2008 Hyundai Chungun High School Summer Program at Portland

I and my host family went to Seattle like a short trip on July 19th, Saturday and spent the day their and slept at John’s cousin’s house and came back at July 20th, Sunday. We went to see the MLB (Seattle Mariners VS Cleveland Indians) which was on Sunday so we left at about 10a.m. on saturday.

It took almost about 3 hours to Seattle by car. First we went to a market called ‘Pike Place ‘. It’s a market that has all kinds of things starting from fruits, vegetables, clothes, accessories to antiques and more, which was much bigger and greater and famous than the ‘Saturday Market’ in Portland.

 There were so many stores selling so many things and so many people at those stores. At one of the fish stores the clerks were throwing fish to each other. That store was famous for the performance of throwing fish. I also saw a group of singers singing in the street advertising their new album. After seeing the Pike Place, we went to the Karen’s who’s John’s cousin. We slept there. I played Wii with Melina who’s 12 years old. It was so fun^^!

The next day we went to the Safeco Stadium to see the game of the Mariners. The stadium was huge and majestic, and it had a roof that was moveable so it could be used when raining. In the stadium there were so many shops that sells foods or things about Mariners. The game between Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians was so great, though the Mariners lost. It was unbelievable that I was seeing a real Major League Baseball game!! Before I was only able to see on TV, but now I saw with my own eyes. I saw Shin-soo Choo at the Clevelands. He had 2 singles today. At yesterday match he hit a homerun. It was really exciting.

Seattle was a great place to visit. Good! REALLY GOOD!

Last sunday, I, SunHye, Noel, Noel’s friend Jennifer and my host mother went to Saturday Market. Although it was too hot, many people came to the Market. I had never seen the homeless. However, I could see homeless in the market. It was somewhat novel to me. I think America would be very very developing country. Also, I could see various races who sold their things in particular Tibet, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, extra. In particualar, I felt somewhat intimacy with Asian. So, I bought a necklace, a character of chinese indicating “good luck”, from a Japanese. I also bought bracelet from African American for Korean friends.

There were many foods, too. So, I bought and ate a Mexican food, Fajita. I think it is the same thing in VIPS buffet. It was really delicious! So good! ^^ I hope to eat again someday.

Another interesting things are people perfoming shows. Especially, a man who dancing was very surprising! His face was painted gold and wore gold clothes. There was a band, as well.

It was very interesting site I’ve ever been in in America. I could see another sites of America. Frankly speaking, I really wanted to see lots of things in America including something bad or good. It is unforgetable to me! I really enjoyed it!

In Sunday, I went to Cannon beach with my host family and Josh’s girl friend.

It took 3 hours for going to beach, over the mountain. Thus, I slept while going cannon.

When got off in beach town, I feel cold. Though it is summer, it was very cold. With cold, we went to beach. First, we played vollyball. It was very difficult because of sand. I try to jump, but I couldn’t jump high. After little rest, we got into water. Water also was very cold~, but Josh and his girl friend even sat in the ocean. Ocean’s water was much colder than inside pool. I soaked just my feet, and with too cold feeling, I ran out from water. It was to~o cold….

After dryed our body, we went to Thai restaurant. Very delicious.

The Rock~ I don’t know the rock’s name, but it was very magnificent, nice. Near the rock, I saw odd creature. It looks like dog but it is kind of crab and small. So cute kkk…

With foggy weather, the rock was more splendid. In the Ocean with far distance, there was very cloudy. Hank said may be storming in the cloud. The huge, black cloud was also so nice.

We played Frisbee too. Because it was first time for me, I could have so funny time.

It was really good experience. -…-;;

  Last Saturday, we went to garage sale. In Korea, there is no garage sale. Maybe there could be but I’ve never seen it. My host mom Kari said, in USA, second hand stuff is more popular than Korea. So in downtown we can some secondhand shops.

 The weather was so hot, so at that time many garage sales were finished. At the end, we hardly found one garage sale.
 It was so interesting and I think it’s economical method. It looks new but very cheap!
 I didn’t buy something but kalaise and Ainsley bought a ring and a little box.  

 

This is a garage sale picture.

 Last Sunday, I and my host father Mitch went to the Silver Falls State Park. This area is famous for its wonderful 10 falls, scenic walks in the shade of trees and nice stream. I was really surprised at the fact that 10 falls is in same area.

 When we get there, I can see a group of the older who plays the music instruments, besides the parking lot. Listening music in that beautiful area was so nice. I think they also feel happy with their music. 

 After few minutes, we arrived first fall, south falls. it was the biggest falls when I’ve ever seen in my life! We could walk along a very big cave which is made by south falls and see the falls in a close distance. South falls was the most impressive falls among the all falls I saw there. 

 We took a walk on several trails and saw total 9 falls there. Some falls were long and big and some falls were wide and short. All falls have different shapes but really wonderful. Walking along the stream, we got berries from trees and ate them. It was hot day but in the shades of trees, it was not hot. Because whole trail is 10Km, we didn’t go whole way. 

 After walking, it was 2p.m. We ate sandwich for lunch in a picnic area besides the parking lot. It was so beautiful park so I can’t forget it forever.

I went to Multnomah waterfall on Sunday with my host family. It was very beautiful water fall in the wood. There was bridge but we didn’t went there because we was so tired. We went Hood river before waterfall so it makes us tired.

In the waterfall, there was a log fell from the upside wood. Kim said ‘One day that had strong wind and much water, a log fell from the upside wood.’ I wanted to see that spectacle.

I like river, waterfall, beach so I’m very impressed from there. Jamie who is my teacher said Multnomah is the highest waterfall in Oregon maybe. It was great.

  Last Saturday, I went to seaside with Ji Min, Seung Hun, Beckie ( I introduced her to you guys at last post), and her husband Triston. Actually, we went to NIKE outlet before going to the beach, and we bought many clothes. It was a lot of fun !

  While driving in Beckie’s car, we talked a lot and we had conversations about what we did on Friday night. Seung Hun told that all his friends in Korea were doing good. Triston had her car stopped, and Beckie went to the grocery store while we were talking. Beckie bought some chocolates, crackers, and marshmallow for S’MORE . We didn’t know what the s’more was, so we were very curious about it.
  Oh, there,  I learned some useful expressions. Triston told me that ‘Johnny Taco Box’ was the word that refers to a person who got many pierced on his body. Also, he taught us about ‘male chocolate and female chocolate’. Few more minutes later, we arrived Beckie’s grandmother’s house. We walked down the beach for about 30 minutes, and then we had a dinner. Dinner was very delicious! (If you are curious about our dinner, search my last post) After dinner, Beckie, Ji Min, I and Beckie’s mother went to Seaside Downtown, and there, we bought some pop-corns and took some pictures. I was a little bit tired after touring.

  When we got back to Beckie’s grandmother’s house, Seung Hun and Triston had gone. Beckie’s grandfather said that they had gone to the beach to make a fire. Beckie, Ji MIn and I also went to the beach and set up for our dessert, s’more. We made fire together, and then we baked our marshmallow. It was very cold, but my legs were very hot because of the fire. We ate s’more there, and got back to our own home. 

   Although grandmother was not there, but we enjoyed our touring very much ! 

 

  Seung Hun & Ji min in Beckie’s car

  Seung Hun & Ji min is waiting for dinner

  Seung Hun & Sol i   

  Seaside Downtown

  Beckie JiMin SeungHun Triston

   WE ARE GOING TO EAT S’MORE! : -)

My friends and I went to the downtown for shopping and sightseeing on Monday. We went through the Pioneer Square and finally arrived at Nordstrom Rack. There was a real Nordstrom mall which wasn’t much far, but we went to the Nordstrom Rack to buy things cheap. Nordstrom Rack sells clothes, shoes, bags that weren’t purchased at the Nordsrom mall or not preferred and kept in the stock.

Nordstrom Rack was quite big. On the first floor they were selling all kinds of clothes such as jeans, T-shirts, jackets. We were trying to see some clothes to buy, however they were too expensive. Some jeans cost almost about $100. Those that were cheap weren’t satisfiable in designs or size. It was the same situation for the T-shirts. Cheap ones cost only about $20 but were not good also. I thought that those kind of T-shirts were purchasable even in Korea for only about $10.

My friends and I were so dissapointed at the prices of clothes at Nordstrom Rack, so we decided to go to the second floor selling shoes. On the 2nd floor there were so many shoes sorted in sizes. We started to look for a cheap and good shoes to buy. At last, almost 1 hour passed, I finally found one that really looked good. So I bought it without hesitating.

To buy something at Nordstrom Rack is very hard because we have to find something that is really expensive among thousands of products. It is like looking for a treasure ship in the deep blue sea.

Have you ever been to the movie theater in America? Maybe, you don’t want to go there because there is no Korean subtitles!!
At last Friday, July 11, I went to the American movie theater. When I heard that I had to go there, I was little afraid how I can understand the movie without Korean subtitles. it was over 10 o’clock, but there are a lot of people there. First, I, my friend and another exchange student, ?? university, bought a large size of popcorn and coke. The amount of those were beyond imagination. It was horrible that I thought that all these food made me fatter. However, there is no conspicuous difference with Korean theater.

After the movie, the Journey to the center of the earth, was started, I would fall asleep. I pretty well understand about the movie(^^V). However, that movie was actually focus on computer graphic…

In conclusion, it was a pretty good experience to me. I’ll go to there again to see Dark Night!

 Last Sunday, I went to the Family Fun Center with my host family and JiYoon. My host mother Naomi recommended this site and we agree with her. In this center, there are so many game machines and so many people who play the game. At first, I wanted to play ‘miniature golf’, but Naomi suggested that we have boat game first then play the golf game. If we have boat game first and then play the golf game, we will be able to dry our wet hair and clothes. Therefore, we had boat game first.

 when I played the boat game, we shot water to each other and even someone whom I didn’t know. It was very interesting and I recalled my childhood. It was very fun, so we could much closer. After that, I played ‘the miniature golf’. It had 18 holes, but I couldn’t well, so I was always looser. The weather was so hot that I could dry our hair and clothes. The last thing,  I played the mini car racing. In Korea, only children can ride a racing car which is in amusement park, but at this center, I could ride a racing car. It was best thing that I had play. 

 I thought that this kind of center is only for children. However, there were so many adults as well as children. I like family fun center and thank to my host family. 

 

It’s very interesting!!!!!

We’ve been to Pittock mansion last Friday (07/11/08).

The Pittock Mansion was home to Henry and Georgiana Pittock from 1914 to 1919. After they lived, other family bought it for private. However,  the City of Portland bought it again 1964 for $225,000. So it has been a community landmark ever since. It was interesting that Portland people raised money to bought back there. They were so associated well. In korea, it is to hard to happen.

We get into there. We saw the room for Pittock family and for managers. Even if it was for mangers, it was so gorgeous.

After that, we took a picture. We had fun there. (You can see full-sized picture on here)

After pittock mansion, we’ve been to Rose Garden. It was so close that it didn’t take much time for us to get there. It was a fun day. The weather was not bad and we got wonderful pictures and wonderful memories

* Few figures were used from Pittock Mansion Homepage.

Last weekend, my host family suggested to go to the beach. In Saturday, we prepared for going beach. Catherine and Will who are kids in my host family were fun about going to beach.It takes 1 half hours to get there. The name of beach was Cannon Beach.

In there, we had a lunch first. It was just simple sandwitch but it was delicious because I could eat lunch at beach. After having lunch, I played soccer with Eric who is my host father and Will. At first, we played soccer with 4 people, but ,later, many children wanted to play with us, so it was very exciting. Also, we made sand castle with Catherine. She  was very interested in making things, but I’m little boring.

Later, we took a walk with Mingu and Eric. Eric explained us about Pacific Ocean, and climate of this region. Also, there were some interesting sea creature. So we could talk about them.

After having fun, we went back home. It was great time.

On Monday, I went to a restaurant with my host family. It was really interesting because it is on the river. When we ate lunch, the restaurant moved to up and down! It was so fun, and I kept laugh. At first, it was little dizzy, so if you have hard nausea, don’t go there. You can pull out everything in your stomach though you went to put in foods. Please be careful! Further more, you can see ducks and geese. The nature is really clear and pure.

Yesterday, I went to the reptile store. Its name is the reptile house. It has lots of reptiles-lizards, snakes, turtles, frogs and invertebrates.

The most amazing one is Daisy. She is really long and big. She eats a huge rabbit once a month. The shop owner gives her dead rabbit because if he gives her living food, it is so dangerous. The picture is not Daisy, but she looks like the snake which is in the picture. When I went there, she was sleeping. It was right after her meal, so she was fat. I liked everything in the store, but I hate centipedes. Because I have them in my dormitory room. They are so creepy. I hate them so much. In Korea, reptile shops are rare. How about visit the reptile house? It will be a nice experience.

Look at this picture! I went to seaside beach last Saturday with Sol-i, Seung hun, Beckie and Triston.
After enjoying shopping at Nike Factory store for about an hour, we arrived this seaside beach !
At first, we walked along the beach for an hour. It was very cool and the weather was very nice.
Also, it was rather interesting because the beach we saw in there was Pacific Ocean, same as in Korea,
But I felt a little different in there. I thought that see water here in seaside beach was cooler.
In addition, Sand in seaside beach was finer and softer! It was better than Korea beach sand!
It was so fun because we took many photos in there and had a chance to talk to Beckie and Triston.
After walking along the beach, we walked to seaside downtown. It was different from Portland downtown,
like the place around Pioneer square. There were a lot of interesting people and stuffs that I didn’t see
in the Portland downtown. On the way going to the seaside downtown, we took a picture in front of
‘Louis&Clark Status’.  They are the pioneers. We heard about them from Beckie and Triston a little,and 
I want to know about them more. At night, we set a bon-fire at the beach and ate smore.
It is a biscuit made up with roasted marshmallow, chocolate.  At first, it was rather difficult to make 
smore, but it was interesting and it tasted delicious!
At beach, we spent very enjoyable time and I want to go back to there once more ^_^*

 

 

 

 

  Last Sunday, it was my first weekend in U.S. so my host family asked us where we wanted to go. However, we don’t know any interesting place so my host parent decided to go. 
 

  First, we had to go electronic centers to buy something, then we went Family Fun Center. There were so many people. Most people were in family. My partner and I were so excited at the first sight. We wanted to do miniature golf, racing car and boat game.  

  My host mom suggested us to play boat game first time. Because doing boat came would make us wet so we can dry our clothes during miniature golf next. When doing boat game, we shoot water to each other. I all from head to foot. Everyone laughed at me. Then, we did miniature golf. There were 18 holes in one game. I chose the blue ball. I haven’t had experience in golf but I did well. I got one in hole at 11 holes. The most impressive thing is the attitude of people. There were many family in every holes and there were some gap to finish the holes. It would be boring to wait all but people enjoy the waiting time and did not say anything to them like “Quickly.” They just waited the former family finished their hole completely. They just spent their time with their family in talking. It was very nice experience. Next game was racing car. I didn’t do it because I got some ache on back.  YeonJu said to me it was very exciting but I think it was a little bit dangerous. I like Family Fun Center very much. I was so excited. Why don’t you go there in this weekend? 

On July 12th, I went to Wunderland, which is the place to play many kinds of games.

Kim said “Here is one of the best place where children love to go!”
When we went into there, we have to pay some money to play game but we have some coupon so that
we enter free-charge!!

There are a lot of game to play.
There are some picking machine to pick some balls or dolls
There are also machines that can play racing games and shooting games

I and JuHwan, William and Harrison who is best friend with William play many game in there.
Also, Kim played some shooting game with JuHwan. They were shooting and punching some frogs, fish, etc….
I was very interested in one shooting game which shoot some Zombies and Racing game. So Funny~!
And I control picking machine so I get two dolls. Wow~~

We could get some coupon when we play some kinds of game. And you could buy something by them
I got some coupon and Kim gave me some of them to buy something.
she said she has so many coupon because their family visit here frequently.

I love that place so much. I want to go there next time with many friend and shoot some Zombies!!!!

 I went Rose Garden twice. I went there with my host family at first time, at second time, I went there with my friends. In first time, I went there after dinner. I had never seen so many kinds of roses like that. Sweet scent blow to me. It was really great. I saw many kinds of roses in there, but the yellow one whose edge is red was the best one. I took many pictures in there.

 I also saw play in there. Children acted Willy Wonka on small stages in there. I filmed some part of the play. The children were so cute, and their acting were also great. 

In last Friday, I went to bowling alley to play bowing with my host family Josh, his girlfriend Jenni and JaeHyeon
I have never played bowling before
It seems like easy but It doesn’t easy First time I got 90 points So I was 2nd Second time I was 4th Last time I was 3rd
I want to make ball move specific place but my ball doesn’t listen to my command
It’s too hard to get a good point I have two strikes in all games But Josh has 2~3 strikes in each game
JaeHyeon was 1st in second game but He was 4th two times
My ball always go to the gutter so I get 0 point So I was shamed
However It was great time and the most interesting thing in whole day in the U.S

I went to the stadium ; There was a rugby game. Mixie played Rugby for 2 years. She explained the rules of rugby. It was really exciting and interesting. But It seems little dangerous. Many young men crashed against each other. Even, there was a fight for a while.

 And I also went to the baseball game. It was a game participating 12~14 year-old-guys. And even Elias in my host family participated this game. It was really exciting. But there were so many errors in the game. I guess that maybe that is because they were young to have perfect skills. But Elias was a really great player. He never got out.
 And after that we went to the team party because it was the last game of the season. A coach called one by one and praised them. I think that is the way of American education to let children have leadership and outgoing personalities.

 

I’ve stayed here in Portland for a week and every life has become routine. Today, I’d like to introduce all of you about my travel to watch sturgeon with my host family. Last Saturday, we went to watch sturgeon which is  one of the largest fish in U.S. It is located near the Columbia Gorge. I don’t know exactly where it is placed. From our home, it took about 30 minutes to get there. First of all, we had lunch because we were so hungry. We had turkey sandwich, pepsi, and some fruits. Its taste was so fine as the weather was beautiful that day. Later, we went to watch sturgeons. I saw so many hatcheries while going there. There are a lot of little trouts and sturgeons. The hatcheries are covered with robes because of protecting them from other adversaries such as birds. We arrived at the sturgeon house and watched them by the window. The size of sturgeon was so big that I couldn’t measure how large it is. Tricia said that sturgeon are more than 3 meters after their age of one thousand. Sturgeons look like an ugly witch. It moves slowly but it made me feel frustrated with horror. They don’t have bones but they have a type of bone which is in our nose. I don’t remember exact term for that. Following that, we took some pictures and went to see the trouts which are also located near the sturgeon house. They were much smaller in size than sturgeons. They are not impressive than sturgeons. I’ve never seen those fish in Korea. It was really wonderful time for me to experience something new. Always challenging something fresh makes my mind more challenging and hopeful. Someday, we can visit some peculiar animals together. It was a really nice and wonderful trip.

Last Saturday, I and my host family went to the Sandy River!! ^-^

Sandy River is very beautiful place. It’s little smaller than I thought. I went there with Rebekah’s friend. she is Vietnamese, and has two children. Her name is Roy. Her Kids name are maybe Jaeda and Ronnin. I am, however, not sure. Because their names are little odd from other Americans’.  Anyway, we went there together with taking some foods. 

This place is “no pet” place. However, I saw one girl brought a big, big black dog in there.

Silly girl~ yucky!!  

In the river, I didn’t go into water. Only, I put my legs. However, my cloths had been become wet. However, few minetes later, my cloths were dried. GOOOOOOD~~ It is the only one way to use sunshine. 

After our small trip, we got a BBQ party in our host’s house. It was great! I ate law oyster and broiled oyster. The tasty was AWESOME!! I really love BBQ.

Almost things in here are interesting!! I want to enjoy more places about real Americans’ life.