kind of healthy life + winter retreat

Hi everyone long time no post!

I've been...sort of busy. Sorry for not posting so often. :'(
To be honest, I don't know how my days passed by. It just flew away instantly. My daily schedule usually goes like this:

6:00a : wake up
6:30a -8:45a : workout
9:00a - 10:00a : breakfast and wash dishes
10:00a - 10:30a : shower
10:30a - 2:00p : go to acupuncture (it takes about an hour to get to the place)
2:00p - 2:30p : late lunch (if I don't go to acupuncture or eat outside after acupuncture, I eat around 1pm)
2:30p - 5:30p : work on my dad's stuff
5:30p - 6:30p : dinner
6:30p - 7:00p : free time / work
7:00p - 7:40p : dinner for my dad. If he decides to go out to eat, I go with him so he won't be bored..this can be a torture part since I can't eat pretty much anything that he eats)
8:00p - 11:30p : free time / talk with mom / whatever I want to do

Hmm, seems like there aren't a lot of things going around, but seriously, time goes way too fast for me. Sigh. Oh, and I sometimes take a nap because workout gets too tired for me. I guess I get exhausted easily...?
Oh yeah, I also do 'extra' exercise besides going to a gym. I get off 1 station (Sinsa Station) earlier than a station (Jamwon Station) I usually get off if I come home during the day. It takes about 20 minutes from Sinsa Station to my house. It takes awhile, but it's actually pretty nice to walk home, and I get to digest a bit as I take a walk (I usually eat lunch with my mom or eat by myself on the way home so I can eat on time)

So, what have I been doing while I was away from blog? I went to winter retreat and went on a day trip with my mom to Kangwon Do area. I went on a winter retreat with church people. We stayed at Rev. Wonyong Kang's house in Gapyung. Half of group arrived around 11am and had games as introduction of retreat. Everyone blew a balloon and we rotated it around so people in a group draw one facial feature of you. Mine turned out......yeah. Hahahah, I won't say anything, but it was awesome to see how everyone sees each other.

 

(Rev. Wonyong Kang's house)

(playing first game)

Rest of group started to come in more after 1pm. There were more activities and stuff. One of them was separate into 3 groups and go to 3 different rooms and discuss about 3 topics: relationships, christian life, and young adult ministry. Unnis and I prepared dinner and had a FEAST: kimchi jjigae, sausages, duck, kimchi, veggies, etc. It was so good. I should've controlled my portion, but I couldn't help myself...sigh. (Thank goodness I didn't gain weight)
After dinner, we had another activity. Each group had to choose one song and change lyrics. Lyric had to use my nickname (that they made, I won't say it here lol) and couldn't use any English lyrics. We also had to use words that we came up with during last activity. My group ended up talking about how I want relationship...it was really funny. I forgot how the lyrics go, but it was fun :D
We had a communion after this activity. We went outside for about 10 minutes until my mom and one of oppas prepare it, then we came inside with a candle-looking light that oppa gave us at the entrance and finished communion. After communion, it was FREE TIME! Wee!

 (You can only get this in military! it's a snack made of rice and has star shaped candy inside)

One of oppas who is a soldier brought bunch of 건빵 (hardtack, it's made of rice and flour, very dried texture) that you can only get in military! You can get this anywhere, but this one seemed so special since you can't find this package outside of military. I tried few and it was pretty delicious :D
We played mafia twice. I was a doctor in first round and a mafia in second round. Man, I SUCK AT MAFIA. sigh. It was past 3am by the time the game was done. One of unnis and I couldn't fall asleep, we ended up sleeping around 4:30am and woke up 2 hours after because alarm kept turning on from friend's phone.
Everyone had cup noodles or toast as their breakfast, but I ate oatmeal with walnut and almonds that I brought with me. Some people tried it, but didn't like it. I guess no one near me likes oatmeal...but it's...good.....for you..

After breakfast, we went to small church near the house and came back to clean the house. Then we headed out to Nami Island because some of us never been there, including myself.

(닭갈비!!! (spicy chicken with vegetables))

We had 닭갈비 (spicy chicken with vegetables) as lunch and walked over to a port to take a boat to cross to Nami Island. 

 

  

 Nami Island is a small island where it got famous after drama 'Winter Sonata,' well, that's how I know of. We pretty much walked about half of the island I think. I got to eat grilled rice cake covered with sweet sauce. It was delicious, but I think it could've been better if the rice cake was grilled (?) a bit more. Hehehe, but it was good overall.

That was the last activity of the retreat! It was fun :D I think I got to learn more about everyone and got a bit closer with them..or is it just my thought? :P

I will talk more about a short day trip with my mom later :)

good night and good morning.

Late night thoughts and short letter to my NUMAfams.

Good morning! Hope everyone will have wonderful Monday (in US)

I should be sleeping (it's 1:26am) to be ready to go back to exercise in 5 hours, but I really can't sleep. I even downloaded an app called 'Sleep Pillow' to help me fall asleep, but seems like it's not working for me yet.

It's been already more than a month since I left LA! I'm getting more used to people, transportation, and some of Korean cultures, but I DEFINITELY can't get used to the weather. It's going to be windy and freezing in the morning again. Sigh. I hope this cold weather will go away soon. Spring weather is supposed to approach soon!!!!! 

Other than the weather, I've been getting along with people at church pretty well (I think.) Everyone is really nice and they are all caring which I feel relieved. I was first worried that I might have some confliction with them culturally or for some random reasons, but I haven't had difficulties with any of them so far. I also got a great opportunity to draw main church building as front cover for their seasonal magazine (I posted picture in Facebook. I'll post them in my illustration blog once I take better picture or scan them.) I think I received so much love already. But it keep brings me a question whether they're thinking of me as who I am.

I'm currently involved in young adult ministry and my mom is in charge of it. I shouldn't think or judge or anything, but I wonder if they are thinking of me as an individual or as PK. I think this question has always brought up whenever I met people that she knew first or start going to church that she was involved with. I had an experience where some people were really nice when she was with me or when she was a pastor at their church, but didn't really talk to me when she wasn't around. It didn't happen all the time, but it made me think about going to same church as her might not be a good idea. I wonder if other PKs ever thought about it. Hmm.   It's not like i don't like being in same ministry with my mom; I actually enjoy her sermons (her sermons are easy to understand most of time) and activities. I think it's my problem for thinking this way. I have a lot of fun on Sundays during team meeting and dinner with them. I have a blast hanging out with them, yet I still think about this question. I guess something must be wrong with me. I wonder if these doubts started from having low self-esteem. I definitely got more confidence of myself after girls' CG (and I thank every single one of you for your encouragement, love, support, and much more) but I guess it still takes time to heal completely, especially in Korea where there are so many skinny (and plastic) people who think fat people like me are losers (not everyone is like that, I meant some) and/or because of cultural difference. Honestly, I don't feel huge difference when it comes to cultural stuff, but there are few that I don't understand and I don't think people don't get why I don't understand. Could that be because I was born here? Meh, I don't know. I think I'm just thinking way overhead.

ANYWAYS, I get to attend their winter retreat this Saturday and Sunday. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get rid of these questions and doubts as I get to know them and build more trust and relationship. I also think this will be an interesting experience since I'm going on a retreat with mom for the first time since......I'm actually not sure if I ever went a retreat with her. I wish I was able to go to Renováre before I came to Korea to build more friendship and love with you all NUMAfams. I really miss every one of you. I can't wait until I go back and talk with all of you and share my many experience and stories that I will have by the time I go back to LA. 

Sorry for all the rambling. I wanted to get rid of my thoughts before I sleep so I don't have to think about anything. 


Have a blast day everyone! 

Happy birthday dad!

February 3rd was my dad's birthday so I've decided to prepare dinner for him. I asked my close friends, Yani and Sally, a day before his birthday about what kind of food I should make for him. Yani said I should make 잡채 (japchae, clear noodles with meat and vegetables) and 미역국 (mi yuk gook, seaweed soup.) I knew I had to make seaweed soup in birthdays, but I wasn't sure why I had to make japchae. She said it's one of foods that must be eaten in birthdays. She gave me instructions and ingredients that I should use, but I looked for a recipe just be make sure. As I was searching for a perfect recipe, I found out people put japchae on their birthday meal to wish for a long life. I was about to give up, but I decided to give it a try.

My grandma came to celebrate my dad's birthday around noon. Grandma, dad, Pastor Park, and I went to a restaurant that's located across from an elementary school where I used to go to eat lunch. We ate bulgogi and 곱창전골 (spicy soup with intestines.) It was good, but bulgogi was definitely sweet. I knew my grandma came over to buy food for my dad yet I thought my dad would pay for it; I was wrong. She actually did pay for the meal. Hmm, I thought he should pay for it to say thank you to grandma...I guess my thought was wrong? Meh, anyways.

 

(finished food shot :D)

After lunch, Pastor Park and I walked over to Kim's Club to buy ingredients for japchae and milk. I just had to buy clear noodles and spinach since I had most of ingredients at home. After we went back home, I rested a bit then started to make japchae. Japchae takes quite a long time just for preparation. I had to slice onions and carrots, blanch spinach and season it, season meat and cook it, and boil clear noodles and such. I think I spend about 40 - 50 minutes just on preparation and 10 minutes on mixing them all together. Japchae is one of hard food to make, but it came out pretty nice for a first try. My mom tasted it and she liked it, but she had to add some more soy sauce in my seaweed soup because it was little bit bland.

(birthday meal is served)

 

(happy birthday dad :D)

 

Mom and I went out and got a cake and prepared dinner around 7pm. Pastor Park, mom, and I sang happy birthday song for dad and started to eat. I also took out 감자채볶음 (chopped(?) potatoes mixed with carrots, onions, and green onions) that I made a day before as a side dish. All of them were happy with how my dishes turned out. They said it was delicious and finished my soup and japchae.

 

(exterior and interior view of Farmer's Kitchen)

After dinner, dad wanted to get some wine for '2nd round (2차)' so they decided to go to a wine bar/restaurant called 'Farmer's Kitchen.' You can buy a bottle of wine for a cheaper price in 1st floor and take it to upstairs and drink with appetizers or main dishes.

We bought a red wine from Chile and took it to upstairs and ordered chips with salsa and caeser salad as appetizer. Wine was really smooth and delicious :D All of us enjoyed our food and wine. We talked about a lot of random stuff (*cough* most of my dad's business*cough*) and came back home about an hour and half later.

I think my dad had a good time: lunch with his mom and dinner with his wife and daughter. Well, I hope he did. My mom and pastor seemed proud of me for preparing a birthday meal for dad. They said not many kids do this anymore (but I know more than half of my friends cook and I'm sure they make food for their parents or siblings :D) Maybe I will prepare full-course meal on their anniversary. I should come up with a plan soon...something with a lot of healthier recipes :)


By the way, I'm going back to a gym tomorrow (or should I say today since it's past midnight lol) morning! I haven't been going there for 2 full weeks, wait no, except Friday, because I was sick for over a week and weather was too cold to go out, so I stayed at home most of time. I rested too well and now I need to go back to strict diet, but I think I'm going to enjoy my exercise and look forward to slimmer and healthier body. Please pray for me to not give up anymore and keep going! :D

Good night :)

Hello Busan!

Hello everyone :D

I had a chance to go to Busan, 2nd biggest city in South Korea, with my mom last Tuesday. Busan is located about 270 miles away from Seoul, and since it was going to be a day trip, we've decided to take KTX, which is a fastest train you can take in Korea. It takes only about 2 1/2 hours to go to Busan from Seoul while it takes about 6 hours to drive there.

 (outside of Seoul Station) 

(inside of Seoul Station)

Mom and I woke up really early and went to Seoul Train Station (one of landmarks in Korea :D) around 7am. Exterior and interior was pretty nice and clean. I was surprised there were a lot of people here early in the morning. I guess a lot of people take trains or subways here.

(a lady was selling homemade kimbap in front of  Seoul Station, so we bought one. It was really delicious)

We had 15 - 20 minutes until the train leaves, so we went to McDonald's and bought a cup of coffee to drink while eating kimbap. I kind of felt guilty for eating outside food inside, but whatever, I like kimbap more than instant food anyways.

(interior view of the train. we were in regular seats)

(red bean paste was pretty sweet. i like one i had at actual city way more)

I guess kimbap wasn't enough for us to fill our appetite. We bought Kyoung Joo bread (bread filled with red bean paste inside) and ate almost half of them on the way to Busan. Oh yeah! I saw Bronwyn from 미녀들의 수다 (Global Talk Show) while I was looking for a seat. She was talking to one of workers to ask something. She was prettier in real life +_+

(Busan Station looked similar to Seoul Station for me)

We arrived at Busan Station around 11am I think. We headed over to this museum called 'Trick Eye Gallery' which was about 20 minutes away from the station to watch the show. 

(some of photos I took at the museum, my mom refused to take photos except twice)

This museum is pretty much taking a picture that's supposed to give you an illusion when you take photos. I think my mom didn't really understand what to do or I was just really bad at taking a pose. It was pretty fun experience, but I think 12,000 won (about 10 dollars) was a bit too much to pay for these. I think kids who were there had a lot of fun though. I had fun overall too, but I thought it they would have more fun stuff. Maybe Seoul one have better stuff? Not sure. 

After the short tour, we went to eat lunch near the gallery. Oh man, food was just horrible. I was able to taste MSG. EWW. It wasn't that delicious and there weren't a lot of fish pieces inside of soup. 

We headed over to the hospital after the lunch. Main reason we came to Busan was because mom had to go to funeral service. She was supposed to go with 2 of her co-workers, but since KTX tickets were really expensive (it's about 50 dollars one way) they decided to not go and just have mom go there and since she didn't want to go by herself, she tagged me along. While I was waiting for my mom to end service, I went to 'A Twosome Place' cafe and ordered a cup of coffee and started to doodle. (Picture will be posted in my illustration blog after I finish this) I met with my mom about an hour after and we took a bus to head over to 해운대 (Hae Un Dae)

 (panorama view of Haeundae)

(top and bottom picture have very different view, but these pictures were taken at one spot)

Hae Un Dae is a beach area. A lot of tourists come during summer and swim and get tanned during summer. Since it's winter, we enjoyed a view of winter beach instead. I wish weather was warmer so I could stay longer, but...it was COLD. After we took some photos, we went to Nurimaru APEC House, where APEC meeting was held back in 2005.

 (exterior view of Nurimaru APEC House)

 (interior view of Nurimaru APEC House, panorama picture)

(picture located as soon as you enter the main gate)

Nurimaru was smaller than I thought, but the interior design was pretty nice. They combined the design with Korean traditional style to it. There were old Korean written on the wall and some of photos were nice too. Inside where the meeting was held had a blind door that could be slide opened (I think) to see the outside view.
We walked to outside and went opposite way from where we came from. We took a bus and headed over to 자갈치시장.


자갈치시장 (Ja Gal Chi Market) is the largest seafood market, and it's one of areas that I like to go because you can eat fresh seafood if you want. Mmmmm!

 (HUGE octopus)

 (whale meat......not sure if I want to try this ever)

(fried fishcake! it was SO DELICIOUS......I WANT MORE!!)

I wish I was able to buy some of fish from here, sigh. A lot of fish looked so fresh and delicious....and BIG. I wanted to walk more, but it was getting so windy, so we went to one of restaurants to eat sashimi.

(mmmm....sashimi......)

Mom said it's not as fresh as you can eat next to a market, but they don't have a lot of side dishes like restaurants like this. I still liked it though :D Side dishes were good too. We stayed at the restaurant for over an hour so we can relax before we head back to Busan Station.

We still had some time before we leave, so we crossed the street to go to Arirang Street? Where Busan Internation Film Festival happens. Arirang Street is like Myoung Dong in Seoul; there were a lot of stores and a lot of people. People came out to shop and eat. We had 어묵꼬치 (fishcake) and walked around for a bit and decided to try this 호떡 (hodduk, fried bread with sugar inside.) This street booth had a LONG line so we decided to try this booth. We waited almost 10 minutes to eat this thing.

 (waiting on line to get a hodduk)

 

(making hodduk)

(inside of hodduk)

I think people like this hodduk because first, they use brick size of butter instead of oil to fry hodduk and second, they put nuts inside of hodduk. Each hodduk costed 900 won, about 85 cents. We bought 2 and took it to Busan Station. We ate them with a cup of coffee while waiting for train time. It tasted really good, but I ended up getting diarrhea. Sigh. I guess my stomach isn't used to greasy food anymore. Umm, yay? xD

Overall, I enjoyed this day trip. I wish we went a day before to go around more, but we had fun. We got exhausted on the way back to Seoul so we knocked out.

I want to go on another trip! Maybe I can plan a day trip by myself once I'm done with website design and other design work by March or April. Hmm.

It's past 12:30am now. I should go to sleep soon. I will post about my another happy event I had on 3rd (Friday) soon!


Good night!