viva la sk

marni every day

2012-01-21T20:39:00.002-06:00

these marni necklaces make the perfect gift.

bijoux bijoux

2011-11-30T21:49:00.001-06:00

I remember the first time I saw Dior's "oui" ring on the now defunct eluxury.com

But... I kind of love the super-affordable "love" ring more - featured on this holiday list.

Cannot even write where this ring is from. Totally unexpected, right??

molten

2011-11-29T19:13:00.000-06:00

this is perfect.

demure and flashy.

mulberry!

thanksgiving this year

2011-11-26T19:35:00.000-06:00

this year, my closest friend and i went on a trip to portland, maine for the thanksgiving holiday.

the people in maine are so friendly and accommodating. the food was fresh and local, the boutiques and shops weren't crazed about black friday, and for thanksgiving, we had a perfect korean meal made by my college friend anna who is now living in portland!

we had time on our last day to take the ferry to peaks island, just one of the thousands of islands off the maine coast. it was amazing to be in such a historic part of the country and i kept imagining all the ships and boats that had traveled the waters to discover a new land.

patagonia

2011-11-25T22:14:00.001-06:00

thank you, patagonia, for reminding us to consume less, and reuse as much as possible.

your message strikes clear and sound while other retailers are busy promoting feel-good purchases.

common threads initiative

celebratory dinners

2011-11-25T22:04:00.000-06:00

I would like all celebratory dinners to emulate everything in this photo.
The warmth, the smiles, and most importantly, the wine!

via happenstance photo by sarah rhoads

a bit of tape and creativity

2011-10-25T22:29:00.000-05:00

these girls really know how to make their dorm rooms pop.

via r29

my weekends

2011-10-22T17:12:00.001-05:00

The MTA likes to do construction on weekends, and sometimes it requires way too much effort to get out of Brooklyn. At first, I thought it was the end of the world, but now that I think about it, I would much rather spend my entire weekend in Brooklyn than trek out to a crowded Manhattan where I have to wait for an hour to have brunch. (Ok, not all places are like that but you get the point.)

I start my weekend waking up not to an alarm but the bright sun soaking into my studio apartment, and then I put on my usual weekend outfit of skinny jeans and a thrifted oversized cashmere sweater. Perfect for lounging. With a pair of flats I'm off to the Brooklyn Flea and make a beeline to the food stalls in the back. With a full stomach and a cup of hot apple cider in my hands, I'll zigzag the aisles and rows of Fire-King glassware, handcrafted jewelry, and vintage furniture - usually leaving with nothing, but today I found a few unique Fire-King mugs that my boyfriend helped me pick out.

Tonight, I've convinced by college friends to come out to Brooklyn for a night in Williamsburg. The Meatball Shop is our first stop, and then hopefully a lane will open quickly at Brooklyn Bowl.

I love my Brooklyn weekends.

head in the clouds

2011-10-18T21:06:00.000-05:00

how adorable is this hat from kate spade new york? it'll make those cold winter days so bright! head in the clouds ski hat - even the name is cute. love!

spenglorean*

2011-10-12T00:05:00.000-05:00

do you ever want to speak a language that no one else knows, so that you can write whatever you want and still feel the exhilaration of posting it on the internet but not worrying about what other people will think? when has the internet become such a public smorgasbord? or where has my confident, nonchalant personality disappeared to? have i become a self-conscious, overly serious adult?

my old xanga makes me cringe at times - but at least i was honest.

what is this illusion that we portray through the various channels that are available to us online?

*spenglorean = my totally made up word to describe the combination of spanish, english, and korean that i think and dream in...

rome gains a gold-hearted girl

2011-09-25T10:00:00.002-05:00

my friend michelle is currently living in rome and photographing the city and her travels beautifully. having lived a year abroad (and not having done a great job at blogging about it) i am always eager to see how my fellow blogging friends share all the good things their friends and family back home want to hear. michelle pulls it off effortlessly with beautiful photography and thoughtfully divided layouts and posts.

catching up with michelle in los angeles at alcove

see michelle's blog: gold-hearted girl

wdyl?

2011-09-25T00:36:00.000-05:00

have you visited google's what do you love? try it and tell me a few things you love! :)

i love: plush toys, iceland, and roadtrips!

and the collar bone is connected to the...

2011-09-24T21:03:00.000-05:00

After a few months of traveling and moving this summer, my nameplate necklace I got custom made in Taxco, Mexico was tarnished and needed some polishing. Stuck in an apartment without any silver cleaning product - I resorted to the internet and found this simple, natural way of cleaning silver! And it worked like a charm! (or just a really cool chemical reaction.)

my "viva" necklace is back to floating around my collar bone :)

just one of those girls...

2011-09-12T23:02:00.000-05:00

Shin Min Ah is just one of those girls you can't take your eyes off of.

W TV: Shin Min Ah for W Korea September 2011 from Eiffel In Seoul on Vimeo

equivalents

2011-08-08T20:56:00.000-05:00

Market week is just about to come to an end for our international team. Almost all of our accounts have flown in to NY to see the Spring 2012 line, have been placing their orders for the first three months of next year, and they have all been keeping me quite busy. Today was probably the latest I stayed in the office (left around 8:40 pm) and on my way home, I felt the same amount of heaviness around my shoulders and my head as I felt when I came home from work at the W in Mexico. Except in Mexico I only worked until 7:00 pm (when there were no events) and almost always had a legitimate lunch break.

I've realized what made me so much more exhausted after a day of work in Mexico vs New York was the language difference. I was exercising my brain so much when the majority of my day was dedicated to speaking, writing, working in Spanish. I also think a lot of that time was spent making sure I was learning to say things the right way.

My new work now has me focused on Asia. The growth in Asia is tremendous - but can you really blame me for fully believing in the potential that is Latin America?

new beginnings!

2011-07-29T22:39:00.000-05:00

I am now living in New York doing international business in the fashion industry. I currently work exclusively with Asian accounts but I hope to use my Spanish in the near future to introduce the brand to Latin American markets. I've only finished week three but the company's goals for expanding globally have kept me busy and running around! I've realized how important it is for me to completely understand the brand as my team is responsible for directly representing the company to our international accounts. I'm excited to see how my role will develop with time.

11 year old me who made a time capsule 11 years ago.

2011-06-05T02:35:00.002-05:00

When I was 11 years old in the year 2000, I made a time-capsule that was meant to be opened ten years later, in 2010. I made two capsules and last month my parents found one of the boxes while moving. I opened the box tonight with my family and we found:

a letter
an envelope with a crisp $10 bill (did I think I would need the money? or did I already know how happy I would be to find money after all this time?)
a straight A report card from Ivy Hall Middle School
a history exam that I got an A- on
a bundle of Time Magazine for Kids
copies of the Chicago Tribune from December 31st - January 2nd.

Other than the fact that I was a pretty sentimental kid, I realized that I also got Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide confused and got a little hasty when writing about evolution. For a few laughs on what a 11 year-old girl from Buffalo Grove, Illinois might have been expecting of the world, read on:

In the year 2010 and the FuTuRe.
In 2010 I think that I will be a singer some day. I would be really famous and would sing really good. I would get married at the age of 23 in the middle of June on a Saturday. I will get married in Korea and have a humongous engagement in America. I would finish college. There will be no pollution and presidents would not be bad. Also schools would let students use the office phone, and take food out of the cafeteria. All the popular people that were in my school would get fat and have bad clothes.
All chemicals such as carbon-monoxide would go away. New species of animals in the world. There would be better technology and scientist and archaeologists would know things about Homo Habilus, Homo Erectus, Homo Sapiens, and Com Erectus. It would be so cool.
Fashion would be mini skirts with techno eye makeup. Every girl would be so pretty except the really ugly ones. This is what I think may happen.
By: Sunkyung Park

something in between

2011-05-23T19:34:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share this excerpt from Tina Fey's (rather hilarious) prayer for her daughter:

"Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit."

Click here for the whole prayer.

breakfast disaster

2011-05-19T01:24:00.001-05:00

One of the hardest things to find while living in Mexico was a good, hearty, American style breakfast. I'm not sure if it was the altitude that affected my taste buds (Mexico City is about 7000 ft above sea level) but I could never find the breakfast or brunch I craved! Now that I'm back in the US I can finally hit that spot.

Class of 2011

2011-05-15T18:28:00.000-05:00

On May 6th, 2011, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Northeastern University! What I initially didn't think was a big deal... ended up becoming a big deal. Graduating from college felt like such an accomplishment! I was so thankful to be able to see my friends and family again after spending a year living in Mexico. My advice to soon-to-be grads, have fun at graduation and the days that lead up to it!

"Going to a 4 year school is like leaving a party at 10:00 p.m."

crossing borders interview

2011-04-01T15:21:00.000-06:00

An interview I did last fall while I was studying at UDLAP was recently published online! It's always interesting to read about someone's impression of me and read back on what I was thinking, feeling, and expecting a few months ago. If you want to practice your Spanish, take a look!

A big thanks to Mike, who apparently thought I was a very smiley person!

(click for full article)

"a nice jewish boy"

2011-03-28T00:25:00.001-06:00

I just ran out to the 24 hour pharmacy around the corner from my apartment to buy a few things, and while I was waiting in line to pay, I found a young Jewish man conservatively dressed with a yarmulke standing next to me in line.

"My future" being the current trend of the ~~month~~ my whole life, "where am I going", "where should I live", "should I be dating"... have all been a never-ending series of questions that I have been asking myself. I know I'm at a point in my life where it is perfectly acceptable to be indecisive and unsure about my future. So long as it doesn't last longer than the generous grace period provided by Sallie Mae. Grace period my ass.

Anyways, seeing the Jewish boy and waiting for a few more minutes in line reminded me of a conversation I had with my dad when I was in LA last weekend...

My dad is a natural conversationalist. Working in sales he loves to bring out different cards, and to my knowledge the daughter-card is his favorite one. He'll tell his clients that his daughter is living in Mexico City and it instantly draws people in. The first question, undoubtedly, is "how do you have a daughter who is 22 years old?" (my parents married young), and "how in the world did you send her to Mexico City out of all places?". To my surprise, my dad jovially told me that he answers the second question pertaining to Mexico's bad reputation with a "She lives in a safe neighborhood called Polanco, apparently where all the rich Jewish people live! Maybe she'll come home with a nice Jewish boy to marry!"

My reaction: "not surprised. not surprised at all, ahppa"

To speak a little bit about my background, I grew up in a nearly 90% Jewish suburban town in Greater Chicago and by the time I was in seventh grade, I was going to bar and bat mitzvahs every single weekend. I impressed my Jewish friends with my knowledge of Sh'ma Israel (I was in a children's choir and sang in Hebrew often) and my parents who are devout Christians, invited my Jewish friends' parents to dinner at our house and gifted checks of auspicious amounts at my friends' mitzvahs. Needless to say, my family became quite familiar with the Jewish-American culture.

Tonight, as I walked home with my purchases in hand, I realized that although my parents have thankfully never restricted me in dating or befriending a certain type of person of a specific background or race, they do have a preference when it comes to faith. Christianity being the obvious first choice - whether it be a friend, a significant other, or potential husband, having faith, being spiritual and believing in God will always be the next contender. Even if it means it's just the Old Testament.

One thing immigrant parents must learn to accept, is that by immigrating they are agreeing to raise their children in a world that is not necessarily the world they grew up in, and that their children will be exposed to different cultures, customs, and languages as they grow. The chance that their daughter or son will fall in love with someone of the same heritage or of a completely different one is nothing that can be controlled. In fact, I believe controlling can often lead to complete backfire. To my relief, I think my parents accepted the chance they took when they decided to move to the U.S.

pack up and go

2011-03-18T15:43:00.004-06:00

vogue australia

it's good to know that change is coming
but it makes it harder to wait through the repetition and routine of the present.
i'm ready to move on to bigger, better things.
graduating from college in a little over a month!

look up

2011-03-16T01:51:00.001-06:00

hi there,

i have to say i've had better days. it seems like everything, all at once, has decided to pile on and on - and it leaves me feeling very confused on what is making me feel this way. i've tried to solve things on my own, have even bought a plane ticket to LA for the weekend, but i'm pretty sure nothing is really going to give me an immediate answer. i tried to cut off what i thought was making me feel so unstable, unsettled, but i realized that that wasn't the problem - it's a whole amalgamation of things. growing pains.

in other news, i'm a part of a photo project with eight extremely talented people (some of whom i have yet to meet) and i just posted the photo above in the theme "look up". take a look at our project: collective focus

merrily merrily merrily merrily

2011-03-02T22:08:00.003-06:00

life is but a dream

why try so hard to savor these moments if i know my life is going to get infinitely better? living in the moment and trying not to worry so much about needing to enjoy it. i need to make some tough decisions in the near future but i have to say, i think this is one big exciting roller coaster ride. what i learned this week is that what i think are dilemmas are actually options. i have options and i'm lucky. this time in my life is a challenge for an indecisive, curious girl like me, but what can i do. this is how i've always been :)

follow follow me.

2011-02-26T18:14:00.000-06:00

One decision made. Many more to go! I'm leaving for Cancun early tomorrow morning to spend my last spring break as a college senior with my friends. I'm ready for a break from city life and to get myself a little beach glow just in time for Mexico City's fashion week when I get back!

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

overwhelmed yet hopeful.

2011-02-24T23:08:00.002-06:00

I had a pretty important meeting today and spent the whole day pumping myself up for it. I woke up earlier than usual to make sure I looked real good, prayed, and told myself, "You're ready for this. You know what you're made of, and you have so much potential you can't even define how much it is. And, if anything, you know how to make good first impressions."

New people, new opportunities. Do you give yourself pep talks?

it's what counts

2011-02-22T08:00:00.002-06:00

simple things, los angeles

little gestures, reassuring words, sharing food, being together just to pass time

where do i go from here?

2011-02-22T01:06:00.002-06:00

맨날 떠나고 맨날 새로운 곳에 적응하고. 언제까지 이럴수 있을까?

너가 나의 집이 되고. 나도 너의 집이 되고싶다.

I'm having the hardest time deciding where to go after I graduate in May. I have a few options but I have no idea what to do. Do I stay in Mexico City? Do I go to LA? New York? Do I start in the US and then go abroad? Or should I build experience here and then get comfortable in the states a little later? And how about Europe? They actually believe in living a little while you work. That's a thought.

I'm just going to breathe a little.

hello gorgeous.

2011-02-16T00:20:00.000-06:00

Oh how I would love to have your scrumptious micro 4/3 system in my hands.
I'll treat you like a prince with leica lenses and all. The things I would do for you!

[olympus e-p2]

luna de miel

2011-02-15T22:40:00.000-06:00

Did you know that honeymoon is translated into "luna de miel" in Spanish?
The literal translation is moon of honey. I like it because I love both words. Luna + miel.

I've found myself a bit irritated, a bit tired, and a bit annoyed of everything lately.
(No it's not that time of month...) I think it's because the honeymoon phase has passed.
The ethereal 5 week honeymoon phase I had with Mexico City, with my internship, with new people...

and now reality hits.

I know that no one can fill the void that I feel right now.
It's just a matter of time - and once I get over this post-honeymoon anti-glow, things will be okay.
Or just more clear.

Today I read a quote by Samuel Lover:

"Come live in my heart, and pay no rent."

be mine

2011-02-14T07:03:00.000-06:00

Just a little video I made for Valentine's Day! I hope this video finds you well and fills your day with a little bit of love from me.

xoxo

sweetie

2011-02-12T03:06:00.001-06:00

Europane Bakery/Cafe in Pasadena, CA

Now that it's almost Valentine's Day, all I think about are sweets. Macarons, chocolates, cakes, cupcakes, canelles, sweets sweets and more sweets. I think my friend Diana said it perfectly. It's a delightfuly dreadful day. But I'm hoping your day and mine are a bit more on the delightful side. ;)

My favorite Valentine's Day gift was from my mom. I'm impossibly hard to surprise but my mom came home and gave me a perfume and sweetly said to me "because it's Valentine's Day!". I don't think I'll ever forget that. I still have the Ralph Lauren Romance perfume she go me years and years ago.

2011-02-09T23:46:00.001-06:00

1, 2, awkward!

2011-02-09T20:06:00.000-06:00

There are a few things that make me feel really awkward as I work in a foreign country.

First, answering and making phone calls. When people are on a completely different system where A does not equal Apple but Alejandro, and F is F as in Fernando, and disculpe I completely lost you. I need to work/study/practice phone calls so I don't sound like a dumbass.

Second, smoking. Everyone smokes. We have a lot of clients in the fashion industry and the first thing my boss asks them is if they would like to smoke before the meeting. I love the woman for including me in so many different client settings but what do I do for five minutes while everyone has something in their hands? Awkward......

2011-02-05T18:04:00.000-06:00

Forrest Gump was one one of the first non-Disney movies I watched over and over again. Do you remember the scene when Jenny and Forrest run into the corn fields and Jenny starts to pray?

"Dear God, make me a bird. So I can fly far. Far far away from here"

photo by lydia han

overnight

2011-02-01T18:39:00.001-06:00

Given that it was only week three of co-op, I think I had one of the best (albeit busy) workweeks ever. Bobbi Brown had a three day training/conference at the hotel and they set it up beautifully. I'm beginning to see how cohesive certain brands can be when set with the backdrop of the W. The makeup brand's new campaign "Pretty Powerful" celebrates twenty years of BB success. As a part of artist training/exchange between BB and W, employees of the hotel got to get their makeup done! I ended up getting mine done twice because one of the directors, Rogelio, wasn't very satisfied with my first look. He definitely knew what to do with Asian eyes and it was really nice talking to someone from the states while getting a new look.

I've officially become the banquets/events photographer. I take photos of the food, drinks, table settings, etc. before a event starts for our archives and future clients. It's a fun way of involving one of my favorite hobbies into my work day - but sometimes the running up and down the stairs in heels gets a little tiring!

On Friday night, W Mexico City held an event called Symmetry Spins to launch the compilation disc made by the W Music Director, Michelangelo L'acqua. It was a fun event - I was "the girl with the list at the door" letting people in and giving VIP bracelets. There were so many photographers waiting for celebrities to walk in the door and some of them would take pictures of me when they got bored of waiting haha. Rogelio offered to do my makeup before the event - I am officially starting to love dramatic, smokey eyes!

before week three

2011-01-22T12:58:00.002-06:00

As I anticipate my Monday workday that will start at 8 a.m. for a Bobbi Brown event I volunteered (why do I do this to myself) to take photos of, here are a few photos I've taken with my BlackBerry throughout the two weeks I have been working and living in Mexico City.

The photos taken outside are from my walk to and from work. I try to take a different route home every day and so far it has resulted in discovering really cool houses, fancy car garages, and restaurants.

A few photos from the office. W Mexico City is always featured in the hippest magazines here. I like that I am "improving my Spanish" while looking at the editorials. I improved my Korean clutching one magazine per month so I'm sure this will help as well!

Naranjada minerals y naturals that I love and always order at restaurants.

#203 - my eight story apartment home!

wonderland

2011-01-11T22:21:00.000-06:00

I finished my second day of co-op today at the W Hotel in Mexico City!

My apartment is only a 15 minute walk away from the hotel and I really enjoy my morning and evening commute because the weather is pretty nice and I get to walk past old houses, restaurants, cafes and stores. Mexico City is so much more alive and bustling compared to Puebla! I like that I'm surrounded by so many people and places to go, but sometimes I wish I didn't have fellow commuters catcalling "chiquita" and "bonita" to me at 8:30 in the morning. Seriously... just get a coffee and go to work!

My first day was pretty slow in the beginning because the Director that I am working with forgot that she was receiving a co-op! After getting my W pin - the company doesn't use badges, just a little pin that indicates that you work there - I got a tour of the spa, banquet halls, and the restaurant. I did some reading on the company and the Sales department, reviewed some contracts on past events, and also wondered when someone would invite me to eat lunch with them. Seriously, when I am a CEO I will have a mandatory lunch for everyone and especially make sure that new employees get someone to eat lunch with. Regardless, someone asked me at 1:40 (I WAS STARVING) if I wanted to go eat and my hunger crankiness instantly disappeared when I found out that... lunch is free. Every day. I love working at a hotel.

After a pretty tasty lunch of rice, grilled meat, salad, and a banana, I went into a department meeting that lasted three hours full of ups and downs, laughter and anger, arguing and sighing. Such heartfelt, passionate meetings are pretty new to me. I think Americans are pretty good at keeping things in and letting go of their feelings through passive aggressive Outlook e-mails.

The W makes me feel like I'm in wonderland. There are so many doors and stairs that are completely invisible to guests. I'm actually encouraged not to take the main elevators unless I'm with a client. I know I'm only scratching the surface of hotels but I'm enjoying what I'm learning so far! Today I followed a co-worker to a meeting with Japanese clients interested in holding a corporate event at the hotel - I finally got to see the guest rooms and the penthouse and spoke the five Japanese phrases I know. (nts: Must learn Japanese) tomorrow my director is going to review a promo I made - I hope she likes it!

Back to wonderland tomorrow.

Merry Christmas, friends.

2010-12-25T05:13:00.002-06:00

that's how it goes

2010-12-13T00:47:00.000-06:00

Here's the reality of traveling and living in Mexico. Sometimes you have a wonderful trip planned to a beautiful city that hosts film festivals and creates amazing candy and artisanal crafts, and then you find out that a drug cartel has blocked off all roads leading to that city by stealing cars, setting them on fire to create a blockade, and terrorizing the entire area.

Morelia in the state of Michoacan was a no go this time around - but my friend Ida and I have arrived safely in Catemaco, Veracruz. Beautiful views of a lake with eery islands dedicated to studying the behavior of monkeys and other wildlife. All after a fun two nights in the Port of Veracruz for a wedding and enjoying the warm weather.

And guess what! I encountered (and subsequently paid) my first corrupt cop of Mexico. More about that later.

día oscuro

2010-12-07T16:27:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was an interesting day. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to study for my exam and noticed that my desk lamp which is usually turned on so that my roommate can see when she comes back to the room (we both have the strangest sleep schedules) was turned off. I looked over and saw my roommate wasn't in her bed, got up to turn the light on... nothing. The power was out and later I found out the entire campus except for the library was out of electricity because a tlacuache (a Mexican opossum of sorts) had crawled into the main power grid for the campus and well... if everyone wasn't so pissed about the internet, hot water, and electricity being down during finals week we would be having a small memorial service for the tlacuache.

There were no emergency generators and the battery powered emergency lights were out by the afternoon. My roommates and I scrambled to get things done before it got dark, looked for candles, and prepared a little birthday surprise for another one of our suitemates. The timing was horrible in terms of academics, but perfect for bonding with my roommates before I move to Mexico City. I don't think I'll ever forget the hours we sat in the dark with little tea candles on our coffee table chatting without the TV on, no noise from the refrigerator or laundry machine, and all of our uncharged cell phones tucked away in our purses.

2010-12-05T23:11:00.000-06:00

Mexico has shed a new light on a lot of things for me.

I'm trying new things with new people, eating new foods (currently sipping on some atole that my suitemate made), gossiping in Spanish with my roommate at 3 a.m., taking buses to cities I sometimes can barely locate on a map...

Sometimes I get caught up in thinking that I have to do everything before I get older. But I think I should focus on telling myself that age is just a number. Sure it may be harder to climb ancient pyramids when I'm a senior citizen, but why the hell am I so worried about turning 25? 30?

I've realized...

that I really don't need to go back to the United States.

common people, polanco

2010-12-03T03:25:00.000-06:00

Although the thought of going home to LA is thrilling enough, I'm also incredibly excited to live in Mexico City for the first half of 2011. The fact that stores like Common People will be a 15 minute walk away from my apartment gets me excited. I can't wait to be able to walk to places and actually have the option of a metro (albeit a bit sketchy, but hey it'll get me places).

Mexico City's answer to Paris' Colette? I'm eager to see.

source: nyt

reason to celebrate

2010-12-01T02:21:00.000-06:00

It's December!

I'm finishing up my last few presentations, projects, and final assignments of my undergraduate career. I have an internship lined up for next semester, an apartment in Colonia Polanco in Mexico City, and three weeks of vacation in Los Angeles to spend with my family and friends. Happy December!

curiosity

2010-11-30T03:03:00.000-06:00

호기심이 가는 사람들이 생겼다.

나의 호기심은 영원하기를!

그나저나

내 머리가 이렇게 길었다는게 정말 신기하다.

다시 길러볼까?

I can't believe my hair used to be this long!

el señor

2010-11-18T12:17:00.000-06:00


Distrito Federal, México

The first thing I noticed about this man was his shoes. Which then immediately reminded me of this post. Leaning against the church gate, this man had so much character and kindly obliged when I asked if I could take his photo. I find that for the most part, men in Mexico are better dressed than their female counterparts. (I also thought this in Japan... perhaps I am biased. :P)

Right after photographing this señor, I saw some girls taking pictures of themselves (I'm guessing for their blog) on the same street. Young aspiring fashion bloggers (and girl with hideous yellow leggings) take note! There is a lot to learn from los señores.

ここにいるよ

2010-11-16T00:20:00.001-06:00

there are always those people who pop out of nowhere and ask you how you're doing. after a short update and a few minutes (sometimes hours) of shared laughter about the past, we are both on our way leading the lives we have always led without each other. these moments are short and they happen maybe once a year (because that's just how it has to be. we could never talk daily.) but it's nice that we both have a shared curiosity about each other. it's the open door, the strange balanced friendship and camaraderie that is always strangely there after all these years.

sundays in boston

2010-11-14T13:29:00.000-06:00

a typical boston sunday for four northeastern girls.

i miss them so much!

casa conde

2010-11-14T09:00:00.001-06:00

I just found this bed and breakfast in Mexico City called Casa Conde with great rates and minimalist design that pays homage to its Mexican culture but without the tacky touristy crap (that I often fall victim to but it doesn't need to follow me all the way to my hotel room now, does it?) I think this will be the place I'll stay in when I am looking for apartments around the area. They even have bikes available for rent! I think apartment searching just got a little easier for me. :)

images from casa conde

driving forward

2010-11-13T17:17:00.000-06:00

Currently blogging from a Starbucks in La Paz, an area I would definitely consider living in if I ever end up in Puebla for non-school related stuff. I've reached the 3 month mark where I am remembering road names and landmarks to the point where my roommate trusts me with her car! I drove in Mexico for the first time a few nights ago and experienced first-hand how horrible all the speed bumps are that pop up every 3 yards. Living in this country is definitely easier with a car. Important to note because I'd like to live in a city where I don't necessarily need one to get around. Gotta get some work done and look for apartments in Mexico City! Hope you're having a great weekend. :)

food of the aztecs

2010-11-08T23:53:00.000-06:00

Today I tried something new thanks to my suitemate Diana! We went to Walmart (amazing how often I follow my suitemates to shop here) and I spotted something that looked like blue-ish moldy corn kernels in the produce section. Diana told me that it was an indigenous food called huitlacoche that Mexicans like to put in quesadillas. I tried tiny chili covered grasshoppers this weekend in Oaxaca so corn with fungus? Why not! The huitlacoche tasted really earthy - kind of like mushrooms but with a slightly sweet taste that clearly indicated that I was eating maize. Cooked with corn tortillas and queso oaxaca to make a quesadilla I was definitely feeling corn overload but it was an overall pleasant gastronomic experience.

Later tonight I went over to my friends' house because my Swedish friend offered to teach two Norwegians, an Austrian, a Spaniard and me how to make risotto. I don't know if I can make it as well as he did but all I know is that it involves a lot of patience and love (like most good things in life do). We had some good laughs over vino blanco and random youtube searches for naked dancing Swedish men, along with a live PG version of the famous Swedish "balloon dance" that started it all. (That probably made absolutely no sense to people who weren't with me at dinner... oops :P)

Sidenote: my stomach feels a little funky right now but I have no idea what caused it. Could be the huitlacoche, could be the risotto... thus is life in Mexico!

grainy picture but you can see the friendly faces :)

eyes so curious

2010-11-05T01:43:00.000-06:00

Distrito Federal, México

Barrio del Artista

2010-11-04T00:28:00.000-06:00

Puebla is not a loud city - it's full of colonial charm and the murmured words of people chatting at cafes and restaurants. The Barrio del Artista is kind of like a co-op of artists' studios where you can look at artists at work or join some kids at a table to paint. Someone once told me that being an artist in Mexico is very well respected. People accept that you probably won't make too much money, but that you have found a medium to express yourself through. Wouldn't it be nice to be retired and be greeted by these smiling buildings every morning before you enter your studio?

self reference criteria

2010-11-03T14:12:00.002-06:00

Today I had a hard time understanding something in class.

My Mercados de Latinoamerica class is probably one of the most interesting, and naturally one of my favorite classes this semester. My school in Boston is so caught up in Europe's (to me, kind of boring) economy when there is a clear need to study Latin America's growing market.

To get to what I was confused about, we were discussing Peru today and the reasons why the country did not suffer quite as much as other countries during the economic crisis. (Bolivia is another country that was seemingly unscathed.) The government focused on saving to augment their reserves, cut down on public spending, and applied counter-cyclical policies in their economy (lower interest rates & increment in taxes) while the president's levels of popularity continued to grow, and the Peruvians still pretty much had the same purchasing power. Can you see where I'm going with this? The estadounidense in me couldn't understand how a cut in public spending and increase in taxes could possibly result in higher approval ratings of the president and an overall content general public. That's like, one of the worst things Washington D.C. can do (OK there are far worse things but you get my point...). I still can't completely grasp it (it's an ongoing discussion in class) but I believe it's a result of a decade of somewhat conservative fiscal policies that work when a country has a smaller economy in relation to the countries that actually caused this economic crisis. Poverty still prevails in Peru and taxes are paid by a minority of people, but the estimated 7.7% growth in real GDP this year really can't be ignored.

I must think about this further.

2010-11-01T15:43:00.001-06:00

things that have caught my eye
so organic and so practical! leica has the best accessories...

source: the selby, pjy cyworld

analogical

2010-10-31T01:51:00.004-06:00

I'm back to working with my analog.

It just... makes so much sense to me.

Can you see the ever so faint reflection of me taking this photo with my digital?

Oh the irony!

Hard to believe that I was fifteen when I turned this in as my final project. I took it so seriously at the time - scoping my dad's best friend's house in Buffalo Grove full of collectibles, playing around with lighting, spending endless hours in the darkroom. Fifteen.

can you tell?

2010-10-29T15:10:00.000-05:00

Yes! Running on three hours of sleep.

I'll be writing essays all weekend for a scholarship.

I don't think I have any desire to dress up for Halloween in Mexico.

I love having short hair and wearing a beanie.

I also love that my beanie is the exact color of the stitching in my jean jacket.

little details...

and dark circles. :/

oh mr. darcy

2010-10-29T12:44:00.001-05:00

mind = blown

2010-10-26T15:46:00.000-05:00

Do you remember India.Arie's song, "God Is Real"?

How could he not believe that God is real?
I don't understand how he could feel that way.
When there's earth air water and fire
So many different flowers, sunshine and rain showers
So many different crystals and hills and volcanoes

That's how I know that God is real
All of this is not by chance

In Saint Lucia, I jumped in the water.
For the first time I understood its power.
As I swam, I was cleansed.
If I had any doubts, this experience cleared them.

All of this, for us? Pictures and words cannot describe.

mini solo dates

2010-10-25T22:07:00.002-05:00

I went to the historic center of Puebla three times last week and decided to make the most of my trip every time I went. On Monday after much debate and looking at maps, I took the bus to the centro. The guy sitting next to me on the bus offered to walk me to the Zócalo (town square) because the bus stop was further than I anticipated. After dropping off my broken analog camera at the camera store to be cleaned and fixed, I headed over to the Museo Amparo to see Annette Messager's exhibit. Mondays at the Museo Amparo are free! Such a nice surprise. On Wednesday I took a cab to the immigration office to pick up my visa (I'm legal now!) and pleasantly ran into my friend Stefan who shared a cab with me to the Zócalo to check up on my camera and meet up with my dear friend Ida. The light meter was still not working, so I went back on Friday, this time to a fully functioning camera and a new roll of film! Spent Friday afternoon at the artisan market El Parian and the antiques area called Los Sapos. Finished the day with a coffee at the restaurant at Hotel Mesones Sacristia. Perfection :)

Top Left Zócalo; Other shots from Museo Amparo (taken with my BlackBerry)

Second day in Taxco

2010-10-20T21:07:00.000-05:00

Some tips for traveling in Taxco: browse the stores and ask for prices the first day, get business cards and remember store names, then buy everything on the second day. A lot of stores will tell you they close on Sundays, but almost all of them are open - they just want you to buy then and there! If you want something custom made, go to the taller (workshop) first and leave a deposit. If they don't have a lot of clients they'll be able to do it in maybe four hours, but it's better to come back the next day.

First day in Taxco

2010-10-19T11:46:00.000-05:00

Taxco is a beautiful city in the state of Guerrero (the same state as Acapulco). I've come to realize that most cities seem to be just about four hours away from Puebla and bus tickets will typically cost about 600 pesos (around 50 USD) roundtrip. Taxco is often called the "Silver Capital of the World" because its economy and principal export is the glistening .925 precious metal.

My friends and I stayed at the Hotel Posada Santa Anita and paid a little extra for the stunning views on the terrace. Taxco often feels locked in time. The building codes require all homes and stores to be painted white, and everyone seems to have an affinity towards old VW Beetles. The city is flooded with old white "vocho" (what they call the old Beetles here) taxis that cause a lot of noise and air pollution, but fit well with the backdrop of the city.

The price of silver (jewelry, accessories, etc.) is nothing ridiculously cheap, but you can still find really unique pieces and barter if you are buying multiple items. The best deal I found was when I got something custom made and picked it up the next day. The men at the taller (workshop) kindly soldered a chain I had brought and were very thorough in their work. If you want anything engraved, it's really cheap and they do a great job in the smaller individual workshops.

Taxco is definitely a two-day destination. Will post about day two soon!

Day 1 of CUNI 2010

2010-10-14T23:56:00.001-05:00

BUAP's campus is covered in Romero Britto's artwork. Fountains, flower pots, literally covered.

Today I went to the first day of CUNI (Congreso Universitario de Negocios Internacionales), a two day conference for students who study international business, international trade, and the likes. This year, CUNI was held at BUAP, a public university here in Puebla. I was curious to see a campus other than my own and I have to say... the schools here are really good at being ridiculously good looking.

The first thing I noticed this morning is that the majority of the students from my school, UDLAP, are overdressed. Well, I guess being overdressed can be completely relative so maybe a better way to say it is well-dressed. Especially the ones in my carrera (major) Negocios Internacionales. I mean, what can I expect from a group of people who dress business casual for class? (They don't even have a job to get to!) Today was a conference, so the well tailored suits with nice slim shoes and aviators were out since 8 a.m. (didn't pay too much attention to the girls. haha)

Other than the sartorial characteristics of my colleagues, I learned a great deal about Mexico and Brazil's symbiotic relationship, the appropriate steps to better position Mexico's economy, and the relationships Mexico should have with Central America and the Caribbeans. CUNI reaffirmed that coming to Mexico was the right decision for me. There is so much potential in this region, sometimes I get excited and fidgety just thinking about the possibilities.

I also realized that to achieve my goal of being fluent in five languages by the time I'm 30, I have to learn two more languages in eight years. I think I should start now. What languages do you want to learn? What languages can you recommend me? I'm thinking Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin, Japanese, German...

a place to share and love

2010-10-13T16:41:00.001-05:00

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what I saw and did last weekend.

After a four hour bus ride I arrived at the Grutas de Tolantongo in the Mexican state of Hidalgo without any clue of what to expect. I think I experienced some of the best moments of my life and I can't seem to formulate anything longer than a sentence to describe all those special times. Moments I will cherish:

-exploring a dark cave with nothing more than water shoes, flash light, and a rope to guide me to the deep depths of the earth
-encountering the nicest sisters who shared their water shoes and flash lights without hesitation - and spending the rest of the day with them
-turning all the lights off to sit in complete darkness with other people completely enveloped by steam, hot water, and rocks
-sticking my head under gushing water to find a small crevice where I could hear the earth roar
-La Gloria
-floating in the water looking up at the sky and surrounding cascades; only being able to hear myself breathing
-jumping off a huge rock and having Mexican men and their sons cheer me on when I got scared
-borrowing goggles from a boy to see what was in the water
-sharing the same space with tiny fish and tadpoles
-hugging rocks to keep myself from moving with the water into the adjoining "natural pools"
-relaxing in a pool of naturally warm spring water while looking at the mountains with new friends
-loving the feeling of stepping in mud after walking barefoot on rocks
-realizing that what I saw today will never be the same

daily dad

2010-10-13T01:22:00.001-05:00

a lot of beautiful

2010-10-12T23:07:00.000-05:00

hope you're having a wonderful week!

2010-10-06T19:03:00.002-05:00

Things are starting anew.

The rainy season in Mexico has passed and the air is now turning into a cold breeze. I'm starting to wish I had brought one of the many green army jackets I have lying around at home! It's a little harder to get out of bed in the morning because it gets really chilly in my room. My roommate moved to the couch in the living room at one point because her bed is next to the window. Whoever told me to bring my down comforter to Mexico... I am eternally grateful for your kindness and good memory!

It's kind of hard to believe that my "goal" was to travel to at least two cities before the end of the year. I've been to Mexico City, Toluca, and Taxco and have plans of going to a wedding in Veracruz in December, a trip to the Grutas de Tolantongo (caves) in the state of Hidalgo this Saturday, and maybe a trip with all my roommates at the end of this month. I'm in awe of how big Mexico is and how different each city and state can be.

The co-op search is just about to get really real. My curriculum vitae and forms are due this coming Monday with the co-op coordinator here, my logistics professor is talking to her boss to see if I can do some consulting work with the company, my Korean-Mexican friends are kindly looking into internships at the Korean companies that have plants and offices here. Posco, a Korean steel company is definitely on the list, along with maybe Samsung and Daewoo. It would be amazing to be able to use Korean, Spanish, and English in a work setting but I'm honestly a little nervous about working in a Korean company because when it comes down to corporate culture, I'm really estadounidense. (I can't get myself to write or describe anything as "American". It makes me cringe. What other word could I use in place of that?)

I am a lot more comfortable with public speaking in Spanish! My first presentation here in Mexico was worth 30% of my final grade (didn't make it any easier with that in the back of my head haha) and I realized that whatever language I am presenting in, my style will always stay the same. No reference cards, keep it simple, look at the people you like, and breathe. After my group's 20 minute presentation, there was another 20-30 minutes of question and answer. None of the students let us go easy, and the professor had a way of finding exactly what we missed or forgot to include in our presentation. I ended up answering every. single. question. (thanks group??) but everything worked out fairly because I ended up getting a higher grade than everyone else :D and also maybe won over the hearts of some fellow Mexican students because I really tried... and I looked good. :)

2010-10-03T23:45:00.000-05:00

I've always been a fan of Park Ji Yoon and I've recently discovered a bunch of live sessions she did a year ago. This video was for the Converse Indie Music Campaign but I love the aesthetics and her new acoustic album. Someone commented on youtube that she "looks happier" and I completely agree. After years of patiently doing what she was told to do by the mainstream K-Pop industry, she's finally found her own voice. And it's beautiful.

it's been one month?

2010-09-07T03:41:00.001-05:00

I can do it I can do it I can do it!

I have a really busy week ahead of me and I'm trying to fill my head with positive thoughts.

I recently had to submit my first of many monthly reports to a professor/drill sergeant I have in Boston. I call him drill sergeant because he was the one who prepared all the BSIB students for our international assignments. I'm required to report to him each month with what I did, any conflicts/hardships I encountered, and my progress in reaching my SMART objective goals.

Here's a little excerpt of what I wrote in my report about when I first arrived in Mexico:

I departed from Los Angeles International Airport (where 48% of the population is of Latino or Hispanic origin) and continued on to a connecting flight in Phoenix, AZ (where I witnessed the strange and somewhat disturbing process of customs agents “randomly” questioning for documentation in the jet bridge), and I finally arrived at Benito Juarez in Mexico City only to feel like I was back in Los Angeles.

The thought of being in a different version of LA quickly faded as I soon realized that the “Amigos Internacionales” from UDLAP weren’t at the airport to greet me as promised. I was able to find the kiosk to buy my bus ticket to Puebla thanks to the men who wait outside of the gate with dolly carts to wheel your luggage. A 30 peso tip and a quick Spanish language warm-up later, I embarked on my two hour journey to Puebla and tried to pay as much attention to my new surroundings through the windows of the bus, but the Spanish dubbed version of Slumdog Millionaire was kind of hard to keep my eyes off of.

After getting dropped off at the bus station in Puebla, another man with a dolly cart led me and my luggage to the taxi stand (of course for a nominal fee) and I eventually made it to my dorm, Colegio Ray Lindley, all the while googling "Tip Mexican Cab Driver?" on my BlackBerry.

I ended up tipping him.

on foot: camino real

2010-08-29T21:29:00.003-05:00

Camino Real is the closest local street from my dorm (UDLAP is enclosed in acres of fencing to keep the school safe :P) and that's where I take the bus, meet friends, go to bars, go to the OXXO (convenience store) to recharge my phone and give more money to the monopoly that is Telcel. The street has its own charm that changes drastically depending on the time of day.

cloudy

2010-08-28T22:21:00.003-05:00

My fingers are burning as I type this because of the jalapeños I minced for the pico de gallo my roommates and I made for a barbecue. We went to my roommate's friend Rodrigo's super chido (super cool) apartment in an area of Puebla called La Paz, cooking and eating and staring down the dark storm clouds that were headed our way. The view of Puebla from the rooftop garden was amazing! But of course that amazing view was cut short by the torrential downpour that happens once a day between the hours of 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. during rainy season. Every day is an adventure!

Quick self check:

Listening to a lot of Younha lately - she has the voice that I have always wanted since I was a kid. The local Korean church asked me to teach English and Korean on Saturday mornings... am I being selfish if I turn it down because Saturdays are my only days to travel with school friends? I can teach on a different day... Ehh I'll probably end up doing it.

I honestly don't think my Spanish has improved a lot. It's been three weeks... and I wasn't hoping for some miraculous ten-fold improvement in my language skills, but I still haven't seen a lot of change in sentence structure, reading, etc. I need to work harder on this. Maybe it's because I studied Spanish to an advanced level in college? 귀가 빨리 뚫여야되는데.

Things are getting worse up north. The US government is not allowing diplomats to bring their children to Monterrey - and I'm really starting to see how much of a bubble I am in here in Puebla. More the reason to get better at Spanish so I can find a good co-op in a different city.

Please keep me in your prayers!

living

2010-08-25T00:32:00.004-05:00

The colegio I live in is called Ray Lindley. I live on the first floor to the left in building K with five other girls in a four bedroom suite. The girls I live with are all from different parts of Mexico: Maria from Cancun, Miriam and Lu from Veracruz, Diana from Mexico and I can't remember where Andrea is from at the moment. Each room is spacious and because we have a housekeeper that comes and cleans all the common areas (living room, kitchen, bathroom), there is very little to butt heads about! Security at night is tight - in a good way - and if you call reception they can order anything from sushi to a taxi for you!

Today was a day of retail therapy - the food kind. Maria, Miriam, Diana and I went to a supermarket in Cholula to buy food that is packaged (spaghetti, pasta sauce, etc), and also stopped by the local market to buy our produce and cheese. Maria has a lovely relationship with this old lady who has a tiny stall of vegetables. Before she stops by the stall, she always makes sure to buy a small flower for the shopkeeper who may not always have the freshest vegetables, but has the sweetest and most caring smile. I then proceeded to go to Walmart later at night with a friend and bought some Korean ramyun! :)

a little bit of what the market looks like on wednesdays

2010-08-24T00:53:00.000-05:00

do you wonder about me as much as i wonder about you?

north/south

2010-08-23T02:41:00.006-05:00

I'm trying my best not to be judgmental and understand that everyone has different levels of exposure to culture, but I honestly feel like almost every single person (Mexican, European, Texan, etc...) has asked me if I am from North or South Korea. That is of course after they ask me, "Are you Chinese? Or Japanese?" HELLO there is also a country, wait, TWO countries both with the name KOREA right smack in between Japón and China. En serio?

For the sake of their reputation, if the person is someone I care about I go on by explaining that they will probably never meet a North Korean because they cannot leave their country at the moment, and also to never ask the next Korean person they meet if they are from North or South ever again.

There are some things people say, and the automatic raising of fingers to slant eyes when describing someone as "china", that I still get from people from all over the world. These are things that people get sued over in one part of the US but also things that my little cousins in Buffalo Grove, Illinois don't even know is inappropriate. So what am I supposed to do when someone accuses me that "No... you're not from LA."?

If people are unknowingly racist, does that still make them racist?

The diplomatic side of me says no because it's not even ignorance we're dealing with here - it's just that some people have absolutely no idea. Sure, the lack of interest may be their fault because it's not that hard to find info on the web. But is the lack of exposure their fault? No! Koreans, we must multiply and conquer new lands! Haha... half joking... because I think we've already started doing that albeit incredibly ethnocentrically.

To me this is a chance for me to help people understand my identity as a Korean-American - and also to put people with really inappropriate comments in their place. Please get that "you are so oriental and tiny and cute aww" BS out of my face. The conversation gets so much better when that is out of the way.

making progress

2010-08-17T11:53:00.002-05:00

Today I mustered up the courage to raise my hand and add to the discussion about foreign direct and indirect investment in my international economics class. It felt so weird having to think so hard about the precise words I was going to use and it got me thinking about how I should really really think before I blurt something out (in any language). Thoughtfully curated sentences. Something I should work on!

First day of classes with Theresa from Austria and Ida from Norway

Universidad de las Américas Puebla

2010-08-13T14:02:00.000-05:00

Hacienda

UDLAP Theater


One of many gardens/open areas on campus

1.

2010-08-10T01:16:00.001-05:00

My first day of classes went well! I had no idea what to expect and couldn't remember which classes were being taught in English so each class was a surprise. I ended up having the first two classes: International Marketing and International Business Communication in English, and an International Ethics class in Spanish. The classes are small - no more than 25 students and there's a mix of internationals (US, France, Germany, etc.) and Mexican students. I already have a short essay due on Wednesday for the Ethics class and have decided to drop the Communications class because I already know how to present in English! The professor told us that the class will probably be a little too easy for native speakers so I'm going to take something a little more stimulating.

UDLAP is GORGEOUS. The landscaping is impeccable and dare I say this school has a more collegiate feel than some schools in Boston! Being in the dorms has its positives and negatives, positives being I can walk to class in about 3 minutes, amenities like a water cooler, daily maid service, all Mexican roommates; and negatives being strict rules on no boys in dorms after 11 (inapplicable to me - hola phil<3) and also no alcohol, but Camino Real (bars galore) is a five minute walk away so... no problem there.

After I finished my classes I signed up to try a yoga class on campus and ate with some friends near the "too small to be a lake but too big to be a pond" lago. And a little later, I hung out with some Korean friends I randomly made at Angelópolis (the closest shopping center) who have been living here for over 10 years and had a nice time getting to know how they grew up and how immigrant life is here in Mexico!

pictures tomorrow! :)

First day of classes today!

2010-08-09T09:31:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of nervous and excited and actually quite terrified at the same time. Wish me luck as I embark on six business classes at UDLAP! Thankfully four in Spanish and two in English ;)

campus! prettier than harvard!

Is it time?

2010-07-23T00:08:00.001-05:00

pretty sure my dad will notice if his watch disappears...

student visas

It hit me like... yesterday that I'm leaving for Mexico in just about one week! Students who have already completed their international assignment have told me that Mexico has a very long rainy-period so today I went to some stores with my mom to look for rain boots and ended up finding a nice pair from Diesel at Nordstrom Rack! This was a difficult feat given that it was almost 90 degrees without any moisture here in Los Angeles - and even Target doesn't think about selling rain boots in this weather!

I also got a tiny keychain pepper spray... just for precautionary measures and now I must unpack my things from Boston to be able to pack for my new experiences in Mexico. Doctor's appointments, dentist check-ups, Verizon global plans so that I can bbm with loved ones ♥. I'm almost ready.

Photos are all from my phone and earlier tweets. Follow me on twitter!

A+

2010-07-22T15:17:00.001-05:00

After 22 years of wondering, guessing, and being jealous of other people who knew their blood type, I finally found out what has been flowing through my veins! Most Asian people believe that certain blood types have certain personalities or temperaments - and now I can quit the guessing game and join in on the fun!

난 A형 여자야~

What blood type are you? Do you think that there are correlations between blood type and personality?

shoe deliveries

2010-07-20T14:10:00.000-05:00

One of the first things I did when I got to LA was try on these cute Jellypop sandals that Audrey Magazine sent me (part of their TGIF every week!). My feet are kind of on the wide side and big for a Korean girl. A size 7.5 is almost unheard of amongst my size 6 friends, and when I tell them sometimes I can fit into 8's they shudder. Regardless, much to my delight these sandals fit perfectly! Thanks Jellypop and Audrey Magazine!

savasana on a rooftop

2010-07-10T23:51:00.006-05:00

As I mentioned before, a couple weeks ago my friend Inga and I attended an amazing yoga event in Fort Point. Coordinated by 5s PR, I took a yoga class taught by South Boston Yoga on the penthouse terrace of FP3, a new property that I coincidentally did a full analysis and presentation on last semester for a real estate finance course. Beautiful yoga mats were generously provided by Plank, and after the class, Inga and I sipped on cocktails and wandered around the penthouse to satiate our real-estate desires.

It was a perfect early evening event and our yoga class ended just as the sun began to set. Summertime in Boston is so wonderful. I miss it so much!

how oh how

2010-07-06T17:49:00.003-05:00

How do you stay cool on hot summer days? Boston hit 100 degrees at one point today and the whole day has been hot and dry. Despite this heat wave of course I was riding my bicycle around the city (one last ride before it's off to a new owner). I apologize if I'm being overly sentimental about my bicycle but I worked so hard to win (yes, win!) it and I'm afraid no price can justify its worth. Okay time to get over it!

I love keeping a small Evian facial spray in my purse on hot days like this. It's so refreshing! It's perfectly sized for travel (TSA approved!). Korean Airlines actually used to offer these on their flights a long time ago and my grandparents always gave me these mini Evian sprays. I remember thinking that they were the coolest thing when I was little - saving them in the refrigerator for little spritzes here and there. I still get surprised whenever I mist the spray :)

Perfect for the terrace on my campus, too!

and now, i am 22 years old

2010-07-03T16:54:00.002-05:00

I'm writing this as I nibble on leftover birthday cake from last night's little celebration with friends. It was an intimate gathering of friends at a not-so-intimate location: a Korean bar/restaurant called Myung Dong. In college I've come to the realization that I'm really Korean when it comes to drinking - I like to sit down, have good conversation and a lot of food in front of me. You're probably thinking "SK, these things are all attainable in American joints too" but there's something about the delicate nuance of Korean drinking culture that I've come to deeply appreciate after being exposed to so many drunk "bros" at the bars here in Boston. There's nothing like chasing a soju shot with a spicy stew!

I can't wait to throw a huge birthday party and invite all the friends and family who have been so kind to me my whole life. It will happen soon - look out for the invitation! xoxo

thanks soozi for the picture and delicious cake!

2010-07-01T22:55:00.003-05:00

My residency in Boston is coming to an end in one week. It's hard to believe that four years of college have gone by and that I am going to finish my fifth year living and working in a new country. I've come to realize that the International Business (BSIB) program at Northeastern is the ultimate prep course for soon-to-be expatriates. My classmates and I share the same curiosity of traveling and working in the world, the delicate relationships between countries, and the way money moves through different economies. My summer classes are over and my Spanish is better than ever before - yearning to reach that tipping point of being past proficiency, and onto the realm of fluency.

There's still a lot to do before I leave Boston - it's a bittersweet time for me because my boy and I will have to do long-distance for a while. And I'm turning 22 tomorrow. When did that happen?? Regardless, I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

Sun room in a penthouse at FP3 in Fort Point - from a yoga event I will blog about soon!

my loss is your gain. bike for sale!

2010-06-26T18:14:00.000-05:00

My beautiful midnight blue Bianchi hybrid needs a home! If you're in the Boston-area and would like to spend the summer on a bike that was bought only 9 months ago, I'm your girl! I have to part with Mr. Blue because I'll be living in a different country for a year... :(

Gloria (in the cute green mini!) and I have been going to church and grocery shopping together every Sunday. I love being in Boston in the summer. It's like the city is trying to make up to you for all those months of horrible wind tunnels and sleet. Kiss and make up? Ok! I love taking my One Language laptop case/small tote (thanks Alli♥) to keep my bike lock and accessories safe while cycling.

celebrity shopping malls

2010-06-18T17:50:00.000-05:00

Korean celebrities who may be a little past their prime, veterans of the industry, or simply taking some time off, have developed a rather genius way of generating extra income while fully utilizing their star power: their own carefully curated e-commerce store where they model the clothes and accessories.

These online malls have been overwhelmingly successful - like crash the server successful - which is pretty impressive given that South Korea has consistently topped internet performance rates and is one of the easiest countries you can get access to the web.

Just type in "연예인 쇼핑몰" (translated: celebrity shopping mall) in Naver and you'll find plenty of stores that will make you wonder why American celebrities resort to reality TV shows by default. Two very popular sites are Korean idol girl-group KARA's store and singer Baek Ji-Young and Yuri from the now defunct group Cool's store iamyuri.com (image source).

stills

2010-06-18T00:17:00.001-05:00

Stills from driving in LA, Christina setting up for self-timer after a delicious brunch in Glendale with the girls, and Café Habana in New York for the most delicious corn. Still a little hesitant about motion picture so I've temporarily resorted to taking stills from my favorite footage because I still want to share!

Looks like it's gonna be a glorious weekend in Boston - maybe it'll make the Celtics fans feel better? Go LA!

new look

2010-06-16T22:46:00.003-05:00

Club Monaco in Beverly Hills

Let's get down to business. VLS (does that have a ring?) was in dire need of an update. I just used one of Blogger's new templates and changed it until I felt somewhat satisfied. I only have a tiny bit of html experience from my first blog on Xanga which was when I was in... 9th grade (8 years ago?!?) so please forgive me and feel free to give suggestions! It's still under construction...

Time to go finish a Spanish assignment so I can wake up at 7:00 a.m. for KOR vs. ARG! Go Reds!

steel toe diy

2010-06-05T12:20:00.000-05:00

Anne Valérie Hash Fall 2010 RTW
Michael Kors "Capote" Men's Shoes
Aldo "Hanger"

It's really bothering me that I can't remember where I got the first image from, but among these steel toe variations, it's my favorite. The shoes in Anne Valérie Hash's show looked like they were dipped in copper and silver - some of them with slightly diagonal edges as well. I personally don't like how flawless the Michael Kors and Aldo lace-ups are but love that all of them scream DO IT YOURSELF WITH SOME METALLIC SPRAY PAINT!

red spaces

2010-06-03T21:32:00.004-05:00

I followed Christina around (she's used to it by now) while she was browsing some of David Choe's smaller pieces that were in the back of the gallery. The gallery must have been a clothing store in a former life because the back was lined with dressing room compartments stripped of their doors. They created a unique space for showcasing two or three works with customized mirrors by the artist.

On a completely different note, tonight I made some Japanese curry and hamburger steak (that sounds weird spelled out in English haha) with my friend Kang and Phil. A good way to end the day after a long day of class, meeting with a trustee of my university, and hand delivering invitations at the Massachusetts State House for my mini internship at Oiste? required by my Spanish class for me to practice Spanish and serve the community. Busy summer days my friends!

the geography of bliss - eric weiner

2010-06-02T18:30:00.001-05:00

The first friend I ever made in college gave me this book for my birthday a few years ago. I finally finished it (raving about it to other people in the meantime when I was guiltily not even done reading) and now I'm sad it came to an end. The author, Eric Weiner, is a former foreign correspondent at NPR who embarks on a somewhat self-fulfilling project of searching for the happiest place in the world (and not even once does he mention the name Disney). He starts in the Netherlands where he gets data on happiness levels of various countries and simply takes the reader along in his bag so that we can listen to his conversations, encounters, and culinary adventures in countries like Iceland, Bhutan, Maldova (the unhappiest place he visits), Qatar, Thailand, a few other countries, and appropriately comes full circle in the U.S.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has an itch to travel but currently cannot. Every chapter takes you to a new country that won't leave you mad or upset at your landlocked state, but rather open your eyes to new cultures and leave mental notes for when you do travel to these countries someday.

experimental

2010-06-01T14:00:00.002-05:00

I've been trying different mediums lately and this time, it's motion picture. The Memorial Day weekend was scattered with a few showers but I still managed to go to the beach yesterday! Now it is beginning to thunder while the sun is shining - not too surprised.

P.S. It seems as though my image hosting site is having technical difficulties. My blog looks so sad right now!

makeover via topshop

2010-05-29T21:07:00.009-05:00

Oh my goodness I just had so much fun giving myself a makeover with Topshop's Virtual Makeover! (Thanks Mi-Ji at Styleseeking Zurich) I often find myself practicing modesty when applying make-up, much attributed to my Korean upbringing. When it comes to make-up, Koreans traditionally appreciate simplicity and the appearance of a clear, natural face - which can be great, but also sometimes a little boring. The virtual makeover is a great way to try new looks without all the makeup remover!

Show me your virtual makeover! Here's my before and two afters:

glendale station

2010-05-29T12:45:00.000-05:00

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect a train station like this in Glendale! This is where I caught my train to San Diego a couple of weeks ago.

let the sun beat down on us

2010-05-24T22:32:00.003-05:00

Started the day with a brief rendezvous with Lydia at my house before she drove back to San Diego.

Christina and I had one day to spend together because she was in Korea for the majority of my stay back home. We started our day early and had brunch at Alcove. Do you see the cakes in the background? They were all huge and looked delicious. It's too bad we were too full from our brunches to have a slice! We really love sitting outside when we go to Alcove but it was too cold that day (ahem like 60 degrees haha) so we just sat at a breezy spot inside.

We then spontaneously decided to go check out David Choe's exhibit presented by Lazarides after our friend Dan told us about it the night before. Beverly Hills seemed like an odd location to showcase Choe's work, but everything was displayed so beautifully with impeccable lighting. It's definitely worth the visit if you're in LA!

This guy greeted us at the front of the gallery. There was one more blow-up creature waiting for us inside, too.

My lovely christina walking into the exhibit.

Choe paints really pretty girls. And if you can't see their face, they have hot bodies. I love that he adds mementos of his Korean heritage to some of his pieces - like he's sending a secret message to the people who can read and understand. Doesn't the second girl look like Hyori?

Boston's been making up for its unapologetic weather lately. I'm back on my bike, hanging out with the bf, going to summer school classes, and working just a little bit. It's kind of sad to think that this is my last semester on campus, but new things await!

wings for little angels

2010-05-21T07:00:00.006-05:00

I was browsing Stel's website after seeing that New Brahmin is dropping a 20% off discount code tonight at 9:00 p.m. I'm only focusing on saving or making money for my year living and working in Mexico but window-shopping/dream-building never hurts! I always enjoy checking the children's sections in carefully curated stores like Stel's and I found a beautiful pair of wings for people ages three and up:

Atsuyo et Akiko Angel Wings

La Jolla

2010-05-20T17:59:00.000-05:00

San Diego has many jewels - two of them being my best friends Lydia and Jeanne who are finishing their last quarter at UCSD. I took the Southern Pacific Line down to Solana Beach where my friends picked me up and took me straight to Phil's BBQ. The baby back ribs were so good I took my family who came for a day trip to the same spot for dinner the next day. Their coleslaw was refreshing and crisp, the onion rings were humongous, and the staff was really friendly! I keep raving about the place whenever I meet someone from SD in Boston, but they have no idea what I am talking about. This place is Food Network Bobby Flay Throwdown worthy people!!

Blogger's Ball II

2010-05-19T22:40:00.008-05:00

Despite last night's downpour, I put on my heels, took out my umbrella and trekked over to the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams showroom in the South End to attend Blogger's Ball II, hosted by Design Salon Boston featuring panelists who have made an impact on the Boston blog scene: Erin Gates of Elements of Style, Liana Peterson of New Brahmin, and Jessica Sutton of JS Graphic Design and her inspiration blog Daucus Carota.

The showroom itself was enough to inspire me for one night but what really got me was the environment I was in. I was surrounded by strong, creative, entrepreneurial women who have and are always making their mark not only in Boston, but globally. I had never been surrounded by such impeccably dressed, poised, and kind people on such a dreary, rainy Tuesday evening!

There was a mix of people in attendance last night: photographers, interior designers, editors, writers, stylists, and of course, bloggers. About 50 women who all have an interest in blogging. LOVE IT.

Some highlights:
-When Erin mentioned how she loves Dooce and people actually knew who she was. I'm a shameless mommy-blog reading 21 year old.
-CONSISTENCY IS KEY - I promise I'll try harder!
-Everyone's blogs started with one reader: Mom
-Some people hire college students to blog and tweet for them? I would love to!

While many of us in Boston quarrel with the fact that "there is no scene", or "it's so small", and "it's not New York", I can't help but appreciate the fact that it's much more feasible and not quite daunting to get yourself in a new environment and meet new people in Boston. Thank you Design Salon, panelists, and all the lovely women I met yesterday!