Shara Abroad

Seeing Se7en tonight was incredible, as expected. The last kpop event I went to in Seoul the last time I was here was his opening show for Elizabeth and then a fanmeeting after, and I was amazed by his talent and how much he cared for his fans. He was so sweet and almost shy with us that time, and even gave handshakes to every single person there.

This time, it was just the same but even more amazing. He performed multiple songs and did them all so well, including the same b-boy moves in the original choreography. He even busted out the heelys for 와줘! He performed 난 알아요 as well, which is an old fav of mine that (I believe) he said he hadn’t done for awhile.

Because it was a fanmeeting and not a concert, there was a lot of talking and some games, most of which I didn’t understand which I expected. At the very beginning of the talking part he asked if there was Japanese fans (there was a lot, he has a pretty big fanbase there), then he asked about other countries. The was only three of us from other countries haha. But when he asked I said America and everyone was so shocked, even him. I told them (him and the MC) I was from Texas and I was referred to as “Texas” (or tek-sa-seu) a few times in the show. I really don’t know what the MC kept saying lol but I think at one point he pointed out that I wasn’t reacting as much as other fans which, yknow, I wasn’t because I didn’t understand.

There was a point where Se7en was guessing chat/internet slang in Korean but one was “tmi” and Se7en asked me to verify it meant “too much information” like he said. It was fun to be called out like that amongst a crowd of like 200 or so people. :)

Later there was a part when they played a split second of audio and fans had to guess what song it was. If they got it right, Se7en went to them and sang the first part of the song to them. I missed my shot on the one song I definitely knew but that’s life.

After that there was a part where they had boxes of mystery things and then Se7en talked about them. They were basically things from his career like DVDs of a drama he was in and a pair of old heelys. At one point there was a polaroid camera and Se7en took a bunch of pics with the audience in the background. At the end of this segment he started signing a polaroid and I assumed he was going to sign them all and give them away with some other game I wouldn’t understand.

But! The MC suggested giving the polaroid to me!! So Se7en brought it directly to me and then shook my hand and asked my name (in English). He then told my name to the MC but idk if the MC even cared. Then they just moved on, so nobody else got polaroids but me!!!!

Other than all the talking, Se7en performed a bunch of songs. He did a kinda mix of both Better Together and Digital Bounce (including him doing TOP’s rap). He also did (not necessarily in this order): 내가 노래를 못해도, 난 알아요 (one he hasn’t done in awhile!), Lalala, Give it to Me (opened with this), Passion and 와줘 with the heelys! (I probably missed some) During the song game he sang a bunch of snippits, (some I didn’t even know) like 567 and Somebody Else. Just lots of great performances with his great voice and the same b-boy style moves he’s always done. I was seated third row back on the right side, but he honestly seemed to favor our side compared to the left (his right) so it wasn’t an issue being off center at all.

Because his birthday was the day before, there was a part where they brought out a small cake and flowers for him, and we sang some his song Angel to him and then happy birthday.

At the end, just like the first fanmeeting I went to, he shook every single person’s hand as they were leaving. His staff also handed out little bags of snacks with a nice “Thank you for coming” sticky note on them (who knows if he actually wrote them all or not). They had a bunch of extra posters for the event they were giving away too but they ran out as I got there. Not much of a poster person anyway so I wasn’t bothered.

(Se7en saying goodbye after he shook everyone’s hand)

11/24

I arrived! The plane ride was sooo much worse than last time because I was just in economy. I should have got up more to walk around but I was too shy, I thought people might look at me weird. I watched some movies though, since plane rides are the only time I ever want to watch them. American Airlines had a good selection in my opinion, but I have no idea what’s out these days anyway. They did have entire series available though, like you could watch all the Jurrasic Parks or both Deadpools, etc. I ended up watching both Guardians of the Galaxy and they’re good! I also watched Ready Player One (fun but kinda cringey in some ways) and the Won’t you be my neighbour? documentary (great). Food wasn’t horrible either, in my opinion. I was amused that even though I chose the western dinner option (chicken instead of bibimbap), I still got kimchi and gochujang. 

Last few hours of the flight I had horrible stomach pain (not food related) and I suffered with it the rest of the damn day. Customs line was hell and once I was through I literally sat for like 30 mins in the airport just trying to chill out. I had all these grand plans of sending a suitcase via delivery service and then taking the train to Seoul station, etc. Ended up with just a taxi because I was dying.

My hostel is decent, nothing special but not disgusting or too cold or loud. 

10/25

First day of work! It was tough, honestly. I had one class and 2 level tests to do after training. I felt like I did so horrible on the class, and I really hope the student wasn’t too bothered by me. The level tests are much easier because they are formulaic. I felt like a fraud at the end of the day but the one person I level tested booked another class specifically with me, so I feel good that he liked me!

10/26

All I did today was pick up an EG sim card I ordered and talk to Shinhan Bank. I ordered the sim card online (another thing I was gonna do at the airport but then was too sick to do) and picked it up at Seoul Station. It took me awhile to figure out where to go since it’s such a huge area, but I got it! I will get a real phone plan once I get my ARC but this works perfectly for now.

Then one station over there was a ~global center~ for Shinhan so I went there to see if my account still existed. It did not, which sucks. I am going to ask my supervisor about what my job wants me to do, because mostly you can only get account with an ARC and ARCs take awhile to get. But without an account they won’t be able to pay me. We’ll see if they have suggestions.

5/8 

Went out as usual, but got Burger King at the end of the night (in the morning, technically) and got the Apeach toy they were selling there! Took stupid picture in BK with it.

5/9

Went out again to the A. There was a small event with Cheetah and Kangnam, but it was mostly Kangnam singing some song I didn’t know (some classic I assume, since everyone else knew it) and a weird medley of his parts from MIB songs. Kangnam sang his parts of my type, Cheetah did her raps, and then left as Kangnam did the old song like I said above. Kinda lackluster, but was cool to see them again more up close. All my pictures suck, too, unfortunately. 

5/13

Literally had cake for dinner. College life, yo.

5/14

Friends from last semester came back! Got to see them at the end of the day, could’t do airport things because of class.

5/15

My document for events just say “out again”. I live an exciting life.

5/23

Went out to a bar to meet friends, played the English/Korean drinking game again and had a mini birthday celebration. We did noraebang after because of course.

5/27

Went to see the G-Dragon hologram concert. It was pretty cool, and kinda a weird experience overall. Must be really cool for GD/BB fans, though. After we hung around the mall that it was in and ate cake and drinks at a cafe inside. When the mall was closed we hung out around the area and did night shopping. Korea never sleeps, man. Got my ㅅeoul shirt tho, in two colors!

5/28

Took one of the friends that came back to the airport. :(

5/30

Went out to a bar first (the same one as before because of their sweet cocktail deals) and then to a club after. As you do.

5/31

Went out for bingsu for last night with 2nd friend.

6/1 

Took the other friend the the airport :( On the way back stopped at VDL and Watsons to buy more Kakao Friends stuff. Then had my first exam that evening.

6/2

Mailed shit home. Which I was really worried about so I spent more $ on sending it air and checked off that if something happened they should mail it back to Korea (instead of treating it as abandoned) but it all worked out okay and got home before I did.

6/8 

My 2nd and last exam. Other exam was online and 4th class just had a final paper.

6/14 

Went to see Se7en’s first performance in the musical Elisabeth. It was soooo good!!! Even though I didn’t understand much (I mean, really anything, but I vaguely knew the plot), it was so awesome. The main narrator dude was really good. And Se7en looked and sounded amazing. There was a bunch of other fans there so they cheered really loud for him at the end when everyone comes out. :’) They did the stand in a line and talk thing and it was really sweet when the director (an American) was saying all these nice things about Se7en. Might’ve teared up a bit. Just a little. I was proud!!!

After there was a fanmeeting at a cafe not too far away, so I follow my phone map and the group of other fans heading there. They kept saying you couldn’t go unless you had a ticket from the musical on twitter and stuff but nobody even checked. I wasn’t the only foreigner there, actually. Tons of Japanese fans and some white people lol. Fanmeeting was great, I was like 2 rows from the front and he was so sweet and funny. He answered questions in Korean, Japanese and English too which was great. At the end he personally shook every single person’s hands and said thank you to them before leaving.

6/16 

Last hurrah. Went to a bar with food and flavoured soju and had a bunch, then went out to a club as always. This was another one of those nights I probably shouldn’t recount much, haha, but marginally less dangerous than the other one. Marginally. Beer is still gross as hell.

6/17 

Spent the day hungover but also trying desperately to pack everything for leaving, so that was basically hell.

6/18

Laneige White Plus Renew Original Essence

This is pretty expensive (around 50,000 won, but there’s deals if you buy more than one at a time mostly. I bought just one and got 4 sample jars of their most popular product from Laneige, the sleeping pack.) and seems popular. I’ve been using it for a few months (since late February) and I do feel like my skin is brighter/more moisturized. It really has gotten rid of a lot of red spots on my face. General redness over a wider area is still there, so if that’s your concern I’d pass. But spots left over from breakouts are really diminished when I use this. | 9/10

Mamonde Nutri Lifting Eye Cream

Honestly just bought this for dry skin, not really for any other effect. (It’s in a jar anyway, so some of the effects are going to be lessened because of air exposure, I believe.) It works for that! You get a lot of product too, I think it will take me awhile to go through it. | 7/10

Missha Brown Sugar Facial Scrub

3/29 

Went to the Coex Mall for general shopping reasons (iirc this is the trip I bought some shirt and a bag) and then ended up at the aquarium in the mall. It was really really big, bigger than you’d expect. It also had more than just fish/water creatures, it also had various animals like rabbits, prairie dogs, frogs, etc. Cool exhibits and a lot to look at, tbh. I don’t like the ocean or anything but fish are pretty cool.

Here’s a pic I posted on insta:

4/1 

We ended up declaring it “treat yourself day” and I bought some clothes from F21/H&M and makeup. Also I got the N-Sonic album that I needed for the fansigning later.

Mega cosmetics review post coming soon, I swear!!

4/2 

There’s a special SM program thing where you can get a tour of the M-Countdown building area thing and attend the show. I don’t know. Nobody I was really into was promoting (N-Sonic weren’t on for some reason), but it was a cool experience. Saw Exo, and man their fans are evil to each other sometimes. Shannon continues to be an actual sweetheart, and still the smallest girl I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s actually really sad to see the smaller groups perform when you know nobody is really there to see them, and they don’t have fans to fanchant for them. 

4/3 

I guess we went to a club today, idk. I DID write down things I did for when I made this post and I wrote “went out in Hongdae” so we did that. To be honest going out is so regular now it’s not even worth noting.

4/5 

N-Sonic fansigning!!! The order was just by a drawing so I was pretty late (one of the last few people) so I mostly just watched them the whole time. Lots of the Japanese fans were there, which was cool to meet them for the first time. Also met the Korean fan I’ve been talking to online for like, literally years. She’s also tiny like under 5 feet. The boys were really sweet as always! I made a post about the signatures I got here: http://fynsonic.tumblr.com/post/115567429841/heres-the-pictures-of-the-signatures-i-got-from

And I’ll just copy&paste what I wrote on my other blog about meeting them here:

got to see nsonic today and they were even more sweet than before!!! kept greeting me in english and were asking me to spell my name in english. and sihoo asked if i was a student (or exchange student?) and i understood for once!!! and said yeah and he asked where and i said ewha like a convo happened. and zion and byeol and minkee mentioned simply kpop i think haha it sounded like “simply” and i saw em there so. (eta: they were asking if they’d see me at simply kpop tomorrow lol. i said yes and its not when i have class so i guess im going)  sihoo said my name was pretty too :33 and zion started writing a message and u could tell he was struggling to think of something in english so i told him korean was okay and then he was writing and he wrote/said “thank you… noona?” and i said no and said i was 22 (korean age) and he was all “dongsaeng!! sorry~” and scribbled out noona and wrote dongsaeng lol like IT WAS CUTE I LUV THE BOYS!!!

After the fansigning us fans waited outside the building for their car and then me and 3 other fans went to get food. I got dukbeokki (I have no idea how to write it in English) and even though the worker ahjusshi warned it was spicy, I said it was fine. It was... well, it could’ve been worse. The fans were really sweet, even though I was tired/in pain so Korean was even harder for me. They were all “Eat more~~” and offering me the last egg and serving me when everyone else got their own like it was real sweet.

4/6 

Went to Simply K-Pop and it was a thing. There was more fans than the last time I went to Simply with N-Sonic, which was nice. The poor staff needed people to be interviewed by Eli and they scoped me out amongst the Korean fans (since they ask the foreign fan line first, but since they get so many repeat guests they never have people to do intros/interviews) and I felt bad so I agreed. It kind sucked because I was separated from my fanclub the whole damn time, and I had to watch basically the entire show instead of resting downstairs until they brought us in.

It was funny though because I was waiting downstairs with the other fans (since there was too many fans to fit us all at once) and suddenly a girl comes down and is all “You’re not part of the regular audience??” she was so frazzled, and eventually she brought me up so it looked like I was being personally escorted to be interviewed lol. They brought me through the back where idols come through (not like, the waiting rooms but just the hallway they all come out of). I was just standing there at first, as Crayon Pop were getting their mic packs right in front of me. Then another staff (other than the normal Jaesun girl) brought me to the other side of the camera area where she was going over the interview with me, which is weird because they don’t do that when you do the interview. You basically do it the first time with Eli, from what I’ve seen. Haven’t watched the interview and probably never will, but I made sure to rep N-Sonic when he was asking me about idols and shit. 

The recording went SO LONG too, like we got out at 11. The whole recording the male fans (Crayon Pop and Lovelyz fans, mostly) were so nice honestly. Crayon Pop fans were cheering for Lovelyz, they learnt part of the CLC fanchant and were doing it for them. Some dudes were telling Eric Nam he was handsome too. And at the end when N-Sonic were doing their last performance, they told us they were last and the entire room cheered, and that gave everyone some energy so other male fans (I think Lovelyz) were cheering N-Sonic on a lot, it was really cute. We also cheered when it was confirmed that N-Sonic’s performance was okay and we were done recording.

Then after we waited for the car, as you do, and I got back at like midnight lol.

4/11 

There was this LGBT charity even that was kind of a bust, but we went to a club later and it was fun. 

4/13 

Had an exam~ I don’t even remember which one it was. It’s been awhile since I’ve made a post.

4/14

It was Black Day so we ate the traditional jajjangmyeon (I NEVER KNOW HOW TO ROMANIZE THAT, tbh I forget if its jajja or jjaja), and that’s basically it.

4/15 

Another exam, or well the only other one I had. Technically had an online one, but whatever.

4/17 

Went out The A and then Cubic. The A is a pretty sweet club, even if I’m not super big on electronic music. 

4/19 

Went to a bar to meet friends’ friends, ended up doing a lot of shots while playing a “Koreans can only speak English and non-Koreans can only speak Korean” game. After we convinced the guys to go to the club with us for a bit, and then we went to Noraebang. Friends drank and me and this dude just slept basically because I’m that cool.

4/23 

Ate some awesome cake in Shinchon (only one was mine but we shared)

Then I guess out to a club again, because I have some sweet morning pictures of Ewha.

4/25 

Unpretty Rapstar concert! Korea University is really pretty but jesus christ it’s hilly as fuck. There was like, maybe 2 other foreigners at this concert but it was really awesome. Got to see Jessi and Cheetah! Jolly V was wonderful too, super cute. Eventually I’ll post some of the better pictures I took on my main probably.

Here’s the ones I put on Instagram, though.

4/26 

Big Bang concert! Hottest day of my life, and it’s a miracle I didn’t get sunburnt during the like, 2 hours we were in direct sunlight. There’s just way too many people at a concert that big, especially in the standing section. I hung out in the back of my standing section because NO WAY was I dealing with the fans. It was a nice time, I knew most of the songs and Daesung did one of his trot songs which made my life.

Got BBQ after because we were all starving and thirsty as hell. Honestly, it’s great they at least at hot food available outside before the show.

4/29 

Only thing worth noting is that we went all the way to Hongdae to get Taco Bell at like midnight, just because. 

4/30

Out to a club. went to a place to eat and drink more after, things happened that I’d rather family who might read this don’t know about. Suffice to say it’s a miracle I wasn’t murdered, tbh.

5/2 

Clubbing again, what else is new.

5/6 

I swear we planned to just eat in Hongdae, but shops called our names. We ate lunch, got dessert at a really nice cafe place, then shopped on our way back. 

2/26

This day was the welcome party hosted by the Peace buddies for new students. I didn't expect to stay long, especially since it started early, but we ended up having so much fun. Meeting new students was great, and I ended up with 4 free drink tickets instead of just 3. 

We played a team game which was basically telephone game combined with charades. We were the last team to go (out of 4) and so we had plenty of time to see what kind of clues we would get (basically all animals or sports) and to come up with a signal system. So, cheating, in summary. Our clues were so easy (I was the last one in the chain so I had to guess) so we didn't even need the signals, to be honest. We won a bottle of Jager and basically immediately drank it all.

After the games we just drank and danced and my friends told everyone is was my birthday (I mean.. it was two days before...) so I just had a lot of fun.

2/27

Went out again for what was supposed to be the official birthday partying, but tbh I wasn't able to drink again after the night before. So it was an alright experience, but not great.

3/1

We had a Running Man viewing party to watch the episode that was filmed on campus. Pizza and TV, basically a chill evening.

3/2

Went out to BBQ with a bunch of the new students. There was some communication issues but food was had in the end.

3/7

We went out to Madholic, which I had never been to before. It's pretty nice music-wise but soooo small and crowded. Had a good time, though.

3/8

Had a chill day that involved a loooong Skype hangout with one of my friends who was here last semester and went home.

3/9

Simply K-Pop main recording! We were there for my friend to see Eric Nam, so I didn't do a full fanaccount write up because I wasn't familiar with any of the artists. Basically, Myname was really nice and sweet even to people who weren't visable fans. Shannon is the tiniest girl I've ever seen in my life, and looks a lot more white than Korean in real life. Boyfriend members were nice too, and the other artists were generally alright. Jeesu/KIXS was also there and it made me SO SAD for DMTN. :(((

Met some awesome people who were here on vacation, too, and got a free churro from a random guy who seemed to work at Arirang and who ended up with churros from the truck Eli fans bought him. All in all, there was a lot of artists and it was the main recording, so it went on LOOOONG. Also, me and the two friends I came with were roped into doing intros for the two episodes. So, yknow, don’t look for me please.

3/10

Did some quick shopping at a store that is normally on the more expensive side, but the people we met the day before told us there was a cheaper section in the basement. I got a shirt and sweater! One day I'll do a major Korea haul post and show off all clothes/accessories I've bought. 

We had dinner and got dessert, also.

3/13

I went ALL OVER (Myungdong and COEX Mall) to try to find the N-Sonic CD so I could have it signed the next day at the fanmeeting. Never found it, but did end up buying stuff at COEX just to make myself feel better about spending a lot of time and wearing heels the whole day. 

Things I bought!

Apeach folder

Apeach small stuffed figure that lives on my backpack now

Apeach iphone 6 case (I don't actually have an iphone 6 yet... but I plan to get one when I get home)

A chocolate sucker that they gave me for free

Aritaum Wannabe Cushion Tint in Trinity and Fillmore

Laneige Real Black Eyeliner (No. 1 Black)

Mamonde Nutri Lifting Eye Cream

Also got samples, of course (Iope UV Shield Sun Protector, Mamonde Rose Honey Sleeping Mask, Mamonde Lotus Cooling & Soothing Flower Essential Sheet Mask)

Here are some swatches of the lip colors/eyeliner.

The eyeliner is great! The lip colors are really pigmented, even if you're supposed to sheer them out with the sponge for that inside-to-outside ombre look that is popular in Korean cosmetics. Also I realize the purple-y color is super similar to one I already bought..... Basically I suck. But they're kinda different consistencies... Maybe.... I'm going to tell myself this.

I also got groceries from Home Plus in Hapjeong, and ate dinner there.

Even food from a grocery store is good!

3/14

N-Sonic fanmeeting! I wrote about it here.

3/16

Met up for the last time with one of the people we met at Simply K-Pop (they went home the next day) and visited the You Are Here cafe for the first time. They have some awesome Korean language books that are mostly awesome because the graphic design is SO NICE. I might want to buy one later. Drinks were pretty good.

3/17 - 3/19

Just did class stuff. Class schedule is really great, it's awesome having so much free time due to my online classes. Nothing is terribly hard yet, thankfully.

3/20

Got some pasta and picked up a new mascara from Etude House, then went back to my room to get ready for the evening.

Went out to Barfly in Sinchon at first, then decided to go to another bar (can't remember what it was called) which was a total soldier-sausage-fest good god. Then we ended up in Hongdae waiting around outside to meet someone at Club Vera. While we were outside a group of 3 younger dudes were talking to us in Korean/broken English and we talked to them for so long haha. They were kinda drunk and only one could really speak English so he had to be the translator, but it was funny. They wanted to make sure we were cautious of Korean men and that we had a good experience lol

We ended up in Club Vera for a bit, but didn't do much before going home. First time going home when the sun is already up, kinda a surreal experience.

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