Level 5 was my lowest grade yet. Listening has become my worst skill. (Not that I'm great at speaking, but that's at least subjectively graded, heh.) The vocab is just really hard, and very similar. Reading, at least, I can generally understand from context, but it's a lot harder to not recognize a word when listening...
Rows say Reading (of 20), Writing (30), Listening (20), Speaking (30). Average of 80, 100% attendance.
In happier news, because I didn't miss a single day of class in levels 1-5, I get level 6 for free. I paid for level 5 and 6 together back in November (for a 6-month visa extension instead of a 3-month), so they refunded me the full price a week after level 5 finished. I am, however, looking forward to missing a few days in level 6 when the weather is nicer. Or maybe not...if classes are hard and there are daily quizzes. I dunno. But it's nice to have the option. :)
Speaking of visa extensions, I'm glad I pay for 2 semesters at once and only have to go to the Immigration Office half as often as J and H. They changed the requirements at the end of October and didn't tell anyone (it wasn't even updated on the website). Now, in addition to all the old stuff you needed (proof of enrollment, proof of bank deposit >$3000, paid tuition receipt), you also need a copy of your housing contract. And when J went a few weeks ago, the price to renew also doubled (from $30 to $60). And they were a lot pickier about the housing contract. Ours says one roommate's name (who actually signed for it) and "plus 3 people." Because J's name isn't actually on it, they gave her trouble. The American friend I went around with on Seollal also had trouble. He brought his contract but it also didn't have his name on it, so he had to bring proof (whereas J just begged and they let her pass). The lady supposedly processed his renewal anyway, but threatened him with trouble if he didn't bring proof of address the next day. But, I mean, if he was actually scamming them and gave them the wrong address... how are they going to find him if he doesn't bring proof? The address would be wrong. What a screwed up system. I hate the immigration office. Lines are getting longer, employees are getting less patient (and still don't speak English or Chinese... and I must say, Korean-speaking foreigners in Korea are rare... because most are English teachers!). I really get the feeling they are trying to kick out all but the most dedicated people. I'm dreading going back in May to renew. :\
Hard to believe there's only one week of vacation left (of 3). I spent almost the entire first two weeks sick, most recently with an ear infection. It was an annual thing in the US, so I wasn't surprised, but it still sucked to spend 3 full days in bed sleeping in silence. I did go to the doctor and he gave me a script for anti-inflammatory drugs. Yay for Korean medical insurance ($40/mo for students). The visit was $4 and the meds were $2.
I did manage to get out of bed last Friday (2/14) to volunteer at Gyeongbok Palace's Light Up Night. Previously, they opened the palace at night only for a week in May and a week in October(September?), but now they're adding time in February and July, and extending the length a few extra days(I think.. don't quote me). This time it was open 2/11-2/17 6-9pm (last admission at 8 unless you preordered tickets online). They didn't really explain anything to anyone, even in Korean, but I overheard some other (experienced) volunteers talking in Korean, which was good, because I did actually have to answer two English speakers' questions (namely about why the heck they couldn't get in after 8 when the signs said it was open til 9). Still, we got a few free minutes to walk around and see the buildings for free, and also got 2 coupon packs for free admission to 5 of the palaces ($20 value). My parents are coming in May, and those will be handy, unless they don't accept them, because it says they expire a month after the date stamped on the cover. :\ Anyway, some photos:
Our volunteer outfits were reflective (great for pictures!), and the one building
on the lake (called Gyeonghoeru) + its reflection were awesome to look at.
Earlier today I did my taxes... and, man, it was a lot more annoying than I was expecting because I lived in Korea all of 2013. My Korean bank account also gave me trouble. I heard you only had to claim it if your balance was ever over $10,000, which it wasn't. But I said it wasn't, and TurboTax still made me pay $20 to upgrade to Federal Basic edition, just to have them tell me "Oh, looks like you don't need to file this paperwork after all." Yea, great. So there goes the $11 in interest I made all year on my pocket change in my Korean account (just used to transfer tuition and rent payments). And apparently Virginia (where I kept my residency) is one of the 4 crappy states when it comes to filing taxes from overseas. I couldn't submit electronically because I filed a Non-resident Tax Return, so I have to get my parents (who have my physical interest/etc forms) involved. Yes, because I live on the other side of the world, please make me send paper copies to some PO box in VA. That's fun. I'm looking forward to next year, when the health insurance requirement/penalty kicks in. Hopefully it's easy to prove my overseas residency, but somehow I doubt it... Sigh.
Speaking of continuing to stay in Korea, I should probably get working on my letter of introduction and study plan for grad school apps. I meant to start sooner, but that was about the last thing I felt like doing when it hurt to sit up, or breathe, or swallow....^^
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