grasshopper, another restaurant in Jung -sun

I heard that there is a Train-pension in Jung-sun. That is a pension that is made with a train which does not run anymore. I would like to stay there for one night. But if the Train-pension is not available, then I want to stay in the capsule house for one night instead of staying in the Train-pension. Literally, the whole shape of the house is a capsule! It looks really cozy and comfortable. It is smaller than the Train-pension, but I think it has advantages in its own way.

Usually, I have no time to take even a short trip. So I would like to get as much out of my everyday life and take a trip to get out of our campus specially during long weekends when we have a lot of time..

by Lee Han Ul, GEO Class 2-4, Professor Nigel and TA Jiyeun

Photos taken from:

http://blog.daum.net/kyu019/6938734

http://blog.naver.com/kcsids?Redirect=Log&logNo=120070768560

GEO 15′s Times Square Field trip – A Day to Remember

During GEO vacation camps, GEO students enjoy alternative activities to help them use English in different venues, to speak the language with a variety of people. One of these activities is the GEO field trip. This GEO 15, students went to Times Square. for most of the students, it is their first time to go to the place. They are very happy to have the opportunity to bond with a various people.

Hyeong kuk shares “I think the field trip to Times Square was a novelty. It was my first time to visit Times Square.”

Jin imparts “On January 20, all of the GEO students went to Times Square for a field trip. We made a short film. That was a very interesting experience. That experience helped us to know more about Time Square. I am sure that all the GEO students had a wonderful experience.”

Hyung jun discloses “When I heard that we are going to Time Square, I became interested. Because I have never been to Time Square. For me, the field trip is a whole lot of fun and interesting. In the future, I want to go Time Square again”.

Se min reveals “This was the first time I had ever been to Time Square. Now I have many memories to build from. I was a little ashamed because I should speak English in the Time Square. I’m not very good at it, but I manage to speak confidently. The activity is really enjoyable.”

Jong Hee reports “I made an impression at a field trip. I got hurt on my leg. That’s why I cannot move well. No one at GEO even considered the condition of my leg. I was angry a lot but my classmates took care of me much. I appreciated that.“

Min Woo recounts “For me, the field trip was a real adventure trip. Our home room went to Time Square via subway. When I arrived at Yeongdongpo station, I realized that I left my bag in the subway. So, I went to station office, and asked the station staff for help. Forty minutes later, I heard the news that my bag was in Jongno sam- ga station. I went to Jongno sam- ga station and got my bag back. I was greatly relieved and went to Time Square to join field trip. It was long day for me. But thank God that everything went well.”

Hyung Ha relates “I think field trip was exciting. It was the first time that we ate lunch together with everyone who joined GEO. It was good to me because I could feel the togetherness of the group. We felt free to shared our feelings about classes, clubs and field trip.”

Surely, for every member of Class 1-2, GEO 15′s Times Square Field trip is definitely A Day to Remember…

The whole Class 1-2 smiles widely as they take their picture in Times Square

from GEO Class 1-2 (Prof. Jerry Tumlinson and TA Boram Kang )

A Fun Filled Field Trip for GEO 15 students

The recently held GEO Winter Camp Field Trip held in Times Square, Yeongdongpo was a success. I was assigned in the “photo hunt” activity. The other Foreign Teaching Assistants (FTAs) and I were positioned in different places within the mall; the students were instructed to find each one of the FTAs found in the list given to them and they were tasked to take a picture with the latter.

The activity was fun, especially when you see the joy in the faces of the students when they successfully located the FTAs. The students were actually very competitive, they keep on asking whether they were the first one to arrive and take a picture or some other groups went first.

In spite of the exhausting, challenging activities given to them (students), they were happy and fulfilled. I never encountered students saying that the activity was boring, all of them gave me a positive feedback – kudos to the TAs who planned the event!!

The success of the activity can be credited to all the people (Professors, TAs, and students) who participated in the activity. I do hope that in the next camps to come there will more exciting activities. In addition, I think that professors should be allowed to join along with their respective students. Still, it was a great day!

GEO Students all scattered at the ground floor of Times Square. Everyone’s excited and ready to do the GEO 15 Field Trip Challenge ^_^

Students actively conversing with TAs

GEO 15 students seriously playing the game

GEO 15 students stops and poses for their picture to be taken

Students enjoys sumptuous lunch during their Field Trip… Yum Yum Yum

Professor Peter and TA China enjoying lunch with their students

GEO 15 students seriously eating their meals

Morris striking a pose with students

3 guys and 1 lady ^_^

Everyone’s so happy to find Morris and finish their tasks

written by FTA Morris Catabian