White Day and Other Fun Stuff

Look, look! It's White Day!

Remember back in elementary school when we used to make boxes and give gifts and cards for Valentine's Day? 

Well, White Day is essentially something like Valentine's Day celebrated here in Korea (and other Asian countries) --except they also celebrate Valentine's Day, too.  (Yes, it was began as a commercial holiday....) In Korea, girls give gifts on Valentine's Day, and the guys give on White Day.  

So this morning when we went out to class, there were these gifts from the guys on our "team."  I suppose this would be a good point to explain the way teams work here.

Handong Teams

RC (Residential College-in my case, International Hall) teams are similar to Freshmen foundations "breakout groups"(for those who know what that is).  Basically, we are divided into teams of about 20 with 1 faculty member, co-ed, but team members are also roommates (not co-ed...haha), and freshmen through senior (not mandatory for seniors, though).  Teams meet at chapel (every Wednesday) and sit together, and then we have Team Meeting afterward which includes various activities and such, which afterward seems to turns into dinner. 

Sort of related picture: Here are my roommates!! :)  (picture credit to roommate Emily, front left)

So far, the team thing has turned out to be pretty fun, and it looks to be a good semester.  Sadly, I haven't been bringing my camera with me everywhere as much as I should... so there aren't really any pictures.  Yet.  Because I just volunteered to be team photographer, which means I have to remember my camera in the weeks to come.

Now, here's the part where it gets a little more different than the breakout groups or teams we might have in the U.S. 

There's this thing called Campus Couples, or Team Couples, I can't quite remember the official title.  And it's actually sort of is what it sounds like.  Guys and girls get paired up at random (with a few guy/guy couples since we don't have enough girls) and for two weeks hang out with the other person and do random activites for points (must meet certain amount of points) like having lunch together, going for a walk, going out to Yukgurri (main shopping/entertainment street) (or just out in general), taking pictures together, and some crazy stuff like singing to the person in public (with video).

I just can't even imagine what this would look like at Grace College.  But it doesn't seem that *awkward* here--which would definitely be the #1 way people would describe it at Grace.  (Oh, Grace College...)

But as a forewarning, if you see me posting or posted in pictures with a new guy every two weeks, don't be alarmed.  It's mandatory.