Seoul World DJ Festival

May 9, 2009. Seoul World DJ Festival at Hangang Park. It was an all day/all night event.

I had worked IBT makeups earlier that day finishing at 2pm. I live in Nowon-gu, across town from the event near Mapo-gu Office Station. After a subway ride that lasted over an hour, I finally reached the station at 4pm. Dave and Mike had already started to set up camp at the outdoor concert at Nanjin Park of Hangang Park. Little did I know that Hangang Park encompases nearly all of the Han River, I ask a taxi driver to take me to Hangang Park figuring I was only 5 minutes away from the station. He took me across the river to a park with a circus. I called Dave hoping this was it. Negative. Nanjin Park was the destination. After 20 minutes of pitiful attempts at hailing a cab and droves of Korean families watching my absurd antics, I finally got into a second cab that took me to Nanjin Park area, 5 minutes away from the subway station. He told me I needed to climb a small mountain to get to Nanjin Park. So, that's what I did. I trekked up for 20 minutes to the top trying desperately to follow the music. I figured the concert was either at the top of the mountain or over it. When I finally got to the top, two pathways greeted me. I took the one more travelled leading to nothing but nature lovers strolling around the mountain. The other direction ended after 50 meters. I decided to climb back down despite my hopeful attempt to cross the mountain. Nevertheless, I found grot shots of the Han River and World Cup Stadium at the peak. Thinking beyond my physical limits, I decided to get smart. Why not follow the foreigners! I found a group walking on a trail that looked like they were into DJ music. I decided to rush past them making me look like I knew where I was going. After 10 minutes of scuffling, they were no longer behind me, nor was anyone in front of me. I had walked 3 km alone. Nevertheless, the music became more distinct. The concert was riverside, yet across a highway. I walked towards the closest overpass only to find it under construction. The next closest overpass was behind me back another 3 kilometers. Exasperated and exhausted, I walked 3.5 kilometers back to where the 2nd cab driver had dropped me off. I had caravans of families and tour buses stop to help me. I refused determined to do this on my own. No one could stop me. No one could touch me. If a rapist were to attack me then and there, they would only meet my fury. I finally crossed the overpass and walked another 3.5 kilometers along the river to my final destination. After 2.5 hours of traversing rivers, mountains and highways, I finally made it and all I wanted was an ice cold beer that was 30 minute wait.

Me, Dave, & Mike Finally Reunite After 2 Hours Lost

Crowd Shot during Towa Tei (Featured DJ from Japan)
Behind these people are waves of people sleeping since 9pm

View of the Han River from Nanjin Park

View of World Cup Stadium

Dr. Martens Cut Out
A Major Brand/Sponsor in Korea

I was at the concert from 6pm till 4:30am. It was an exhausting concert, but was well worth the trek to get there. I got to hang out with my old friends Dave & Mike and my former co-workers Trevor and Kristen. My other co-workers showed up too at the end of the night. It was like being in college again laying on the grass with our pizzas and beer and fist pumping to some good house and techno. I don't know when my next concert will be, but I'm glad I caught this one-an outdoor event full of foreigners coming together for their joy of good times and music in Korea.

Coatel Room 607

Christie, My Khan, Jenn & Me

8.18.08--This is where it all began.

Four girls arrive to Seoul and trek their way to the Chungdahm paid-for hotel--The Coatel in Gangnam. Finding my name on a list at the front desk, I am told that my room # is 607. Weary from jetlag, I trudge my two 50lbs bags along to my room at midnight. I knock on the door. No answer. I knock harder. No answer. I ring the doorbell. No answer. I ring the doorbell again. No answer. The door finally creaks open.

Although in a daze, My Khan helps me with my bags into our room.

"Where are you from?"-Texas, Seattle. Zzzzzsss...

The next morning, My Khan and I wake up to find our other two roomates are awake too, Jenn and Christie. Four girls get ready for a week of Chungdahm training.

8.22.08--We sign our contracts and we go our separate ways. Busan (Jenn), Daejon (My Khan), Taereung April, Seoul (Christie) and Junggye, Seoul (Shadiyah)

It's been 9 months and we've stuck it out in Korea. Although living apart, we've remained close friends keeping in touch and visiting as much as we could. We've come here for a life change and now we have to part ways.

Jenn decided to cut her contract short and leave Korea for personal reasons. She needed to be home back in Palm Springs, California. She missed her family. She missed her old life. Most of all, she needed serenity.

We came together for one last hoorah in Busan. Luckily, there was an 80s/denim party and we took that red headed slut out.

Shopping Results

MyKhan, Jenn, Christie, & Me

Classic 80s Shades: Ray Bans & Venetian Blinds

Jenn & Me

Ready for the 80s Party

Christie, My Khan, Jenn, & Me


Josh: Our New Drunk & Hilarious Friend
My Khan, Josh, & Me

Coatel Hotel Roomie Love
Jenn, Chrstie, My Khan & Me

Although it was sad to hear that our foursome was splitting, I am so happy to have met and kept my friendship close with these four amazing girls. We come from very different backgrounds, but Korea united us all. Everyone moves at their own pace, but somehow the universe brought four girls in four different directions to one hotel room. I know we will all do great things in the future and I cannot wait for the next reunion wherever we are in the world.

All the girls are doing it...

That's right. Laser Hair Removal...

My friend Jessie always seems to have the best ideas. Since we moved to Seoul back in August, she has gone outside of Seoul way more times than I have. She joined a hopkido class--a type of Korean martial arts. She's gotten mole's removed. She had her hair straightened-magically aka "magic straight." Out of all the things she's done, the one that I was most intrigued by was laser hair removal. One of her hopkido friends suggested the idea and so the chain reaction goes...

Jessie tells me to call SJ, her hopkido friend. SJ sets me up with Mira, another hopkido friend who actually performs the laser hair removal. Once I got to the clinic, Mira greets me outside because she has been waiting for me for 30 minutes. My lateness was kind of not my fault because Mira's office is in a children's clinic. Would you ever guess laser hair removal would be happening in a clinic with children screaming and running around? Mira was very sweet. She spoke hardly any English, but we got the point across that I wanted my lip line and under arm hair gone.

She took me to a room and told me to take off my shirt and jewelry. She laid me down and placed eye covers, the kind you get at tanning beds. She examined the length of my lip and armpit hair. She trimmed if necessary. I was instructed by SJ to have some hair and to not shave the day before. The length should be 1/3 of an inch. She placed a cold gel on my lips and rubbed it across the area with hair. Then, I started to hear a clicking. At first it was slow, then it sped up and she would count 1, 2, 3... Bzzz!

"Ok?"

"Yes."

"Is it pain?"

"No."

My pain threshold only held for 7 of 15 zaps. The zaps then started to feel like stings and I would clench my eyes forming tears.

"Ok?"

"Yyy..es."

"Are you pain?"

"Nnn..o."

Afterwards, she placed a cold pack on my lips making me hold it with one hand while my other hand was raised in the air for the next round. She again placed the cold gel and rubbed around. The process continued. I felt great until about the 7th or 8th zap. Then I start clenching my teeth and eyes. I have gone twice now and it's not that bad. Some gel, few zaps, and then a cooling pad. I already notice results (slower growth, thinner hair).

In total, it only took 15 minutes of my day. We proceed to her office to schedule to next laser day which should be monthly for 5 months to completely remove the hair. The best part of my visit is chatting with Mira. She is very good friends with Jessie and her SLP (another Hagwon) co-workers. We check out each other's Facebook pages. She tells me about her fiance. I tell her about my boyfriend. We even challenged each other to a Hangul/English test. She has to learn the months and I have to learn the body parts for the next laser day. We became so close that she gave me a wedding invitation. I'm so excited to gain another Korea friend. They come few and far between especially when most foreigners are intimidating and only hang out with each other.

My first inspiration to do this came from my college friend Teresa. She had done it before and told me it cost around $300 per session. Listed below are Mira's prices.

armpit : 50000\ for 1 session, 150000 for 5 session

lip line : 30000\ for 1 session 120000 for 5 session

bikini : 70000\ for 1 session, 200000 for 5 session.

So much cheaper! A little pain comes with beauty, but I'll never have to shave again!

In the true fashion of paying it forward, I emailed my branch about it and Mira's already had 4 of my co-workers come in for a treatment. A lot of the boys teased me about the mass email, but I'm sure deep down inside, they want to get their back hair removed.

Looking for the best shopping, the best highlights, the best galbi, the best bar...many things are known about in Korea by word of mouth. This experience is yet another example of how a foreigner can take advantage of the great opportunities in Korea.