Studying

It has been awhile since I updated this blog, for which I apologize. During our orientation week here at Handong, they warned us that we would become very busy. They weren't joking! Even though I am taking just five classes, as midterms stare me down from the upcoming week, I find myself with little spare time. The system here is different from what I am used to back home at school. At my university, midterms are much less important. We take many smaller tests to even out the weight of our final grade. Here, however, for the most part there are two big tests—midterm and final, and they are what determine most of your grade for a class.

For me, midterms begin Monday the 21^st. I am taking a study break to try and update you all on how the academic side of my semester is going before I get back to writing about the fun things I have been able to do.

There is only one class that I am really having difficulty with so far—Korean History. Although I do love history, there does come a point when it is taught in such a way that I dread going to class. This class is also two periods long. Although I only have to attend it once a week, it lasts for two and a half hours. And I am never exactly sure what I am learning, or what I should be learning. This is in part due to slightly poor English on the professor’s side, which I cannot blame him for. It is a good lesson in focus, diligence and disciplining myself to learn on my own if I cannot learn from the lecture.

My other courses are Church History, Understanding Literature, Korean 1, and Philosophy. Korean 1 is a difficult course for me, but I am getting over the major difficulties slowly but surely. This is the first time I have ever really formally taken a language learning class, so it is honestly a very useful experience. Also, the class itself can be very fun. We may all feel like little children again learning to read, write and pronounce words—but at least we are all together and laughing as a group.

I can write my name in Korean

My favorite class is Philosophy. It is a challenge for me, but in a good way. The professor’s English is very good, and he is incredibly brilliant. The goal of the class has really worked on me so far—getting me to think in new ways and learning to ask better questions than before. He also has a very sarcastic, dry sense of humor which makes the class even more interesting. 

Understanding Literature and Church History are both fine, and usually pretty interesting. My professor for Church History is my only native English speaking teacher. 

Because most of my classes fall on Tuesdays and Fridays, I get to spend the other weekdays studying and doing homework so that my weekends can be fairly free. I have also picked up a “part time job” helping out an American professor’s family with various tasks around the house that are hard for the wife to do while looking after 5 young children.

Besides school, other campus activities I do regularly include attending two different small groups. In one group we are studying a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “The Cost of Discipleship.” I am really enjoying the discussions we have and the insights into theology from Bonhoeffer. The other small group is a Bible study for the book of Colossians, which is also very good.

What do I do besides study, sleep, and go to life group? Well, I eat meals with friends, go on long walks or runs, talk with my roommate, watch movies with people, and keep up with my family back home. To summarize, daily life here is really normal and the pace is just about perfect. Even though right now there is a lot of pressure for midterms, I am feeling up for the challenge. I can honestly report that I am learning a lot, both in the classroom and outside of it.

And there are so many small things that remind me I am blessed. For instance, some Handong students who visited my school as exchange students in the past put together little midterm care packages for us exchange students here.

So sweet! Another fun thing we did recently to break the tedium of school was have a pancake night. Not quite the same as at home, but tasty nonetheless—though the real fun was just hanging out with people.

Well, that is enough for now. I just wanted to update you all and remind you that I am actually here to study, and that those studies are going well. Thanks for reading! If you think about it, pray for my crazy midterm week.

Blessings!