Shout Out

To my lovey Amy Melhuish who grew on me faster than any other stranger I've met. I can count many reasons why I took a liking to Amy from day 1: perhaps her insanely long eye lashes or her gorgeous eyes. Maybe even her baby soft skin and that University of Cape Town-meets-Johannesburg north, private school kid accent that's so much fun to mock. But nope, that wasn't quite it. 

Her long lashes, gorgeous eyes, baby soft skin and accent were nothing but a distraction from the wit, lovable personality and enormously warm heart this little lady possesses. This is exactly what has kept us friends a year after our 4 week encounter with one another at our TEFL course prior to my coming to Korea. She now teaches English in Thailand, but we make a point to keep the flame going via Skype. Thanks, Skype.

Amy has a heart for underprivileged kids, psychology and drama After she's said goodbye to her life in Thailand, she'll be giving up all her comfort and good living, to spend some time pouring into the lives of less privileged kids in Mpumalanga (South Africa). Towards year end, she'll be heading to the UK to study drama therapy (oh, gosh, I hope I'm right with that course name) at the Uni she's been dreaming of going to for so long! 

In our brief time together, I've laughed myself into suffocation  a thousand times- that's just standard when Amy is near- and shared the experience of seeing NERD live in concert while they were in South Africa last time. Awesome times! 

So before this becomes a full on biography, I think I should do what I came here to: 

HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY, Amy!

with Amy at the NERD concert last Feb 

Our boyfriend said to say hi! (source)

Wishing you all of God's richest blessings for your walk into old age :p 

Love

Only In Korea...

... would a group of grown up men be considered, approached and offered a large sum of money to endorse female cosmetics. 

And only in Korea would a group of grown up men contemplate, discuss, negotiate, accept, pitch up, smile and be proud of going through with such an offer.

This, my friends, is the world I'm living in. 

A Day Off

The March 1st Movement is a day that Koreans remember what some brave folks got up to in 1919 and an important day as far as their history with Japan goes. Basically, on March 1st 1919, a few brave, young Koreans stood up for themselves and their country, against the Japanese who were, at the time, ruling over Korea. *Check the link if you are interested in knowing more.*

Of course, it is never the entire population that uses the day to actively commemorate the bravery of their  forefathers- even us South Africans on our Heritage Day and holidays alike. What most Koreans do on March 1st, is hang the national flag from the windows of their homes, and then enjoy a relaxed day out (or in) while they keep in mind their reason for rest. 

Taking the opportunity to make good use of an off day, I joined Jasmine and some of our friends from our acapella group for a day trip to Cheongdo. This is a small town just outside Daegu, so a road trip was in order. It's always exciting getting into a car and being on the road with Koreans you know, bumping real Korean music. I realise that not everyone gets the opportunity to do so (since we usually travel in armies of foreigners via public transport), so I sit in the car taking it all in and really appreciating the authentically Koreanness off it all. 

Here's what we did:

Ate some minari (dropwort in English. That didn't help, coz I had no idea what that was either). This was freshly picked from the farms where we ate, and cleaned by the old ladies who were stationed just behind our table. It's literally leaves on a long stem. Apparently really good for your health (like everything in Korea). I really felt like a cultured rabbit. Aaaand, we had some samgyeopsal (pork) on the side- that's just how we roll in the ROK, k?! Real G's eat leaves with meat on the side :p

Next, we headed to a wine tunnel where we shared a bottle of persimmon wine. Again- what on earth is that?! Don't you hate it when people speak about strange food as though you are meant to know what all of it is? I do. So if you wanna know: persimmon is a fruit that looks like an orange-coloured tomato on steroids, tastes MUCH better than it looks, and is mostly popular on the Asian side of the world. So anyway, they made wine out of the stuff. Nice, but a little too sweet. 

While we tasted the wine, we broke out into song, coz that's what people from acapella groups do. Always fun, and a little embarrassing. 

Then we called it a short but awesome day and headed back to Daegu to share a huge tub of Baskin Robbins ice cream before saying our 'thanks and bye!'. 

Jasmine ^^

Driving THROUGH a mountain. I love it. 

Jay can model minari with his eyes closed.

The samgyeopsal masters. H-J and Emo

Hyun Jin

Ajumma power

The boys

No luck

diligent students

Did I mention that this was the little camera baby's debut? Hence the not-too-shabinnes of the pictures. So much of excite. Oh, and country side Korea always reminds me of Lesotho. Always.

I think I like March 1st, and I definitely liked it out here on the country side too.

Thanks, chingus. 

The Stench of Love

You ought to know that we have been sold a lie. The lie being that Paris is the city of love, or France, the country hosting it. Whoever started this rumour had obviously never stepped foot on Korean soil coz this place is bursting with more romance than a perfect Valentine's Day with an Eiffel tower backdrop. 

To start off, Koreans don't only set aside February 14th as a day of love, but rather the 14th of EVERY.single.month. That's 12 'Valentine's Days' in a year. And this is in between the shopping for couples items such as clothes and cellphones and whatever else (this, I'll address another day). I'm almost certain there's none of that in Paris! 

So each month, one partner buys a gift for the other (alternating every month) so on Valentine's Day, the girls buy chocolate for their boyfriends, crushes, or objects of stalking. Whatever works for them. In March, the boys buy candy sweets for their girlfriends in celebration on White Day. The other months they exchange things like chocolate and hugs. Each month has its own thing. 

Sticking to the only thing we know, a few of us girls(Phumi, Jess, Charde, Christine and Raquel) met up for a good Valentine's singles' dinner. Some good Korean food, hugs, chocolate and photos were enough to make us forget about how un-boyfriended  we all are (except Phumi, of course).

*all pics by Christine Wang 

I got all dressed up, went out, and for the first time ever, enjoyed the usually ignored and super infamous Valentine's Day. So Korea- you think you can exclude us every 14th of the month?! Ha- WRONG! We're getting in! 

One Giant Leap

Today being Feb 29th, I thought it a good idea to use the extra day to finally put together my new years resolutions. Sure, some people have already forgotten about them, and I totally don't judge anyone for that. Hello- it's procrastination that has me here, 2 months after the resolutions due date. Rather late than never?

Here are some of my delayed and super simplified thoughts.

and this... Good grief- THIS!

*all pics sourced from weheartit

I'm sure these goals apply to almost all of us, so please excuse me while I go sit and devise a detailed plan of action. Looks like a picture too far a fetch, but watch it get done! (Eeeek, I'm gonna kick myself for saying this)

Happy New You!