Buck up, little buckaroos.

I’ve never been one of the cool kids. I’m a bit bookish and although not exactly shy, or exactly socially awkward, I’m also not exactly a social butterfly or in with the “in” crowd.  I’ve always felt a bit of an outsider throughout my life.

That said, I do know Korea and Seoul especially can be a bit tough for the other non-cool kids. I would make a bet, that most people feel that way.  It can seem cliquish and unfriendly. Sometimes it seems everyone is having fun with everyone else and you are the only one who doesn’t have something to do with someone else.  Everyone else seems coupled up.  And then, once you do find some friends to hang with, who seem like they are your kind of people, their contract ends, and you are alone again.

It sucks.

But before you go straight to despair, I’d like you to think about a few things.  Do you think most of the writers you admire felt they were part of the “in” crowd (before they became famous and made their own crowd)? Do you think most of the singers/musicians did? I would bet not.  I would also bet that even in their most nerdy, most awkward  and most lonely periods in their lives, they had a few friends who were there for them.  And I think that is something we all forget.  You don’t need hundreds of friends. You just need a few people who are good for you and good to you. We are social animals, and I think it does hurt a lot when we feel rejected or just in a time where we don’t seem to be able to meet many people.  And not all the people you meet are the people you want to spend a lot of time with.  It isn’t that they are bad people. Many of them are perfectly nice. It is just they like to go roller blading every weekend and you don’t know how to roller blade, nor do you wish to learn. Especially if it means scraped knees and other injuries. ( for example)

Now it is true, the search for people who are sympathetic  and who will accept us for who we are is a lifelong search.  And sometimes we don’t find those people where we are.  We have to keep up the lifelines of our past and through mail, e-mail and phone calls back home. The people who love us and we love we can help us remember that it isn’t as bad as we are thinking right now. We need them to keep up the strength we need to keep going during the lonely times.  I don’t care who you are and what is going on in your life. I don’t care how old you are or what you do. Everyone I have ever known has lonely times.  And these times do indeed pass. Life is like that, with its ups and downs.

I would also leave you with this video of the bumblebee girl. But embedding is disabled by request. Sometime YouTube is not your friend.  Or mine.She was quite popular in the 90’s – mostly because most people could relate to her and her search for other bumblebee dancers.  The song is No Rain by Blind Mellon – and you can search YouTube for yourself. It really is a cute video.

Flowers

Today was a wonderful day.  I should probably feel a bit guilty for staying home on a Saturday night, but I had a full day of FLOWERS- and so I’m tired.

The day started early, in Hapjeong. We met up and then went to Itaewon. Itaewon was semi-productive, I did get some calling cards and did go to a travel agent about flights home.  I will renew my contract at my school, so I will get two weeks to go home. I am a bit excited about the prospect, to be honest.

We then walked to the next subway stop, Hangangjin- The walk was quite pleasant. I usually stay in the Itaewon area, and I was quite happy to see where the Leem art museum was even if we weren’t going to go in.  At Hangangjin, we went to a foreign supermarket, and then we were off to the flower city.

Flower city is near Yangjae station. Near is the operative word.  It was quite a trek, although a very pleasant one.  There were lots and lots of trees, a good thing because today was quite warm.  We decided that the US really needed more city parks and more green spaces in the cities.

The Flower City and there is a big sign that said “Flower City” wasn’t huge, but it was beautiful.  My friend didn’t find the sun-lamp she desperately wanted for her dying tomato plants, but I found some great small pots, a few small flower plants, and a wonderful time amidst beautiful flowers:

A beautiful fountain:

Flowers:

More flowers:Even more flowers:

A fountain I want:

Here are some more pictures for your enjoyment:

And here are the flowers I snagged:

Once the indoor garden is complete I promise to give pictures of it as well.

And because everyone needs to see a cactus with a fuzzy hat:

There is something about spending a day among flowers that is most relaxing.