My last and final blog entry that will be written in Korea. I am in Incheon Airport now. My husband and I already checked our luggage : two full suit cases, one big back pack and a duffle bag... Sitting in some kind of internet lounge while having to pay 500 Korean won per 10 minutes...
Last week was really crazy with my husband coming here. Having a full program from morning till sometimes late at night, my husband got to know my life in Korea and met the friends that became so dear to me during my 3 months of stay here in this wonderful country. It was really great, but exhausting too sometimes. Although we have been seperated for almost 3 months and he was not really a part of my `everyday` life any more, meeting my friends he finally understands the person I have become during my stay in Korea. I have grown on my own, my mind and ideas have grown, my experience of other people lives has grown.
Sometimes, it is really strange that you have to travel the half world around to become FULL CIRCLE...
Meanwhile, in this last week we have done a little bit of traveling to, to Busan and Jeju-do. Met some interesting and nice people, on our non planned trip. We just went, without real preparations, tickets or reservations. It was really a little kind of adventure on its own. And lots of sightseeing around Seoul. Drinking beer at pubs, having good time with friends. Yesterday we ended our stay here with an unbelievable evening of noreabang, colored wigs etc...
Yeah, it was really wonderful, my time being here without husband but also with... Although in the beginning I had to adapt to him being by my side for more than 1 week 24 hours per day and sometimes in a very claustrophobic small room in Crimson House, we managed to survive and to get used to each other again. Especially it was important for me that he got to know the `LT` that I have been and have become, thanks to the wonderful friends I have met here.
Yeah, I will miss Korea, I will miss Seoul. I will miss the friends that have become my `everyday life` during these 3 months. I have been jogging on my own on Wednesday night from from 1 top 2 past midnight while my husband was sleeping. I really felt to jog, so I just went... The scenery was beautiful, as ever.... I wanted to say goodbye to the place that became a piece of `home` to me in my own way.
BUT I am not sad. For everything in life there is a time to come and go, to say hello and goodbye. And I am coming back for sure one day :)
Korea and the people I have met have captured my heart. I will miss you guys : Sang-yul, Kyung-ju, Ye-in, Heli, Sarra, Kibashi-san, Eriko, Naoko, Minki of Jane`s Groove... and a Thanks for everything. For being friends and for sharing thoughts and ideas with me.
And... as for the people back home in Europe and USA, I will update this blog with the stories and pictures I didn`t find time to tell and update... so this blog is not over yet.. But as for writing from Korea, this will be my last entry.
See you later, with my memories from Seoul, South Korea and beyond :)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Quicky before the finals
Nothing better than a good bowl of rich fiber cornflakes with dried bananas, raisins and milk to power my brains in the hope to do a good final exam today... I hope I will do better than the mid terms of last month, at least I have done my best studying and isolating myself during the last few days ;)... I mean at least I stayed in Anam-dong the whole time. Meanwhile, having an agenda that really looks like 'real Koreans' meaning - very busy : even though it's 'study' time, still had some appointments to say 'goodbye' to people who are leaving and that I might not see for a while again...
After today, it will be even more crazy, because the semester is ending and people from my class, from Korea University and Kyunghee University are all leaving for a trip or their home around the same time. BUT no need to be sad... there are still the nice memories we all shared together. So that's it for this very early morning entry, have to revise my grammar and vocabulary... Be back very soon, with updates and pictures I hope... AJA FIGHTING !!!
After today, it will be even more crazy, because the semester is ending and people from my class, from Korea University and Kyunghee University are all leaving for a trip or their home around the same time. BUT no need to be sad... there are still the nice memories we all shared together. So that's it for this very early morning entry, have to revise my grammar and vocabulary... Be back very soon, with updates and pictures I hope... AJA FIGHTING !!!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Deep impressions...
It's Sunday afternoon right now... actually I woke up to study after a very good night sleep, feeling a lot of energy to go for it.... My finals are on Thursday. But then, I started thinking again. About some things that are said and conversations I had during this weekend. Anyway, doesn't really matter what it was really all about, but the main topic was : 'farewell'...
Yes, as my days in Seoul and Korea are ending, my friends and I talked a lot about 'when we get back'... to the place where we belong. Some friends are already leaving for their home town around the 20th of June, some are leaving for traveling around that time... I am just glad my husband is coming over very soon, to paste the hurt that I am feeling, because my period of very interesting and intense friendships is coming to an end... in one way or the other. I can't help feeling a little bit sad and happy at the same time - I am blessed to meet such nice people during my stay here - because I am just this kind of person. Living all my life, having my heart given away several times, at least a part of my heart. Sometimes being like this is also exhausting, I know, I think sometimes, maybe I should stop being like this. It's a bit naive to live like this. Because it is not always the other way around. I know. But I don't know any better than being like this. Because it hurts, but on the same time, being able to give a genuine feeling of friendship, isn't that one of the most beautiful gifts ever, leaving an impression behind that you don't forget? Maybe being able to make someone's life a little bit more beautiful?
Yeah, I am getting very philosophical again. But people who know me, know that's just the LT that I am. So... feeling much better having this put on 'paper' - or should I say cyberspace - and maybe being read by some of you, I can continue as I planned, like 2 hours ago, to start studying for the finals. I cut off all the skype activities - MSN I don't really use, not that I am that reachable anyway, only my cell phone will be working just in case. Need some space and time on my own... to focus again.
Yes, as my days in Seoul and Korea are ending, my friends and I talked a lot about 'when we get back'... to the place where we belong. Some friends are already leaving for their home town around the 20th of June, some are leaving for traveling around that time... I am just glad my husband is coming over very soon, to paste the hurt that I am feeling, because my period of very interesting and intense friendships is coming to an end... in one way or the other. I can't help feeling a little bit sad and happy at the same time - I am blessed to meet such nice people during my stay here - because I am just this kind of person. Living all my life, having my heart given away several times, at least a part of my heart. Sometimes being like this is also exhausting, I know, I think sometimes, maybe I should stop being like this. It's a bit naive to live like this. Because it is not always the other way around. I know. But I don't know any better than being like this. Because it hurts, but on the same time, being able to give a genuine feeling of friendship, isn't that one of the most beautiful gifts ever, leaving an impression behind that you don't forget? Maybe being able to make someone's life a little bit more beautiful?
Yeah, I am getting very philosophical again. But people who know me, know that's just the LT that I am. So... feeling much better having this put on 'paper' - or should I say cyberspace - and maybe being read by some of you, I can continue as I planned, like 2 hours ago, to start studying for the finals. I cut off all the skype activities - MSN I don't really use, not that I am that reachable anyway, only my cell phone will be working just in case. Need some space and time on my own... to focus again.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Ozark Henry in .... Seoul
Just came back from an incredible jog this night. On my own. Last few times I went jogging with Heli and we managed to jog about an hour while talking. I really like jogging nowadays, especially if you are not alone, time passes by so quickly that you don't even feel tired after a while.
But today, I went alone. It rained a lot these few days in Seoul, I was glad that it cleared up in the evening, so I just can go out... I have been studying quite lot lately. Next week Thursday is my final exam. That's what I am here for in Korea : to learn a new language.
It is incredible, the feeling I had during the jogging. The first few times I went on my own, I could hardly make it to more than 40 minutes. Maybe because I was stressed out of people watching me. Or maybe I just had the wrong music - soundtracks of Korean dramas - on my I Shuffle. Yes I still have a very basic MP3 player, one without screen and where you can't choose the music and just have to push 'fwd' or 'rwd' to go to your favorite song... But I don't care.
Today, I uploaded my favorite music on my Shuffle. It is actually the music during the 'lounge' part of our engagement party a few years ago at the 'Blauwe Kater' in Leuven, Belgium. Yeaaah, those were really the times. Me, my husband - at that time fiance - our friends and family going all crazy at our party, having my favorite music, food, good drinks... I thought a lot about my life in Belgium, during my jog today, my sister, my brother, my mother. My friends. Friends that have been following me and my husband for about 10 years or more : Wing Yan, Willy, Alan, Wai Keung, Pang Lok, Sin Yee, Ann. It's incredible how we all have grown.
When I look back how my life has changed, while now being in Korea on my own, I feel amazed of being here. Although, some of you don't really hear from me as much as my time being in the States - because of being busy all the time, the classes, the appointments, the homework and yes - I do study tooo - I think about home a lot. Actually a lot about how things are changing, without me being around. I just realize, maybe even if you want to be together, it might be not bad idea to give each other some space, to become 'completely' your own. Like if feel with my mother, brother and sister. Always being used of 'watching' over as the 'big sister', I find that they are evolving too, having their 'space', like I am now doing, being away from my husband a while. I find myself being able to 'let go'.
The same with my friends in Belgium. Being thrilled when I hear some good news from friends and family, I follow everything happily from a distance, but sometimes I just wish I could go back like in 'Star Trek' where a technique like 'beaming up' exists. Just to be a part of their lives again. Because, I once was. A part of their everyday life.
It is strange how my 'everyday' life has changed as well. Sometimes I feel 'homeless' meaning, that I don't really know where I belong. I just know, I am here, living, breathing and being thankful for being able to feel so much. For being able to live with passion.
I never thought that being in Seoul, would also be a period that I was going to conquer my fears and explore my physical limits. I never thought of hiking on my own, I never thought of jogging on my own, I never thought of eating silk worms. It's good, that I became less scared and more adventurous, although all these things are quite normal too.
So today, I set my own personal record : I jogged for 1 hour and 20 minutes, non stop. And I was not tired at all. Not having to think about anything than the music in your ears, the evening sky, the apartments surrounding you... I was not tired, because the music kind of regulated my breathing. All very easy and relaxing music. Music that I have been liking for years passed my ears during the jog : Moby, Lamb, Morcheeba, Hooverphonic, Air, Sioen, Shivaree, Kevin Shields, Death in Vegas, Norah Jones, Pizzicato Five, hell yeah I even have one song of a popular group All Saints (Pure Shores)... and of course Ozark Henry (Icon DJ)
Hmmm... today was a good day for me. Time to hit the shower and disappear under my blankets :)).
But today, I went alone. It rained a lot these few days in Seoul, I was glad that it cleared up in the evening, so I just can go out... I have been studying quite lot lately. Next week Thursday is my final exam. That's what I am here for in Korea : to learn a new language.
It is incredible, the feeling I had during the jogging. The first few times I went on my own, I could hardly make it to more than 40 minutes. Maybe because I was stressed out of people watching me. Or maybe I just had the wrong music - soundtracks of Korean dramas - on my I Shuffle. Yes I still have a very basic MP3 player, one without screen and where you can't choose the music and just have to push 'fwd' or 'rwd' to go to your favorite song... But I don't care.
Today, I uploaded my favorite music on my Shuffle. It is actually the music during the 'lounge' part of our engagement party a few years ago at the 'Blauwe Kater' in Leuven, Belgium. Yeaaah, those were really the times. Me, my husband - at that time fiance - our friends and family going all crazy at our party, having my favorite music, food, good drinks... I thought a lot about my life in Belgium, during my jog today, my sister, my brother, my mother. My friends. Friends that have been following me and my husband for about 10 years or more : Wing Yan, Willy, Alan, Wai Keung, Pang Lok, Sin Yee, Ann. It's incredible how we all have grown.
When I look back how my life has changed, while now being in Korea on my own, I feel amazed of being here. Although, some of you don't really hear from me as much as my time being in the States - because of being busy all the time, the classes, the appointments, the homework and yes - I do study tooo - I think about home a lot. Actually a lot about how things are changing, without me being around. I just realize, maybe even if you want to be together, it might be not bad idea to give each other some space, to become 'completely' your own. Like if feel with my mother, brother and sister. Always being used of 'watching' over as the 'big sister', I find that they are evolving too, having their 'space', like I am now doing, being away from my husband a while. I find myself being able to 'let go'.The same with my friends in Belgium. Being thrilled when I hear some good news from friends and family, I follow everything happily from a distance, but sometimes I just wish I could go back like in 'Star Trek' where a technique like 'beaming up' exists. Just to be a part of their lives again. Because, I once was. A part of their everyday life.
It is strange how my 'everyday' life has changed as well. Sometimes I feel 'homeless' meaning, that I don't really know where I belong. I just know, I am here, living, breathing and being thankful for being able to feel so much. For being able to live with passion.
I never thought that being in Seoul, would also be a period that I was going to conquer my fears and explore my physical limits. I never thought of hiking on my own, I never thought of jogging on my own, I never thought of eating silk worms. It's good, that I became less scared and more adventurous, although all these things are quite normal too.
So today, I set my own personal record : I jogged for 1 hour and 20 minutes, non stop. And I was not tired at all. Not having to think about anything than the music in your ears, the evening sky, the apartments surrounding you... I was not tired, because the music kind of regulated my breathing. All very easy and relaxing music. Music that I have been liking for years passed my ears during the jog : Moby, Lamb, Morcheeba, Hooverphonic, Air, Sioen, Shivaree, Kevin Shields, Death in Vegas, Norah Jones, Pizzicato Five, hell yeah I even have one song of a popular group All Saints (Pure Shores)... and of course Ozark Henry (Icon DJ)
Hmmm... today was a good day for me. Time to hit the shower and disappear under my blankets :)).
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