[ Lau-Tastic ]

I'm not sure if everyone is aware of this, but drinking and clubbing is such a huge part of staying social in Korea. Honestly, I don't want to be mean, but if you don't drink atleast, you are not going to make very many friends here.

Last night some friends and I entered into Hongdae, a very popular clubbing nightspot for college students of all ages to go bar and club hopping until the wee hours of the morning. My friends and I were searching for a music club that my friend knows the DJ of, and beforehand we hit up Storm Bar. It's such a mellow atmosphere, and they have water constantly running on the windows to make it look like it was raining. Gorgeous, but... kind of gloomy.

Afterwards we went to go find the club, and passed a very popular club called M2, and I was walking pass a group of friends, and then I saw a guy walk by and I made eye contact with him and my brain was turning and saying to me "Hey. Step it up, you know that guy. You know who he is." Then I realized I just stared down Henry Lau from Super Junior (M). That fresh faced mochi-cheeked break dancing violinist Canadian. This fellow:

He was also taller than I actually imagined. I think he was atleast around 5'9''. I approached him while he was in line with his friends and I think they thought I might be another random Korean fan, but nope, I is American, they seemed to be a lot warmer to me then. Hahahaha~ in the end I couldn't take a photo of him because of the whole Jaybeom thing recently going on, and how much Koreans freak out about certain crap scandals and netizens dig into everything.

Here's how the convo went basically:

Me: Um... uh... are you...

Friend: Yes yes, hello hello, how are you? (in English with a korean accent lulz)

Me: Are you Henry Lau?

Henry: Hahaha~

Friends: Hahahaha! Of COURSE he is Henry Lau from Suuuupper Juniorrr~~~

Me: Haha, it's really great to meet you, I'm Julie, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm a huge fan.

Henry: ::shakes hand:: Thank you! It's very nice to meet you too, so um... are you from California?

Me: Minnesota...haha~

Henry: Oh wow, you know about Super Junior and you're from Minnesota?? Do many people know about us?

Me: Kinda... hm, well it's kind of like how well Super Junior is known in... Canada.

Henry: OHHH... I see. Hahaha~

Me: I'm sorry to bother you though, I was wondering if I could take a photo?

Henry: I'm really sorry, I really can't, umm... if you ask my friend maybe, but I just can't.

Friend: Yeah, I'm very sorry, but you know Jaebeom and everything? With all that stuff floating around, netizens and Koreans will just nab anything floating around, I really would love to let you but we just can't. I'm really sorry. :(

Me: No, it's really okay, I honestly understand. I know how it works. :)

Friend: Henry you'd better tell her you're sorry. Tell her you're Sorry Sorry.

Henry: Hahahaha~ okay, "sorry sorry sorry sorry, naega naega naega manjeo~" ::rubbing hand and snapping finger movements::

Me: Hahaha! Yay! ::claps:: thank you!

Friend: Again we're sorry, but he can give you a hug!

Henry: Yes I'll give you a hug! ::initiate the most forward and sudden awesome hug ever::

Me: Awww, thanks! That really made my day, really, thank you so much, it was great meeting you. I'll be behind Super Junior 100%.

Henry: Thank you so much for your support, keep supporting us please!!! We'll do our best for you!

And then I went off, him and his friends actually said I should come party with them, but realistically I know it would be amazing, but I had friends waiting on me and M2 is huge, packed, and I don't think I'd be doing much there except getting lost and squashed. But anyway, it was so amazing not only to meet someone from Super Junior, but one who's a definite favorite member of mine. /end fangirl rant

[ 433 ]

Hello, 안녕하세요, everyone~!

Finally, after 2 months of doing nothing but literally sitting on my bum at home, I arrived February 24th, 2010 at my new home for the next semester. The second International House (now known as SK Global House) in Sinchon, Korea on the Yonsei University campus. After 16 hours of flying, an overnight layover in Japan, I'm finally back in Korea for Spring. This second time around, my experience getting from the airport to my dormitory was a lot easier than the first time, and I knew the surrounding area like the back of my hand. I arrived at the SK House around 3pm and I noticed something. It's BIG. It was being under closed(loud) construction all last semester and I saw for the first time that it was gigantic. There are about 7 floors and 3 basements. There is many facilities including a GS25 (a local convenience store chain), a Caribou Coffee (yeah, coffee here is a little less than $2 for a regular cup~) and a large cafeteria and a school supplies store. Aside from the long, long ordeal of finding me an available room(since the dorm is still being constructed on) I finally landed in my home sweet home, Room 433. After much nagging I also got my old roommate from the previous semester, Sandy Lim as my roomie again.

Not only is it cleaner, have more nooks and crannies [sorry everyone, but this detailed explanation can only be understood if you were there at the other dorm last fall... :( ] but the floors are heated, we have a sink, shower, and toilet, and BALCONY with a beautiful view.

For now though, more students are still moving in, and the city is quite empty and a bit quieter because the semester hasn't started yet. Also fridges coming next week, I need my cereal and oatmeal... please be patient until the magic starts and the real adventures begin...