Day 3 : The Last Week

Maybe I will miss the warm sun rising over my little home here in Korea. It's warmth carrying it's way into my shoebox and warming things up from a cold night. You can watch the sun go past the sky by seeing the sun-rays go from one end of the wall to the other. It's funny because Tom has a little pattern he follows. Around noon he comes out of the covers, where he was slumbering, and heads to the sunshine. I've also noticed around 2:30 he likes a spot on top of my suitcases that sit in the balcony.

Sorry, Tom but our routines are going to be smattered to pieces as we head to America. I hope you can find sunshine in our new place, despite that it rains a lot in Seattle. But I think the amount of stairs and that there is a little porch outside will make up for it. I'm going to have to get some kind of bowl for him to cozy up in, as I'm not taking his plastic one.

Day three was less vigorous than yesterday. It was also one of final conundrums. Instead of using a friend to help get my box to the post office, I figured I could use a taxi. I told the taxi, "Nowon Post Office, please?" But in Korean. To my dismay he took me to a further away post office then the one nearer to my house. I guess I didn't know the one I had been going to was called something else, so he took me to THE Nowon Post Office. No matter, I just hopped on a bus to get me back to my neighborhood.

I then went to the bank and loaded up on some USD! It's cheaper to get cash then to exchange, so I figured take advantage of that. However, I will still end up transferring after my school gives me all what is due.

Time to head back to America and stimulate their economy and contribute taxes. Is there a tax break for taking care of a sweet and lovable cat!? On my way home from the bank I stopped in the local stationary store. I really need to avoid these before I leave, as I now have yet another notebook. But I wanted to get a nice little card holder for Seattle. I plan to use their bus card (like T-Money) to get around and thought a sleek pouch would be a good idea. Well two hours later, I got it! haha.

I looked around on Google Maps today to figure out how to get to all the places I need to visit when I get back. I hope to get to the DMV to get a shiny new WA State driver's license, then head to the Sprint store for a new phone. Ah the wonder's of technology...who needs a paper map anymore?

Once I'm feeling a bit less jet lagged I hope to start making my day trips around the town getting what I need out of the way before the next Quarter starts. Oh yea, I'm going to be a student! I'm starting to get a little nervous because it's been six years since I was in school and don't know if I can remember how to do it. But I know I was doing well at the Seoul KOTESOL workshops, taking notes and contributing, that it should be fine. I'm actually looking forward to doing research, taking notes and compiling it all together.

Well, I guess three more sunrises for me and Tom here in Korea.

The Last Week: Day 6

Even though I don't have to wake up early anymore to head into work, Tom still wakes me up. He does it gently by first meowing in my face and then laying his paw on my chin. Then he slowly drags his paw away so that his claws catch my skin and wake me up enough. It's okay to get up early and feed him cause I can sleep in for the next two hours. Or when he wakes me up again for his treats. Who needs an alarm clock, when you have a cat?

I prepared my last box for shipping, which contains some blankets I want to take with me. I don't know what it is, but Korean blankets are really warm and I thought why not hold on to them for more years? I also moved a bookshelf closer to the door that somebody is going to come by and pick up. This revealed a lot of dust and cat hair, so cleaned that up. Then I headed out to the local Vet to pick up Tom's flying papers, which I am going to need to make copies of before I go. Afterwards headed to the small grocery store to pick up some items I need for the rest of the week.

When I got back home I did a little more cleaning but felt really tired from yesterday. So today was mostly spent resting and contemplating everything ahead. I got a lot of cuddle time in with Tom, though.

It definitely feels like spring is heading it's way to Korea. The days are getting a little bit longer and the temperatures are heading out of the 20's (Fahrenheit). I know I am going to miss seeing the blooms here but it's time to move on. :)

One Last Stroll Through Insadong

It's the center of Seoul, and the place where you will likely make your first memories in Korea. When I first came here it was indeed one of the very first tourist areas I walked into. I am talking about Insadong, the tourist trap of Seoul. Despite this nickname, Insadong delivers souvenirs, art and traditional food. It was once an area known for it's art galleries and secret alley ways. Nowadays it has let make-up shops and typical cafes move in. 

But I needed some souvenirs before leaving, and also wanted to have a last look at Gwanghwamun Square. Upon my first arrival in Korea, the golden Sejong statue wasn't there and the gate in the background was a wall. Things were more under repair when I came here in 2008, and since then the area has blossomed.

On my way to Insadong I stopped at the Kyobo bookstore to find the right journal. I really enjoy Korea's way of designing the simplest of items, such as notebooks. I didn't find the exact one I was looking for but took away one I felt would do the job.

 To get to Insadong I meandered through some alley ways admiring the silly sights along the way. Plus it was good to get off the main (noisy) road. I liked the following sign advertising fish soup, cause I figured someone worked hard to paint that picture.

At one point I saw someone had these chipmunks in a cage nearby their shop. They were too cute to pass by. Then as I popped out now and then onto the main road I caught a glimpse of a bum making a fire to warm his hands. That was the first time in Korea I ever saw something like that.

A bar named "Seattle" was spotted, which was a sign ...right?

As for Insadong itself not much has changed since the last time I was there. However the street certainly has changed since 2008. I admired the trinkets for sale and various street carts with their random bites to eat.

Ssamzigil is still the same spiral staircase it always has been. I hope that place never changes and brings in more spunky fun.

 It's amazing how places shrink after you see them over and over. When I first stepped into Insadong it felt like an endless road of people and shops. This was when I was at YBM and had my training days just with the first week of arriving. I'll never forget the feeling of wanting to explore it more.

For lunch I had some bulgolgi at a typical restaurant you can find in the area.

I managed to get everything I came for and some extra, of course! Revisiting Insadong for the last time obviously reminded me of times past, but it also made me think of other parts of Seoul that I might want to say goodbye to before I go. Time is quickly falling through the hour glass and soon enough all of this will be out of reach. However, I think with all the amount of exploring I have done over the past five years I think I've made enough lasting memories. 

호미화방 Still the Best Art Supply Store Around

I recently spent a good amount of time in the Homi Art Supply Store in Hongdae, and have to say it is still the best art supply store around. Granted, I haven't been to many others but those that do claim to be art stores are not as thorough in their supplies, and tend to lean toward the crafty end of things.

The selection of supplies range from Korean companies to familiar Western brands.

After spending about two hours in there I walked away some new sketchbooks, pencils and a whole lot more. It's a fun place to get lost in.

Jenny's Bread & Hongdae's Streets

As you might have gathered by now I spent a good amount of time in Hongdae recently, and instead of posting everything in one shot I'm breaking things up. In this post, I'm going to take you to one of my favorite lunch spots, Jenny's Bread. I have been to this place several times, and you can catch a 2010 post here and a 2011 post here.

I think the challenging part is finding the location, however it is quite easy. Instead of the plain looking shop that marks the side-street entrance, there now stands a juice place. So if you see this juice-joint, take a right and head up the hilly street.

As things curve and you go up more, you will come to the first left. Take this and you'll soon see Jenny's Bread on the right.

The place wasn't too packed, just a few folks enjoying a good meal. I had the mushroom sandwich lunch special. This means I got their usual pumpkin soup, which was scrumptious!

The sandwich was as delightful as usual, with home made fries on the side. What's great about this place is the freshness in the quality of their dishes, and the care to which they understand taste. Even the ice-tea came to me unsweetened and was very refreshing.

It was a great meal, indeed and I enjoyed seeing a street cat and trashed shoe on the way out.

I meandered back into the crowded streets of Hongdae, passing the park that has an open arts-and-crafts market every weekend.

I really enjoyed the above hand-crafted jewelry and bought myself a ring. I hope to come back again and find this vendor so to be able to unload the cash.

Hongdae is always full of surprises and new places are popping up everywhere.

Now for some bonus black-and-white shots: