Honky Tonk woman

Photo Update

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:31:43 GMT

I’ve been so lackluster after the aggravating match last weekend. I expected Swiss to win, but we didn’t even get a chance with that referee!!! That was the only match this year that Korea was actually decent. Anyways, I’m sick of soccer talks.
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So in order to overcome my misery, I bought a new camera/DMB phone!!!!

*** BTW, that is not me in the picture…duh!***

Some pictures I took~

That’s me!! Haha;;

I work just a street across from here.

The best and worst thing about camera phones: you can take pictures of strangers without them noticing, like this picture I took of a girl sleeping in the subway.

WE FUCKING WON!!!!

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:09:21 GMT

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

There's nothing like ending the day by going to a pub - with a beer in one hand, cheering as our proud players score, and getting free vodka shots after the game.

I was only in Hong-Ik University, and it was pretty god damn festive - people shouting, beeping with the signature Korean rhythym, doing fireworks, playing the traditional korean drums, etc
I can only imagine how it was at Gwang Hwa Mun or the City Hall.

I feel sorry for all my student friends who have to take their finals tomorrow.

P.S: They should fire the cameraman of MBC

Reminiscent of the good times...

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 09:00:34 GMT

I unexpectedly came across the warm scent of cucumber-melon during work. Since there are no ‘Bath & Body Works’ in Korea, it was a lovely surprise. It turns out, one of my coworkers lived in the States and brought back a whole stash of it - so I took the pleasure of lathering my skin with it, and indulging in the fond memories.
I use a different scented lotion/perfume every year, and I recommend all of you to do this. Scent is a strong device for recollection. Whenever I come across a previously-used scent, all the fond memories come flooding by and makes my heart beat. It is truly wonderful.

The history of scents I have used:
9th grade – Polo sports woman
10th grade – CK one
11th grade – Hugo woman
12th grade – CK be
Freshman – cucumber melon
Sophomore – Victoria secret, strawberry
Japan – nina ricci
Present – johnsons baby lotion - jasmine

Cucumber melon was the scent of my favorite year, freshman year in college - the last year I could expose all my frivolity and still be considered cute – the year when I met so many amazing people, most of whom gradually drifted away – and the year when I reached the peak of my popularity. I can’t believe it’s already been 4 years. It’s heartbreaking to think I will never get the same excitements as I did back then.

7 Things you should never do

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:47:27 GMT

1. Being broke.
2. Going shopping when you're broke.
3. Going shopping with a friend, when you're broke.
4. Going shopping with a friend and telling him what to buy, when you're broke.
5. Going shopping with a friend, telling him what to buy, and watching him buy all kinds of crap, when you're broke.
6. Walking 4 hours while shopping with a friend, telling him what to buy, and watching him buy all kinds of crap, when you're broke.
7. Wearing heels

Occupied.

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 11:18:07 GMT

Putting an end to procrastination.

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 16:32:33 GMT

I’ve been insanely busy of late, which explains the lack of posts. I found a new job at KBS (the largest broadcasting station in Korea) as a research assistant of a documentary program, Environment Special. They’re rather lenient with the time (I just need to get there by 10, and leave any time after 6, depending on the workload PLUS flexible lunch time! ALSO, - I can tell them when I want to take a day off, and I have it! ), work (Independent research, taking as much time and resource as I want), and clothing (All my summer clothes are way too ‘revealing’ for other Korean corporations, so I’m quite pleased). We have a relatively free atmosphere, and everyone is extremely social and fun. I was fairly surprised when my superiors offered me soju at lunch. Not a lot of Korean bosses offer you alcohol at daylight, and especially during office hours.

Anyhow, I am getting a reputation as a brilliant researcher, which unfortunately means that I’m inundated with way too much additional work. My main task is to list 150 different species of animals that can be filmed, their main characteristics and routines, the monitoring organizations, the local maps, etc. (all in 3 months) But since I’m the only person fluent in English, I get stuck with a lot of other people’s tasks, like extra research, making international phone calls, writing letters... I’m literally doing three people’s workload, and I’m already concerned whether I can finish everything in time.

I get paid slightly less than the place I worked before, but hell, I’m working for the media! Besides, it’s fun to roam around the staff-only sections of the building while fanatic teenagers camp outside. It’s a shame I don’t watch TV, as I don’t recognize most of the celebrities I see. Nonetheless, so far, I’m completely in love with my new job.

Last week, I was pretty grossed out researching animal welfare in the States. I swear, when I go back, I’ll be a fucking vegetarian. I’m not that much of a humanitarian and definitely not a supporter of animal rights; I love my steaks, sashimi, pork chops, burger king... and pretty much don’t care what I need to sacrifice in order to satiate my stomach. In spite of all this, I was utterly grossed out by all the gory details. Thank god I’m not a big fan of dairy products or eggs. Well, here are some delicious facts for you meat/dairy/egg lovers out there:

1. The hens are genetically engineered to lay as many eggs as physically possible. Unfortunately, that means they’re born with a fairly small body and not much flesh. Consequently, the male chicks are deemed to have almost no economic value, and are thrown into the trash as soon as they’re born. They end up dying from suffocation or the intense weight of their brothers. The more unfortunate chicks are thrown into the grinder alive and conscious. Most of their skulls remain intact, which means they are conscious while watching their bodies ground up into pieces and splattered on the field.

2. The hens that no longer produce eggs are thrown into a dark room for 18 days, without food or water. The stress forces them to molt so that they can repeat yet another torturous cycle of being crammed in a tiny cage with barely enough space to move. Afterwards, when these chicks become useless, they are thrown into the wood-chipping machine by lots.

3. The geese raised for the delicacy, Foie Gras, are crammed in a cage that is literally exactly their size. Since any living creatures can’t possibly stay still all the time, they get wounded from the abrasions against the wire cages. The rats take advantage of this situation and eat them partially or wholly, depending on their appetite. The ones that survive face another day of intentional force feeding, where a metal shoot is forced down their throats to stuff it with corn.

4. The dairy cows are forced to have a child continuously, forced to be pregnant for most of their adulthood. With the recent scientific advances, they can milk 7 months out of 9 months of their pregnancy. Most of the cows have mastitis, an infection in their udder

5. The calves are forced to separate from their mothers at birth. If they’re lucky, they stay alive for a few more months until they are sent to the slaughter house. Others get fed with food that intentionally lack iron (to force anemia – for the valued pale flesh) and get sent away as veal in a few days or weeks. If the calf is a female, she will follow her mother’s path.

6. Cows and pigs are forced into small stalls which are barely enough for them to fit in, Most of them have heart problems from overeating and lack of exercise. A good number of them are unable to stand – and become “downed cows.” When they are sent to the slaughterhouse, they are beaten, pushed, pulled, or even forced with bulldozers.

7. The majority of the animals at the slaughterhouse are conscious during the whole process, because the owners are afraid that too much electricity might ruin the meat value. They are fully conscious and try to resist, as their tails and feet are cut off, bowels are torn out, and bodies are skinned.

There is a great deal more, but I’m too grossed out to continue or to post any of the interesting pictures. In any case, Bon appetite!

This week, I’m investigating the desertification, droughts, and famines in Africa – which is less gruesome but equally brutal. Even so, I have to say I’m relieved too see less blood.

The aftermath of a dreamy week...

Tue, 09 May 2006 10:59:16 GMT

I spent the last week welcoming my ex-turned-into-current boyfriend from Japan.
He actually quit his job last year, and started his own company so that he'd have more time to spend with me.
(He's doing pretty well, with a rapidly increasing yearly income of $100,000)
I took off a week at work, and wandered all over Seoul, visiting well-known jazz bars, notable restaurants, and the touristy spots.
He returned to Japan yesterday, and I'm having a hard time adjusting to the average, working days.
I. n.e.e.d. t.o. f.o.c.u.s.
Having hell of a listless day.

Mon, 01 May 2006 04:40:53 GMT

I took a few photos during my short trip to the East Sea.
It's supposed to be the most beautiful out of the 3 seas that surround Korea.
Here's some pics~;-)

You can eat fresh sashimi at the port. DELICIOUS!

Did this ever happen to you?

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:10:20 GMT

Ok, so…
Today, I was waiting for the subway - as usual.
It was rather crowded, as it always was.
I was walking towards the end, and suddenly, I lost my balance and tripped.
While my left leg was still struggling in the air, I hurried my right leg forward – in an attempt to restore my balance.
Somehow, the landing was not very successful.
So I quickly placed my left leg, then my right, then my left...
Before I knew it, I was rushing down the platform until I hit the ground.

People were staring, and it was embarrassing...
and SO GOD DAMN FUNNY!!!!
I started to laugh like crazy.

I had a lot of space around me that day.
Maybe I should try this everyday~ haha

quick complaint...

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:46:41 GMT

Things have been pretty hectic at my work.
I can't believe how many FUCKING IDIOTS work at my place!!!
I mean, WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO WHEN THEY WERE IN COLLEGE?
Generally speaking, Koreans study their ass of during high school and compensate for all their lost time in college.
They spend most of their time dating, drinking, and getting part time jobs to whore on over-priced crap.
They only need to spend a day a week to really sit down and actually start reading their textbook.
What annoys me the most is...THE PROFESSORS STILL GIVE THEM DECENT GRADES!!!!!
More students get employed, the better reputation the school gets, so the profs do anything to give the students good grades, recommendations, etc.
Ofcourse, there are exceptions. The med school, law school 'n engineering students actually DO study.
But 80% of the Korean friends and acquaintances I've met were so damn lazy and unqualified, and still managed to graduate!!!
This one guy in work graduated from Yonsei Univ (the second best univ, in Korea) majoring in English Literature, and can't even write a decent paragraph.
My cousin, also an English Literature graduate, writes like she's in 6th grade, only studies 2 days before exams, and still manages to get A's
And these people get a perfect score on their TOEFLS (even though they can barely speak with a native english speaker) because they go to institutions that teach them how to score better (rather than teaching them how to read/write/talk better)

It's only been a year since I came to Korea, and already, I feel despair.
Talent is nothing in this fucking country. All you need is connections, money, and complete lack of self-respect

This reminds me,
my sister's friend had a "part time job" where she had to write recommendations for a stranger.
Her employer was a rich, spoiled korean girl who was applying to an american college.
She hired an essay-writer, recommendation writer, and an application writer.
Basically, she didn't even read her own fucking application.
My sister's other friend spent the last 3 months preparing for her application in Seoul.
Her 'teacher's prepared all of her portfolios, essays, blah blah, and she got accepted to F.I.T and Parsons.
Sweet thing, money...

and the media is going on and on about how so many "smart" Koreans were accepted to the top universities in the states...

insomnia is a bitch.

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 14:16:00 GMT

BTW, I went to a gynecologist for the first time in my life,
and it was possibly one of the most awkward moments I've had.
yeah....waiting on a chair with your legs spread apart and something up your something
while the nurse and the doctor's talking about some crazy granny...
not a pretty picture.

oh, and I'm 2 months late.
Something to do with my stress, insomnia, oriental medicine, and fucked up hormones
If I don't get more than 4 hours of sleep today, I will seriously kill myself.

My favorite pastime

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:34:18 GMT

The Korean media is interesting, to say the least.
In fact, watching the news has become one of my favorite pastimes here.

The past few days, Korea caught a sudden baseball fever, after beating USA and Japan in the world baseball classics.
And surprise! Out of the blue, the media starts to rant about the ‘national heroes’, how Koreans finally defeated Japan in baseball despite Japan’s 30 years headstart, and the players even got exempted from army service. The sports news section, which is usually crammed with soccer, becomes a baseball documentary, showing the history of Korean baseball.
As expected, they carry it too far, digging through old records trying to show how Koreans have always defeated Japan in the 8th round, blah blah blah. It was so awkwardly overdone that it was painful (and frankly, quite amusing) to watch. They were so sure of winning, and went on and on about victory.
And we lost.
The media was unusually quiet that day, barely mentioning the defeat. Then, they started to patch up. “Despite the defeat, our heroes~ blah blah blah”

And there was the congressman scandal. A drunk congressman sexually harassed a female reporter, and his excuse was that he thought she was working there. Few days later, fellow congressmen publicly defended him by saying alcohol was the main cause. They held up a glass of liquor and smashed it with a hammer. Nice showmanship.

I wander what’s up next.

Fuck true love.

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 15:26:22 GMT

Today is 'White Day,' a sequel to the Valentines Day, invented by the money-hungry merchants in Asia.
Thanks to them, the whole country was stuffed with huge colorful baskets full of candies, flowers, dolls, and other girly gifts.
There are too many 'event days' in Korea. (In fact, there is one every month, on the 14th. Valentines, White, Black, Rose, etc)
And once every month, the stores go mad, trying to scrap every single penny out of parents who have pretentious, extravagant, ostentatious kids.
I was never a big fan of gifts (except the ones that remain - clothes, shoes, diamonds, rubies, gold, etc) so I don't really understand those girls.
As I have seen so far, they don't eat the candies, and throw the flowers away in a few days.
They just seem to enjoy the few seconds when people look at them and think, 'wow, she got a huge basket full of useless junk from her boyfriend.'
I never understood why that makes them feel superior to others, and I probably never will.
I just hope one day they'll grow up and realize how much money they're wasting. (The baskets costs$50~100)
............
........
.
I'm in a really crappy mood today, partially because I didn't get enough sleep, and mostly because I broke up with my boyfriend again
We've been on and off, which I blame on his kindness and my indecisive nature.
We said we'd be "friends" but we've been dating again, and I broke it off for the 4th time.
It's really sad how much people change.
Or maybe it's not the people, but the feelings...
Overall, he was a really nice boyfriend.
He had his faults (overly sensitive, swearing too much, mood swings, and his little fetish) but he really did love me.
On the other hand, I admit I was a terrible girlfriend.
I was always late (and he'd wait for hours without complaining), and I didn't want my family to know I was seeing someone, so I kept him a secret. (Which meant canceling dates at the last moment - since 'family duties' come first, not being able to make lunches - one of the must-dos in the Asian 'girlfriend bible', not much dating or talking on the phone)
I guess he did complain a little, but generally speaking, he was very understanding.
In fact, there were days where he made me lunch, and I had to cancel our date...
So yes, I was a terrible girlfriend.
And I was the one who broke it off every time.
I had my reasons (his fetish, he was too possessive, he loved me but didn't have much respect and I felt the need to compromise because of my guilt) but I offered to be the bitch.
But then he apologized, and he even cried for me...
I feel so lonely, and I really want to talk to him again, but I'm afraid I'd get back together again, and hurt him even more.
I always want to be loved when I'm not ready to love someone back.
I don't think I'll ever get married...

Oriental Medicine

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 04:46:52 GMT

Today was my first visit to Kyong Hee Hospital, supposedly the best Oriental Medicinal Hospital in Korea.
I'm not a fan of Oriental medicine, especially after my nasty experience last year (when I lost 10 pounds because the "medicine" was "too strong" or "my body was too weak for the medicine," blah blah blah)
I'm not a huge fan of vomiting, but I went regardless, mostly to fulfill my filial duty.

Doctor: Why did you come here?
Me: I have really bad cramps when I have my period.
Doctor: What are your symptoms?
Me: blah blah blah ....(5 minutes of explanation)
Doctor: Did you have any other sicknesses?
Me: blah blah blah (5 more minutes of explanation)

-Doctor sticks some needles in my skin for 5 minutes
-An Intern cauterizes my stomach for another 5 minutes

Doctor: There's a problem with your...blood circulation. I'll prescribe you some medicine for 20 days.

AND THE TOTAL COST IS $300!! For 20 minutes!!!!

Seriously, it's like the easiest job in the world!!!!
And the best part is, the doctors don't have any responsibilities.
The patients don't know any of the logics behind the treatments,
and most of them have already been treated by western medicine, and didn't find it to be effective.
Basically, if the medication doesn't work, they say "It can't be helped, because my situation is serious"
and if it does work it proves the "superiority of Oriental medicine"
blah.

Catching up with my otaku side

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 03:51:57 GMT

Manga
Fruits Basket: turns out to be a fucked up series.
Spoiler]WTF do uo mean Akito's a woman? And what's up with all the incest? Why does Shigure turn into a perverted bastard?

Nana: Takumi becomes likeable. Nana-Ren couple is so cute!!!Something really dark and serious is about to happen...

Kimi wa Pet: The series just ended! Just when I was starting to really really like it.(/T_T)/

One Piece: This is so addictive but there were only 2 new books!! (Y.Y)//

Vagabond: *faints*

Alive: A pretty goood series about iijime.

Kare Kano: I finally watched the whole series

J-dorama
Just starting Densha Ottoko, a really funny series about an otaku dating a beautiful/rich girl.
haha...I'm such a dork *sigh*

I had my wisdom tooth pulled out...

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 00:30:39 GMT

Why would I pay $15 to be in such pain?

Ending this long hiatus~

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 08:33:04 GMT

wow.
I didn't realize that it's already been 2 weeks since my last post.

Well, I've been severely depressed because of my skin problems.
Apparently, my skin itches and gets rashes when the weather is so fucking dry.
And guess what? Makeup worsens it, so I can't even hide it.
AND I'm still wearing my glasses because I'm not sure if I will get the surgery, blah

Basically, I looked like shit.
I hate it when that happens.

...................

So I've been avoiding people in general,
and I practically lived in the library.
I also started reading Murakami Haruki, which is probably The best thing I've done this year.

...................

My mom came to visit and brought me "Chunzhi", a heavenly japanese skin ointment.
It fixed my skin in just 3 days, what the dermatologists tried to do - in vain.

...................

My sister's moving into a dorm. I envy her a lot.
Freshmen..*sigh*

HAPPY NEW YEAR~<3

Sat, 28 Jan 2006 09:08:01 GMT

For those of you who are Asian (or not), HAPPY NEW YEAR!
well, a happy chinese new year, to be exact.
New Years sucks this year, because I am forced to spend it with my antisocial grandmother so that my mother "can gain more credit."

while:
My cousins and my aunts are going on a hot spring trip to Hokkaido
My grandma and uncles and my other remaining aunts (i have a huge family) are all gathering and going on a trip to Yang Pyung, a beautiful and my favorite place.

Not to mention I don't get to eat any of the yummy new years delicacies...
I guess I'll just stay in the dark, dusty, gloomy, smelly, unorganized, cold, room - watching TV while my grandma tries, in vain, to convince me to donate my salaries to a local temple...
AND I DON'T GET INTERNET.
Great.

my hair's growing...

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:02:05 GMT

in Korea, there's a saying that your hair grows faster if you are too horny. LOL

should i grow my bangs out? or just leave'em

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:21:30 GMT

Since I don't have to work those long~ hours anymore, I decided take advantage of this situation and spend more time reading. And since I've been going through a lot of shit, I guess it is not a mere consequence that all the books I chose involve rather grotesque plots about murderers and pedophiles.
I bought 3 books: Hygiene de l'Assasin, Cosmetique de l'ennemi (both by Amelie Nothomb) and Lolita.

I've never read or heard about Amelie Nothomb, (and I think her works haven't been translated into English, or at least not until recent) but I liked the first few pages I read. Her novels were surprisingly short, (so short that I finished both of them in one day! I'm actually going to return/exchange them) But I did enjoy all the witty, manipulative, and distructive dialogues along with her humorous tone describing the sickening plots. Overall, her novels were amusing, appealing, fresh, and enjoyable but not very lasting and I was rather dissatisfied with the endings (especially in the first one, Hygiene de l'Assasin.) It was unnatural and inadequate.

Anyhow, I started reading the other novel, Lolita, but somehow, despite my interests in disgusting plots and criminals, I seem to be too sickened to continue.. So any recommendations of "pure" books will be appreciated.

Lost in translation

Fri, 06 Jan 2006 19:15:20 GMT

For those of you who don’t know this yet, I am a freelance translator. Once every day or two, I get a call from the intermediary companies regarding a new document. I can choose to accept it or to refuse it depending on my circumstances. Being a money-hungry bitch, I rarely refuse. In that case, I translate the documents by the deadline, which is 24 hours at most.

And guess what? Most of these requests are from people who graduated with a degree in English, or anyone who is thought to have a higher proficiency in English. Ever wondered how those Koreans got into Harvard, and yet, could not write a decent paper? The chances are… their college essays are written by someone else! In Korea, there is actually a company dedicated to writing college essays for you!

Anyways, so far, I’ve translated many different kinds of documents, including college essays, business letters, business presentations, government presentations, and thesis. The latter is my least favorite. I hate it when the brainless college/grad fucktards try to hide their ignorance by twisting their already verbose ramblings. Seriously, I spend 30 minutes trying to figure out the meaning of one paragraph, and 5 minutes translating it.

This is an example of a paragraph I translated:

In Korea, the rural communities, residential centers, and town entrances of the past have had a public park at the entrances, usually with pavilions under shades. Recently, a new policy has been implemented in the cities to develop these parks, which are also called “Ssamji parks.” These ssamji parks have developed as the “town court” for the sharing of the culture and welfare, and the application of this traditional space to the cities has gained many positive responses from the residents.

Imagine this and a lot more (I cut out a few repetitious phrases) …twisted to fit IN ONE SENTENCE!

I’ve had help from 5 Koreans who are, in my opinion, intelligent and have had Korean education for more than 25 years. They all had no clue about the original Korea sentence. It’s as if I’m given a few hundred words, and asked to write a whole thesis based on them.

Well, I still have another paragraph left, and it’s 4 in the morning…So I guess no sleep for me tonight. *sigh*

Pictures!

Wed, 04 Jan 2006 04:20:03 GMT

MY CAMERA IS HERE!!

I'm pissed off because the seller was a fucking idiot who couldn't distinguish between the place of purchase and the place of origin; the description said it was made in Japan, but it was actually made in China.

I could have asked for a refund, but then I'd have to wait another month or so to get a new camera, so I'll just have to stick with this.

But other than that, this camera is AMAZING!!!
It has so many features that I couldn't even figure out 1/10 of em.

But I took a few pictures, so
First, these are pictures taken with my old camera
It's me, my coat, my chloe bag, and my sunglasses (I got a perm, though you can't really see it clearly)

This is the birthday present from my boyfriend

Here are a few photos I took with my new camera.
There is this awesome feature where I can choose only one color to show, and the rest will turn out to be black and white.

My grandmother's neighborhood. She literally lives at the foot of the mountain =P

Work...

Tue, 03 Jan 2006 03:15:31 GMT

Going to work after the holidays... sucks
But I spent too much money shopping, so I deserve this...

Another gift for myself!

Thu, 29 Dec 2005 07:00:02 GMT

Unfortunately, I won't be going to Japan.
I managed to get a sweet package deal which pays for the roundtrip flight, 3 nights at a hotel in shinjuku (breakfast included) and a bus that takes me to and from the airport - all for just $400
what I didn't expect was how angry my parents would be.
I knew that they weren't fond of Japan, but damn!!
Anyways, so....since I don't want to be unpleasant, (since my parents will be paying for half of my tuition )
I decided to postpone my trip.
after all, a 3 day trip to Tokyo is not worth risking my future.
I hope so...

Anyways!!! To console myself,

It'll probably come in next week.
once it comes, my journal may be flooded with random pics.

I am such a slut!

Sat, 24 Dec 2005 00:57:44 GMT

I am seriously considering going to Tokyo.
My ex in Japan asked for my bank account so he can send me the money.
I don't think I'll be spending too much time with him,
or maybe I will, since I'm new to this whole "using guys" thing - so I feel rather guilty.
but who cares!!! I'M GOING TO JAPAN!!!
Have to search for tickets...