SUMMER 18'

35 mm film — shot by Nammy Park

On community — What was intended to be a two-week trip of rest and relaxation became two-months of "doing life" in Chicago. At the time, I had frequented the thought that we've become experts at creating a false sense of connection and belonging through all the social media outlets — and I wanted to challenge myself to bask + create more of what was real. I made the intentional decision to unplug as best as I could this summer in hopes to be more fully present with those around me. 

I can certainly say that friendships delved deeper, family matters were approached with more grace and finesse, and with the sweet intermix of hard conversations + hilarious outbreaks of laughter, even the mundane moments felt really precious. I dragged my feet to take public transportation  to work on most days, was less amused by the city, which, certainly was a good thing because it told me that I wasn't viewing Chicago with a visiter's lens. I liked that. And jam-packed in between all the little moments, H got engaged, my sister and brother-in-law made our family full, D surprise visited Chicago, and I watched my little sister walk into her second year of high school. 

I never know how to explain why I'm home so often, but I am incredibly lucky, and hold a fierce pride in the fact that I get to spend elongated times with my loved ones. If you've lived ten years away from home, and home is as weighty and wonderful as I left it, then maybe you'll know. I love my community. And if you have never left to create community elsewhere, you won't get it, but that's okay because you can always ask. The power of an open-mind, a dialogue, an exchange, is more valuable than the stale business of the Crystal Merchant.

Seoul, you're still bombarding my thoughts on a daily basis. And Los Angeles, we've had a rocky start, but I've been nothing short of content and excited. We're in progress, headed somewhere amazing, I know.