CONFESSIONS

I definitely have my moments of frustrations with Seoul over some (fairly) trivial matters. Last week for instance, I was walking home from a dance class saturated in sweat and I couldn't help but curse — okay, profusely curse — the weather for its heinous humidity. The humidity right now....it's mad. It makes me mad, it makes people mad, and it creates an assembly of individuals that are forever on edge. (Trust me, pedestrian rage is a real thing come end of July). But again, these are trivial matters. The the bigger issues of cultural differences, the hitches and hurdles that stem from Confucian mindsets are the things that become more problematic for any analyzer. But still yet, the pros beat the odds.

The point of this post is to make things clear: I love Seoul. It took me three awfully long years to come to a place of peace and love for this complicated city. A real supernatural change of heart I'd say. (Jesus is is real!) Gratitude has led to contentment and contentment to dawning admiration. There is a momentum of innovation sweeping through this city. People possess urge to pioneer the unknown, to step out of the systematic hierarchy that has been long implemented into society. Koreans are so brave, the expats and natives alike. And all which was once distastefully overwhelming has all of a sudden become an engine of inspiration and food for my soul. Seoul, you are an upstream battle sometimes, really, but thank you for keeping me on my toes. I have 3 weeks left before departing stateside and I will very intentionally be putting myself in unfamiliar places to wander and indulge. Watch me soak.

Here are some noteworthy moments from my busy, satisfying month:

HEY SUMMER

It always happens like this: The mental commitment to be steadfast through the brutal cold winters. Then the whirlwind of things that need your attention bites at you from behind...the refinement...the struggle for next level growth....and then BAM, just like that, summer. Let me tell you, summer has been like a cold cup of lemonade. Sweet, relieving and restorative. Friends from the states come and go and you end up going to places that only vacation-minded folks would think of, which makes the season all the more whimsical and full of adventure. Oddly enough, the rain has been holding up which has made every evening the perfect "summer night."And if you know me, you know that I love any excuse to sit outside until 2am on a weekday over an ice cold beer. (Whoops, that was yesterday). delightful.

Now while we're on the topic of all things good, I will be going to LA this fall for dance (finally! — insert deep breath — finally). I just recently came to understand that when people say they are from "LA," what they really might mean is that they live an hour away in a place like "OC" and they just kind of expect you to... you know, get it. "Why is California so obnoxiously big?" is the question I've been asking nonstop. Truth is, I know absolutely nothing at all about California except some people there, the dance scene, the food (tacos, tacos, tacos), and the idealistic weather all to which I've kind of bubbled up in my head. I guess it is both exciting and unnerving to know and not to know. Preparation is key, yes, but I've made up my mind not to peer anxiously into the future. Staying up to perfect the unseen is a bad habit to break because today deserves our full attention. Anyways, it's all quite exciting. The ease and joys of this season have left me standing still, slightly puzzled and unsure. Still yet, summer has been completely and ridiculously satisfying. Surrender and cue: Becky G - "Can't stop dancing" 

MOMENTS OF MAY

May was a busy, busy month. Hence I have completely and unknowingly put a halt to all blog/photography activity and instead filled my spare time lots of crunch time work, lots of church-related activities, and lots of anticipation what would come afterwards. June 1 hit, and I can confidently say that am reaping the goodness of my labor. In case you're curious: intimacy, fresh relationships, revelation and breakthrough. Circumstantially, things are pretty steady but the "consciousness of good" has been quite transformative. I think it's true — you reap what you sow, and you are given what you hunger for. Last month was powerful.

On June 1st, I woke up, head-wrapped my hair in floral and hopped out for breakfast at "Travel Makers" in Hongdae [pictured above]. If I could have that kind of breakfast and company every morning, I would frolic to work with a smile guaranteed, but on the real I guess today morning was one of those special occasions and a rare blessing to count. Work was work (teaching 5 year olds has its ups and downs but today heart stickers reinforced shockingly good behavior). Then I came home, set up a work station in my living room [also pictured above] and journaled with Norah Jones, laundried, and then of course blogged. I can already say that summer is going to be FUN. And for the like-minded who are very intentional about playing hard, (or, in the words of Jay-Z, "livin' life like a video") I for sure will be seeing you around. I look forward to the late summer nights, blue-skied annual rooftop parties, spontaneous eats, and morning heart-to-hearts over coffee. Fun is what you make of it, right? Tomorrow my friend Sarah comes from NYC and as much as I am nervous about the calories I will gain with her, I couldn't be more ecstatic. Summer, oh summer, you're gonna be a good one.

Oh, and if there is one thing that best encapsulates the month of May, it would be these two words and a photo. "Glorious Riches." Ask me more : ) 

THURSDAY TO MONDAY

Thursday 6:45 pm

Thursday 12:00 am

Friday 3:00 pm

 Saturday 1:15pm

 Monday 9:00am

I thought I would do something different today and share my weekend-in-a-life flow. In my vain attempt to think less and enjoy more, I find myself soaking in the sun, smiling much more frequently than I would, and bopping my head to Debra Lewis + Coldplay while strolling around in my very routine, familiar day-to-day itinerary. Certainly, smart phones have a way of allowing me to capture my mundane moments, although they hardly communicate the fullness of all my feels. Regardless, the weather in Seoul has been spectacular and it's been relieving on so many levels.

In the photos above, you have my thursday post-work commute all the way to my monday morning reflections, slash calligraphy sessions, slash 'let's seize this insta moment' moment. haha. In between, you'll see my package of german sweets that I got in the mail from Ruthy Hong (thank you so much Ruthy! death to my diet, the cereal chocolate was heavenly!) You'll also see that I've been rocking my joggers lately. Music is always good at "Brown" (ugh, I can't say enough about how much makes me feel these days) and ice cream is always a must after saturday lunch with my praise/tech team. Everything else in between is simply good weather and blue skies which has been the latest blessing. 

I never want to lose a child-like perspective on life, on Seoul, and on my work. The older we get, the more we tend to stay comfortable in what we know and hardly do we step out to see the new and feel the unfamiliar. Meeting new people at my dance studio and at church has been keeping me humble and grounded in these areas. And what I've been learning about opening myself up is a whole new story. With the breezy vibes going strong, I hope to explore more, enjoy more, feeeeel more, laugh, cry, connect, all that and more. Maybe a hike up a mountain, see an art exhibit, dance into the night, say yes to something that has always been a no. Let's be more bold, let's be more ourselves.