Let's get something important out of the way first, eh? That's right, it's food. And, go!
A giant platter of delicious looking ddeokbokki (spicy rice cakes), right? Currently a whole hard-boiled egg is being chopsticked. But there's a magical secret inside:
Each of the ddeok (rice cakes) is filled with cheese! The only place we can find it is in a little shop in the shopping streets of Edae. I'll have to check back on the name.
My cute 선생님(sunsaengnim, teacher) planned a class dinner in Itaewon at her relative's bistro after our final exams/presentations. Itaewon isn't my favorite place in Seoul, but I'd go just about anywhere for 이원아 선생님.
This was across the street, noticed on the way to the bistro.
If you're craving decent Italian food in Seoul, I recommend this place. The only Koreanized thing I noticed were the pickle side dishes with the pasta/pizza, but this is Korea. Pickles are gonna happen.
Last day of class: My teacher gave a special lecture on how the meanings of certain terms (i.e. Oppa) in Korean are shifting. We also had a Korean snack potluck.
I found these little beauties in a 7-11. Basically, it's a game of Doritos Roulette. They're mostly pretty mediocre-tasting chips, until you are one of the lucky (unlucky?) ones to pick one of the 4-5 chips that are heavily seasoned with wasabi, but the trick is that they all look the exact same.
At our graduation, the Korean student TAs performed some dances they prepared. It was mostly funny, but my friend Kang Su Jin (2nd from the right) brought her A game, so I was cheering her on.
Su Jin (middle), get it girl!
Sorry for another sideways picture, but to illustrate just how long and boring the rest of the graduation was, here are two of my classmates fast asleep. I was right next to them, msging people on Kakao.
After the ceremony-that-would-not-end, Maren, Lyza Bee and I ventured to Hongdae so they could try one of my favorite bingsu places, Okrumong (near parking lot street by Sangsu station). I think I've mentioned them before, but if not, they make their own 팥 (sweet red bean paste) in house, so it's the freshest, most delicious red beans I've ever had. Plus, the milk ice they use is super fine and the ddeok (rice cake) is nice and chewy and fresh as well. I'd been talking about it for weeks, so it was about time we went.
This was all just a memory about 10 minutes after we ordered it.
My little Maren looking all cute in her braids.
Lyza Bee is also super fine tonight.
Found some wings to pose with on a wall by Cafe Zara (see previous post) while strolling through side streets and alleys in Hongdae.
We made a lucky discovery walking down main street that leads to Hongik University: sticker photo booth shop! We had talked about doing it before, but on my last full day in Seoul, we stumbled upon this, so we took it as fate and went on in. There were some crazy groups of girls and a few couples going all around in there, so it was a bit crazy inside. Also, most of them were kind of strange, except for 1-2 booths that we had to wait for. It was worth it though.
The fruits of our labors!
This machine was outside the picture studio. Filled with cuteness.
There are scissors tied to the tables outside so you can leave the cramped shop and divide the pictures amongst yourselves in peace.
This summer's trip to South Korea was like meeting a familiar friend, yet it was so different in so many ways that it felt like I was discovering somewhere completely new. However, the common factors in both last year and this year, which have made these summers unforgettable, are the people I've met and the friendships I've made:
Michelle and I side-eyeing loud middle-aged man beside me in HK
Sightseeing in Yeosu and eating spicy crab with 4 random Korean college students
Making friends in Jeju-do with people younger...
...and older than me.
Having a picnic by Han River
Food crawling through Seoul with Victor
Going to a baseball game with my classmates
Going to an annual concert in Korea with Giulia
Taking one of many selfies with Maren
Me, Maren, Lyza Bee, and Greta in the blazing hot sun in Gonzaga Plaza on my last day
I like mini polaroid pictures!
Changyong and I in Cafe Da
For both Seoul and my friends, this isn't goodbye. Let's just say I'll see you sometime soon.
