Schmoozing around the world

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Yesterday we were treated quite like visiting dignitaries on campus. Mr. Song, who I believe is the Coordinator for External Affairs for the university, picked us up at 9:30 and took us to breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts, which is huge in Korea. I've seen more here than in the U.S.; people love it. Then we took a campus tour, first with the head librarian. Then we stopped at the auto mechanic and performance testing department and were shown all the padlocked rooms with super expensive engines and cars, which was pretty neat. They have a partnership with BMW, who donates cars for the performance testing. Have to say there was a beautiful little silver two-door BMW that I wanted to pull some kind of Gone in 60 Seconds type stunt with and steal. Just like one of my favorite phrases... "Drive it like you stole it." Which really applies to any activity.

Anyways, getting back on track. Then we took a tour of the campus museum, which had an amazing collection of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art pieces, pottery items, artifacts, etc., some dating back to the 15th century, which were donated by a lady who had these things stored up in her house. There was also an extensive collection of these wooden cake stamps that put patterns into the rice-based cakes they make. Then we met with the VPs of the International Office, who had quite the office for hosting foreign visitors. They even had a photographer shooting pictures of our meeting.

We took lunch in downtown Hayang at a little Italian cafe run by a Korean woman. The restaurants are tiny here, usually just a few tables. With 6 of us from the university, we just about took up the whole place. Delicious stuff. Forks though, so no chopstick practice yet. I also found out at lunch that the rooms we have are special *guest* rooms, not at all like the rooms students stay in. Very special, Mr. Song tells us.

Well ... better run to dinner. More later.