Korean Letters Lesson 1.

I have discussed some key points to have a better grip on learning the Korean Letters. If you’ll see below and have a closer look, you’ll see that they have certain patterns, lines and shapes.

This set concerns consonants:

sorry it’s a bit blurred here, you can save this to have a better view of the letters

And this are the vowels:

sorry it’s a bit blurred here, you can save this to have a better view of the letters

As you observe they are too many to memorize, 14 consonants and 11 vowels. However, I told you to be observant. Some letters were rotated in a certain degree which still has that particular pattern.

Example:

See No.1. It is the consonant Giyeok. Once you rotate it, It becomes Nieun.  And still, the others are noticeable to some pattern which makes it easy to remember. There are instances that these consonants are written twice but that will be another lesson. Now, lets proceed to vowels.

These are the vowels. Look closely.

As you can see, vowels are easy to determine like the English Alphabets. However, I said earlier to look closely. There is one consonant attached with the vowel. Don’t be confused with, it the Ieung. This has no sound. In my understanding, this is just placed so that a vowel will not stand-alone. According to www.busyatom.com , the vowels has symmetry. If that is the case, then, in one vowel, we can learn two at a time. How? Look as #1 and #2, #1 is a but it is spoken as A in father and #2 is eo but spoken as O in uh-oh (expression).

Also, in vowels, when you add one more stroke, the “y” sound is added. from #1 in blue it becomes # 1 in red. Thus, A becomes YA, also, eo becomes YEO.

As you can see, unlike Japanese and Chinese characters, the beauty that BusyAtom said about the letter’s symmetry makes it really nice to learn. It requires practice to be familiar with these letter.

Tips on Korean Letter Memorization:

1. For vowels, look at the symmetry. – Don’t be confused with the quantity. You learn one, you’ll end up learning 3 at the same time when you get the certain movements of the letters.

2. For consonants, look at the movements. – Again, don’t be confused. Consonants are made by either rotating to different angles and combining with another line that made the consonant.

3. Write it down – This is the best part. Once you incorporate it in you mind then your hand will be moving with the image in your head. Like a painter, having a beautiful strokes on a canvas. I mentioned it before that I wrote Filipino words in Korean letter, which made me familiar of if.

4.) Copy Korean Words, Phrases and Sentences-If you want to be one step ahead, then go ahead. This will also help you enhance you vocabulary. As some others will say, you only put food in your mouth what you can chew. My advice, follow this simple step. letter, syllable, word, phrase, grammar and paragraph! So, lets focus on the letters ok?= )

5. Practice – It’s necessary. No shortcuts here. = )

Tell me how you are doing and I’ll be glad to accommodate your question regarding letter. I’m open to any suggestions to also improve this portion for future reference of others who are interested to learn.

” Before Michelangelo’s painting in the Sistine Chapel was considered a work of art, it all started with a single point of a brush.”

I’ve been Stabbed!

I’m just sharing you some thing that had struck me today. Man, it was a hard blow. I was really caught unaware with such words that came to me!People I’ve been dealing were so much befriending me. I just can’t believe it that words can truly make or break you. Thank God my fiancée is always there to clear my blurred mind. I’ve just got back-stabbed by someone.

Anyways, when I was younger…a lot younger, people who I’m with for a very long time know how much and about my bad temper. Yeah, very bad. But as I age, I learned to be in control of it. I still sometimes blew my top but I’m more aware of its effect. I guess, when you got someone as great as my fiancée, someone’s going to throw a bucket of cold water in your hot head hehehe!

Coping in such back stabbing issue is very difficult. You were caught off guard, you trusted them and you just let them be with their lives. But, for them, it’s not enough. They just won’t let it fly by and will get back to you. They will either make reach to you through rumors, through those sheepish smiles, text messages, emails and post. Name it, what ever means of communications, it will spread like wild fire till its near your feet burning you up.

In order for you to regain composure and get through this phase. you need to deal with it still with the utmost level of an educated person. Nevertheless, if you dance along with their tune, you’ve just sunk down to their level. Here’s what I’ve been doing for the past years to avoid and get through from back stabbing.

Tips to regain oneself for back stab.

1.) Never start a fight – Before you start it, be ready for the consequences after throwing a punch, a slap or do the same thing that they did to you. You need first to see the situation wherein you’ll gain control of it.

2.) Ask what are the versions – the story keeps changing as it passes through others. Know the different versions and try to collaborate all of these. You will be able to see the true story and where it got wrong.

3.) Search for the source - Of course, it’s someone mad at you or someone who envy’s you. They will either deny it, avoid you or be plastic with you. Just go back to no. 1 and see to it that there’s no need for a fight. If you’ve got guts to talk about with him/her, good.Communication is still the best. But if it doesn’t work,  don’t push for it. Let it go.

4.) Gossips/Rumors/Malicious words will die eventually-if you know the truth, and didn’t do anything wrong, then it will just pass-by.  If it jeopardize your work or anything, be firm in what you do as long as it is right and it does not negate to any morals, company policy or rules. People saying or writing negative points about you are simply doing it to uplift themselves.If they can’t find any fault from you, then they can’t spread something. Hidden quotations are just mere ricochet of the bullets that tends to tick you off.

I’m not a saint when I write something here. People sometimes push me to be in a situation where I avoid much. I just let my hot steam in some better ways, so much to avoid confrontation and be productive. I hope you’ll do the same.

“Words may either build or break, it is just you who has the character to stand firm on what is right and what is wrong!”

Let’s Learn Hangeul (Korean)!

It’s been a while since I’m learning new things all by myself. I taught myself to play the guitar, learn basic computer trouble shooting and web page making. I find it interesting to learn new things, especially things that I’ll be benefiting in the future. Other than the financial rewards like being an interpreter for Koreans and teaching English to them, it gives us a sense of fulfillment and connection to the world.

As of today, I can recognize and read Korean Alphabets and Words. It sound funny, I don’t know what I’m reading. But let me tell you, it makes things easier when you are familiar with the letters and the way Korean’s write and read. After that, vocabulary words, grammar and sentence construction will not be that hard.

Here’s how I did it for almost 1 to 2 months:

Tips for Korean Alphabet Familiarization

1.) Focus on one material - Having to many materials when you are just starting will just make things complex since you need to be familiar with the Korean Alphabet. I would recommend the sites being administered by BusyAtom.com. His videos are very useful! The way you’ll be writing and reading the letters will be easy. You may even download the videos for review. I repeat the videos every night before I sleep. Busy Atom has also a webpage focusing on Korean Alphabets. Here’s the link: www.learnkoreanalphabet.com/home

2.) One at a time – Though one syllable makes things boring, don’t be in a rush. If you practice well in that syllable, changes in the next letter will be easy. Mr. Busy Atom uses one syllable at first but as you progress , you’ll feel that you have already several word in your head!It’s not a joke. Practice that syllable any the next road will be fun.

3.) Write what you say – A few of us has that photographic memory. So, in order to overcome that weakness, write down the syllable. Each stroke of the letters will be easier to memorize because you hand has that feeling. I practice writing Filipino/Tagalog words in Korean Alphabet just for me to register it in my mind. I may not know the right Korean spelling then, but it helps. I’ll just make adjustment in the future. My focus then was to know how to write it and read. Do it during spare time when you are busy.

4.) Read Korean Signs – Here in the Philippines, there are already many Korean establishments. Be able to spend sometime to give it a shot to read it. There’s no harm in trying since you can always go back to your reference material. I have a copy of the Korean letters in my phone, and know I don’t look at it.

5.) Romanization for assistance – This like our phonetics in our earlier years as we learn to read the English language. Romanization of the Korean Alphabet assist us to give us a hint on how to read and say the letters and words. However, it sometimes fail to really guide us. What I did was. I focused in the lectures in busyatom.com and listened carefully as how he says the word.

And that’s how I did it in 2 months, currently, I’m still finding ways in making it easier to memorize and construct proper Korean sentences. I’ll keep you updated on my progress in this adventure. So Kamsahanida (Thank You!)

“The best way to understand what other people are saying is listening first!”

저의 이름은 게리 입니다!환영합니다!

When I was younger, I love watching amines. Up to the extent, I’m familiar to certain phrases and dialogues that I can watch Japanese cartoons with little reliance to subtitles. Just last year, I came to across a certain channel in our cable TV with a different sound to my ear. Sound Greek? Nah! It’s a Korean Channel, you might be familiar with these two channels, KBS World and Arirang. At first, I never understand a single word they say. What pulled me towards this language is not only the beautiful women in the Koreanovelas here in the Philippines, It’s their music!The K-POP music!

Again, new sound, new beat and new styles! Not that I don’t like the pop culture of my own country, I just like to hear something new. But it was really difficult liking what you don’t understand!= ).So now, I started to study how to read, write and speak Hanguk (Korean)!

I would like to give my side here on how you would be starting to learn Korean. The most vital part is…your love to learn. No matter how many materials you have, but if you got no drive for it then It’ll be very difficult and you’ll be lost.

Let me share how I started and I’ll be posting my progress!I do have an aim for all of you to know…I would like to have a decent conversation in Korean with Grace Lee, one of host of Diz Iz It.Why did I choose it? Look, I’m so much impress on the way she talk in my language. Yes, I know she grew here in the Philippines but listen to her.She has the slightest or no trace of difficulty in speaking Tagalog. I would love to be like her, wherein I like to talk with her in her own language.

Now, I can read Korean Alphabet and Korean Words in the shortest of 3 months. But the problem now is that I have limited Korean Vocabulary Words, Grammar and Sentences construction.

I’ll be posting soon personal tips on how I learned reading Korean Alphabets and Word as quickly as I did!

안녕히가세요!= )

A Feast or A Celebration?

There is a big difference between a feast and a celebration…I think so? But then again, both requires FOOD!Here were I’ve been so much concern in our wedding. Not that I’ll pig out in my own wedding. Weddings are not complete without these part…especially to the Filipino Culture.

I’m a Batangeño(one provincial group in the Philippines). We are known to be very easy to get with. Which makes us easy to befriend and hang with…thus it equates easy to be friend + nice company = large circle of group/friends! In Batangas, whenever a one’s going to get married be ready because you’re gonna track-down to the deepest relatives you know. Other than, your wedding is going to be swarmed and I mean SWARMED by many people. Relatives of both couples, friends, office mates and former classmates. These are just the general category. Just like Facebook, these class is going to be in a network-like frenzy, somebody’s already shaken your hand greeting you best wishes and you’ll end up asking, “Sino un?(Who’s that)” and one will answer, “Si __ bestfriend ni __ na kapitbahay ___ na malapit sa bahay namin noon sa dati work?(He’s/Shes ___, the best friend of ___, our neighbor in our old house in my former work!)” What? You can’t even imagine who or how were they connected to any of the couples.

My fiancée  and I just recently finished counting our possible guests. That includes our possible entourage, close relatives and friends who we have good feeling they’ll be there. We had a small fight in counting the guests since we need to avoid gate crashers and unrelated guest. I’m not a stingy guy over my fiancée choices but we made a deal that after the wedding we need something to start over with. We need to have a good start especially with our finances.

Currently, we are now at the point of scouting for potential caterers. We do have a handful catering companies but we need to test the food first.  For now, I’ll be just leaving some tips in getting caterers for your wedding:

Tips for contracting Wedding Caterers

1.) Know your budget – Be realistic, if you don’t…be prepared to cash out more! Well if you do belong to a well-off family, why not spend more than P 300,000 ($6,726.46, conversion rate of US Dollar as of April 2010).

2.) List your guest – Here, you should be able to see the potential number of people you’ll be inviting. This includes the whole entourage, family and friends. If you intend to have like an open house party…again you’ll go back to step 1 and be ready to shell out more and more …coz the for you the party won’t stop till you drop!= )

3.) Have enough buffer – When you reach the potential number of visitors, it doesn’t end there! A budget needs an allowance or else…on the day of your wedding, the wedding coordinator maybe whispering by your side or somebody saying “over the expected head count.” It’s good if you have money in your pocket but what if you don’t. Try to give some allowance in the number of person 10 to 20% of the total count could be safe.

4.) Consult others – It never harms us to ask something to those who had gotten ahead of us. The problems they have encountered, in short both good and bad sides of the story. Take down notes if you don’t have that good memory!Also ask for referrals, who knows you can even get discounts or a better treatment.

5.) Scout for caterers – It’s good to go around the metro for the best caterers in town within your budget. Try to coordinate with them if they have functions in were you could see their set-ups, facilities and service. Don’t stick to one caterer unless both of you have agreed to get them already.

6.) Maintain a good relationship with the caterer – this may sound weird. Although they are paid, it is not only nice to treat them with the rightful attitude. With it, they will serve you well and they will entertain suggestions and comments from you to serve you better during the reception. All way keep in mind, they are the one’s cooking and serving…they may get a little bit creepy with your food…if you know what I mean! = P

For now, these are the things I keep in mind before we head on to one of our potential caterers. Hope that we’ll be satisfied coz we’ll be changing the budget if we’ll be looking for new ones.

In the future, I’ll be posting a list of caterers we have seen during the Wedding Expo at the PICC last March 2010. This may add help to you!

“It is better to have a meal that is cooked filled with love, rather than serve a feast that has doubts and unsound soul.”

The Proposal

Well this issue is quite every proposing man often face with…sweeping his girl off her feet and securing that sweet YES!= ) This either requires the element of surprise and ingenuity…however in the end of it all,it goes down in being sincere, honest and sending out a sense of security to the women we will love and share the rest of our lives.

Imagine the scene in the movie “THE BACHELOR” of Chris O’Donnell and Renée Zelleweger where Chris’ first attempt to propose Renée at the Starlight…no matter how romantic the place is, how sweet the music and the feeling was so lovely…he got busted!So as the second time!

Let me share you my story. As for my part, I had so many things in my head to do it…what made it hard was that my girlfriend has and always have that 6th sense of her (she feels that’ll I’ll be proposing to her anytime coz we’ve been dating for 5years and marriage and babies comes to my mouth quite often hehehe!). It drove me sleepless nights how to be creative. But the fact that see knows I have the money for the ring, the time span or should I say “deadline” to propose and the mere fact she’s been looking forward to it made me think it’s better to do it simple and sincere. And besides, she hates surprises and having the hanging feeling (“pinapaasa in Tagalog/Filipino or False Hope).

I bought a diamond engagement ring in Manila , which I Have to file for a leave just to bring back all the way to my home in Batangas. We haven’t met for several days after I bought the ring. Then after days passed by, I went to their house. We were in her room, fixing and looking for some document her Mom told her to look for. I have the small box with me hidden at the back of my shirt. She was so busy then looking for the paper. I was quite excited and nervous telling her “Tama yan…pwede naman ata bukas na lang (Please stop. Maybe you can do it tomorrow!)” in the softest and sweetest voice as possible as I can. And when she stopped, finally probably after moreless 15 minutes bugging her, I sat down in front of her, I held left hand and said, “Ma, alam mo sa 5 years na natin at sa dami na napagdaan nating problema at challenges, eto pa din tayo matibay at magkaramay pa din.Parang kahit pag madilim ay may liwanag palagi na nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa atin. (Ma, we have faced so many problems and challenges in our 5 year relationship. Yet, we are still strong and helping each other. Like even it’s dark, there’s always a light that gives us hope.)”. As I pull out the ring from my side and placed it in her ring, I asked her to marry me. She smiled, hugged and kissed me. That’s more than what I need to hear from her the actual “yes” I was waiting for. = )

Tips and ways to Propose to your Girlfriend (According to my style)

1.) Be Man-One should be ready to leave the life of singlehood…since after you propose you won’t heading back to what you get to used the life before. Unless divorce is leagal in your country.

2.) Prepare to spend – Spend money for the ring, spend your thoughts to be creative, spend sometime to think of things. Spending doesn’t alone connotes to money, it is to invest or be  capable to put some effort in making your girl extra special.

3.) Pray-Pray that she’ll say yes and accept the ring (just joking = )). Pray that you’ll be guided in saying the right words and let the heavens make your girl feel your sincerity to accept you.Practice may do but when the going gets tough, it always goes down how you feel for your girl.

4.) Short and simple – you don’t need a parade to say “will you marry me?”. A clear message of love and honesty will send out the message.

For those who wants to be creative, you may search the net for ideas, whether videos, testimonies or actual sites that put styles and drama to your proposal…it still goes to the four things I’ve mentioned.

I’ll post the links for your soon as I finish renovating this page hehehe!

“Love your girl more, for she gave you her heart and life by saying yes to you!”

Blogging is so complex!

Well…its been a couple of days since I started blogging. Man, this is harder that I thought. I’ve been bugging a friend of mine in Singapore to help me, guess I pissed him off coz I’ve want to learn this thing immediately. I’ve got so many things in my head…from funny to serious matters. As always in my life, I need to experience things by myself. Hopefully, this blog helps me.

I see blogging in many different angles. My stress reliever, my communication to my friends and so on and so forth. Now, as I do my blog…I feel like I’m taking things out of my bag…Many many things!I find myself smiling coz I remember my girlfriend saying that I have a complex personality. I know now that this blog will be as complex as I am.= )

In the end, no matter how complex I am…I’m certain that I’ll alway be able to leave a piece of me that will be of good help to others.

HOW TO START A BLOG  (A reminder to mysefl as I’ll be reading this everytime I log!)

1.) BE YOURSELF!

2.) WRITE WITH YOUR HEART!

3.) ENJOY EACH TIME YOU BLOG AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

4.) EXPRESS YOURSELF IN MANNER THAT OTHERS WON’T BE OFFENDED!

5.) TRY TO BE HELPFUL!

6.) TRY TO PUT A SMILE IN EVERY POST!

7.) WELCOME EVERY OPINION AND COMMENT!

8.) IF OTHERS OWN’T HELP YOU, START HELPING YOURSELF FIRST!

9.) ASK KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE!

10.) YOU ARE YOUR BLOG!

Taking the First Step!

When a man truly loves a woman, they commonly say that they’ll give the moon and the stars to her…just marry him. The guy maybe either is dying to get marry with that woman or he’s just teasing her. I’m saying this because being a guy who’s going to get married soon and I love my fiancee so much, the moon and the stars are not enough to get her married with me, in my own perception.

For those who’ll be reading my blog, first of all, I’m Gary, a Filipino bachelor. I’ll be turning 30 years old by December 2010 and my bachelor days will be coming to an end and that same month, I’ll be starting to share my life with my fiancee Jaselee who has loved and accepted me for the past 5 years.

If a bride-to-be feels a sense of cold feet…does a groom-to-be. I would be bragging and fooling myself if I told you and the whole world that I’m not afraid. Truly what gives me those crazy goosebumps is not the fact that I can’t handle future responsibilities. I fear that my fiancee will back out on me anytime before the wedding or the worst…during the wedding ceremony itself!. I also fear of not meeting the budgets, timeline and wedding preparations, most of all, I’ll fail to give my wife-to-be a wedding she deserves because of loving and accepting me for the past 5 years of our relationship being a couple.

This would be my first step in leaving the bachelor’s road and turn to a new endeavor of a married man’s life!

My Passion for the Game.

I learned so many things in playing various sports up to this time. Not to mention to the games I know and play, I got to know many people and see how’s sports is for them, whether, as a form of exercise, leisure and so many things dealing with sports.

My mind and body is one when sweat starts to drop from my body, my adrenalin pumps up and I want to close in to that winning feeling. But so much as the saying goes…”you win some, you lose some.” Every player, a regular or a serious athlete, feels the same thing. Working it through the game…and that’s passion.

As I open myself here in this field, may you see and feel how I take every stride in various sports that I have played, may it be a short period, a trial stage or a continuous game even at this time of my life.

GAME ON!!!

My First Post!

Hello…Anyeonghaseyo! This would be my initial post Probably majority of the bloggers has titled their initial post as “My First Post”. This would be my very first time to blog. First, people would be asking why “have a piece of me” is my blog. It simply says that every time I interact with people…its either I leave or somewhat made a connection. In it, I leave a part or piece of myself with them and so they also with me.

I would like to welcome you in my work in progress blog…sorry for the plain themes and lack of accessory. I’ll be improving this world through the course of my blogging.