Back in Korea: Kpop adventures!

So... now that I am back in Seoul and have moved into dorms, my life has been a lot more busier than when I was in my home stay. Having your best friend as your roommate also doesn't help ease the hecticness as well. Especially when you have the same interests. K-POP! In terms of my university studies, this semester I am taking a lot more classes then last semester and also I am not taking the Korean language classes. Primarily because the classes I am taking this semester are a lot more intensive then before. Also... I want the evenings to be free so I can go to free k-pop shows! >0<
For the first week since I moved into dorms, I went to K-pop shows. Went to see Brian Joo's comeback stage and I also went to see my ultimate favorite K-pop artist, SE7EN! The most awesome thing of it all, I managed to become an official fan club member and won a ticket to the fan signing event!

After that I went to some of the new K-pop shows and less popular ones. For example, my friend and I went to the last taping of Arirang's Wave K and are currently going to every recording of Arirang's Simply Kpop. Which happens every 2 weeks on Wednesday nights. It's really nice because, one it's in English, two, you are really close to the artists (even though they are new) and three, it's FREE! It's really awesome. 

I am learning more Korean through going to kpop shows then going to korean classes. Since my focus in learning Korean is primarily conversational based and I don't plan to be very serious in my Korean language studies, the way I am learning Korean right now is perfect for me. By going to kpop shows, I have to talk to security guards, fans and various official people to get inside. For the first two weeks since I moved into the dorms, I went to a kpop show several times a week. The waiting was long and cold but once you are inside, it was all worth it. Ever since I participated in all these kpop shows, I realize how critical I become about the artists I listen to and how I perceive them. Sometimes, songs are better live and sometimes, songs are better not sung at all. 

ONE thing that emerged from going to kpop shows constantly is the impulsive decision my roommate and I decided to create an unofficial international fanclub for a new group we saw at a kpop show. The creation of the fanclub has got us tickets and opportunities to go to various kpop shows, talk to official people, gain connections and essentially talking with the members of the group. It is surreal that things have become so official but it has happened. Also through the making of this fanclub, I am improving my Korean and studying on my own in order to be able to talk to official people more properly. Even now, I can't believe we managed to get this far. I realize how amazing social networking is actually. 

Also on Sunday, my friend and I went to see SHINHWA. the first generation idols of Korean pop. It was their 14th anniversary concert. It was really an amazing concert until the end when one of the members took a bad landing and had to be sent straight to the hospital. Ending the concert slightly earlier. It was during their 2nd encore. If there wasn't the accident, I feel like the concert would've gone to 3 or 4 encores. Despite the ending, the concert was really amazing! There's a reason why these 6 men are together for 14 years. The chemistry, the connection, the history is undeniable and unbreakable. It's very commendable. Especially in the korean pop music industry nowadays. What I found really funny was the fact that most of the songs that were ballady types. Proves to me that oh, they are getting older. These guys are really legendary singers/performers. I still can't believe I saw Shinhwa. 

Nowadays, it's weird because the group we made a fanclub for is rarely promoting, so we are rarely going to kpop shows. It's really nice to have free time but at the same, it's weird. I decided I prefer being busy then having free time and twiddle my thumbs. However, now that I think about it, it's good that we have slightly free time because, we can focus on our university studies a lot more. 

Speaking of which, the 5 classes I am taking this semester are: East Asian Religion & Philosophy, Communication Media in Modern Korea Society, Introduction to Korean Studies, Comparative Far Eastern Film Studies, and Confucian Ethics and Society. Intensive but so far they are very interesting. One of the classes, introduction to Korean studies is very interesting because it is taught by an American professor. He shines a new light on Korean society and it's nice to hear a class without a hint of nationalism in their lectures. As usual there are professors I don't like and professor I do like but that comes with every university.
Just like every school year, the one thing I'm worried the most is the fact that this is the 2nd semester. For me 2nd semesters are never good because I get lazy. Especially with kpop shows so easily accessible, by taking these courses I am challenging myself to no longer be lazy this semester! I can do this!
This week though, we have no kpop shows to go to, instead this weekend, I am joining my friend and her family to Jeju Island. So I'll post pictures and update about it next time. This semester I am also going to try to update my blog more often. no more summary blog posts!