Damn Korean!
Over the past few weeks I’ve tried to keep up to date with my Korean study, however the last week or so I’ve just been too busy to open the books. After a short 15 minutes of revision today, I decided to give myself a test. I’ve made these tests for me based on each chapter of my book, seeing as it doesn’t provide any tests for me. and as of yet I haven’t received 100% on all of them I have sat. I usually get 2 or 3 mistakes, and more often then not its a spelling mistake, which for the most part I’m happy to live with.
Today’s tests were appalling. I’m amazed just how much I’ve forgotten in the space of a week. What I’m learning isn’t that hard, but seeing as I very rarely talk about things being ‘far away’ or ‘close by’ in Korean, its just slipped out of my head. Sadly I can’t blame any of my memory loss on soju seeing as I haven’t had any in over a week now.
With such bad results, I got a little disgusted and threw my books and papers on my bed and jumped on my computer for 30 minutes of mindless internet browsing. To say the least I’m rather upset that all that time and effort to remember and learn this language just doesn’t seem to be paying off. I know this isn’t really the case and I’m being too hard on myself over a few small tests that I probably shouldn’t have done so well on due to lack of study as of late, but still, I don’t like doing badly in any tests and I know I should have done better.
No point beating myself up about it.
I’m contemplating what else to do with the rest of my day. I spent the afternoon watching a DVD in a DVD room, although I had originally planned to go to Okdong and watch a movie at the cinema. Sadly, no English speaking films were shown, except some sequel, but I hadn’t seen the first movie so I didn’t think it was worth it. I also didn’t want to sit through a Korean movie today without subtitles, I didn’t need the headache of trying to understand what they’re saying.
As a result the DVD room was where I ended up. I watched a Korean movie called ‘Scandalous’ (no, its not about that Australian pop group) which is based on the book ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, which was also made into a different American movie, ‘Cruel Intentions’. I didn’t quite pick up it up only until three-quarters through the film when it clicked in my head. It’s based around the 18th-19th century Korea and gives an interesting twist compared with the American versions which is one of my more favourite movies. Like all Korean made movies, its relatively sad throughout, and you leave not feeling all that good about how it ends.
By now however, I’ve learnt to expect this from all Korean movies, comedies included, so I shouldn’t complain.
Anyway the rest of the day is looking relatively quiet. I was planning on going on my bike, but seeing as its quite cold outside (it snowed very briefly and lightly earlier on this afternoon) I’ll give that a miss to the weekend. Maybe some TV.
1/3/2006 - Wednesday 5:34 pm 
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By Stafford, 1/3/2006 - Wednesday @ 9:54 pm
Oh so true! I realised I have been here exactly 2 years today – I still can’t speak as much Korean as I think I should be able to. Mind you I spend a good portion of each day speaking English so feel little pressure to learn more than how to order a beer and ask for my 비빔밥 with a little less 고추장