넌 어디에서 왔니?

on the subway in seoul

Sometimes, when I'm confused and looking for the right exit in the subway station, or asking the cashier, "what exactly did you ask me just now? oh, I have to put in my phone number to get a receipt?", AKA getting confused and asking twice about things a Korean person could do in their sleep, I feel incredibly foreign in a land where, for the most part, I feel ridiculously comfortable in. It's an extreme thought, but sometimes I wish I looked a little non-Korean, or spoke broken Korean for the sake of having an excuse for not knowing certain norms.

I look Korean, I speak like a native, but oh wait, what? How could you not know that you're supposed to put your towel over there before you go into the bath house? I mean, DUH.

Feeling so foreign yet belonging at the same time. It's an interesting and might I say exclusive experience. My stay in Korea has definitely reaffirmed the fact that I am Korean-American. I am too American to be only Korean and too Korean (and ridiculously proud of it) to be simply American.

In the meantime I will continue being a little bit awkward, a little bit slow, but still the highly adaptive creature that I have always been.

higher and higher

Last year on February 14th, I said "ok let's date" to a special friend.

It's been a year of sharing childhood secrets and sweet, sweet kisses.

xx

12 Stringed Instruments

I had my first Gayageum lesson yesterday and it was so incredibly refreshing to learn something for the first time. I savored the awkwardness of trying to play a new instrument and the excitement of making my very first sound by plucking a silk string.

I was originally going to take private lessons with my Grandma (who absolutely loves instruments) but she backed out last minute and decided to have one of my aunts take lessons with me instead. I'm so thankful to have a halmuhni who is so supportive of my curiousity... she even bought a gayageum for me and my aunt to practice on. I'm so excited! It's such a beautiful instrument.

My right index finger started hurting only a few minutes into my first lesson and my legs kept falling asleep from sitting for so long! I hope my fingers toughen up and my legs start getting used to getting circulation with my legs crossed.

Eagerly awaiting the new gayageum so I can practice...

rough ruff

No no... she was really sent to a farm in Wisconsin to fulfill her shepherding duties!

What a relief...

update 03.02.2009

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Today I found out that Heidi, my childhood German Shepherd who bit two different guys on two different occasions because of the possibility that they were out there to hurt me, was put to sleep.

I thought that Heidi was sent to a farm in Wisconsin to live happily amongst cows for the past 9 years.

:/ I'm sorry babygirl.

mister p

If I was there I would sing this song to youI'm pretty sure I can play the beginning piano part toobut I'll sing it to a special Mr. Park, not a Mr. Blue.