Went to the Han River and got the opportunity to enjoy these Jet Skiers enjoying themselves
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To pull the metal splinter from my palm
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Seoul International Book Fair
21 Jun
The 2013 Annual Seoul International Book Fair
Yes, all you English Majors in the world out there, be very, very jealous. For today, I was placed into a HUGE auditorium filled with books, and authors, and publishers, and it just keeps going! It was reader’s heaven! So many books out there that I had never heard of (mostly because the vast majority were in foreign languages 😛 ).
First opening in 1995, the Seoul International Book Fair has been going strong ever since. Every year the Korea Publishers Assn. hosts the event, which this year is at the COEX Exhibition Hall from June 19- June 23. You can by your ticket at the ticket booth next to the exhibition hall, and then enter into a book-lover’s (and child’s) wonderland.
Instead of being one of those places where children with sticky Continue reading
Seoul Rose Garden Festival
20 JunI’m Back!
Yes, it’s me, the Procrastinating writer. Once again I fail to keep this up-to-date with my travels. But today, you are in luck! I come with fresh photos and news about my venture into the Seoul Rose Garden Festival today.
Seoul Rose Garden Festival!
What:
To clear up some confusion (I admit to being one of those bewildered), there are two names here to take into account. The Rose Theme Garden is the name of the location/garden. It is open 365 days a year and can be viewed at any time. It boasts of 20,000+ Roses in nearly 300+ varieties, but there are many other kinds of flowers as well. You can find dozens of little ponds, Continue reading
Happy Father’s Day!
16 JunI have been blessed over the last few weeks to see lots of examples of really great dads. So here, in honor of all those great men out there, are some of the pictures I’ve collected. ❤
Happy Father’s Day!
Every son quotes his father, in words and in deeds. ~Terri Guillemets
“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” -Sigmund Freud
““The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature.” –Antoine Prevost
“I talk and talk and talk, and I haven’t taught people in 50 years what my father taught by example in one week.” –Mario Cuomo
“Fathers, be good to your daughters. You are the god and the weight of her world.”- John Mayor
“Don’t wait to make your son a great man – make him a great boy.” –anon,
“They say that from the instant he lays eyes on her, a father adores his daughter. Whoever she grows up to be, she is always to him that little girl in pigtails. She makes him feel like Christmas. In exchange, he makes a secret promise not to see the awkwardness of her teenage years, the mistakes she makes or the secrets she keeps.” –Anon
To pull the metal splinter from my palm
my father recited a story in a low voice.
I watched his lovely face and not the blade.
Before the story ended, he’d removed
the iron sliver I thought I’d die from.
I can’t remember the tale,
but hear his voice still, a well
of dark water, a prayer.
And I recall his hands,
two measures of tenderness
he laid against my face
–Li Young Lee
Leaving to Come Home
15 Jun
I’ve never been to an unfamiliar place. It’s true. In spite of all my travels and the many changes that I ran into along the way, I always feel right at home when visiting new lands. Admittedly, I’ve never been to the heart of wild Africa. Or the jungles of South America. Really, I’ve only been to pretty advanced locations. But still, when asking me about a foreign country, people always seem surprised when I say it was easy to adapt to.
They point to the difference in religion, food, and styles of clothing. And then comes the big sentence: “But the language is different!” they respond as though this summarizes everything. And to them, it does. That little change in means of speaking makes foreign countries seem like planets in a far away galaxy. Something exciting and exotic, but entirely unfamiliar. And to go there is to enter the land of OZ, where roads are made of yellow and everything is new and (shudder) different.
So I’ve taken to explaining it like this:
- They use silverware for their food.
- They have a special love for fluffy pillows.
- They heat their houses in the winter, and use fans/air conditioning in the summer.
- They drink milk to please their mothers. Continue reading
They Tell Me I’m Beautiful
14 JunWell, I hate to have to tell you this, but I can never, ever live in Korea. It’s impossible. It’ll never work. For one thing, I’d never stop getting distracted by so many cute guys. And real gentlemen too! I fell full onto a dude on the subway today (and I’m no lightweight) and he didn’t say anything even remotely close to Ooomph. Instead he had me hold onto his shoulder straps for his book bag and talked with me the rest of the trip. Smiling. With gorgeous eyes. Did I mention he was hot?!?
See! I told you I would get sidetracked. Back to what I was saying. I just cannot make a home here because my head would be so big there would be no living with me. Seriously. I was stopped 6+ times today (no exaggeration) for people wanting to touch my hair (I’m blonde in a sea of Black-headed people) and tell me how “shiny” and “yeoppuda” (pretty in Korean). That or they wanted to feel my skin (I’m pretty much pure German and extremely fair) to tell me how “pure” and “white” and “oohhhh” it was. People kept telling me how beautiful I was all day long. And let me tell you, boy did I eat it up. Kinda put a bounce in my step and I can’t stop smiling. That would never happen in the US.
I even got felt up! I went to the Dragon Hill Spa today (where you are naked in the women’s rooms) and wasn’t looking while putting my stuff in the locker. Suddenly this hand grabs on to parts better left unmentioned. I look down and see the cutest kid. A 1-2 year old boy had gotten away from his mom and was staring back and forth between me and her. He had a hold of me and just wouldn’t let go. 0_0 I think it’s cause I”m blonde and he’s not used to it? The Mother died of embarrassment. I’m pretty sure she’s still red in the face. So was I. Talk about Awkward! But the grannies in the room cracked up and couldn’t stop rolling on the floor laughing. At least he blew me kisses goodbye so he’s not a total grab and run. Lol!
10 Things I Will Miss About Japan (and 1 Thing I Won’t)
25 MayPage 2
6. Vending Machines
Cigarette Vending Machine
Holy cow, there is just no way to describe all of the things you can get in vending machines here in Japan. Continue reading
10 Things I Will Miss About Japan (and 1 Thing I Won’t)
25 MayPage 1
Is it possible to fall in love with a country in just two weeks? In some ways, Japan is very similar to the US. Every other block has the old, familiar sight of a Starbucks, McDonald’s, Seven-Eleven Convenience Store, and bus stops. Go to a store and you’ll find Pringles and Doritos chips, Tide laundry soap, Dove shampoo, and Apple computers. Afternoon tv shows tend to be some serious drama that is reminiscent of US soap operas. Despite the language barrier, you can always still recognize that look from a Japanese mother towards her child that means innately “sit still.”
Recognize this company? Take a look at your local TV store!
But at the same time, there is something so unique, so different about life in Japan. So here are 10 things Continue reading
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Psy(chology): Not the True Korea
19 AprPsy(chology): Not the True Korea
The Singer Psy
Take a moment and go check out this article: “Psy’s new track ‘Gentleman’ Banned in South Korea. Yep, that’s right Psy has made another video. Brings back traumatic memories of a certain song being stuck in your head for days when every radio, club, restaurant, and Wal-Mart was airing it.
The first video “Gangnam Style” was so popular, it drove searches for South Korea through the roof. I was living in the Gangnam (aka Kangnam) area when the song first came out. Previously, when friends asked where I was, I had to explain carefully where Korea was; trying to explain “South” Korea usually was more than they cared to get. But suddenly, everyone know where the country was. Korea was popular, the entire nation Continue reading
“She was free in her wildness. She was a wanderess, a drop of free water. She belonged to no man and to no city” ~ Roman Payne
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Deceptively Blonde 