160228 Thank you for the good family memories

Jeju Island, 2007

It was Mr. K's grandpa's birthday dinner tonight. It reminded me of my grandpa and my family. When was the last time I celebrated his birthday with him? Honestly speaking, I don't even know when his birthday was. I guess, even if I knew his birthday, the best I could do is to call him and wish him happy birthday. I know even just little and simple thing as a phone call would've made my grandpa happy.

Although I don't know Mr. K's family that well yet, it was nice to be in a family gathering because all my relatives live in Korea. Even if I want to go to a family gathering, there's no way of going unless I fly all the way there. I realize how much I miss those family dinners we had when I was young. I remember my family going over to my grandparent's house (my dad's side) every Sunday after church. My gomo's family and my uncle's family would also come over and we would either eat at home together, or go out to eat. I remember asking my grandma for 1000won (equivalent to $1) so that I can get a snack (usually super junk food) right across the street from her house. There were 5 of us - my sister, my three cousins and myself, so we each got 1000won to spend. If we were lucky, sometimes my grandma would let us rent a video from the small video store next to the convenience store. I think the video rentals were also about 1000won or maybe even less. We probably watched Power Rangers or Jjang-gu, if I remember correctly.

I think my grandpa put his arms around my grandma, after I told them to look more friendly in the picture.
 My grandma then awkwardly laughed.

My grandparents were the only ones who lived in a house, so it was fun to spend time there. Going up and down the stairs, playing in the rooms upstairs where my dad, my aunt and my uncle used to live, and playing in the yard with the flowers that my grandpa planted and took care of. All those were some of the memories I can recall from my childhood.

And there are memories from the time when I visited Korea. The first time I got to stay in Korea for a month or two was in 2007, when I was in university. That allowed me to go on a overnight trip with my relatives. That summer, I went to Korea with my sister and we were lucky to go to Jeju island with my grandparents and my gomo's family. My dad's side family is pretty weird and hilarious (mostly my grandma and my gomo, sometimes my grandpa too), so we have numerous unforgettable memories. This trip to Jeju, there were several incidences and as I write this entry, it brings me laughter thinking about all the things that happened during this trip. 

In the end, they were both smiling and I was able to get a cute picture of them:)

My grandpa is no longer here with us. But my grandma is. My grandparents from my mom's side are. All my cousins, aunts and uncles are still here with us, although they may all be living in Korea. I also have Mr. K's family and his relatives, who live nearer than my own relatives. I'm thankful for the memories that I already made in the past, and for the ones that I will make in the future.

no.362 140427 Thank you for my memories from grade 1

Vintage sketch book diaries from the past!

A couple of weeks ago when I was doing a major house cleaning with my mom, I found a few of picture diaries from back when I was in grade one. I haven't gotten a chance to open it until today and I immediately bursted into laughter. I remember some people that was mentioned in my journal,  like my best friends in elementary school, and I also remember some stories in the book. Most of the stories are mundane - playing with my friends, going to swimming classes, visiting my grandparents and so on. Nonetheless, I recorded some special entries about preparing for my aunt's wedding and having fun at the autumn sports day at school. I pretty much recorded what happened that day - sometimes I expressed how I felt - happy, sad and how I was mad at my friends.

As I was reading, there was one story that caught my attention. I remember what happened that day really well, but I really didn't think I was that young when it happened. I thought I was in grade 3 but according to my diary, it took place when I was in grade 1. I took swimming class with a few of my friends when I was in grade one, and because it was a little bit far from where I lived, the shuttle bus came to pick me up and drove me back home along with three of my friends. One day, I got into a fight with two of them, and this other friend and I decided to not get on the shuttle bus but to walk home, just to show that we are angry at them. I'm such a coward, I don't know what made me decide to do something outrageous like that. I was only in grade one, and I'm pretty positive that it was dark and cold, as the entry was dated December 1st. It was right after swimming, so my hair was wet. There was even a tunnel that we had to pass to get home. Well, I guess I had a good sense of direction even back then, thankfully. My friend and I made it home, safe and sound (very thankfully!) and what happened next was… yup, we both got in a huge trouble. It says in my diary that my mom and my friend's mom were super angry, and that my dad was worried about me. I don't exactly remember how bad the punishment was, but yeah..  I would be terrified if my daughter did something like that. What in the world was I thinking? It is very possible that I might've gotten kidnapped or something, but I'm thankful that God protected me on my way home that very night. And tonight, I'm thankful for the sketch book diary that I found. It's as if I'm meeting myself from the past. I guess that's why I like keeping a journal. I wonder how I will feel when I read my blog ten years from now.

no.87 130726 Thank you for a reunion

The "Mantourage" - I miss you guys:'(

It was an exciting day for me! I had a date with a friend of mine that I haven't seen for three years! She lives in Cali and she is here for a week visiting her Toronto friends. I'm so glad you came, my friend!

I met her exactly four years ago, when I went to Korea to teach English. She's probably the very first person I met. During orientation, two people had to share a room and that's how I met her. I walked into my assigned room, where I needed to stay for the next three weeks, I saw her luggage and hoped that she will be someone nice and that we would get along. Later that day I met her and I was happy for such an amazing roommate. We got along really well, and we soon found a group of friends. We called ourselves the 'Mantourage' haha. I forget who named it but it's really funny now I think about it. It was really fun hanging out with them. We would always meet in Seoul and hang out almost every weekend after starting teaching at our own schools. One thing I regret is that we didn't get to travel much. Back then, we thought Seoul was the best place to be... yeah.. we were young. Whether we got to travel or not, I cherish the time we spent together and these people are part of my fondest memories in Korea.

I'm so thankful that I got to see my friend again. I hope I can see her one more time before I leave on Monday. She seemed to like Toronto so much... wish I could trade places with her because I want to go to the States! I will visit you some time in the future!!