a weird vacation - bay area edition

Here are some things I have done while attempting to make the best of a strange situation.

The first day I arrived I went to the Fillmore with my aunt and her friend and ate tacos and burritos mostly but then also saw Ben Harper. If you know me you know I do not like this but it was nostalgic I guess? Muchmusic played the shit out of that one video which I just tried to find and it took too long/my ears hated it. The Fillmore is a very nice place and many great artists have played there, Here are some photos.

That weekend we went to the ocean Half Moon Bay to be specific. Maverick's is there it looks very dangerous for surfing. I drank beers and looked at this...

I went to see this band in Oakland. I am not as big a fan as some but the sound was nice. Most people there all knew each other so that was awkward. This picture is not the best cause I am short.

The next day I went for breakfast, a hike, to Target then ate a burrito. The activities were nice however the overall mood was incredibly heartbreaking. This also marks the last time I will probably ever see Brian Lau.

I watched a lot of TV at some point and the drought is very serious apparently then I saw this. It's only rained once since I have been here. I feel like this is one of those things everyone will ignore until it's too late.

Then I got heavy into research. Rediscovered all of my actual interests and some of my sense of humour. I have like 2 years to catch up on so that's a heavy task. Also sorting out school etc. looking for the best deal on cars blah blah blah. During this time I found out there would be a robot festival! It was actually pretty disappointing like check out this bionic man suit...mhennnn. There were also these tiny robot things that make me think that the movie transcendence is not that far off.

Then I found fucking R2-D2...

Then I realized this guy is fucking paralyzed from the waist down. He was just standing around and walking in a straight line. He can't turn yet BUT STILL! The future!

Then I took a REALLY long bus ride to the city for an art exhibition but this was the most exciting thing I saw. I also finished a book.

I went vintage shopping a fair amount of times and got some great shit for a great price. I think I wanna get more into shoulder pads.

I have also been taking daily walks or runs.

This week I went to the botanical gardens because it was free. I also drove myself to the city for the first time via the freeway. I don't drive often so this is exciting. I got really into it. I actually caught myself smiling and was like whoa oh yeah this is how it is to feel nice.

These look so weird!

These smell so nice! 

Cool look!

So majestic!

These are everywhere here! 

So weird! 

I like the lighting here!

Clearly I also learned how to use my camera during this outing. Later I had a drink with my aunt and met Heather who is the best and is the bartender she introduced me to this very interesting section of the paper where they just report 911 calls? 

I wanted to make a cool joke where I pretended 3:41 was me but it says himself so... I can't. 

I also specifically walked 1.5 hours to this Mexican food store to try to find these candies I really like, I didn't bring money to buy them though? They have them but more importantly their stock boy is killing it. Give him a  raise. 

I have a huge blister and sunburn as a result of this outing. Saw several small lizards today and I liked it. I'm going to try to volunteer to see more animals or plants cause apparently I really like it. JK I knew I just forgot for a bit.

I appreciate I'm pretty jovial about all of this but the internet is primarily for LOLs. However if you hate those you can read below...

It's been three weeks now. If you are wondering why I am here (lots of people have asked) I had no job or home and my aunt will house me for free. I even have an actual bed here! A room too! So why not? Also I lost my fucking mind and it only would have spun more out of control had I stayed.

I spent the first week having some sort of mental break down. Still so stressed, vulnerable and emotionally convoluted. The lack of food and having to break someone's heart repeatedly had me severely depressed for a couple days.

The second week crying and mourning the loss of a future I had convinced myself I wanted. Turns out mhennnnnnnnnnnnnnn! If I really wanted to move here ever I can cause of my aunt so really whatever but even still.

The third putting myself back together and being a little horrified with how out of touch with myself I am/was. I haven't been happy or confident since I left Seoul and that's fucked.

Some things I would like to celebrate: not making a terrible mistake that would ruin 2+ lives, reconnecting with long lost pals, and looking at the close future and being genuinely optimistic.

Mostly I feel fine now hence the blog post. k bye.

Better than a sitcom

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind since Rob left and I blame the best of co-workers for my lack of presence on the internet. I'm surely forgetting things but here is the most of the last 6 months that I remember.

We went to Everland and I dont like rides but I totally conquered my fears and rode the T-Express 3 times. I can't say in retrospect if I really liked it.

Rob left. It was sad and I cried. Here are his last days at Langcon. Jubin left at the same time. Lame. Things are really lame but I will not go into details as it could always be worse.

The last lunch

Bye Jasper

Very comfortable

Nice dinner

Bye BYe

I got really bored... I re-explored internet dating which led me to a casino with a 19 year old US soldier. As well as eating shrimp heads with a Korean who told me he was suprised I wasnt fat. Cool line. At least I tried? Also during Chuseok Alex from my highschool visited and Jay the TA left which was dumb and sad. Here are two photos to represent those events.

I went hiking with Cam and took so many pictures and it was really beautiful.

At some point Ian got a gift of crabs. They were still alive. Thanks to the internet we were able to kill and eat them all in a humane and effective manner.

At some other point Brian and I decided to go eat and drink and then drunk shop. We made friends. She looks like his mom but she it not. Then I got interviewed... I just kept saying very delicious.

I bought these things and I am still not joking when I wear them.

We had a friendly day for American Thanksgiving. We made a lot of food and watched all of the lord of the rings movies... extended versions... those fade outs are torture.

Here was Halloween. We watched scary movies at Ian's later. We are the characters from our works computer assignments.

I hung out with my Korean lady friend Sun Yong various times along with Soo once and Kelly once. I'm terrible at meeting Sun Young on time and replying to texts so... I'm sorry. idk. She is over it... hahah I understand. I dont even have a phone... its annoying.

The X-Patriot games is a games day we created because as a group we all love games and needed an excuse to celebrate that in the name of healthy competition. GIRLS WON BIG TIME.

Team Photo

Yut

Pulse 

Pin the tail of the donkey

Flip Cup

We ended off the night on a shared bowl of Bonddaegi. Which are bugs FYI rest of the world.

We went to a weird foreigner friendly party then to itaewon where everyone made out with someone BUT me. Then it turned out that the guy who I was talking up was a DJ (of course) but also best friends with my ex. cool life. PS seouls population is over 20 million. WTF. really.

For Christmas we tried to go to Lotte World but line ups were crazy.  Then we tried to go to a movie but they were all sold out. Then we hung out at Ian's and then went to Costco. Went back to Ian's and ate so hard. 

New Years Eve we had to work but then we went back to Cakeshop. I dunno how but I was having champagne and looking at the French dj's records and I got left behind. I woke up at Sadie's with zero memory and no purse. This is interesting because I live in the same building and even floor as Sadie. It's actually such a bummer that I would rather not go into the details. I will say that it was a bad situation but I ended up being super lucky as we learned a good lesson and I got everything back. I even made a couple new friends.

Right after that Ali came for a visit and it was so nice. We ate a lot of food, she saw me naked, we shopped, we danced, and learned we have very different approaches to discovering new movies. I have no pictures too busy having fun. 

Then it was my birthday... I wanted to watch movies, eat Macdonalds, play vids, have a sleepover and then ate brunch. These were my dreams for my 30th birthday and they all came true. Did you hear about how great my co-workers are? ALSO I ordered MacDonalds on my own... cause they deliver here. Brian hurt his back here's how he slept, and also everything else... always this position.

Brian went home for a test. Nothing happened for 4 days. 

We went to Everland for sledding and it was fun. Then it was Courtney's birthday and things went bananas... I can't/won't even explain. Everything was weird. Here's Everland at night.

Then we went skiing/snowboarding. The Pappajohns came and it was so fun. I hurt my butt. Three runs are enough for me thanks. I'm old. It was so nice to get out of the city though. Here's a view from our room. Crocodile forever.

So fashionable.

This weekend we made a games night in honor of Michelle our co-worker who couldnt make it to hang out the last two weekends. Brian and I went on an elaborate shopping/food trip to procure Settlers of Catan. It was good. The wine with legs killed Michelle and Courtney after an hour. When not playing catan we were watching Jeopardy. I wish I could take everyone home with me. 14 weeks left.

I took a break from writing this particular post for about 2 months. Hi Im back. 

Brian and I tried to go to a free 2ne1 concert but it was not possible so we took pictures and then I tried on Alexander Wang boots decided no and then ate a bunch of food. 

I tried for one day to get buff.

We tried to merge ladies night with Melissa's works ladies night but she passed out so it was a no go. Pizza was still had and we met this dog and played catan! 

After that Sadie had recouped from her corrective eye surgery we tried to get professional photos done. We got hair cuts but then the price was too high so we just hung out in Hongdae. We packed it up early though cause we're old. From March 16th to April 19th dates,the order of these event's totally escape me.

We ate a lot of burgers at this hip joint that I would go to even if it was in Canada. Rare statement for an American taste in Korea.

Also at a breakfast place. Same deal: as good as home.

We went to a baseball game and it was so fun.

Brian loves baseball the most. I like hoegaarden and KFC at a fair price. Yes were wearing matching shirts. 

MA! - or do it? 

After that Brian and I tried to look at cherry blossoms but instead just got some weird street festival. Mhen. Here are some photos. Unfortunately for Brian I am near impossible to impress with performances of any kind... I'm kind of a douche bag and I have made my peace with it. I'm sorry to those around me that are affected by this terrible afflication. Mostly if I'm not fully complaining just go with it.

Then for Colin and Brian's 30th we got a party room and it was alllllright. I have no pictures of this and the one I found has my butt in it so too bad for you. Unwilling to accept an unfilled hot tub we used empty garbage cans and ice buckets to fill it with water from the sinks. Also we convinced the birthday boys to get shirtless and on the bed and throw money around. It's was as weird as it sounds and some money was lost but then found. 

Also at one point I went to Dragonhill Spa with some ladies which was so nice.

SEPTEMBER REPRISE: 

At this point I can't remember anything... OOOOOOOhhhh I think we went to Hongkong! everyone kinda figured out Brian and my secret... through a weird cartoon and several hints/comments/questions. Here are some of my fav photos. 

We went to Lotte World finally for Ian birthday. I don't really like rides but I am a big fan of friendship.

Then we went to Ganeung, I have no photos. I don't know why. We spent a lot of time looking for chicken... then we were on the beach... we had snacks and watched bad action movies in our hotel room. I had an unsolvable headache and the bus rides were very long. We left early to meet the new people or Troy...  I think Troy.. here's that. 

The next weekend we hung out and went to itaewon to meet Melissa and Ian. I was dealing with a lot of feelings. Some were nice, others were sad.  

LAST DAYS

Friday we went to eat with the all of our coworkers. Here are some photos. 

The transition. 

We ate then Norae'd obviously. 

We stayed out too late. We had to move out of our places the next day. I went to bed unsober and got so confused when Brian was there when I woke up. We had to run to Express bus terminal to catch a ride with Janet's family and friends to Busan for her sisters wedding. We made it HOWEVER... we thought we would have time to change once we got to Busan WRONG. When we got there we were able to quickly change in the bathrooms and still catch the cutest singing ever by one Janet Rhie to her beautiful sister. Friend photo! Considering the lack of sleep and previous night's alcohol intake we cleaned up alright. 

Here we are on our way to dinner. 

We found a nice hotel but I was pretty mopey. A special mixture of sleep deprivation and daunting future issues. The next day the aquarium really turned things around, the sandcastles were cute too. 

Then we shopped and passed by this.

Appetite not affected. 

and then we went to our respective homes except for Courtney who transferred and stayed in Seoul, and Ian who wasn't done his contract yet. 

INSIDE JOKES TO REMEMBER FOREVER

- Okay Courtney you have until Ian finishes his cucumber to decide. 

- Janet: He's so flash

- Sadie: just kidding

- Brian: Melanie you have __ hours/minutes to get out of here.  

- Ian: I'm easy

- Ian: Question the first: ...

- Melanie: 17 year old boy and a 70 year old man, no inbetween. 

- Ian: Shit is weird. 

- Ian: Things are currently occuring.
- Brian: because I'm Asian.
- Sadie: The end.
- Melanie: heeeeeeeeeeey.....
- Brian: Sure
- Melanie: Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
- Go on...
- Ian: Did they/you totally french?

This wine has legs for (motion forever silently)
The month of secrets
The month of racism