It's time! Yup!, time for our 2nd lesson!, well, this one is not much of a lesson is more of a "Survival Phrases" post, because going to a country and not speaking the language must be HARD! specially if it's something we don't hear as ofter as English, right?, So, I've been looking for this survival phrases that I will be needed when I be in Seoul O_O
On the previous lesson we learned how to say "Hello, My name is___. Nice to meet you", but if you manage to say this in "perfect" Korean people might think you speak the language and this is where it gets complicated....right? ... So here are some Useful phrases like "Do you Speak english?, I don't understand, where is___?, etc"
Enjoy!!!!!!!!
And hopefully I'll have time to make more post before leaving to Seoul :O w00t!!
-Gisela V.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The M-Wave Wordlwide *The only way to K-pop
It's time for a new post! and this time it is dedicated for all of Kpop fans n_n
ARIRANG TV ‘THE M-WAVE’ (K-POP MUSIC PROGRAM)
‘The M-Wave’ is the first and only music program in Korea that connects with a global audience in 188 countries. The show promotes the “Korean Wave” through the country’s top stars and connects with overseas viewers through interactive segments such as “SKYPE talk” and real-time interviews.
* MC: U-kiss Kevin & Alexander, G,NA
* Airing: Sundays, 18:00 (KOR)
* Guests: updated weekly on homepage
* M-wave Homepage: http://www.arirang.co.kr/TV2/Mwave/Index.asp
* Schedule (world): http://www.arirang.co.kr/tv/tv_index.asp?channel
International visitors to Korea can make reservations via the internet to attend a free studio-taping of ‘The M-Wave.’
1. TO MAKE A RESERVATION:
LOGIN TO M-WAVE HOMEPAGE AND CLICK “KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION (FIT)” BANNER ON BOTTOM-RIGHT SIDE OF PAGE
1. Ticket price: (FREE FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ONLY).
- 50 SEATS PER SHOW – TICKETS AVAILABLE ON FIRST COME/FIRST SERVE BASIS
- MUST PRESENT IDENTIFICATION (PLANE TICKET, PASSPORT, ETC) UPON ENTRANCE TO STUDIO
1. JOINING THROUGH SKYPE:
1. 1. CLICK ON ‘SIGN UP’ IN THE UPPER-RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE PAGE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF M-WAVE.
2. 2. LOGIN TO THE M-WAVE HOMEPAGE
3. 3. CLICK ‘REQUEST’ IN THE UPPER-RIGHT HAND CORNER AND THEN CLICK ON ‘SKYPE TALK’
4. 4. CLICK ‘WRITE’ TO BEGIN YOUR POST
1. STUDIO AUDIENCE INFORMATION
* RECORDING TIME & DATE: 18:30 EVERY TUESDAY (EXCEPT LAST TUESDAY OF MONTH)
* STUDIO LOCATION: ARIRANG TV & RADIO BUILDING (2F), SEOCHO-DONG
* STUDIO MAP (ARIRANG TV)
* MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE THROUGH ARIRANG TV HOMEPAGE
So if you are visiting korea or live there... this can be really useful if you are into Kpop and everything ;) !
-Gisela V.
ARIRANG TV ‘THE M-WAVE’ (K-POP MUSIC PROGRAM)
‘The M-Wave’ is the first and only music program in Korea that connects with a global audience in 188 countries. The show promotes the “Korean Wave” through the country’s top stars and connects with overseas viewers through interactive segments such as “SKYPE talk” and real-time interviews.
* MC: U-kiss Kevin & Alexander, G,NA
* Airing: Sundays, 18:00 (KOR)
* Guests: updated weekly on homepage
* M-wave Homepage: http://www.arirang.co.kr/TV2/Mwave/Index.asp
* Schedule (world): http://www.arirang.co.kr/tv/tv_index.asp?channel
International visitors to Korea can make reservations via the internet to attend a free studio-taping of ‘The M-Wave.’
1. TO MAKE A RESERVATION:
LOGIN TO M-WAVE HOMEPAGE AND CLICK “KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION (FIT)” BANNER ON BOTTOM-RIGHT SIDE OF PAGE
1. Ticket price: (FREE FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ONLY).
- 50 SEATS PER SHOW – TICKETS AVAILABLE ON FIRST COME/FIRST SERVE BASIS
- MUST PRESENT IDENTIFICATION (PLANE TICKET, PASSPORT, ETC) UPON ENTRANCE TO STUDIO
1. JOINING THROUGH SKYPE:
1. 1. CLICK ON ‘SIGN UP’ IN THE UPPER-RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE PAGE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF M-WAVE.
2. 2. LOGIN TO THE M-WAVE HOMEPAGE
3. 3. CLICK ‘REQUEST’ IN THE UPPER-RIGHT HAND CORNER AND THEN CLICK ON ‘SKYPE TALK’
4. 4. CLICK ‘WRITE’ TO BEGIN YOUR POST
1. STUDIO AUDIENCE INFORMATION
* RECORDING TIME & DATE: 18:30 EVERY TUESDAY (EXCEPT LAST TUESDAY OF MONTH)
* STUDIO LOCATION: ARIRANG TV & RADIO BUILDING (2F), SEOCHO-DONG
* STUDIO MAP (ARIRANG TV)
* MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE THROUGH ARIRANG TV HOMEPAGE
So if you are visiting korea or live there... this can be really useful if you are into Kpop and everything ;) !
-Gisela V.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Guest Post:!!!!!!!!
Ok ok ok... maybe this isnt the "first" guest post ever but it's actually from someone I'm not related with... lol so I'm kinda excited to introduce you to WonTaek Chung from My Seoul Stories , I don't remember how I found this blog (probably trough TSS--thanks btw!!) but I've been reading his blog ever since.... and I asked him to help me with a Guest Post about E.via since he kinda introduced me to her.... so here it goes!!
New Video
E.via
E.via (Lee Ok Joo), is a Korean lyricist, composer, rapper, and pianist. E.via’s first EP, E.via aka Happy E.vill, was released on May 18th, 2009. Her influences include Eminem, Nas, UMC, and Deegie. She has recently garnered a bit of media attention and popularity for the music video of her song 일기장 (Diary), featuring Sori (소리).
E.via one of the few Korea female rappers out there in Korea. She is still not that well known in Korea. She did perform in few concerts but, her raps were not as appreciated by the Koreans as a lot of people were more into idol groups than rappers like E.via. She has around 7 years of experience in rapping.(well, this is what I read from the comments so not sure). She didn’t go with the name E.via at first. Her pet-name was napper during her early stages of her career. I assume that she liked sleeping! Her rap style was also dramatically different when she was napper. She rapped in a low pitched tone rather than her high pitch voice. Only after she became more publicized she changed her name to E.via and started singing in the voice we are more familiar with.
This is the rap style of e.via in the old days!
However, her career wasn’t so successful. Her first album(I am not sure) was banned cause it
had a sexual message. The title was literally translated as “Can I do it?.” Well, it had a double meaning. One was if she could rap and the other was if she could have sex with her lover?. Her next mini album featured “Shake.” Shake was quite popular except for it had too much exposure and the Korean government was not so happy about it going on air. In general, she had a bad girl side in her that made her raps only semi successful. However, this is the main aspect that I like about E.via. She might look as cute, innocent and guilty, but maybe she is not! She is a strong, independent female rapper who makes interesting music. She might not be as good as outsider or eminem (obviously) but, her fast paced rap is different and its like drugs to my ears.
This is the rap style of e.via in the old days!
However, her career wasn’t so successful. Her first album(I am not sure) was banned cause it
had a sexual message. The title was literally translated as “Can I do it?.” Well, it had a double meaning. One was if she could rap and the other was if she could have sex with her lover?. Her next mini album featured “Shake.” Shake was quite popular except for it had too much exposure and the Korean government was not so happy about it going on air. In general, she had a bad girl side in her that made her raps only semi successful. However, this is the main aspect that I like about E.via. She might look as cute, innocent and guilty, but maybe she is not! She is a strong, independent female rapper who makes interesting music. She might not be as good as outsider or eminem (obviously) but, her fast paced rap is different and its like drugs to my ears. New Video
Gisela's note: This video is just dedicated to a friend (Beeeric!!) just because he said he liked it lol well...also because it caused "controversy" due to all the "shaking" haha
Thanks WonTaek for this contribution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You rock!!! n_n
-Gisela V।
Ps. I'm really sorry if the Videos don't work correctly I'm pretty "new" with this lol
Ps. I'm really sorry if the Videos don't work correctly I'm pretty "new" with this lol
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Korean for Dummies 101
I suscribed to Koreanclass101.com a couple of months ago because I just wasn't comfortable when I was going to group-classes, even thou it was Korean for newbies seemed like everyone already knew so much and I just couldnt keep with it... it was HARD!!! I felt so dumb because I didn't know the name of the letters (signs??) and because I didn't know any word in Korean except for annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요!), so then I decided to hire a personal teacher...Good idea! at least for a while but it was really expensive so......the best method for me (at least!) it was the internet, I've found great websites with pretty good lessons, most of the times I use koreanclass101.com but Talk to me in Korean is also agood resource, and actually the 2nd site was created by Keith a former koreanclass101 "teacher".
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| easy?? O_o |
Hello = annyeonghaseyo - 안녕하세요
Nice to meet you = cheoeum boepgesseumnida - 처음 뵙겠습니다 (HAAAAAAARD!!! lol well...not so much)
I am ____ = Jeoneun (or more like choneun) Gisela-imnida - 저는 <--Jeoneun
so it wil be something like this:
annyeonghaseyo! Jeoneun Gisela-imnida. Cheoeum boepgesseumnida
Hello!, I am Gisela. Nice to meet you.
안녕하세요!, 저는 Gisela-입니다. 처음 뵙겠습니다 (right? hehe)
*Cheoeum boepgesseumnida literally means "I'm meeting you for the first time" but is translated as "It's nice to meet you" and it is used when meeting someone for the first time
(here comes the complicated part!)
so, why do we add an "imnida" after the name??...
The verb expressing "to be" - is 다 (ida). When 다 is conjugated in the present tense and
expressed for use in a formal context, it changes into 입니다 (imnida).
다 (ida) is the Korean affirmative copula. And is roughly equivalent to the English verb "to be. 다 (ida) is the most useful and basic way to identify people and object.
O_O I think that would be enough for this lesson lol ....
At least now you can say "Hello, I am ____. Nice to meet you" right?....right??!!!!!!
So stay tuned for more lessons (or not)... or.. go to Koreanclass101/TalktomeinKorean n_n
Annyeonghaseyo!!!!!!
-Gisela V.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Pepero Day!!!!
Ok, so it's about 10:12am on 11/10/10 in Korea right now!!,,, and I'm posting this about the Pepero Day 1 day in advance because?.... well.. because 1st of all I don't wanna forget to post this on the 11th since I've been wanting to tell you about this for a lil while!!! (Yes I'm excited so what??!!!) and 2nd because my sis is coming home from London tomorrow!!! and I have to pick her up at the Airport (hello perrow!!) and I don't think I'll have time to post it for 11/11/10 ...so... here's the post... Enjoy!!
This post is dedicated to all of my readers with a sweet tooth!, you might know know what PEPERO is because most people (outside Korea) call them Pocky (Japanese Version), well Peperos are the same as Pocky... a thin cookie stick dipped in chocolate (yuuummers!!!), who wouldn't like that?? lol Well I just found out that this sweet treat is "celebrated" on 11/11 :O in Korea in if you live in Korea there is a very good chance that you will receive a couple of boxes of Peperos *So I've heard and I envy you for that lol*
The classic pepero sold by Lotte is a thin biscuit stick that is dipped in chocolate. Over time these have evolved into thin pretzel wrappers with chocolate inside (called Nude Pepero), Almond Chocolate, Strawberry, Blueberry, Nude Lemon Cheese, and then huge peperos that are the length of an adult’s arm. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the number of these strange thin snacks that swarm the Korea landscape on 11/11. So how did it start?
The Lotte Confectionary Company introduced Pepero to Korea back in the 1980s. Many people believe
that the company invented this day to increase their sales. If the Lotte Company did do this then it was a huge success. It sells almost two-thirds of it’s yearly total of these snacks in the two months before November 11th (Source: Lina Yoon Wall Street Journal 2006). The Lotte Company refutes this claim because they say they only started marketing these snacks in the year 2000 after marketing personnel started to notice a yearly jump in sales around the 11th. Koo Ja-ryung, the branding manager of Pepero said "Actually, we didn't start Pepero day. The theory says it started when some middle school girls started exchanging the snack with the wish that they would become "as tall and slender as a Pepero."
Another theory of why is celebrated in 11/11 is that because when written as 11/11, it resembles four long pepero sticks.
Regardless of Pepero Day's origins, its celebration has become an annual tradition since 1994, and, each year as the day approaches, South Koreans stock up on these little confections to be ready to use them as an expression of their esteem and affections for those they hold near and dear. Couples will each put the end of the thin snacks and eat towards each other for a kiss.
While the regular pepero only cost 800-1000 won (about 75 cents to 1 dollar), these days many high-end bakeries and chocolaterias have been getting in on the holiday and have been making gourmet pepero. Some of these pepero include Italian dark chocolate and orange peel, white chocolate macadamia nut, and black and white sesame. The most visually awing is the giant pepero. Sure, they might look impressive but they taste like a bland breadstick covered in chocolate. But that’s not the point. You are giving this giant pepero tosomeone as a symbol of your love. It says, “You’re number one in my heart.” <--- Awww <3 lol
So, now you know,,, if you want to tell someo one you love him/her... say it with a Pepero!!! lol and have a happy Pepero day!! n_n
-Gisela V.
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| omg omg omg!!!! |
The Lotte Confectionary Company introduced Pepero to Korea back in the 1980s. Many people believe
that the company invented this day to increase their sales. If the Lotte Company did do this then it was a huge success. It sells almost two-thirds of it’s yearly total of these snacks in the two months before November 11th (Source: Lina Yoon Wall Street Journal 2006). The Lotte Company refutes this claim because they say they only started marketing these snacks in the year 2000 after marketing personnel started to notice a yearly jump in sales around the 11th. Koo Ja-ryung, the branding manager of Pepero said "Actually, we didn't start Pepero day. The theory says it started when some middle school girls started exchanging the snack with the wish that they would become "as tall and slender as a Pepero."
 |
| Yuuuu-mmy!!!!!!!!! |
Regardless of Pepero Day's origins, its celebration has become an annual tradition since 1994, and, each year as the day approaches, South Koreans stock up on these little confections to be ready to use them as an expression of their esteem and affections for those they hold near and dear. Couples will each put the end of the thin snacks and eat towards each other for a kiss.
While the regular pepero only cost 800-1000 won (about 75 cents to 1 dollar), these days many high-end bakeries and chocolaterias have been getting in on the holiday and have been making gourmet pepero. Some of these pepero include Italian dark chocolate and orange peel, white chocolate macadamia nut, and black and white sesame. The most visually awing is the giant pepero. Sure, they might look impressive but they taste like a bland breadstick covered in chocolate. But that’s not the point. You are giving this giant pepero tosomeone as a symbol of your love. It says, “You’re number one in my heart.” <--- Awww <3 lol
So, now you know,,, if you want to tell someo one you love him/her... say it with a Pepero!!! lol and have a happy Pepero day!! n_n
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| Awww the cutest peperos EVER!!!! |
-Gisela V.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Pinkberry
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| Yummers!! |
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| Shelly Hwang and Young Lee |
Pinkberry is a franchise of upscale frozen dessert restaurants headquartered in LA, California. The first store opened in January 2005 by Korean Americans Shelly Hwang and Young Lee. The tart, frozen dessert has a groupie-like following who sometimes refer to it as "Crackberry". The company acknowledges its cult-like following by maintaining a "groupie corner" on its website
Hwang's first business venture was to open a formal English teahouse on a tiny residential street called Huntley Drive in West Hollywood, California. However, after the city refused to approve a permit for Hwang and her business partner, architect Young Lee, they decided to go with their second plan, which was a frozen yogurt concept reviving the craze of the 1980s. People were soon driving across town and standing in line for up to 20 to 30 minutes to get their fix of "the taste that launched 1,000 parking tickets."
In October 2009, Pinkberry opened its first overseas branch in the State of Kuwait at the Avenues shopping mall.
Pinkberry's menu consists of Original, Green Tea, Pomegranate, Coffee, and a few seasonal favors which include Coconut, Passion Fruit, and Chocolate flavored frozen yogurt style desserts in three sizes:
Small(150 ml),
Medium(240 ml), and
Large(380 ml).
Fundraisers
Pinkberry is proud to host in-store fundraisers. For any fundraising event, 20% of all proceeds will be donated to your organization or cause. Everyone’s invited—gather your friends, family and supporters to participate in your event!
-Gisela V.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Michelin Star for Korean Cuisine
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| aww cute couple, huh? |
What is a Michelin Star?...does it has anything to do with the Tyres manufacturers?,,umm yes..sort of...
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide,the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars.
The Michelin Guide has been around since the early 1900s and started as a car and road trip guide. Andre and Edouard Michelin wanted to create a guide to the best restaurants and accommodations available along the travel route of motorists. The guide quickly became incredibly popular for its restaurant information as it highlighted the most exceptional chefs and eateries. It is now the oldest such publication and is now considered the most well-known and influential guide in the culinary world.
The guide awards one to three stars to a small number of restaurants of outstanding quality.
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide,the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars.
The Michelin Guide has been around since the early 1900s and started as a car and road trip guide. Andre and Edouard Michelin wanted to create a guide to the best restaurants and accommodations available along the travel route of motorists. The guide quickly became incredibly popular for its restaurant information as it highlighted the most exceptional chefs and eateries. It is now the oldest such publication and is now considered the most well-known and influential guide in the culinary world.
The guide awards one to three stars to a small number of restaurants of outstanding quality.
~ One star indicates "a very good restaurant in its category, worth a stop."
~ A two-star ranking represents "excellent cooking, worth a detour," and
~ Three stars are awarded to restaurants offering "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."
And I have to say.... it's a great way to indicate if a restaurant is good... will you travel somewhere just to try their food??... I'll do it!
Well.. a couple comformed by Duncan Robertson (33), a British chef who came to Seoul last year with his
Korean Girlfriend, Duncan is now the head chef at N Grill, the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the N Seoul Tower in Mt. Nam, both of them plan to develop various recipes to promote Korean food, but for the time being their goal is to earn a star for N Grill from the Korean edition of the Michelin Guide.
Robertson was introduced to the Korean cuisine when he came to Korea with his 32-year-old Korean girlfriend in November last year and now has a Michelin star. "There are two restaurants, one in Sogong-dong and one in Sinsa-dong in Seoul, that can compete with any restaurant abroad in the Michelin Guide, and I can't forget the taste of rich bone broth and diced radish kimchi made my girlfriend's mother. "I don't know how to describe the taste, but I could feel such warmth from the food. That's what real food is all about," he says.
Chef Duncan With his girlfriend, whom he met in Paris, worked in an obscure restaurant called L'envie in the small French town of Brive, and it won a Michelin star. The Michelin Guide rates restaurants with five forks and three stars, and out of 20,000 premium restaurants in Paris, only 64 have one or more stars.
"I came to Seoul because I wanted to be close to my girlfriend's hometown and I wanted to get to know the place. I feel that people in Seoul are friendlier and more vivacious than in Tokyo and Shanghai," he says.
Hope they can get their Michelin Star soon n_n
~ Three stars are awarded to restaurants offering "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."
And I have to say.... it's a great way to indicate if a restaurant is good... will you travel somewhere just to try their food??... I'll do it!
Well.. a couple comformed by Duncan Robertson (33), a British chef who came to Seoul last year with his
Korean Girlfriend, Duncan is now the head chef at N Grill, the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the N Seoul Tower in Mt. Nam, both of them plan to develop various recipes to promote Korean food, but for the time being their goal is to earn a star for N Grill from the Korean edition of the Michelin Guide.
Robertson was introduced to the Korean cuisine when he came to Korea with his 32-year-old Korean girlfriend in November last year and now has a Michelin star. "There are two restaurants, one in Sogong-dong and one in Sinsa-dong in Seoul, that can compete with any restaurant abroad in the Michelin Guide, and I can't forget the taste of rich bone broth and diced radish kimchi made my girlfriend's mother. "I don't know how to describe the taste, but I could feel such warmth from the food. That's what real food is all about," he says.
Chef Duncan With his girlfriend, whom he met in Paris, worked in an obscure restaurant called L'envie in the small French town of Brive, and it won a Michelin star. The Michelin Guide rates restaurants with five forks and three stars, and out of 20,000 premium restaurants in Paris, only 64 have one or more stars.
"I came to Seoul because I wanted to be close to my girlfriend's hometown and I wanted to get to know the place. I feel that people in Seoul are friendlier and more vivacious than in Tokyo and Shanghai," he says.
Hope they can get their Michelin Star soon n_n
-Gisela V.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Museums again!!
For more info about the museum/exhibit click HERE
The British Museum’s (in London, England) collection covers over 5,000 years of Korean art and archaeology, from prehistory to contemporary, from ornate ritual objects to everyday folk arts.
The unique culture of Korea combines a strong sense of national identity with influences from other parts of the Far East. Korean religion, language, geography and everyday life were directly affected by the country’s geographic position, resulting in a rich mix of art and artefacts.Objects on display in Room 67 at the British Museum date from prehistory to the present day and include ceramics, metalwork, sculpture, painting, screen-printed books and illuminated manuscripts.
A reconstruction of a traditional Sarangbang, or scholar’s study, is also on display and was built by contemporary Korean craftsmen.White porcelain wares, redolent of Confucian philosophy, form part of the collection as well.
The Korean peninsula – currently divided into the countries of North Korea and South Korea – lies between China, Russia and Japan in East Asia. This geographical fact has played a crucial role not only in establishing Korea’s diverse cultural heritage, but also in the development of East Asian culture and art.
In AD seventh century, the various states of the peninsula were unified for the first time under the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935). During this period, great achievements in historiography, mathematics, astronomy, metal works and technology of woodblock printing were made. Active cultural exchange and trade with China and Central Asia contributed to a more diverse society, whose achievements spilled over into Japan.
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| "Dhratarastra, Guardian King of the East, a painting on hemp cloth, late 18th - early 19th century AD " |
Hope you like it!!!! if you do, please let me know so I can ask my sis to contribute more lol
-Gisela V.