Daejon - Volunteer & Adventure 대전 봉사하고 재미있는 경험

8-9 January 2010
Daejon - Volunteer Camp & Adventure 대전 봉사하고 재미있는 경험

I took the Mugunghwa Train from Yongsan to Seodaejon (West Daejon) Station. It took a little less than 2 hours to arrive Daejon. It was a convenient system, people can just purchase ticket online and somebody else can purchase for you. Of course, there is still the ticket counter for on-the-spot purchases. Anyhow, I did not have any ticket on-hand, just SMS message from my friend on my train details. There were nobody to check whether you are going to ride the right train or not. You just have to arrive 10-15 minutes before the departing time and get on the right platform. The trains leave exactly at the time it was scheduled. Not even 1 minute delay.

The weather in Seoul and in Daejon range from -8 to -12 Celsius during this duration. What a nice time to travel isn't it? :)

I came to Daejon for the reason of sharing the Filipino Culture, Chinese Culture and American Culture to Public School Middle School students in Jinsan Middle School (진산종학교)  in Geumsan (금산), Chungcheongnam-do (충청남도). It is a volunteer task request from my long-time Korean friend (Leslie - 손보영) I met back in De La Salle University, Manila 6 years ago. The school is around 30 minutes drive from Daejon City though geographically we have to go out of Daejon and go up the mountains of Geumsan towards Daedeunsan (대든산). Daedunsan was so gorgeous!- Seeing the dried mountain from afar, with white snow on it and sun shining over the mountain...

So, I have to speak 2-whole mornings to discuss and share about foreign culture as well as to give them a short discussion or lecture on how to write a letter. The students were 1st and 2nd Middle School levels, around 12-16 years old (actual age). There were a total of 19 students enrolled in this Winter Class. Their Winter Class is composed of various classes, mine is considered under English Class.

I was impressed with the participation level of the Middle School students. I have been used to a quiet crowd of university students in The Catholic University of Korea in the GEO (Global English Outreach) classes; though it was a bit challenging because I cannot explain everything in pure English for them to understand what I am talking about. I needed someone to translate some for me. Fortunately, my friend who requested me to do this tasks was there too. But yes, their participation level was more than what I expected.

The eeeew sound after seeing and hearing the explanation of BALOT. The 맛있겠다 (seems delicious) after seeing some photos of Jollibee, Banana-cue, lechon, adobo, dimsum (for Chinese food), KFC, Burger King (for American food) etc. It was fulfilling =). The "wow"s after learning that Philippines have 7,107 islands. The 진짜 (really?) after knowing that Philippines participated and sent 7,000 soldiers wherein 116 died in the Korean War. The smiles shown and "YES" shouted after correctly answering some questions after the discussions. The excitement shown despite of having class on a Saturday. These were just some reactions I have noted down during our 2-morning class sessions. There were more and I just cannot remember everything as of the moment.

They were also asked to make a presentation on Korean culture if they are to introduce it to foreigners. It was amazing how the teams came up with their own presentation. Some came up with Kimchi, Doenjang, Bibimbap, Hanbok, Tourist Spots, Samulnori, etc. It was not only the "WHAT" that were discussed but how and why as well. The letter they wrote will be sent to me by post and will soon receive it! =) They really took time to write it! =) The innocent and sincere questions, whether it be forced seatwork or not... :)

My friend has to go to Graduate School to continue her learning in English Education. After class, we have to go to Chungnam National University (CNU-충남대학교). As I have to wait for a few hours, I decided to go around the campus and take some photos despite of the freezing weather! =) While finding some photo ops in the campus, another Korean friend (박기훈) I met in the DMZ Film Camp came to CNU to bring me to KBS to have an "educational tour" on how broadcasting is being done. Got to see the program setting, the video cameras, the back room, as well as the radio broadcasting, etc. In the 12th floor, we also saw the whole view of Daejon City! =)

We went for 4 rounds of bowling afterwards with Leslie with her Lucky Strike Bowling Club. Unfortunately, I was not able to spend more time with 박기훈, felt bad because he had to go straight to CNU to bring me to KBS after arriving from Daegu, where he had a video assignment yet spent only a little time. :|

On our 2nd day afternoon, while waiting for Leslie to finish her class, I stayed in a Coffee Shop in their campus. We were supposed to go to a mountain in Daejon but on our way there, snowflakes suddenly fell! It is Leslie's 2nd day of driving with her own new brand-new car so we do not want to risk that as well. So we decided to go around to a nearby place. I saw many children playing in a flat surface of frozen ice! It is a water stream and now a frozen "land". It is the 유등천 - Yoo Deung Cheon/ Stream. So we went there and decided to rent the boards so we could also play for a while. Fortunately, there is a time duration for the whole outdoor activity so there was only 10 minutes left. With that, the kind Ajussi (어저씨) did not ask us to pay for rent anymore. We glided for a while and of course, the main thing is to take photos!!! =) When we started sledding (설메), there was still some snowflakes falling but it suddenly stopped when we got the hang of playing around the place! =) But I enjoyed it a lot! =) I cannot stay longer as well because it is too effortful to "paddle?" especially after a night of 4 rounds of bowling!!!

Sledding on a frozen Stream

Afterwhich, we decided to buy some grocery and will cook at home! =) and will be doing it now!!! =) But since we were not too hungry, we decided to cook my dish the next day and only cook her Sujebi (수제비) for the night! We were too tired, we slept a lot without really saying anything to each other.

8:50pm 8 January 2011
Daejon, South Korea

We woke up around 8am and my friend, Leslie, suddenly said: "Let's go to the mountain we are supposed to go yesterday." because Leslie felt "sayang" for me if we were not able to go somewhere. We scheduled ourselves to leave at around 10:30 in the morning. So I said, I will cook the Korean Pancake/Pizza (파전) for our breakfast. :)

 

We went to 만인산 (Mt. Man Yin). It was around 1 hr drive from the heart of the city of Daejon. I did not have prior expectations of the place we will be going to and to my surprise, Mt. Man Yin is full of snow now so we literally have to walk on snow up the mountain! It was a challenge for me as I was wearing a walking fashion shoes and not for outdoor activity! But we did! and we're back safely! I had a lot of almost slipped occasions but fortunately, not! Reached the top of the mountain and saw the place where they place the umbilical cord of King Taejong (태정). I crossed a monkey bridge and wow, the Ajussi and Ajumas are soooo brave! They crossed it as well, and somebody even intentionally move (sway) the bridge so the rest would feel the thrill more. I waited for them to finish crossing but it seems like it was more challenging doing it alone as my weight was lesser; thus, the wind sways it more easily!

YEY!!! whew! :)

This trip was the best ever! =) I felt the instant wow when I sled, when we hiked in the snow! =) and I just can't help but smile! :D even it was freezing! If it was -12 Celsius down in the City, how cold would it be up in the mountains with snow on it. Plus, seeing the middle school students participate and respond while you discuss, even if it was a volunteer task, it was all worth it.

9:20pm 9 January 2011
Bucheon, South Korea

Karina Chua