Actually, I am studying now, because tonight I have an appointment with a photographer at Hongik to join him doing some shootings at Jane's Groove, my favorite Seoul Club. I am drinking 'ice coffee' now... not bought at Starbuck's or Coffee Bean, home made... ehum..... Just pour some cold water from the water tap half way into the bottle, put some Tasterschoice instant coffee powder - especially the one with the Daniel Henney face on it - and "SHAKE it.. shake it shake it BABY.... " . In less than 1 minute, I have a delicious instant ice coffee, without having to walk more than 10 steps from my desk :).
Result? I am feeling like working in overdrive again, I always get that from coffee when I have to 'perform' something of have to stay awake. But that's not the only reason. Today I received some wonderful news from a close friend and I just feel so happy for him or her. Feeling so many good vibes lately that I really need a way to let it all out... PFFFT....
Anyway, have to keep my head in the books now. Within two weeks are the final exams. And this weekend I am going on a road trip with some friends, I am really looking forward to be outside of Seoul for a while :).
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Week 6 : week of celebration
Girls Day Out - Buddha's Birthday
On Monday May 12, we had a day off because of the celebration of Buddha's Birthday. Jippie hey :).. I was going to meet Ye-in 예인 and Sarra near Insadong 인사동. She asked me if I was interested to see a traditional music performance where a friend of her was performing on a traditional Korean flute called 'daegum' 대금. Three other ladies of the company played the 'gayageum' 가야금 - a 12-string instrument, one was playing on a two-sided drum called 'changgu' 장구, while another one was singing. One song at least I recognize was the 'Arirang' 아리랑 - Korea's most famous folk song - performed in a more contemporary, almost 'fusion', way...
After the performance Ye-in led us through some side streets of Insadong, where you can find some of the most nicest coffee shops, restaurants, eateries ever :). The streets were not so crowded as the main street of Insadong, the surrounding was picturesque also because of the few remaining traditional houses in this area...
We stopped at a traditional 'eatery' where I had one of the most 'heavenly delicious' porridge EVER 단팥죽! It was the specialty of the house, made with red beans, rice cake, chestnuts, ginko nut and cinnamon... The combination of sweetness with saltiness was sublime.... Hmmmmm.MMMM... for the ones who don't know : I am fond of beans too...
After the lunch, we strolled around continuing our sight seeing and visited the Buddhist Temple in Insadong where the celebration ceremony was held for Buddha's Birthday. Under a blanket of colorful lanterns, hundreds of people gathered to speak to one god. There was a very cute little girl - Sarra calls her 'Princess' - playing around in her Hanbok... I borrowed the pictures from Sarra's facebook, because my camera ran out of battery, but I did took the picture of that cute girl while kneeling down with Sarra's camera... and told the little girl how beautiful she was "예뻐... 너무 예뻐" - which she clearly understood, because she posed like a pro :)
Although I am not a 'believer', I always get touched by the sight of so many people gathering together and to speak to one 'god', whoever that might be. It's just amazing, how you can feel the spiritual atmosphere, when everybody's heart and mind is talking to 'one person'... I think, the spiritual atmosphere, is what makes religion, a religion... no matter what kind of religion we are talking about... 'Kindred spirits'. Hear me, being an atheist, talking about religion... ;).
And now about a whole different kind of religion - that of the consumer minded coffee... We ended the evening with a very nice evening meal where Kristina joined us - no pictures alas - and an at least 2 hour family stories chat at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at level 5....
We could take the latest subway to Hoegi station where I had to catch a taxi back to my dormitory. On our way back, when the last train was about to leave, we met a completely confused Japanese guy who could not speak Korean, nor English, so with the little Japanese I still have in my head - because I am thinking Korean now - me and Sarra tried to explain him that there was one last train left to his final destination. I don't know if he got it. While our train was leaving, I gestured something at the window with my hands and arms 'next train - ok' on which he reacted even more confused than he already was.... So I wonder now, where he finally ended up that night...
Kyunghee University Festival and IFCC party
On Monday May 12, we had a day off because of the celebration of Buddha's Birthday. Jippie hey :).. I was going to meet Ye-in 예인 and Sarra near Insadong 인사동. She asked me if I was interested to see a traditional music performance where a friend of her was performing on a traditional Korean flute called 'daegum' 대금. Three other ladies of the company played the 'gayageum' 가야금 - a 12-string instrument, one was playing on a two-sided drum called 'changgu' 장구, while another one was singing. One song at least I recognize was the 'Arirang' 아리랑 - Korea's most famous folk song - performed in a more contemporary, almost 'fusion', way...
After the performance Ye-in led us through some side streets of Insadong, where you can find some of the most nicest coffee shops, restaurants, eateries ever :). The streets were not so crowded as the main street of Insadong, the surrounding was picturesque also because of the few remaining traditional houses in this area...
We stopped at a traditional 'eatery' where I had one of the most 'heavenly delicious' porridge EVER 단팥죽! It was the specialty of the house, made with red beans, rice cake, chestnuts, ginko nut and cinnamon... The combination of sweetness with saltiness was sublime.... Hmmmmm.MMMM... for the ones who don't know : I am fond of beans too...
After the lunch, we strolled around continuing our sight seeing and visited the Buddhist Temple in Insadong where the celebration ceremony was held for Buddha's Birthday. Under a blanket of colorful lanterns, hundreds of people gathered to speak to one god. There was a very cute little girl - Sarra calls her 'Princess' - playing around in her Hanbok... I borrowed the pictures from Sarra's facebook, because my camera ran out of battery, but I did took the picture of that cute girl while kneeling down with Sarra's camera... and told the little girl how beautiful she was "예뻐... 너무 예뻐" - which she clearly understood, because she posed like a pro :)
Although I am not a 'believer', I always get touched by the sight of so many people gathering together and to speak to one 'god', whoever that might be. It's just amazing, how you can feel the spiritual atmosphere, when everybody's heart and mind is talking to 'one person'... I think, the spiritual atmosphere, is what makes religion, a religion... no matter what kind of religion we are talking about... 'Kindred spirits'. Hear me, being an atheist, talking about religion... ;).And now about a whole different kind of religion - that of the consumer minded coffee... We ended the evening with a very nice evening meal where Kristina joined us - no pictures alas - and an at least 2 hour family stories chat at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at level 5....
We could take the latest subway to Hoegi station where I had to catch a taxi back to my dormitory. On our way back, when the last train was about to leave, we met a completely confused Japanese guy who could not speak Korean, nor English, so with the little Japanese I still have in my head - because I am thinking Korean now - me and Sarra tried to explain him that there was one last train left to his final destination. I don't know if he got it. While our train was leaving, I gestured something at the window with my hands and arms 'next train - ok' on which he reacted even more confused than he already was.... So I wonder now, where he finally ended up that night...
Kyunghee University Festival and IFCC party
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Post mid-term activities : weekend 5 - 6
Ahum... yeah, mid-term is already two weeks ago and I got the results back from the tests and discussed it with the teacher this week: not particularly good, but not bad either... but I can always do better :). I am satisfied with the grades, because I am still lacking in some skills that can be improved. AJA FIGHTING!! Week 7 of this spring semester already passed, 3 weeks to go. I am feeling that 'the end' is coming soon and on Thursday June 12, we have our final exam... Which is already in less than 3 weeks...
I am looking forward to see my husband very soon, he's coming over for holidays next month, on the other hand I will be sad too to leave Korea and to say goodbye to a few good friends - Korean and non Korean - that I made. But it's not time to think about that yet, because we will still have some 2 weeks left after my finals to go out with my friends AND husband. I think it will be a good break for him too, because he doesn't have so much holidays in the USA.... Hmmm... I think it will be great, when he's here :). Think everybody will like him too... yeah, it will be good.
Because there is so much I want to tell, I better just post some pictures with some comments... Here we go...
Karaoke with the Japanese from my class
After mid-term exam we went celebrating with my Japanese class mates with a good dinner, beer....
We had some delicious Japanese-Korean (?) fusion dishes, especially the tuna was heavenly =).
AND NOREABANG 노래방 !!! We sang in English, Japanese and Korean. I just realized, I forgot about all of my Japanese because there's too much Korean in my head... making me confused all the time, especially when I switch languages often.
To be honest, I am not really a good singer, but I am not too shy to take a microphone either, because it's fun, to give the best of yourself while trying to be the newest 'Korean Idol' ;p. BUT although I can't sing, I really ROCK with my tambourine. I really do.... Kching, Kching, Kchingeling :))
Hi Seoul World Festival - Saturday
Two weeks ago I went to an 'international culture' festival near the city hall with Yuka 유카 from my class. That day, the weather was really nice and the atmosphere at he festival was really good. There were music and dance performances from other countries and most important of all : FOOD stands with food from all over the world. I didn't find a Belgium food stand, though...
Somewhere between the food stands, a very passionate tango performance was held which swept the heart away of many Korean ladies... The female dancer really flew through the air, as light as a feather, although she has the typical Latin American body curbs.
There were some weird people walking around too... hahaha, just some street performers.
Close to the festival, there's small creek where you can wander around. It was a really nice walk there, vibrant atmosphere because of children playing with the water, couples walking 'romantically' hand in hand... Yep, spring is in the air.
There was also some kind of Korean pop group performing, but I don't know them. Actually I don't really know much about Korean pop songs, I only know some from soundtracks of Korean dramas, but even then, it's hard for me to remember the artist's name. Anyway, it's a quite famous boys band... Maybe someone can guess from the photo...
We also attended a pansori 판소리 performance on the streets. I actually liked this performance more than the boys band act. I was nice, sitting at the border of the pavement under a nice afternoon sun, between other Koreans, listening to the drums and the voices of the singers. The lead singer was quite funny, I think, because I didn't really understand all that she was saying, but the public interacted and laughed a few times....
Later in the afternoon, we went back to the main stage of the festival, where we sat in the grass and enjoyed some jazz music while the sun was disappearing behind the buildings. Hmmm... I really liked the atmosphere, it was magic and relaxing. I really felt happy and blessed for being there listening to wonderful music, brought by people with passion for their act. I hope, one day I will find the 'thing' that I am looking for and throw my whole heart in it...
Hi Seoul World Festival - Sunday - Silk worm soup with beer
The next day, I went to the Hi Seoul World Festival again, but with some Korean friends - 경주 Kyeong-ju and 상율 Sang-yul - and Heli and some Japanese people that Sang-yul knows. I met them through Heli because they also attend Kyunghee University. I first met 경주 in the second week in Korea, at the roof of Crimson House when we had a little drink in the evening and 상율 I met him at the roof too, three weeks ago when we had our Crimson House Spring Party. Within time, I got to know them better and I really like those guys. They are very good and kind hearted people, funny, sometimes a little bit crazy, but that's ok :p. It's good to know some Korean friends. Although language is sometimes a problem, in one way or the other, we understand each other while communicating. Similar spirits.
The evening spectacle was actually not much more than 'spectacle' and nice sceneries, flickering and flashing lights and colors everywhere. Because it was the last night of the festival, the plaza was extremely crowded but the atmosphere was very nice. The festival ended around 10 o'clock, way TOOOO early so a few of us went back to Anam-dong to have a beer and chat at a pub. I sat next to Kibashi-san, a Japanese man studying Korean, about the same age as my late father. I really enjoyed talking to him, maybe because he's older - probably wiser - and has double more life experience than I have... His Korean is very good, I hope to get at his level one day, but that would take another 3 semesters in Korea....
There I ate for the second time the 'silk worm pupae' bondegi 번데기 but this time in 'soup' version. I must say in the soup it looked and tasted much better, little bit spicy and with some veggies in it, almost 'delicious' - can I say that about insects?
I am looking forward to see my husband very soon, he's coming over for holidays next month, on the other hand I will be sad too to leave Korea and to say goodbye to a few good friends - Korean and non Korean - that I made. But it's not time to think about that yet, because we will still have some 2 weeks left after my finals to go out with my friends AND husband. I think it will be a good break for him too, because he doesn't have so much holidays in the USA.... Hmmm... I think it will be great, when he's here :). Think everybody will like him too... yeah, it will be good.
Because there is so much I want to tell, I better just post some pictures with some comments... Here we go...
Karaoke with the Japanese from my class
After mid-term exam we went celebrating with my Japanese class mates with a good dinner, beer....
We had some delicious Japanese-Korean (?) fusion dishes, especially the tuna was heavenly =).
AND NOREABANG 노래방 !!! We sang in English, Japanese and Korean. I just realized, I forgot about all of my Japanese because there's too much Korean in my head... making me confused all the time, especially when I switch languages often.To be honest, I am not really a good singer, but I am not too shy to take a microphone either, because it's fun, to give the best of yourself while trying to be the newest 'Korean Idol' ;p. BUT although I can't sing, I really ROCK with my tambourine. I really do.... Kching, Kching, Kchingeling :))
Hi Seoul World Festival - Saturday
Two weeks ago I went to an 'international culture' festival near the city hall with Yuka 유카 from my class. That day, the weather was really nice and the atmosphere at he festival was really good. There were music and dance performances from other countries and most important of all : FOOD stands with food from all over the world. I didn't find a Belgium food stand, though...
Somewhere between the food stands, a very passionate tango performance was held which swept the heart away of many Korean ladies... The female dancer really flew through the air, as light as a feather, although she has the typical Latin American body curbs.
There were some weird people walking around too... hahaha, just some street performers.
Close to the festival, there's small creek where you can wander around. It was a really nice walk there, vibrant atmosphere because of children playing with the water, couples walking 'romantically' hand in hand... Yep, spring is in the air.
There was also some kind of Korean pop group performing, but I don't know them. Actually I don't really know much about Korean pop songs, I only know some from soundtracks of Korean dramas, but even then, it's hard for me to remember the artist's name. Anyway, it's a quite famous boys band... Maybe someone can guess from the photo...
We also attended a pansori 판소리 performance on the streets. I actually liked this performance more than the boys band act. I was nice, sitting at the border of the pavement under a nice afternoon sun, between other Koreans, listening to the drums and the voices of the singers. The lead singer was quite funny, I think, because I didn't really understand all that she was saying, but the public interacted and laughed a few times....
Later in the afternoon, we went back to the main stage of the festival, where we sat in the grass and enjoyed some jazz music while the sun was disappearing behind the buildings. Hmmm... I really liked the atmosphere, it was magic and relaxing. I really felt happy and blessed for being there listening to wonderful music, brought by people with passion for their act. I hope, one day I will find the 'thing' that I am looking for and throw my whole heart in it...
Hi Seoul World Festival - Sunday - Silk worm soup with beer
The next day, I went to the Hi Seoul World Festival again, but with some Korean friends - 경주 Kyeong-ju and 상율 Sang-yul - and Heli and some Japanese people that Sang-yul knows. I met them through Heli because they also attend Kyunghee University. I first met 경주 in the second week in Korea, at the roof of Crimson House when we had a little drink in the evening and 상율 I met him at the roof too, three weeks ago when we had our Crimson House Spring Party. Within time, I got to know them better and I really like those guys. They are very good and kind hearted people, funny, sometimes a little bit crazy, but that's ok :p. It's good to know some Korean friends. Although language is sometimes a problem, in one way or the other, we understand each other while communicating. Similar spirits.
The evening spectacle was actually not much more than 'spectacle' and nice sceneries, flickering and flashing lights and colors everywhere. Because it was the last night of the festival, the plaza was extremely crowded but the atmosphere was very nice. The festival ended around 10 o'clock, way TOOOO early so a few of us went back to Anam-dong to have a beer and chat at a pub. I sat next to Kibashi-san, a Japanese man studying Korean, about the same age as my late father. I really enjoyed talking to him, maybe because he's older - probably wiser - and has double more life experience than I have... His Korean is very good, I hope to get at his level one day, but that would take another 3 semesters in Korea....
There I ate for the second time the 'silk worm pupae' bondegi 번데기 but this time in 'soup' version. I must say in the soup it looked and tasted much better, little bit spicy and with some veggies in it, almost 'delicious' - can I say that about insects?
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Breakfast intermezzo
Sunday morning, it is silent on the streets. It has been raining all morning and the sky has decided to take a break from crying... I have had an incredible week - totally the contrast of last week during mid-terms. So much new impressions again, got to know people a lot better this week, but did not get enough sleep. Reason for this is that there is too much going on in and around Seoul, still have to find time to update everything. I am living a Korean's busy life :).
It will be hard to go back to the silent life I had in the States, but I will figure things out in one way or the other. Meanwhile, I just enjoyed may 'Fruit & Fibre' breakfast that I bought on Friday. I didn't eat much yesterday... Ah yes, and I went hiking again in Bukhansan National Park, but in a different area as last time. It was BEAUTIFUL.... and I reached a mountain top again :).
I have to be studying now. Today, in the afternoon, I have a friend's birthday to celebrate. She's an exchange student from France, Tunisian backgrounds, S, and I really like her (I can only write nice things about her, otherwise SHE WOULD KILL ME, haha ;p). This week, I got to know her a lot better while she was telling stories about her youth, family, small anecdotes in her life. I like hearing stories of other people's life. Most of the time I think they are fascinating. By listening to stories, you get a better idea of the kind of person, the values that she or he stands for, their ideas on life in general...
Hmmm... anyway, I will try to do an update about this week soon...
It will be hard to go back to the silent life I had in the States, but I will figure things out in one way or the other. Meanwhile, I just enjoyed may 'Fruit & Fibre' breakfast that I bought on Friday. I didn't eat much yesterday... Ah yes, and I went hiking again in Bukhansan National Park, but in a different area as last time. It was BEAUTIFUL.... and I reached a mountain top again :).
I have to be studying now. Today, in the afternoon, I have a friend's birthday to celebrate. She's an exchange student from France, Tunisian backgrounds, S, and I really like her (I can only write nice things about her, otherwise SHE WOULD KILL ME, haha ;p). This week, I got to know her a lot better while she was telling stories about her youth, family, small anecdotes in her life. I like hearing stories of other people's life. Most of the time I think they are fascinating. By listening to stories, you get a better idea of the kind of person, the values that she or he stands for, their ideas on life in general...
Hmmm... anyway, I will try to do an update about this week soon...
Friday, May 09, 2008
Post mid-term
YEAAAHYYYY... I am glad to live a 'normal' life again... We had mid-term exam in listening, reading, writing and speaking this morning - thanks for the mental support by the way :). I have been studying for about a week for this, actually non stop boooOOOOOring - and nothing much happened this week, maybe the most interesting to tell you about was that I went for shopping for a sports bra on Tuesday and the kind of cup noodles that I ate. Meanwhile during morning this week we still had class till 1 pm and in the afternoon back in our little rooms to study.
To be honest, the exam was not the kind of exam that I was expecting. We had about 40 minutes for every skill and it already went wrong with the first part, because I didn't have enough time to read and answer all the questions. Actually it is also the first time that I took an exam in the 'Asian' way, or should I say 'Korean' way : you have to perform a lot in a very short time and under quite some time pressure. This is really the first time I experienced something like that when trying to think of some answers, the teacher kind of 'ripped' the paper out of my hands, leaving some space 'blanco'... It's quite funny though... next time I have to read a bit faster I think. The same with the listening and the writing part of the exam. Not enough time. I liked the writing part the most, because I like to write. And during writing I find it easier to use my grammar than during speaking. During writing my mind comes to rest and everything becomes clear and very structural.. ... For those that don't know yet : I am a GRAMMAR FREAK... whoahahahahaha :)))).
For the speaking part we had to draw a number to see with whom we were going to have a roll play with and after that we had an interview. It went quite okay, not very good and not very bad, I just used basic grammar and things that I knew. I am still not good in making long sentences with complex grammar structures, but at least I can use some conjunctive particles to connect sentences.
While talking, I didn't really feel nervous. We had another teacher for the oral exam, and he was very friendly and kind. Felt like talking to a 'friend'. For the interview I had to explain about my backgrounds - my story of the Netherlands, Belgium and USA for the.... 100 th time here in Korea. And talk about my husband and what kind of person he is, about myself and what I am going to do this weekend after the exams......
Weekend plans
So, after the exams I hung around with the Japanese ladies - again, Eriko and Naoko, Yuka and Yuka - yeah it seems that I feel more comfortable among them than with the 'real' Chinese ladies from my class and by the way they the Chinese are much younger like early twenties and less, while as the Japanese ladies are more my age... Should I say... late 20's or should I already change the first digit into one more ;p... We went for lunch and the Ukrainian guy from our class joined us too. It was quite funny, because he wanted to start learning 'bad words' in Japanese, like he knows some now in Korean.
Waaaah... I was so happy and releaved that we can live a normal life again. Some other thing : I still did not get out of Seoul yet, so it is really time for me to figure out some travel plans with or without people to explore the rest of Korea.
(Just mobbed my room with a 30 by 30 cm small towel - those who know me know that I am a mess during exam period).
Tonight we are going to have dinner together, finally some beer and than probably my first 'noraebang' 노래방 (karaoke) in Korea. I really look forward to it. To relax. And enjoy. And tomorrow, Saturday, there is still the rest of the 'Hi Seoul Festival' to explore. I am going with Yuka from my class to attend some dance performance. And Sunday I am going to go on a 'field trip' with my class to a temple in Insadong... And Monday probably a music performance of a friend of my 'doumi' from Kyunghee University. Hmmm... it looks like I will be enjoying music during this whole weekend. 좋겠다 !!!!!
And you all know... how much I like music and dance = ^ ^ =
To be honest, the exam was not the kind of exam that I was expecting. We had about 40 minutes for every skill and it already went wrong with the first part, because I didn't have enough time to read and answer all the questions. Actually it is also the first time that I took an exam in the 'Asian' way, or should I say 'Korean' way : you have to perform a lot in a very short time and under quite some time pressure. This is really the first time I experienced something like that when trying to think of some answers, the teacher kind of 'ripped' the paper out of my hands, leaving some space 'blanco'... It's quite funny though... next time I have to read a bit faster I think. The same with the listening and the writing part of the exam. Not enough time. I liked the writing part the most, because I like to write. And during writing I find it easier to use my grammar than during speaking. During writing my mind comes to rest and everything becomes clear and very structural.. ... For those that don't know yet : I am a GRAMMAR FREAK... whoahahahahaha :)))).
For the speaking part we had to draw a number to see with whom we were going to have a roll play with and after that we had an interview. It went quite okay, not very good and not very bad, I just used basic grammar and things that I knew. I am still not good in making long sentences with complex grammar structures, but at least I can use some conjunctive particles to connect sentences.
While talking, I didn't really feel nervous. We had another teacher for the oral exam, and he was very friendly and kind. Felt like talking to a 'friend'. For the interview I had to explain about my backgrounds - my story of the Netherlands, Belgium and USA for the.... 100 th time here in Korea. And talk about my husband and what kind of person he is, about myself and what I am going to do this weekend after the exams......
Weekend plans
So, after the exams I hung around with the Japanese ladies - again, Eriko and Naoko, Yuka and Yuka - yeah it seems that I feel more comfortable among them than with the 'real' Chinese ladies from my class and by the way they the Chinese are much younger like early twenties and less, while as the Japanese ladies are more my age... Should I say... late 20's or should I already change the first digit into one more ;p... We went for lunch and the Ukrainian guy from our class joined us too. It was quite funny, because he wanted to start learning 'bad words' in Japanese, like he knows some now in Korean.
Waaaah... I was so happy and releaved that we can live a normal life again. Some other thing : I still did not get out of Seoul yet, so it is really time for me to figure out some travel plans with or without people to explore the rest of Korea.
(Just mobbed my room with a 30 by 30 cm small towel - those who know me know that I am a mess during exam period).
Tonight we are going to have dinner together, finally some beer and than probably my first 'noraebang' 노래방 (karaoke) in Korea. I really look forward to it. To relax. And enjoy. And tomorrow, Saturday, there is still the rest of the 'Hi Seoul Festival' to explore. I am going with Yuka from my class to attend some dance performance. And Sunday I am going to go on a 'field trip' with my class to a temple in Insadong... And Monday probably a music performance of a friend of my 'doumi' from Kyunghee University. Hmmm... it looks like I will be enjoying music during this whole weekend. 좋겠다 !!!!!
And you all know... how much I like music and dance = ^ ^ =
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Mid-terms and the art of seduction
Just got back from class... it was raining buckets of water. For a minute or 15. And then, it stopped, as sudden as it came. I am enjoying my kimbap and have to start on my triangular sushi bun. I just called to the USA because Sam - a childhood friend - is in Silicon Valley for a few days and he's having dinner with my hub... Guess where? At a Korean restaurant 'Tutti'모두랑 that we like to visit often, because my Korean teacher told me it is one of the best around in the area where we live. Hmmm... it's funny, a lot of things in my life now are related to Korea... I would have never thought this one year ago, when I was still living in Belgium, working.
As I look back, a lot of things have changed in the passed year, not to even mention a shorter period, a half year... From Belgium to USA, from USA to Korea and somewhere in between I have been back in Belgium for two weeks... I feel like belonging to everywhere... and nowhere...
Seduction
This week I am having my mid term exam on Friday. I am studying now, but yesterday I went shopping for some sports clothing because I ran out of sports socks and I really needed a sport bra. Went to an outlet shopping mall on the subway line a few stops before Dobongsan. Actually I wasn't planning to stay there so long, because I still wanted to study, but of course, so much choice and things to see... I ended up with the thing that I was looking for : jogging equipment only :).
I also did some groceries shopping at the underground supermarket, which was a little bit cheaper than the Family Mart or groceries story in neighborhood that I frequent daily. I came back with 5 new cup noodles, 2 big packs of cereals, whole grain cookies, dark chocolate,... all power food for studying AND instant COFFEE with the face of Daniel Henney on it - my husband was really LOL when he heard I finally got seduced to buy Daniel Henney.. I have seen this coffee in the Hankook Market in Sunnyvale (USA) as well but I never bought it...
There was a period that I really liked him - or shall I say I just like his looks, shallow, shallow that I am ;) - especially in the Korean drama 'My name is Kim Sam-soon' but after I saw some other movies of him, I didn't really think that well of him as an actor. But admit it, he is really handsome and has a nice body, but still... not really good actor I think. Sorry for the fans :(. And as we are talking about Korean actors anyway, I like Jae Hee and Bae Yong-joon because I like the roll they played in some movies. I especially like Jae Hee's play in one of my favorite Kim Ki-duk's movie 'Bin Jip'. The movie and theme is very touching, and the soundtrack as well. The director even used the song of a Belgian female artist, Natacha Atlas. Enchanting music. Enchanting movie.
For those who don't know, Kim Ki-duk is my favorite Korean movie director. His movies might not be very commercial, but I just think he has a good talent to put human interaction, without too much words, on screen... I even remember that in some of his movies, the actors barely spoke, or didn't even spoke at all... So not really the best movies to upgrade your Korean, but a must for those who love more alternative cinema.
A funny intermezzo by the way... My doumi - aka my Korean speaking partner, I uploaded her picture for the guys - she met Kim Ki-duk not so long time ago, while watching a movie somewhere in Seoul. She was sitting somewhere behind him but she was too shy to ask him his signature... Hmmmm... I would have done it immediately :). And he was accompanied by a much more younger lady, who might be his girlfriend. Food for the Korean gossip press :p.
Running under the stars
And yesterday, I went running again... around midnight again. On my own again. I like running alone. Because it gives you the opportunity to think and not think. There were still people at the play field : a young couple doing some 'young couple' things while sitting on a bench. They left and then two slightly drunk men, sitting on a bench. I don't really know if they were sometimes talking to me, because I heard them speaking loudly every time I passed their bench, but tried to avoid them while having my music plugged into my ears. It was a good run. I really needed it. Had to sort some things out or just needed some air after my study.
I think it was passed 2 o'clock when I got to bed. I slept well. And of course, very small eyes this very morning ;p
As I look back, a lot of things have changed in the passed year, not to even mention a shorter period, a half year... From Belgium to USA, from USA to Korea and somewhere in between I have been back in Belgium for two weeks... I feel like belonging to everywhere... and nowhere...
Seduction
This week I am having my mid term exam on Friday. I am studying now, but yesterday I went shopping for some sports clothing because I ran out of sports socks and I really needed a sport bra. Went to an outlet shopping mall on the subway line a few stops before Dobongsan. Actually I wasn't planning to stay there so long, because I still wanted to study, but of course, so much choice and things to see... I ended up with the thing that I was looking for : jogging equipment only :).I also did some groceries shopping at the underground supermarket, which was a little bit cheaper than the Family Mart or groceries story in neighborhood that I frequent daily. I came back with 5 new cup noodles, 2 big packs of cereals, whole grain cookies, dark chocolate,... all power food for studying AND instant COFFEE with the face of Daniel Henney on it - my husband was really LOL when he heard I finally got seduced to buy Daniel Henney.. I have seen this coffee in the Hankook Market in Sunnyvale (USA) as well but I never bought it...
There was a period that I really liked him - or shall I say I just like his looks, shallow, shallow that I am ;) - especially in the Korean drama 'My name is Kim Sam-soon' but after I saw some other movies of him, I didn't really think that well of him as an actor. But admit it, he is really handsome and has a nice body, but still... not really good actor I think. Sorry for the fans :(. And as we are talking about Korean actors anyway, I like Jae Hee and Bae Yong-joon because I like the roll they played in some movies. I especially like Jae Hee's play in one of my favorite Kim Ki-duk's movie 'Bin Jip'. The movie and theme is very touching, and the soundtrack as well. The director even used the song of a Belgian female artist, Natacha Atlas. Enchanting music. Enchanting movie.For those who don't know, Kim Ki-duk is my favorite Korean movie director. His movies might not be very commercial, but I just think he has a good talent to put human interaction, without too much words, on screen... I even remember that in some of his movies, the actors barely spoke, or didn't even spoke at all... So not really the best movies to upgrade your Korean, but a must for those who love more alternative cinema.
A funny intermezzo by the way... My doumi - aka my Korean speaking partner, I uploaded her picture for the guys - she met Kim Ki-duk not so long time ago, while watching a movie somewhere in Seoul. She was sitting somewhere behind him but she was too shy to ask him his signature... Hmmmm... I would have done it immediately :). And he was accompanied by a much more younger lady, who might be his girlfriend. Food for the Korean gossip press :p.
Running under the stars
And yesterday, I went running again... around midnight again. On my own again. I like running alone. Because it gives you the opportunity to think and not think. There were still people at the play field : a young couple doing some 'young couple' things while sitting on a bench. They left and then two slightly drunk men, sitting on a bench. I don't really know if they were sometimes talking to me, because I heard them speaking loudly every time I passed their bench, but tried to avoid them while having my music plugged into my ears. It was a good run. I really needed it. Had to sort some things out or just needed some air after my study.
I think it was passed 2 o'clock when I got to bed. I slept well. And of course, very small eyes this very morning ;p
Dancing under the stars II
Drinking under the stars
Dancing under the stars : Hi Seoul World DJ Festival
... under construction
Dancing under the stars : Hi Seoul World DJ Festival
... under construction
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Dancing under the stars I - revised
It's Sunday evening now. The eatery downstairs is playing some sentimental music at 'medium' sound level. I like the sound of a Sunday evening. A dog is barking, the street is not crowded, some lightly drunken people - soju and soju and more soju 소주 - with these sound on the background I am enjoying my evening meal consisting of a rol of kimbap - some kind of Korean sushi roll, if you pronounce it very fast it sounds like 'kebab' - and my triangle seaweed sushi bun... Ah, by the way, my stomach ache disappeared completely, so I am quite relieved I am back to normal again :)
Just had a very good talk with one of my close friends in Belgium. Sometimes, being at foreign place for a long time, away from the persons you love and care in normal life, can make you feel melancholic, lonely and confused. And you almost forget, that they are still there, your friends and family, although you don't share everyday life with them any more....They can only be there in your thoughts and in the vibrations of the air that you breathe while they talk to you from a distance...
The older I get, indeed, the more emotional I become. But don't get me wrong. I might be emo, but I am happy here. Happy and blessed. For meeting nice kind hearted people and sharing thoughts and everyday life or special events with them in stead.
Lots of you know I used to be a very social person, back in Belgium. I like to talk to people, share thoughts and listen to life stories with a beer or two, three, ... or more.
But I haven't really been writing much about my 'going' out life, I will try to summarize it anyway. Actually, I don't really go out that much, at least not as much as during my student time in Leuven, Belgium. And I already hit some certain age, you know ;p. If there's something going on, we mostly go with a group of people, having a drink in a 'bar' - they don't have the European style 'café' here - or having a 'roof party' at the roof of our dormitory. And if we go 'clubbing' basically, I have been dancing as long as my legs could carry me... which means, till the very end :). Because I like dancing. I adore dancing. I just LOVE it.
Our favorite pub in Anam-dong
I already have a favorite bar near the university campus. Up till now I have been there for at least 6 times... The first time was on a Wednesday in the first week that I arrived. I went with Heli and 영헌.
I really like the bar a lot : the drinks are not toi expensive, you get a lot of free snacks and they serve good - but very sweet - cocktails too for only 5000 KRW :). And there is a good atmosphere, an outdoor terrace and they play good music - soft rock - at least if the lady boss is not there. The lady boss is quite pretty, HOT and SEXY - haha, Heli likes her a lot ;p - and here comes the question : is she a fake or natural beauty... Did she or did she not... Hmmm... maybe I will try to catch her picture next time and make a poll...
Ah yeah, the only thing I don't like about that bar is the toilet : small, smelly and no separation of gender. Sometimes you just come out of the closet watching a guy's back while standing ... ehum... doing his thing ;p.
Hongik Clubbing 홍익
Yes and meanwhile I have been 'clubbing' for two times in the Hongik area in Seoul. First time was at the end of the first week - yeah I didn't sit still at all :)... We went with a group of Kyunghee University students to a club called M2. Quite a trendy club I must say, lots of 'beau monde', probably some models and celebs too, but I won't recognize them, because I am still a leek when it comes to Korean celebs. Danced all night long, mostly along Jen, the Australian woman who lived in the same dormitory and married too :). Didn't really drink so much that evening, because when I do, I get disorientated and I don't like that while dancing. Just fueled my body with the necessary liquids to prevent me from dehydration - surviving skills in a club in Seoul - YEAH!
And Friday one week ago, we went to the Hongik area again, because on every last Friday of the month they have 'Club Day', meaning that you can pay one time entrance and go 'club hopping' in participating clubs all evening. That evening I went with a smaller group for dinner first and I also invited two Japanese ladies from my class to join along : Eriko and Naoko.
After dinner, we went to have a drink at a bar, where they had BELGIAN beers :)). Stella Artois, Leffe and Duvel. Of course being proud of my country of (ex-)residence I provided my friends all the necessary information about the beers and especially talked about Stella Artois, the beer that is brewed in my home town Leuven in Belgium :)). But I took a Leffe in stead, because it was the same price as the Stella Artois. Hmmm... I really felt melancholic and longing for Belgian cafés under a nice spring breeze at the 'Oude Markt' in Leuven... Anyway, we took some nice pictures, OF COURSE, and everybody was quite satisfied about the taste of the Belgian beer.
Rocking in Seoul
After the Belgian beers we went out to check out some clubs. Because nobody really knew where to go, we randomly entered a club where the row wasn't that long. We paid 20.000 KRW entry for a two floor leveled rather small 'rap, hip hop R 'n B' club. Although I have had my R 'n B period in my youth - and that is already half of my lifetime ago - I really can't listen to that kind of music anymore. Moreover DANCING on R 'n B is even worse : I got cramps in both my legs, the one after the other, while trying to move on the smooth and sexy rhythms reminding me of some MTV video clips of some black American artists... We eventually stayed there for about 15 - 20 minutes and left. On our way to 'clubhunting' we bumped into a guy from New-Zealand who just came from an 'underground' bar called 'Jane's Groove' and told us that the music there was not bad at all and no entry fee to pay.
It was not so crowded downstairs and at least you could sit around a table, order some beer and talk. And there was Leffe too.. The atmosphere reminded me a little bit of the 'dance cafes' like we have in Belgium. The DJ and owner of the bar is a young FEMALE with whom I had some nice conversations with. She eventually invited me behind the mixing table and we talked about some music. Her music was completely 'my style' : good old student rock (Nirvana, Blur, Offspring,...), some disco and party music from my student years at uni. I told her I really admire her and 'envy' her - in a positive way of course - to own her own bar, playing music, pursuing her dreams... She's also a singer in a small rock band and asked me to come see her performance next day. Hmmm... she is the kind of person that realized her dream because she followed her heart all the way. I really admire that.
And what do we do when we hear Blur's 'Song 2?! I go completely nuts, over kinetic and enthusiastic .... Head banging of course... WOOOOHOOOOOO !!! Waaaaaw, I really had the time of my life, reviving the moments with my friends in Belgium at some parties we attended together or some that we threw ourselves... YEAH :-))... I think she saw we really enjoyed the 'rock' episode of that evening and she played about 1 or 1,5 hour rock only ... And she ended it with Creed's 'Higher' - one of my favorite bands - too bad the group had to split up after only 3 albums and 1 'greatest hits' album ;-(... I really liked their songs and lyrics and the meaning behind some of them...
Well, that was quite a night. Danced all night non stop. I am sometimes wondering if it's normal that I can't stay still when I hear music... and being a bit over energetic... Anyway, I really had a great night that night :-)). Who would have ever thought that Seoul could ROCK my heart?
Just had a very good talk with one of my close friends in Belgium. Sometimes, being at foreign place for a long time, away from the persons you love and care in normal life, can make you feel melancholic, lonely and confused. And you almost forget, that they are still there, your friends and family, although you don't share everyday life with them any more....They can only be there in your thoughts and in the vibrations of the air that you breathe while they talk to you from a distance...
The older I get, indeed, the more emotional I become. But don't get me wrong. I might be emo, but I am happy here. Happy and blessed. For meeting nice kind hearted people and sharing thoughts and everyday life or special events with them in stead.
Lots of you know I used to be a very social person, back in Belgium. I like to talk to people, share thoughts and listen to life stories with a beer or two, three, ... or more.
But I haven't really been writing much about my 'going' out life, I will try to summarize it anyway. Actually, I don't really go out that much, at least not as much as during my student time in Leuven, Belgium. And I already hit some certain age, you know ;p. If there's something going on, we mostly go with a group of people, having a drink in a 'bar' - they don't have the European style 'café' here - or having a 'roof party' at the roof of our dormitory. And if we go 'clubbing' basically, I have been dancing as long as my legs could carry me... which means, till the very end :). Because I like dancing. I adore dancing. I just LOVE it.
Our favorite pub in Anam-dong
I already have a favorite bar near the university campus. Up till now I have been there for at least 6 times... The first time was on a Wednesday in the first week that I arrived. I went with Heli and 영헌.I really like the bar a lot : the drinks are not toi expensive, you get a lot of free snacks and they serve good - but very sweet - cocktails too for only 5000 KRW :). And there is a good atmosphere, an outdoor terrace and they play good music - soft rock - at least if the lady boss is not there. The lady boss is quite pretty, HOT and SEXY - haha, Heli likes her a lot ;p - and here comes the question : is she a fake or natural beauty... Did she or did she not... Hmmm... maybe I will try to catch her picture next time and make a poll...
Ah yeah, the only thing I don't like about that bar is the toilet : small, smelly and no separation of gender. Sometimes you just come out of the closet watching a guy's back while standing ... ehum... doing his thing ;p.Hongik Clubbing 홍익
Yes and meanwhile I have been 'clubbing' for two times in the Hongik area in Seoul. First time was at the end of the first week - yeah I didn't sit still at all :)... We went with a group of Kyunghee University students to a club called M2. Quite a trendy club I must say, lots of 'beau monde', probably some models and celebs too, but I won't recognize them, because I am still a leek when it comes to Korean celebs. Danced all night long, mostly along Jen, the Australian woman who lived in the same dormitory and married too :). Didn't really drink so much that evening, because when I do, I get disorientated and I don't like that while dancing. Just fueled my body with the necessary liquids to prevent me from dehydration - surviving skills in a club in Seoul - YEAH!
And Friday one week ago, we went to the Hongik area again, because on every last Friday of the month they have 'Club Day', meaning that you can pay one time entrance and go 'club hopping' in participating clubs all evening. That evening I went with a smaller group for dinner first and I also invited two Japanese ladies from my class to join along : Eriko and Naoko.
After dinner, we went to have a drink at a bar, where they had BELGIAN beers :)). Stella Artois, Leffe and Duvel. Of course being proud of my country of (ex-)residence I provided my friends all the necessary information about the beers and especially talked about Stella Artois, the beer that is brewed in my home town Leuven in Belgium :)). But I took a Leffe in stead, because it was the same price as the Stella Artois. Hmmm... I really felt melancholic and longing for Belgian cafés under a nice spring breeze at the 'Oude Markt' in Leuven... Anyway, we took some nice pictures, OF COURSE, and everybody was quite satisfied about the taste of the Belgian beer.
Rocking in SeoulAfter the Belgian beers we went out to check out some clubs. Because nobody really knew where to go, we randomly entered a club where the row wasn't that long. We paid 20.000 KRW entry for a two floor leveled rather small 'rap, hip hop R 'n B' club. Although I have had my R 'n B period in my youth - and that is already half of my lifetime ago - I really can't listen to that kind of music anymore. Moreover DANCING on R 'n B is even worse : I got cramps in both my legs, the one after the other, while trying to move on the smooth and sexy rhythms reminding me of some MTV video clips of some black American artists... We eventually stayed there for about 15 - 20 minutes and left. On our way to 'clubhunting' we bumped into a guy from New-Zealand who just came from an 'underground' bar called 'Jane's Groove' and told us that the music there was not bad at all and no entry fee to pay.
It was not so crowded downstairs and at least you could sit around a table, order some beer and talk. And there was Leffe too.. The atmosphere reminded me a little bit of the 'dance cafes' like we have in Belgium. The DJ and owner of the bar is a young FEMALE with whom I had some nice conversations with. She eventually invited me behind the mixing table and we talked about some music. Her music was completely 'my style' : good old student rock (Nirvana, Blur, Offspring,...), some disco and party music from my student years at uni. I told her I really admire her and 'envy' her - in a positive way of course - to own her own bar, playing music, pursuing her dreams... She's also a singer in a small rock band and asked me to come see her performance next day. Hmmm... she is the kind of person that realized her dream because she followed her heart all the way. I really admire that.
And what do we do when we hear Blur's 'Song 2?! I go completely nuts, over kinetic and enthusiastic .... Head banging of course... WOOOOHOOOOOO !!! Waaaaaw, I really had the time of my life, reviving the moments with my friends in Belgium at some parties we attended together or some that we threw ourselves... YEAH :-))... I think she saw we really enjoyed the 'rock' episode of that evening and she played about 1 or 1,5 hour rock only ... And she ended it with Creed's 'Higher' - one of my favorite bands - too bad the group had to split up after only 3 albums and 1 'greatest hits' album ;-(... I really liked their songs and lyrics and the meaning behind some of them...
Well, that was quite a night. Danced all night non stop. I am sometimes wondering if it's normal that I can't stay still when I hear music... and being a bit over energetic... Anyway, I really had a great night that night :-)). Who would have ever thought that Seoul could ROCK my heart?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
