Polka Hot

Everyone loves a good pun, ammirite?! I'm doubling up on polka dots today. Too much? Nah, I'm an elementary school teacher, a profession where it's acceptable, if not encouraged, to be goofy, playful, and whimsical. I mean, at least they're all shades of blue. Also, who doesn't love a skirt with pockets?! They're great!

-Anna-

shirt: Korean subway shop

belt, skirt, shoes: thrifted

tights: Urban Outfitters

This weekend, I helped celebrate my friend, Andy's, birthday. Unfortunately for you, I did not remember to take pictures until I was well drunk in Bucheon, while she was well drunk in Hongdae (Seoul). But I did manage to take pictures of the cool noraebang a few of us visited after getting chicken and downing a few glasses of beer and soju. As you can see, we were very entertained by the circular pillow tub, as much as we were with the actual singing, perhaps even more so.

I also visited an amazing Korean bathhouse in Yongsan called Dragon Hill, that I would recommend to anyone. I took Andy and Danielle for their first ever jimjilbang experience. Again, unfortuntely for you, I did not take pictures. I'll leave that one to your imagination.

had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction

Have a pleasant day, wherever you are!

Anna

Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey

Hello, year two thousand and thirteen! twenty thirteen! 2013! Did you know this is the first time since 1987 all the numbers in the year are different? Weird, right? And what's also weird is the fact that Marybeth and I have had this blog for over a year. Woah. We sort of missed our blog birthday in October. Were we supposed to do some kind of ritualistic ceremony? I sure hope not. We can slaughter a hot dog, or something, when I get back to the states, if you want, Bette. Or we can carry on, and damn the blog gods.

 -Anna-

shirt, skirt: thrifted HERE in KOREA 

(a tough thing to manage. like, really thrifted, not just old shit sold for too much. this ensemble, minus the tights, was 6,000 krw, which is like $6. my kind of stuff.)

tights: (doubled up because it's cold) black, h&m and navy (like you could tell) stolen from Marybeth

"pearl" necklace: thrifted

"pearl" earrings: icing

cat: Korea

Now I'm going to reflect on the year past and year to come because it's half my blog and I want to. So pipe down or get out! .. No, no, stay. It's nice here. Ahem. 2012 was good to me. I wasn't sure there at the start, worrying about getting out here, to Korea, to teach. I was living with my parents (whom I love and loved living with, by the way) after graduating college with a liberal arts degree, wondering what sort of year was in store. It was nerve racking not being sure of your future, as I'm sure any recent graduate (or perhaps some adults) can attest to. Gosh, all this growing up. I did my fair share in 2012, which I'm sure I can and should say ever year, but this year was my first full year out of school, in the real world, getting a job and having a salary and living on my own and not writing last minute essays at 3 in the morning.

I also ended a two year relationship with my first long-term boyfriend. In coming to Korea, the change and distance were finally enough reason for me to end something important, but exhausted. And that new freedom had the added bonus of allowing me to explore and have fun doing things I wouldn't have been able to do had I been in a relationship. Nothing has stuck like Cole since Cole, and quite frankly, I'm okay with that. Long distance relationships are hard, and I don't envy anyone who has to deal with one. I'll be leaving soon after 2013 ends and I don't want to worry about who I'm with and where we'll be going. All I should manage is myself, for now, until I'm in more stable situation. But then again, who am I to argue against the gushy-mushy-good-time feelings and their (sometimes tricky) implications? Ah, let's just see what 2013 has in store.

chris, greg, and me, the daewoo crew (as our apartment building named daewoo), out for new years. we had a fun night at our most frequented restaurant and bar. then we hit up a nori bang (singing room or karaoke) and rang in the new year there. it was my kind of night!

So now, what about 2013? What are my hopes for the upcoming year? I'm not really one for resolutions, because it shouldn't take a new year to make a new you. But I do have life resolutions and goals I'd like to achieve, so I'll state those.

I'd like to continue to be happy, healthy, positive, and hopeful. I have control over all of those things, and I'd like to maintain that. I need to create more. I need to draw more and I need to write more. I need to connect more with the people I love and value. I don't do it enough, and I'll wish I had when I don't have them anymore. Similarly, I will apply the lessons learned from the mistakes I made with past relationships, be in any form, to my future ones, as best I can.

I don't know about this blog though. I won't make any promises about it, but that's okay. It's nice to have here sometimes. I have pictures I'd still like to share, and this can be more personal than facebook. I can say more here, open up more, explain more. So it stays, but in varying degrees.

And to you! Reader! I hope your year is a successful one, however that applies to you. I hope you're happy. I hope you're healthy. I hope you are rewarded. I hope you fail, but just enough so you can learn and grow. I hope you make it to 2014!

Sweetly and sincerely,
Anna

p.s. I've been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately. Like, a lot. Maybe it's rubbing off on me. The skirt is sort of Tardis blue, and the stripes, kind of like the windows? And I have myself a companion? I even have my own galaxy of stars in my room. And, I mean, I am a bit of time traveler since I made it to 2013 before anyone else in the states... Eh? Eh? No? Just me?

Turning 24

wheeeere have i beeeen? i haven't been feeling very up to blogging for the past month or so. i kept putting off my mom's visit post and now it's been a month and a half since she left. i have been taking pictures though, and i have a small stockpile of photos and outfits to share. i didn't want to post them, though, until i took care of my mom's post and that never happened and blah blah blah....

anyway, something else has come up that's worth sharing. my birthday, of course! that's right boys and girls, i make my triumphant return to the blog talking about a day dedicated to my existence. i am one of my favorite people, after all...

but seriously, you only turn 24 once. aaaand i bought a new dress. two, in fact. here's one:

-Anna-

dress: H&M

sweater, tights: The Gap

boots: gift! Sorel

headband: gift! knit by my mama!

button: antique show

necklace: Flapper Doodle pendant a la Scathingly Brilliant's Etsy

i had an absolutely wonderful birthday, one of the best. school was a breeze on wednesday. four of my 6th grade girls came in to my room, told me to close my eyes, surprised me with a pyramid of cookie pies complete with birthday candles, and sang to me! it was so heartwarming! then i had my last kindergarten class of the year. one class made me flowers and the other gave me a party hat. best of all was when they all gave me hugs ^^

after school, i grabbed dinner at a nearby galbi place with a few friends from my building. we got some mekju and soju in us (beer and, well, soju), and then headed to woodstock on the other side of town. woodstock is this great little lp bar with tons and tons of old records. and it's run by this sweet little korean man. so we drank some drinks and listened to some tunes and had ourselves a grand time! it was so nice to have everyone together and happy and it made me happy and so thankful. it made being away from my family and friends at home a little easier.

so many faces

super cool, right?

so thanks for the laughs and the beers and the cards and the gifts and the love i received this year from everyone who thought of me today. or rather, yesterday. round two this weekend! let's see if my person and anything else i take with me makes it safely home and in one piece.

over and out!
anna

oh! and did you notice? i dyed my hair! i went for an ombre thing... i like it.. but it's strange looking down and seeing a different color. i've never had my hair dyed before, but i was in need of a mini makeover, so it's fun having a sort of new accessory to play around with.

Follow the Yellow Brick Wall

There is no place like home, and lucky for me, my home is coming to me very soon!

My mom is coming on Wednesday! She'll be here for 2 1/2 weeks. Whew! That's a lot of bonding time. Boots will also appreciate the company while I'm gone at school (sidenote: I just discovered that Boots can play fetch. What a remarkable cat/dog). We have plans to go to Jeju Island after this upcoming holiday. Elly managed to convince the school to allow me to have Thursday and Friday of next week off in addition to the Monday-Wednesday holiday the whole school has off. She and my school are awesome. Now, instead of going on vacation during the busy holiday, we can go after when everyone else has returned to Seoul. I'm so excited! Jeju is supposed to be a beautiful island popular with tourists. Expect a post all about it!

-Anna-

shirt: Old Navy

skirt: thrifted

shoes: Ebay

necklace: American Eagle

Also, Saturday night's show was a success! Our play, "Melting" came in 2nd out of the six plays competing! Oh, it was such a thrill! I honestly wasn't expecting to rank; the other plays were so creative and so well-acted. Congratulations to the first and third place winners, "Calibans" and "The Extras", respectively, and of course all the 11 other plays that performed! What could be next? I'd like to get involved with something either in theater or dance, something performance wise. But it's even just nice going out and watching others perform, and now I have a little more idea what shows are coming up. Shows that my mom and I can go see!

Stay classy,
Anna

Catching Up

So I haven't been very happy with any of my outfit posts as of late, which is one reason for my serious lack of updates. On the other hand, I am in a foreign country and should be taking pictures of tons of interesting things besides the clothes I wear, right? And I have! I'm just getting lazy... But I won't go on about my absence. Let's just do a little updating, shall we?

...deep breath...

I visited Seoul Tower with a few of my friends. Seoul Tower, or Nasam Tower, is a communication and observation tower on Nasam Mountain in Seoul. It's kind of surreal to have this huge, huge capitol city and then to have this mountain hanging out in the middle of it. The hike up was hot (ugh), but it was really beautiful, so, yeah, it was worth it. Took a bus down though...  I didn't need to see it again, haha.
















They had these metal trees and fences where you could attach a lock or chain or, um, cell phone cases. A lot of them had sweet, lovey-dovey sentiments. At least, from the ones I could read. Most the others, I assumed said the same. I mean, what else would be written on a heart? Ah, damn, I should have bought one and wrote something like, "I have to take a poop. FOREVER. Love, Anna".

 

our rendition of a korean drama

my rendition of a map

That same day, we visited a traditional village, also in the heart of Seoul. We found some pretty swell face-in-a-hole cut outs. I think I found the best one.

All right. Next.

 Boots was neutered and declawed. Boy, oh boy! Little guy was a champ though despite some mishaps (notice the makeshift sock-cast around his left paw) the and has made a full recovery!

Moving on.

one of our many sets of twins. luckily, one has since adopted bangs.

I had summer camp. Yes, and I actually had summer camp before my Busan trip from my last post (damn, I am behind...). I taught two small classes of 4th and 5th graders. It was meant to help the students who are the most behind/having the hardest time with even the basics.

Case in point, we spent a week going over and over the alphabet, telling time, and days of the week. We spent the other week reviewing past lessons and introducing the new material for next semester. Yeah, I know, super exciting. I mean, I heard that other kids have to endure Harry Potter or Under the Sea themed classes. God forbid, right?

 We actually made a lot of progress and from the kids who showed up consistently, they managed to get through the whole alphabet, BIG and small! I consider that a success.

Also, this..

Alyissa and I visited the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul. Technically, South Korea is still at war with North Korea ever since the Korean War in the 1950's. Some people just can't let things go....

No, but seriously, it's a shame the two countries can't come together and focus that hatred towards the Japanese...

No, but seriously, seriously. These two countries share such a tumultuous past, but a common past. Somewhere along the line, though, shit got divided and an entire country split. I mean, yeah, this kind of stuff has happened before; countries divide and create new independent countries. But which ones have become such polar opposites that they can't even live peacefully and independently? I mean, North Koreans are forbidden to leave their country to travel to South Korea and South Koreans are denied entry into North Korea. It just feels like things have been left unresolved for so long, I don't think the two countries can ever unite again without some kind of confrontation.

All right, I'm not going to pretend I know everything about Korean relations at all. In fact, I know very little. But I did see some interesting stuff at the memorial, and not all of it was based on the Korean War. Here! Let me tell you all about it in picture form:

 

Whew! That was a lot! I was going to have an accompanying outfit with this post but 1) like I said, I'm not overly pleased with my outfit photos latel, 2) but, hell, let's spread the wealth and make it it's own post anyway, and 3) there's so much shit in this one, there's no real way I could find a way to relate my clothes to anything here.

So yeah. Another time.


Sincerely,
Anna
yay!

Busan Beaches!

 

I am finally on vacation! Ah, the taste of freedom is sweet and sorely missed. A friend of mine, Greg, invited me to come visit a friend of his in Busan this weekend. I had no other plans, so I happily obliged! Busan is a south western metropolitan city which has the 2nd largest population in the country. Also, it's right on the sea. Which sea, you ask? It's kind of complicated.... Anyway, we left Saturday and I met Greg's 'ole college buddy, Gun. Then we went out drinking and clubbing (ha!) and we all got a little drunk and had ourselves a grand time.

Gun taking in some Sun.

The next day, we planned a trip to the beach! The weather threatened rain, but it managed to stay at bay. And then WE went to the bay! har har har... The water was warm and the air was warmer so it was nice to swim and lounge around. We went to Gwangalli Beach, the smaller of the two largest beaches. The water was a little dirtier but it was less crowded. It had this really big bridge out over the water. It was cool and an eyesore at the same time.

I wanted to do a beach post, so I took the opportunity and flashed some pictures! I also wanted to show off my new headband/handkerchief. Teehee!

-Anna-

swimsuit: Urban Outfitters (billabong)(also, from last year)

shorts: ebay

bandana: Korean subway

There was this strange little statue out on the water. I asked Gun, but he didn't seem to know what it was for.

On Monday, Greg and I were on our own with looking around so we hit up the fish market. Busan is right on the beach so they rely a lot on their seafood for revenue. It was basically just a long street with tons of sea creatures, alive, dead, and dying. Yeah, maybe a little gruesome. Now, I'm not too big on seafood, so maybe some of the appeal was wasted on me, but I will admit it was worth the trip. 

wtf gross phallic things which are not actual penis'.

We got lunch at a seaside restaurant which served.. you guessed it, fish! So Greg and I ordered sashimi (raw fish) and fried fish. We also got A TON of sides (which is typical in Korea, but DAMN). And they just kept coming! There was shrimp and smoked salmon and kimchi and soup and raw veggies, chicken, pork... and more that I couldn't even identify. It was all real yummy, you know, for fish, and we were thoroughly stuffed when we finally managed to fit it all in our bellies.

surprisingly not the full spread.

I also got a local dish, dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥), which is a rice/pork soup. It's quite delicious! Add a few tiny shrimp and some kimchi for flavor, and you've got a scrumptious hot dish.

Oh and one more story:
So Greg and I went to this bar our last night out, and a few beers into the evening, I manage to drop my glass three inches off the table. Typical, right? Hahaha, so the thing shatters in to a thousand little pieces! Not even big chunks, noooo, tiny little bastards that land all over arms and thighs and table and floor. I have nothing too bad to show for it, but I did manage a few little nicks.

So that was my first adventure of my vacation. My second will begin tomorrow when I visit Elly's hometown on the eastern coast. I don't remember the name of the city, but it's not overly big. I'll be staying with a friend of hers, one I met a few weeks ago when I went camping! Awesome, right? I'll be hanging out with a normal Korean family who I barely know for four days. What a new adventure! I finished the first Game of Thrones book, but I have to wait to borrow the next one. So I'll be taking John Green's Papertowns, and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, so I'll crack into those during my trip. See you in a week or so!

Sincerely yours,
Anna