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September 2020 "Record of Youth (청춘기록)"

What I'm Up To

Still masking, still mingling

Since I moved to a one room apartment, I feel much more willing to meet friends. Every outing's still laced with anxiety but I'm no longer terrified that if I contract the virus I'll spread it to 20 other girls (which is how I felt living in the goshiwon.) It's also super nice to use my own kitchen and bathroom without needing to put on a mask to do so. 

Yeah so about the move!

Please enjoy the new pots, chair, and knives I bought for my home.😃



Moving Journey:
My empty goshiwon room→my crowded new entryway→and my organized new bedroom space! (It's still not very large where I live, and the kitchen area can't accommodate a microwave or fridge, so they're nestled in my bedroom instead. I'm just that much closer to the food, I guess.)

  

So, while I finally have a comfortable place to stay home all day this season proves as crisp and clean an autumn as any, and I don't want to miss out on the beautiful weather! Ideally I'd go to a National Park for a few days, but I'm not sure when I can make the time or who to invite, so perhaps I'll just take a hike instead. So far I've enjoyed walking the cafe-filled streets with friends and letting the fall air circulate throughout my home. Have I mentioned how much of a blessing it is to have a window? 🍂😊

What I'm Reading

Here's some words that stuck with me this September:

  • From the short story, Mildawan Days (1955) by Kim Dong-ni. He wrote about the Korean literati who fled south during the Korean War.

A cafe in Busan called Mildawon Generation
(밀마원시대) in honor of the story and
of the generation that survived the Korean War
"Jung-gu realized for the first time how good it was to have friends, that a handshake was something that could flow through your body like sweet fragrant liquor."

  • An excerpt from an article about how to approach the study of history.
"We should investigate the past not to prove our superiority but to gain humility"

  • An excerpt from a different article that points out the absurdity of assuming each nation exists as an island, disconnected from other nations. 
'After breakfast our good man settles down to read the news of the day "imprinted in characters created by the ancient Semites upon a material invented in China by a process invented in Germany. As he absorbs the accounts of foreign troubles he will, if he is a good conservative citizen, thank a Hebrew deity in an Indo-European tongue that he is 100 percent American."'

  • Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with my [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice."

  • This poem by Joy Ladin

View this post on Instagram

#JoyLadin #ASelf #poemoftheday

A post shared by Avni Doshi (@avnidoshi) on

  • My thought: 

For all my wandering
For all my wandering
The ancient poet is still right

What I'm Listening to
  • Don't Be Lonely (위롭지 말아요) by No.1 Korean
    • Here's a little something for your soul. I chanced upon this band's live performance (through Youtube) and loved their big band instruments and high energy. They mix Spanish sounds with their own style and it's really exciting to watch!

           
  • RainDrop by Han Hee Jun
    • A happy song.

What I'm Watching- A Record of Youth

There are many parts of Korean life I'll never experience personally, yet thanks to Youtube I can get access to all sorts of environments. Through the medium I've learned about the coffee business, fashion trends, and obviously pop music. Recently I also became interested in school life, so I looked up vlogs and fell into a rabbit hole of student pranks, games, and other shenanigans.

Though most students sit in class sun-up to sundown they use their alloted free time in the most beneficial way possible -- messing around with friends. Here are some videos (all about 2 minutes or less) that'll show you what students around the country get up to.
  • A beautiful rendition of Frozen's "Love is an Open Door." Take note of "Anna's" commitment to his role, and the dedication with which the students nap in the back.
  • Some girls showing off their dance skillz
  • A group of friends playing a speed game.
  • Just some guys going rowing on the neighborhood moving walkway.
  • These students taking the talent show by storm.
  • These boys have to make the ultimate decision when they spot a girl on one side of the room, and a fellow student with noodles on the other.
  • Some star wars creatures participated in Student Sports Day.
  • If you want a full picture of a Korean high schooler's life this Youtuber encourages you to simply watch his 5-second vlog.

What I'm Looking at

My favorite Instagram accounts that feature scenes of Korea. The ones below show Seoul (the capital), Busan (the second largest city), ad Jeju Island. 

  • 규야 / @gyuya

  • 종혁 / @newtypehyuk
  • Matteo Škrinjar / @photos_by_matteo
  • Pilsung / @pillter_

What I'm Thinking

Last month I was fortunate enough to gain a position as editor for my school's magazine, NOVAsia. I wrote my first article at the beginning of October about the relationship between Black Lives Matter and K-pop music. (For some context, many Korean pop fans mobilized in favor of the movement this past June, and some journalists argued the nature of K-pop encouraged this mobilization. I disagree.)

I'd truly love if anyone has feedback. I'm interested in pursuing writing more seriously and would love to make my writing more accessible!

You can read it on our website below:

K-pop and Black Lives Matter: A Movement by the Fans or the Famous?

Photos

Coffees and sweets from September!

September foods (Didn't really go out so much...)

Long girl, distant boy

In case you forgot

Scenes of Seoul





끝까지 함께 해 주셔서 고맙습니다. 다음 달에 또 만나요!
(Thanks for reading to the end. Let's meet again next month!)


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