Korean translation, 년[neon,nyawn]: year



Korean translation, 년[neon,nyawn]: year




To whoever is looking at this blog, know that while although one of the functions of this blog is to inform others of my time here, I also use this blog as a way to document what I am doing in Korea for myself. I do this so that come a year, two years, ten, twenty from now, I can look back and remember some of the the amazing people I met, the places I went and the meaningful experiences I had.

Why am I in Seoul, anyways?

Why am I in Seoul, anyways? I'm studying language in Seoul for the year through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth operated by the U.S. State Department. While in Seoul, I attend a local Korean high school as a regular Korean student and have intensive language classes three times a week at an international institute in Seoul. My school is a digital media vocational school. Both in school and in many other settings, I am often the only American they have met and almost always the only Jew. As such, I have an important role, not only as an American or a Jew, but as The American and The Jew. Because of this, I have been prone to some alarming, but insightful questions. Like when it was drizzling outside, weather that does not necessarily warrant carrying an umbrella, but being asked by my host brother, "Do all Jews not use umbrellas?" I am constantly being put in new situations. I make mistakes sometimes. Like when I clearly asked for "not spicy," however later realized, tears in my eyes, that the woman's shocked expression when I ordered "meh-un tteokbokki" was not from my Korean ordering skills, but was because I had probably been the first foreigner to specifically ask for the spiciest food on the menu. These year as the non-umbrella-carrying-spicy-food-eating-American-Jew living in Seoul has been exhausting and exhilarating, but a year of experiences I will bring with me for the rest of my life. .

A Private Tour: Suwon

Suwon is located about an hour south of Seoul. The most famous attraction in Suwon is the Suwon Hwaseong, or fortress walls. Originally built in the 18th century, the fortress was destroyed during the Korean War and only restored in the late 1970's. Getting to Suwon is extraordinarily simple because it lies on the main subway line, line 1. 

I look up from the book I was reading (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and realize I am the only  one left in the entire subway and that the cars were no longer moving. I wait and wait some more. Sure enough about ten minutes later I hear the engines rumble and the train starts to move again. Before it reaches the next station, I see an ahjumma coming towards me. We are alone in the cart. I ask her what happened and she told me the subway had made its last stop and we were all supposed to get off.  We both laughed. There was nothing else to do. So we laughed. 

I get to the station minutes before the tour is scheduled to leave and as such am running through the terminal to find the tourist information desk where I can pick up the tickets. The reservations were made by our kind university student mentors who are helping us conduct research for a winter break project. 


You know you are not in Seoul anymore when you leave of Suwon Station. The amount of English on signs is noticeably less than in Seoul. 

When I get onto the bus, I realize it is Kelsi, myself and one Korean woman plus the guide and bus driver--essentially a private tour of the city of Suwon.

 Suwon Tour: 

 Toilet Bowl Museum 
  • A museum built in the shape of a giant toilet
  • Outside exhibits of ancient Korean toilet systems 
  • None compared to the gold-platted toilet seat (used by only the elite, we were told)
  • Inside there are awards, etc. for the World Toilet Ass. 
  • Although there were many ongoing projects of the WTA, there was a sense of comedy in the air that diminished any sense of seriousness on the African sustainable plumbing initiatives. Disappointing. 
Suwon Palace
  • Partially destroyed during the Korean War, rebuilt/restored by government 
  • More complex than other palaces in Seoul (more walls/ doors leading to various courtyards) 
  • Martial Arts performance outside, with music for added suspense 
Suwon Hwaseong (Fortress)
  • Partially demolished during Korean War, but again restored to exact measurements because of detailed records kept during its construction. 
  • Was significant because, as the tour guide told us, the wall was built with farmers and officials alike. Truly a group effort. 
  • Similar to Seoul's Fortress that runs near Dongdaemun, but with a beautiful park surrounding. As opposed to the buildings and hectic streets around Dongdaemun. 
Archery Range
  • 10 shots. 1 bullseye makes up for 9 misses.
  • More difficult than I had remembered (from my intensive archery training at the Bass Outdoor Pro Shop's indoor range)
  • Made us pick up all of our arrows when we were finished
Suwon History Museum
  • Not as informative/ English friendly as the museums in Seoul 
  • Nice to see that cities like Suwon are making their own museums to focus more on their unique past.

Post Tour:

Indian Restaurant
  • I wanted naan, so we went to an Indian restaurant where we met a man studying in Suwon from Nepal. Offered to give tours if we ever went to Nepal. Exchanged Facebooks, but when we got home, his request was gone. Interesting man. 
Bucket List Bundang Line
  • It was on my bucket list to take a subway line completely from start to stop. Usually I am never at the beginning of a subway line, so I took this opportunity to ride the entire Bundang Line from Suwon to Wapsimni. It took almost an hour and a half, only thirty minutes longer than had I taken the transfer route. 













Town Square outside Suwon Palace



Suwon Fortress' Walls



Kwannyeokul Machiosoyo! I got a bullseye!

Suwon Hwaseong's Flood Gate (one of four total)