Summer In Seoul

Many of you may already know by now, but I will be in Korea for the summer until 8/24. Although I would have loved to land a summer internship in New York, I think this is a pretty good second. I'm going to be interning there, hopefully doing some kind of finance-related stuff. As long as they don't have me making copies and getting coffee for them all the time, I'll be happy. After all, it's something I can put on my resume.

However, I'm kind of worried about the language difficulties I might have in the workplace. Already I barely manage conversing in Korean with my relatives in everyday conversation; I can't imagine how bad it'll be when I need to discuss something work-related. I got a Korean-English dictionary to prepare myself and learn words I encounter that I don't know so I suppose that's a step in the right direction.

I also want to put out there that I will not be going to Shanghai next semester. I was initially excited to go when I first got into the World Studies Track (A program I was in that allowed me to study abroad in both London and Shanghai) but after a semester abroad in London, I missed New York too much to bear the thought of being away for another semester. In addition, a lot of my close friends dropped out of the program and I did not want to go on to Shanghai after that.

This was something I had been contemplating late last fall and all last semester, but I finally pulled the plug. I am sorry Muffinman, but hanging out with you in Shanghai and the chance to see the World Expo are not enough of a reason for me to spend another semester abroad. Muffinman was devastated when he heard I was not going, and I suspect he still harbours bitter resentment towards me for this. I can tell because every time we talk about Shanghai, Muffinman always bring up the fact that he and Pratik, my roommate who is going to Shanghai as well, are going to meet up and have a blast. He constantly reminds me, "You're going to miss out." I try to be supportive.

That being said, I feel like my summer in Korea will sort of make up for the fact that I'm not going to Shanghai. Yes, I know Korea can never fully replace Shanghai -- I've never been there before -- but Korea is still Asia, and this feels like a good second. Besides, with the internship, the World Cup, and the possibility of war breaking out between North and South Korea the next three months should be exciting!

Goals:
1. Watch the World Cup at one of those crazy mass things wearing a Be The Reds shirt
2. See SNSD in person at least once
3. Drink soju at a 포장마차 (Korean drinking/food tent)

-Emoinacloset