indescribable
indescribableOh well, that was just the dramatic side of me speaking. But I really do miss Seoul <3
If I had to describe it, Seoul really isn't the kind of glamorous city that you fall in love at first sight with, but it grows on you. I mean come on, let's face it - it isn't New York, the kind of city that people lyricise about in songs. I was almost hesitant in accepting the offer of spending six months in a city I had never been to before, and had generally not left me with any kind of impression. More than ever, I felt that I was more undeserving of a spot there because unlike so many others, I was hardly attuned to all the fad that was kpop. Seoul definitely didn't have the rustic charms of most European cities, or the glitzy faces of American ones, and all it had to offer to me was something foreign and fresh, something that I had really needed at that point of decision-making in my life. Naturally, I was offered a whole lot of other things by the time I was done with Korea.
At the end of it all, I figured what I took out of Seoul was very different from most of the countries I've toured in. Maybe it's because I grow attached to things/places/people I spend more than a few months with. It wasn't the usual architecture, or the scenery and sights that impressed me, but more of the entire undiscovered vibrancy of the city. I'm a sucker for people-watching, and the Seoulites (yes, that's what they're called) really paint such a beautiful canvas. As I attempt to reconnect with the remnants of my Korean life, I have started to watch kpop videos (kill me now) on YouTube recently. And I realise, as I recall, that there really was so much talent brimming from the edges of the streets, that it turns into a really enjoyable discovery of expression, and sheer beauty. And its not really the in-your-face kind of showy spectacles that Americans tend to hype over (not considering all the marketing the kpop industry does), but the kind of acts that you need to really dig and look for to find. Then there's also the thing for laidback (read: LEPAK) people such as me, in which it's also about having lots of small cosy places to chill out in without simply zoning out, but instead simultaneously absorbing the pulsating life of the city. There's really just so much to do, I don't think I could ever finish combing the multifarious activities that the city offers. Considering the phase of life I am in, Seoul seems to fit like a glove, and I really feel like I could be forever 21 in a place like that.
On to the more mundane stuff, I never thought that I would miss some of the things that I did there. It's true, that they say it's the smallest things that count. The weekend trips to our favourite haunts, the daily decision-making on what we should have for our meals (trust me, it was really tough, we never got sick of the food). Somehow, even the everyday stuff feels like a different experience while in Seoul, it almost feels like something new is uncovered everyday.
Now I feel kind of sad that don't appreciate Singapore as much anymore. Yes, we're so developed and everything, but with a size like this, it seems like there will always be a lack of soul in our city. And by soul I mean places with different levels of energy that can evoke a full-blown range of emotions. We just lack that variety. Not even blaming the rigours of our system yet, haha. Which is why I feel Singapore will always be a city for 30/40-somethings, right? The familiarity and security of Home that we will yearn and crave for. But as a 20-something, all I really feel is bored in Singapore, and I need just a piece of Seoul's enticingly glittery urban fabric.
grumpyReally, I never believed in the idea of soul mates - how two people can be so perfect for each other, always thought it was a matter of getting used to, getting comfortable with each other. There are just some people you can do that with you know? So sometimes it comes down to a situation of what-happens-now? What happens when someone is really great for you, but you can never be good enough? Is it still true love even if it's one-way? It goes even beyond the theory of the reacher and the settler, because in that case, at least the other is willing to 'settle'. But what happens when the two ends are really opposing - one can love as much as the other hates? I think it's a really, really sad love story.
Sidenote: Loved the previous episode of How I Met Your Mother, perfect example of waiting 5 years to realise that someone you thought was The One, but you end up not being Her One. hahaha I guess it's all a matter of perception, and letting go, because Ted did find someone else in the end ;)
'The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers;
wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;
more medicine, but less wellness.
We've learned how to make a living, but not live a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.'
Came across this verse on facebook, which really a struck a chord in me. I mean of course, it's so simple, but it's times like these when I really appreciate the existence of social media and the propagation of ideas and knowledge shared across the whole wide world. :)
It's something to think about, especially for us as university students, waiting to enter the working industry in a few years' time - as architects, healthcare professionals, and every other job that has to deal with human interactions and living. May we mature before we graduate, and never forget (amongst all our big dreams) how much the human-scale means.
hopefulthat's actually our very cool tutor with us at timbre. he kept asking us to drink more, and he has the coolest VINTAGE vw beetle that he drives.
haha ok no more cos i cant seem to find my sd card.
here's one of the retarded videos for you though!
yay! my entry is more colourful now. haha i'm trying to stretch this day before i start studying tmr.
chipperThe colors red and blue
We had a promise made
We were in love
sigh. was thinking of so many things. training in the stuffy sji gym while the radio plays in the background and we start jumping on the tramp to 'Stop and Stare'. then packing our stuff and chasing the 156 together and squeezing inside with the rgym girls and all their bulky hoops. dinner at j8 before walking down to stadium, screaming while j-walking, then walking up that stupid hill dreading training and all the exhaustion that comes with it. at the end of it all, we're always the last to finish, still doing our conditioning when all the lights go off. when we finally pack up and leave before the doors all lock, on days when miss teo isn't on duty, i'll take the 156 with perry home and he'll do retarded stuff at the bus stop. on days when miss teo is on duty, we will follow her down the hill and we will cab together. and all our good luck gifts to each other :)
staying back in class to do work, or simply just to play cards. haha all the retarded times i used to run for assembly while mr lim made that retarded bell sound. colouring our notes, writing stupid things and thousands of smilie faces on each other's papers. rushing for break and eating noodle king jia mian, or western southern fried add omelette, or both. or even pw, which was just talking cock sessions for our group. and watching movies, since we chose movies as our topic. haha. retreats and camps, when we would go to the pac to talk even after lights out.
life isn't like that now. everyone is walking their own path, leading their own lives.
sick