Well, folks… I think this is the end of this blog for now. I mean, I’m not in Korea anymore. There are things that I thought I missed, but in reality I did not miss. I do like the weather here in Seattle a little bit more and I am more comfortable at home, especially when I am sick. It’s a little too cold in Korea for me unfortunately.
Anyways, I might write random stuff in my other blog, but otherwise I will not post anything on this one any more. At least not in the near future.
I had this small hope when I left Hong Kong that I would be able to visit Korea once again, just for a little bit in a layover, even if it were to be only in the airport. It’s strange to be on Asiana sometimes, since it’s a Korean airline. Unfortunately the plane arrived in Seoul with only 30 minutes to transfer to the next flight. I had to run with my 20 kg worth of stuff with me to the gate and I have to say it was a bit stressful. I didn’t even have time to go to the bathroom.
When I first arrived in Hong Kong I realized that I could understand everything and yet i felt uncomfortable because I couldn’t communicate like I could in Korean. I couldn’t even order. At least I could speak English I guess.
I felt like I entered the future when I was in Hong Kong and yet everything was vaguely familiar. I’m sure it’s even more evident in places like Shanghai. I also got the impression that people didn’t like mainland Chinese, or at least people from North China. It’s probably a difference in culture and language. It’s all similar, yet different…
It’s snowing now in Seattle and I haven’t spent this much time in one place in a long time. It makes me not want to do anything. I think shopping all the time in Korea and Hong Kong and overall traveling by myself has made me more open to certain things. I used to hate shopping, talking to people on the phone and entering strange situations. Actually, I still don’t feel comfortable in some situations, but I think I’m improving. I realized that it just takes practice and getting used to. Before I used to spend long periods of time alone and I still do, but it’s not something I am afraid to break away from any more.
Since Hong Kong is so much smaller than Seoul, the roads are narrower and Hong Kong has probably the most skyscrapers in the world. The subway is smaller than in Seoul, but it’s basically the same system. The interior is slightly different though, with less seats. haha. There are definitely more malls here though and more foreign products. Hong Kong doesn’t have the same kind of stores that you often see in Seoul everywhere, but there are many similar stores. There aren’t as many street vendors in Hong Kong as in Seoul, but I think it’s because it’s regulated. It’s also so much warmer in Hong Kong and I think my body is more comfortable in a warmer climate which makes me kind of sad because it implies that I am not really meant to live in Korea. At least during the winters.
I’m not sure if I will actually continue this blog in this future, to be honest. I will think about it. It’s not like that many people actually read this. haha.
I don’t remember Seattle being this cloudy or rainy or dark. Is this the same Seattle that I know? It’s sometimes hard to get used to the “How are you” aspect of American life, or even using the new upass. When I walk on campus I realize I don’t know anybody. The faces are unfamiliar and for some reason I am looking for familiar faces, as if I’d run into someone I know all the time. I feel like everyone is smarter than I am. My brain has run into this mushy consistency that I am unfamiliar with.
This is a strange time. I have been sick since freshman year and I can’t seem to escape disease. What does it mean to live? I am becoming increasing depressed and my nerves have become rather sensitive. I feel old, yet immature. I feel helpless and unable to grow. What kind of growth, you may ask? Obviously not physically because that was over 7 years ago, but maybe things like courage. Boldness. Perhaps even academically. I feel stuck. I want to get better.
Sometimes I am weird. Especially after reading my old poetry. I tend to write about music, dreams, pain and the ocean. I wonder why sometimes, why do these things interest me the most? When I am sick or in pain I tend to reflect on the past and I know that I make a lot of verbal mistakes. I hope that in time people will forgive me.
1. Decorated Bus
2. Sangsu or Hongdae… I forgot…
3. 유과
4. Santa(s) playing instruments
There’s only about a week left until I leave for Hong Kong and then two more weeks until I go back to the US. Days seem to pass quicker than I realized, as if holidays don’t exist and everything will continue to be the same. I can’t believe Christmas is almost here and that I will miss it back at home. It just doesn’t seem like it. It feels like it’s summer except that it’s super cold outside. Negative nine degrees Celsius to be exact. I don’t see snow but it’s freezing cold over here and the leaves are rather reddish looking. I only hear Christmas music in café and I do see Christmas cards and various Christmas related gifts in stores. I randomly see somber looking Korean males dressed up in santa suits and a fake belly to boot playing instruments once in a while. I still don’t see the Christmas sprit from their faces though. It doesn’t feel the same. It is as if everything is business and we’re just passing by doing what we have to do.
I do love how when you buy something in stores sometimes they give you free stuff, which makes me feel like it’s my birthday or that it’s Christmas. Maybe I’ve said this before. Haha. It needs repeating. Hahahha.
I love how in the church that I’ve been attending people are so vocal. When there’s something in the message someone agrees with they say something in agreement or when something is really cool, they would say so with a “Wow” or “awesome”. I love that. It reminds me of Korean traditional music because sometimes you’re allowed to voice an encouragement or something like that. It’s not just a show, but an interactive performance. I love that idea. I love the idea of being really open about something you’re watching except for movies. I think most movies need to be seen in silent unless you’re analyzing it or if it’s a comedy or a rom-com. I do talk too much during movies when I’m with friends though. Haha, sometimes I can be a hypocrite without knowing it.
I will miss my Finnish friend Lyydia and my various friends from other states in the US.
Is it possible to be jealous of random Korean males’ clothes on the street? I sometimes envy their style. Hahaha. It’s kind of sad. Sometimes I see a shirt some guy is wearing and I’m like, “oh I would wear that.” Or they’re carrying a bag of some sort and I wonder where they bought it. Hahahaha. I bought a guy’s jacket in Taiwan once but I realized the shoulder length was a bit too big for me.
People in America will always choose the things that kill them fastest,” he thought aloud. “Filterless cigarettes, pizza, Justin Bieber. “ Pausing to contemplate, he added, “Justin Bieber is a murderer.Ezra Miller, “The Most Misunderstood Kid In America? Ezra Miller’s Star is on the Rise” (via leighway)
(via femburton)
i love this song.
I have exactly 2 more weeks in Korea and I don’t really feel too sad because I kind of miss being in Seattle. I never thought I would say that much less feel that way. I do know that I will miss certain aspects of shopping here, but I do miss the prices back in the US. Some things are cheap while other things are expensive. I miss the availability of accessories here and how easy it is to buy something for your wardrobe. At the same time I don’t like the prices of the clothes here sometimes because of the quality. Some clothes are really cheap though and in general I like the style, though I like Japanese fashion a little bit more. It’s really uniform over here and I thought I wouldn’t see the wild side of Seoul.
I just had my presentation and the professor didn’t say anything so I’m kind of unsure what he thinks about it. hahaha.
I think I am alot happier than I was when I wrote lots of poetry. At the same time I wish I wrote more poetry. I think I was in a good point when I wrote poetry though. If that makes any sense. Sometimes I feel like the creative juices I had when I was younger have run dry and went somewhere else.
After going to church here and hearing about some churches back at home, I realized how conservative I really am. I am uncomfortable in those situations sometimes. Is it because I am spiritually immature? Perhaps. I feel like I always need to grow though. I don’t pray very easily with others and I feel like it should be. I don’t really know how charismatic elements are conjured and I know it comes from God somehow but I don’t know how comfortable I am with it because it isn’t pretty to me. I want God to be beautiful though. I am uncomfortable with manifestations and I am only getting used to people speaking in tongues. I think it is okay if it is done openly and without shame because it is for God’s glory. Otherwise I think it’s strange. Am I strange for thinking that? I am not totally sure.
All I know is that I love Jesus and I can only hope to continue to be faithful to him. I know I make mistakes and I can’t help it. I can only live through Jesus.
I think it would be awesome to go to Brazil someday. I know random, right? I also would like to go to Burma/Myanmar but it’s kind of unstable at the moment. Vietnam and Russia would be great too.
I’ve basically finished my goal list except for a couple things but I couldn’t go to the santa claus cafe because it disappeared. Things come and go so fast over here. If you see something you like here, like a bakery or a cafe it might be gone in a month if it doesn’t make any money so you better go there while you can.
Some reasons I didn’t like some Christian fellowships is because I felt like an outsider when I was a Christian myself. or it became boring. I hope that I will not feel like that anymore. I felt the presence of God but I felt that it didn’t reach me in such a high level. If that makes sense. haha.
I love TimTams. I heard you can even drink hot cocoa through a timtam. I’m not sure how you do it though.
눈이 오네, 10cm
1. Charlie brown cafe/Linus in Hongdae
2./3. College fellowship/Emmaus dinner buffet
4.Jeonju
It’s 8:32pm and I’ve been inside the dorms for the past two days. For some reason I think I write letters and blog posts when I’m supposed to be doing a paper. haha. My roommate is sleeping right now, but she’s been kind of sick lately. Usually she sleeps around 2am though. Next week is finals week over here at Yonsei and I have a bunch of papers due, but in general it’s not very stressful. I think this is the first Christmas away from home and it was somewhat on purpose because I wanted to experience it in a different country, but I’m not sure if it is really worth it. I think it’ll be okay though. Christmas in Korea is not really a family affair, but more akin to Valentines day. Actually I think every holiday is a couples day except for Chuseok. haha.
Over the weekend Jessica, Christine, and I went to Jeonju via the Visit Korea bus, which was awesome as usual. I’ve used the Visit Korea bus for all three destinations and the guy in charge of the bus recognized us. haha. I’ve been traveling alot with Jessica and I think she’s a great person to travel with. I’ve had some problems with other people in the past, so it’s really comfortable traveling with Jessica even in rough situations. haha. At the same time, we never encountered anything particularly hard, so I can’t say that is totally true.
Jeonju is known for its bibimbap/비빔밥 so we just ate 비빔밥 the whole time, though it was a little expensive. It was good nonetheless. I could eat 비빔밥 for a week straight before getting sick of it. Jeonju seems to be also known for Hanji or Korean paper and so we went to a hanji museum. We also went to Dukjin park and the hanok village. They even had hanji ties, shirts and socks. It was kind of expensive though so I didn’t buy that many. there are so many socks in korea… the land of socks. hahaha…
Recently I had some fellowship time with my bible study, which was kind of sad and then a final dinner with the college fellowship that I have been attending. It was alot of food, but so good.
The pictures above are from Jeonju.
I think I have to start planning my trip in Hong Kong sometime soon too.
Final Korean Goal list? updated 12/14/2011
watch 파수꾼, 티끌모아 로맨스
glasses
a book? MP? Empire of Angels? Hwangjini?
Gifts for peoplefacemasks got them for free, besides I have no money꼬꼬면
Places:
Sungshin 호호미욜 and Dam Dam near Sangsu stationYangjae, culture park too hard to find. Santa claus cafe does not exist anymoreMyeongdong for kpop not necessary Insadong, tofu/redbean place, a bag? souvenirs?
Maybe:
A tale of two sisters ost
Dried Persimmons
Sangsang madang again?
Azabu again?
Shinsadong again/apgujeong?
새벽집, That bimbimbap place in gangnam
Changdeok palace
Sungshikyung cd
FT island cd
Bus terminal for shoes? Myeongdong for shoes?
Dongdaemun
magazine
봉평 메밀 막국수 강남
Seoul Art Space Sindang (신당창작아케이드)
Bonnie’s kitchen (바니스) in Wangshimni
Doosan Art Center
Seongnagwon (성락원)
Hapjeong
Silkworm Experience Learning Center (누에체험 학습장)
1. Octopus in Busan
2. cat in the guesthouse in busan
3. in jeonju
4. Dukjin park, Jeonju
We went to Jeonju last weekend. I’m a little too tired to write about it, but I promise there will be a post coming up soon! It was my last trip out of Seoul and there’s only 2 weeks left until I leave Korea. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I do know that I am excited to go back to uw, but I am a bit conflicted.
I love this song. It’s by a korean indie band called Bluedawn and the title is 스무살, which means 20 years old.
Accent theme by Handsome Code
