Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lovely Busan
When I was in Busan I caught up with Soyoung, who brought me to eat alllll the LOVELY LOVELY food in Busan. Did not feel in the least guilty for all the gorging, only regret I didn't gorge more.
I met Soyoung in London, when her boyfriend Uk stayed at the church flat for a few weeks before heading back to Korea. Soyoung came to visit him for a few days during that time and I got on well with her.
It was a glorious summer that year. Kicheol and family had gone home for the summer and I had a free reign over the flat and the church garden. We had a big BBQ party that summer they were there.
I also had TzuAnne from Malaysia staying at the flat for a couple of weeks as well. So it was a really fun time. And TzuAnne and I began to notice something about our Korean lodger, Uk.
He only ate ramen.
For breakfast, lunch and dinner.
When we asked, he said he didn't know how to cook, so that's all he could eat.
The maternal instincts in us kicked in then and we fed him as much as we could! Sigh. That boy seriously needed a woman in his life to take care of him. He was quite honestly helpless in the home.
When I messaged Soyoung to catch up I didn't really think much of him as I didn't even know whether or not they were still together, but they were. While he was working in another town, he had given money to Soyoung to make sure she took me around town and fed me well.
I had quite forgotten about London that summer until Soyoung told me how Uk was extremely grateful at that time for the kindness showed to him then and he wanted to make sure I enjoyed the best of Busan in return. That was a lesson that acts of kindness can return to you unexpectedly even if this one took 4 years!
Soyoung really made my Busan trip memorable. And she patiently taught me about ahjummes (in Busan, they say ahjumme while in Seoul they say ahjumma; and it means aunty). Busan ahjummes are known to be strong and fierce and no one messes with them.
If Korean men are known to be chauvinistic, it really does not mean Korean women are automatically demure just because the men are chauvinistic!
We encountered some loud speaking ahjummes on the underground train and they are fiercer than any Malaysian/Singaporean aunties wielding umbrellas jostling you to get into the bus/MRT hands down.
Pffft. Malaysian/Singaporean aunties are lambs compared to the ahjummes.
And so, when I read this
article, my heart warmed.
Go Busan-lites, Go ahjummes and ahjummes in the making!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Easy and lazy meals
Once upon a time I laughed at the older folks for eating such heavy meal of rice and noodles for breakfast.
Today I'm cooking rice at 12am just so I can have rice for breakfast.
The folly of youth!
I'm just really fed up from constantly getting hungry at 12am or so and I always take time to fall to sleep because my tummy's growling. And by the time morning comes I wake up starving and the thought of only having two slices of bread makes me grumpy.
My favourite easy & lazy meals these days: warm rice with kimchi and pickled yellow radish with raw vegetables like sugar peas, cucumber, tomato or carrots. If I have time I fry an egg sunny side up to accompany it! Lots of rice!
Simple, filling and hits the spot all the time. I'm easily pleased!
Pickled yellow radish
Yes, I'm quite taken up with all things Korean!
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Korean hang out
Seoul was surprisingly fun because what was unexpected was a handful of mutual friends of the bride and groom deciding to spend the weekend together.
So immediately after the engagement party itself we decided to head to a nearby shopping mall to hang out (because it was pouring cats and dogs).
I had forgotten the simple fun of just window shopping with friends can be. I've not done it for years, since moving to London which doesn't have the same shopping mall culture as Asian countries does.
Tired of walking, we decided to head to Starbucks to grab coffee and just sit down and chat. I was so excited in seeing interesting "cake pops" and thinking it was special to Seoul, bought it to try it out. Rizal had to burst the bubble by telling me they have it in Singapore too. Boo.
Lucy, myself and Riz. Here we were all the way in Seoul and we were spending the rainy afternoon away sitting in a food court chatting. Where the heck are my eyebrows.
Gabin, a French working in China who speaks with an American accent and Serena.
After wearing ourselves out from sitting in a food court we decided to wait for seats in a restaurant to have dinner.
The next day we decided to visit a palace at City Hall. We had a heavy night partying the night before to celebrate the engagement and we all woke up past 1pm. On the way to City Hall in the subway, everyone looked shattered and the first thing we did was to pick up coffee.
I'm not one to take funny pictures or pose. Someone took a look at my pictures and said that this picture is uncharacteristic of me. But during this trip one thing was on my mind - I hold myself back to much from life from fear of embarrassment that stems from a perfectionist mindset. I need to keep pushing my boundaries if not I'll just... be old and boring.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The lust of beauty
So every time someone reminds me of how Korean I look, this thought always burns at the back of my head... do people think I've undergone plastic surgery?! Because I've natural double eyelids and most Koreans who have slit eyes would most commonly go for eye surgery to create double eyelids, which is the least invasive surgery.
Ad for plastic surgery in the subway
One of my colleagues from the Korean office was insisting very firmly (and passionately), "If you meet a Korean girl with big eyes and straight nose it is definitely surgery!!! Because biologically, Koreans CANNOT have big eyes!!!"
There's a sense of muted horror that there's so much pressure in Korea to achieve such superficial beauty through physically reshaping oneself. Yet at the same time I can understand the appeal of it.
I am very grateful to God for my body shape and complexion, hair and looks. But I am even more grateful that He taught me what internal beauty can do than that of the external.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The engagement
It was my first Korean engagement party and it was quite the experience. They had it in a cozy upmarket restaurant very tastefully designed. Must have cost quite a bit. Good thing both bride and groom are well to do.
But I was afraid of one thing.
Freezing to death.
It was a rainy day and it was cold. But thankfully it only truly poured after the party was over.
There were only a handful of the groom's friends so we felt obliged to all sit outside close to where the ceremony was held. Good thing they provided blankets; that kept me from freezing to death.
Most of the people who came sat inside where it was warm... and where the food was.
They were busy enjoying the warmth and food while those sitting in the garden (which were the closer friends and family) had to wait for the entire ceremony was over before moving indoors for food. Which by the time we did, some of them were already leaving the party.
*Grumble*
I felt my face would literally turn black if I went in to find the food all gone.
While waiting for the people to arrive, took some picures of the expensive looking houses around. You can't see it from this picture, but this house had a beautiful garden that looked beautifully serene.
Another beautiful looking house, and I could not help snap it and think my mother would love homes like this! I was amused how during the trip, I kept hearing statements like, "This is the Bangsar of Korea!" or "This is the Petaling Jaya of Korea!"
The Malaysians and one American of the party.
Oh. And another example of how Korean I look...
It was pouring by the time everyone was ready to leave the place. I was standing amongst the Malaysians at the entrance of the restaurant chatting away when the bride's mother came straight up to me amongst everyone and yakked away animatedly in Korean.
I was a bit taken aback and shook my head hoping she would realise I didn't speak Korean. And Logan, the Indian Malaysia who has spent the last 5 years in Korea stepped up to try and translate what she was saying but she ignored him and disappeared again. We laughed over how she refused to speak to the only one who could understand Korean.
She was trying to explain to us that they were arranging transport for us because it was pouring by then. When she realised she wasn't getting through she basically reappeared with an umbrella, pointed a commanding finger at me and dragged me off to a waiting car.
Thank God I was there with friends. I think I would have found it a bit traumatizing, being kidnapped by non English speaking ahjummas (aunties) in black vans.
Monday, May 09, 2011
The Korean Look
Do I look very Korean?
Because from the moment I landed, every Korean seemed to chatter away at me in Korean. So I only learnt one phrase I used daily on my entire trip.
Hangu mal bootaeyo
I don't speak Korean. I was told several times during the trip, if I don't open my mouth I would pass off easily as a Korean.
Korean kids are sooooooo cute! The girl in the picture is the niece of the bride of my first Korean engagement ceremony (wedding in Malaysia in a couple of months time). She must have taken just as many pictures as the bride because everyone with a camera seemed to take a picture with her. She had an even cuter little sister in the same dress but she was harder to convince to stay put for a picture.
Her little brother is just as cute but he was only interested in playing with his mother's iPhone.
I was amused that on my way back to Singapore to find airport staff from the check-in counter to the air stewardess speaking to me automatically in Korean. I would have thought in a more international ground they would have given me some benefit of a doubt, but apparently I look that Korean. The air stewardess only stopped talking to me in Korean in the final 2 hours of the flight when she saw me reading an English book.
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Giving thanks
Trip to Korea has been good but what's fresh on my mind is how it shook me out of the lull of complacency I was slowly falling into and reflect on my life.
I left Korea with a question in my head. My 20s is soon to end, has it been well lived?
I initially responded to that question like a spoilt child thinking no, but on the flight back as I listed out all that I had achieved against the things I felt were yet unachieved, I've had to repent and say yes, the Lord has given abundantly.
I've taken big risks by making two big geographical moves causing major changes in lifestyle.
With the help of my parents I have a nice place to call my own now.
I've had my boundaries pushed and broken which I would not have the courage to seek on my own but God shoved me into the deep end.
So much more, but most importantly, I've walked every step of the way of my 20s with Him.
I took a morning stroll to the beach to remind myself of the blessings I've had from Christ.
An elderly man doing his morning exercise with his best friend. A picture of contentment.
I've not always wanted it or sought after it, but God has always forced His goodness into my life. I am grateful.
Back from Korea
Back from Korea. Long enough a break that allowed me to completely disconnect from work yet at the same time glad that I can get back to the daily motion of things.
Short summary of Korea, love the food, people, history and culture. Can't say I'm not relieved being back in an English speaking country though!
Monday, May 02, 2011
S(e)oul of Asia
In Seoul right now. Will be leaving for Busan tomorrow and coincidentally (?)* will be arriving at the train station that is close to where Soyoung lives, who I met briefly but got along very well with, during my time in London. And I will be staying at a hostel that is near her university so we'll be spending the whole day tomorrow together.
Koreans I've learnt even more now, are really lovely people. Shy but a great big heart to accept and love people.
And so my time in Korea up till now has not just been about the place, but really the people I'm spending my time with. Although I was thankful I had today all to myself! Gave me some breathing space.
I was mulling from the start of the year what holiday I should take. Only Shanx2 knows how I don't like to do things that has only 1 reason. It makes me feel like it's not worth doing something if it only achieves one purpose. I would usually do things for a minimum of 2 reasons, and I usually sign on when 1 of them has God involved (I'm still amazed she was so intuitive on this about me).
It was a decision between Japan or England, but unexpectedly, I was invited to an ex-colleague's engagement party in Korea. And I felt a
nudge. That there was something about going to Korea that God would use in some intricate way for the future. So with that I went with it.
I've made loads of new friends through the engagement party. It was a special day and I think everyone agreed that it was a weekend where a bond of friendship was firmly built between the different people.
It was only on Sunday that I suddenly saw the engagement party being a catalyst that would set off a multitude of events through the friendships that was intersecting that day. Almost like an electric current that set off sparks at every direction. Or how the first breaking ball of a snooker game would set off all the other balls into different directions.
I obviously can't tell what would come out of this weekend, but it'll be interesting to watch how God will unfold His glory in time to come, be it in a year or two or even a decade's time.
*
I don't believe in coincidences. I believe all things happen because God is weaving an intricately detailed plan for everyone, with every encounter.
