Seoul Snaps

Some of the highlights during my time here :) Nephew, Sketchbook, Samsung Yuk, Tattoo Virus, Subway, Mulla, Zacpot, Dong Nim Mun, Gyung Bok Gung

Also, here's a pretty sweet video of a band my friend Jefferson just introduced me too. They're called Gotye. Enjoy!

Ironically, the shapes drawn on the walls and on the people in this video somewhat resemble those of MWM's work shown in my previous post. Funny how life works.

Dreaded Seoul

  One of the biggest things that came to my attention during my first visit to Seoul are the many existing classes and Korean subcultures that I've been unaware of (and no, I don't watch Korean drama's and I highly doubt they're anywhere near an accurate depiction of Korean society anyway). The majority of Korean's I've known throughout my life (aside from visiting family members who live here already) have been Korean families who have had the means to immigrate to the states, so generally middle to upper class. I grew up thinking that all Korean families were the same. Most parents were conservative business owners who gave up everything they had to immigrate, used that guilt to push their children to excel in academics and tried their best to be "normal" and fit into American society. To see the lives of middle to lower class Koreans is a completely different emotional experience. These people simply don't exist (or are pretty rare) in the states because it's damn near impossible to immigrate without money, but these are the people that give me hope in a culture I wrongfully despised. Turns out, it wasn't the culture, but the people that represented my heritage in the states that I was somewhat ashamed of - people who care only about money and financial success, that's basically what it comes down to. Sure, I understand the struggles they went through to give their children an opportunity within the "American Dream" but doesn't that entail the freedom to whatever they desire and to pursue their OWN dreams?

I'm a pretty firm believer that with suffering comes creativity, and I think it's safe to say that financial stability comes hand in hand with one's comfort in life (yes I understand that it shouldn't be that way but unfortunately it is). At first glance, I noticed what I knew. I knew that these people were obsessed with status, in which they represented with what they wore and how they looked. Everywhere I looked, I saw people with designer clothes and accessories, altered faces - eyes cut and sewn, jawlines shaved, noses poked and prodded, men in suits...but the more I looked around I noticed the people behind them, living in the nooks and crannies of Seoul, painting the town, expressing their individuality, being shunned by the "ahjumma's" (old ladies) of society.

At first, I thought, "you belong in America!" where people won't judge you and shake their heads at you from the bus, where people won't talk shit to you at the spa for being a lady and having tattoo's, where people encourage creativity, not look down on it as "something you do when you suck at gongboo (academics)." But after giving it some thought, I realized, these are the people who are going to give value and significance to Korea's youth and vibrant future. So, rock on you people. Grow them dreads and stick it to the man. Bitch slap the black, white and beige right off the face of Seoul and color it WILD.

Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars

It's still frikken hot as balls in Seoul (especially today with a high of 92º) but believe it or not, with the fall equinox coming in less than a month, Summer is gradually coming to an end which means Fall wedding season is to begin. Thanks to Yahoo!News I've recently been informed of the Coppola/Mars wedding. Being a huge fan of Sofia Coppola this immediately caught my attention. I just recently watched her most recent film (about a year old), Somewhere (2010) that gives us a bittersweet look into the existential struggles of a quintessential Hollywood Actor. If action packed films are your style, I'd say steer clear of this one, but if you're into subtly voyeuristic films that take you on a realistic journey through a blip of someone elses life, then I definitely recommend it. Gotta be honest though, I'm a huge fan of her work, but since I'm not too big on following tabloids and what not, I had no idea who Thomas Mars was. Anyone else on the same boat? And though I've even seen his band, Phoenix, play live(Coachella 2010), I had no idea who he was until I read news of his and Sofia's joyous occasion. I guess I'm just a bigger fan of her films than I am of his music. (No offense Mr. Mars!)

A handsome couple they are though aren't they? I sincerely hope they last longer than the average Hollywood couple. I think they're worthy of that much at least.

Here's the beautiful region of Basilicata in Italy where they wed and where her great-grandfather was born. Jealous much??

 

Weddings have pretty much been the topic of conversation where I've been staying, since my cousin, who I'm staying with, has been planning for her wedding that's coming up in a few weeks. They picked a gorgeous spot in a traditional Korean outdoor venue called SamCheongGak in the heart of Seoul, minutes away from the Presidential Blue House. Here's a picture I took at the wedding fair that was held there last week..

T-20 days till their big day. Her fiance flew in today so I can imagine it's going to be a madhouse in this household for the next couple weeks with wedding preparations and all the family/friends that are soon to follow..

View of a typical SamCheongGak wedding from the above..

It's gonna be beautiful. :)

latte king

Latte King in DMC seoul with the cousin :) best soy latte ever.
Found a perfect video on youtube.

i actually left the apartment and did real people things this week, aka not sit at home and pity myself. feels nice to make some real decisions and have a plan for the next few years. now all i have to do is get going. all this time i made the realistic seem impossible and the possible seem unrealistic, but now that i'm free of "the fear" i feel oddly weightless. like, "shit, that was easy." maybe they've changed. or perhaps i approached the situation differently than i normally would have. either way, grabbing life by the balls starts now!

what's the sexy brown?

  

any guesses?

seoul's theme song

finally getting into the swing of things. sleep schedule adjusted. bowel movements normal. now all i have to do is get out there, meet some folks and have a drink. T- 5 days till i'm out on my own and living with a complete stranger. these things shouldn't be so difficult for me. in my mind i'm courageous enough to have accomplished these simple things already, yet i haven't and sometimes find myself bored given the circumstances. it's like i push myself to do something new and different, but once i get as close to the edge as possible, i hesitate to jump (and i swear, i take running starts!) welp, either way i'll jump (or maybe the devil inside will just push me in). on the plus side, all of this down time has given me some time to listen to some new music, doodle in my notebooks and get back into shape. it's been a while since i've been sober this long and fit from hauling my ass to the gym everyday. "what a square," she thought to herself.
 "oh shut up, you."

week 1 in seoul

i felt pretty pathetic as i shed a couple tears this morning, feeling sorry for myself because i've yet again succumbed to nostalgia. i really have to stop doing that. it's annoying.

all is good. yeah so i had my moment, it's what i needed. i chatted with my mom and dad on facebook for the first time ever, something i normally would not have done by choice, but this morning it felt nice. i guess it's true you never appreciate your parents until you feel vulnerable and alone. or maybe that's just me. either way, it's something i feel i need to continuously strive to change. i felt much better after our chat, even though i told them everything was fine and that i'm having a good time. we left the apartment and explored another "zone" as my city tour book calls it, hong-dae, "a creative space for the young and free to express and share their unique culture" this is where i..

-witnessed my first fixed gear hipster biker gang cruisin the streets on some beautiful bicycles
-came across a store that didn't play k-pop or american top-40 but actually played a 90's brit pop blur song (and not that "woohoo" one that everyone knows.)
-saw a group of girls without the same plastic surgery faces and not dressed like they thought they were super models.
-men wearing skinny jeans, ray bans and fedora hats.

i was confused as to how i was supposed to feel about all this. in a country where everything has felt so overwhelmingly unfamiliar, this neighborhood has finally given me a sense of comfort merely because of familiarity. i liked this neighborhood a lot, mostly for its life and youth. however, this is where i soon realized that wherever you are..

hipsters will be hipsters.