Snapshots

Snapshots: as in the CliffNotes / condensed version of everything that's going on in the World of Cynthia. Because as much as I would love to sit down and write a proper post about all the crazy shit that's been going on, I actually do have a million and one other things I'm supposed to be doing (hence the procrastiblogging, I suppose).

After coming back from South Korea, I literally did not get a break before jumping right back into life. It was hard at first because my mind and soul were still somewhere gallivanting across, well...Seoul. But catching up with people did help anchor me a bit so for that I'm thankful. I love travelling (who doesn't?) but the aftermath is always the worst. I feel like with every trip I take overseas, the harder it is to get back into routine and take on all the responsibilities and stress that comes with it. Wanderlust really is not a temporary emotional state - it's a deeply seductive and and pervasive form of mentality.

Oh wow, that came out deeper than I thought it would. High five, Cynthia, for being intellectually sophisticated!!

The following events aren't in chronological order. As I said, I've been so busy that each day has kind of melded into one, so please excuse the unevenness of this post.

BUiLD Student Society Carnivale Party

Last night, my university's leadership and communications societies threw a joint party with the theme of Carnivale. I actually had a Ringmaster costume prepared beforehand but chickened out at the last minute because of its unintended slutty effect. The people who did dress up looked amazing though and there were many clown, joker and magician costumes.

Party itself was alright for a university thing. You could tell the society had made an effort as they had popcorn and fairy floss machines, a photobooth and live music. The real fun though came from just catching up with people. I'm so grateful and surprised by how much my world has opened up this year, especially to the point where I'm bound to bump into at least fifteen people I know at any university social event. People from the Peer Network, BUiLD society, The Big Lift, U@Uni and a whole bunch of other clubs all seem to run in the same circles. Getting more involved in these things was one of the best decisions I made throughout the last two years and it certainly helps prevent all of that inevitable isolation that comes with uni-life.

Afterwards, a group of us left UTS and headed over to Chinatown for karaoke. We stayed there for an hour and then wanted to go clubbing but Scary Canary was closed and girls were keeling over in there heels. I'm thinking we should plan this out and do it properly in the holidays because my girls are cool and we've got some serious partying to do.

Australian Thai Youth Ambassador Program

So this happened. Which means I'll be volunteering overseas in Thailand for one month next year! I also received the email yesterday saying I was eligible for the $750 grant which means that for the whole month, I only need to pay $250 to cover the cost of the trip (not including personal expenses though). I am beyond excited, especially since I found out that four other people I know have also been accepted. Of course, there's a whole bunch of stuff I need to figure out, mainly concerning work and internships but I'll do what I have to to get myself there.

This was my mum's reaction when I told her about it:

Me: Hey Mum, I'm going to volunteer overseas for one month.
Her: Where are you going?
Me: Thailand.
Her: *continues washing dishes* You're going to die over there. 

I would be quite affronted if it wasn't for the fact that she's got a point. I've basically got zero street smarts. Even though I was fine gallivanting all across Seoul with just my sister, Seoul does not equal Bangkok. I have been to Thailand but that was what? Seven years ago? Helloooo learning experience.
 
The New Internship

Yes! I went for an interview about a week after Korea and got a new internship at a little PR agency around Wynyard/Darling Harbour. I started this week and as much as I would love to tell you all about it, I make it a policy to avoid talking about work on this blog as much as possible (not for any personal/controversial reason but just because it's always good practice to have that work/life separation online).

The photo above is of the view from the office balcony. Isn't it amazing? It's right next to Darling Harbour. So far, the people are super nice and welcoming and the work environment seems very comfortable and easygoing. I'm actually very excited to get into it.

Wicked

I bought my family tickets to see Wicked at the Capitol Theatre and my dad fell asleep halfway through it. How does that even happen? It should be impossible. You've got elaborate light and sound effects creating a sensory feast for your eyes and ears, not to mention dramatic, soaring musical numbers throughout the whole thing. There is not a single dull moment in Wicked. I should know because I've seen it three times and I'm still surprised by the level of detail and calibre of acting/singing every time. OMG DAD WHY.

And you know what? At the end of it, he said to me: "They should have subititles."

Well okay genius. Tell me where you're gonna put those damn subtitles then. Mum was being typical confused Mum and at the end, she said to me - but how come they didn't show Dorothy? So then I had to explain to her that the musical isn't supposed to be a re-enactment of Wizard of Oz, but the back-story of the witches in it. And then she was all, ohhhhhh I see.

It's safe to conclude that Mission "Culture-Thy-Parents" was a solid and epic failure. That's the first and final time I'm ever buying my parents musical tickets.

The Big Lift Events

The Big Lift (TBL) had its annual AGM and thank-you event last week where we got to catch up with one another and  reminisce about crazy bus shenanigans. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed these people until I saw them again and we hung out in the library as that loud, distracting group. It's always fun hanging out with them, especially since we're such a diverse group in terms of life experiences and aspirations. There's always something new to talk about and laugh at, as opposed your old, "Oh, how'd you go with the Regulating Communications report" type of conversations.

Food

Because there's no better way to end a post and let's be honest, a lot of my excitement in life comes from food. Shhhh don't judge. You know you agree with me.

Max Brenner's with the lil sis (see if you can spot her)

Frango's with Jess and Nancy

Yum Cha for breakfast with Jess and Nancy again - mmhmm, we're very healthy people

Choose your own dessert - TBL

Sushi of Masuya - pre-Wicked feast

All Up In My Jam at N2

Five Things To Do If You Want To Procrastinate

1. Watch this uplifting cover of "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys starring Lorde, Sam Smith, Paloma Faith and ten million other artists. Oh and Kylie (because British people lol).

(Source)

2. Register for an overseas volunteering trip. It'll probably take less than an hour but (I've heard) that the experience will change you for life. You could be in Costa Rica, Thailand or Vanuatu by early next year, helping communities and making a difference (as opposed to sitting on your butt in your house or throwing away money on expensive Sydney food). I've registered for the Australian Thai Youth Ambassador Program and to be honest, am not expecting to get it because they only choose about 20 applicants from a pool of 100+ (plus I got an internship now!). But at least I applied and will keep doing so in the future. 

3. Learn a language by yourself. You can do this either by downloading apps (I recommend Duolingo) or online (there are lots of sites that have structured lessons for free). Pick something that you're really interested in and commit to it. Obviously, you don't need to spend every day doing it but maybe just once or twice a week. Learning at least a few phrases from a language is better than knowing nothing at all. There is no such thing as "wasted time" when it comes to learning.  

4. Watch documentaries on Amish people! No seriously, this is such a fascinating subject. You've probably picked up quite a few things on Amish people though pop culture or off-hand references but nothing beats a solid, intimate BBC documentary. It's surprising that they even got permission to film this insular society and it sure makes for a fascinating watch.

Okay, stop judging me already. I do have a life but I sometimes a gal just wants to watch documentaries on YouTube, y'know?

5. Go for a walk outside (unless you live in my neighbourhood and can't afford to go out in case you get kidnapped by thugs). But if you live in one of the less-dodgier parts of Sydney then you have no excuse not to get out there and breathe in some fresh air. Maybe bring your work to the park or something, just for a change of scenery. I did that last week and got a couple of judgemental looks but whatever - it's better than being cooped up in your room.

Sydney Night Noodle Markets

Yes we went. Yes the noodles were good. Yes the lines were freakin' massive. No I did not get a Ramen Burger (ugh the wasted opportunity).

There really isn't much to say about the Sydney Night Noodle Markets. It's a market...for noodles (and other Asian cuisines)....in Sydney. I guess you go for the novelty since Sydney doesn't really have a strong market/hawker culture. But I think if they really wanted to drive up the authenticity factor, they would have to find a way to reduce all the prices by half because GOSH DARNIT ain't no markets in Asia gonna charge you $20 for three little buns.

Seoul Searching #4: Lotte World, Eat Your Kimchi & CATS

So here we are. My fourth and final post about the trip to South Korea. I promise that from here on out, you'll never ever have to hear me breathe another word about Seoul (unless you ask me, in which case you'd probably have to punch me in the face to get me to shut up). It's the Virgo part of me that gets really antsy if I don't sit down and record things. I like knowing that one day, when I'm old, arthritic and living in a house with my thirty-seven cats, I can look back at this trip and remember the adventure I had in South Korea in 2014. 

Previous Posts:

• Seoul Searching #1: Annyeonghaseyo South Korea!
• Seoul Searching #2: Food, Walking & More Food
• Seoul Searching #3: SEOUL 

I might just take this chance to talk about a couple of things I never addressed about South Korea in my previous posts since I've got a couple of friends who are thinking of travelling there in the near future. (Plus, it's always the little things you notice that are always the most interesting).

Seoul Searching #3: SEOUL

There's always that strange adjustment period after returning from a trip, where you try to get back into the rhythm of things. It's never an easy task because obviously, you're forced to deal with all the responsibilities and shit that you left behind and haven't thought about for whatever number of days you were gone. 

It's also an uncontested fact that travel changes people. Sometimes the changes are little; for example, you may spend the first day back walking on the right side of the road instead of the left, or maybe you're just suffering from a bit of jet lag. Other times, the changes run a lot deeper than that and are slightly harder to diagnose. 

Although I am glad to be back and spending time with people I care about, part of me can't help but feel very... unsatisfied with home. It's like that feeling you get at the end of a rollercoaster ride, when the car slowly pulls in into the loading zone and you're just sitting there like, wait, that's it? It's anticlimactic and it leaves you feeling slightly empty. 

(Slight digression but Part I and II of my Korean adventures can be found here and here)

As for the dissatisfaction, I've always known that Sydney isn't one of the liveliest places to live but it's never really bothered me because, home is home right? Even after returning from Taiwan, Vietnam or New York - places with insane bustling night life -  I didn't give it too much thought. But something about Seoul just felt so familiar and right to me. Maybe it's because I grew up on an unhealthy diet of EatYouKimchi videos on YouTube and countless hours of brain-cell-destroying K-dramas but it really did feel like I was stepping into places I'd been to before. 

I loved everything about Seoul. I loved the crazy jam-packed materialistic madness that is Myeongdong, the timeless beauty that is Gyeongbokgung Palace and Hongdae's quirky, hipster neighbourhood with its ten cafes per street. There's just this energy that runs through all of South Korea (Seoul in particular) that never peters out. Perhaps it's got something to do with the high density population or the night-owl lifestyle that many people seem to adopt. Maybe it's the way their cities are planned out; instead of suburbs gradually morphing into high rise cities, they jump straight into the city part and every street, regardless of proximity to city center, has about 100 stores, restaurants and services open. 

So when you come back to your little townhouse in a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Sydney, you can't help but feel like you've left something important behind. And I was only away for ten days. What's going to happen when I leave Australia for a year?   

Seoul Searching #2: Food, Walking & More Food

There's a very lovely serenity about the South Korean countryside that I think gets overlooked a lot by travelers. People either get caught up in the bustling madness that is Seoul or they conjure up images of K-pop and Hallyu in all its manufactured, sparkly glory. Don't get me wrong; Seoul is all kinds of awesome (as you will finally get to see in the next post). But Korean culture is so much more than a suit-wearing middle-aged man riding an imaginary horse. You just gotta know where to look.

Part I of my Korean adventures can be found here.

Seoul Searching #1: Annyeonghaseyo South Korea!

Apart from being the most ridiculously clever pun you've ever heard, the title of this post actually makes a lot of sense because for the first six days of my adventures in South Korea, I was literally searching for Seoul. But since I was travelling with my sister and parents, and Mum had wanted to see the country bumpkin side of Korea, we spent the first five days on a tour of Busan, Gyeongju, Jeonju and various other -ju's.

So if you came here expecting to see some sexy Seoul ladies, I'm afraid you're going to have to wait another one or two posts. Sorry peeps, I'll try to make up for it with pictures of food. Lots of food. And cats if I can find any.