A Taste of Snow...

Like any other firsts (giggle giggle giggle), I'm also anticipating my first winter experience. I want to be outside when it finally snows in Incheon, kkkk... It's already snowing in some parts of S.Korea but for the past two weeks, the skies only gave rain to Incheon..

The other day, I saw my Mom-in-law preparing ingredients for Soy bean paste stew. Since I want to go out for fresh air, I volunteered to go to the market for Tofu...

Oh, I actually wanted to back out when I went out of the house. It was sooo soooo k-k-cooooLLLdddd....

I passed by the park near our house to check the trees... I feel lonely they've all lost their leaves. The bare branches seem to beg the skies for a kind weather. It was also particularly cloudy and windy...

After crossing the main avenue, I observed that fellow pedestrians and passersby were looking up to the sky. It was then I realized I was actually deep in my thoughts of whatever again, oblivious of what was going on... I looked up too and saw small white flakes flying around, it was windy... at first I thought they were tiny petals (but from where? again, it was really windy) or something and finally surmised that they were actually snow flakes when a child, tugged her mom they stop walking so she could open up her mouth towards the sky to catch the flakes.. I saw her savor the flake she caught.. I wish I were a child so it wouldn't be too embarassing to be doing it also in the light of day, in the middle of the sidewalk...

The snow flakes melted right away upon hitting the ground. Still, it was just a ""patikim""... still, no full blow snow in Incheon, hehe...

Make Up

I am fully aware how Koreans take care of their looks like they see to it that they are (always) properly made up. Since my face is allergic to most cosmetic products, I was always content with my VOV concealers and white and gold eyeliners, Avon TruPore action face powder, and Deoproce lipgloss...

But months before coming to Korea, I looked for concealers that need not mixing of two shades (as I always did with my VOV concealers) and of course, that won't hurt my skin. Good thing I found Max Factor's Pan Stick. They have shades made for each skin type and color that there's no need of mixing up shades. It really lasts the whole day especially when used with the same brand's Creme Puff...
Unfortunately, I only bought one pan stick and 2 creme puffs. I always thought this would last me the whole year but I've made the worst ""forecasting"" ever (for an IE, hehehe...) Why? Because Alex always told me not to worry about make up. He said his family is not so particular with it. Sure enough, he was only making me feel better since he knew I don't know how to apply make up myself. But my first morning in Korea was a total shock to me. When I woke up, I just went to the bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face, and comb my hair with my fingers. From the bathroom, they immediately ushered me to the dining table for breakfast. To my disbelief, my first sister-in-law was already made up and my mom-in-law's hair was even properly hair-sprayed.. Oh, I really excused myself to flatten my hair (Alex always tells me I have big thick hair) and to at least puff my face with powder.

We often went out to see his relatives and friends and I told him we better go check some cosmetic shops so I can buy a spare concealer or at least foundation. I got to experience the popular Korean customer service and their gifts to their customers. Alex bougtht me a (VOV) foundation that has a free refill. The saleslady stuffed my bag with freebies: a mask, sample enprani moisturizers, sample ipkn toner, emulsion, lift and eye creams...

However, I still prefer the Max Factor Pan Stick (Bisque Ivory). We've been to 3 big department stores already but failed to see the brand..

One afternoon, we went to Bupyeong Shopping Center to check some imported goods. There was a Watson's outlet but to my disappointment, the outlet still caters Korean cosmetics... I think they only have a few pieces of L'Oreal and Neutrogena products..

Oh, can someone out there help me where I could possibly see the brand? I might end up asking my mom again to send me a package here, hehehe or buying online instead...

My Dark Indulgence

Since the women's center will only have a spot for me by January 1, 2009 for the Korean language lessons, Alex and I decided to buy the manual so I could start studying at home. I'm actually through with the first 4 lessons of the book and with the introductory lessons of the korean digital university. I was again reviewing my lessons and as usual, memorizing all that needed memorizing... I suddenly had a craving for you know--chips, chocolates, pizza, ice cream and all the things you want to eat while studying....

Alex was surprised when I suddenly stood up to get my jacket. I told him I'd be out in a while to buy """milk"""... He just replied okay...

But I didn't go straight to the convenience store near our apartment.. I went on and on aimlessly until I even passed by the police station about 200 meters away from home, hehe... I personally fear this place since I dont usually bring my ARC whenever I just go to the store or market... While walking, an idea suddenly struck me... I passed by the Catholic church, prayed God will forgive my actions for the next few minutes... and again walked on...

Although married, I still oftentimes want a time for myself also, to just walk around, windowshop and enjoy the peace and quiet of not talking about anything at all... I think all (married) women want that too..

Uhm, and there it was, the mini-grocery i love--- selling (discounted) imported chocolates... I immediately looked for dark chocolates, paid them and opened the box while walking, threw away the box, put the chocolates in my pocket and just ate and ate one after the other (di naman lahat)... Oh, on my way home, I dropped by the convenience store near our apartment not to buy milk, but ice cream... I particularly love it here since ice creams are down 50% their original price, harharhar... When I arrived home, Alex told me we eat the ice cream around 10 pm, I said okay because it was only an hour away... but I was startled by a knock on the door and when I opened it.... oohlala...a delivery of---- a family-sized pizza.... ooh... mental telepathy? hehehe.... (Kamsahamnida je Nampyeon... [trying hard])

Don't get me or my Korean family wrong... I'm an acne victim, and when I met Alex, I was still under the diamond-peel package treatment... so he guards my diet very well, hehehehe....

Bukhan River Driving Course

November 17, 2008... we woke up early, packed well the night before for a picnic and drove off to Seoul direction at 8:30 a.m... When you're sleepy, the heaviest things in the world are your eyelids so Mom-in-law just encouraged me to sleep... It felt only a while but it was already 10a.m. when Alex patted me on my shoulders. The car was stopped and I was surprised to see a wide river before us and a big dam about a mile away.

For almost a week before that day, Alex had been telling me he wants to travel to the countryside for a last view and experience of the autumn foliage... I was imagining he would bring me to another mountain park or a park where we can just walk around, sit, eat, and just talk about anything we can think of... It was meant to be a "last honeymoon tour" (for the autumn, kekeke....) but I told him we bring along his Mom...

But to my surprise, he brought us to the driving course along Bukhan river. As we drove along the course, we passed by the riverbanks' picturesque spots and the mountains surrounding it unfolded before us like a screen... We didn't notice how time went by so fast.. before we knew it, it was almost 1pm already so we had to search the grounds of Mt. Yumeyong (if I'm not mistaken) for that perfect picnic spot.. We already anticipated a real cool weather, that's why we also took the trip that monday, but we were still disappointed with the really cold and windy day. We ended up eating inside the car in front of a beautiful view...

Here are some of our pictures...

And Mine is Cinnamon Tea

Whenever my Mom-in-law (Ommonim) starts to brew her teas, Alex also brews his...

Well, Ommonim brews 3 different teas which I call teas A, B, and C because I can't memorize them no matter how hard I try...

Oh, and Alex in the same manner brews 3 different teas too which I also call teas X, Y, and Z... I should name tea X as corn tea because it's the only tea I can remember and really drink...

I just try any of their teas served or left on the table to cool before being placed inside the refrigerator.

But recently, I really craved for Cinnamon buns that I did research on Korean treats or breads and they actually have the Hoddeok which I mentioned earlier. However, most streetside grill vendors no longer mix Cinnamon in their filling. So last friday, Alex and I searched their area for someone mixing Cinnamon in their filling.

When we arrived home, a very sweet and familiar smell greeted us from the doorway... Ommonim brewed for me a Cinnamon tea...

Oh, home far away from home....

Among my fun travels...

Since my Mom-in-law and Alex are bickering about the kimchi they're making, hehehe, I'm taking advantage of this moment to post and post and post articles I've been wishing to post for the past weeks...

More photos from the (mbc drama) shooting location inside the Folk Village in Yongin...

I know I posted this picture already but I forgot to mention that originally, there was a cutie to my right but he shied away when Alex joked I'd be sending their pictures to Philippines... grr...

They're all busy but they still allowed us to take some pictures inside the compound they were arranging for the shoot...

While posing, we could hear the Korean, Japanese, Chinese and other teenager tourists screaming their hearts out for the Korean heartthrobs sitting somewhere outside...

They also allowed us to try on the costumes left by the recently filmed/finished Korean epic drama King and I for tourists to take pictures with... a production staff was kind enough to volunteer to take our picture and asked us to pose very well...hehehe...



...among the props...

Since Alex is also shy, we didn't attempt to try asking the Lead actors to have their pictures taken with us. I was also scared to take their pictures since they might react differently...

P.S. One of the main actors was the 2nd lead in the drama Green Rose... He was with a really young and handsome actor. And while I was posting this, I didn't notice that Alex sneaked in and started reading.. He said they could be actually waiting for their shoot but maybe not for mbc coz we saw later that day a kbs mobile...

Where Are You From?

We went out today to seek information from the government job agency here in Incheon. Since we didn't know yet that an ARC holder like me should ask assistance from the locals' information desk, Alex and I went up to the foreigners' assistance desk. While Alex was inquiring inside, one man approached me and asked "Kabayan?" and I replied "Opo kuya." "Looking for a job?" he further asked. I told him we were just inquiring... and again he asked "Saan ka sa atin sa Pinas?" "Taga-Baguio po ako, kayo po?" "Taga-La Salle ako. Sige, nice meeting you"... and he immediately went down the stairs..


Long after the Kababayan has left, I was still smiling to myself... really wondering by what he meant by saying taga-La Salle sya... If graduate ba sya ng DLSU or if malapit sya don.. he could have just said "Taga-Manila ako"....


hehehe.... maulaw ak....

I Miss....

1. Cinnamon buns...

Who wouldn't love them? My pops would bring 2-3 bags of them hot from the oven. Even Henry Sy Jr.'s mom love them and buy hers from Baguio Country Club...
And why I miss them so much? Weeks before I came here, I would wake up early, do my morning exercise and walk and drop by my favorite bakeshop to buy around 6 buns for my breakfast and oftentimes, for my lunch too (thinking I wouldn't be able to eat them here in Korea anymore...)... and still, I went out again around 5-6 pm to just buy a few more buns...

2. Them... I told them to pose very well for their Uncle Alex who misses them a lot and this was what they gave me...
....after the simple get together with my family and cousins the night before I travelled to Korea..

3. The fast approaching Holiday Seasons...

Taken January 1, 2006--just past 12 a.m.. after watching the fireworks display at our Provincial Capitol Bldg, which is really near our house, my cousins and I waited for the road to clear up and ran to the middle of the road for a memorable picture taking--er, lying down.. it was really exciting, lying down there and listening with our hearts for fast approaching cars, as we screamed at our photographer (sorry again ate Tina,kekeke) to take the picture really really fast....
....and afterwards, we showered one another with beer.... kekekeke..

Taken January 1, 2007, just past 12 a.m.-- sa kalsada ulit.. but our elder cousins were watching and told us not to repeat our 2006 New Year's eve feat, hehehe... oh, if Ate Donna were here, we probably would have done it again...

.....and still managed to party the following night...

Taken December 31, 2007 -almost midnight.. beating the New Year's Eve cold singing out our hearts loud at our hang out place we call The Barracks...

It's my first time to spend the Holidays away from my family... although I have my new family here, Paskong Pinoy is still different and very heartwarming...

As for my craving for the cinnamon buns, I did a bit of reading and found Korea's Hoddeok or Cinnamon Pancakes. My Mother-in-law even made Cinnamon tea for me... After spending last Friday's afternoon looking for Hoddeok straight off from vendor's red hot streetside grills, my sis-in-law also arrived with a bag of the treat.. hehehe...

A Walk on the Yellow Earth Road...

Alex brought me to the Korean Folk Village (in Yongin). When he told me days ago that our Korean (honeymoon) trip includes the location, I really prevented myself from blurting out that I'd rather see the Dae Jang Geum shoot locations... but to my surprise, Korean Folk Village is indeed among my favorite epic drama's shoot locations...

It took us from 10a.m. to 6p.m. to tour the whole village... and still, I wanted more... For a person like me, who's so in love or sentimental with everything traditional, a whole day is not enough..

Alex promised to bring me back there but I told him we just visit the site when it's Autumn... maybe we'll go back before winter finally sets in...

Among the many paths we've taken along the village, I loved the most the Yellow Earth Road walk... We didn't take pictures of ourselves walking along it since we were both holding our shoes and socks, our hands were full, kekeke... It was strongly recommended we take the walk barefoot. There's something about the walk, very serene and calming, and romantic for both of us as well...

Korean tour is not complete without visiting this Folk Village. It's a must see... and oh, during our visit, an MBC drama (I think) was being shot. I just had a picture with the actors dressed in commoners' clothes... We really felt shy to ask the lead actors to have pictures taken with us...

The Warmest Day in Autumn... November 1, 2008

Even before I came to Korea, Ate Betchay, owner of the site Buhay sa Korea, invited me to her friend's party. I looked forward to it since then... because first of all, I learned a lot about Korean culture and Korean men (I started asking her about Korean men when Alex started courting me) from her site, and really wanted to meet her personally... It was ate Wendy's (http://myrockingcradle.com/) baby's 2nd birthday party... and I've seen her site for several times already back in the Philippines.. I also met ate Minnie (and her family) from Bucheon and of course, the popular ate Jazz (http://sayjeez.com/).. I nudged Alex upon seeing Jazz, I told him she's the Filipina I was telling him working for KBS' Love in Asia... and he started laughing-- and later on told me that he was actually thinking about where in the Philippines did he see that lady (ate Jazz), but when I told him who she was, he really was starstrucked... He religiously watches the show...



I really felt so blessed for attending the party. The hosts were very warm, Ate Betchay's friends were so friendly and helpfull in our desire to learn more and gain more information about what Alex and I should do as new (intermarried) couple, and for me as a new resident here....

Oh, and Ate Betchay's baby actually didn't cry when I tried to talk to him. When I waved "annyeong", he blew me a kiss... isn't that sweet? Coz as much as I love babies and have the confidence that they like me, the first 2 korean babies I met here actually cried because of greeting them "Hi little one"..

After 2 and a half hours, Alex and I had to RELUCTANTLY leave the party. As much as I wanted to stay more, I was also being tugged at my heart of my responsibility as the wife of the first son, kekeke.... My first sister in law just transfered to a new apartment and they were actually waiting for us since lunchtime. My husband just told them we had to attend a very important party...

At 4p.m., we arrived at my first sister-in-law's apartment. Alex's first nephew went to meet us at the subway station. He was really cool and speaks English so I didn't feel disturbed at all about not being able to communicate with the rest of the family whenever Alex went out... The whole family was there... And my Mom-in-law really looked content and happy that I was well received by Alex' siblings and nephews and niece...

Sister-in-law's apartment is located at the base of a hill. There's a park going up the hill which Alex, Hye-ji (his niece), and I climbed. At the top of the hill, I got to view the whole of Seoul.... it was so amazing ---with the sunset and really cool breeze....

Dinner.... As always, they pile the food in front of me like I'm the head of the family, hahahaha... Alex even jokingly said ""Why are you doing this, why are you treating me this way, you now love Jehan more than you love me"" and everybody just laughed out happily...

Going back home, Alex and I talked a lot... He said he was very surprised at how warm Ate Betchay and her friends were. He even commented on how we Filipinos and Koreans really differ. Korea may be a rich country but he said, the Koreans' hearts are poor... Filipinos are better, he said... During his stay in our country, he felt the warm-heartedness of our fellowmen... He further said: Filipinos, wherever they go, bring their warm hearts with them...

It was really cold yesterday... but arriving home, I really felt it was the warmest day in Autumn....