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WHEN FACES ARE NEW
November 1, 00
It was a paradox that I still got a good night's sleep when I was supposed to be sleepless out of sheer excitement. Korea was up in a few days and what more could I do but prepare myself in the best way I can. I was already awake by 500 in the morning and by 70; I was already in the Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs, Department of Education, Pasig City to have my -day pre-departure briefing.
I was one of the first delegates to arrive in the 800 rendezvous thanks to my geographical advantage (because I live in Quezon City). Excluding the other delegate from NCR, I was to anticipate 15 more delegates all hailing from other regions.
It took hours before we were complete. The roster featured 8 boys and girls plus two adult companions.
 Abraham Archangel A. Alegre NCR/Lagro High School
 Joseph Don D. Zaldivar NCR/Makati Science High School
 Clint G. Agcopra Region X/St. Rita's College of Balingasag
 Jibson Janry U. Pabelic Region X/Cagayan de Oro City High School
 Michael Claasen Region II/Isabela National High School
 Byron P. Perez Region II/St. Paul University Tuguegarao
 Galileo C. Fariñas Region I/Ilocos Norte National High School
 Jeffrey C. Junco Region IV/Cavite Science High School
 Lovely S. Abapo Region V/Masbate Nat'l Comprehensive HS
 Margareth Kristel B. Cuba Region V/University of Northeastern Phil.
 Jessa Marie B. Albacea Region VI/Mansilinagan Agro-Industrial HS
 Noemi M. Gonzales Region IV/Antipolo National High School
 Elaine Mei C. Solocasa Region XI/Davao City National HS
 Karen Lou A. Alanano Region VII/Dauin Municipal High School
 Gezelle Anne C. Isidro Region X/Valencia National High School
 Josephine Ann P. Ramos CAR/Baguio City National High School
 Katrina Ruth C. Ramos Region VIII/St. Therese Center of Leyte
 Ms. Nely SB. Abad DepEd Reg'l Office V, Rawis, Legazpi City
 Mr. Gil M. Constantino DepEd Reg'l Office X, Cagayan de Oro City
It took some time before we were able to break the ice and start off a conversation with each other. I was quite uncomfortable with how formal our dialogue went but its tone gradually became natural when the point of discussion shifted to things that were typical of our age.
By 1000 am, we were brought to Richville Mansions Hotel at EDSA, Mandaluyong City for our accommodations while we prepare ourselves for our voyage. After taking lunch, we had a briefing of the expectations that we were to have in this program. It was also here that we were formally introduced to one another (though it is not actually needed for we have already gained each other's confidence).
We immediately proceeded to preparing the delegation's cultural presentation. Our coordinators first requested us to have our individual presentations so that they can decide how to bring forth one whole intermission number. I showcased my guitar skills and sang an OPM.
So it was a very busy day ahead of us. Our coordinators decided to make some adjustments in our schedule and have our last minute shopping now so we could have the whole day tomorrow for the rehearsals. Because of its proximity, we had the privilege to have our shopping at SM Megamall.
We were given 4 hours to wander the domains of SM Megamall. On my checklist of things to buy (as well as with my co-delegates') were padlocks, calling cards and souvenirs for our Korean hosts.
We were back in the hotel by 600 pm. After taking dinner, we proceeded once again to prepare our intermission number.
Lights-out was 1000 pm. As I was gazing outside of my window watching the MRT pass by and about to sleep, I came to ponder that these fellows sleeping near me will be my companions for 10 days. What could become of us after all of this was over.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
November 0, 00
As I said, a very busy day ahead of us. After going through all the morning SOP bath, breakfast and toothbrush, we immediately proceeded to our rehearsals. Last night, we were able to decide how our cultural presentation will push through.
It will start with an interpretative dance of the song "Next in Line" by After Image. This will be followed by an introductory speech from one of us while being accompanied by a flute played by another delegate. Then, Freddie Aguilar's "Anak" will come next where the guitar accompaniment is under my charge. And lastly, the remaining delegates who didn't participate in the Anak will have another interpretative cultural dance of Gary V's "Babalik Ka Rin".
It was not easy deciding how this presentation will run; and it was not easier rehearsing it. As scheduled indeed, our whole day was spent practicing over and over again. The day was a very good illustration of the common adage Practice makes perfect.
Fortunately, we were able to finish by 1000 pm. But we were not immediately given the privilege of a good night's sleep. We still had our last minute reminders. After the coordinators were assured that everything is and will be in it proper order, only then we were granted it.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE LANDED
November 1, 00
Really, this was it. Out of sheer excitement, I donned on my morning SOP as quickly as possible and prepared my luggage. Indeed in a matter of hours, I'm leaving for Korea.
It's not that I'm excited of flying in an airplane (I have tried it once when I was ten years old), it's just that it's my first time to travel abroad. And I am safe to say that my fellow delegates felt the same way too. We were really very excited. I think I would never find any other packaged tour like this. Imagine, ten days with all food and accommodations all accounted for. This opportunity comes only once in a lifetime.
We had to be in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport four hours before our departure. So we left Richville Mansions Hotel at 800 and by 1000 we were there. It was evident by the looks of the people on the airport that they are baffled by the presence of our delegation there. Imagine, 17 teenagers accompanied by just adults. What could these guys be up to?
To stall time as we wait for Flight 468 bound for Inchon, I wrote in my diary. But as I was in the middle of my narrative, my attention was caught by one of my adult companion Mr. Gil who established acquaintance with a Korean who was also waiting for his flight bound for Busan. I immediately took the opportunity to acquire any tips from him and that includes some useful Korean expressions. It was one of my priorities to learn how to read and write Korean while I am in there so I could have a memento of my stay there.
Then after almost minutes of Korean lessons, at last 00 pm came the time of our flight. We were ushered by the stalwart staff of the CSCA of course headed by Mr. Joey Pelaez. After submitting all required documents, it really was confirmed I'm going to Korea.
The warm welcome of the plane's stewardess added to our delight as we boarded the plane. I really wanted to have my seat by the window so even though my seat designation was not I was still able to (Well, thanks to my co-delegate who gave in after I made some requests.)
According to our captain, the flight would take hours. That was very fast. Imagine it still takes a commuter from Quezon City four hours to reach Baclaran (This was the estimation of my uncle). Well, that's what science and technology can do.
The plane accommodation was very comfortable besides the fact that we were just seated in economy class. Cellular phones and CD players were not allowed to be operated while on flight but it was not boring because we were given earphones where we can enjoy some music selections attached to our seats. The meal too was very delectable plus the bag handle softener giveaway. All was done to ensure our comfort indeed.
After the estimated three hours passed (which proved to be right), I was now able to see the neon lights of Inchon. I wondered if it is seen beautifully up here, could it be more beautiful when I'm down there. Probably.
Finally Korean soil. It was quite a disappointment no snow. But it was indeed cold. As I have eavesdropped from the pilot, it was absolute zero. Well, this was typical in Korea. It's winter.
After quickly submitting our papers in the immigration (wow, they have fast service) and taking our baggage (and their carousel too is quite high-tech), we immediately embarked to meet the personnel from Korea's Ministry of Culture and Tourism who will attend to our every need as the coordinators of the Student Exchange Program. Our head of delegation was greeted with a bouquet of flowers.
The coordinators of the program were very quite shocked upon seeing us our ages actually. We were only adolescents! They usually expect delegates already in university. Yet anyway they welcomed us with the warmest smiles though the atmosphere was really cold.
After some immediate photo-ops, we immediately proceeded to Tower Hotel for our accomodations. Along the way, I was taken aback by the bridges of Seoul and the Han River made more beautiful by the illumination of its beautiful lights. From the looks of it, I still can't believe I'm in Korea.
IN FORMAL SUITS
November, 00
Because it feels itchy and warm when it is normally worn in the Philippines, I don't like wearing coat-and-tie and have reserved its uses for promenades and formal occasions. However, we were required to wear it for the first day of our program because we were to have a luncheon meeting with the Director-General of the Youth Division of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Yet I must admit I have already trashed this dislike of mine when I was already walking in open-air Korea. I found it as a valuable ally against the biting cold and besides, almost everybody was wearing it so it made me look normal.
I had the first opportunity to walk in open-air Korea when we went to our first destination the National Museum of Korea. Because the courtesy call with the Ministry was still at noontime, Ate Michelle Choi and Temmy Byun (the coordinators and also our tour guides) decided first to give us a brief course of Korean history by bringing us there.
The National Museum has state-of-the-art equipments that facilitate the learning experience of the visitors. These include big television sets (of course, branded by either Samsung or LG, the giant Korean conglomerates) and tactile computer sets with multimedia images and sound. The Museum is scheduled for a major rehabilitation that will be finished by year 007.
While we were there, there were also many Korean students around. They were having their autumn field trip. Before they graduate university, it is seen to it that the students have already visited the places of interests in Korea.
After the Museum, we headed to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism where we were to have our courtesy call as scheduled. The Youth Ministry Director-General came late because he had to attend a very vital meeting. But he compensated by greeting us warmly when he arrived.
It was quite amusing watching our head of delegation exchange expressions of gratitude with the Korean officials and vice-versa. Neither could understand what each side was saying and the success of the undertaking was in the hands of Ate Michelle, our translator.
After some photo-ops and distribution of souvenirs from the Ministry, we were taken to a Korean restaurant where we were to have our lunch the traditional way.
Traditional Korean table setting is much like Japanese arrangement. We were in Indian seat with our shoes removed. (The floor feels so nice because it is warmed by a heater). Food was served in small amounts; and we were provided with a spoon and a pair of chopsticks. We were then brandished with a good dose of Korean cuisine. First, foremost and would be never absent is the kimchi fermented vegetables dipped in hot sauce. It was then followed by an array of raw leafy vegetables in a delicious sauce, pulgogi (Korean barbecue), and fruits.
The next destination was never really part of the itinerary but the coordinators decided to drop by for a while. It was the Blue House. It was the Korean counterpart of Uncle Sam's White House and Juan dela Cruz's Malacañang. Unfortunately, the security was very strict and we were not allowed to take its picture.
Then, we headed to the Seoul World Cup Stadium. As we all know the 00 FIFA World Cup Championship was held in Korea and Japan. As told by our interpreters, the stadium was filled with legions of soccer fanatics during its undertaking. But upon our visit, only the million-dollar establishment remained and some local students who were having their autumn field trip.
The last part of our route for that day was the Korean Broadcasting System. It was much like the ABS-CBN of this country where they had a museum inside showcasing the development of media in Korea.
HOME STAY
November, 00
This was our chance to feel how it was to be part of a Korean family. By 1000 in the morning, we were already introduced to our respective home stay families who would accommodate for a day. My designation, together with Joseph Zaldivar of Makati Science, was with Ji Nam Hee. She was the epitome of a sweet and caring Korean Ou'ma (Mama). Though she had difficulty with speaking English the only language that can link Filipinos with Koreans she still strived to maintain a loving atmosphere by sustaining the flame of our conversation asking everything she could ask about us. Upon acquiring us, she immediately treated us to a Chinese restaurant.
It was in that restaurant where we met Ou'ma's husband Ou Song Kwon. They told us that they will treat us to an amusement park.
Before we were to go there, they first brought us to their home. It was an apartment situated at the highest floor. Their home was cozy and they had two dogs Tortol and Poppy. We also met their 17-year old son, Ou In Tak. (Actually, he is only 16 years old but in Korea, an individual is already considered one year old when born.)
Joseph and I took the opportunity that we were home to present them our tokens of appreciation. I gave native baskets with descending sizes. Joseph, on the other hand, gave a miniature Philippine jeepney. I also gave In Tak some old and new Philippine coins. As an ambassador of goodwill, I took the opportunity to give them a brief course of Philippine history.
We then proceeded to our destination. It was the Lotte World Adventures. It's so very big that it has everything you can think of supermarket, department store, museum and amusement park.
First, they gave us time to stroll the Lotte Museum which features moving displays. Afterwards, we were taken to the Amusement park where we were given with a ride-all-you-can privilege.
The rides were exhilarating and I decided to limit myself to three rides for it could make me vomit.
Then, we proceeded to the grocery. Mrs. Ji decided to prepare us our own dinner rather than dine out to make us feel that we really are part of the family. So we bought the raw materials ourselves.
The meal prepared was very sumptuous. Mrs. Ji was a very excellent cook. They really knew how to make a guest feel great. As I found later, this was attributed to the fact that they already accommodated ten other student-exchange delegates before hailing from China, Denmark, Japan etc.
By 1000 pm when I was enjoying playing chess with their son and thought that the day was over Ou'ma and Ou'pa invited us out to have our midnight snack. Oupa asked me where I would want to go to have our midnight snack. I took the opportunity to visit the Han River so I could take some pictures.
It was very spine-chilling in the banks of the Han River. If it was normally cold in the streets of Seoul, it was sure colder down there. After taking some pictures and eating our fried chicken midnight snack, we decided to leave immediately and take a good night's sleep.
BEST SLUMBER IN KOREA
November 4, 00
I think my stay with my home stay family was the only opportunity where I had a complete 10-hour sleep. When I woke up at 10 am Ou'ma was already cooking our breakfast. They were to return us to Ate Michelle and Ate Temmy by 1pm.
After a very sumptuous lunch, we drove back to the Tower Hotel. There was none of the mushy goodbye though I did kiss my Ou'ma and hugged my Ou'pa goodbye before they left.
Once more I met my fellow delegates. We exchanged stories bragging that each other's home stay's family was the best. We were then advised to take a rest for we were to watch a traditional Korean presentation in the Cheongdo theater by 4pm.
On the way to the theater, we went by this narrow street where if lovers pass here, they will break-up. I questioned the veracity of this folklore and Ate Michelle told me that she broke up with her first boyfriend in this street.
We arrived quite on time that we were hurrying up because the presentation is about to start.
The presentation was traditional Korean music. It showcased their local instruments and performers wore traditional Korean costume too. The music was also coupled with lively dance.
No pictures were allowed to be taken while the performance was going on but we were given chance afterwards.
After it, we had a very scrumptious dinner of Korean ginseng chicken soup.
IMPROMPTU BIRTHDAY
November 5, 00
We were to visit the COEX Aquarium early in the morning. I thought it was just an ordinary one but was quite taken aback when I saw that it has the accreditation of the Guinness Book of World Records. It is the largest underwater aquarium.
The Guinness accreditation was indeed sound. The aquarium featured state-of-the-art facilities and possessed every significant marine life from ordinary fishes to sharks, turtles, manta rays, piranhas and many more.
COEX also has a department store underground. We were also given some time to wander around. We also took our lunch in there.
Afterwards, we headed to the Korean Folk Village a large simulation of a traditional Korean village.
An old Korean man selling souvenirs surprisingly greeted our delegation with
"Magandang tanghali"
And when we answered back "Magandang tanghali rin sa iyo", he replied
"Maraming salamat."
Indeed, it was quite a surprise. But as we found out later, he once met the acquaintance of the former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal. During his term, Pres. Macapagal visited Korea and had the privilege to officiate the ribbon-cutting of the Korean Folk Village. Pres. Macapagal befriended this old man and he taught him the Filipino language. According to the old man, his daughter speaks Filipino more fluent than him.
Ate Temmy gave us a brief course of Korean history as we toured the Folk Village. The hut imitations were very realistic and to amplify its veracity, mannequins dressed in traditional Korean attire were placed inside. It's a misfortune that during our visit the whole village looked withered. It was winter. And leaves have all fell down.
Afterwards, we headed towards the National Youth Center. The trip took almost three hours for it was not in Seoul.
The sun was already out when we arrived. After a quick dinner, we were given a tour around their facilities their assembly hall, their sports facilities, seminar room, acoustics. Because we already arrived at night, we were not able to enjoy the facilities fully the Youth Center. This million-dollar government facility is used for international affairs where student-delegates and ambassadors of goodwill gather.
However, we were granted permission to use their basketball court. While the boys of the delegation were playing, we were challenged by Koreans who were also playing for a half court game. Though they look like breadwinners already by their physique, we did respond to their challenge.
Surprisingly, we won. At the back of my mind, I was saying "At last, I got back on Korea for beating the Philippine in the Busan games."
But our game had to be cut short. The whole delegation planned to have a secret birthday celebration for our delegation head Mam Nely.
There was a hullabaloo while everyone was preparing for the program. But fortunately, we had it all arranged.
Sir Gil, our assistant head, had to make a story just to make Mam Nely go to the venue. She was very surprised. We already sang her a birthday song early morning so she was not expecting a surprise birthday party.
Well, the delegation presented their program a series of intermission numbers mostly song. And I was in charge of the guitar accompaniment. We also made our Korean coordinators Ate Michelle and Ate Temmy sing and say "I love you" in different Filipino dialects.
Mam Nely shed tears of happiness while giving her remark of gratitude.
When the party was through, I thought it was all over and I would sleep. But our assistant head had one more gimmick. He promised our two Korean coordinators that we would present them how a typical Filipino "harana" would look like. Oh boy! But I cooperated.
We sang a medley of Filipino ballads. Ate Michelle and Ate Temmy were quite taken aback. And as a reward for the effort, they gave each of us a kiss.
GYEONGJU CITY
November 6, 00
We donned on our morning SOP very early because our next trip was to take four hours. But I was still reluctant to leave. It's not that I don't want to leave the National Youth Center's facilities. It's just because the weather looked like it's going to snow. According to Ate Michelle, it snowed in Seoul while we were away. So it's highly probable that it's also going to snow.
But it didn't. And after some photo-ops, we embarked towards Gyeongju a city in the southernmost part of South Korea. This was the former capital of the Unified Shilla Kingdom of Korea centuries back. The UNESCO has set many world heritage sites in this city because Korea has maintained them very well.
While we were on the way, we received news that it snowed in the National Youth Center just after we went. Such coincidence. But unfortunately, the weather of Korea down south seems to be bright so we were not to expect any snow.
We arrived in Gyeongju exactly for lunch. We were brandished with the best of Korean sea foods all in one pot which is cooked in front of us while we were eating. Though I did not enjoy the soup because it is hot and spicy, I did enjoy the sea foods squid, crab, mussels, shrimp and everything you can think of.
After the sumptuous meal, we visited the Chon Ma Chong beautiful pagodas cast in an aesthetic lake background. Next was the Im Jae Hong the counterpart of the Chocolate Hills. But they are just man-made. In actuality, they are burial mounds for royalties. The bigger the mound, the higher the rank of the deceased. The burial mound of the General who is seen as the National Hero of Korea is set in a body of water. And it is not situated in the Im Jae Hong site.
The next site was the Cheom Song Dae the oldest observatory in Asia. An old Korean volunteered to give its brief course of history. And the old man was good in English. While listening to the narration, Ate Temmy told me the other story behind the observatory. There was a time when a queen ruled Korea yet she did not have the full obedience of his people. The queen decided to build the Cheom Song Dae as a symbol of his relation to the high gods.
After the educational tour, we had dinner and retired in the Wellich Chosun Hotel. It was there that I called to my classmates back in the Philippines who were also having their field trip. After all, the time difference of Korea and the Philippines is just one hour.
TURNS
November 7, 00
We were to spend two days in Gyeongju. For the second day, we were to visit the Bulguksa Temple and the Sokkuram Grotto.
These monuments are situated high up in the mountains. And to reach there, our bus had to pass steep turns.
Quite perilous. But we did manage to go there safely. But as we descended from our bus, we realized that it was colder here than in the lowlands. And that could be justified by the canals. They are frozen like ice in the freezer, not like soft snow.
We first visited the Bulguksa Temple. It was very beautiful. But it could have been more beautiful if we visited by spring. The inner domains of the Temple possessed two obelisks which also serve as pagodas. They are the Dabot'ap and the Sukhot'ap. Bulguksa Temple is the largest temple in Korea.
After opening the black market of 0 cameras for the photo sessions, we visited the Sokkuram Grotto. It was just walking distance. The grotto accommodates the massive Buddha statue. And no pictures were allowed to be taken.
The day ended very early today so we took time to relax in our hotel. To my surprise, the man who was performing in the music lounge is a Filipino.
As we further found out, his name was Gary. He had been in Korea for already 10 years and had married here already his co-performer is his wife. After he sang our request songs, we chatted about everything under the sun. He was not that much interested in the Philippines' development for he recently visited last February 00. He said there wasn't much improvement since he was gone. Corruption and poverty is still rampant.
We enjoyed his company so we slept late. But I was quite taken aback by his opinion on the Philippines. At the back of my mind, I know there is still hope for the Philippines we just don't know if we can achieve it after turns.
ENCHANTED KINGDOM CUBED
November 8, 00
When my home stay family treated me to Lotte World Amusement Park, I thought it was the largest in Korea. But no, it's not. There's still one. And a day was reserved for us to enjoy it.
It is Everland literally, the reciprocal of Peter Pan's Neverland and actually, has the land size of our own local Enchanted Kingdom, cubed.
It is located in Suwon City and we left Gyeongju City very early. We arrived in there exactly once again for lunch.
After the hot-and-spicy lunch, we were given from 100 600 pm to enjoy Everland. As I had calculated, Everland was thrice the size of Enchanted Kingdom. I thought it was just an amusement park but it turned out that it also had a zoo. We visited it first.
It's the first time I became amazed in a zoo. Because Korea is a temperate country the same as America and Japan the animals in the zoo could not be found in a tropical country like the Philippines. Featured were penguins, sea lions, exotic birds, polar bears, white tigers, otter, herons, snow owls and the likes. Everland also has this Jurassic Park-like portion. Well, it doesn't contain dinosaurs but the modus operandi is much like the same. We would enter this caged safari on a bus; and inside were lions and tigers co-existing with each other. Inside the lion-tiger safari was also their hybrid which we dubbed as a liger.
There was another caged safari. But that one is for black bears. When our bus entered their domain, the bears were filed along the road. The driver would open his window and give food to the bears in exchange of some tricks.
I pity the tigers, bears, and lions held in captivity. Though they roam around freely, it's still not their natural habitat.
After the zoo, we tried the different exhilarating rides.
They were the French Revolution, a double-loop yet boring roller coaster, their version of the Jungle Log Jam (the water was very cold when I dipped my hand that it got numb for twenty minutes), the Cable Cars, the Bump Cars (where we went back and forth for five times), and their version of the Anchors Away.
There was a portion in Everland where artificial snow is made for a snow-sled ride. Unfortunately, we weren't able to try it. Because it is still not operational. And maybe because it was risky for us without experience. As I found out later, this snow was the only next best thing permitted for my eyes to see.
After some group pictures, we had to go. But our driver was nowhere to be found. We were stranded in the cold of the parking lot for 15 minutes. Still not appearing, the management of Everland gave us shelter.
Good thing, the driver appeared. He also went inside Everland.
We headed back to Seoul in Tower Hotel, our first home in Korea. The trip took hours again.
Upon arriving in Seoul, we had dinner in a stylish restaurant. Afterwards, I called back to the Philippines to greet my loved one a happy birthday.
FAREWELL DINNER
November, 00
When I arrived in Korea, I could not immediately believe I was actually there. But this time, I could not believe we were to leave now.
Our itinerary for this day was to visit the Daeil Foreign National High School, the Insadong Market, and then to have our Farewell Dinner.
First was the high school. As I found out, the education system of Korea is unlike that of the Philippines and is much like America and Japan. In Korea, they have 6 years, elementary; years, middle school/junior high; years, high school. So if I were to study there, I would be just in 1st year high school. But then again, no! Koreans start school earlier because of the Korean Age. In Korea, a baby is already considered one-year-old the moment he comes out of his mother's womb. So suppose I am a Korean, I would be 17 years old and in nd year high school. Very much like Shinichi Kudo of the TV series Detective Conan.
THe delegation decided to have our presentation (the one which we rehearsed in our -day pre-departure briefing) in Daeil. So we brought our props with us including my guitar. We were first brought to classrooms so that we could attend their classes. Their classrooms were very small and on average, only 0 students per class.
It was there when we met the English teachers. They are Americans who found this job as the only one available for their type. There was this one teacher who said he was kind of afraid to go home to the US because the immigrations might question him about his stay in Korea especially that he's not a soldier. So he rehearsed in front of me the alibi that he devised
"I would like to share the American dream abroad!"
Heh, some kind of bright boy. We attended English classes with rd year high school students and the teachers' lesson plan was to have a free-and-easy chat with us so that they could practice English. While socializing, I brandished my calling cards to almost everybody.
After there, we ascended one more flight of stairs to much-more-intelligent students. The class' best speaker gave us a welcome remark. By Jove! She was very good in English. As I later found out, she stayed in the United States for quite long. Kaya pala.
We then presented our intermission number. We decided not to change costumes because it's quite cold, but on a larger scale, the presentation turned out good.
After the presentation, we had time to mingle with the students and we had an exchange of pleasantries and souvenirs. (Though I was quite unfortunate not to receive anything from them).
We had some photo-ops with the school's officials and then we left the school. We had lunch then proceeded to the Insadong Market. It was there that I bought some souvenirs for my loved ones. I also bought a Korean doll here. And it was here that I discovered that it is not only in the Philippines where entrepreneurs charge tubong lugaw. I bought the Korean doll 00% its original size.
We were given only up to 4pm. Next came the moment we hated the Farewell Dinner. (Well, I did still love the food which is bottomless pulgogi or Korean barbecue). The atmosphere was very gloomy and a justification of all that transpired in 10 days. After presenting our intermissions the Next in Line interpretative dance, Anak which guitars went under my command and the impromptu Leaving on a Jet plane where my guitar seemed out of tune Ate Michelle and Ate Temmy bursted crying. It was very mushy. Our head gave a gratitude speech while the Koreans expressed how they enjoyed our company.
Back in the hotel a couple of hours after the dinner, Ate Michelle and Ate Temmy invited us inside their room for an ice cream party. We played several parlor game and we were very happy.
After the fun, we were to give our final remarks to Ate Michelle and Ate Temmy. Most of the girls cried. But I didn't. I just bade them good luck in their careers and thanked them for everything.
We finished by 00 am and we decided to sleep in one room. It's a good thing we all found spaces for us to rest.
I didn't sleep immediately. I still had to finish my designated report. And I also savored every moment. After all, this was my last sleep in Korea.
FRUSTRATIONS
November 0, 00
Everything we were doing was our last in Korea from our breakfast to our bath. We were to leave Korea at around 00 am.
From early morning to 4pm is our free-and-easy. We could do anything we want. We were brought to the marketplaces so we could buy our souvenirs at its cheapest prices.
I bought lots of key chains for my classmates and wine cups too. We toured around the markets where American soldiers thrive. It was here that I was able to buy Korean T-shirts.
We had our last snack in Maekdonaldu (McDonald's). I had a Big Mac. Unlike the ones in the Philippines, branches in Korea are very stern in the implementation of recycling. And it appears that most of its patronizers are American soldiers and their families. Koreans don't patronize it that much because the food served is fatty which is unlike their traditional food of raw vegetables.
After our snack, we headed to Inchon Airport. By this time it was evident that the atmosphere was getting more and more gloomy.
What I was frustrated about during my stay was that I was not able to experience snowfall. My colleagues share the same sentiments with me. The coordinators of the programs were aware of this and tried to compensate by spraying us with artificial snow before we checked in. At least in the picture, we looked like we had snow on.
Tears can't help but fall when it's really goodbye. Most of the girls did the crying as expected. I was able to back off some off my eyes though it's really about to pour. My Ate kissed me goodbye when we checked-in because they aren't allowed to enter anymore.
We waited for some time in the airport where we ventured the free e-mail services. The delegates were reminiscing all that transpired within ten days. It was indeed fast.
Aboard the airplane, the Filipino stewardess were astounded to see us. It was as if we were having our field trip. But they were quick to deduce that we were student exchange delegates.
As the plane ascended, I was only able to manage one last glance at the window. It's over. Just like that.
SNAP BACK TO REALITY
December 1, 00
We left Korea at eight in the evening as far as I can remember. The trip lasted for only three hours. Settling the time difference, we arrived in the Philippines at midnight. Unfortunately, Duty Free was already closed. I was back at Philippine soil once again. I was looking for some change but there really wasn't any. After all, I was just gone by ten days.
We were given quarters at Richville Mansions once again. We were to have our de-briefing and our certificates early in the morning.
Our last night together was like any other. We just reminisced again the first time we met and our first impressions. We also gave instructions on how we should be able to contact ourselves in the future.
The next morning, we took the opportunity to have our last free breakfast. Then, we watched the footage of our trip there.
We were asked to cite what we have learned and what we can share in the future. We did live up to our expectations after all. Our heads of delegation gave us words of advice. Me, Sir Gil reminded me to trim up my promptness.
The pertinent papers which I greatly endeavored to produce was returned to me. It was a nice sight. We were also given our certificates. Then, we sang for the last time… Next in Line.
The song never failed to touch us and most bursted into tears. We knew it would all come to this. Of course, I tried to hold it as much as I can.
Our fetchers came one by one. It was indeed goodbye. The Korean dream has been fulfilled.
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