Category: Other

Time to be serious

Time to be serious

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

October has started and I didn’t realize that. Now it’s time to get serious about studies for placement. I don’t have much time left and have a lot of coursework to do. Added to that is learning swimming, serious Thai lessons and much more…… I have to prepare gifts for everyone too. And I will possibly be giving English lessons to daughter of one of the workers.

So I’ve decided upon some things. I’ll write posts twice a week only – one on Wednesdays or Thursdays and one on Saturdays or Sundays. I’ll keep sharing other things as I find them but they would probably be quick posts. This does give my heart a rest. Now my writing schedule will become regular too.

I do have a lot of things to talk about. A lot of places to write about and a lot of manga, anime and dramas names stacked up in my list. But I seriously need to balance everything, now that the time is drawing near.

That reminds me, in the final presentation by the assessors providing summary of their thoughts about the company, the starting went by like this – “One should give importance to his/her strengths and try to strengthen them even more because that does 90% work for you. One should not forget about his/her weaknesses but working on strengths can be more fruitful.” So I’ve decided to make languages my strengths. Not that I’m forgetting about my Chemical Engineering studies but languages will certainly give an edge to me. So I’m taking them seriously now, even learning Thai. Strangest thing is I was so afraid of tones, on the top of that Thai has 5 tones! But one of my seniors, who is Thailand born Indian said, “So what? Hindi has two tones. What’s the problem with 5 tones?” And I was like, “How could I forget that?” I became so oblivious to my native language that I forgot even we start with tones! This new perspective has made learning Thai easier. Today I discovered, they have same sounds as in our language. If only, I had realized that earlier! Sigh!

Anyways, I can put new and more efforts now.

In the end, today’s song – 

50 Ways To Kindness At Work | Jackie Yun

50 Ways To Kindness At Work | Jackie Yun

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

50 Ways To Kindness At Work | Jackie Yun.

Ah! Such fun and easy ways to give back and receive happiness. Couldn’t let this one go……

Fast Update – Very Busy

Fast Update – Very Busy

by eastasianlover ♥ 1 Comment

There is an audit going on now at the company and everyone is so very busy. We worked yesterday, yup, Sunday, till 12 midnight (not complaining, I’m flaunting, yes, flaunting). It was my choice though. I was asked to go home at 7 in the evening but I said, I wanted to help in any way I could. I know I’m an intern and ultimately, my mentor has to revise every document she makes me work on. But her work reduces too. I am helping her with designing work also. Countdown posters and small small animations. I have been asked to design banners for the company now! I’m glad, I’m doing all sorts of work.

But even now I don’t have time to write the essays, where the deadline is today itself. I tried to find time but couldn’t. I’m happy about the work. We have a lot of fun in between, making jokes, clicking photos, eating, and celebrating when even the smallest task gets completed. But my Korean studies are suffering and GoGo course is coming to an end soon. How am I going to take the exam!! I already couldn’t attend the online classes thus missing so many things. I get so tired in the night, that I enter the house and then no memory remains. I just walk out of the bed in the morning, even forgetting how I reached home (though I come myself by bicycle).

Today, not even some song is coming to my mind. I’m running out of songs now? My life is going down it seems. Anyways, I need to find some good new K-pop songs. Recently I wrote a post on Monkey Majik, so I guess, today I’ll post a Japanese song instead of Korean (hope I haven’t posted that already, in some other post of mine) –

15 Days, 3 Months, 20 Years

15 Days, 3 Months, 20 Years

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Hello all,

How have you been? Got confused with the title? I was just summing up my life in and out of my country (physically 😛), nothing else.I reached India some two weeks ago after three months in Thailand. I have fallen in love with that country and my experience there. 20+ years in India and three months in Thailand feel soo….. different. Although, many a times I fail to notice that I’m in a foreign country. Everything is fast in Thailand, yet the pace of life is slow.

I’m not saying anything against India. It is the country in which I was born. How can I do that? Anyways, it is time to go back to Thailand and I am anticipating new adventures for the next two and half months. Thailand has given me a lot. I started taking Korean seriously. I’m already learning a lot in the company. And the most important, it gave me a direction. Now I know what I want to do and how I want to do. Earlier, I was very worried.

Also, these 15 days showed me a quick trailer of how my life is going to be when I come back to India in December for good. Ah! I’m going to miss everyone and everything a lot (you will surely find the same line in some random post after three months).

In the end, I would update you with what is currently going on in my life regarding my language learning and other stuff. I have been listening to random K-pop songs again. I did Korean for whole day yesterday and realized, the grammar is as tough as Hindi’s. A lot of things BUT a lot of similarities. So I’m kind of happy about it. I’m being asked to take a test which I don’t want to but nonetheless I will have to apply for it. I want to take another exam but for my parents, it is kind of secondary, so they are asking me to take both, but first one is mandatory (Sigh!). I have been trying various Korean-English and vice versa dictionary apps for the past few days with much disappointment. Because I want an offline dictionary so that even if I don’t have internet access (which happens sometimes), I may still check out the word meanings.

Sometime ago, I connected my social accounts with the blog and I forget to uncheck some of the boxes like for Facebook and LinkedIn, while sharing. Last time I forgot and they got shared. And I don’t know how many of my friends saw this. It’s good on one side but I would’ve been happy if they didn’t get to see through Facebook TT_TT .

Oh! I remembered, today Good Doctor’s next episode would have been released. I’m off to watch that! Which K-Dramas are you following?

PS – Since I am going back now, I will update the blog regularly (preferably on daily basis), so stay tuned!

Today’s song – 

[Apply Now] The 18th Book Review Lucky Draw Begins.

[Apply Now] The 18th Book Review Lucky Draw Begins.

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I would like to win this book. Trying again….

twochois's avatartwoChois

안녕하세요-

다들 잘 지내셨나요?

한국은 추석 연휴라 시내가 한산해요.

아무튼,

오늘부터 진행되는 열여덟 번째 Lucky Draw도 많은 관심 부탁드려요- >_<

The book is suitable for intermediate learners who are preparing for TOPIK exam.

This book is all written in Korean and contains problem sets for TOPIK.

Book Info.

Complete_TOPIK_Intermediate_cover__32432_1364363173_1280_1280

Complete Guide to the TOPIK_Intermediate
Author : Seoul Korean Language Academy Book page : 224 pages Supplement : 2 Audio CDs

ISBN: 9788959958139(8959958131) Size: 182×257 mm

‘Complete Guide to the TOPIK_Intermediate’ aims to be a perfect preparation book for the TOPIK tests for the intermediate level, which is, a proper standardization of Korean language principles. This book is focused on understanding of the TOPIK through sections divided by question type and receives in-depth explanations of questions from previous TOPIK tests. The book consists of Part 1, 2, and 3 in the order of expression (vocabulary & grammar, writing) and comprehension (listening and…

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[Apply Now] The 17th Korean Study Book Review Lucky Draw Begins.

[Apply Now] The 17th Korean Study Book Review Lucky Draw Begins.

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I don’t have the book but even so, I’ll try. Thank you..

twochois's avatartwoChois

안녕하세요-

다들 잘 지내셨나요?

제16 회 Lucky Draw에 많은 관심을 보내주셔서 감사합니다.

서울은 완연한 가을 날씨입니다.

어제, 오늘 가을비가 내리고 있어요.

오늘부터 진행되는 열일곱 번째 Lucky Draw도 많은 관심 부탁드려요- >_<

This book is suitable for upper elementary level learners who has Sogang Korean 2A Student’s book.

We’ve been thinking whether it is right or wrong only giving workbook but we decided to try.

Please remind that student’s book is not included.

Book Info.

서강한국어 2A workbook

[서강 한국어] New Sogang Korean 2A Workbook

274 Pages | 188*254mm ㅣ Textbook + CD

This new Sogang Korean series is an updated version of its predecessor with the following changes:

– new Grammar textbook
– Information on social and cultural context updated and modernized
– New illustrations and more effective layout
– Complete guide for Korean language learning, covering grammar, reading, speaking, listening and writing

The objective of this book is to assist readers to improve…

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My Second Korean Experience – My Faith has been Restored!

My Second Korean Experience – My Faith has been Restored!

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Just one week after the last incident, I had my second encounter and I’m very happy that I met that ahjusshi…. Yesterday I went to the Museum of Floral Culture (look forward to my next post reviewing this place). It had been past the lunch time and me and my friend were very hungry. We stopped by this mall which had many many Korean shops from cosmetics and clothes to restaurants and book shops.

And there was this pair of shoes I liked so much and they were on sale. I would have got those kind of shoes in India very expensive. Too bad, my size was not available. Then we went to this shop named Korean DD. It was a cosmetics shop. Although I’m not interested in such stuff and my friend was not sure about the brands from South Korea (she is learning a little though under my influence starting with K-Pop), we still entered the shop. What caught my eyes were the posters of K-pop idols all over. And without thinking over I just went inside the shop. The lady inside was a Thai but when I was naming the idols aloud, she and the guy sitting outside started laughing. Nevertheless, I asked if she was Korean and she replied, the ahjusshi standing behind was.

Ah! So excited >.<  Then my friend asked me to talk to him in Korean and suddenly I froze (갑자기, 왜?). She then explained him that I was learning Korean and then trivial questions like where do we come from and such followed (but in English. Too bad again). We left the shop and suddenly I thought I would ask something about Korean. He didn’t understand what I was saying. Guess he knew only Korean and Thai (Ah! Too bad. Don’t know how many ‘TOO BAD’ moments I had yesterday). But he was a cheerful ahjusshi who tried to help me however he could (Ok, I could have thought that he was a shopkeeper and hence did all that. Marketing strategy? Even so, I want to trust his help). And thus my faith was restored. Then we went on shopping spree with clothes in another shop selling Korean goods at 80-90% discount. There were K-pop songs playing in background and there were Korean movies posters in the shop too. There also whatever piece I was liking was not available in right sizes. Sigh!

But in the end I got a packet of Jjajangmyeon and on the packet there was nothing non-veg. I’m still doubtful about it and will be translating the ingredients although they are written in Korean as well as English. If anyone of you could tell me whether the noodles themselves are non-veg or not, I’ll be very grateful.

And today’s song is – 

Falling in love with the dance…….

[Apply Now] The 16th Book Review Lucky Draw.

[Apply Now] The 16th Book Review Lucky Draw.

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I would like to own the book too. My active blog – https://thejoysandworriesofaneastasianlover.wordpress.com/

twochois's avatartwoChois

안녕하세요-

다들 잘 지내셨나요?

제 15 회 Lucky Draw에 많은 관심을 보내주셔서 감사합니다.

오늘부터 진행되는 열여섯 번째 Lucky Draw도 많은 관심 부탁드려요- >_<

This book is suitable for upper elementary level learners who plan to work at Korean company.

Book Info.

klb_007__82645.1352303101.1280.1280

Korean Language for a Good Job 2
Author : Lee Mi-hye Book page : 248 pages S
upplement : 2 Audio CDs, Key Expressions & Dialogues Book

ISBN: 9788959957781(895995778X) Size: 182×257 mm

About This Book
The Best Korean Language Kit!
All the Korean you need to learn to do your work.

• Practical use of situational conversations and daily vocabulary for the workplace!
• Helpful information to do a good job!
• Easy-to-learn essential Korean grammar and expressions!
• Sufficient tasks and practice to enable complete understanding!
• Situational conversations and practical expressions that are used in your daily working life!
• Systematical and precise understanding of Korean pronunciation!

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My First Korean Experience

My First Korean Experience

by eastasianlover ♥ 3 Comments

As I wrote in my last post, I went to KoreaTown which was a disappointing experience. There is more to what I mentioned last time.

Actually, I have this senior at the adjacent company to the one in which I’m working, who went to South Korea for his post PhD. And he had to leave in between because he couldn’t adjust to their culture. Now that he knows I’m inclined towards the place, he keeps telling me stories about his experience. Initially I used to think that may be, maybe it was just the culture gap. I have seen enough dramas to make out that people are very strict towards work and are very competitive (I hope I’m right). Because, you can’t dismiss everything in k-dramas or any dramas of the world, as a matter of fact, as pure fiction. You can learn a lot about the culture and many a times, general behaviour of the public (saying that by experience 😛). So, I tell him that he must be unlucky to find only such people.

But guess, I was wrong. I met this group yesterday. Two older men and one young girl (may not be as young as I think her to be). They were speaking Korean and I got all excited to see native people from South Korea. Now, I had read in some very interesting book that if you meet some native person of the language you are learning, try to gain as much as possible from them. Though I’m very shy to approach strangers like this, even so, I did-

Me – Umm…..Are you from South Korea?

Lady – Yeah

Me – Hi, I’m from India and I’m very big fan of Korean Culture……

Lady (Interrupting) – Yeah, but you see I’ve to go. I’ve got some company.

Me (Taken aback, don’t know what to say) – Oh, ok. Just wanted to say that I’m very excited to listen to real Korean. Thanks. Bye.

She walks away laughing and telling the uncles about this. I couldn’t hear anything further nor did I want to. I had to go in same direction because I wanted to go to JapanTown too. But I was so shocked that I went to opposite direction, crossed the road for no reason and went to a small book shop in hope to find some Korean books. There also, found only Korean to Thai books.

Ah! My attempt failed. It, kind of put me off. I was thinking of taking admission in some good South Korean university for my higher studies. But now, subconsciously or not, this place will probably go to last country in my list of countries where I was thinking of applying (I will still apply though coz I want to have first hand experience of the culture).

After that, I heard a lot of people talking in Korean and Japanese (which, trust me, has never happened before), but I couldn’t gather enough courage to stop and talk to anyone. I’m not saying that everyone is like that. I haven’t known any real Korean people (I mean personally, I do want to though) and I’m not trying to disregard anyone. I know one or two people can’t represent the whole country. But you are a foreigner here and I’m too. I get it that there are a lot of K-pop fans in Thailand and that’s why there happen a lot of concerts. But at least stop for a moment to listen to me, even if you are in hurry. Am I wrong in expecting that much?

I just know that if some stranger approaches me or tells me that they loved my country when they went there (even though they found a lot of bad things too), I feel so proud and give them a big smile and thank you. Am I overthinking over this whole incident? What do you think?

I just hope that this doesn’t happen again……

[Apply Now] The 15th Book Review Lucky Draw Begins.

[Apply Now] The 15th Book Review Lucky Draw Begins.

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Me not applying this time, but if you want to start Korean, this seems a great book 🙂

twochois's avatartwoChois

안녕하세요-

다들 잘 지내셨나요?

제14 회 Lucky Draw에 많은 관심을 보내주셔서 감사합니다.

포스팅이 늦어져서 미안해요.

드디어, 날씨가 선선해지고 있어요. (It’s getting cooler here, finally.)

However, Typoon is coming not directly passing Korea but a bit afraid. Haha..

For this week,

We have prepared a book for beginners who barely knows Korean language.

Book Info.

Korean made easy starter preview
Korean Made Easy – StarterAuthor : Seung-eun Oh Book page : 192 pages Supplement : MP3 CDISBN: 9788959958337(8959958336) Size: 182x257mm

About This Book
Korean Made Easy-Starter targets those who have no reading knowledge of the Korean alphabet (Hangeul). Through various practice exercises, activities, and games, this book provides an enjoyable way to learn how to listen to, pronounce, read, and write Hangeul. The ultimate goal of Korean Made Easy-Starter is to equip learners with the necessary expressions needed in everyday situations. Although it is the third book published in the Korean Made Easy series, this book…

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It’s a baby girl!

It’s a baby girl!

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Doesn’t have anything to do with my blog’s field, but it truly needs sharing……. Worth it!

Espresso Addict's avatarThe Espresso Addict

She was 27, and at home.

She stood in front of the mirror, naked. She looked at her breasts. This was the biggest they had ever been. But she knew that they were going to get bigger. She stared at herself for a long while before she ran her right hand across the entire area of her belly, from just above her abdomen, all the way down to its lower end. It looked bloated and the bump had begun to show through her clothes now. She was five months pregnant, and had just received her scans from her gynecologist. She had dreaded this moment would come right from when she turned into a teenager. And 15 years later, she still wasn’t prepared for it.

“You are going to have a healthy and beautiful baby girl. You just have to keep eating healthy, and get good sleep and sufficient exercise, just like…

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But, somehow, I don’t regret it…….

But, somehow, I don’t regret it…….

by eastasianlover ♥ 3 Comments

Yup, I committed a grave grave mistake and I’m very sorry for that to myself. I don’t know how I missed it. Why did I think it was in September? And I didn’t even bother to check it. On the top of that, I came across the whole thing on the last day of all days, not even once in past twenty days?

Oh, sorry sorry. I was talking about 32nd TOPIK registration. I just came to know yesterday that I had already missed the deadline. Everybody keeps a milestone for the date of exam but no one tries to display registration dates. I had a list of plans to execute before and after the exam. I have to take another engineering exam in February and I thought I would start preparing for it after this one. But oops! Everything failed. So what now?

Nothing. Life will go on and I will take the exam next year. 34th TOPIK for sure. And I won’t be outside the country at that time so I won’t get confused as to where to take the exam and where to register. That being said, now I’m going to study even harder and become serious. I already started from yesterday. Everyday, learning new words feels so great. And I have decided to continue with Japanese also.

It makes me a little worried though. Now I’ll have to give time to everything including my engineering related studies whereas earlier I was thinking of taking up Korean only till TOPIK exam.

I know I am 바보 and I seriously wanted to clear at least one level before sitting for placements in December, but oh well, it may as well be advantageous for me. May be, that’s why I’m not regretful about it.

 

It’s been a while since I posted some song with my post, so here it is –