High Time for Photos

I believe that every reputable blog has at least several entries involving photos of some sort that are not copied from websites, but actually attained from real life experiences. This is my weary attempt to conform, and also to battle the restlessness that is standing between sleep and I. Sleep: my clandestine lover, return to me and I shall be faithful. These are a few shots of Japan, my first Asian experience, but hopefully not my last. Japan moved me in so many ways. I can only hope that these few pictures can show you a tiny bit of the magic that was felt there. It was like being transported to another world.

These are the sake barrels at the Mejii Shrine. They were supposedly for the gods to enjoy. So many! And so colorful!


The "Big Buddha"




The Jihzu statues, thought to be animistic spirits that protected the woods


The famous Inari gates in Kyoto. Absolutely breathtaking.


Hiroshima: Heart-wrenching in every way. proof that the past should never be forgotten. Proof that nuclear weapons should be done away with.



Samurai Castle



Mizukashi Shrine



Personal welcome cat beckoning us strangers into her midst.



Japan: A Beautiful and Mysterious Land

한 글

The learning process for 한 글 is slow and frustrating, with little to show for it but random vocab words and bad grammar. Rosetta Stone is amazing, but it is totally about immersion and not about reading through vocab lists. It is the most challenging thing I have ever tried to do in so short a time. Basically, I have to be at a survival level of Korean when I go over in August. Oh! that's right, I am almost 100% sure that I will be traveling to Korea the first week of August. We have almost completely worked everything out. Happy day. But until I go over, I have to haul ass and learn as much Korean as possible. I know it is pretty much impossible to become fluent, but I am hoping that I can at least converse the basic needs and hold conversations with Kyounghee's parents. C'mon Rosetta Stone, get me there!

Also, I have been trying several different Korean/Asian dishes. The most recent were these strange little rice paste balls. They looked innocent enough, prettily colored in pink and green and white, but disguised within was this rather untasty goo. It was clear and sweet with little brown flecks in it. Did NOT like.

This is what mine looked like.

Now some of these are quite tasty. I like mochi ice cream...but for some reason the mochi paste balls or whatever they are called are deceitful in look and manner.
PS- Piece of advice, stay away from the red bean paste flavored ones.

Short, but Sweet

So the boy finally bought the appropriate cords to use Skype at his apartment in S.Korea. yay for me!! I will hopefully get to see his face tonight on Skype. In other news, some happy developments have popped up in regard to his family's affections for me. They really want me to come to Korea this summer and meet them. It has also been hinted at that if I do so, a certain monumental life event may be closer than I first supposed. :)

Well, come back down to earth, Noelle. Anyways...I have an 3 o'clock interview tomorrow at Borders. The hiring manager was absolutely frightening when I met her yesterday, but perhaps it is in their job description to terrify away the not truly serious applicants. Let's cross our fingers that I get this job. I might have to miss the beach because of it, but that's not such a big deal if it means Korea at the end of the summer. Ah...priorities.

Well, here is a lovely picture of the place I hope to be at in July/August.

Hello, Summer? Thanks for showing up.

Well, its been a while since I've written. It seems like after Spring Break the semester piled up on itself. I've been busy with finals and the impending departure of my other half. He left on Wednesday and took my heart with him. I won't see him again until August, so until then...it's just you and me. So please forgive any random bouts of depression you may or may not read on here. It shouldn't happen often. I've planned to keep busy this summer to keep my mind off of Korea's hostage, aka my bf. I'm in the interviewing process at Borders, so lets keep our fingers crossed, ok? I would love to work there. Also, I have a series of goals to accomplish this summer.

• Become intimidating with my Korean language skills
• Cook a Korean meal from my cookbook as often as possible(or as often as mom will let me)
• work out with my sister and brother at the gym until we are all super sexy
• read a book a week
• study for the GRE
• successfully skype Kyounghee in Korea
• perhaps go to Korea for 2 weeks(we will see about this one)
• learn to knit
• buy a bicycle
• write my penpal consistently >_>
  

So...as you can see. so much to do, so little time. I actually just finished an hour's lessons worth of Rosetta Stone Korean. It's soooo hard to pronounce. T_T Even if I could speak Korean...his mother would never understand me!!! *cries to self* I must work harder!! Aja Aja!