A Challenging 2019

When there's darkness, there's light

Every year brings a lot of surprises may it be a sudden trip somewhere, a long lost friend who emerges on messenger or an extremely unexpected responsibility at work. 

As human as I am, I have been through a lot of "sudden" this year which I say have tested my patience and my perseverance to an exponential level. However, these challenges make me thankful in the long run due to the fact that it will definitely be useful, it may not be in all aspects but most aspects of my life. 

Don't Trust Anyone But Don't Distrust Everyone

This has been ingrained in me for more than a decade of handling people virtually. However, this year, it was put to the test how well-versed I am in this. I used to shed tears whenever I am disappointed on how people perform at work because I put my full trust in them.  This year however, made me care less on whatever they feel but cared more on how they perform. You sign up for the job, better do it the best you can, or you hear from me, friends or not. Learning to read people made me become more efficient on what I do. On the contrary, I also make sure that I don't generalize people as I am aware everyone didn't come from the same mother. 

Guard Your Secrets

Social media nowadays is becoming more of a place to gossip instead of becoming a place to inform, learn or educate. There are things that need to stay private for there are people who are just waiting to make stories about you. This also applies to a workplace; it is fine to be friends with your co-workers but learn to isolate personal relationship from that of work. There are those people who lose respect because they think you are friends. 

Be Firm When You Say "NO"

We are in a society where we lean from each other, friends, family, or colleagues. I really had difficulty saying no to a request especially if they are close to me. My attitude of being generous had taken a toll on me a long time ago however, this year, I have said "NO" to a lot of requests. There is a big difference between asking for a help and taking advantage thus saying no to someone who is already taking advantage of you doesn't mean you are being selfish.  

Just Do It!

Many of us get scared to do what they are passionate about maybe because of having no resources or just simply because it will mean getting out of their comfort zone.  I, too, have been scared of starting new things in my life. I was scared to take other responsibilities at work because I was scared to fail. However, I realized, I will never know if I won't try. As they say, trying and failing is better than never trying. If you plan to do something new, it is fine to be doubtful but don't be scared to try. Often times, we are afraid of the unknown.

The year 2020 is almost beginning and may these lessons remain executed to become better.  No matter what happened in 2019, good or bad, those are already part of life. Learn to never regret anything you have done and only then you know how to think before you do.  

South Korea: It Has To End To Begin

My battle for finding time to write is endless. I know it just boils down to having time management but it's just difficult when there's really no time to manage. LOL! And, again, it's long overdue!

To continue from where I left of, some of my days in South Korea were idle. It's because I still needed to work. Working in a totally opposite timezone make me feel exhausted when traveling. My body reacted badly to the point where I felt sick I just needed to sleep to regain my strength. I was lucky enough that my colleagues covered for me. One thing that's really annoying was when my laptop refused to turn on! I bet is was also reacting to the different weather!

Anyhow, may last few days went well even with all the blisters I have on my feet due to long distance walking. This is what I get when I have a hermit life!  

As scheduled, my sister and I met up with my former boss and his family. We visited The National Museum of Korea which educated me more of their history.

What fascinated me more is that, they discuss the things they see inside the museum to each other which is enriching their knowledge more.

This is the Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda which is on the first floor of the building. It has a very rich history which was discussed to me by my former boss during our tour but I won't discuss that here. LOL

The museum houses prehistory and ancient history of Korea which includes evidences of Korean culture and civilization, the medieval and early modern history which include Goryeo Dynasty, Joseon Dynasty and Korean empire. These are the three important period in Korean history and here you can trace the happenings during those times.

What's really interesting to me is how the Hangul was developed. Well, the story was known to me a long time ago when I first became interested in Korean culture which was way back 2002. However, seeing those artifacts just gave a different feel and fascination. This gave me the interest in visiting more of our country's museums. 

Again, I don't have my tripod with me thus the photo I want to capture was never achieved! LOL

Moving on, we decided to go to Dongdaemun then to Myeongdong but since he isn't used to going around, he was lost when we were on our way to Myeongdong. I'm not into shopping, well, I would say, this is one thing I really hate to do, so just passing through Dongdaemun made me tired.

Doing street photography while finding our way to where we want to be is absolutely fun! It actually occurred to me to just sit there, take photos and watch anything until it gets dark.

The next days were spent going around nearby places. My sister told me to visit a park near her apartment, the Nakseongdae Park, when she is in SNU however, the cool weather made me stay in bed instead.  So, we decided to visit together. It such a very good place to run!

At night, we went to watch the Moonlight Rainbow Show at the Banpo Bridge where the famous Han River is.

It was a cold, windy night which makes it a lot better to watch due to the cold wind touching your face. I love that feeling! I maybe the person who likes taking photos but for events like this which I know it will take a long time to convince myself to visit again, I take a moment and pause and just immerse myself in it. The show was almost over here, it's just taken with my iPhone. Not a good photo but it will do.

I wonder how much energy is used with those lights! Photos can't really show how awesome it is in there! The sound of the waves of the river, the cold wind together with the glistening lights is spectacular to make your mind run free.

The next day, my sister told me we are going somewhere and I have no idea where it is.  We got on the train, I saw the train to Busan, of course without the zombies, rode the bus and finally we where there! It's Kyung Hee university! It's considered one of the best universities in South Korea and a European inspired one just by looking at the buildings.

I wondered how much to they pay for tuition fees. This must be for the elite students, just seeing the outside like this means only one thing, the facilities must be excellent! I can't avoid to imagine studying there without having any financial worries. Oh well, not bad to imagine.

Having a society like South Korea which puts pressure on everything, this kind of environment, having trees all over, could help combat depression, that is, if majority knows how to be thankful of the little things. Sadly, this only applies to the selected few.

The last place we went to was at the Gwanghwamun Square, where the statue of King Sejong The Great is and the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was difficult for us to find the statue although it was towering to a height of more than 6 meters. It's probably because we were already tired from walking.

The palace gate was swarming with so many tourists hence the difficulty in taking a photo of the entire gate. A clean shot is zooming in some parts of it.

Overall, although I never expected my visa to be approved but it did, I had fun experiencing what Seoul could offer. From the cleanliness, well-developed transportation system in which a good chance to experience no traffic to the silence of the environment.

Though it seems an almost perfect place to live, I, being a very observant tourist came to love my country and my culture even more. I cannot imagine Filipinos being detached to everyone else, losing the characteristic of always ready to lend a helping hand, may it be on the bus, climbing the stairs or even just crossing the street and to lose the ability of choosing to smile in the middle of a natural disaster. 

However, it is the honesty and the discipline of South Koreans that will always captivate me to visit again!