KUBS 2011 Brochure

Remember the photoshoot I mentioned in an entry back in September?

Giorgio's in too! 

I didn't know that the brochure had already been released until Jaesuk told me yesterday that he saw me in it when he dropped by KUBS before he came to Singapore.

The future

It's funny how I thought that when I'm back in Singapore, I would try to relive my days in Korea.
Now that I'm back, I ended up reliving the days spent in Singapore before I left- the anticipation, excitement and pre-departure blues about going away for the next 5 months. I'm beginning to forget things about Korea and my life there for the past 5 months seems like a dream, so distant.
I thought that when I'm back in Singapore, there would be nothing to look forward to.
But I was wrong. There's something to look forward to and to work for: our future together.

I managed to complete all 159 blog entries for my 159 days spent in Korea :) What an achievement and you have no idea how draining this was for me! But I did it^^
Thank you to my dearest readers who have followed me through my journey, especially Fadul (from Brunei) and Valerie (from Singapore)! It was so nice meeting both of you in Korea :) Also to my cousins and Yating for your encouraging comemnts :)
Thank you for bearing with my bad English as well because on most occasions, I was too tired after editing my photos and blogging to proofread my entries.

Coming up in the pipeline: 

1) overall reflections about my exchange life

2) tips for future SEP students to Korea 

3) feature entries about living in Korea and places of interest to check out. 

However, I have no idea when I'll be able to do up these entries because school will start consuming me really soon! 

Homecoming

Being back in Singapore feels weird. I feel as though I had lost my memory for the past 5 months and my life in Korea was just but a dream. I came back a few shades fairer, a few kilos heavier from eating more during winter, and a few thousands miles away from you.

Your existence is a reminder to me that my life in Korea wasn't a dream. I miss you so badly.

[Part 3] 159. The DAY

This day finally came. The day I had to leave Korea and the one and only person who means the world to me...behind.

I spent the morning packing my luggage again and by 11.30am, I was all ready to go when I received Zechy's call about our flight delay. Strange that SIA contacted him but not me. Apparently, the original flight crew fell ill so we had to wait for a replacement crew. Our flight was delayed to 7.55pm from 4.20pm. Even so, we stuck to our original plan of taking the airport bus at 12.15pm because we were all set to go and also, YW had to be in Gwangju by evening time for his mum's birthday party so he wouldn't be able to wait with me. YW and I had about half an hour to ourselves before we left his apartment at 12pm and dragged my luggages down to the bus stop in front of Holiday Inn Seongbokgu near his place to take the airport bus. The bus was supposed to arrive at 12.15pm but it was late. Thank goodness the weather wasn't cold at all and we sang 만약에 to keep ourselves entertained while waiting. I started singing first because I needed to distract myself and stop myself from crying. We got on the bus first and at the next bus stop opposite Korea University, Zechy got on the bus and joined us. The bus ride cost 14,000KRW and took about 1.5 hours to reach the airport. Initially, YW and I thought that we could have a final lunch together but we only reached the airport at 2pm and he had to take the bus to Gwangju at 2.20pm :(

He slept on a mattress in the living room for the past 3 nights while I took his bed. 미안해!

Zechy

After leaving my luggages with Zechy near Row K where we were to check-in, I walked with YW to the bus stop outside the Arrival Hall. When his bus arrived, we hugged and kissed for one last time and at that point, I could no longer control myself and broke down in front of all other passengers on board the bus who were looking at us. It was so Korean drama-like. I looked up with my tear-striken face to see his watery eyes as well. He gave me a photo album while I gave him a card and a Cafe Bene thumbdrive of photos. Actually, I wanted to give him a mini photobook for farewell but I couldn't find a photo shop around that did such printing! I saw it in Heartland Mall and Plaza Singapura and I thought I saw it in Bucheon's New Core shopping mall as well but when Jeannie and I checked the photo shop recently, we couldn't find it :( YW and I actually have similar thoughts! Just that I didn't manage to give him what I wanted to. Eventually, we parted unwillingly as the bus was going to leave. I stood outside the bus, him seated inside the bus, us looking at each other while I tried to control my tears. Eventually, I gave up controlling my tears and hid my eyes behind my shades as the bus pulled away from the bay. I walked back into the airport and slowly made my way back to the Departure Hall in a daze and rather in denial of what had happened. Actually, it was better this way that my flight was delayed and that I sent him off instead of him sending me off because I would have cried more if it had been the other way round. I don't really know why but I just think this was better.

And the flurry of activities as we checked in took my mind off things though I cried again when I looked through our pictures together in the photo album. He selected the same photos I had selected as well. Well, I had 30.5kg of check-in luggage and I was allowed 30kg so that was fine. But I wasn't allowed to carry the 2.5kg Emart box of food I got yesterday as hand luggage because I already had another hand luggage. Luckily, the girl at the counter allowed me to check that in as well without charging me for excess baggage! We were so lucky that she served us because Zechy's check-in luggage was 30.9kg and his wooden sword for some Japanese martial arts lesson that he took during the semester was another 2kg or something but she allowed him to check both in without charging him for excess baggage. However, he had 2 hand carry bags and if he were to check one in, he would then be charged for excess baggage so we went to the post office where he mailed back one box of items. I deposited my tax refund slip at the tax refund counter near Row J but felt really dumb because I had to wait for my refund of 11,000KRW to be mailed to me. Actually, you can collect your tax refund in cash if you bring it to the tax refund counter in Doota Shopping Centre in Dongdaemun and I didn't know that -.- So do bear that in mind if you're claiming for tax refund! After buying some makkori chocolates from a stall in the Departure Hall, we made our way to the customs and I got stuck there because of my jar of yuza tea, shabu shabu sauce, Laneige peeling gel and Etude House lotion because of their liquid contents -.-  I had to get out and run to the post office to buy a box, pack them in and then go back to the check-in counter to check in a small box. Another lady served me and she almost wanted to charge me for excess baggage but I reasoned it out with her that the box of items was supposed to be part of my hand-carry luggage weight so it wasn't quite excess baggage and thankfully, she closed one eye and let me check it in with no charges. I had to clear the customs again which entailed the removal of shoes which I hated because it was so troublesome. Luckily, I remembered from past experiences that we had to remove our shoes when going through customs at Incheon Airport so I didn't wear my black boots which are difficult to put on and remove. What a hassle! And it was a blessing in disguise that our flight was delayed... if not we would have been late for our flight! But the downside to taking the 7.55pm flight was that we would arrive in SG at 1.30am instead of 9.55pm and our parents had to pick us up so late :( My original flight back was around 7pm+ too but I changed it to 4.20pm so that my dad could sleep early after picking me up but as luck would have it, I ended up taking a 7pm+ flight again. haha.

Zechy and I were each given a food voucher worth 12,000KRW because of the delay and in a true Singaporean style, I ordered a bibimbap for 10,000KRW and a bottle of drink for 3,000KRW at a food court to maximise the full value of our 12,000KRW voucher though I had to top up an extra 1,000KRW. Actually, Zechy paid for it because he wanted to get rid of his Korean won on hand. Thanks, Zechy! We used our laptops while having our very late lunch at nearly 5pm. I bought some cosmetics at the duty-free shop because they were really cheap. 3 Kiehl's lip balms for only US$24. US$8 each! I paid 11,000KRW for each when I bought them in Shinsegae :( Some Laneige products are cheaper as well. I saw the sleeping pack for US$18. I had bought mine for 25,000KRW -.-

My phone for the past 5 months.

With very small and puffy eyes from all the crying :(

After taking the sky train to gates 101-132 (ours was 106), we went to Haagen Daz for ice cream before making our way to gate no. 106 which was allllllll the way at the end. There was staff handing out complimentary drinks and muffins to passengers in apology for the flight delay. We were also each given a box of chocolates. Before I boarded the plane, I made a phone call to Youngjin's mum. After hearing her wavering voice on the phone, I could tell that she was crying and I almost cried as well. Just before the plane took off, I made one last call to YW but I didn't have the time to call Jimmy :( He called me earlier and I told him that I would call him again before my flight but I didn't :( I'll call him tomorrow once I get a new battery for my blackberry.

Complimentary coke and muffins handed out in apology for the flight delay

I wonder when I'll be back in Korea again! 

During the flight, I watched The Romantics starring Katie Holmes and spent the rest of the time blogging (just doing up the entries with no photos) while listening to songs on my iPod and sleeping intermittently. I cleared 9 blog entries! For the 1st time in my life, I ordered an alcoholic drink onboard...the Singapore Sling but I didn't like it. I guess I just don't like any alcoholic drink except for Peach Crush.  The dinner served wasn't that nice. Perhaps, I had my lunch too late and also, I had a slight sore throat so I kind of lost my appetite.

Goodbye Korea!

Don't worry...I removed my coat after taking this picture. I didn't wear it for the whole flight! 

I opened the windows when I had internet access earlier so that I could type the entries onboard :)

I'm so glad that Zechy and I came back to Singapore together because it would have sucked to come back alone and go through all the hassle of checking in my luggages and killing time at the airport alone because of the flight delay. Although there were turbulences here and there during the flight, the landing was perfect. The best I've ever experienced- smooth and soft. We arrived in Singapore at 1.30am and felt the humidity as we walked on the aerobridge. As our seats were at Row 35, we were near the exit and one of the first few to clear the automated customs area but we spent half an hour waiting for our luggages :( I was so engrossed in looking out for my Emart box and small EMS box that I actually missed my luggage and had to wait for it to make one more round back :( There were too many Emart boxes on the belt and they distracted me!

Hello Singapore...it's been 5 months! I see you...MBS and the Flyer.

So yes, at 2am, we finally came out of the sliding doors and walked towards our parents who had been waiting for 5 months for us to come home. Yesterday, my mum said in her email to me that she waited for 5 months to say "see you tomorrow". I'm home with mixed feelings. I guess if I never met you, coming back home wouldn't have been so difficult. But still, I'm really glad that I met you because you changed my whole exchange experience and my life.

This is not the end. This is not a goodbye. It's just one of our usual "good night"s to each other. Just that this is a more special "good night". Never give up on us, 오빠! 사랑해!
I love you Korea. And most importantly, I love you 오빠.

[Part 3] 158. Last full day in Korea

On my last full day in Korea, I got to experience the late part of rush hour on the subway and had a very delicious but filling breakfast at Butterfinger Pancakes in Gangnam at 9am. To get there, we came out from Exit 6 of Gangnam Station and walked straight down till we reached The Body Shop, turned left and walked down the street till we reached the famous pancake eatery. I wished I had done this more often with YW...going out to have breakfast together. We rarely did so because I always took so long to get ready in the morning and our default meeting time was between 11am-1pm. The pancakes were delicious but I ordered too much and you know what happens whenever you order too much...after awhile, it gets a bit scary. Or maybe, I didn't order that much, just that the pancakes were very filling!

Can't believe I managed to capture such a nice photo while on the subway!

OMG. So sweet -.-

The Oreo Iceberg Melt Latte was too sweet...Mountain Dew tasted better!

So cute :)

"No shirts, no shoes, no service"...?!

Korean students on their way to tuition centres during their Winter vacation...

And more students!

Butterfinger Pancakes is on the street opposite Club Mass

To get to Butterfinger Pancakes, come out of Exit #6 of Gangnam Station and walk straight down until you reach The Body Shop. Turn left and walk down the street. You'll see the pancakes eatery after a few minutes!

After breakfast, I took the subway to the Express Bus Terminal before taking bus no. 9800 to Bucheon for the last time for my last IPL session, shopping in Emart with Youngjin's mother and Minjoo for food for my mum and relatives and having 삼겹살 samgyeopsal (pork belly) for lunch with them and Youngjin.

Outside the Express Bus Terminal in Gangnam

In Bucheon for the last time :(

Final IPL session!

Minjoo

Initially, my plan was to go over to Youngjin's place after my appointment to teach him English for the last time but his father was down with Influenza A1 and Youngjin's mum said I shouldn't go over to their place. I didn't get to pass them the photos I took of them over the past few months as well :( After lunch, Youngjin's mum let me alight at New Core from which I walked over to the bus stop in front of Homeplus to take the bus back to Seoul. When she let me alight from her car, she turned back to say goodbye and I saw her watery eyes. Seeing her cry made me cry and I had to wear my shades all the way back to Seoul. I couldn't sleep on the bus either because every time I slept after crying, I would wake up with very sore and puffy eyes. I almost cried all the way back to Seoul. I really hope I'll be strong in front of YW tomorrow. Many a times, I almost broke down when I was with him because our time together is fast running out. I have already cried in front of him twice. Saying goodbye is so difficult and heart-wrenching. It's not the end of the world and I can see them again. But the problem is... when?

My Emart box of food and bag of makkori and soju for my dad was so bulky and heavy that I took a cab back to my friend's place. But the taxi driver didn't know the way and went one big round. I ended up paying 3,500KRW for a journey that should have cost about 2,500KRW -.- Back in his apartment, I spent the next 2 hours packing my luggage again before he came back from giving tuition.

Packing for the 2nd last time

We headed to Anam for mulnengmyeon (water cold noodles) for dinner before joining the rest of Group 5 (Lori, Mattia, Junghyun, Jisu, Yeonju and Jaeho) for drinks at a Japanese 술집. As it was Junghyun's birthday, we got a cake from Tous Les Jous. 생일 축하해!^^ Later on, Jaeho, Yeonju, YW and I headed to the 노래방 above Coffee Bean in Tiger Building where Jeannie had a farewell noraebang session at the day before she left. Somehow, I ended up having the same farewell as her and we also took free sticker photos at the photo machine in the noraebang.

I'm using lesser and lesser makeup as the days go by! Only BB cream these days. Preparing for life back in SG where I rarely put on full face makeup unlike in Korea where I did so almost everyday! 

Small eyes from crying in the afternoon :(

Another couple in our group: Lori & Mattia

Yeonju, Junghyun, Jisu, Me, YW, Jaeho, Lori, Mattia

It's time to leave...The end which seemed so far away 5 months ago is now here.