Shopping Adventures

So thought that I would post a more lighthearted post since it is a beautiful, sunny Friday here in the capital of the Land of the Morning Calm. A few weeks ago, I decided that since I had been a good girl (incredibly stupid and silly) and gave up on getting floor tickets to a sold out show for one of my favorite groups here in Korea-still might be debating if I made the right choice when the concert is tomorrow ㅠㅠ.

So I did what every Southern girl would logically do (at least the one's I know)-> I went shopping!

So the first place that I ended up gong to is one of my favorite haunts here: H&M. I know, I know, not all the Korean and most of the clothes i can find in stores back home. But I like it because I am able to find clothes that fit in with what I brought here from home (i.e. Black), while at the same time, I know that they will have my size available in majority of the clothes. I was looking for a new white dress that I could wear for ceremonies that my sorority has and also because everyone needs a little white dress since it goes with most everything and very versatile. So the first H&M I went to had the dress in a medium, which truthfully would have worked, but I am not sure how much weight I am going to gain when I go back to the states, so I wanted to have something that has a little bit more wiggle room just in case. So since there was not a large in the store, I have to go to Myeongdong (aka one of Seoul's most popular shopping areas) and go to the H&M there. Well they had the dress in a large and also some more cool clothes that I am waiting to go on sale before I decided if I want to get them or not.

Me in my new white dress and new Letterman jacket over the weekend at the Palace

Since I was in Myeongdong, my friend and I decided to go check out the new clothing store STAFF since we had walked by opening day when VIXX was there promoting the store. We had seen the clothes from the outside and they looked right up our ally style wise, so we thought it would be a good chance to check them out. Well if you are ever in Myeongdaong, go check out STAFF. The clothing is a little bit more expensive than H&M and Forever21 (more closer to pricing here in the States like Gap and Lands-in), but the quality of the clothe and the construction of the clothes is worth it. The staff is really helpful, friendly (and they have English speaking staff!), and pretty good looking too if that is important to you. I ended up getting one dress from there that I know I am going to get a lot of use out of. It is a high collar sleeveless dress that is perfect for dressing up or dressing down per the occasion.  But seriously I am in love with this dress and with this store. I mean even the bag was high quality and soft to the touch (does that make sense...)!

I also got a long maxi skirt from Forever21 in a really pretty black with a white daisy pattern on it. It has two slits along the sides, so it is really flowy. I actually wore it to my Korean speaking midterm and my teacher really liked it. I needed something floraly since the weather is getting hotter, yet also something that was able to fit in with what I already brought with me and that I would wear when I get back home in a few months. I freaking love this skirt! I have been wearing it every chance I get to!! Sorry for the picture that I got of the Internet of it, I tried to get a good one, but I think its beauty is better shown while it is being worn, rather than on a hanger: 

Also, not clothing, but equally interesting are these gems that I picked up in a convenience store. They are designed to go on our fingers to protect your wet nails from smudging during the drying process. I have used them a few times now and they really seem to work! Just not on my thumbs for some reason, still trying to figure out the reason why though.

Well, time for me to go! Will try to be more consistent with my posts and will be giving y'all more of a range of topics, rather than just updates all the time!

My Fears Going Back Home

My second semester is almost up and I fly back to the states in little over 44 days left before I have to go to head back to Inchon and make my way back to the States and my my life there. Being here in Korea has had its ups and downs, just like living anywhere and like how most people who have studied abroad for more than a semester will tell you.

Now I am not saying that a semester in a different country is not a wonderful, life changing experience. But what I am saying is that there is something that happens in a year long stay that really effects you. You create long-term relationships with the others that you live with for a year and also a relationship with the country that you are living in. Studying abroad is not all rainbows and exotic food. You are not always going to find your foreign love or become an expert on your country in the time that you send there. There will actually be days where you don't to leave your room and would rather go to the corner store rather than go to a restaurant because you just can;t for the life of you function in the language of your country. I admit that I have had days where I just can't "Korean" or even "chopstick" for that matter (yeah, I completely forgot how to use chopsticks one day and had to struggle through a lunch with my friends giggling at my attempts to pick up food). But it is these experiences, both the ups and the downs that changes you from the person you are when you leave home to go abroad.

This change is what I am scared about. I know that I have changed and have been able to see what my good and bad points are and how I act while under pressures that I have no control over. I am not going to go in to much detail about this because I am thinking of making another post closer to my departure date that will detail my thoughts on this in a little more detail.  All I know is that I am coming back changed and I am not sure how that is going to change the relationships that I had while I was back home and at school. While I was here in Seoul, my friends and family members have been living their own lives, going through their own ups and downs as well. We are all changing and growing. The things that connected us might have changed.

I am also not really sure how well I am going to adjust back to life in the States. Things here are so fast paced here that I think I will enjoy the slower lifestyle, but I hope that I don't get frustrated. I also know that it will be hard going back because no one else will know what I have been through and experienced while here in Korea, but I will also be hesitant to share all of my experiences when I get back home for fear of being annoying and bragging about being abroad for so long. But maybe I am thinking too far into this and there is nothing really for me to worry about.

Maybe I am putting too much credit into how others act towards me, or what they will be thinking about, but it is just something that has been bugging me as my time here is getting shorter and shorter. I am getting nervous about going back, much like I was getting nervous about coming here (nerves based on the fact that I am not sure what I am getting myself into). And when I am nervous and under pressures/time lines, I tend to get a little more sentimental in my thinking.

Anyway, my ramblings are over with for now. I have a few more posts drafted, so I should be getting them out with in the next few days as I have time to chip away at them.

Sewol Ferry Incident

So as I am sure that most of you have heard by now the Sewol Ferry sinking had hit the country pretty hard. Even though as I am writing this a few weeks after the tragedy, there is still a lingering blanket of sadness that is draped over Seoul and the rest of the country.

This incident really blindsided us here n Seoul. I personally did not find out what was going on until later that night when I saw some people tweet about it. That was when the gates opened and everything was re-tweeting different numbers and accounts of what was happening. The sad part is that we where not being given the latest, most accurate numbers and information until latter last week when we knew that there would be no survivors and the search and rescue had turned into a search and body retrieval.

The whole entertainment industry completely shut down and is only just now showing signs of starting back up (as of May 6th, 2014). Even the University festivals that are usually the highlight of the Spring semester here in Seoul have been pushed back to later in June (after I leave...).

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. People here in Seoul have started to go back to everyday life, but like I said, there is an underlying feeling of sadness here that I am not sure that will ever disappear.

Summer is Coming

It is starting to get hot here in the city again. Luckily the nights are still pretty chilly, so I am glad that I still have a chance to wear my new Letterman jacket that I got a few days ago. It is raining pretty much every other afternoon and there is a constant wind that makes you want to have a light long sleeve on at the least.

Midterms are finally over and now all I need to do is focus on finishing up the semester strong and doing well on the finals in a month or so!

Also I got a job as a tutor! I talk to people on the free chatting app Kakao (Korean Viber) three times a week for four hours (4-1 hr sessions). The pay is pretty good and it gives me something to do other than go straight to Netflix and the like after class!


Anyway, here is hoping for dryer weather and that they days continue to get even more sunny!!

Captain America: Going to the Korean Movies pt. 2

So over the weekend, I went to the movies with a  friend of mine to go see Captain America 2: the Winter Soldier. Omo it was so good! I am not going to go to much into the film because I am not sure how many of you have seen it yet and I don't want to spoil it for you, but if you have the chance to, try to go see it if you can!

It was really like a date since I was paying for everything ( I was paying her back for showcase tickets), and even still the prices were a little cheaper, if not comparable to the States. But the quality was much better. I love the fact that no matter what movie theater you go to, the staff is always really friendly, the floors are never sticky or dirty, you are able to pick the seat you want before you go into the theater and it is assigned seating so once you pick it it is yours, and the seats are super super comfortable!

We did not go see the movie in 4D (kind of wish we had now) but it was still really good. And I finally got to try the Korean popcorn! I got us a large "original" and a small of the cheese. The original was lightly buttered, but still really good even though I miss my super soaked butter, and the cheese was interesting because it tasted like powdered nacho cheese, but after the first few bites I was hooked!

another thing I find interesting and different here is that the movie ticket is printed out like a normal receipt, not cute little individual ticket stubs that I am so fond of collecting to save, but rather they are just plain thin recites. Great I guess for people who are not into collecting and eventually scrap booking, but for me I miss the whimsy that comes from holding the ticket stub in my hand and getting flashes from the movie night. But I digress, going to the movies is really fun here in Korea, usually you have to got to the top floor of a shopping mall, or if you are as lucky as I am go to the floor of an abandoned mall and take the elevator up to the top floor to get to your friendly neighborhood movie theater!

So, tl;dr movie theaters are great and if you get the chance to go, Go!

Mid-Term Update

So just a quick update since it is mid-term!

Kpop

• The rookie groups AlphaBAT and JJCC know me by face and name now (both the members and the management). Perks of being one of the few foreigners that go to their things.
• JJCC Pride Rock (the twitter fansite that I co-run) is going good. We currently have about 66 or so followers with the prospects for more as we start to publicize and reach out to the international JJCC fan community. 
• I went to the Mr.Mr. showcase last weekend and had an absolutely amazing time! Not sure if I am going to go to all of their promotions, but one or two on the weekend should be fine!
• My official KissMe goods have not come in, but my official BABY did a few weeks ago! (Don't worry Kaitlin, yours are on their way!)
• I am slowly trying to get out of the Kpop circle and start focusing on other parts of Korean culture that I want to do before I leave in about two months!

School

• Classes are going well and I am currently in the middle of my midterm week so everyone please send me good vibes if you can!
• So far my favorite class has to be my French class because I am pretty sure that I am the teacher's favorite. I think I am one of the students that has the best pronunciation and is the most fluid with my french, but everyone is pretty good. It is weird being the only foreigner in a French class. I am always the voice of America when we do presentations because my teacher keeps wanting me to talk about the States. 
• I had minor freak outs trying to register for classes and also getting my room for next year back at Sewanee. At first I was having trouble connecting to the wifi on campus on my laptop because I had to register for classes int he middle of my classes here in Seoul. Then I connected to the wifi, but it was suuuupppppeeeeerrrrr slow ( I blame all the people on Facebook in the middle of class). Then later I needed and override in to a required class, but eventually everything turned out alright.
• Getting housing was another matter. I had messaged people a few moths ago looking to see if I could set things up but I think we had communication errors because I really did not hear back form anyone. Then I had thought that I had a proxy, but then communication errors so I was frantically messaging people before my Korean Speaking exam. Long story short, I was able to find a proxy and got a really nice room too (sorry dad, not elevator this year either)! All in return for a CD and Candy from here in South Korea~

So that is about it here in Seoul. Mostly just same old, same old. Since some of my classes are not meeting this week because of midterms, I have a whole line of posts that I am currently working on and should have posted soon. 

Hope everything is going great where you all are!

Spring is in the Air

Happy April Fools day~

I am actually not going to playing tricks on you all today, but rather let you all in on what has been happening since my last update waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy back in the beginning of March. Well since I have some time before my Korean class this afternoon, I thought it would be good to update you all on what has been going on.

• School has started up and everything is going well. I signed up for a french class, so having to deal with three different languages on some day is proving to be a little tough, but it is nothing I can't handle.  
• The weather is warming up and all the flowers are starting to blossom. nothing beats walking down the streets and seeing all the cherry blossoms start to bloom on the trees. Everything just feels like spring and everyone is in a good mood. It is like the dark dreary cloud that was winter is now been lifted and everyone just wants to take in the sun and wear bright colors again. 
• On the topic of the sun, I have realized how pale I have gotten while I have been here. Looking back at the pictures that I have from when I first arrived to now, I have lost my lifeguarding tan. But at the same time, I kind of gotten into the Korean mind set to enjoy the sun, but not too much for fear of sunburn and weird tan lines.
• I have made some really good connections in the entertainment industry and have become the go to person in my program for all things related to music. I have also been roped into running an international fan site for Jackie Chan's new group JJCC by the actual official fan staff. 
• I have learned to appreciate black coffee (although I still need to add three to four sugars to it..)
• My spice tolerance has gotten really good, to the point where I am able to eat food that I could not even imagine that I would be able to eat for fear of burning my mouth. But sadly, I am not at the level of the Koreans yet. 
• My hair has gotten ridiculously long. Like it should have been cut a month ago, but at this point I am kind of wanting to see how long I can get it/ dye the tips that I am going to be cutting off when I get back to the states in a few months.
• Speaking of getting back to the states in a few months, my time is kind of stuck in a weird limbo. i know that I am going to be going back to the States soon and am truthfully looking forward to seeing my family and friends again, but at the same time it feels like I am getting ready to go on a trip  to visit the states. I guess I am trying to say that Seoul is starting to feel like home; I have friends, a (set) schedule, places that I can recommend to people to eat at, I know how the city works; This is my home--and I don't really want to leave it just yet. There is so much that I feel like I should do, but I really don't have the time to do it all. (Maybe it just meant that I can come back again someday...). 

Anyway, just a quick update on what is going on right now for me. I know that I have been really bad at updating you all on what is going on. I promise to be better at it! 

Pictures: 

Some of the cherry blossoms that are around the campus and are pretty much everywhere in the city!

It is finally ice cream time again!

My friend's [R] and my [L] sign for JJCC (Jackie Chan's group)