Taking out money just got easier ...

Korea to Issue 50,000 Won Bank Note

Korea will issue a 50,000 won ($35.93) bill in May or June after beefing up anti-forgery works, according to the central bank.

The Bank of Korea (BOK) earlier projected to issue 100,000 won and 50,000 won bills in the first half of this year. On Thursday, it decided to drop a plan to issue a 100,000 won bill at the request of the government amid controversy over its design and effectiveness, but will push to issue the other new bill as planned.

Currently, 10,000 won notes are the country's highest-denominated bills, followed by 5,000 won and 1,000 won.

"The BOK plans to make public the final version of the 50,000 won bills in February and to put the notes into circulation starting in May or June," an official at the BOK said.

Shin Saim-dang, a renowned female writer and calligraphist, is to be featured on the 50,000-won bills. Shin was also the mother of Yulgok, one of the most respected scholars of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Happy Seollal!!!

Seollal, for those of you who don't know, is the Lunar New Year. POLY celebrated by giving us a four day weekend. WAHOO! (^_^)

Now, because of this four day weekend goodness, I peaced out on Saturday morning and caught a bus from Anyang station to Daejon. Now, let me explain some things. I went down to Daejon for Chuseok, which is a major Korean holiday, in September. A normal bus ride should take about two hours. Chuseok weekend, it took about two and a half. Saturday morning? Holiday traffic PLUS snow equaled SIX HOURS ON THE BUS! SIX EFFING HOURS.

But it was all worth it. When I got to Daejon, Sung-won appa picked me up at the station and took me back to their apartment. Sun-Hyung oppa was there, and together we had a dinner of insanely spicy (yet delicious!) chicken ... and then we met with his friend, Noah, and hung out. Sunday morning, I GOT TO USE A REAL SHOWER!!!, I spent time with Sun-Hyung oppa, had nap-time in the living room while he studied, and chilled out. Sun-Hyung oppa and his friend Hyung-ho oppa took me to see a movie on Sunday afternoon - "Valkyrie". After that, we went to church.

Monday, I ate tteok-guk with Sun-hyung oppa, umma, and appa ... and appa's brother, appa's brother's wife, appa's nephew, and hal-mon-nee!!! I really missed hal-mon-nee (grandmother), so that was nice. (^_^) After umma's homemade tteok-guk, I was taught how to do the traditional Korean bow, and so they had me bow to hal-mon-nee, and then umma and appa ... and I received money! I guess it's a Korean tradition. That's what the kids do. So I laughed.

The trip back to Seoul wasn't as long - I took a bus from Daejon to Cheonan, and then I just hopped the subway from Cheonan to Beomgye. It took maybe ... two and a half hours total. That was nice.

It's been insanely cold this weekend. But, we all know that I do enjoy the cold. However, I think I'm getting a little sick. So I'm trying to take more care of myself. I went out to buy groceries today, and after trying like, four different stores, realized that it's a major holiday and therefore stores simply aren't open. Grrr.

Tomorrow. :)

Also tomorrow, I'm hoping to find an art exhibit in Sinsa-dong that I've read about. I'm quite intrigued. Wish me luck!

Hope you're all keeping warm, and that you had a nice Lunar New Year, too. (^_^)

... I couldn't think of a title ...

Well, I didn't get to see "쌍화점" today, like I hoped. Buuuut I get see "Transporter 3" ... which was neat ... ANNNNNND 선혛오빠 which was FABULOUS! Annnnd then after dinner, I met 창기오빠 in 교대 at Janus and got to listen to a REALLY amazing drummer from the states ... in-freaking-credible.

So, all in all, it was a pretty fabulous day. (^_^)

It's actually been a pretty fabulous weekend. Last night was good, hanging out with a group of people ... Pretty neat. And today was great.

So, all in all, I'm happy.

PS, I went to this open market in Anyang for the first time and it was AMAZING ... and I'm going back soon. Just so y'all know.

Scmap Seattle Sixth Edition

One of my photos made it?

Weird.

http://www.schmap.com/seattle/sights_churches/#r=none&mapview=Map&tab=Places&p=41851&topleft=47.70006,-122.37276&bottomright=47.58857,-122.27629&i=41851.jpg

Go to that link and select Saint James Cathedral ... and scroll through those photos. I swear one of them is mine - they even credited me. :)

Random, huh?

Watch this.

Seriously. Just watch it.



The piano score is called "River Flows in You" and it is composed by that lovely Korean man named 이루마 (Yiruma). This is the song that I fell in love with a year or two ago. It is quite possibly my favorite song EVER. It's so beautiful. It's the reason I wanted to learn how to play piano (and the reason I took piano lessons during my last semester). No matter how frustrated, tired, sad, upset, etc I am ... if I listen to Yiruma, it's all better. No lie. Anyways, the original version that I heard didn't have lyrics. Buuuut I heard this on his website, and I nearly fainted ... especially the part where he says "holding you, holding you, it's in you, a river flows in you" ... So seriously. Listen to it.

And then, watch the original version.



And then, watch my newest favorite of his that I just found called "Maybe."



AND THEN, watch "Kiss the Rain".



I promise, it will be the best fifteen minutes of your day.