Attending SOPA

Chapter 1

I had packed all my bags, headed to the airport, and off to South Korea I went. My mom had wanted me to get singing/vocal lessons, I had always wanted to go to South Korea. She had thankfully gotten me into SOPA. I can't believe I actually get to go to this school. The school had looked at my grades prior to leaving America and saw that I excelled in English and music. I was in high school choir my first year, but gave it up my second year. Now, going to SOPA for my third year feels unreal. I will be attending SOPA for my junior and senior years. This will be so much fun, but there will be some adapting to do.

I walk into the dorm rooms where the students are to stay. This is already so different from my high school. I am given my uniform, my mom had sent my sizes over already so they could prepare it for me when I got here. Here is my uniform:

(Pictured above is Kang Mina). I put on my uniform for the first time. I have never had to wear a uniform back in America, so this is definitely a change. I look at myself in the mirror, I look so cute in this uniform. I take many pictures in it to send to my mom later. Then, last of all, I am given my schedule. All the students stay in one classroom and the teacher of that subject comes to the classroom. I feel that this way is more organized than having the students move. It's less crowded.

My first class of the day is Hip Hop 3. In order for me to dance more comfortably, the teacher instructs us to change into track pants and a t-shirt, for ease of mobility. I go to the locker room and change into that, as it's in my locker for me. After changing, I go back out into the studio. Of course, the teacher is speaking Korean, and I can't understand a word he's saying. I use the important sentences I learned in Korean:
"실례합니다, 선생님. 나는 한국어를 잘 못한다."(Excuse me, teacher. I can't speak Korean well).
"내가 영어로 말하길 원하니?" Mr. Kim asked(Would you like me to speak English?).
"네, 부탁합니다." I said(Yes, please).
"Okay, class. Today because we have a foreigner, I will be teaching in English." Mr. Kim said. The whole class groans. Some of them don't know how to speak English.
"Please bare with me guys, I'm from America. Forgive me." I said.
"Yes, be nice to the foreigner girl." Mr. Kim said, "She is like any other classmate."
"Sir, she isn't Korean." Mingi said.
Oh don't you start this. . . "Um, does it matter?" I asked.
"It doesn't. Now, if I may, I would like to begin." Mr. Kim said, shutting down any fight that may arise.

The first dance move we learn is a bounce along with; MC rock, boxer bounce, New Era bounce, ending with a choreography combo. The class lasted for about two hours. The teacher made sure to go in depth so the students understand. I enjoyed having this first dance class because I don't know how to dance to begin with. After dance class, I am really sweaty from hard work. We repeated the choreography a lot so the whole class could nail it and be in sync. Becoming an idol, you would have to know how to do that. I go back into the locker room, many of the girls stare at me. I get it, I may not be Korean, but I have the potential to be an idol as much as the next girl. I may not have the perfect face for an idol, but I'm willing to try my best.

After washing up briefly, I head straight to my next class which is vocal and singing class. I walk into the class and there is a group of people practicing harmonizing. I am in awe of how pretty they sound together. There's a group of guys and a group of girls. They are separated, but practicing their singing. I kind of shuffle over to the corner because I feel isolated. I sit down in the corner and look down at the floor. Looking sad like this, realizing that I am the only person of my ethnicity around here. Then, one boy notices and walks over to me.
"괜찮아?" He asked, sitting down next to me(Are you okay?).
"아니, 난 외로워." I said(No, I feel lonely).
"와서 우리랑 같이 노래해." He said(Come sing with us).
"알았어요." I said(Okay).

I follow the boy to his group of friends, I read his name tag. His name is Gyeon Hajoon. That name is similar to Hongjoong of ATEEZ, I like that. I go to Hajoon's friend group, it's a mix of guys and girls. They all introduce themselves to me, being very nice to me. They understand that I am a foreigner who doesn't speak Korean well, so they try their best to speak English. I find their English so adorable. In exchange for our friendship, I will tutor them in English, and they will teach me Korean. I think I have my first friend group in South Korea. Yay, I'm so excited! We had our first run through of warm-ups and vocal exercises, all taught in Korean. It was a struggle for me, but my new friends had helped me through, demonstrating how to do it. I also realize that the way they do vocal warm up is different. Instead of Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do. They just have different words, I don't know how to explain it.

When singing lessons are over, I meet with Hajoon. We go outside where it's less crowded. Let's just say, I got to talking with Hajoon. I think he's pretty cute too, along with being nice. He looks like this:

(Pictured: Eric from The Boyz). He is literally so cute, I couldn't say that enough. We took a few selfies together to remember our friendship, then we had to return to our own classes. I think after that, I have a little crush on Hajoon. He already looks like an idol, he doesn't need to try. Ugh, I knew this would happen. I have to focus on school, or I'll never achieve my dreams. I guess I'll just wait it out to see what's to come.