It wasn't until after Christmas that Seoul received some frothy white snow. Luckily, Christmas lights are still up, so it isn't too late to get into the holiday spirit.

But the problem is: the snow doesn't stay white. Living in a big city with lots of cars, buses and motorcycles means that the snow quickly turns into something very, very ugly. It's black, slushy, muddy-looking and just plain gross. Thankfully, I brought my rain boots with me from home, so I can hop around without a worry in the world. But I do feel sorry for those women, who even still wear heels despite the icy sidewalks, because I know that black water slush is seeping into their pantyhose.

[A white Seoul]

And since we're on the topic of women wearing heels in the snow, I think it's absolutely ridiculous yet utterly fascinating at the same time that Korean women will not take their heels off for any reason. Whether it's to go to the grocery store for a carton of milk or to go to the gym, most women would rather be dead than caught wearing those ugly, duck-like, flat footwear that talentless females who can't balance on their toes all day decide to wear (ME). But where the utter fascination comes in is that in the last two days alone, I've seen three women fall flat on their behind (like what you'd see on America's Funniest Home Videos) because they decided that wearing 3-inch heels was a good idea for icy sidewalks. I just don't get it. Sometimes, it's ok to sacrifice beauty for the well-being of your body and poor tale bone, wouldn't you say?

Anyway, on Tuesday, Jamie and I went to a dog cafe, called Bau Haus, in Hongdae. It took us some time to find it and we made a few stops here and there, but we eventually got there. It was packed with kids and couples, so Jamie and I shared an ottoman to sit on, while we waited for an empty table. We waited for about 30 minutes, but it didn't seem that long as we practically cried about how cute the dogs were. Dog-owners can bring their pups to the cafe and let them roam free while visitors buy treats and feed the dogs. It's a great way to be entertained and to entertain the kids and the dogs. After a half hour, we decided to leave since it didn't look like we were going to get a table anytime soon, but we definitely plan on returning at a less busy hour. I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking ;)

[A neat cafe we stopped by for a quick bite to eat]

[A creepy mural of Michael Jackson and a monkey (?)
we passed by on the way to Bau Haus]


[At Bau Haus!]


[A giant but beautiful Husky]


[And the cutest of them all: this little puppy bulldog with chubby bottom fat ><]


[And the dogs that didn't want to be bothered]

Other than that, my week has been pretty mellow. I'm feeling the beginnings of a cold (you know, that darn little tickle at the back of the throat), so I'm just trying to lay low so it doesn't get worse. I've heard some pretty nasty coughs on the subway and I can just see the green germs floating around, waiting to capture their next victim.

I don't have to work on Friday because the show is doing a special segment in light of New Year's, so I've decided to spend the weekend with my dad in Busan. I'll be leaving tomorrow night, which means I may not have Internet access until I get back. If that's the case, I'm sure you won't suffer since I rarely update this blog anyway these days (oops!).

Hope you all have a wonderful New Year's! Have fun and stay safe! Bisous xoxo

Christmas Weekend

This is a little overdue and mostly everyone has moved on to the next event on the agenda: New Year's Day. But just in case you're curious about how I spent my Christmas, well, here ya go.

A friend of mine said today, "Basically, Christmas here sucks." It's true albeit blunt.

As mentioned in my previous post, it's like all the chaos of Christmas happens here too, but the fruits of one's labor (the family time, the down time, the delicious food) is completely absent. I was feeling some pressure to overcompensate missing Christmas at home by doing something extravagant here. Well, that thought lasted about 5 minutes before I got a headache thinking of ways to make Christmas feel like Christmas despite the missing elements of what makes Christmas Christmas (got that?).

Because it was beyond cold on Saturday, Jamie and I decided against ice skating & bike riding and instead, we went to Dongdaemun Market to buy some fabrics and other various supplies. Although most of the market was closed, there were a few stands that were open. After an hour there, we went to Samcheong-dong, which I've mentioned before as one of my favorite places in Seoul, to grab some lunch. We mistakenly went into an Italian restaurant off the main road. (Word to the wise: unless you have a specific recommendation from an expat on where to go for some good Italian, don't try it here. It's just sub-par...like always.)

After lunch, we walked around a bit but it was getting way too cold for our liking, so we headed back to my apartment for an evening of sewing, gluing and movie-watching. Four sewing projects and three movies later, we finally went to bed around 2 a.m. It was a really relaxing day, and in my honest opinion, it couldn't have been any better :)

[Those 2 pillow cases were sewed by hand by yours truly!]

[With the extra fabric, I made an iPod case]


[This is the result of being completely engrossed by Inception: a crooked pouch :(]

The next day, I met up with my cousins Jimmy and Ji-Hye for dinner and coffee. Again, it was beyond freezing, so we spent most of our time inside of Starbucks. As always, it was great catching up with them.

[We had Mexican food in Gangnam, which in my opinion, was eh-ok...nachos weren't bad]

[Tacos were so-so]


[Silliness...]




[There wasn't a single empty seat in there!]

By Monday morning, I was feeling pretty rested and content. Then, my day got a whole lot better after I received some very exciting news from my mom on my Facebook wall: "4 Calling Birds, 3 French Hens, 2 Turtle Doves, and a round trip ticket to Seoul for mom"

For those of you who don't know, I've been incessantly begging my mom to come to Korea for awhile now. But after her continuous refusal, I kind of gave up. But dad turned on the charm and pulled this little trick out of his sleeve, so we're all good to go now ;)

Hope you all had a beautiful weekend and a great first half to the last week of 2010!

How wonderful it is to have people love you

I'm not upset that I'm not at home with my family celebrating Christmas. But it's an odd phenomenon to experience Christmas in a country where the festivities are just as big of a deal, but the meaningful/emotional/intimate characteristic of Christmas is completely absent. Here, Christmas is a time to spend with your significant other. It isn't uncommon to ditch the family to hang out with a boyfriend or girlfriend. My friend even told me that she was told to not even step outside if she doesn't have a boyfriend to spend Christmas with...isn't that sad and so absolutely misconstrued?!

Anyway, at the beginning of this week, I was feeling a bit anxious in how I was going to spend my Christmas. Mark will be taking advantage of his rare vacation time by soaking the rays in Thailand for a week with one of his good friends, Nick. And, frankly, I refuse to heed the advice of the Koreans by staying indoors just because my significant other isn't in the same city as me. While going through a list of things I could do, I became slightly envious that my family will be in good 'ol California, where the sun isn't shining but the weather is definitely warmer. Then, they'll be off to Mammoth for some amazing skiing, complete with smores and hot chocolate in a toasty cabin. To be honest, I felt a little left out.

But, my friends, my family reminded me (yet again) why they are the best, the most loving and most amazing family I could ever hope for. They sent stockings to me, Mark and Jamie, full of winter goodies. If you've never received a stocking from my mom, you have no idea what kind of game she brings to stocking stuffers...she takes it to another level. In past years, I've received everything from foot powder to a digital camera (I'm just talking about the stocking, people!). This year was no different: honey, organic agave, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tea, canned jalapeno peppers, SPAM, dark chocolate and perhaps best of all, an herbal garden starting kit (SEE?!?!).

[My mom knows me well...Trader Joe's teas are my favorite!]




[What was inside the stocking]

And the best part is that I have two loving families. Mark's mom also sent us amazing stockings, reminding us that we're all spending the holidays together in spirit. In that stocking, I received a hand-knit scarf and hat, slippers, peanut butter cookies, jewelry, beauty supplies and ice cream-flavored Jelly Bellies :)

[The Jelly Bellies are missing for, um, obvious reasons ;)]

I was so touched by their love that I decided to eliminate this pressure of making Christmas "special." It'll happen naturally, regardless of what I decide to do, because my life is filled with love from the people directly around me and also on the other side of the world. The plan so far is to have an early breakfast with Mark before he heads off to the airport. Then, I'll meet up with Jamie, go to Dongdaemun market, come back and spend the day being creative and crafty. We have a few projects up our sleeves and we can't wait to share them with you when we're done.

We thought about taking a bike ride along the river, but with it being 5 degrees and all, I think that plan is being scrapped. There's a skating rink in Gwanghamun, but it's outdoors so I doubt we'll have enough courage (yes, I consider it courage to brave this ridiculous cold weather!) to do it. I'd love to bake throughout the day but unfortunately, I don't have an oven and there aren't any affordable toaster ovens that I can find in time. Oh well, we'll figure it out :)

I'm really excited for this coming week. I have a feeling it's going to be relaxing yet festive. And best of all, I know I'll be glowing from the love I received from home all week.

I hope all of you have a beautiful Christmas. Enjoy it and remember why we're celebrating Christmas in the first place.

Until next time, bisous xoxo...

Busy, busy, busy

I apologize for the lack in posts this week. Who knew the chaos of Christmas existed on the other side of the world too?! ;) It's all the same--last minute Christmas shopping, get-togethers, decorating, eating. But unlike home, I'm simultaneously working.

Next week shall be slower though. I'll be sure to catch you up on what's happening in my life, including the crazy weather here. Tomorrow is going to be 6 degrees (help me, God).

Anyway, happy holidays to all of you! I hope your Christmas is filled with love, laughter, warmth and pure joy. Merry Christmas.

The Concept of Time

No, I'm not intelligent enough nor foolishly courageous enough to try and explain what time is or why it exists. Simply, I want to state how interesting, complex and humorous time can be. I was told that our brains cannot grasp the phrase: the universe is endless. I believe that the vastness, the unknown, the lack of time are simply beyond our comprehension. If I try to comprehend it, I get lost in my own thoughts. In fact, every time I try to think about the infinite universe, I just think about meteors and the milky way, which reverts my thoughts to the candy bar and back to life on earth. Call me simple-minded ;)

Anyway, the reason why I'm getting into all of this is because these last few weeks could not go by any quicker. When I wake up and think, "What?! It's Thursday?! Holy moly..." that scares me. I don't want to live in Korea (let alone life!) going through the motions. I'm not dumb enough to think I have control over time, but I am optimistic enough to try and appreciate it, thus, making a particular moment, minute or series of minutes a permanent memory in my brain. I want to take something out of each day, imprint it in my memory, so that this day isn't just any day.

It's hard, I'll be the first to admit. I don't work full time, which is a blessing because I can change up my morning schedule any way I please. But I've quickly fallen into a habitual life:

1. Wake up at 8:30 (pretty good for not having to wake up early, huh?)
2. Make coffee, eat breakfast
3. Go to the gym
4. Read emails, read top headlines, read blogs, quiet time
   
5. Make lunch, eat lunch
   
6. Run an errand
7. Start researching the evening's radio show topic
8. Collect callers
9. Make something quick for dinner
10. Go to work
    
11. Return home
12. Watch a movie
13. Lights out

This has been the daily schedule for the majority of this month, with a few exceptions like running an errand before lunch as opposed to after. So here I am, smacking myself in the head because today I did the same thing. Thankfully, my trusty camera captures things that I tend to easily forget. So when I look back, he (my camera, of course) reminds me to appreciate the small happenings of the week. Here's what he captured this past week...

[A new painting by my brother and a
used-but-new-to-me guitar is worthy of a little 'hooray!']

[But a new painting, a used-but-new-to-me guitar AND
a new tree I named Ethel is worth a legitimate celebration!]


[A delicious meal for $10 near a homeless shelter, where I kinda feared for my life]


[A cafe with a house cat that was more than thrilled to see new customers]


[And I got a kiss!]


[An opportunity to prepare/cook lunch for my dad]


[Family time with my aging--but very cute--grandmother]


[A chilly morning at Namdaemun Market]


[Feeling not-so-protected by policemen who have to be younger than me]


[A chuckle-worthy example of overzealous Christmas stores in Seoul]

As fun as each of these events were, they're easy to forget as I go through the motions of my daily life in Seoul. Thank God my camera was there to save me from the drab life ;)

Until next time, bisous xoxo

Good-bye Autumn, Hello Winter

Last week was spent crafting, cooking, working, cleaning and enjoying the snow from inside :P I went to Dongdaemun Market, where I almost fainted from excitement as floor upon floor housed fabric, buttons, ribbon, tassels, lace, and so on for a really cheap price. I've been looking for a warehouse of sorts filled with crafting supplies for awhile now because my days are free and I'd love to take on new projects to make my apartment feel more like a home. I'm hoping to make some fun pillow cases for my otherwise plain bed, pretty frames to hang on my bare walls and cheeky cards to send to loved ones at home.

So far, I've done none of those. However, I did put together an inspiration board to hang up at my desk. I didn't want just a plain cork board, so I decided to get some fabric (stripes...what else?) to cover the cork board. Then, I bordered it with mustard yellow ribbon. I'm happy with the result--it does it's job while adding a little pop of color to my work space (which also serves as my sleeping and living space haha).

I also added a little Christmas spirit by hanging lights around my curtains and window. I love it so much though that I'm pretty sure I'll be leaving it well after Christmas. I've also been busy making Christmas cards to send home.

For two nights, I popped in the movie "Elf" into my laptop, made a cup of tea and crafted to my little heart's content :) It was fun, peaceful and very relaxing. Plus, I felt proud knowing that I was being a little economical and way more personal than just buying cards from the gajillion stationary stores in Seoul.

Here's a little taste of my week...

Other than that, my week was very mellow. Work is progressively getting better. Since I'm there every night, I have a lot of opportunities to improve. Each day is easier as I become more comfortable in front of the mic and allow myself to improvise a little more. I'll dedicate a blog post to my job very soon. Just gotta work up the energy to organize my thoughts on what I've learned so far. It's a lot but it's also very jumbled in my head right now!

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend. Stay warm out there!

Until next time, bisous xoxo

A group of Zelda's

Last Thursday marked the 2nd anniversary for TBS eFM, the English-speaking radio station that I work at. While the day went by pretty uneventful, Saturday was their 2nd anniversary concert, which I completely underestimated.

Mark's friend, Dave, came to Seoul for the weekend to visit. He has taught and lived in Busan for the last 8 months and this was his first time in Seoul. My boss asked if I wanted to bring any guests, so I figured I'd bring Mark and Dave. When Saturday evening rolled around, I warned them to keep their expectations low. I honestly imagined it was going to be in some small meeting room, where we'd all have awkward small talk and then go our separate ways a couple hours later.

Boy, was I wrong. We were told it was at Yonsei University's main auditorium, which got me thinking it might be just a tad bigger than I originally imagined. When we got to the campus, we asked a student to lead us to the main auditorium. Luckily, she was going to the same auditorium. This is how our conversation went:

Her: Oh, I'm going there too! You can follow me.

Us: Thanks

Me: Are you going for TBS eFM's concert?

Her: Yes! I waited in line all morning for tickets. They gave a few out this morning, so there was a very long line. (looking very worried) If you don't have tickets, you might not get in.

Me: Oh, I think we're ok. I work for TBS so I think we're on some kind of list.

Mark: Did you know she (pointing at me) is the voice of the nation for The Evening Show?

Her: Really?!? What's your name? I listen all the time!

Me: (hits Mark) No, I'm not. I do a very, very small segment called The Bigger Picture on The Evening Show.

Her: Oh wow, that is so cool....

As we walked up to the doors, Tim (the producer and my boss) greeted us and gave us our tickets. We parted ways with our helpful new friend and took our seats. I'm not exactly sure how to put into words what happened for the next 2 hours. Basically, Mark, Dave and I experienced a volatile emotional rollercoaster, experiencing utter joy, absolute shock, serious awkwardness, excitement, fear...everything.

Basically, the concert was a compilation of various K-Pop artists, traditional bands and even a Queen tribute band. Hands down, it was the most enriching cultural experience I've had in Korea. I got to watch girls scream and almost faint as famous bands like Shinee took the stage. I watched with absolute amazement & shock & horror as the 7 members of K-Pop band Touch danced to 90s-style choreography with unusual attire--imagine it: jeggings (jean leggings), knee-high boots, lambskin jackets. One guy even had lambskin wings attached to his jeggings. I mean, the level of tackiness, is unmatchable. They deserve some kind of award for that, right? ;)

[A reggae band, Mr. Kim & Windy City, opened the show]

[Our personal favorite, Touch...for obvious reasons.]


[Are you ready for this?]










[The Chorus of Ambassadors' Wives sang a world folksong medley]


[OVueen Band is a Queen tribute band...he seriously sounded like Freddie Mercury himself!]


[The stars of the night, Shinee, being interviewed by the hosts]




[And what makes K-Pop that much better? It's screaming, googly-eyed fans!]

As we left the auditorium, we heard two English women say, "They were like a group of Zelda's." Mark turned around and said, "Exactly!" and everyone laughed because not once was the name of the group mentioned. We just knew.

I'd have to say that was one of the best, most ridiculous experiences I've had. Seriously, K-Pop fanaticism takes "crazy" to a whole new level.

Until next time, bisous xoxo

Kitchen

In the last 3 weeks, I've been experimenting with different Korean recipes that I've found through blogs and just browsing online.

Although it's cheaper to go out and eat, I'm finding a lot of joy in just spending the night in, cooking up some Korean stew for the week. It's quite an adventure since I end up spending a lot of time at the grocery store looking for all the foreign ingredients (like dried seaweed or organic soba noodles). But once I get home and get cookin, I turn up the music, light a couple candles and let the deliciousness begin :)

I don't have an oven or a microwave so I'm quite limited in what I can make. But with a stove, there's plenty I can still make, such as kimchi soup, mandoo soup, seaweed soup...not to mention, there's a plethora of Korean dishes that require no cooking, just prepping.

[Bibim Guksu]

[Mandoo, or pot stickers]


[Gyeranmari, or egg omelet]


[Miyeok Guk, or seaweed soup]


[Yummy!]


[A delicious breakfast with a little positive reminder :)]

I've made other dishes, including kimchi soup and mandoo soup but unfortunately, my camera was dead so I couldn't document it. Oh well, next time!

Hope all of you had a lovely weekend. Until next time, bisous xoxo