From Seoul~

My friend sent me this blog about a foreign girl dating in Korea.. I’ve been up reading it although I should be getting sleep so I can be fully functional at work tomorrow for open class. Can’t stop thinking how similar I am to this girl and it’s kind of scary. We both fall for guys easily and as my friends describe me all the time, very fickle. She’s dated many Korean guys since being in Korea and our experiences with Korean men have been similar in  some ways. We both even struggle with an addiction with the app SKOUT, which entails deleting the app, followed by relapsing and reinstalling it.    

The only thing that makes me feel better is that I don’t actually take home men I’m truly interested in after the first date. Nope. Just the ones who can barely speak English and/or I don’t see any real potential with. I’m actually cautious and prude with the ones I actually do want to have a relationship with. 

Still though, reading this blog has freaked me out. I do not ever want to get to her stage of desperation. 

Not quite sure what came over me last week but I did something I had never done before.. I went on a dating spree. Four dates, four different guys, all within 7 days. It was quite an experience. All four guys were very much different from one another.

The first guy barely spoke English. Despite the language barriers, it was fun but I think the both of us would agree that actually dating would be next to impossible. The second date I had was with a fluent English-speaking Yonsei student. We had had many hour-long conversations on the phone before meeting.. but once we actually met, I knew he was not my type. Not only in terms of appearance, but he was not exactly humble about going to one of the top schools in Korea. As soon as he took out his school ID card after having already mentioned his school 10 times, I decided I never wanted to see him again.

The third guy was a street performer I had seen on the streets of Hongdae. He plays the guitar and sings for club-goers for a living. Although the date ended after breakfast, I wasn’t really interested. Finally, my fourth date was with an English major university student which started off terribly because he was an hour late but in the end, I’m glad I waited. Our date was a bit awkward since we are both shy, but I think awkward in a cute kind of way. He even prepared in advance a list of questions to ask me because he was so nervous about speaking English. So funny because I felt like I was on an interview, but it was totally adorable! Hopefully there won’t be a list next time though… After coffee, he even walked me to my bus stop and waited until I got on my bus. This is one of the reasons why I like dating Korean men.. Not all of them are gentlemen, but a good number of them are!

I really like him a lot but unfortunately I haven’t really been getting the same signs that he’s interested in me like I’ve gotten from the others. For one, he doesn’t really message me from morning to night. Some days he’ll initiate the conversation and we’ll talk all day long and flirt all time.. He’s even told me he missed me.. but there are days when I don’t hear from him at all. I’m not OCD when it comes to text messaging usually, but since being in Korea, it seems like something most Korean men do when they are interested in someone. Anyways, we have our second date this Thursday.. I guess I’ll wait and see how things go. 

Last week was quite eventful.. but probably something I’d never do again. Too much first date anxiety in a short amount of time. 

A few days ago, I passed my 10 month mark in Korea. Man, how time flies! This time last year, my friend Jen and I were back home sitting in a coffee shop freaking out about what we should pack and the things we should do/eat before moving. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Can’t believe it’s nearly June!

Mom’s visit was already three weeks ago! She came and left so quickly. Her and my aunt stayed with me in Seoul for 10 days. It was a tiring week and a half.. After work everyday, I had to take them out since they didn’t go out much during the day and just waited for me to come back home from work. We accomplished a lot more during mom’s visit than dad’s thanks to the nice weather. I took them to Namdaemun, Myeongdong (almost every other day actually), Dongdaemun, Insadong, Gyeongbokgung, Lotte World, Namsan Tower, and Ansan. Whew, many things in just 10 days. It was fun, but so exhausting… 

My mom and I at Lotte World.. I think the older I get, the more I look like mom and the less I look like my dad. hehe.

After mom left, I’ve been busy preparing for renewal. After a few months of debating whether to renew or not, I decided another year in Korea would be the best choice right now given that I’ve already missed grad school applications and finding a non-retail job back home would be difficult. These days I’ve been preparing for open class evaluations which is actually taking place tomorrow. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to renew since I’m on very good terms with all the staff members and talks about my housing and winter camp for next year have already been discussed. I shouldn’t be so nervous but it’s still nerve racking having an evaluation committee observe your teaching.

If I am able to renew my contract for next year, I’m going to make the most out of it. This year, everything was novel and new. I really did go overboard with the partying and drinking. Next year I’ll be sure to strap myself down and be more productive in terms of more self-exploration, plans about grad school/career, and being more fluent in Korean.

Anyways, we won’t know if we will be able to renew or not until June so updates to come later next month! ^^ Wish me luck.

Starting to accept the fact that cute boys who can’t speak English are only good for one thing and one thing only. Not gonna try and push for anything more than that anymore. It’s not like it’s a bad thing anyways.

(Part 1 is here)

So I met this guy about 7 weeks ago and we have been casually seeing each other since then. We went on several “date-like” outings, which often involved dinner and coffee which he always paid for, short road trips outside of Seoul, and even a meeting on White Day. After each outing however, I would a receive a text message saying, “I’m so glad we are good friends.” So those weren’t even dates? I had often thought to myself each time.. 

After having not met for nearly two weeks because of my friend’s visit and him being busy with work, we finally met up again recently for drinks. That night, he admitted that the first time we met, he only wanted to learn English. However, as time passed he started to like me more and more… Not only that, he didn’t want to be just friends any longer. What happened to the “친구하자” (Let’s be friends) he told me just a few weeks ago? He said that being apart for the past two weeks made him realize how much he missed me. Although he had started to fall for me earlier, he said he didn’t want to tell me because he was worried I wouldn’t feel the same and would stop seeing him. Though I was a bit skeptical of what he was telling me and even had doubts about my own feelings, it didn’t stop me from allowing him to kiss me. 

Although he has always been a gentleman, very considerate and attentive before.. I’ve been cautious to let us be anymore than friends. I’m not sure if I’m just overreacting or not, but my paranoia about getting used for language exchange or shown off as a ‘foreigner’ novelty item has made me extremely cautious of accepting his sudden confession. Not only that, the language barriers between us are so extreme that I wonder if it’s even possible to overcome. Is it worth even trying?

mydubu:

Went to the Infinite 2nd Invasion Concert this past Sunday, April 1st. Despite having pretty terrible seats, it was a blast. My best friend and I sat beside my friend’s middle school students which was good and bad. I had cute fan girls to spaz with, but it was definitely awkward during the overly-sexual performances like when Hoya shredded his shirt to pieces.  

Anyways, here are some photos. :)

(Source: fromseoul)

Rejected standing tickets for Infinite for the 2nd floor, nose bleed section. This is going to come back and haunt me I know it.. Probably will throw myself off the 2nd floor balcony when I see my friends down there on the floor…. but I’m going nonetheless. :)

I seriously gotta rave about outlet shopping in Korea. It is simply RETAIL HEAVEN for shopaholics like me. Everyone who knows me knows I have a shopping problem. It probably doesn’t help that I have a young coteacher who’s just as bad as me. We seriously sit at our desks and shop online during our free blocks. Online shopping does get boring after a while.. so today we decided to sneak out of deskwarming duties early and go to the outlet in Gasan Digital Complex. We went to one store, Handsome Factory Outlet, which you mustcheck out if you’re into designer. They carry high end Korean brands that you’d find at Shinsegae/Lotte department stores, such as TIME, Mine, SJSJ, System, as well as imported brands like Jill Stuart and Lanvin.

All items there were AT LEAST 50-80% off, with some items having even additional discounts. My coteacher and I spent literally 5 hours in that one store.

Today was a HUGE treat for me because I can’t honestly remember the last time I really went designer shopping..

I’m excited to share what I bought!!!!!

Genuine leather motorcycle jacket by SYSTEM — Original price 500,000 KRW. I bought this for only 99,000 KRW. This is definitely going to be my Friday night jacket for the spring. 

I told my coteacher I’d wear this Jill Stuart to her wedding (though she’s not even engaged yet!) I love this dress.. It was definitely a steal from 380,000 KRW to 120,000 KRW. 

This Jill Stuart cocktail dress was a bit of a silly purchase. From 600,000 KRW to 240,000 KRW. The design instantly caught my eye though.. The iPhone photo really does not do this dress justice. It’s elegant and sophisticated, conservative and flirty at the same time.  I’m officially calling this my Do Not Settle dress. Though I don’t have anywhere to wear this to yet, I’m saving this for a special night out.. ;)

So these were the only 3 pieces I bought. I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH. The quality, design and fit are perfect. I am convinced that things that are made in Korea are amazing quality.

Korea = shopping heaven = broke Christina.

Finally going to write about my first Christmas in Seoul. Yes, I know it’s almost February. Better late than never.

Christmas was spent in the company of good friends.. although I was put in charge of finding us turkey dinner.. Thanks friends.. >_>

Anyways, after some online research and calling around, I managed to find us a turkey buffet at Big Rock in Gangnam. For 30,000 won, we had turkey and all the fixings. Pretty close to Christmas dinner at home, minus all the Vietnamese dishes my mom usually makes. Not bad, Korea! 

Of course the highlight of Christmas was the couple outfits.

Josh and I decided to go in matching reindeer headbands and our SHINee Onkey Maypole sweaters.

Encountered some competition from Kris and Stu with their matching Santa outfits… Well played, guys!

After dinner, we went for Christmas noraebang… because what would Christmas (or ANY night out) be like without noraebang.

Finally, we went back to Cathy’s for our secret Santa gift exchange and mulled wine. Perfect end to our Christmas eve!

Then Kris and Stu put on their couple pajamas. Josh and I have officially been out-coupled.

The following day, Christmas day dinner was held at Taco Bell where we literally ordered ALL the things off the menu and spiked our soft drinks with soju.

So that was basically my first Christmas without family. With the company of good friends and good food… I almost forgot that I wasn’t home. I thought I would’ve been a lot more homesick around the holiday season but having awesome people to spend it with helped a lot. 

:) I’m happy.