The reason why we should do the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang

When I think about winter, the first thing that comes to mind is my birthday. The second thing that comes to mind is skiing! Speaking about skiing, there's the Winter Olympic Games!


 I really like Winter Olympics because I like skiing. It's my favorite winter sport. I'm interested in all events. Ski jumping, Figure skating etc. Last year, the Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver. And in 2014, they will be held in Sochi. And the IOC is choosing the right place for the Winter Olympics in 2018. Pyeongchang is a candidate city for the event.
 And there are some reasons that Pyeongchang should be the city to hold the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
 First, we have all kinds of things for the Olympics. Like, 『Ski jumping tower』  and other things.
 Second, Pyeongchang is a wonderful place! Because the temperature is low, you can enjoy winter sports for 5 months; starting from November to April. Not only that, the snow is 2m 70cm deep, which is the right amount for the Olympics. Also, the quality of the snow is really good. So, it fits for the Olympics.
 Third, in my opinion, there are other places to see around Pyeongchang. Not only the Olympics, but you can also enjoy the traditional markets, travel through caves etc. So, it will be a great experience.
 I hope that Pyeongchang could hold the 2018 Winter Olympic Games!

A tour in Changgyeong Palace

Today, I had a tour in Changgyeong Palace. It was really cold. So, I thought that no one will come. But two foreigners came to the palace.

 I didn't have a tour in Changgyeong Palace since November. So, I wasn't sure that I could explain well. But, when I went to the palace, I could remember the things that I should explain, just like Gyeongbok Palace.

 After waiting for about 10 minutes, two foreginers came, and I had a tour. I really enjoyed to explain about the palace, because they were so funny. They answered my questions in jokes, and said their opinions about some historical events that happened in the palace. They said that King Yeongjo was wrong about putting his son, Prince Sado inside a rice chest. I haven't met those kind of people yet. So, I really liked today's tour.

 But I think I should prepare much more for the next tour. I forgot to tell them about Deumeu just like in Gyeongbok Palace. I should remember to tell those things next time.

About the Lunar New Year

From February 2nd to February 4th, Koreans celebrated the Lunar New year.

We celebrated the Lunar New Year from the past(Since the Three Kingdoms Period in Korea). We used the Lunar calendar because of agriculture. Well, not only the Lunar one, we also celebrate the Solar one, which is the real January 1st now. We started to celebrate the Solar one during the Japanese Colonization Period. And February 3rd was January 1st in the Lunar calendar.

In Korea, we call the Lunar New Year as, 'Seol'. 'Seol' means, 'the Beginning of a new year'.

During Seol, we do a lot of things: do ancestor-memorial rites, New Year's bow, well-meant remarks, New Year's best clothes and other kinds of things.

We prepare some New Year's foods and use it during the ancestor-memorial rites.

And also, we do the New Year's bow to the adults and earn money. Last Thursday, I earned \110,000! But I had to give the money to my mother. In the past, we could earn more money(\1,000) than the day before. So, for example, if you earned \10,000 you could earn \11,000 they next day.

We also get New Year's best clothes the night before Seol. So, we get up early at Seol and wear those new clothes. I've also got a new hanbok. It's really beautiful.

The adults say some well-meant remarks to the youngsters. Like, "Please do well in exams this year." etc.

Not only these things, we prepare foods. The most important food is 'Ddeokguk'. People believe that we get older when we eat this food. There are some round rice cakes and the rounded shape symbolizes the sun. Not only that, it also means luck. So, it's good if you eat a lot!

We also play during Seol. The most famous game around Koreans is 'Yootnoli'. There are four Yoots and you throw them and move your man according to what the Yoots are showing.

Now I hope you learned about Seol a lot. And have a good day! []`

A Tour in Gyeongbok Palace

Today, I had a tour in Gyeongbok Palace. I haven't been to Gyeongok Palace since last year. So, I was a little nervous. But I tried my best.

Because it was cold, I thought that the foreigners wouldn't come. Well, I thought wrong! I had a tour with 2 Malay people. I did my best to explain about the things easier and funnier(?).

They really liked my tour. When I told them a joke about the Korean Traditional Chimney, they laughed. And when I told them about Queen Min's death, they had a sad face. I really really liked their reactions. I mean it!

But there were things that I forgot to explain. For example, DEMEU! Our Korean Traditional Fire Extinguisher! There are a lot of funny things that are related to this thing. But I forgot to tell them!

Well, still, I'm proud of my self. I'm really proud about doing these things to tell the world about Korea! Plus, I'm also proud of my self about doing a one and a half and hour tour!(even though it was really cold!)

Anyway, I'm gonna do better next time.

Versailles, Special Exposition

Yesterday, I went to see Versailles, Special Exposition. It was fun.



  I could know about French culture in the Versailles, Special Exposition.
  I was interested in Versailles really much. I think the Versailles Palace is much better that Korean palaces. It is splended and really big. I wanted to live there. I especially liked the portraits. It felt like I was looking at a real live person! I really admire the pictures. Oh, and also the dresses. They were gorgeos and big! If I look at those dresses, I want to wear them, too. I really like France. I would like to visit the real Versailles Palace if I have enough money. I really appreciated it.]`

Disney Character Designer, Kim Sangjin

Have you seen the movie 'Chicken Little' or 'Tarzan' before? It's fun, right? Well, amazingly, the person who drew the characters from 'Tarzan' are made by a Korean! 


  Dear Foreigners...

  HI, again! Today, I went to a park in Korea Street. It was named 'Koreans in the World'. Today, I'm gonna tell you about a charater designer. And he is a special character designer. He is a Korean. Plus, he has achromatopsia, which is also known as color blindness. His name is Kim Sangjin.
  You know, it's hard to be a character designer if you have color blindness. In Korea, you can't go to an art university if you have that color blindness. So, Kim Sangjin couldn't go to an art university. Luckily, a company which saw his talent had him as a worker. And later on, he worked as a character designer in Disney for 15 years! He is really amazing, don't you think so?]
  My dream is a character designer, too.  I will work hard and be like him. Please encourage me.
  I have to go now. See ya!

K-Pop!

These days, K-Pop is popular. I will tell you about it much more.

To Foreigners...

  Hi, guys! Today, I went to K-TREND Street. It's my favorite Street in Korea Street. I learned about K-Pop there. K-Pop refers to Korean songs.
  Everybody has a favorite singer, right?

 I especially like Girls Generation. I read in a newspaper that there are 120,000 fans of Girls Generation in US. What a fantastic news! I was so happy to read that article. Anyway back to what we were talking about, there's my favorite member in Girls Generation. Her name is Jessica! I like Jessica because she's tall, good at singing, and also in my opinion she is the most beautiful member in Girls Generation.