Music: Universal Lanuage

Maybe it's cause I grew up in a family of musicians; a family where singing and playing we're as frequent as breathing but there is just something indescribable about being able to attend a Korean orchestra concert and be just as moved by the talent and music as everyone else.

Music is truly a universal language, one I've been blessed to learn and can appreciate wherever I go.

Costco Comfort

I love Costco. It was always one of my favorite places to go back home. When I found there was one 10 min away from me here in Korea, I got really excited.

My first venture out there, I got terribly lost. This past week, I made another trip out there (shout out to May for showing me how to get there) and man, I couldn't get the smile off my face. I ran around like a kid in a candy store!!

Stuff here is still more expensive than back home (understandably so) but worth it. I won't get most of these "western items" anywhere else. They have all the Kirkland brand items and a few of my favorites!! I'm smiling now just thinking bout it!!!

Did I mention the yearly membership is only $30!!!

Oh Costco, I love you!! Thank you for being here.


Until next time...

Winter is HERE!!

Standing at the bus stop waiting for my ride home and my fingers are begging me to stop typing...lol. It feels like once again we've skipped over Autumn and gone straight to Winter, which sucks cause I LOVE Autumn!!

Am I prepared? Do I have warm clothes? Yes and no but I promise you, I don't "LOOK" out of place. Walking around, you wouldn't think it's 40 degrees F. I get it...they're used to it but sheesh!! Found out today though that looks can be deceiving. While they look like they're not wearing much, truth is they've got on like 5 layers...lol but since most of them are so small in the first place you can't tell...smh.

When in Rome right? I will be jumping on this bandwagon immediately! Especially since my school refuses to put on the heat and open windows to "air out the room". Forget the air. I can't feel me toes. Yes, I said "me toes".

Anyways, I hope we slow down on Winter's approach. I really do love Autumn!!
"Autumn, where are you? Have you seen Autumn?"


Until next time...

Tastebuds

Maybe my tastebuds are changing as I get older or maybe it's cause I'm in Korea and I gotta eat to survive but recently, there are a lot of food that I'm beginning to like that I didn't when I was younger...squid, radish, jam...the list continues today with mushrooms.


Until next time...

Birthday in Korea

Special...

This year, I had a pretty special birthday.  I'm away from my family and friends but thankfully, I've met some pretty great people here that I was able to spend the time with.  It's pretty awesome that my birthday coincides with the Korean Thanksgiving Holiday, Chuseok, so I've been off since last week Thursday and able to stretch out my birthday activities all week!!  It's been quite a few days so I'm glad to have today to rest and enjoy some "me time".

But you wanna know how I spent the weekend don't ya?

Well, where does royalty spend their birthday, at the palace of course!  I went to 2 palaces: Doeksugung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace.  Absolutely stunning pieces of history!  It's hard to put it into words.  I kept trying to imagine what it would've been like to live during that time in a place so grand.  If I could go back in time, just to witness...

I also got a chance to walk along the Cheonggye Stream.  I walked for quite a while...taking in the beauty of this stream in the midst of Seoul.  Surrounded by modern buildings and skyscrapers.  The infusion of the past and the present here in Korea is amazing!  I'm intrigued by how the 2 seem to come together so beautifully. 

After the palaces, something I've always wanted to do: Ballroom Dancing!!  Went to a Tango class, rocking a pair of low-top chucks...lol.  Needless to say, I had to take them off.  Man!!  Ballroom dancing is intense!  It's definitely harder than it looks and toes were stepped on repeatedly.  It was a lot of fun!  Some of the people there were really good, been dancing for years and others were beginners like myself.  It was nice to get out and do something different!!!

Tuesday, I went to the DMZ (demilitarized zone).  It's an area between 2 military powers, where military activity is not permitted.  Kind of like a boundary of peace...  Seeing as how I visited the DMZ between North and South Korea, I had to abide by very strict rules from dress code to gestures.  North Korean soldiers look on as tour groups come around and if they see anything that could be construed as offensive, then we have a problem so no waving or pointing and picture taking is only allowed at certain times.  Not gonna lie, it got a little nerve wracking standing on the North Korean side of the conference room, next to a South Korean soldier...but what a moment!!!

They have a bridge, called the Bridge of No Return.  After the Korean War ended, soldiers were allowed to choose which side to live on.  Once you made your choice, there was no going back.  Many South Koreans have family members in North Korea that they have not been able to communicate with since the war.

A very different, very special birthday this year.  I plan to embrace every new experience and moment that I have whilst in Korea.  There's so much more to see...and while I just turned a year older, I feel 5 years younger!!

For pictures of the weekend, check out the Photos page!!!


Until next time...