Hongdae's Free Market

This past Saturday, a friend and I met up in Hongdae to go to the Hello Kitty Cafe there. Before we went to the cafe, we decided to look around Hongdae's Free Market that operates on Saturdays (http://www.freemarket.or.kr/). I heard about an artist who draws portraits of people based on the word that the people give her to describes them and the feeling of the person she receives from the person during the session. So while we were there, I decided to go look at her work and decided to do a session with her.
I couldn't think about a word that will describes me, so I thought and thought and I finally choose 'pollen'. It travels where the wind takes it, and wether it plants its self on good soil, bad soil, or no soil, it still grows. When it grows it can be taken as a pest (weed) or something good (flower). I saw the pollen as myself; the wind, my journey of finding myself being pulled here and there; the soil, my destinations and experiences.

After some small talks and listening to my conversation with my friend, this was her final drawing based on my word. And this is the poetry she wrote with it:

어디로 가는지 몰라도
날면 어느새 나는
태양선의 강렬한을
나무의 강인한을 닮아가며

I don't know where I'm heading 
but while flying, I'm getting 
the Sun's strong rays. 
the tree's thick trunk. 


-초 선영 Cho Sun Young 











Before we parted, she said 'It's not the destination that matters, but the journey'. I thought, she gets it, and smiled.

If you are interested to look at her works or just to get to know her more, here is her website:
http://www.chosunyoung.com/

11.7.2011

November has arrived! The leaves have changed color and most have fallen... oh the year is coming to an end; how time flies.
But before November begun, there was Halloween. Of course people know and heard of Halloween here in South Korea. Because my regular classes were behind schedule we couldn't celebrate Halloween so I just passed out candies and chocolates to my students. But for my after-school class, we were able to do something "Halloween". I gotta say, my students stump me on their idea of costume for Halloween -- just isn't the same...

Can you guess what she is?

Pin-the-Jack-O-Lantern

The Mummies

This past Friday there was a big event at my school, students held talent shows in their classrooms for their parents. There were some amazing shows and many students have a lot of talents. The shows ranged from singing, dancing, musical instruments, sign language, other languages, taekwondo, magic shows, and even comedy-- I enjoyed watching them perform.

playing the Kayagum

Comedy show ^.^

Taekwondo

November kicked off awesomely. The best news I heard and saw was my mom progress, she now can walk a short-short distance by herself, without a cane! WOW! I am amazed and so proud of her. Miss and love my mom and dad, lots ♥

I hope November continues to be awesome. 

To Hlee

Hlee, 

I remember when you were little, you were always favored by the adults; with your cute-girly smile and your easy character to liking people, there was not one adult who didn't adore you. And now you have grown into a woman who has learned to make her own choices and finding your own footsteps in life with people still adoring you. 

In a couple of days, you will be off and on your way to start a new and amazing part of life -- marriage. (wooh-wooh ^^ ) I am glad you have found someone who you love, and who loves you; someone who you can laugh whole-heartily with, share and build your future with, and grow old with. 

I'm happy for you and Toua, and I wish you two the best and happiness on this new start together. 

can't wait!

Planning and saving for my trip home. I can't wait! My family and boyfriend will finally meet and it's going to be awesome. So while we are working toward our trip, we won't be seeing much of each other. It's all worth it, all those lonely weekends spent without him.
I can't wait to see my mom and dad and the little kids <3

I miss everyone, I miss home and the comforts back home. CAN'T WAIT

On a different note, I saw the new movie, 도가니(The Crucible). It is based on a novel written by Gong Ji-Young on a true story that took place at a deaf school here in South Korea. My heart goes out to the students who have been sacred and hurt. My heart just ached watching it and I am sure many Koreans who were not aware of this situation is now doing a massive research on the story.  

This movie have so many dilemmas to the story; cultural, money, power, religion, status, relationship; I think it's a good movie that portray the dirty and common themes of corruption, Korean style. It's nasty, like any kind of corruption and evil. Watch it. 

Summer time, summer time...

Summer first kicked off with three weeks of English Summer Camp. These kids were cute and I had a great time. The most memorable moment of camp was when the 3rd graders kick-ass during a knowledge competition - these asses were of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. It just shows that in a few more years, South Korea won't be needing native English speakers to come work as a guest teacher anymore; I'm so proud.

After Summer English Camp, I headed down to Busan with some friends and had a good time. The best part was chilling by the sea, eating some sashimi, drinking, and chatting up in Korean ^^;; But I gotta say, my Korean skill is awful but it was nice trying to speak the language.

      

Oh, and I went to 'Trick-Eyed Museum' in Hongdae, Seoul. It was nice but there were too many people making it difficult to take decent shots, maybe another time.


This pretty much concludes my summer...

Oh Korea!

This past weekend, I went to Samcheok with my boyfriend to visit a very special park in South Korea called Haesindang Park.
This park is known to for it's statue galore of penises. The fence is made of wooden penises and even the benches are penises.
I thought this place would be offensive for many Koreans before I visited it because of the theme but when I arrived at the park, the atmosphere was totally opposite; visitors were laughing and having a humorous time at the park. This place isn't sexist either, vaginas have their own share of being displayed, oh and not to forget about the he-she, she-he because they are there, too. This park is for EVERYONE :)
Enjoy the photos!

Penises hanging over your head

Zodiac Penis statues + penis bench

The shrine dedicated to the story of the penis in this park -- check out the fence

This one is called 'Power' 

The location of this park is very beautiful, right by the sea

Penis bench

Just some penis statues

Next on my list to visit are:  

-Toilet Museum

-Love Park

short stop by the Han River

My boyfriend and I stop by the Han River to have some time together and to enjoy the weather. Although I think there isn't much to do in the parks of the Han River, I always find something good to do or something awesome to see -- it could just be that, whenever I'm at the Han River, I'm either with great people or something eventful occurs there. And when I go back there, I am always reminded of people or events.

During my semester in Seoul, I met and made great friends. I will always cherish these friends and the friendship that I have bonded with these ladies. The day in the picture was a great day -- a whole new world.