D-14

I spent this past week hanging out a lot with my old co-worker, Brian. In our first meeting, we had coffee and went to go watch Fury. I really enjoyed this war movie and, as always, looked up all the trivia afterward on IMDB. Apparently, Shia Lebeouf became a Christian while filming Fury and had a very inspirational way of sharing about his experience. This is what it says on IMDB:

It has been reported that Shia LaBoeuf became a Christian while filming 'Fury'. LaBoeuf's actual words were, "I found God during Fury. I became a Christian man, and not in a f___ing bulls__t way - in a very real way. I could have just said the prayers that were on the page, but [...] it's a full-blown exchange of heart, a surrender of control." He commented that talking with Brad Pitt, who grew up in a conservative Christian home but rejected Christianity, and with David Ayers, the Christian director of 'Fury', helped crystallise his thinking.

Upon reading that quote, I looked up some of his recent interviews and loved the way he recounted his arrest story:

The second time I met up with Brian, we went to the DMZ and even got to enter JSA since we're American citizens. It was the one foreigner touristy thing I never got to do. DMZ was so-so, but JSA was pretty cool.

I'm actually technically standing in North Korea in that picture. I had one last meeting with him and a bunch of his friends for my last Thanksgiving in Korea with spicy pork ribs. 

After finishing up my GRE and finally sending out my grad school apps, I've been having some serious senioritis as my departure for L.A. has been approaching rather quickly. My mind is on overload as I'm packing up, meeting a million people, and still trying to squeeze in some math while I have some time. I don't know how I'm going to pass my CSETs. 

That new Star Wars teaser looks crazy.

Thought of the Day: 민속촌

Song of the Day: Yoon Do Hyun Band-나는 나비

Homeland from the Motherland

My brother's been telling me for years to jump on Homeland, but I continually refused after being convinced that it would just be another show like 24. But he somehow got my dad to start watching it. My dad somehow got my mom to start. And since my mom never watches anything and seeing how much she enjoyed it, I finally caved and used it as my break from GRE studies, which I will finally be taking tomorrow (bring it on!).

As the show centers on a POW who's been gone for the past eight years, I couldn't help but imagine that the show foreshadows a bit of what I might go through real soon. I, too, have been gone for eight years being tortured and brainwashed in the dungeons of Seoul. Just kidding. There was no brainwashing involved, but I suspect some of my American family and friends might believe that I've "turned." I'm prepared for all your FOB taunts and mockeries.

I just finished the first season, and I think the show's alright but not great. However, I thought this short parody was great.


Thought of the Day: Fulbright Building
Song of the Day: The Byrds-Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)

To Live and Die in L.A.

I've been studying at Starbucks several times a week for the past couple of months. They've been playing Christmas music since late October, so I've gotten a head start on the holiday spirit this year. Ironically, Starbucks in Korea is the only place that feels Christmasy in the country. I'm really looking forward to spending it elsewhere soon. But before that happens, I need a place to live first.

My brother has been house hunting for a while now, constantly asking me about living conditions, budgets, and all sorts of preferences and priorities we might have. I've never actually lived in the city of Los Angeles before, so it's been really tricky trying to give him an idea of what we would like. Some place cheap, perhaps? Not Compton or Inglewood. Not too much traffic. You can see why we're having trouble figuring out if such a place even exists in L.A.

But that is why we've adjusted our focus from West L.A. to Koreatown. Just when I thought I was finally escaping the world of Koreans, I find myself going to its distant cousin. However, I am optimistic about a couple of prospects that I've seen online so far. Besides, this area might even absorb some of the inevitable culture shock we're bound to face. It's also comforting to see my brother's positive reaction with our sights at K-town. It'll be so cool to have a pool again, too!

I never really liked this song until today.

Last Peppero Day, which means about a month to go!

Thought of the Day: Hampshire Place
Song of the Day: Otis Redding-Merry Christmas Baby