edreaMJ – M for magnificent, J for the journey

Hi all. Guess what? I’m in Korea AGAAAAIIINNN!!

Who would’ve guessed that a dream that was only a dream came true.. and this time for the third time!.

I hope on this trip, after losing either data, camera, or will to write the first and second attempts, I will be wiser by poating bit by bit. So, bear with me fir my chubby thumbs (read: misspellings and all).

Ok, so something interesting happened on my flight to Incheon. an Ahjussi who sat in the middle seat at the middle row claimed that he lost his money. My first thought was: How? He was sandwidched for goodnesa sake! But anyhow.. the flight attendants (which were soooo much nicer, attentive than A** **nada’s) tried to announce it to the whole plane and ask if someone found the money. Nothing came up.

So as soon as we landed, the cabin crew already have cops waiting to search the people sitring besides, at the front and back rows of Mr. 37E.

One guy was missing tho.. Mr. 36E. and two ahjussis who were asked to come fot tje ‘investigation’ worked up in Korean and suspect the foreugn man who was missing tobe the suspecy.

The end result? Iono.. I left watching ome of the guy was being queationed outside the plane.

Anywho..

I’m trying to go to Anyang station since I’m meeti g my friend (whom I’m staying with) at 12. I’m done with all immigration and lugage declaration by 8ish.

I wanted to take the subway since
1.  its cheaper
2. Ihave a lot of time

but my friend successfully convinced me that its better for me to take the bus.

I arrived at gate C. Had McDonald’s breakfast *Hah* since we didnt get any breakfast on the plane.

After that. Woah man! What should I do..  The fun part of the airport can only be seen during departure.. So I wantes to walk all the way to the other end of the airport and back *yeah.. killing time and excercise*

But here I am near terminal E, F.

Ok, this is not a comfession of the shopaholic. But everytime I see a convinience store, almost everytime, I rack my brain to see what I ‘need’ to buy.

This time I walkedpas GS 25

it is located just by arrival gate E, F.
My battery was gona pfftt and I didnt bring the..you know.. power adaptor.. so I thought maybe I should by one.. But then I saw PPS SIM Card dummies. It’s more useful, I thought. I lined up. But they don’t actually have it

AND I foumd an oasis/oase or whatever you call it. It’s a charging station where people can actually sit down to wait for their gadgets to be recharged.

I say YAY! But I think it takes a lot of trust to the people of *at least* the local society to have this thing as it is..

Hmm.. then Canada?

Writing a blog is actually an effective way to kill time. 30 more minutes and I will start my adventure! Woohoo!

Hi all. Guess what? I’m in Korea AGAAAAIIINNN!!

Who would’ve guessed that a dream that was only a dream came true.. and this time for the third time!.

I hope on this trip, after losing either data, camera, or will to write the first and second attempts, I will be wiser by poating bit by bit. So, bear with me fir my chubby thumbs (read: misspellings and all).

Ok, so something interesting happened on my flight to Incheon. an Ahjussi who sat in the middle seat at the middle row claimed that he lost his money. My first thought was: How? He was sandwidched for goodnesa sake! But anyhow.. the flight attendants (which were soooo much nicer, attentive than A** **nada’s) tried to announce it to the whole plane and ask if someone found the money. Nothing came up.

So as soon as we landed, the cabin crew already have cops waiting to search the people sitring besides, at the front and back rows of Mr. 37E.

One guy was missing tho.. Mr. 36E. and two ahjussis who were asked to come fot tje ‘investigation’ worked up in Korean and suspect the foreugn man who was missing tobe the suspecy.

The end result? Iono.. I left watching ome of the guy was being queationed outside the plane.

Anywho..

I’m trying to go to Anyang station since I’m meeti g my friend (whom I’m staying with) at 12. I’m done with all immigration and lugage declaration by 8ish.

I wanted to take the subway since
1.  its cheaper
2. Ihave a lot of time

but my friend successfully convinced me that its better for me to take the bus.

I arrived at gate C. Had McDonald’s breakfast *Hah* since we didnt get any breakfast on the plane.

After that. Woah man! What should I do..  The fun part of the airport can only be seen during departure.. So I wantes to walk all the way to the other end of the airport and back *yeah.. killing time and excercise*

But here I am near terminal E, F.

Ok, this is not a comfession of the shopaholic. But everytime I see a convinience store, almost everytime, I rack my brain to see what I ‘need’ to buy.

This time I walkedpas GS 25

it is located just by arrival gate E, F.
My battery was gona pfftt and I didnt bring the..you know.. power adaptor.. so I thought maybe I should by one.. But then I saw PPS SIM Card dummies. It’s more useful, I thought. I lined up. But they don’t actually have it

AND I foumd an oasis/oase or whatever you call it. It’s a charging station where people can actually sit down to wait for their gadgets to be recharged.

I say YAY! But I think it takes a lot of trust to the people of *at least* the local society to have this thing as it is..

Hmm.. then Canada?

Writing a blog is actually an effective way to kill time. 30 more minutes and I will start my adventure! Woohoo!

A post I spotted on my Facebook timeline today really got my attention and I weigh as worthy to break my hiatus from blogging!

The post I found just now was this video:

YEP! It’s KPOP 2 awesome vocalist  효린 Hyorin & 이루 Eru!!

Eru and Hyorin

But they are not singing any Korean of Japanese, English or even Chinese song.. THEY ARE SINGING AN INDONESIAN SONG! And who ever said I’m not proud to be Indonesian? Even though the music bank was in Jakarta, it did not mean they have to sing an Indonesian song. Well, they are famous in Indonesia as Korean singers. They could have just sing their popular songs. But the fact that they worked hard to sing this song to the Indonesian audiences showed that they (the singers, producer of the show, whoever involved in deciding this song) have a really warm and sweet hearts and minds. #respect! It’s like shouting we cherish you Jakarta and want this moment to last forever, just like what the song is about.

For those of you who are not Indonesians, let me give you my elevator speech on the song: Kemesraan.

Soo.. Kemesraan, literally translated as ‘romance’ or maybe 친밀함 in Korean (?), is a golden hits song performed by Iwan Fals supported (or featuring) Rafika Duri, Itang Yunasz, Etrie Jayanthie, Jamal Mirdad and Nani Sugianto. They are big names in the history of Indonesian music industry in the 70s and well-known and respected until today.The song itself was composed by great song writers and composer (late) Franky Sahilatua and Johny Sahilatua. Before these artists — which were under Musica Studios entertainment label– performed the song, the song was sung and published to the public by  Franky Sahilatua dan Jane Sahilatua. However, the song did not get any recognizion from the public even when Iwan Fals performed the song with another Indonesian great vocalist Titiek Hamzah. Therefore the song was really turned into a golden hits thanks to the Musica Studios’ artists.

Kemesraan Casette Cover

And now, what is the song about? It is a poetic song which talks about the beautiful things happen when two people are in love. The song compares the beauty and the peacefulness of being in love with the language of nature. Now, I know I’m not good *even terrible, I might say* in describing songs with my own figure of speech. Let’s just…let me translate the song, ok?! well, let’s just hope I can be as poetic as the song! *fingerscrossed* 

Kemesraan/This Loving Moment/서로를 향한 소중한 마음

Suatu hari

One day/언잰가

Dikala kita duduk di tepi pantai

when we sat down at the beach/헤변가에에 앉아있있던

Dan memandang

and we stared/우리보았지

Ombak di lautan yang kian menepi

at the the approaching waves at the sea/파도가 밀려오는 모습을

Burung camar

The seagulls/갈매기가

Terbang bermain diderunya air

Are playing and flying at the roar of the water/물위에 닿올올 듯 날아가는

Suara alam ini

The voice of this nature/자연이 소리

Hangatkan jiwa kita

Gives warmth to our souls/뜨거워지는 우리의 영혼

Sementara sinar surya perlahan mulai tenggelam

while the beam of the sun starts begins to sink/태양이 천천히 떠오르는 동안

Suara gitarmu

The sound of your guitar/들려오는 너의 기타 소리

Mengalunkan melodi tentang cinta

sways the melody of love/사랑을 노래하는 맬로디

Ada hati

There are hearts/서로를 향해

Membara erat bersatu

cindering closely together/뜨겁게 타고 있는 마음

Getar seluruh jiwa

the vibration of the whole soul/ 영혼을 울리는

Tercurah saat itu

poured out at that moment/순수했던 우리의 시간
Kemesraan ini

This loving moment/서로를 향한 소중한 마음이

Janganlah cepat berlalu

please don’t slip away/끝나지 안길

Kemesraan ini

This loving moment/서로를 향한 소중한 마음을

Inginku kenang selalu

I’d love to cherish it forever/난 영원히 간직할게
Hatiku damai

My heart is at peace/평화로운 내 마음

Jiwaku tentram di samping mu

My soul is at ease right beside you/네 곁에서 편안한 내 영혼

Hatiku damai

My heart is at peace/평화로운 내 마음

Jiwaku tentram bersamamu

my heart is at ease when with you/네 옆에서 편한 내 영혼

Now while I’m sending hearts 뿅뿅 to Hyorin and Eru for singing it at Music Bank in Jakarta, go ahead and put the song on repeat! 

Once again good job memorizing a total foreign song! Excellent job Hyorin and Eru (especially Eru, I have to pick who has the best Indonesian pronunciations 히힛)! 

대박!

Hi my dears!

Here I am as usual, paying my dues to you all instead of doing what I should be doing ㅋㅋㅋ. First of all I apologize for not being able to post more Korean related stuffs on this blog. However, I don’t sweat a tiny bit of regret as the purpose of this blog is to kinda serve as a journal that keep track of my progress in life, heading towards my goal.. whether it’s Korean related or not (thou I’d assume it would be Korean related).

So how’s life treating you all? 

For me, everything is going smooth sailing! Well, almost for the most parts. I am a step away from my graduation, still keeping up with the Korean program: East Sky on CJSF 90.1Fm which I am proud of and put much love to it. I’m also on my one month away from completing my intern program at HootSuite as the Indonesian and Korean Community Ambassador. 

Boy, isn’t it awesome? I have all these things lined up, paving my way towards the career I’m pursuing, whatever it may be. But somehow I’m having cold feet. Or may you say, the infamous quarter life crisis?!.. I don’t know nor will I go into much details about the questions or the dilemmas I am facing but the fact that I’m doubting my goals, direction and ability to do the things I have been dreaming to do. The ultimate question is: “Is this really what I want to do with my life, what if it’s not?!”. Yeah, typical  I know. But I bet you may have or will come across this question at least once in a lifetime.

The following post is not my definite answer nor has it been proven to be the successful remedy. It is just a reflection that I come up with after a long talk with good and trusted friends, listening to stories that my friends have and motivational things here and there; As well as having some hardcore thinking and reflecting back sessions. Let’s see if I can conclude all this with a fighting spirit that will last me to the end of the journey, be it for the rest of my life *lol*. Being the ‘me’ who love to use analogy when explaining almost anything *really*, and I think it’s easier for some people to see it in this perspective… I will try to get to my points of how to find what to love in life and the way to have it in the perspective of love and relationship. Oh and bear in mind though, this is relatively general and speedy in the making, so yeah.. so here it goes nothing..

1. Love is a choice, an option where you have to say yes or no to

There are so many things, in this case millions and billions of person, you can choose to have as your partner. Growing up, you will grow from having to say ‘I like ice cream’ to ‘I like strawberry ice cream’. You grow to decide what you love/like more and what you love/like less. Same thing with when you are in a relationship. After many girls/guys talks, watching movies, experiencing a couple of falling in love and breaking up episodes, you grow to know what you want from the person you will decide to love. Whether the person should be taller than you, does not smoke, does not swear, mature enough for you to trust, etc, etc… you grow to make a distinction between what is good for you and what is bad for you from experience.

So think back, and reflect! Just like how you reflect on the ‘ideal girl-friend/boy-friend list’ that you come up with from your past relationships (what you like and what you don’t), reflect on what have you done (volunteer experiences, school/university, things you like to do as a hobby, meet-ups you attended, etc) and drive to a conclusion, if not a stronger feel, of what you love in life: the things that are good enough to motivate you to become a better person.

Now the only thing you have to do is to say yes to pursue it or not.’ Say, you have a certain fashion style you love to wear to represent yourself with. You go to a shopping mall, and even if you find the coolest dress/vest in the store that match that of your certain style, you have to choose to make it yours or not.. to buy it or not, right?! It’s your choice, not others to make, as you know yourself best and are the one who have that the first hand experiences that have shaped you!

2. There will always be two sides of a coin

Loving a person will not always be all sunshine and flowers. The person may be the perfect fit for you, but he/she may not be the perfect person out there. Love is understanding and accepting, or at least that are the things I’ve learned to know about love. Even tough the bf/gf have made your ideal bf/gf check-list complete, you might have to come to know the flaws of that person. What do grandmas/grandpas do? They don’t pile up their dissatisfactions, they accept it with much love and wisdom. Somewhat like working both ways together to get to a middle point where balance and fairness exist (if I ever make any sense here). Not being self-centred or having the thoughts that your ideals are the top priority is the key.

Think of it this way: your partner (may) have a different set of ideal list and set of satisfactions that are totally the opposite from what you have. If both demand theirs to be fulfilled first and foremost, harmony, understanding, and all that magical relationship lovey-dovey happiness won’t be there. Seriously!

For example: a newly married couple. They got married because they love each other, has grown to know and to be fond of each other, yadida yadidu.. all that drills. Now, if the bride just found out on their first night sleeping together that the groom has a chronic snoring at night what would be the best solution can she do?

a. – grumble and ask the husband to change for the rest of the upcoming 70 something years of their life together

OR

b. – grab a pair of ear plugs and find medicines for chronic snoring and bring the husband to a doctor

I think the second option (b.) offers much peace to the marriage life, doesn’t it?

What I’m trying to get here is: loving a person is the same with loving your goal in life. There will always be two sides of the coin: the good one and the not-so-good one. How you react to it define your future with it. This is what I face when I grow deeper in my fondness of Korean culture. It’s not always majestic and K-Pop ish all the time. I get to know their bitter separation with North Korea, the infamous plastic surgery industry, etc.

Now, do I grow sceptic, ignorant of the facts or even draw myself apart from it? Well, It has been my personality and tendency to love something holistically. I have decided to embrace the bad side and turn it to inseparable part of the (cultural) knowledge I dire to seek. It is the commitment you have decided to take, now it depends on our effort to make the relationship last and enjoyable. Aren’t the not-so good parts make what you love the way it is now? 

3. Be sure to make it love you back

Do what you love and it will love you back. How?

I often hear songs lyrics and friends or internet stories saying that we (or they, doesn’t really matter) will change for the significant others in the brink of losing them. “Don’t it always seems to go that we don’t know what we got till it’s gone?”. But why on earth should we wait until we are in danger of losing it and come late to realize/regret the things we could have done?

From *ahem* my observation, my conclusion is that we cannot change the person we choose to love. Never. Period!
Again, as I have mentioned before, why focus on the things that make us unhappy? and what have we done anyway?

For example. Say… I like a guy. He is nice, caring but he is immature in some ways and another. If he is boyfriend, and I constantly complaining of how immature he is. I’m unhappy and so does he. But If I think this way: OK.. he is immature and I don’t like that part of him, but hey! He sure have something that he does not like from me. Instead of concentrating to be unhappy of the things that I cannot change, why don’t I change my bad points so he can love me back (or more). In this sense, I’m not telling you (especially girls out there) to change for your bf/gf sake BUT if you come to realize and to accept your bad points/flaws, it would be awesome if you can change for the sake of becoming a better person, right?

You all know I love Korean culture. But instead of focusing what does Korea have for me, I would love to start to think what do I have so Korea can love me back. For example: I should be more sharp in the entertainment parts, learn Korean more seriously, etc etc.

4. Grow together

I don’t really have an example of how  couple should really choose to grow together. Hmm..

I know I’m still lacking to get Korea (per say)  to really love me back and vice versa. I should not leave it alone and do the necessary improvement on my own and come back. I’d suggest to stick with each other and grow together. Why?

I want to improve my self before pursuing all the Korean dreams I have. Until when? Isn’t self improvement meant to be done as long as someone lives? OK, say you have achieved the desired self.. time has gone by and now you’re back. What if the person/goal/situation has changed and vice versa? The new you is no longer what is needed? What if K-Pop will no longer the thing I need to be able to analyse  Or  after getting my self to eat (like) kimchi, it’ no longer their staple food? Isn’t it better, if your love of whatever it is worth the fight, to grow together?

You will understand each other better ever and get closer to each other each and every step of the way? And if you change or the other change, you will adjust and understand the situation almost immediately.

So

In summary: Finding your self goes hand in hand with finding what you love. You gotta reflect on what you are drawn to like rather than creating a new thing to love. Once you have made the commitment, stick with it! Always remember that changes come from the inside and the outside (or the opposite part, be it your partner or your goal) will follow along to fit/work your relationship better.

don’t force your ways but inspires other to grow together

Now

By all means, all these stuffs do not make me a pro/scholar in the topic of achieving your dream or love. I’m not even there yet! Ha Ha! However, these are my reflections from my learning process as well as the things I got to understand better as I grow older and/or from listening from others (my friends’ stories). AGAIN. I’d like to emphasize. This is MY learning and growing process and this is my way to keep my self on track. I’d love to be able to do all the things I mentioned above. I share this so it would a be a reminder for me, but It would be awesome if it can also inspire or help someone out there. Sharing is Caring!!

Even after writing this, I still have all the doubts and the questions with no further directions of what I should do next. But somehow I feel more relieve that I have this list to look back and to reflect on, so I know I am still on the right track (whatever I am pursuing)

” The minute you think of giving up, think of the reasons why you held on so long” #truestory

Don’t forget to surround yourself with the people who believe in you even when you don’t believe in yourself. The greatest gift is to have these people who can help and support you to become a better person and also cheer on you whatever you do.

For these, I’m forever grateful for my friends who keeps on pushing me forward (in faith and other aspects of me) and also le friend who stick with me even though I know I’m nothing like an ordinary Mary. I know it’s really hard to understand me for myself, let alone for my friends.. so *huugggsss*

And of course to you. Yes, you who have read this long and winding post! THANK YOU!!

Alrighty dears..

now..

Until then,

xoxo

Hi my dears I.. no I cannot swear.. TEEHEE. But let me tell you I have a smart post coming up your way.

I just want to dedicate this one post as a *diary* of my new resolution I came up with last June: Try and/or do at least 1 new thing every month! For June and July, I kinda kept it in my memory journal but I want to share you from now on the list from August onwards (I’ll put on the June’s  July’s and August’s ones I could remember on top of my head for now). Let’s hope I can get this one rolling smoothly XD. Seeing how it goes so far, I can tell my life is fun and exciting afterall!

June 2012

Something I related to my spiritual journey that I could not tell you

Rode on a Limousine *yeayuhhh*, picked up a group of students from Brazil

Lynn valley 

July 2012

Done reading the book of Proverbs

Discovered (read: went for a haul) at Kim’s Market

Tried making a poster on photoshop, by myself, for the first time =Da

August 2012

MC-ing for the Powell Street Festival for the first time, and meeting Taiyo-Na ♥_♥

Tried Posh all you can eat hot pot for the first time in my 6-7 years of living in Vancouver =P

Midnight Drive Thru for McD’s ice ream coneee. lol

Helped a friend with a fashion photo shoot for dolls!

Tried Pajo’s fish and chips at Steveston’s Wharf and enjoyed the thrilling sunset beauty afterwards (major love and like! highlight of the month..lol)

September 2012

I conquered my self! By that I mean by completing le 7 hours of hiking to Garibaldi lake. That was intense, I have to tell ya, but it was TOTALLY worth the fight!

Tried Persian food for the first time at Kazbah Restaurant in North Vancouver. After a long hike, food is always good!

(I lost my memory a bit)

HOOTSUITE! the highlight of this month is getting an internship as this awesome company as the Indonesian and Korean Community Ambassador. Awesomely exciting journey and doors for the future await me in the future! Big hugs to @Stephawie for helping me to go this direction! 

Railtown Cafe! Thanks to the treat @Stephawie!

Dance to ‘Love on Top -Beyonce’ at a friend’s wedding party with the bride and groom

Discovered Hyundai Oriental Food Market

October 2012

I claimed the new-things new as non-existence

Starting a French lesson sessions with a friend (ahem..teaching..ahem)  does it count? hehee..

November 2012

Sun Peaks – Kamloops (pigging in and out, board-gaming, hottubbing with dear friends)

Picking up how to play guitar – then I shall create a YouTube video of me awk-dorkably playing?!! LOL

Oh Hi There!! =D

I’m sorry *again* for the lack of posts for the past couple of months! My alibis is that I have been having too much fun in real life! I’m enjoying my last semesters at SFU while doing the Korean broadcast on CJSF radio. I am evolving like a butterfly personally and spiritually. I thank the almighty Father for that chance!

I have soooo many ideas of what to produce for this blog and also for my radio program in the future. However, the ideas, which I cannot disclose now, will need me to learn and sharpen a  number of skills in order to execute them. So, please wait on me! ^^

I’ll share with you some pictures from my recent birthday. I cannot be more grateful for the abundant love and blessings that I received everyday, especially on my birthday. I have learnt that you just have to open your heart a liiittllee bit to allow joy to consume you. Yes, I learned it the hard way. But I’m also grateful that I’m able to share it with you.

Another lesson that I learnt is that I also have to make efforts to make myself happy. I cannot stand being idle any more, waiting my problems to be solved to enjoy myself, cause it will never ends. C’est la vie. So.. my resolution is: I will try anything new at least one every month. Whether it’s food, event, place, or whatever.. With someone, some peeps, or no one to keep me company, I will do it! Hey! Life it’s too short to waste it on headaches, don’t you think?! =D

I’m really anxious and excited to wait and see what life has for me next! That includes: my graduation, vacation to prolly the Netherlands or to Perth, OZ to visit my aunts, and also le temporary stay in Korea! ♥♥♥ Looking at these itinerary, I bet I’ll be a single lady until I settle down, eh?! Oh well, gotta enjoy it before you can’t no more! ;D

I will come up with a Korean post next week! So please anticipate it!

Birthday pics:

Until then,

XOXO

Hi all,

I just wanted to share a little bit of happiness. My new radio program: East Sky on CJSF 90.1FM has just started a couple of months ago. I am still struggling to find my ‘hosting’ style, perfecting the format of the show, and so on and so on… and I still make a lot of mistakes. However,  I received a warm e-mail from the programming manager at CJSF radio station just now. It goes like this:

a nice e-mail that makes me smile

Efforts really do bring happiness! This little reward at the beginning of my journey will really whip me to do better and to work harder. I’m blessed and I thank You, God, for everything #ITYGFE!!! This is only the beginning!!

So, Please stay tune to East Sky on CJSF 90.1 FM every other Sunday 5pm PST. The next one will be on April 1st, 2012! Stay tune as I will bring you music from the Korean POP-Indie-Oldie circles and also exciting news and music from our favourites Youtubers! You can always stream/podcast my show at http://www.cjsf.ca. Follow us on twitter @cjsf and also the show @eastskylive!

메다야.. 아자 아자 화이팅!!

Until then,

XOXO