Winter Break is Almost over | Semesters and Holidays

The winter break is slowly coming to its end. It feels so weird to not be back in school yet. Generally, the schedules are so different to Finland not forgetting the different national holidays. I had to go to class on the Finnish Independence Day. I mean, of course, this is a different country but still... I was expecting this, and yet it feels so weird to have school on days when I'm not used, or then again, sometimes we have holiday on a day I'm not used to having one.

Pictures from the Goyang Light Blooming Festival (고양호수꽃빛축제) that was organized at Ilsan Lake Park

The biggest difference to Finland is probably the order of semesters. What I mean is that the school starts in Finland after summer; so the first semester is the fall semester. However, in Korea the school year starts from the spring semester. Basically, when my exchange year in Korea started it was in the midst of a school year. Some Koreans thought I was doing my second semester when I told I'm here for a year. Probably, because the fall semester ends their school year. 

     The fall semester started on early September and ended right before Christmas. This is very similar to the fall semester at my home university. But the winter break! I'm not used to having a two-month holiday after fall semester. This has felt like an eternity. Of course, I've tried my best to enjoy myself now that I have time, and do not have to work on my part-time job.

     Well, the Spring semester starts on March and it should last till mid-June. The length of the semester seems similar it just starts about a month and a half later; In Finland I would be working starting from May till the end August. As a Finnish student, I am used to having a long summer holiday which I prefer because I can focus on working. And the summer season is best time for part-timers as most Finnish people have their annual holiday during summer.

     To be honest, one of my favorite breaks in Finland is the Easter break. I mean it is a nice break a bit before the spring semester ends. Then you just need to try for few more weeks and then the semester is over. But here, I won't be able to enjoy the week-long Easter break. However, I was checking on the calendar and it seems there are few separate national holidays throughout the spring. :)

A few-day-trip to Gwangju (광주), out of Seoul :)

Gwangju National Museum (국립박물관)

Gwangju Art Street (예술의거리) where there are lot of art shops 

It is kinda difficult to think that after all this time I will be back in Finland next summer. Of course I miss you all lovely folks back home, but I mean... I've got used to living here. Being here in Korea feels natural for me. Once in a while I do miss some things back in Finland but overall I haven't been home sick at all.

     I can't imagine what it will be like when I head to the airport to leave the country where I've spent almost an entire year. So many of my friends were so sad after one semester so I wonder how bad it's going to be after two semesters. Oh well, only the future will know.