Here We Go!!! | Minna's Korea Diary

The original post can be found in my new blog Minna's Korea Diary. I have decided it's for the best to start a whole separate blog for the exchange year. I am not sure how I am going to deal with this blog since I probably focus on posting on the Korea blog. However, I don't want to keep this blog on a hiatus for a whole year. It is most likely that I'll include the same posts here to keep you guys updated. Minna's Korea Diary includes posts both in Finnish and in English because I created it mainly to keep my friends and relatives updated on what's going in my life in South Korea. Nevertheless, here is the first post (slightly edited: I cut out the blabbering about Finnish and English) from Minna's Korea Diary:

original picture

This girl is going to South Korea in August! Absolutely unbelievable! If I was asked couple years ago, where I would like to go for an exchange year, the answer would probably have been Austria, Germany or some other German speaking area. (After all I learned German on an advanced level in school and upper secondary school.)

Even though I a math major student in the University of Helsinki Korean language is very dear to me and I want to learn to speak it fluently. My minor subject has been Asian studies and my intention is to apply for the Master degree Program in the East Asian studies. When I decided on Asian studies as my minor I had to choose a “major” language to study. The choice was not easy as I originally wished to be able to study Japanese. However, I came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t have chances as a minor student since Japanese is really popular among the Asian studies major students. Thus, I ended up choosing Korean and I haven’t regretted it even once to this day. The Korean culture has been part of my life for several years thanks to hobbies such as taekwondo, movies, TV series and cartoons (manhwa). Ever since I was little I have been interested in foreign languages and cultures so the Asian Studies seem much more fitting subject to study. However, the aim of this study isn’t to focus on my studies: the focus is on my life as an exchange student in Seoul, South Korea. :)

The journey to this next challenge wasn’t easy. The process is still ongoing and it will last till the end of the exchange period. Everything started last autumn the application period to exchange programs in Asian universities cooperating with the University of Helsinki started. The results came around December. In my case I didn’t get into Yonsei University I had originally applied into but instead I was offered a place in Korea University (KU). I accepted the offer. The actual application period to the host universities started in spring. In the case of KU the application period started in March 21^st and continued to May 14^th. The results were announced on June 9^th so approximately after three weeks from the end of application period.

The international Services of the University of Helsinki organized an orientation meeting for the leaving students. In the meeting we were told about things that need to be done before leaving the country, during the exchange period and after returning. We were also informed regarding the things one should be prepared for during the exchange period.

There is still a lot to do. I must apply for the Visa, buy travelling insurance; inform Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) about my exchange studies and submit a notification of a temporary change of address to abroad. In addition to this I need to make sure I receive suggested vaccinations and search for an apartment.

Here the adventure starts! Next time the intention is to write about the preparations regarding the departure.

Till next time!

xxx

It's summer holiday already?! I Am Going to South Korea for a Year!?

It's been a while. I never thought the spring would go by so fast. It's freaking summer already. At least for me the holiday started over a month ago even though I still have some issues regarding my university studies. Yet, the sun is finally shining in my life as well.

I have passed all the courses needed for the Bachelor of Science degree and I'll be graduating later in June. Also I was accepted by the Korean university I had applied to so I'll be going to South Korea in August!!! Kyaah!! I'm so excited!

     There are still so many things I need to do in order to go Korea but I feel like the worst is already over. I haven't yet been able to apply for the South Korean Visa as the official invitation from the university is still on its way to Finland. However, I have already sent an application for the dormitory and now I am just waiting.

Because of the exchange year I am moving back to my parent's house in the following weekend and for that reason I have been super busy for a month now: I have been working and settling the school issues so I have had barely any time to pack my things in my apartment.

    This spring has been so hectic and stressful but now that is over and I just need concentrate on the things related to the exchange year. Somehow, I feel so relieved and peaceful at the moment. However, the closer we get to August the more likely I am to start panicking but on the other hand I feel that's part of the experience.

I will post more things about my exchange experience and Korean culture. I'll be also writing a Finnish blog dedicated completely to the exchange year. I'll post the link as soon as I get started. For the English reading audience I promise I'll keep you updated.

      This has been a quick update to my current situation as I soon need to catch the train to get to work.(Sorry for all the possible spelling errors etc,) Hopefully I'll get back on writing. There have been so many things I have wanted to share but haven't had the time to write posts about. (If you are interested what I am up to you should follow me on Instagram since it's easier to update than this blog ;))

Anyhow...Till next time!

xxx

A Speed Painting Video!!!

I wanted to try something new so I gave a try for doing a speed painting video. Sometimes I keep browsing through various speed painting videos all night. I find it very fascinating to see how others draw/paint. Although I know the quality is lacking and the painting is nothing to be too proud of I am still happy with what I came up with. Here's the video for those who want to see it.

If I ever end up doing another one I have to remember to check my camera every 20 minutes or so. While filming this video I notice halfway through the painting that the camera wasn't recording anymore and that is why the part for most of the details is missing.

Should I try doing speed painting every now and then? I still need to learn more about editing and finding a better spot for working. However, I think it could be fun to film more content like this and maybe improve my drawing/painting skills also.

I will be more than glad to hear your thoughts.

Till next time

xxx

My Year of Struggles

Seriously, I can't even... I don't know where to start this post.

     I have always been the type of person that keeps planning the future before hand. However, I have never been the type of person to get upset if the things in my life don't go as planned. Because I know you can never predict what happens in the future. Moreover, my plans are usually simply some goals I set for myself and I don't care about how I achieve those goals: I leave that for the life to decide.

Despite this there have been so many drawbacks since the end of 2014. I am not sure if those have made me feel like I got no control on my life anymore but all this surely has made it really hard for me to be motivated like I usually am.

     I feel like there is a little bit sunshine but there is still so much to do and a lot of things that can go wrong. Because there has been so many drawbacks I am now afraid everything will go wrong... Even though everyone keeps telling me to look on the bright side and keep my head high. My goals now are to get my BA degree and to go for an exchange year in South Korea. However, in the case of exchange year the university I am applying into could still refuse my application. And in the case of my BA degree there is this one obligatory course I have failed twice already. I'm taking the exam once again tomorrow and I hope for the best. Wish me luck!

     Otherwise, everything is starting to look good: My BA thesis is almost finished and I simply need to do the final touches and attend seminar to give a presentation on my thesis. I am also attending a seminar related to Asian studies. There I need to write a thesis of 25 pages and hold a presentation on that thesis. I have fallen behind the schedule on that one but it is still something I am not too worried about. I have been working on that but I simply need start writing to get all the thoughts in my head on paper.

     The major drawback this year has been the flu I got. I never got properly sick, yet I couldn't recover from it: I was so dead tired all the time. I barely managed to get myself through couple hours of lectures per day. When I got home I had to take a nap and even after the nap I couldn't focus on studying. The flu has also been the reason for me to put on weight. I haven't been able to exercise properly for about 3-4 months: First I was too busy because of my studies and part-time job and then I was down with flu and no energy at all to get myself to gym or anywhere else to exercise. So my plans for the summer are to spend the entire summer in my summer job place and gym.

      One thing I have been upset about has been the drawing project that I started. But for now I have decided it is more important for me to focus on my studies getting back on track healthier lifestyle. I might draw sometimes but EXO members have to wait till the summer. Oh, and one more worry. I'll be moving back to my parents' place for the summer in case I get to go to South Korea. It'll be much easier to arrange everything knowing my things are safely in my parents' house rather than renting my place to someone I might not know for the time I am away. The problem is that I have so much more furniture than I had when I moved out from my parents' place. Oh, well I'll worry about that after this semester ends.

I feel like I need to point out my intention has not been to gather up pity points. It just to pour down all the thoughts on paper to get some peace of mind. Once you get the thoughts on paper the problems don't seem that bad anymore. And I know I am not the only one with these kind of problems. If you have any motivational stories to lighten up my mood let me know.

I sincerely hope next time you hear from me I can happily inform you that I have gotten the BA degree done and the approval from South Korea.

xxx

Pictures from My Trip to Germany

Finally I looked through all the pictures I took while we were in Germany with my sister. I thought I'd like to share some pictures with you. I am not a great photographer but I enjoy taking photos of the places where I travel.

    Anyhow, here are the pictures. Hope you'll like them. :)

Frauenkirche, Dresden

Altar in the Frauenkirche, Dresden

Christmas market spreading into the surroundings of the Frauenkirche, Dresden

The Academy of Fine Arts Dresden

This is a surprisingly nice picture of me that my friend took. Though I really need a haircut. The back of my hair doesn't look
too good. It's way too long.

I bet if it was summer I could have taken a great picture in this park. Dresden

Strolling around in the old town of Dresden.

Theaterplatz, Dresden

Picture from the inside of the Zwinger, Dresden.

This picture was taken from the tower of Petrikirche. You can see the old town of the Freiberg.

My 2015 in a Nutshell

Original picture here.

Hello to all of you!

I have been trying to think of ways to summarize my last year but there are way too many things and most of those have been simply really stressful matters to me:

• I have to finish my Bachelor Degree thesis by the end of the spring 2016 so I've been trying to work on that and also I have other university related issues to handle.
• The beginning of the first semester: My dad almost died in October and apparently I might have had a slight depression because of that. I have not been diagnosed on this but now that I look back at my actions it could have been possible. Now I feel alright but as a result I got barely any schoolwork done during the first semester.
• I have to work and study. My current apartment has much more expensive monthly rent than my previous apartment. So in order to pay the rent I have to work alongside my studies and I have barely any free time.

Despite all this I have tried my best to do sports on my free time and have that one day a week I do no work at all to relieve all the built up stress. However, I've put on some weight and I think that has been due to my dietary habits. Because I've not that much time at home so I haven't been able to fix my own meals. So I have basically lived on microwave meals and eating whatever is easy and quick. Even though I not it has not been good for me I simply was too tired and stress to care about those.

My trip to Germany with my sister was the first ever trip I arranged completely
by myself.

Memorial candles are common
in Finland during Christmas

Nevertheless, though it has 2015 has not been the best year for me it has thought me many things about adulthood.

• This year has been the first one ever since I turned 18 that I've felt like an adult. I have legally been an adult (in Finland) for about 5,5 years yet I never felt like I actually am an adult. Though I've been living roughly 4 years on my own and not in my parents house I have been visiting them every weekend so it hasn't felt like I actually was not living with them anymore. I still see them every week but I have had to worry about my dad and probably that is why I felt like now I know how my parents must have felt when their parents have been seriously sick.
• Also I have my godparent duties since I have my cute 1,5 year old godson. Because of him I have got a bit of a taste of parenthood. Couple times I have been babysitting him and... Though I still think some day I want to have a family of my own I think I am not suitable to be a mother yet. To be responsible for such a small cute other human being seems a bit scary to me.
• The last thing I want to bring up is the self-confidence I have gained during 2015. I have for a long time thought that I am not quite an attractive person. Usually men don't approach me unless they are really drunk and also during those times they are mostly much much older than me. Sometimes I hear girls commenting negatively about my size behind my back. (I know I am big. You don't have to remind me of that!)

A year ago I decided to let that not bother me and simply be myself and not to care about other people's opinions. I also decided to try not to think about the "ugly" features I see in myself when looking in the mirror. It has been quite a journey and made me a lot of things last year. For example, I can't know what other people are thinking. Occasionally even I spot someone and comment to my sister/friend something like "Oh, that person has a nice dress" or "Look at that hairdo! It looks so beautiful". Sometimes people notice that and glare at me as if I am the most horrible person in the world though I was complimenting them. One can't avoid these situations in the public and so I shouldn't assume the worst whenever I see someone whispering something and looking into my direction.

I don't like my nose because it's quite big and
 also I have rather large forehead

I think glasses make me
look older but I don't care

I also have a issue with my feet since they are so big that I
rarely am able to find any shoes from the women's section.
Whenever I find shoes that fit me I have to buy them.

In addition, talking to my friends about the things I hate in my own appearance made me realize only I see these "ugly" features. To mention one thing as an example is my nose. I think my nose is huge and I don't like it but now I have slowly come to accept it just as it is since apparently I am the only one who thinks it is ugly.

There are many things I find not that pretty in myself but I wouldn't change
anything except maybe try to loose some weight to be more healthy.