Wednesday, December 31
Tuesday, December 30
JYP!!!
So, on Sunday a group of us (seven) went down to Daegu to surprise Amanda for her birthday ... with tickets to a JYP (박진영) concert!
It was fabulousness. JYP puts on a good show. His opening act was a new group called 2 PM. Of course, upon arriving home, I YouTubed them - so check out the video below of "10 out of 10".
Then JYP began his part of the show with an INSANELY long intro. It was cool, though. And the venue was small, which meant that our third to the last row seats weren't that bad. The title of the show was "One Night Stand" ...
Promotion video, anyone? He's the shirtless guy. For a 37 year old man, he really can MOOOOVE!
Please enjoy. :)
I'll post more about Daegu and hanging out with Hannah soon ... but now I gotta go!
It was fabulousness. JYP puts on a good show. His opening act was a new group called 2 PM. Of course, upon arriving home, I YouTubed them - so check out the video below of "10 out of 10".
Then JYP began his part of the show with an INSANELY long intro. It was cool, though. And the venue was small, which meant that our third to the last row seats weren't that bad. The title of the show was "One Night Stand" ...
Promotion video, anyone? He's the shirtless guy. For a 37 year old man, he really can MOOOOVE!
Please enjoy. :)
I'll post more about Daegu and hanging out with Hannah soon ... but now I gotta go!
Sunday, December 21
IT'S MY SIXTH MONTH!
Yes, yes it's true. It has now OFFICIALLY been six months since I stepped off the plane in Korea and began the adventure of a LIFETIME.
How'm I celebrating? Kickin' back, man. Just chillin' out. Looking at how far I've come, and how far I have yet to go. Thinking ahead to what I want to be doing six months from now. Do I want to still be in Korea? Heck yes I do. I want to stay here for a while. You know that. Where am I gonna be? Who knows. We'll see how it plays out in the coming months.
SIX MONTHS.
Crazy, hunh? Time really does fly.
I'll post an update soon. I had an AWESOME weekend - REALLY. But, I've just sent a few lengthy emails and my fingers are tired, haha. So just cut me a teensy bit of slack and I'll get on it ASAP.
LOOOOVE ya.
How'm I celebrating? Kickin' back, man. Just chillin' out. Looking at how far I've come, and how far I have yet to go. Thinking ahead to what I want to be doing six months from now. Do I want to still be in Korea? Heck yes I do. I want to stay here for a while. You know that. Where am I gonna be? Who knows. We'll see how it plays out in the coming months.
SIX MONTHS.
Crazy, hunh? Time really does fly.
I'll post an update soon. I had an AWESOME weekend - REALLY. But, I've just sent a few lengthy emails and my fingers are tired, haha. So just cut me a teensy bit of slack and I'll get on it ASAP.
LOOOOVE ya.
Thursday, December 18
YAY! (This post is all about Hannah's impending arrival)
OH MY GOODNESS!
In less than three hours, HANNAH will be on an airplane HEADING TOWARDS KOREA!!! (If I did the math right).
I am SO STINKIN' EXCITED. Really, I don't think you understand. I CAN'T WAIT.
Actually, I got my dates mixed up ... and I thought she was getting here TODAY (the 17th) ... turns out it was the 17th Pacific time. (That means the 18th here). In fact, I was so excited I had a hard time sleeping. Like, tossing and turning and so on. BUT SHE'S GONNA BE HERE IN LIKE ... TWENTY HOURS! Okay, okay ... NINETEEN!!! THAT MEANS THAT IN LIKE ... TWENTY ONE HOURS, I CAN TALK TO HANNAH AND WE'LL BE IN THE SAME TIME ZONE!!!
I hope her family doesn't hate me for stealing her for an entire week and a half ...
I'M SO EXCITED, I'M GIDDDDDY!
ANNND Chang-gi and Seo-Young are back in Korea ... and Jae-Jun and Ju-no will be back SOON! It's like a big reunion!!! I can't believe it! I don't think I'll be able to believe it until I actually see Hannah. REALLY. OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
Okay. I'm done.
No, I'm not. OMG OMG OMG.
:D
Okay.
In less than three hours, HANNAH will be on an airplane HEADING TOWARDS KOREA!!! (If I did the math right).
I am SO STINKIN' EXCITED. Really, I don't think you understand. I CAN'T WAIT.
Actually, I got my dates mixed up ... and I thought she was getting here TODAY (the 17th) ... turns out it was the 17th Pacific time. (That means the 18th here). In fact, I was so excited I had a hard time sleeping. Like, tossing and turning and so on. BUT SHE'S GONNA BE HERE IN LIKE ... TWENTY HOURS! Okay, okay ... NINETEEN!!! THAT MEANS THAT IN LIKE ... TWENTY ONE HOURS, I CAN TALK TO HANNAH AND WE'LL BE IN THE SAME TIME ZONE!!!
I hope her family doesn't hate me for stealing her for an entire week and a half ...
I'M SO EXCITED, I'M GIDDDDDY!
ANNND Chang-gi and Seo-Young are back in Korea ... and Jae-Jun and Ju-no will be back SOON! It's like a big reunion!!! I can't believe it! I don't think I'll be able to believe it until I actually see Hannah. REALLY. OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
Okay. I'm done.
No, I'm not. OMG OMG OMG.
:D
Okay.
Monday, December 15
My Bad ...
Well, it's been over a week since I've posted anything of substance ... whoops.
Hope you weren't going TOO crazy waiting for an update ... psssht, yeah right, haha. PS, who the heck visits my profile all the time?
Anyways. What's new, you may ask? Well, I have (re-)discovered a few things that I absolutely LOVE in Korea. In no particular order:
1.) UNIQLO clothes. Specifically, long sleeve shirts. Specifically the kind that come in a dazzling array of colors. Specifically, the kind that I now own four of (black, light blue, light green, and pink).
2.) Gangnam. This place has it made. No lie. There is a KICKIN' bookstore in the basement of the Kyobo Building. There is a UNIQLO. There is Coldstones, Starbucks, Dos Tacos, and a myriad of other food-related goodness. It's pretty much heaven in Seoul.
3.) Korean Pop Music. Especially those "idol groups" - yeah, yeah, I know I'm too old for that stuff. But I can't help it! It's SO addicting!!! So now, my most played list on my i-Pod includes Big Bang, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Brown Eyes, Shinhwa (a little old school, I know), LEE Hyori, Bi, and others like that. SOOOO GOOOOOOOD!
4.) Hotteok. I don't know how many times I've said it, but those little pillows of deep-fried dough-y goodness with that hot, syrupy center ... they.are.heaven. OMG. Especially the ones in Insadong. The ones in Myeongdong need a little bit of work. But they're getting there.
5.) Shinsegae Department Store. Last week, I didn't meet with Hyun's aunt ... so today was the first time in two weeks that I went (usually it's once a week). The Shinsegae Department Store is AMAZING. Expensive - CRAZY expensive - but amazing. PS I just found the Dolce and Gabbana, the Hermes, and the Tiffany's. Not that I would ever buy (or be able to buy) anything from those stores. But I must admit that I think a piece of Tiffany's jewelry may possibly be calling my name. JK, JK.
6.) The Anyang "Garten Bier" (Beer Garden) because not ONLY do the tables have the cup holders that keep your drink frosty cold, BUT ALSO, their's light up. Absolutely fascinating.
7.) Mini-norae-cubicles in arcades. You know, while everyone else is kicking each other on fighting games, I can sing to my hearts content in a tiny room all by myself. And at 500 won a song (less than 50 cents), it's not that bad for those of us who DON'T SING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
8.) Christmas gift shopping in Insadong. HELLO! AMAZING! WAY better than rushing through a department store.
9.) Meeting with friends' families who feed me. Especially when homemade kimchi is involved.
10.) Spirited discussions with really neat people about many things ... especially when one of those people actually is from your HOMETOWN (or pretty damn close) and UNDERSTANDS A LOT OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!
~~~
I love it.
PS - Hannah arrives on the 17th. And vacation starts on the 25th.
Hope you weren't going TOO crazy waiting for an update ... psssht, yeah right, haha. PS, who the heck visits my profile all the time?
Anyways. What's new, you may ask? Well, I have (re-)discovered a few things that I absolutely LOVE in Korea. In no particular order:
1.) UNIQLO clothes. Specifically, long sleeve shirts. Specifically the kind that come in a dazzling array of colors. Specifically, the kind that I now own four of (black, light blue, light green, and pink).
2.) Gangnam. This place has it made. No lie. There is a KICKIN' bookstore in the basement of the Kyobo Building. There is a UNIQLO. There is Coldstones, Starbucks, Dos Tacos, and a myriad of other food-related goodness. It's pretty much heaven in Seoul.
3.) Korean Pop Music. Especially those "idol groups" - yeah, yeah, I know I'm too old for that stuff. But I can't help it! It's SO addicting!!! So now, my most played list on my i-Pod includes Big Bang, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Brown Eyes, Shinhwa (a little old school, I know), LEE Hyori, Bi, and others like that. SOOOO GOOOOOOOD!
4.) Hotteok. I don't know how many times I've said it, but those little pillows of deep-fried dough-y goodness with that hot, syrupy center ... they.are.heaven. OMG. Especially the ones in Insadong. The ones in Myeongdong need a little bit of work. But they're getting there.
5.) Shinsegae Department Store. Last week, I didn't meet with Hyun's aunt ... so today was the first time in two weeks that I went (usually it's once a week). The Shinsegae Department Store is AMAZING. Expensive - CRAZY expensive - but amazing. PS I just found the Dolce and Gabbana, the Hermes, and the Tiffany's. Not that I would ever buy (or be able to buy) anything from those stores. But I must admit that I think a piece of Tiffany's jewelry may possibly be calling my name. JK, JK.
6.) The Anyang "Garten Bier" (Beer Garden) because not ONLY do the tables have the cup holders that keep your drink frosty cold, BUT ALSO, their's light up. Absolutely fascinating.
7.) Mini-norae-cubicles in arcades. You know, while everyone else is kicking each other on fighting games, I can sing to my hearts content in a tiny room all by myself. And at 500 won a song (less than 50 cents), it's not that bad for those of us who DON'T SING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
8.) Christmas gift shopping in Insadong. HELLO! AMAZING! WAY better than rushing through a department store.
9.) Meeting with friends' families who feed me. Especially when homemade kimchi is involved.
10.) Spirited discussions with really neat people about many things ... especially when one of those people actually is from your HOMETOWN (or pretty damn close) and UNDERSTANDS A LOT OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!
~~~
I love it.
PS - Hannah arrives on the 17th. And vacation starts on the 25th.
Monday, December 8
Orphan Ride
Found this through one of my old friends/managers from Bellingham ... Check it out. It's pretty cool.
http://www.orphanride.org/index.php?s=home
http://www.orphanride.org/index.php?s=home
Saturday, December 6
Korean Celebrity Sighting # 1
Okay. So, today appeared to be a perfectly normal day. You know, sleep late, meet Cheol-Hee for lunch in Gangnam, spend a few hours in Gangnam, and then head back to Beomgye. Right? Right??
Well, okay. I met Cheol-Hee oppa and we had lunch. I love seeing Cheol-Hee - he's so kind. He's my oppa (older brother), and really fun to hang out with. So that was awesome. We ate, and then because I had mentioned that I wanted to go to a bookstore, he took me to the Kyobo Building to the BOMB bookstore there. It was AMAZING. I bought a book on Korean history to:
A.) Learn about Korean history (because my knowledge is severely limited
B.) Satisfy my yearning to be reading something academic in order to keep my mind from completely backtracking
So we did that. And then we went to the second basement, where it was like a giant Artbox type of store ... COMPLETE with music store. So we trolled around a little, and then Cheol-Hee had to leave to meet his friend. So I walked with him back to the Subway Station, and then I decided to do some shopping - beginning with the UNIQLO. I love that store. Bought a couple of shirts, because I'm in desperate need of shirts. Then decided that it would be beneficial to head back to the bookstore. Hey, it was cold outside.
So I went back to the bookstore and perused - bought a handful of office supply thingies ... and then ended up in the music section. Well, I realized that there was a decent crowd of people with cameras (and when I say decent, I mean like twenty or twenty five ... but it was a small area) taking pictures and talking excitedly. So I decided to find out what was going on. I saw posters for an album or music DVD performed by Brown Eyed Soul titled "Christmas Concert LIVE" so me, being me, managed to discern that the two guys sitting at a table must have been from Brown Eyed Soul and that the people with posters and mad amounts of DVDs must have been getting them signed. So I debated with myself.
"Should I buy the DVD and get it signed?"
"Darn it, you left your camera at home ... idiot."
"You don't really need to get that ... you don't even know who they are ..."
Well, the Korean in me won out, and I bought the DVD. The lady was really nice - she kept asking me something in Korean, and then once I told her I was American and didn't speak Korean (in Korean), she just smiled, opened my DVD for me, and literally took me by the hand to the line. There were a few people ahead of me, including one lady who literally had like, twenty DVDs to get signed (Christmas presents, anyone?), but they let me go in front!!! That was so nice ... and then the lady told them I was American ... and they were surprised ... haha ... and signed the DVD ... and I was so shocked that I couldn't say anything except "hello", "thank you", and "Marcie, M-A-R-C-I-E" (he had asked my name - I know the word for name, so I knew what he was asking).
So I left the store after that ... and was kicking myself for not having my camera ... and I decided to send a message to Cheol-Hee and Kyu-Ock to ask them who I had just met. Turns out, they were pretty famous. Kind of. Something else? The lead singer for Brown Eyed Soul was ALSO a part of the duo Brown Eyes - WHO I ABSOLUTELY LOOOOVE (and listened to their song "Kajima Kajima" ON REPEAT THE ENTIRE SUMMER) ...
O-EM-FREAKING-GEE
So that was my first Korean celebrity encounter. WAHOO!
This is Brown Eyes - they are (were and now are again) a duo. I guess they split up a few years ago, but they got back together and released a CD this year (which I purchased and listened to ON REPEAT ALL SUMMER). I highly suggest you listen to the song "Kajima Kajima" - but don't watch the video because it's kind of lame/weird/obscure. Well, I guess it you want to, you can watch it HERE.
This is Brown Eyed Soul - (I think) ... You can YouTube them if you like - their ballads are pretty great. Or just click HERE.
In other news - yes, I was blogstalking when I got home. Hey, it's cold outside. So I'll stay in and peruse Korean blogs, thankyouverymuch. Anyways, another of my favorite Korean stars is getting ready to enlist in the military - JO In-Seong. You may recognize him from the movie "The Classic" (that's how I know of him) - he was the "modern-day" lead male. Sad times. But yay for patriotic duty!
From "The Classic" - the infamous running-through-the-rain scene ... that I LOOOOOVE ... you can watch it HERE.
... annnnnd another for good measure. Oh, JO In-Seong ... yay.
That is all. (^_^)
Well, okay. I met Cheol-Hee oppa and we had lunch. I love seeing Cheol-Hee - he's so kind. He's my oppa (older brother), and really fun to hang out with. So that was awesome. We ate, and then because I had mentioned that I wanted to go to a bookstore, he took me to the Kyobo Building to the BOMB bookstore there. It was AMAZING. I bought a book on Korean history to:
A.) Learn about Korean history (because my knowledge is severely limited
B.) Satisfy my yearning to be reading something academic in order to keep my mind from completely backtracking
So we did that. And then we went to the second basement, where it was like a giant Artbox type of store ... COMPLETE with music store. So we trolled around a little, and then Cheol-Hee had to leave to meet his friend. So I walked with him back to the Subway Station, and then I decided to do some shopping - beginning with the UNIQLO. I love that store. Bought a couple of shirts, because I'm in desperate need of shirts. Then decided that it would be beneficial to head back to the bookstore. Hey, it was cold outside.
So I went back to the bookstore and perused - bought a handful of office supply thingies ... and then ended up in the music section. Well, I realized that there was a decent crowd of people with cameras (and when I say decent, I mean like twenty or twenty five ... but it was a small area) taking pictures and talking excitedly. So I decided to find out what was going on. I saw posters for an album or music DVD performed by Brown Eyed Soul titled "Christmas Concert LIVE" so me, being me, managed to discern that the two guys sitting at a table must have been from Brown Eyed Soul and that the people with posters and mad amounts of DVDs must have been getting them signed. So I debated with myself.
"Should I buy the DVD and get it signed?"
"Darn it, you left your camera at home ... idiot."
"You don't really need to get that ... you don't even know who they are ..."
Well, the Korean in me won out, and I bought the DVD. The lady was really nice - she kept asking me something in Korean, and then once I told her I was American and didn't speak Korean (in Korean), she just smiled, opened my DVD for me, and literally took me by the hand to the line. There were a few people ahead of me, including one lady who literally had like, twenty DVDs to get signed (Christmas presents, anyone?), but they let me go in front!!! That was so nice ... and then the lady told them I was American ... and they were surprised ... haha ... and signed the DVD ... and I was so shocked that I couldn't say anything except "hello", "thank you", and "Marcie, M-A-R-C-I-E" (he had asked my name - I know the word for name, so I knew what he was asking).
So I left the store after that ... and was kicking myself for not having my camera ... and I decided to send a message to Cheol-Hee and Kyu-Ock to ask them who I had just met. Turns out, they were pretty famous. Kind of. Something else? The lead singer for Brown Eyed Soul was ALSO a part of the duo Brown Eyes - WHO I ABSOLUTELY LOOOOVE (and listened to their song "Kajima Kajima" ON REPEAT THE ENTIRE SUMMER) ...
O-EM-FREAKING-GEE
So that was my first Korean celebrity encounter. WAHOO!
This is Brown Eyes - they are (were and now are again) a duo. I guess they split up a few years ago, but they got back together and released a CD this year (which I purchased and listened to ON REPEAT ALL SUMMER). I highly suggest you listen to the song "Kajima Kajima" - but don't watch the video because it's kind of lame/weird/obscure. Well, I guess it you want to, you can watch it HERE.
This is Brown Eyed Soul - (I think) ... You can YouTube them if you like - their ballads are pretty great. Or just click HERE.
In other news - yes, I was blogstalking when I got home. Hey, it's cold outside. So I'll stay in and peruse Korean blogs, thankyouverymuch. Anyways, another of my favorite Korean stars is getting ready to enlist in the military - JO In-Seong. You may recognize him from the movie "The Classic" (that's how I know of him) - he was the "modern-day" lead male. Sad times. But yay for patriotic duty!
From "The Classic" - the infamous running-through-the-rain scene ... that I LOOOOOVE ... you can watch it HERE.
... annnnnd another for good measure. Oh, JO In-Seong ... yay.
That is all. (^_^)
Tuesday, December 2
Blog-stalking
Yes. Because I have nothing better to do late in the evening than peruse other people's blogs.
The one face that has not been (poorly) blurred out is that of KIM Dong-wan, who was (or still is) a member of Shinhwa. Shinhwa was the first Korean music I fell in love with - yes, they are a boy band. But a really good one. :) My favorite song of their's is titled "Liar" - Youtube it. It's way good. Anyway, he just started his military service. Yay, for patriotic duty!
The website that I read said that over 250 fans went to see him off as he left for his service. Suffice to say, if I had known about it, I probably would have made an attempt to be one of them. No lie. :)
Okay, one more photo of him. Because, y'know ... it's KIM Dong-wan.
That is all.
The one face that has not been (poorly) blurred out is that of KIM Dong-wan, who was (or still is) a member of Shinhwa. Shinhwa was the first Korean music I fell in love with - yes, they are a boy band. But a really good one. :) My favorite song of their's is titled "Liar" - Youtube it. It's way good. Anyway, he just started his military service. Yay, for patriotic duty!
The website that I read said that over 250 fans went to see him off as he left for his service. Suffice to say, if I had known about it, I probably would have made an attempt to be one of them. No lie. :)
Okay, one more photo of him. Because, y'know ... it's KIM Dong-wan.
That is all.
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