moving on up, to the northside

can you believe it?! it's already been a year since i've been able to call a little piece of seoul my own. sadly, i couldn't renew the lease on that piece and had to venture out and claim another. the place i used to live was located south of the river and the new place is located north of the river. let me tell you, that relocation made a huge difference! basically, i moved from a nice downtown, fast-paced neighborhood to a nice suburban, quiet neighborhood. seriously, i used to not be able to sleep due to all the noise coming up from the streets when i lived in cheongdam. now, in ichon, all i hear at night are the sounds of cicadas a-chirpin' and raindrops a-droppin'. it's great! peace and quiet at last!

well, without further ado ...

the living room

the kitchen

the bathroom

the bedroom

the walk-in closet!!!!

and just one more for good measure ...

i think sani's definitely enjoying the new place

and she's back ...

hello all.

sorry for the lack of posting for the last 3 months. honestly speaking, nothing of real interest has happened to me since the last post. well, i turned 25. probably the reason why i'm back. 25 isn't all it's cracked up to be. i experienced a genuine panic attack for the first time since college and it wasn't pretty. i guess my quarter-life crisis came right on schedule. constant feelings of dread, regret, uncertainty, and ennui have been plaguing me. i'm just not myself right now.

i'd just like to say thanks to all of those people that made my birthday bearable this year. your words of love and encouragement are what keep me smiling and sane. i'm so thankful to have all of you part of my life. honestly, i don't know what i'd do without you guys.

anyway ...

so ... i guess the big 2-5. my first post as a 25 year old, mature adult. maybe a list of goals or something is in order. how about a little bit of what's been on my mind lately.

i'm trying to make myself better again. i want to go back to being the person i used to be. the genuinely happy person that didn't have to keep a fake smile plastered on her face at all times. i want to go back to being the person who loved life. the person who had goals, ambitions, and purpose. i realize my current lifestyle isn't conducive to me attaining any of this. i'm trying. i'm going to start with all the things that used to bring me joy.

run
love
live
laugh
read
eat
sleep
volunteer
reflect
travel
explore
adventure
spontaneity
human connection

i'm sure there's more that should be on this list. this will do for now. it's a good starting point.

i'm tired of being sad. i have so many blessings in my life. so many things i should be thankful for. i think i need to just remind myself of all these things anytime i'm feeling down.

thanks again for the constant support.

i love and miss you all.

gobble gobble

happy thanksgiving!!!!

well, for all of you in the states, happy thanksgiving. this happens to be one of my favorite holidays. blackout wednesday, thanksgiving thursday, black friday, then the weekend! it's the perfect combination of drinking, eating, shopping, and resting! sadly, i won't be able to spend it with my family and friends this year. ahhhhh i can't believe i'm missing out on thanksgiving dinner back home. i miss the candied yams, stuffing, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, ham, and of course the turkey. i'm drooling just thinking about it.

our typical thanksgiving spread at home =(

now now, don't feel too bad for me. i've come up with a solution! a few of my american friends and i are doing our own thanksgiving dinner. sadly, considering i don't have an oven, it won't be in the comfort of my own home. however, there are restaurants in korea that have thanksgiving specials just for all of us ex-pats! yay! we were a little late in making reservations so we weren't able to get a table for tonight, but we're doing it sunday. better late than never! they've promised turkey, mashed potatoes + gravy, green beans, soup, salad, and pumpkin pie! i'm so excited. we'll see how it goes.

now that thanksgiving is taken care of ... moving on to the next holiday ...

christmas!!!!!

i know christmas is still a month away, but i'm freaking out! i have no idea what to get my parents. well, i know what i'm getting my mom but my dad is impossible. i think he has to be the hardest person to shop for. we always just end up getting him clothes or shoes or accessories. i want to get him something he might want rather than something he needs. i was thinking of getting my dad an ipod, stereo dock, and something that'll enable him to listen to it in the car. what do you guys think?

that's my dad to the left. yes, he is lighting his cigarette with one of those lighters you use to light your stove, a barbeque, and not a cigarette. yes, we were all a bit surprised when he pulled that baby out of his pocket after dinner. lol anyway, in case you guys don't know my dad, he is not the most technologically savvy person out there. he pretends to be, but don't let him fool you. he's not! do you think he'd be able to handle an ipod? i figure that i'll get him an ipod classic (160gb), load it up with all of his favorite songs (he doesn't listen to anything new really), teach him how to use it while i'm there, and he should be good (atleast until one of the other hongs come home for break or something). i really can't think of anything else he might want. any other ideas? what's a good gift to get a dad? i really don't want to have to resort to buying him another polo, sweater, scarf, etc. HELP ME!

i'll be home for christmas

i'm going home!!!!

sadly, not right this minute, but soon enough! i booked my flight outta here! i'll be arriving in chicago on dec, 24th and will stay till jan. 2nd. that's 9 full days in chicago! i'll most likely be busy for a majority of the trip, what with the holidays, family, and whatnot, but i'd like to see everyone at least once during my short stay! i can't wait to go back! i have so many things i want to do, people i want to see, things i want to eat!!! omg i can't wait for some amazing food! i definitely want to go to some of my all-time favorite restaurants with my all-time favorite people! you know who you are!

foods i need to eat:

quartino's
avec
giordano's
portillo's
SUSHI!!!!
kuma's
chipotle
molly's cupcakes
fred's
etc.... (too many to list them all!)

i also can't wait for new year's eve! i'm staying till the 2nd of january so that i can spend new year's eve with you guys! we're going to party all night and then i'll probably have to spend the entire next day getting better for my flight the day after! it'll be short, but sweet! =)

i can't wait to see all of you!

1 month + 1 day and counting till this ...

this is definitely happening again this year ... miss you guys!!!

6 months and counting ...

i got to korea in may, blinked, and it was november. how times flies. this is the first time i've been in korea for more than my summer break. i've actually never even been in korea for the cold weather before and i'm alarmed at how cold it is. it's no better than chicago! i've been duped! one would assume that considering how hot the summers are here winters would be tolerable. apparently not. anyway, i digress. i can't believe it's almost 2011. where did the time go? my mid-20s are approaching at an alarming rate and i still feel like i'm just a kid. maybe listening to this new taylor swift album on repeat all day is making me feel like i'm a 15 yr. old teenage girl again. must stop now! but ... i can't! i won't! I LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!

anyway ...

i feel like i've been working here forever but at the same time it also feels like i arrived just yesterday. it's been a little over 6 months since i stepped foot in the motherland and it's been surreal. in the beginning, i thought i'd never be able to call korea my home or even enjoy my time here. i guess when you're open-minded (and you have no other choice), things change. i'm slowly starting to feel like i belong and i look forward to the coming months here. i've managed to make a few close friends and i have actually established a routine here. i have constants in my korean life! it's a miracle! however, no matter how great things are going, i can't help but feel lonely at times.

i am desperately missing all of my friends, family, and my chicago. i especially miss what this season brings back in the states. october through january = ridiculous costumes + food + more food + presents + parties + friends/family + kisses @ midnight + the occasional holiday fling. sadly, the holiday spirit doesn't seem to reside in seoul. i hear he makes a pit stop on christmas day but then he's out of here in the blink of an eye in order to make it back to the states in time for the NYE ball drop. it's actually kind of sad. while everyone in the states are anxiously awaiting thanksgiving, the superbowl, and their fat pants, i'm anxiously awaiting ... nothing (i've already made the transition into my fat pants ... no waiting necessary). i had every intention of making my way back to the states for the holiday season but now i don't know if that's going to happen. if i do come, it'll be from dec. 29th - jan. 7/8. we'll see how this project plays out. i can't wait till i can see all of you again! it's been too long! oh yea, i also can't wait for all of you who are coming to visit in the winter! make plans to see me while i'm here.

till then ...

i have this bear to comfort me. rawr!

well, i'm still at the office at 9 p.m. i should probably get back to finishing this damn campus entrance if i ever want to go home.

home sweet home

it's been a little over a month since i moved into the new place. 6th floor, 1 bed, 1 bath. perfectly sized for a single gal like myself. it's conveniently located in cheongdam-dong within a 5-10 minute walk from all my favorite stores, movie theaters, eateries, public transportation, etc. i would say it's comparable to the gold coast or river north neighborhood of chicago and i love it!

the best part about the apartment is that i don't have to pay rent! you heard right! NO RENT! i obviously pay the monthly assessment fee and utility bills but other than that, nada. no monthly rent! during my house hunt here i discovered something awesome about korea's renting system. this may be the one thing i absolutely love about korea!!! they have the normal monthly rent system like we do back in the states but they also have a system where you pay a lump sum (key money), sign a 1-2 year contract, and then receive the original entire lump sum back at the end of your lease period. yup! true story. so all you lose are opportunity costs (which, with the economy being the way it is, doesn't really mean much). that lump sum can be anywhere from $50,000 and upwards. it all depends on neighborhood, house size, etc. so, yes, my parents paid my key money and now i have a place where i don't have to worry about the burden of paying monthly rent. yay me! awesome korean key money system for the win!

i decided to post pictures of the place because it's finally starting to come together and it actually looks like someone lives there. i know it's a bit sparse but this is a HUGE improvement from before! i just got my couch last weekend and the coffee table didn't arrive till a few days ago. i've also ordered a small dining table to fill up this awkward space i have in between the kitchen and living room space (not pictured because i am embarrassed). oh yea, the place also came furnished with a flatscreen tv and surround speakers. awesome.

the bathroom was a big selling point for me. it was one of the main reasons why i decided to go with this place (aside from the great location and 1 bed/1 bath layout). the shower system has those crazy body jet sprays and it's also a jacuzzi! i've actually never used either of these features, but it's nice to know that i have the option!

last, but not least ... my bedroom!!! that space above my bed was so pathetic and empty before i decided to put up all those polaroid pictures i took.

this place is finally starting to feel a bit like home ever since i found a place to call my own. come visit me people!!! i have plenty of floorspace for everyone! =)