Today, I met with Suneon again, and we talked about Halloween. It was an interesting conversation. She said she was going to the International students Halloween party tomorrow night dressed in original Korean attire. She tried to explain what she was going to wear, and it was fun watching move around in different ways playing charades. I told her that we had just learned about Halloween in class, and she said she had too. She said she had always thought that Halloween was a bad holiday and did not celebrate it, but now that she has learned more about it she is excited to go to the party and celebrate with the others.
We also talked about her daughters. She told me that one of her daughters went to the Rangers game when they won the playoffs to go to the world series. I, naturally, thought that was awesome, but she did not seem to care. I asked her if she watched baseball and she replied, "I hate sports." That made me laugh. She really had no idea how big a deal the Rangers are today. She said her daughter had so much fun at the game, but she thought it was silly. She also told me that two of her daughters enjoy sports, and she does not know why. She said one of them is a lifeguard. When I informed her I was too she was surprised, because in Korea life guarding is known as a dangerous job and not many people do it. She said they only hire lifeguards for one season and no one ever wants that job. I think her daughters are Americanized in a way, because I can tell she wonders about what they do. She asked me why swimming is so popular in Texas, and why we have so many pools. I told her because it gets hot here and it is good for exercise. She said her other daughter runs for fun, but Suneon could not see the fun in running. It is interesting to see how our cultures differ and how her daughters have taken to it much quicker than she has.
She told me that her daughters told her she was crazy last week for cooking Korean food when an American was coming to dinner. They asked her what she was thinking. I told her that I had a great time and did not see anything wrong with the food. I wanted to taste Korean food. Her daughters thought it was odd, but Suneon said that when Robert and his conversation partner came all they ate was the Korean food so that is why she made it for me. I am happy that she did, because it was something different that I had never had before in my life. Her daughters were positive I would not like the food and she was happy to prove them wrong.
Our next meeting is going to be at 1873 in the BLUU. She asked if we could do lunch and I thought it was a great idea. It will be interesting to hear her stories of the weekend, and to know how her party went the next time I see her.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Dinner with Suneon
Last night was my dinner with Suneon. I was kind of nervous, but they all greeted me warmly when I arrived. Her youngest daughter even answered the door in a chik-fil-a cow costume. When I entered, I took off my shoes at the door, because it is tradition and sat and talked with Suneon and some friends in her class until dinner was ready.
They were all nice, and Hannah was even there again. She told me she likes going to Suneon, because she cooks so well. She had told me that her host family does not have good food so she is always hungry. Hannah assured me that this food was going to be good, but that did not stop Suneon from worrying. She was so worried I would not like her food. I assured her that it was going to be fine from what I could smell.
She went back to the kitchen and grabbed plates and eating utensils. She brought out chopsticks, and it hit me! I had never used chopsticks before, but how hard could it be, right? Well it was hard. Hannah, and the other young man tried to teach me how to use the sticks, but I just never caught on. They told me I was so funny, and that it would take practice. They called it an art of eating food. I was glad I could bring some entertainment to them through my Americanized fork eating.
When the food was ready, Suneon brought it out. I could tell she really took pride in hosting this dinner. She made us all sit and watch as she laid out each of our plates. We had some sort of chilled noodles and tuna soup. I know it sounds weird, but it really was not to bad. It was different than anything I had ever eaten. She also had dessert ready with cake and ice cream. It was alot of food, and I could not finish it all.
After we finished eating, the young man started teasing Hannah. He had told me she had just ate before, and Hannah finished everything including dessert. It was funny, because she is such a tiny girl. He said, "you eat more than me," and both Suneon and Hannah corrected him with, "you eat more than I am." I was confused at this point and the young man persisted that he was right and asked for my opinion. I told them that it was correct, and that they could also say "you eat more than I do, but not I am." I could tell that it flustered Suneon so she went to get her book. She said they learned the informal and formal parts of a verb. Yesterday, they learned, "you are taller than I am." I told her it was a verb difference, and that the book was correct and I explained the difference in more detail.
It was fun to have a traditional dinner with them. It was interesting too, because they were all so eager to talk to me and learn. The dinner was good, but I had a hard time eating such different food. I guess I am just not use to it. I thanked her for her hospitality and they walked me out to my car. They were so nice, and I am so glad I got to experience a little bit of their culture in comparison to my own.
They were all nice, and Hannah was even there again. She told me she likes going to Suneon, because she cooks so well. She had told me that her host family does not have good food so she is always hungry. Hannah assured me that this food was going to be good, but that did not stop Suneon from worrying. She was so worried I would not like her food. I assured her that it was going to be fine from what I could smell.
She went back to the kitchen and grabbed plates and eating utensils. She brought out chopsticks, and it hit me! I had never used chopsticks before, but how hard could it be, right? Well it was hard. Hannah, and the other young man tried to teach me how to use the sticks, but I just never caught on. They told me I was so funny, and that it would take practice. They called it an art of eating food. I was glad I could bring some entertainment to them through my Americanized fork eating.
When the food was ready, Suneon brought it out. I could tell she really took pride in hosting this dinner. She made us all sit and watch as she laid out each of our plates. We had some sort of chilled noodles and tuna soup. I know it sounds weird, but it really was not to bad. It was different than anything I had ever eaten. She also had dessert ready with cake and ice cream. It was alot of food, and I could not finish it all.
After we finished eating, the young man started teasing Hannah. He had told me she had just ate before, and Hannah finished everything including dessert. It was funny, because she is such a tiny girl. He said, "you eat more than me," and both Suneon and Hannah corrected him with, "you eat more than I am." I was confused at this point and the young man persisted that he was right and asked for my opinion. I told them that it was correct, and that they could also say "you eat more than I do, but not I am." I could tell that it flustered Suneon so she went to get her book. She said they learned the informal and formal parts of a verb. Yesterday, they learned, "you are taller than I am." I told her it was a verb difference, and that the book was correct and I explained the difference in more detail.
It was fun to have a traditional dinner with them. It was interesting too, because they were all so eager to talk to me and learn. The dinner was good, but I had a hard time eating such different food. I guess I am just not use to it. I thanked her for her hospitality and they walked me out to my car. They were so nice, and I am so glad I got to experience a little bit of their culture in comparison to my own.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Conversation Partner Blog 2
Suneon (Sunny) and I met at the Bluu this Thursday. This time she brought her friend Hannah Yoo. She was adorable, and she understood English well. Sunny was so sweet and even brought me a gift. I felt bad because I did not have anything to offer her, so I offered to buy her coffee at the Bluu.
This time we talked more about Sunny's and Hannah's Korean culture. It was interesting. They told me that the University in Korea begins its semester in March and ends in July. Then, the second semester begins in August and goes through December. Hannah, who is an education major, told me it hard getting use to the different schedule. Hannah has been here for three months, and I think Sunny is helping her transition. Sunny tells me how much she loves Texas. She has been here for a whole year with her three daughters. Her husband is still in Korea, but they are working on getting him to Texas.
Hannah also told me that her age was different here in America. Sunny and her explained that in Korea you are born at the age of one. Therefore, I would be twenty-one in Korea and not twenty. I did not understand this concept, and it was funny how they tried to explain it until I understood completely. They said the only thing they would change about living here would be public transportation. In Korea, that is what everyone uses. They do not need cars. Sunny and Hannah both said that it is hard to get around here, because they need a car.
We also talked about movies. The most recent one we talked about was How to Train A Dragon. Sunny had not seen it, so Hannah and I explained it to her. She seems pretty interested in it. It was funny listening to Hannah talk about how her boyfriend teases her with characters in the movie. Apparently, she reminds him of Toothless and she cannot stand it. Sunny told us that she took her daughter to see Inception, and she enjoyed it. She just did not understand the title and wondered what it meant. I tried to explain it to her, but I found that difficult. However, Hannah had this nifty pocket computer that gave us an exact definition and translated into different languages. It was pretty neat.
Before I knew it, it was 4:30 and time for us to leave, but before we left Sunny asked if I had every had Korean food. I responed no, and Hannah was extatic. She kept going on and on about how great a cook Sunny is and that I had to try it. Sunny asked if I liked spicy food and when I said I did she invited me to her house for dinner with her family next Thursday at 5:30. I am so excited about going and trying new food and getting to meet her daughters. When we parted, she made me promise to come and try the food, and I promised I would be there.
I fun with Sunny and Hannah this week, and I am excited to see what next Thursday will bring!
This time we talked more about Sunny's and Hannah's Korean culture. It was interesting. They told me that the University in Korea begins its semester in March and ends in July. Then, the second semester begins in August and goes through December. Hannah, who is an education major, told me it hard getting use to the different schedule. Hannah has been here for three months, and I think Sunny is helping her transition. Sunny tells me how much she loves Texas. She has been here for a whole year with her three daughters. Her husband is still in Korea, but they are working on getting him to Texas.
Hannah also told me that her age was different here in America. Sunny and her explained that in Korea you are born at the age of one. Therefore, I would be twenty-one in Korea and not twenty. I did not understand this concept, and it was funny how they tried to explain it until I understood completely. They said the only thing they would change about living here would be public transportation. In Korea, that is what everyone uses. They do not need cars. Sunny and Hannah both said that it is hard to get around here, because they need a car.
We also talked about movies. The most recent one we talked about was How to Train A Dragon. Sunny had not seen it, so Hannah and I explained it to her. She seems pretty interested in it. It was funny listening to Hannah talk about how her boyfriend teases her with characters in the movie. Apparently, she reminds him of Toothless and she cannot stand it. Sunny told us that she took her daughter to see Inception, and she enjoyed it. She just did not understand the title and wondered what it meant. I tried to explain it to her, but I found that difficult. However, Hannah had this nifty pocket computer that gave us an exact definition and translated into different languages. It was pretty neat.
Before I knew it, it was 4:30 and time for us to leave, but before we left Sunny asked if I had every had Korean food. I responed no, and Hannah was extatic. She kept going on and on about how great a cook Sunny is and that I had to try it. Sunny asked if I liked spicy food and when I said I did she invited me to her house for dinner with her family next Thursday at 5:30. I am so excited about going and trying new food and getting to meet her daughters. When we parted, she made me promise to come and try the food, and I promised I would be there.
I fun with Sunny and Hannah this week, and I am excited to see what next Thursday will bring!
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