2NE6

"It's his poker face and his analytical response to personal problems that can put him in the doghouse. She's crying as she talks about what's wrong with the relationship, and instead of hugging her, his mind is racing to find a way to resolve the problem as soon as possible. With practice and because of the way their brains are wired, men use their analytical brain structures, not their emotional ones, to find a solution.

They enjoy this advantage, but women often take affront to it. When you're telling your husband your problem and he tries to solve it instead of hearing you out, you may think he's being insensitive. But that's not what's going on in his brain. He's working to solve the problem so he can relieve your pain as quickly as possible. Not because he doesn't care or doesn't want to listen, but because he loves you."

This was in a CNN article on male brains written by a woman. I was so encouraged to read this quote because it summed up so well many of my own thought processes that I have whenever I am trying to encourage or comfort a female friend. I first learned about this phenomenon from one of my psych professors who used her own relationship with her husband as an example. Guys want to solve problems while girls just want to be listened to. There's a lot of potential for some ugly clashes with that. I know I've had one too many in my time.

I feel like it's especially harder for me since I didn't grow up with any sisters. I hate how insensitive I can be with girls because I often don't know what insensitive even is. I don't know when my teasing has gone too far until it's too late. I don't know how thick (or thin) a girl's skin is until I end up breaking it. Sometimes, I feel like a freakin' Lenny who has good intentions with an ignorance that brings harm. Man, I've been put on the field without having any practice at home. Whistles are blown, fouls are called, and penalties are administered. Coach has got to bench me!

I'm 26 now. 27 in Korea. And God is making me into a better player every year.

"I'm young and have many hidden qualities; I'm young and strong and living through a big adventure; I'm right in the middle of it and can't spend all day complaining because it's impossible to have any fun! I'm blessed with many things: happiness, a cheerful disposition and strength. Every day I feel myself maturing, I feel liberation drawing near, I feel the beauty of nature and the goodness of people around me. Every day I think what a fascinating and amusing adventure this is! With all that, why should I despair?"

-Anne Frank

Thought of the Day: Koreano

Song of the Day: Creamchou-샤워

Time Travel 2

I've been going back and rewatching old movies (again) that I enjoyed in the past. But the unfortunate thing is that I find many of them somewhat disappointing compared to my positive memories of them.

Chungking Express
Glory
City of God
Groundhog Day

I don't know what happened. They're just not as good as the first time that I watched them. Usually you're supposed to appreciate a movie more the second or third time around, right? I wish I had left them the way they were. It makes me sad to lose previous pleasures...kinda like the monkey bars.

On the other hand, two books that I revisited that did not disappoint were The Giver and Ender's Game. I found The Giver to be far more profound than when I had in 5th grade, mainly because I actually understood it this time along with its many deep themes and implications. Ender's Game is still just so much fun to read. But I'm sure that with time, these too will lose their beauty and fun in my heart for whatever reason.

I've been disappointed with the stories of Anne Frank and Helen Keller just as I was disappointed with Jean-Dominique Bauby's autobiography that he wrote with the blinks of an eye. I guess I just assumed that their special lives would include life-changing words for me. But more than anything, I'm just reading them just to be able to say that I read them.

Truly, everything is fleeting. Nothing lasts in this world. The world is just a giant Groundhog Day.

Thought of the Day: Punxsatawney Phil
Song of the Day: Creamchou-샤워

La Familia

These days, all I think about is my mom and brother coming to Korea this summer. I literally think about it everyday. My family has not been together since 2005. I don't know if I feel more sorry for my dad, myself, or my mom. Either way, I have decided not to go back to Mongolia this summer in hopes that I'll be able to be with my entire family for a whole summer. All the hiking and eating and drinking and go/stopping. If there's one certain thing I've learned throughout my life it's that the family was not meant to be separated. If you ever have the opportunity or option of being separated from your family, don't let it happen. It's not worth it. Trust me.

Thought of the Day: 회
Song of the Day: Belle Epoque-뷰파인더 세상

Why are you snowing every week in March?

Thought of the Day: -려고요
Song of the Day: SNSD-Run Devil Run

"I really needed this."

I think friendship is one of God's greatest gifts to us. I love this guy so much.

Thought of the Day: Times Square
Song of the Day: Misty Blue-슈게이저

"Don't you have to get up early tomorrow?"

The past few nights, I've been taking so much of my dad's money in Go/Stop. I never thought I'd be able to beat him this much this consistently. The other night, I asked him if he wanted to stop cause I just KEPT beating him. He happily responded that it brought him joy whenever I won too. Well, tonight, I took a good 20,000won from him in less than an hour. And for the first time, he looked at the clock and said, "Don't you have to get up early tomorrow?"

Thought of the Day: Glory Hallelujah
Song of the Day: Red Hot Chili Peppers-Especially In Michigan

Now I have pink eye!

*cough*

So I've been sick for a few days now, and I have this really annoying cough. I've come to realize that the worst thing about it is that it doesn't allow me to sleep (and apparently doesn't allow my dad to sleep either). So he went to Homeplus and got the recommended cough syrup. I laughed when he told me that. You see, I have a thing for Korean medicine. I don't believe in it. When you go to the hospital here, they'll prescribe 10 different pills. They remind me of Skittles. Two years ago, I remember going through at least five bottles of cough syrup because my cough wouldn't go away. Tonight, I have another bottle to add to my collection of quack medication. The stuff tastes good, and I keep coughing.

I can't believe my old coworker didn't ask me if I wanted anything from the states. Selfish bastard. If anyone knows anyone who is coming into Seoul any time soon, Phil needs NyQuil!!! I literally have two geltabs of DayQuil left.

In conclusion, the nastier the medicine, the more effective it is. NyQuil D is some nasty crap.

Thought of the Day: HappyBirthdaySimonEnoch
Song of the Day: Eve-날 기억하니

Koreatown

Today, I watched a random video on K-town and started developing a superiority complex. Basically, the people in the video were introducing some of the hot spots like Hodori or ABC Plaza and explaining why they're so special. As I was watching these familiar locations, I began to think about the stereotypical K-town people who go clubbing, drinking, and singing. I couldn't help but think "What a buncha wannabes! They're trying to be Korean!" And then I started thinking about being surrounded by a Korean American community again and all the stereotypes that go with that (I hated how the people in the video were named Mike and Grace...why do we all have the same names?). I watched some other Youtube videos and started to feel embarrassed whenever I saw Korean Americans try to make music or do comedy in public. Don't you ever get that feeling whenever you watch Kollaboration stuff?

I don't know what it is. Maybe there's a part of me that feels like I'm better than other kyopos because I've experienced life in Korea. But the truth is, I haven't really experienced true Korean life either. I've merely experienced the life of a kyopo in the motherland. I mean, I'm very stereotypical too. I came here after graduating college. I teach English to sustain myself and pay off debt. I am part of an English Ministry. I meet up with other Korean Americans on the weekends. I've been set up on many awkward blind dates. I don't know when I'll go back.

Just another cereal box in the cereal aisle. At least, I taste better than the K-town kind.

Thought of the Day: Todai
Song of the Day: Lifehouse-Everything

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

A Christian house servant was repeatedly raped by a Pakistani Muslim man over a period of several months. On March 9, the man attempted to rape her again but poured gasoline on her and set her on fire after she had threatened to call the police. An anonymous neighbor said, "That little girl was caught in flames from head to toe. Kiran was shouting for help." She had sustained severe burns over 80% of her body. After battling with the severe burns, she died on March 11. The police did not arrest the suspects who burned her to death.

Thought of the Day: Sick
Song of the Day: Jet-Are You Gonna Be My Girl?

March Showers

Here is my youngest student who is doing her best to refrain from yawning.
Here is here March 9th in Korea filled with snow. The only explanation for all this white is global warming.
Here is my life. If I didn't have my planner, I don't know how I'd be able to function day by day. I got a taste of that today when I TOTALLY forgot that I had a class because I had failed to write it down in my planner. As a result, I had to cancel the student's classes for the whole week. Having 15+ students is scary and stressful and always subject to change. I always thought planners were for people who were too busy. =/

Thought of the Day: Catholicism vs. Christianity
Song of the Day: Epik High-Coffee

Good to be back

This picture totally doesn't do justice. It was so much bloodier while I was playing. Anyway, I always seem to hurt myself whenever I ball. Today, I lightly sprained my ankle, which is something I have not done since college. I was really relieved that it wasn't too bad because I really wanted to keep playing. So I did. And now my ankle hurts even more. Adrenaline is so deceptive.

I am back to my start late end late schedule, which means that I'm going to bed around 2 and waking up around 10 (except for 8:00 Tuesdays...ugh). But that class is with a group of 아줌마s, so I'm definitely awake and having fun during that time.

This week is a very strange week for because I have all these potential dinner plans with so many people. Birthday dinner with cousin tomorrow. Possible dinner with 종성 or Shawn from Tues-Thur. Elite reunion on Friday or Saturday. Enoch's birthday dinner on Friday or Saturday. For the first time in a long time, I actually feel popular. I think the last time was during my last week in the states as people kept feeding me goodbye lunches and dinners. Unfortunately, I think I'll be doing most of the paying this time around. We all have our rounds, right?

Thought of the Day: Shawn
Song of the Day: Red Hot Chili Peppers-Make You Feel Better

This week's persecuted church: Iran

(#2 most persecuted country in the world)
A pastor was arrested on February 2 while visiting a friend's house. For weeks, the pastor's family had no information on where he was located. But recently, his wife was allowed to visit him - the only time she has seen her husband since he was arrested. She said that he had visible marks of torture and is "awaiting his trial and his death sentence" for converting Muslims to Christianity and performing their baptisms.

One, two, Freddy's coming for you.

I never get nightmares from scary movies, but I always had a few with Freddy Krueger. There's something so appealing about him that makes him scarier than other monsters or ghosts. Is it his face? His claws? Maybe it's the fact that he comes out in your dreams. Whatever it is, the new movie looks pretty cool...and I don't even like scary movies anymore.

Thought of the Day: Brian
Song of the Day: Red Hot Chili Peppers-Dani California

뮤직비디오

Korean music videos are all the same. Beautiful faces and dancing bodies in strange backgrounds. I miss fun music videos like stuff from OK Go.

Here's the official version.

Thought of the Day: No more Ray
Song of the Day: OK Go-This Too Shall Pass

Well, shake it up, baby, now!

As I was writing an email to Joe about my February, it occurred to me that I had a month mixed with goods and bads. I often dislike inconsistency and change. Last month had so many weeks where my schedule kept changing, which meant that my sleeping and waking hours were often erratic. I know this because whenever I miss a good night of sleep, I'll have body tremors whenever I take a nap the next day. The more violent the shakes, the greater my sleep is lacking. Once, I shook so hard in the library that I couldn't play it off and was wide awake because of embarrassment. These days, it's like I'm dancing in my sleep whenever I'm in the subway!But today, as I was hanging out with Esther and April, I saw change in a very new light. I've come to realize that whenever I have friends coming to visit or live in Korea for some period, I often have this expectation that they will have changed and be very different from the past. However, just about every single person doesn't seem any different from when I had last seen them. But the interesting thing is that the people who HAVE changed are the ones who have lived here for an extended period of time. Esther was saying how people who live in Cerritos never change; rather, when I look at people like Enoch, myself, and even Esther, I can see how we've changed in our mindset and lifestyle. Soon, April will join us too.

On Thursday, I got really sick due to the weather changes and my stressed out immune system. Yesterday, I recovered completely and celebrated by playing ball with Nate. Today, I took a shower and turned the water off while using the soap. I hadn't done that in so long since it's been so cold for many months. Erratic February is finally over. March, no violent shakes please. A Cerritos month would be nice for a change.

Thought of the Day: 1
Song of the Day: CNBlue-외톨이야