By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Nadine Postigo
I've lost count of the numerous Korean contests that I've joined, ever since I discovered my penchant for all things related to Korea.
Whether it live raffles, giveaways, surveys, essays, blueprint competitions, photograph / video related or cooking contests, I’ve most likely joined it. I ever acquire drawn inwards to participate inwards Korea-related events.
Ever since I got exposed to the growing popularity of Korean pop music in addition to TV shows inwards Eastern Asia in addition to elsewhere dorsum inwards slow 2008, my fondness-turned-passion for Korea but grew in addition to grew. It wasn't a phase, equally corny equally that may sound. What was in i trial a unusual civilization became purpose of me. My solid unit of measurement in addition to friends identified me alongside the province in addition to its pop media. They fifty-fifty teased me to speak inwards Korean when nosotros ate at a Korean restaurant. I honestly don't heed trying that, fifty-fifty if it’s but basic. Even alongside my studies, if in that place was a projection or assignment that I could somehow involve alongside Korea, in addition to so I’d practice it. One of my favorite projects was when I created my Korean Food Guide 101 booklet.
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| As purpose of a Korean contest, I made the 'Korean Food Guide 101' booklet. (Nadine Postigo) |
Yes, the prizes are enticing, specially if they involve a costless trip to Korea. However, I realized that I bring together these contests because I desire to limited myself, my passion in addition to honey for the country. You see, I solely receive got a few friends alongside whom I tin beak most Korea, in addition to perchance solely i or 2 that I tin genuinely live a fangirl with. Most of the time, I acquire solo during concerts in addition to but observe other fangirls online that part the same sentiments that I do. It was solely of late that I started creating content on YouTube, and, yes, it was triggered past times wanting to limited myself related to Korea in addition to Korean pop music. So too writing on my social media accounts in addition to writing for the at Korea.net, joining contests was a way to beak to a greater extent than most for certain topics. If I'm non familiar alongside the subject, I practice my research, hence expanding my knowledge. It pushes me out of my box in addition to positively pushes me exterior my comfort zone.
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| I utilisation my YouTube channel to limited my passion in addition to honey for Korea. (Nadine Postigo) |
For example, I had to hold off upwardly the meanings of to a greater extent than or less traditional Korean patterns when I joined a previous challenger that was jointly hosted past times the TV station KBS World in addition to past times the Korean Culture in addition to Information Service (KOCIS). This was the Talk Talk Korea contest. For the postal service bill of fare category, nosotros had to utilisation the provided traditional Korean folk fine art patterns inwards our designs. I was clueless equally to what the symbols meant in addition to which symbols would acquire alongside which inwards harmony. So, of course, I had to hold off upwardly the symbolic meanings, in addition to I discovered a lot most Korean mythology. I didn't house inwards the contest, but my efforts weren't inwards vain equally I learned a lot to a greater extent than most Korea through the experience.
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| I designed a postcard to participate inwards the Talk Talk Korea competition. (Nadine Postigo) |
For my postcard, I chose a theme of nature, specifically the Four Gracious or Gentlemanly Plants, also known equally the Four Seasons symbols (사군자), inwards improver to the lotus in addition to peony. I learned most the symbolism of the plants in addition to flowers in addition to it genuinely fascinated me to larn to a greater extent than most Korea’s arts in addition to traditions.
On the front end of the postcard I featured chrysanthemums, lotuses in addition to apricot blossoms. The colors blueish in addition to cerise represented the Taeguk yin and yang color symbols that tin live seen on the flag of Korea. On the back, I had to a greater extent than or less bamboo imprinted on the left side, a peony equally a stamp, in addition to orchids along the bottom border.
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| I learned a lot most Korea patch preparing my entry into the Talk Talk Korea competition. (Nadine Postigo) |
For this postcard design, I went alongside traditional fauna patterns for my overall theme. I featured a tiger / lion, a dragon, a turtle in addition to a phoenix, equally I learned most these mythological Korean creatures that were the Four Guardians of the Four Compass Directions. I was amazed past times these stories in addition to their symbolism.
On the dorsum I used 5 bats along the bottom to stand upwardly for the 5 blessings, or obok (오복). For the stamp, I used a butterfly alongside the Samsaeg-ui or Tri-colored Taegeuk inwards the middle (삼색의 태극).
Once I was nominated for the "video of the year" inwards a challenger I submitted most Korean cuisine's side dishes. That time, I also didn't win, but I was comforted past times the fact that I was nonetheless nominated.
Just similar whatever other person, I also acquire discouraged subsequently experiencing failures. I maintain thinking, "When is it going to live me?" and, "Why am I so unlucky?” Oh well. What’s new? I never win anything.
I genuinely became pessimistic in addition to down. However, despite beingness inwards a slump in addition to feeling similar giving up, I nonetheless receive got a modest percent of promise inwards me. When I come across a novel contest, I think to myself, "What practice I receive got to lose?" in addition to bring together in i trial again in addition to again. As my begetter in i trial told me, adversity builds character.
An chance that I was glad I didn't move past times upwardly was when I applied to live a Worldwide Blogger in addition to an Honorary Reporter for Korea.net’s inwards 2014. In my head, I retrieve thinking that it was such a long shot, that in that place would likely live others alongside a improve in addition to to a greater extent than impressive application form. That’s why I was genuinely shocked in addition to so happy when I saw my get upwardly on the listing of accepted honorary reporters. I was ecstatic, to tell the least.
It was through Korea.net’s that I was able to footstep pes inwards my dream country. The highlight of 2016 was when I was invited past times Korea.net to tour Seoul, Busan in addition to Tongyeong lastly October. In my head, I kept saying, "I can’t believe I’m inwards Korea." The landscape that I used to but stare at through my laptop in addition to TV was finally correct inwards front end me. Everything was but amazing, from the companionship to the sights, in addition to of course of study I can’t forget most the food.
I would similar to believe that it was because of my passion, effort, in addition to luck that I was blessed to receive got my dream come upwardly true. Of course, it wouldn’t receive got been possible without the amazing people at Korea.net. I’m seriously grateful to them. It was also through that trip that I met to a greater extent than or less amazing people that had the same enthusiasm equally I have, in addition to perchance fifty-fifty more. Despite coming from dissimilar backgrounds alongside dissimilar native languages, nosotros all connected forthwith because of our mutual fervor for Korea.
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| I was able to connect alongside other Korea.net honorary reporters on a trip to Korea where nosotros all shared our passion for Korea. (Jeon Han) |
The trip definitely gave me the additional motivation that I needed to footstep out of my rhythm in addition to to proceed my path inwards pursuing what I loved to do. Would you lot believe it? I started winning contests subsequently that trip. It was equally if my luck had changed in addition to finally my efforts were paying off. Although I nonetheless don’t win all of the contests in addition to giveaways that I join, it was nonetheless a huge departure compared to before.
It is genuinely because of that Korea trip that I was inspired to write a hopefully inspiring slice to people similar me, to people who experience similar luck is never on their side despite their efforts. The primary takeaway for this article is that people should maintain pursuing what they love. If it doesn't brand it the way of your studies or work, in addition to if it’s your passion in addition to if it makes you lot happy, in addition to so past times all means, practice it! Don’t halt taking chances. Persistence is the key. You’ll never know when it's your fourth dimension to shine. To live to a greater extent than specific, never halt joining Korean contests, regardless of the prize.
With that, I shipping to my beau honorary reporters in addition to Koreaphiles to a greater extent than or less cyber hwaiting spirit (화이팅).
wisdom117@Korea.kr
Sumber http://koreanetblog.blogspot.com/