What the Wednesday: The Neighborly Edition

If you're like me, then when you hear the words neighbor, neighborly, neighborhood, you might think Mr. Rogers. God, I loved that man. So sweet with his cardigans, terribly decorated living room, and indoor shoes. Everyone wanted him as a grandpa. His world was full of sunshine and butterflies and cupcakes. His world consisted of book reading, children's songs, the all too wise life lessons, and the heart warming smile. Obviously he was a much better neighbor than our neighbors here in Korea.

This week provided a fresh batch of threats from our northern neighbors. We hear them all the time. Every week in fact, and I'll be damned if those northerners aren't poetical saying things like, "We will turn Seoul into a sea of fire." and "Seoul will be reduced to ashes," and calling South Koreans things like "traitors, arch criminals, and puppets".  Their threats are always so lyrical and melodic. However, using phrases such as "sea of fire" makes me feel like I'm living in Mordor. It also causes the rest of the world to laugh at them. I mean, if I was to threaten someone I wouldn't use pretty words. That doesn't sound very...um...threatening.

However, the fact of the matter is, I live in a country that's still at war with the North, and while most expats don't talk about it, we think about it. It's always there in the back of our minds, brought up whenever the North makes a particularly flowery threat. With such an unpredictable country right next to us, we can't help but not wonder sometimes, "what if?" So without freaking out my parents too much (too late right?) I'll tell you how you deal with living with constant threats: You ignore it. The South Koreans have been living with this their entire lives. It's why every man must enter into military service and why there are US military bases throughout the country. It's life. It's normal. For them. For us it's a bit unnerving at times. I've had a few conversations with separate people about what we would do if war actually did break out, what we would pack (passport, phone, clean underwear), where we'd go (to Busan, to Japan, to home), etc. Living in Jeollanamdo, we feel safer because we are much farther south. But still "what if" right?

My advice to anyone living abroad is to register with your embassy. They need to know you're here and they need your families contact information in case something did happen. I registered with my embassy the first month I was here and listed emergency contact info (yay Dad!). I get monthly newsletters from them. Also, if an emergency were to happen (natural or northernly) I'd be immediately notified about what I need to do and where I need to go. I don't plan on heading into the mountains to live off of berries and rabbit.

However, if worse comes to worse my Naju friends and I have a plan if the refugee life is indeed ours to be had. It's called "Operation Flee Naju" or in the heat of the moment we'll call it "GTFON". Use your imagination kids.

So while Sauron broods in the north, we all continue to thrive in the south. We listen to kpop, make travel plans, and plan to live here for years to come. We also really really hope we don't have to use the "GTFO-wherever you live" plan.

Now go here and take a look at this to brighten your day now that I've depressed you. Also, because I really do want to be his neighbor.

What the Wednesday: K-pop Edition

Perhaps you've heard me mention kpop on the blog before. Maybe you've heard about the Korean wave that's taking Canada, Japan, China, and America by storm. OR maybe you have no idea what I'm talking about. It's okay. Not all of us can be as cultured as others. I'm here to help.



Behold, K-pop:

So you might be asking yourself, "What the...?" That's right people. Boy bands and girl groups are alive and well here in Korea and. They. Rock. There, I said it. I'm not ashamed. I really like k-pop. I've never had a type of music, something that I could identify with. I've always bounced around, enjoying whatever hit my mood. In middle school it was country, high school it was rock, college and beyond was my bluegrass and indie. But now? Nope, still don't identify with anything. K-pop is awesome, and it's a music that is catchy. I mean really,  you can't help but love these little cutesy bands. They're not border line porn music videos or bump grind stuff. They're lyrics are also a little more...er...substantial than say this or this. The girls wear almost non existent shorts and the boys wear too much make-up and I love it. 

However...the music videos are, well, weird. If you want to check out an extremely amazing website that looks at the vids from a humorous and analytical viewpoint then go here. No really. Go there now. They make fun of the outfits, judge the dancing, re-enact the mini-dramas, and rate the English of the song. K-pop bands love to use English and then what they use makes no sense or they use out-dated phrases. Good times.

Here are some of my favorite videos portraying some of my favorite bands. Check out the guy with blue hair in the "Fantastic" sound. He makes me melt with that husky voice and pensive stare and blue hair and ridiculous outfits...le sigh. Boy can rock some pantaloons. Boom shaka laka.

Big Bang "Fantastic Baby"

Exo-K "Mama"

4 Minute "Volume Up"

Sunny Hill "The Grasshopper song"

MBLAQ "This Is War"

Don't freak out YouTube, I'm about to tell everyone that all these videos came from you and I have no rights and yada. Go youtube!

Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore.

Winter, you are a fickle friend. That crisp clean air. That downy softness that falls on my nose and eyelashes. That hot cup of coffee that sits so warm in my tummy.

I was sick of it all.  No. Not sick. I LOATHED every bit of it at the end. That crisp, clean, frigid, arctic, gale that turned that downy softness to icicles on my nose, eyelashes, cheeks, lips, hair, etc. I wanted it gone. If I had to lay on my ondol heated floor, wrapped in a blanket, mumbling to myself, one more night, then I knew I would go insane.
What do you mean if I haven't already?

As one might tell from previous posts, Korea and I have hit a bit of a rough patch. She's been trying to make up for it by offering me samgyupsal, delicious looking fellows, and a wonderful birthday. But still, I wasn't satisfied. Until she gave me Spring. Oh the glory of it all. It is an absolute wonder how weather can affect one's...well...everything. I was lazy, grumpy, hungry, not hungry, sleepy, tired, depressed. It was ridiculous. Then, one morning, I threw open the door to find a warm breeze and a brush of green on the ground. It was all I could do to not get on my knees and inspect the grass just to see if it was real, and then burst into tears of joy when I found that it was indeed real.

Today a fellow Naju-er and I went on a morning hike. The mountain has been freakin' beckoning me for the past week, what with her entire side bursting with white, green, and purple. These cherry blossoms, I'm telling you, it makes every cultural difference worth it. I can forget every too-long-stare, every spit, when I see these beauties line every street and corner. Everywhere you look is a sea of white and pink. The petals fall like velvet snow in the light warm breeze. And just when you think you can hear that breeze, you realize that's the roaring hum of thousands of  bees in those cherry blossoms. Good God run.

So Korea offered up a peace offering. As if she said, "Hey, look, I know I've been kinda hard to deal with lately and I'm sorry. You and I, well, we're a great fit and I want you to love me the way you used to. So, here, these are for you." Actually, that was the Lord. So now, I along with the rest of Korea, can cast aside my heavy winter coats and scarves that create a warm winter defense system, and don shorts, dresses, and sandals. AND it's okay that I don't have a tan. Remember that's not cool in Korea.




Oh you wanted pictures? Sorry. Here.

Well done Korea. Well done.

I'm 27...I mean 28 err....

In just a couple of days I'll celebrate my 27th year, a very non whimsical year that doesn't get too much attention. I don't really know what to expect from being 27, I mean 28. Umm...what?
Ok in Korea, I'll be 28. They add a year for that whole being in the womb for nine months thing. Understand now? Good, now that that's out of the way...

When I was 18 I thought that by the time I was 27 I would be married and have at least one kid. When I was 21 I thought when I turned 27 I would have travelled, returned home and gotten married. When I was 25 I thought in two years I would have a full time permanent job, a new car, and live in bohemian themed apartment in Seattle. Now, I'm two days away from 27, I live in rural Korea, am single, have a job for another six months, no car, and cringe a bit at the thought of having children. 18 year old me is crying, 21 and 25 are stressing out. 27 year old is laughing, saying, "Oh 26 year old Jennifer, you silly girl." She isn't putting any expectations out there. No more, "when I'm 30 I'll be..." thoughts. Nope. Why would she do that? So she could live up to her timeline or everyone else's? So far those expectations and timelines have worked out wonderfully, right?

In the past month I've heard about more friends being pregnant, giving birth, getting married, moving in together, etc. It's just plain depressing! I'm unbelievable happy for my friends and family who are having wee ones, moving into other stages of life, etc, but damn, a single girl can only take so much. I told another single expat here how behind I felt. "By the time I get married, weddings will be out of fashion, or they'll be so many damn babies in there nobody will here my vows, " I bemoaned to her. All of my friends will give me advice, making them sound as if they've been married half of their lives. Maybe they will have been married half of their lives by the time I finally do the big I DO. We had a good laugh at ourselves.

But seriously. Why should I have to be worried about a timeline? In the scheme of things, most people would say that going to Korea set me back a few years by means of marital bliss and baby blossoms. And I've thought about that. Quite a bit. I've cried over it, smiled over it, and come to a conclusion.

Screw it.

Most people my age will fit into those timelines and right now will be paying off the debt their exorbitant weddings racked up, wiping up baby spit, and stressing over mortgages. And that's ok. That is what they want. Some people are born to be parents and love to wipe up their kids' spit. Meanwhile I have very important decisions to make about my future. You know, like should I go to Bali or Thailand for vacation?

Enjoy that timeline, pressurized society, hope it works out well for you. In the mean time...hello 27.
You look pretty amazing.

Bali? Thailand? Bali? Thailand? Ok flip a coin...

Doctor's Visit

As I said in an earlier post, I took a friend to the hospital last week. She had a form of laryngitis, which I then looked up and found to be contagious. Awesome. So on Tuesday when my energy was waning, my throat burning, and I was making a hacking noise that sounded something akin to a velociraptor from Jurassic Park, I knew it was time to take some action. I didn't want a camera shoved up my nose or land in the hospital for five days like my friend.

 I called up a friend who had been to a doctor in my town numerous times and asked if she could take me. We showed up at the doc's at 9:45 ish and was told I had Bronchitis because when he listened to my lungs he said they went "beep, beep". Err...beep beep? Is that normal for, er, bronchitis in humans? Or just robots? He told me he was going to give me some meds and two injections. I'm not a wuss when it comes to shots. I'd actually prefer them to pills. However, this was before I had a Korean nurse administer these shots. They had to go in the bum of course and for some reason, she slaps the area while she's shooting you up. I mean slapping like you stole something from your Granny's closet and she caught you. Nobody can spank like Granny, am I right? It was painful! I mean geez woman, just stab them in there and be done. So with a few slaps on the ass, I was out of there limping out by 10:00. Love it.

After a small doctor's visit fee of W3,000 and a five minute trip to the pharmacy that cost another W3,000 I was loaded with what we affectionately call "pill cocktails" and some sort of nasty syrup thing in individual packets. I was only given a two day supply, which by American standards is not enough. I'm used to getting a 7-10 supply. So...now that my subscription is up, I'm feeling better. Go Korea. $6.00 and 20 minutes. You rocked my sickness Korea.

However, there's one small thing. There always is. My friend who frequents this doctor asked what the diagnosis was and what drugs I was given her response was, "Bronchitis? Yeah, that's what I always have. Six pills and mucus syrup? Yeah, I get that stuff all the time. Isn't the syrup yummy?" So...not only does the doctor know how to say only one disease in English, but he also gives us the same medicine. And, the mucus syrup is...well...I mean come on, it's mucus syrup.