Rendezvous at CBTL

"My First CBTL Ice Blended!"


1200h


Only Sok oppa and I were the people in the lab. The rest of the guys were in Seoul having classes. So for lunch, oppa invited me to join him and I'm glad that he's also not a fan of the cafeteria for the professors! I like bibimbap so much and so we went to eat at the place where I had my first bibimbap. I learned that oppa was planning to proceed his post-graduate studies in the U.S. and heard from my professor that he's one of the brightest students even during his undergraduate years. Seems like it cos he was a double major degree holder (Environmental and Civil Engg) during his Bachelor's.^^


At the resturant, oppa ordered spicy ramyeon and bibimbap and I didn't know that it was a treat! Cool! ^^, I was supposed to have lunch with a couple of friends but they had classes still. Because of that, I got treated for lunch! ^^


1320h


I met up with BJ oppa and Keo, who had his head shaved just before we met (LOL), in front of CBTL. They're the new friends I met at the English Cafe. BJ oppa bought coffee for us and since it was a very nice warm day (22 degrees), I decided to have white chocolate dream latte ice blended - my first ever ice blended drink at Coffee Bean here! LOL. We sat outside at the porch area and I was already brave not to put on a jacket or sweater. The warm sun was really such a bliss to my skin! ^^, I loved it!


BJ oppa told us about his interview with Asiana Airlines yesterday and when I found out he applied for FA, I was so amazed and said that that's one of the jobs I'd fancy and I definitely don't see it as a job, it's more of fun than work because it's traveling!!!^^ But it's funny that he doesn't like flying! Both Keo and him have phobias in airplanes! LOL. And so he's expecting not to get accepted, the experience of the interview was enough for him. kkk...

BIBIMBAP PLACE (not exactly the name^^)

2000h


Alone in the lab! Sok oppa already went back to Seoul so I have the lab all to myself and I can sing all I want! LOL. Just kidding! (Half - hahaha!)


I thought I would be having only oranges for dinner. But John came and so I went to dinner with him, Cindy and another friend of Cindy who's living in an apartment just outside the campus grounds. We went to a restaurant that's just a few steps from the apartment and Cindy told me to try the 청둑장. At first I was hesitant cos it was neither beef nor chicken and I didn't want to have pork as much as possible. Then she said something about beans. "Oh, soy beans?!" And I was thinking of tofu already - I'm not such a big fan of tofu. I was hopeful that the way the tofu was being cooked was tasteful even spicy cos I rarely eat plain tofu! When the dish arrived, it was a red soup filled with tofu! @_@ hahah! I didn't know what to say really and so when she asked me how it tasted, I just said "Ok". LOL. It smelled not so good too as what she said. Good thing there were lots of side dishes / appetizers and the seaweed wrap which they call "KIM". I preferred the sidedishes more than the main course we ordered. LOL. It tasted just well and blended with the kim and other appetizers at least, it wasn't that bad and it was just OK. c",)

청둑장

청둑장 (Ch'ong Dook Jang)

Just Scrambled Eggs

Oppas finally got tired of the cafeteria food today. For lunch, we went to a nearby restaurant outside the campus. Since I still cannot order food by myself, my friends would still suggest and describe the menu. Hyunjoo suggested that I either try the Pork Cutlet (동까스 "tong ka su") or the 오미라야스 (omi rice), kimchi fried rice covered with scrambled eggs on top (literally, it covered everything!). I decided to try the fried rice since the last time I ate there, I remembered ordering the port cutlet and only finishing half of it. When the dish arrived, I was like "Oh, breakfast - egg and rice in tomato ketchup for 4,000 won"...Hahaha!


This is how the 오미라야스 looked but with more egg on top!

Photo from: http://mybakingcottage.blogspot.com/2008/01/lunch-bento-tomato-fried-rice.html


This almost resembles the pork cutlet but the size of the pork they served at the restaurant was way bigger like 2 pieces of quarter pound pork! :))

Photo from: http://www.lastappetite.com/eating-japanese-food-like-a-complete-jackass/


For dinner, we ate at the professors' cafeteria. This time, I met another female grad student who is staying in Anam where she's doing her lab duties. She hardly spoke English but she is able to understand me anyway. We became friends from then on. ^^ After dinner, we went to Coffee Bean (I was about to go straight to the lab when an oppa told me to follow them at CBTL --- I don't want to buy an expensive coffee for now please T__T") and yey me! - It was Changhong oppa's treat for everyone! Cafe Mocha on the house! ^^,

Hot Korean Soup Day

Cathianne's Journal:

Two Hot Free Meals for My Tuesday!

Korean Soups, Aja!

29 March 2011

Today's Menu:

Lunch: 설렁탕 (seol-leong-dang) - lunch treat from our professor's lab

Dinner: 갈비탕 (galbi-tang) - dinner treat from another phd student

After-dinner: CBTL Cafe Mocha from GJ oppa

0345h
I woke up really early to read the assigned pages for today's lecture.


0430h
I went to the lab so that I won't be tempted to go back to snoozing again and miss the bus! I won't be missing the bus anymore, not ever the sake of my all-nighters!


0600h
I walked to the bus station and bought my ticket.


0625h
On the bus now. Gone to Seoul - Gosuk Express Bus Terminal.


0845h
I was already in the building and the auditorium was still locked.


0900h
Class began. At least today's lecture were not so strange at all, a lot of the terms were familiar. ^^kk


1150h
We were dismissed early. My classmates invited me to join them for lunch. It was our professor's treat from their laboratory. 좋은!!! ^^


I met another oppa, Danny, who has already been to the Philippines!!! ^^ He's been to Baguio and Cebu two years ago for vacation. And he learned how to say "PARA". :))


1215h
With our professor and with the other graduate and PhD students from our professor's lab, we walked to a restaurant outside the campus. Another new place for me! I've never been to that part of Seoul before so that time, I was lost in directions. =)) So I just kept following them. We went in GOOD RESTAURANT, not sure but that was what was written, I'm not exactly sure if that's the name of the restaurant. Just like most traditional restaurants, shoes off! ^^,


Although I can already read somehow, still slow too, I still cannot understand most of the menu content so they just recommended the seolleongdang for me. When the food has been served, I was hesitant again cos the soup was still boiling! It was HOOOOOT! Haha! Although it's really 맛있 다, I had to eat slowly and blow the soup before sipping or else my tongue will get burned! T_____T" 
Anyhow, it was NAMIT, SARAP, DELICIOSO, délicieux, 맛있 다!!! ^^ 

SEOLLEONGDANG

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pabo76

After lunch, I visited Jongchun's lab at the Innovation Building and had a cup of tea. My bus would be leaving in two hours yet so I still had time for some chats with 남동생 ^^,


A funny incident happened just before we left the building. I was introduced to his adviser and all the while I thought I should just give my name while giving a hand shake. My name sounded like greeting HI to a friend and the professor was a bit shocked and I wondered  why he didn't answer back with his name as well. Then Jongchun explained that I was actually introducing my name. WATTANAME to begin with anyway... LOL.


1400h
I took my time through the subway station and relaxed. When I got off line 6 at Yaksu Station, I almost went through the exit! I was not myself again and lost in the sounds of my sister's shuffle! Hahah...I went back and looked for the transfer to line 3 where I need to go to make it on time to the bus station. So I had to walk a bit faster this time cos I just lost a few minutes dilly-dallying around the subway. LOL.


1440h
I finally exited line 3 Express Bus Terminal Station and started following the crowd again. Because of the crowd, I found a store that was on sale and selling cellphone gadgets and accessories for ladies! It was fun looking at the items only to realize that I was losing time again! Haha! So I hurried to look for the subway's exit. And ooops...I almost went out to the wrong exit again. I had to retrace my steps until I found the escalator where I should be going up! LOL.


1450h
After 10 minutes of almost being lost again, I stopped by a hat/cap vendor. I had spare time since the bus platform is already visible from where I was standing. So I took some time looking at the interesting caps and bonnets she's selling until I finally bought one! There were a lot of cute designs and the seller was also making me try all of them. LOL.


1505h
I hopped on the bus with my stuff, the shuffle in my ear and the new cap on my head! KKK!^^


1645h
I got off at Sejong Campus main gate. I remembered that the Department Secretary told me this morning that my ARC (Alien Registration Card) was already available for pick-up at the main administration building through the Academic Affairs Team. I have never been to that building yet but while I was walking (I was also planning to ask one of the oppas to help me with it but) I also saw the Administration Hall. "There's not much difference between 'hall' and 'building' I guess", I thought and so I went in. Just the right place and the right time, the Academic Affairs Team was just on the ground floor. From the entrance, one has to turn right and look for the door with the Academic Affairs Team sign on it. When I entered, I asked the lady on the first desk about where to get the ARC and the one beside her immediately answered that it's with her. Perfect!^^ The ARC she was holding was also mine (so I guess I was the only foreigner who had that process then? kkk...). For the mailing fee, I paid an additional 4,000krw also. Not bad, at least all I did was submit the requirements for the ARC to my school and they had everything processed. It about two and a half weeks (approx. 10 working days) for my ARC to arrive since I submitted the requirements.


1800h
Dinner time! All of us in the lab went out. I only had enough cash for a regular priced meal so I wasn't expecting anything beyond 6,000 krw that night. BUT, when we went out, we didn't go to the cafeteria. We didn't go out to the restaurants near the school either. For the first time, I hopped in GJ oppa's car with Hyunjoo and MJ oppa. (Dude, those were hot wheels! Two-door black sedan! Neat!^^). I loved the sounds as well, at least I could relate with those songs (Jason Mraz, Karina, Hoobastank...) LOL.


So happy that Hyunjoo was there, she ordered for me since I had no preference on the food anyway. Almost all of us had Galbi-tang. KH, Teuk, GJ, MJ, Gwang, Wayne, Jungeol, Changhong, Hyunjoo and I were already seated and waiting for the dishes. Another boiling hot soup! Just before the main dishes were served, the usual appetizers were set on the table. HUGE GREEN CHILIES are dipped in chili pastes and eaten raw! WHOOOOH! I didn't wanna try anymore since the guys seemed to like it a lot anyway. If it was wrapped in cheese sticks I would have eaten them! LOL.


And the orders arrived. One meal costs 7,000 krw and luckily, I had 6pcs of 1,000krw bills and some coins which I believed would make more than a thousand, so I'm ok at least. The soup was delicious as well, and oh so HOT! Almost burned my tongue again! Then I realized that the practice of eating it was really to mix the rice into the bowl of soup! At lunch, I remembered seeing Jongchun, who had the same order as mine, place all his rice into his seolleondang. I just ate the rice separately. Ahhh...Now I know. LOL. After I had half of my rice, I also mixed it with the galbi-tang and indeed, it made the soup cooler somehow that I was able to finish up the whole thing! (tumpak! haha!) And to our surprise, the other student paid for all our meal tonight. Honey and I both had the same reaction that the dinner was expensive, but since it was a treat, then all is good! LOL.


GALBI-TANG

Photo from: aprilantipodal.wordpress.com

Upon reaching the campus, I had a last song syndrome of Karina's "Slow Motion", the last song I heard in oppa's car when we got off. Then he was directing us to go to Coffee Bean. Oh no. I looked at Hyunjoo and both of us were like "another expense???" T___T" Since I still had some cash, I ordered cafe mocha hot since it was only for 4,500 krw for the regular one. MJ oppa was teasing Hyunjoo that she could not reach the floor with her toes if she sat on the high stool. And we played with some pump / air regulator for the burette (we didn't know what it was called) while waiting for our coffees. Then suddenly, GJ and the other oppas went out already after getting the orders. So it's free! It's been paid already! Another free CBTL tonight! Thanks to oppa (whoever among them paid for it), Hyunjoo and I didn't even know. ^^,

Girly Talk

30 March 2011

0030h

It was already past midnight when I went back to my dormitory at Justice Building. Then Hyunjoo messaged me to visit her room at the 3rd floor and she gave me an orange. It was my first time to actually go up the staircase and see the other floors. I stay at the ground floor and the rooms are for two people with a private shower per room. But in the upper floors, they had a common bathroom and study area and each room had four people. The room is spacious at least compared to my room and how the fixtures and furnitures were arranges were a lot better in spacing compared to my room. At least now I've seen most of the dormitory. Hyunjoo and I went out to the terrace for some talk and since she wanted to smoke. We also went in their room where I met her three roommates. One of them spoke English well. They were all nice and all seemed to be busy with their laptops either typing, doing homework, or playing some games. LOL.

0230h

I used the elevator for the first time and went back to my room to sleep. LOL.

c",)

It Snowed Again

Cathianne's Journal:

It's Abnormally Snowing at Spring Time

24 March 2011

Menu for the Day:
Lunch @ restaurant outside school Bibimbap (treat!^^)
Dinner, deliver in the lab - some chicken cutlet Chinese food @ 2,500 krw


My main goal for today was to finish my Fortran program so I can proceed with my other schoolworks and tasks in the lab. Since the time I arrived in the lab, all I did was try and test algorithms and kept opening the two books for my references.

By the time I got to the lab, Honey was already in her table. I'm so glad to finally have my friend with me in the lab! Now I have someone to talk to more often! ^^ I got another chewable candy-like vitamin from her, a chocolate biscuit and a custard cake for breakfast! kkk...

1150h
Since Hyunjoo was also in the lab and it seemed that the oppas won't be eating lunch anytime soon, I decided to eat out with her for lunch. We went to her friend's apartment where I met a new friend, Gina. Jaemin, Hyunjoo's boyfriend, was also there as well. Five of us went to a nearby restaurant, just behind the apartment and had some lunch. I had bibimbap and the lunch was Jaemin's treat! ^^ (A bibimbap would cost 4,000 krw)

After lunch, we spent a few minutes at the apartment to have some rest before going back. Gina and Hyunjoo were attending their 1:00pm class and I was to go back to the lab too.

1700h
MJ oppa and I went to the office of our professor where we would be checking the two quizzes of the TA class we're handling. While checking, I had to keep asking oppa about the comments of the students because one of the questions needed explanations and naturally, most students would comment in Hangeul. Other than the fact that I read soooooo slow, I don't understand a word they're saying! =)) So he had to translate them for me! Haha! After we checked the papers, our professor gave us some money to have coffee for treat at CBTL! Yey! I got another CBTL and this time I had Cafe Mocha! =))

My first CBTL cafe mocha here! Thanks to gyusunim! kkk...

It also snowed as predicted. That was the second time I saw the snow in Korea, but obviously, it's not as visible really from afar cos it's a mix of rain and snow only. But nonetheless, I went out to take some photos haha...only through android though, I didn't have my camera...=|

Sleet, not purely snow...



Cold weather today in Jochiwon ^^



1900h
Lab dinner. We had Chinese food delivery and I ordered a chicken cutlet that had some sauce and mayo for 2,500 krw only! I find it cheap cos most of the food delivered would damage me with 4,000-5,000 krw, hahaha...



My dinner: chicken cutlet with sauce and mayo for 2,500 krw only! =))


2100h
I was trying on some algorithm on arrays and went on the program for several more hours. Our professor advised us to rather try writing our own program than modifying someone else's code which is, I agree, more difficult.

Fortunately, the step by step writing and trial and error that I've been doing seemed to have started working and my efforts are progressing and manifesting well. I read the chapter of the book again about arrays and finally got the message! Haha!

0100h (25 March 2011)
I was still hard on the program. MJ oppa tried to stay and work on his program as well.

0200h
It was almost complete! All I was doing by then was the design and layout on the executable file!

0230h
Went home to my dormitory! c",)

Successful all-nighter! YEY!!!

My First TA Session

Cathianne's Journal:

I Start Today My Real TA Work

15 March 2011

Menu for the Day:
Lunch and Dinner were both cafeteria food
*Lunch in Anam Research Center cafeteria (and it was a treat!^^)
*Dinner at Sejong Campus cafeteria for professors (that's where oppas love to eat...)


Good morning! I woke up early and got to the bus station just in time to buy my ticket and something to much on while waiting for the bus.


I arrived early in school and reached the classroom by 8:30am. I was too early that the room was still closed! Haha! So I waited outside til a lady came by to unlock the auditorium just 10 minutes before our schedule. Some of my classmates just arrived too.


0900h
Professor arrives and collects our assignments. I was a bit shocked to see that they'd make cover pages for assignments! I thought it was only done in college, never thought graduate students would bother to do cover pages just for a few page of written report. T___T"


In the class, the subject was getting more complex even though the topic was called SIMPLEX...Oh dear, I wish my brain is working supersonic...


1200h
Lunch at the cafeteria. Jongchun, a new friend of mine whose been trading languages with me through Kakaotalk (I teach him English, he teaches me Hangeul), invited me to join him and the others for lunch. Before our class ended, our professor gave us another manual to read. Good thing, Smartkid's (what I call him cos he's a genius) office had an extra copy of the manual and they gave it to me! ^^ So i need not to worry about where to find one anymore...One less thing to worry indeed but another to read..T___T"


Lunch was treated by Mr. Lee, one of my classmates who is working for a company and is also a PhD student in Anam Campus. ^^


1300h
Walk back to the subway.


1510h
I rode the bus to Sejong Campus.


1700h
I went in the lab and read the chapter of the book for my first tutorial session with the class I am helping MJ oppa as teaching assistant.


1830h
I had an early dinner with MJ oppa, Gwang and Dae-uk oppa. After the dinner at the cafeteria, Dae-uk oppa treated us some coffee at CBTL! Another Coffee Bean for me! My second here! Haha! I miss Coffee Bean and thanks to Dae-uk! c",)


Dae-uk only comes to Sejong during Tuesdays because he is a TA for one of his professor's undergraduate class.


2000h
I went up to the 5th floor with MJ oppa and he introduced me to some students who were there for the tutorial. There was about 10~12 students from Prof.JY's class. I was too conscious about it so I kept asking oppa to let me tutor without his presence, LOL...I didn't realize I was already taking too long! I ended the session a few minutes past 10 o'clock! Whoow...!


When I returned to the lab, Gwang asked for some help in his English assignment. It was about is vacation in Jeju Island and he needed to have his grammar corrected. Then GJ oppa saw it and showed me some more about Jeju and other beaches in Korea. Then he told me about Daechon beach and I learned that during summer, they have this mud festival held for a week long! Cool! I wanna go there too!!! ^^


To explore more of Korea also comes with the hope that this winter break, the professors will bring us, graduate students in the lab, to Jeju Island too! ^^


c",)

KU Cheering Orientation

Cathianne is looking forward to today's event in school. She wakes up early at 7:30am and an hour after, she heads to the downtown area. She has only 6000 krw in her wallet and needs extra money for the week while her stipend has not yet arrived. So she takes what's left of her pocket money, a hundred bucks, and goes to KB bank where she opened her account upon her arrival. It was not yet 9:00 when she reached the bank so it was still closed. She walked along the road and looked at the displays of the store for whatever interesting she might see. A few minutes later, she notices the bank has opened and goes in. At the counter, she hands over her money and asks for it to be changed. She was asked for her passport but she cannot provide because it is still with the school for the immigration's processing of her Alien Registration Card. Luckily, the lady still changed her money after several minutes of confirming and asking for any government ID. By 9:30, she was already on her way back to the dormitory. She brings her camera and goes to the laboratory. In the lab, she starts reading about her project. (She wishes it's the Hangeul lessons she's reading but she simply can't get out of the project she's been given...It's gotta be done soon somehow.) There's only three of them in the lab, Gwang, MJ oppa and her. They order Chinese food for lunch. The same fried rice meal she had last Sunday for 5,000 krw: BOKKEUMBAP (fried rice) with JJAJANG Black Sauce (like a black bean paste) and the famous JJAMPONG soup (the red spicy hot soup).This time, Cathianne finishes her meal! All 5,000 worth of lunch in her belly. She has to burn it up by walking. So she decides to go out for a walk around the campus. Just as she reached a monument beside the library, Gwang called her and asked if she likes to join him and Hyunjoo for coffee at Coffee Bean. She walks fast back to the lab and gets her wallet and rushes to Coffee Bean. By the time she gets there, Gwang and Hyunjoo already ordered for her a cup of coffee. MJ oppa introduces her to a new friend, Bean. They sit outside because some of them want to smoke. A few minutes later, more friends from the Environmental Engineering major were being introduced to her, Daejoon and Daehoon. She talks with them more and they enjoy practicing their English with her. They find out that she's in the same dorm as Honey and they both are just in the male dorm across. So they ask her to contact them if she wants some company so they can show her around more. By 3:00pm, Hyunjoo has to leave for Seoul. So they now go back to their lab. Cathianne continues to read on her project and is still hoping for a miracle to come while downloading e-notes about Differential Equations that even made it more confusing for her. Haha! Than by 6:00pm, she and John went to the field to watch the Cheering Orientation since she's been excited to see it as John told her that it's a tradition that is fun to watch. When they got there, the crowd has already started chanting and yelling about their school pride. She does not understand the word but it was true indeed that the orientation is a lot fun to join and watch. The students in groups would follow the actions of the cheer leaders and dance to the music played by the band. She's been informed that the cheers they're practicing are actually for the games against other universities particularly Yonsei, the age-old rival of Korea University. Some trivia: The rivalry between Korea University and Yonsei University, the country's top two private schools, is nationally renowned. ``Ko-Yon Jeon'' according to KU, or ``Yon-Ko Jeon'' according to Yonsei, is an annual fall sports festival between the two colleges that embodies the heated rivalry.  http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/10/117_11805.html Cathianne can hardly feel her feet because of the cold as they were watching the orientation together with the other students in their major at the open field. It's been a great experience for her feeling the university spirit and the "tiger power" seems to have become an extension since her college days. She took her undergraduate degree in one of the renowned universities in the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas and the university mascot is also a tiger. She even more enjoys seeing her friends, Gwang and Yusop, who was leading the other students, dance and really feel the music. She relates even more when a famous song by the A*Teens was played (translated in Hangeul) while she sang it in English since she unexpectedly remembered the lyrics to it -- Upsidedown (Bouncing off the Ceiling). =)) By 7:30pm, she and Gwang went back to the lab for dinner. They were just going to order with Jungeol oppa. She is shown the website of the restaurant where they will ask for delivery and she decides to have some noodles, the Sogogi. While waiting for their orders, MJ oppa is busy with his thesis while the three others in the lab, Jungeol oppa, Gwang, and Uijeon oppa are playing networked games on their computers. It is her first time to see them play all out and laugh as if no body was watching. =)) When the food arrives, she receives a HUUUUUGE bowl of Sogogi Soup! She is also surprised that it is 6,000krw! She is excited to eat so she starts sipping her soup. WHOA! It's HOOOOT! It even exceeds the spiciness she's been expecting. It is delicious but the hotness and spiciness of it was too much to taste the noodles and the beef! She keeps getting water just so she can continue with her meal. That was, for her, definitely, some food she must be sharing with at least 3 other people! Wattameal to end her day! =))