Goodbye Korea, Goodbye Seoul

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 :)

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 !!!

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.

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 :)).

Pre dinner intermezzo : how to make ice coffee

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 :).

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

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?