"Life" in Korea ~ a video

Dug up some videos in the archive and threw this little ditty together. Maybe you will be able to spot familiar scenes. 

Enjoy. Music found here. 

What I liked about Korea after 5 years

I am not a list maker on this blog. If you look back through the years there have been only a few times where I have made lists. But I think it is important to "list" in some way what I have liked about living in Korea for this long. I am sure whatever I mention here might be useful to the newcomer to Korea and also help them see what makes living here worthwhile.


Getting around: You could be freezing your ass off outside in the icy temps or roasting hot in the summer, but the busses and trains will always be there. Seoul provides many means of transportation that generally come on time and get you to your location quickly. It's one of the benefits of living in a compact country and certainly doesn't hurt your wallet after using it often. Even traveling outside of Seoul one has subway and bus options. If not then a taxi will do!

Healthcare: For the longest time I told myself I couldn't leave this country because I get great healthcare. I have an auto-immune disease that requires medication and doctor's visits. Three months worth of my medicine costs me no more than 30,000 won. Plus my Doc visits were also cheap. I can't help but say I will miss the healthcare, however at the same time relent that it's not worth staying in the country for. However, it's a great service and shows how functional a National Health Insurance plan can be.

Networking: I learned a lot about how to open up to people and share your lives with them. Starting on the grounds of just being expats people seemed more open minded to be your friend. I really liked getting to know the artist community here, along with the KOTESOL folks. It seems there is always something happening where you can meet new people who share similar interests.

Access to Contemporary Asian Art: I really enjoyed being able to visit galleries, museums and exhibitions featuring contemporary Asian art. Mostly because you can't have such access to this back home, and also it was all in Asia. I felt like I had a better time understanding the works by living here. I'm sure I'll find a way to fill this void back in Seattle, but nothing beats the plethora of art on display here.

Food: Of course I can't avoid mentioning this. I love Korean food! I crave a warm boiling pot of dweanjang jiggae in the winter and cold naengmyun in the summer. I may not always want to eat Korean, but the food is so delicious and unique here I know it's going to be hard to find good places back home. If you have any doubts of coming to Korea because you might not like the food, well don't worry!

Neighborhoods: As you explore Seoul and other areas you start to get to know different neighborhoods. Like Hongdae or Jongno. For me I really enjoyed Samcheongdong and other parts of that area. Mostly I liked seeing neighborhoods expand and change throughout the years. Insadong is definitely not the same when I first got here. However, I think that's what made living here so lively. I could return to a part of Seoul I hadn't been to in a long time and discover something totally new about it. I wonder how much will change when I leave.

The Rural Route: Getting out of Seoul and seeing Korea as it is without the tall buildings and bustling streets is a really great site. I explored out of Seoul both on my own and with Ex's, and every time felt like I was getting a taste of real culture. People are really welcoming and friendly in this country and you can explore it with a beginner's hand at Korean. I am quite fond of my recent trip to Damyang and will always look back at that experience as a very positive way to enjoy Korea. Also not to mention my trip to Munkyeong and their tea bowl festival.

You know I could probably keep listing more and more, but I'm sure I've mentioned stuff elsewhere. If you have anything to add, please do!

On this coldest day in December...

From what my friend tells me this is the coldest day in December that Korea has seen in 27 years. That not only made my eyebrows raise but at the same time give me chills. Temperatures in the teens usually doesn't come around till January. But it looks like things will "warm" up next week, a bit.

To beat the cold my friend and I enjoyed watching a movie and TV in the comfort of my warm home. For dinner we had homemade bulgolgi and japchae, with lettuce for wraps. It was a warming meal and also quite wholesome.

Dipping the bok choy and other greens in to the gochujjang, turned out to be quite tasty. Fresh and live vegetables are probably what the body needs to keep healthy this frozen season.

Anyway, hope everyone is staying warm this winter and finding fun ways to enjoy it despite the low temps.

San Francisco > Seoul > Seattle

Ever since I left my dad's house to attend community college in Humboldt County (Eureka, CA), it feels like I have been a nomad. I think it's a symptom of my age, where we don't settle in one place. But this allows one to explore and see the world as they move around. That is why as I find myself packing things up and heading to Seattle, I know I'll be ready for what's ahead.

I also find it somewhat iconic to be going from one big city to the next. In San Francisco I worked at an insurance company that was right in front of the Pyramid building, and a block from Chinatown. 

source

Living in San Francisco, for the most part, was where I gained my city feet and learned how to survive in the urban environment. Having come from Eureka, a town of probably just a thousand people set against the deep redwood forests, living in the city was certainly new. When I decided to come to Korea I wondered if I was prepared for Seoul life, a city of millions. 

I left the triangular tower and came to Seoul with it's iconic Namsan Tower set in the center of everything. 

(my photo)

What really can prepare you to live in a city of millions of people? Everywhere you go, whenever you go is crowded or never really empty. Life flows on the streets so abundantly here that the buzz only dies down on certain holidays. But this doesn't mean it's a bad thing. It just means this is a city that beats and constantly spins to it's own rhythm due to the number of people and it's culture. I've often felt when visiting back home in my dad's small town an eerie feeling of the lack of people around. Seoul is a vibrant city with so much going on that you hardly need to dig deep to find meaningful experiences. 

Leaving Seoul behind is a hard decision as it is a city that has truly grown on to me. I have felt like I fit in here after so many years. But it's time to look forward and onward, and this time the place of interest is Seattle.

(source)

I have never been to Seattle, and in fact it will be the Northwestern most point in America that I will end up in. People tell me it's a fun and great city to live in and I believe them. From what I've read the place is buzzing with good food, live music and an eclectic scene of artists and creative people. 

Already I've found museums and parks that I want to explore, and with Canada right up top I might take an adventure there too. Since I'll be a student they have plenty of cozy cafes to warm up in with my laptop or books. And libraries!! Yes, Korea has libraries but you know..wasn't the same. 

It's going to be a new place to discover and I hope to get involved in the community and get to know what makes Seattle buzz. 

Anyway, just wanted to share this interesting set of facts about my life. Winter is here in Korea and I have to keep warm thoughts as the temperatures drop down. So here is looking ahead to the future and appreciating where I have been in the past. Cheers!

하얀 눈이 예뻐요!

The fresh and beautiful snow came down on Seoul today, leaving a glimmering snowy path to travel on the way home. Certainly it had the kids in a frenzy and people just generally caught by surprise. I really think it came early this year and is a sign of what this winter is going to be like.

Either way the sight, sound and smell of snow is unforgettable. Since this is my last winter in Korea, I guess nature wanted to leave me something to remember.

I liked this young girl walking ahead of me with her polka dot umbrella.

That's one heck of a snowball!

Bring it on winter!

Lentil Soup Dinner

Throw some of this stuff together, and chop up some vegetables....

Simmer it all in a large pot and combine with some liquids...

Presto! You get a delicious and warming soup for the winter.