06-08 05 2014        Previous entry     Next entry

Sewol ferry accident.
Sinking of the MS Sewol on April 16th has had a huge impact here in Korea. It has been discussed almost on every venue, our teachers had asked us are we okay, it has been on newspapers every single day and all these cancellings because of it.. Korea come on!

Buddha’s birthday festival in Daegu on May 5th was cancelled, our KELI-house ”Open house” evening is cancelled, all activities organized by International Affairs office is cancelled, Keimyung University’s 60th anniversary ceremonies taking place this year.. of course all happenings related to it is cancelled. I joked to my fellow exchange students that maybe I have to start searching an alternative method for traveling to Finland after this semester cos’ probably my flight back to Finland is going to be cancelled as well.

I have to defend my opinion here. I know this accident was extremely serious, none of us wouldn’t have hoped for it and peace those souls who perished, but the life must go on. Anyhow this accident has been a unique learning situation towards the Korean culture, how they manage things differently compared to Western culture. The sinking of the MS Estonia on 1994 at the Gulf of Finland is still on fresh memory for the Nordic people.

Instead of going to see the Buddha’s birthday festival on May 5th cos’ it was cancelled we went to sauna, had a shabu-shabu dinner (this is my favorite here in Korea so far!) and played the Mafia afterwards. Google the Mafia game if you’re interested, we are starting to have a little addiction to it..!

Rest of the week was just laying low, I had this one presentation I had to finish until Friday..

Regards

Henri