In that MBC video there is a part where they say how daring the couples are for touching each other and kissing. You would think that couples between two Koreans don't show public affection. The reality is that for a long time public displays of affection were shunned here, and they still are to some degree. But I can tell you things seem to have dramatically changed these days.

I was at the Cheongyecheon last night near Gwanghwamun and there were plenty of cuddling couples to be seen. Scandalous!

This is that beautifully redesigned stream in the Jongno area, which has been featured in a lot of dramas. I saw couples kissing (not just a peck on the cheek), I saw row after row of couples on each other's laps kissing by the stream.  I felt a little out of place, as the long time I have been in Korea I have never seen so much romantic hanky-panky in public here. Sure it was dark out, but still things were well lit. Yet, it didn't bother me too much and I was pleased to see young couples not caring and letting passion consume them in public.

So then what's so scandalous about mixed couples being intimate in public if Korean couples do it too? This is basically just another way of me saying to hell with this video. It's rubbish and I hope the out lash against it spawns an organized group of people willing to take on racism and discrimination in this country.

Till then...keep on trucking everyone with your hanky-panky naughtiness!

Approximately a year ago my ex (sad face) knocked on my door and had with him a box. He said, "Open the box." I did and out popped three little furry and dirty heads.

Since then I have been mom to the sweetest cat there is, Tom. (Except for when my friend took care of him for me for 6 months. Thank you!)

His brothers have since found homes (one at my friends and the other at me ex's). But the time that I have had Tom and grown to love and take care of him, he has become my special little buddy.
It's amazing how much a little animal can grow in just a year, but it just means more warmth and fuzziness.

Tom has given me so much already in just one year. He acts as a prompt alarm clock when I over sleep my alarm. He becomes my bedside buddy in times of homesickness and heartache.

He's there for me when I open the door after stressful days of work and ready to tackle me in the morning.

Happy Birthday my little Tom! I hope you have many more and we get to share more wonders of the world together.

My Chuseok has been rather uneventful this year. As you might recall I went to Geoje island last year with JH and had a spectacular time. This year JH and I are going through some kind of rough patch. We are both concerned about our futures. Because of this we haven't done much together this Chuseok. Despite this I am trying to take myself places. I went to some festival downtown in Jogno yesterday and hope to meet up with good pals today.

I'll update a little here on JH so you guys are up to speed. He found out he can't get a loan for a new place because the banks would like him to have experience living on his own first. So instead of his family breaking apart they are just going to move out together and find a new place. This relieved the pressure off of this situation, so I am glad things are less stressful for him there. But really our relationship has taken some turns that I don't particularly like. I am going to keep all this stuff private still, but thought my readers would like a little insight into my life right now.

Cool nights are already here and I have changed my wardrobe. Long sleeve shirts are on the hangers and pants ready to go. Thankfully summer is still lingering with warm days. With all this personal stuff in my life I hope this winter will be somehow good to me.

Anyways, enjoy your Chuseok and have a great Fall season.

A while ago my mom sent a package with all sorts of stuff in it for JH and I. She mostly wanted to send him good wishes for his birthday, which was back in April.

I know I don't share a whole lot about my personal relationship with JH on here. Mostly because I know he doesn't want me to and also I just don't know how to word it. I have to say though the man is very special to me and we are already a little past our two years together. So I know this is a good relationship.

The man's birthday was in April and I got him a few presents. One of which I wrapped up and stuck to a package of ramyeon like they do at the supermarket. You know how if you buy a box of cereal, sometimes there is a freebee attached to the side of it...like that.

The man got a Gundam kit and a charm for his car...nothing really fancy haha. We later went out for Indian food and eventually played Monopoly. We get pretty competitive when we play and the following picture shows that I was winning, since I had both Park Place and the other blue one. He stopped the game and claimed he was the winner and that we were tired and needed to go to bed. Hmph!

As JH and I were served our meals at an Outback Steakhouse today something happened that made me realize an interesting cultural difference between us two. First let me say that I generally do not like going to Outback Steakhouse, Fridays or any of those chains here in Korea. Mostly because they are expensive, but also due to that the food is often really greasy and too salty. With that said, we usually just order salads since we have found they are the freshest thing on the menu.

There I was ready to take my first bite when JH shoved his fork (with a piece of meat on it) in front of my face asking, "Do you want to try it?" I leaned back and exclaimed, "No!"

This isn't the first time JH has done this, and I always reject his attempts to feed me like that. I think today I got a little peeved because I would have figured by now he got the message. But then I realized this must be some cultural difference hoopla. As far as I know, back home we don't usually try to feed each other. If we do want someone to taste our dish I think we usually take a small portion and put it on the other persons plate. But rarely was I taught or had the experience of a bite being rapidly put in front of my face.

Immediately, I discussed this with JH and pointed out the cultural difference. Certainly he didn't know about it and figured it was normal. Also, he remarked on how it is something couples do.

I just have to wonder if this is something shared by other cross-cultural couples in Korea, or am I just the only one? hmmm

Here we are at the final entry about Nami Island and my time there a few weeks ago. The last bits of our moments on the island were spent strolling through a ceramics museum and taking in the view of a nice park.

All that walking and site seeing worked up an appetite and we were ready for lunch. We came upon the section with cafes and restaurants. Here we managed to discover that there was a place offering organic servings or curry and other rice-like meals. It was a little tough to find, but we managed.