Caillean and I met under some pretty bizarre circumstances.
Not bizarre in like, we met in the middle of a raging tornado and helped each other escape the claws of a shark apocalypse. But in the kind of way that make you say "Wow! What are the odds?"
When I first moved to Korea in September of 2017, I was completely alone at the ripe age of 18, only knowing three people in Seoul.
The first was my boyfriend, who lived one city over in 하남. His name was 기현. Before I knew him, I had become friends with a boy named 윤도 (Yundo). 윤도 had essentially become a big brother to me, and was my best friend in Seoul. The third was a high school student named 민지 (Minji), but she lived far away from Seoul near the border of North Korea.
As 윤도 and I tended to spend a lot of time together because of his close proximity and only responsibility being his part time job, 기현 quickly grew jealous, and demanded that I discontinue my friendship with him. Me, being the naive and dependent freshly graduated girl I was, obeyed and cut 윤도 from my life for a short time. Until 기현 had broken our promise to take me to the airport, only 5 days before I went home. And also told me that he wouldn't come to see me before I left for the winter, my return date unknown. Feeling let down and a bit betrayed, I messaged 윤도 to see if he wanted to go clubbing on the weekend. He asked to bring his friend, 성현 Seunghyeon (who is now also my best friend) and his girlfriend, Caillean.
We met in Playground park on October 28th, 2017. I remember my first impression of Caillean was fear and dislike. She was from California, and going to school only two hours away from me at Northern Arizona University (I go to Arizona State University). She was so pretty and fun I legitimately thought she HAD to be a basic binch. After talking in a soju room for a long time (the very same one reference in day 5), we grew a mutual friendship over our hatred for the Arizona college system, and ever since have become best friends.
Caillean and 윤도 broke up this past summer, but I still love them both separably... like divorced parents. And as for 기현? We broke up as soon as I returned to the US.
So on day 10, it was a bit solemn as Caillean and I spent her last evening together.
One of Korea's many unique cultural aspects is their attention to the relationship of food and drink. There are many dishes that have specific pairings to alcohol, such as 전 (jeon) and 막걸리 (makgeolli), sushi and 소주 (soju), beer and pizza, and most widely known,
In the warmer months, most people living in Seoul with spend at least one evening (if not many) on the banks of 한강 (Han River) with a picnic mat and bottles of cass and soju. Chicken delivery is constantly in and out at specific pick up destinations along the vast river. Families and young adults alike spend whole evenings enjoying the calm river views and summer activities with bellies full of the famous fried chicken.
But alas, the weather was far to cold for any picnicking in Seoul, so we went out for dinner at 칠칠켄터키 (Chil Chil Kentucky), and had the largest basket of fried chicken and french fries you have ever had the honor of laying eyes upon. 양념 (Yangnyeom) flavor on one half, 간장 (Soy sauce) on the other, there was no way Caillean and I were going to finish this monstrosity.
Once we could do no more damage, we took the train over to 이대 (Ewha) where shopping is a plenty at decent prices. We got the last few items on Caillean's list before heading to my apartment, where she'd spent the night for its proximity to the airport railway.
I had such a wonderful time with Caillean and its too bad it wasn't longer! But I know it won't be too long before I see her again, and the crazy trouble we get ourselves into may resume.
Not bizarre in like, we met in the middle of a raging tornado and helped each other escape the claws of a shark apocalypse. But in the kind of way that make you say "Wow! What are the odds?"
When I first moved to Korea in September of 2017, I was completely alone at the ripe age of 18, only knowing three people in Seoul.
The first was my boyfriend, who lived one city over in 하남. His name was 기현. Before I knew him, I had become friends with a boy named 윤도 (Yundo). 윤도 had essentially become a big brother to me, and was my best friend in Seoul. The third was a high school student named 민지 (Minji), but she lived far away from Seoul near the border of North Korea.
As 윤도 and I tended to spend a lot of time together because of his close proximity and only responsibility being his part time job, 기현 quickly grew jealous, and demanded that I discontinue my friendship with him. Me, being the naive and dependent freshly graduated girl I was, obeyed and cut 윤도 from my life for a short time. Until 기현 had broken our promise to take me to the airport, only 5 days before I went home. And also told me that he wouldn't come to see me before I left for the winter, my return date unknown. Feeling let down and a bit betrayed, I messaged 윤도 to see if he wanted to go clubbing on the weekend. He asked to bring his friend, 성현 Seunghyeon (who is now also my best friend) and his girlfriend, Caillean.
We met in Playground park on October 28th, 2017. I remember my first impression of Caillean was fear and dislike. She was from California, and going to school only two hours away from me at Northern Arizona University (I go to Arizona State University). She was so pretty and fun I legitimately thought she HAD to be a basic binch. After talking in a soju room for a long time (the very same one reference in day 5), we grew a mutual friendship over our hatred for the Arizona college system, and ever since have become best friends.
Caillean and 윤도 broke up this past summer, but I still love them both separably... like divorced parents. And as for 기현? We broke up as soon as I returned to the US.
So on day 10, it was a bit solemn as Caillean and I spent her last evening together.
One of Korea's many unique cultural aspects is their attention to the relationship of food and drink. There are many dishes that have specific pairings to alcohol, such as 전 (jeon) and 막걸리 (makgeolli), sushi and 소주 (soju), beer and pizza, and most widely known,
치맥
Chimaek
치킨 (Chicken)
맥주 (maekju: beer)
치 + 맥 = 치맥
In the warmer months, most people living in Seoul with spend at least one evening (if not many) on the banks of 한강 (Han River) with a picnic mat and bottles of cass and soju. Chicken delivery is constantly in and out at specific pick up destinations along the vast river. Families and young adults alike spend whole evenings enjoying the calm river views and summer activities with bellies full of the famous fried chicken.
But alas, the weather was far to cold for any picnicking in Seoul, so we went out for dinner at 칠칠켄터키 (Chil Chil Kentucky), and had the largest basket of fried chicken and french fries you have ever had the honor of laying eyes upon. 양념 (Yangnyeom) flavor on one half, 간장 (Soy sauce) on the other, there was no way Caillean and I were going to finish this monstrosity.
I had such a wonderful time with Caillean and its too bad it wasn't longer! But I know it won't be too long before I see her again, and the crazy trouble we get ourselves into may resume.
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| Caillean, Ava, and Me on New Year's Eve |
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