Eric Kim: Travel Diary (Seoul), 2012
Eric Kim: Travel Diary
Eric Kim: Travel Diary
#1: Grandmothers
Being the jang-nam in the family, I have always gotten the most attention from my grandmother. She was always there for me no matter what, and would always give me endless love.
Visiting her in Korea was a huge joy, and finally introducing her to my girlfriend Cindy. Of course it was tough, because Cindy is Vietnamese and it still isn’t accepted in Korean society for a jang-nam to marry a non-Korean. Of course we are just a couple right now - however my grandmother still was concerned.
I was surprised to hear when my grandma actually liked Cindy. One of the funniest things she mentioned was how much Cindy loved Kimchi. She also mentioned how polite and kind Cindy was.
I still can’t believe that my halmunee is 77 years old, and still has the energy of someone half her age. She is incredibly active and sees her friends all the time. She is active in the church community as well, going to mass everyday.
I think that is what keeps her young- her ability to constantly be around others. She isn’t one of those typical ‘old people’ who simply sit down and watch Korean dramas all day. Being sedentary really causes you to become old and rot away.
It makes me think a lot about myself- and how I should stay active. I spend far too much time in front of a computer, and not enough time with my friends, family, and loved ones. I can also really see how I gained my extroversion from her.
I also feel guilty that I don’t contact her as much as I should. She calls me all the time, but I usually don’t even bother to call her— as my life is so busy. However she prays for me everyday, and patiently awaits when I will come visit her again in Korea.
Perhaps I should call my Grandma more often - and the rest of my family. I will always be busy, and so will everyone else out there. If we don’t ever make time for our family, we will never have time for our family.
We only live once - always put family first. I have no idea when my grandma will pass (I hate even thinking about the idea). But I definitely don’t want to regret not spending enough time with her and those closest around me.
#2: Living Out Your Passions (7/21/12) - Paris Day 3
When I was a student in school, I always had to be the good Asian son and become either a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. To pursue art or something I was passionate about was totally out of the question.
My first quarter at UCLA, I studied Biology (hoping to become a doctor) and truly hated it. It wasn't something I was passionate about -- but rather what others wanted and expected out of me.
When I was working at my old job, I wasn't quite passionate about it either. It was always about listening to the boss, and what others wanted out of you -- rather what you wanted for yourself.
I consider myself an optimist and see the world as full of possibilities and hope. The fact that I am able to do my photography full-time and travel the world is truly a blessing. Sometimes I have a difficult time thinking that I used to work in a office cubicle job.
This is the third day I am in Paris, and the streets here are so beautiful. The way that the people hang out in the streets and enjoy the sun and their wine, the colorful graffiti and the quaint boutique shops, as well as the lovers strolling the streets with one another. I would have never been able to enjoy any of this if I were still at my old job.
I ask a lot of people to give me advice about life--and especially ask those what regrets they have in life. I am surprised to find that the majority of people gave me the advice to "follow your passion". Although it is something so cliché and old -- I have discovered it to be so much truer.
If you follow your passion, you will really put your heart and soul into whatever you do, and others will feed off of that. Why live a boring life according to that of others and live by the norm? Why do you have to work an office job? Why do you need to stay in the office from 9-5 everyday? Why do you only get 2 weeks of vacation a year? Why do you need to buy a house in a nice neighborhood? Why do you need to buy a nice BMW or Mercedes-Benz? Why do you need to work until you are 65 and hope to retire one day?
Follow your passion and so many more opportunities will arise. As I read in "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho, if you follow your hearts' treasure, "the universe will conspire in your favor"
#3 Money: (7/21/12) - Paris Day 3
Why is money so important? Why do we slave our entire lives trying to get more and more of it? Of course you want to make enough money to live and support yourself, but we never seem to make enough to satisfy ourselves.
Shouldn't we simply work enough to pay for our basic necessities, and spend the rest of our time doing what we enjoy?
Who dies and regrets not having made more money? Everyone regrets not spending more time with their friends, family, loved ones, traveling, following their passion, or spending time on what they love.
As I recently read in a book, "men should work to become, not acquire."
#4: Community (7/22/12) - Paris Day 4
No man is his own island. As human beings, we strive to belong. We need other people to be close to us, to interact with us, to love us.
Why do we spend so much time in front of the computer, watching television, and alone when we long to be with others?
Having a community in every aspect in life is so important. Sure the online community is a great resource to connect with people, but there is nothing that can ever beat face-to-face interaction.
I just finished my street photography workshop in Paris, and the energy of the group and the support was overwhelming. The amount of feedback we gave each others' photographs, the sense of commodery, as well as the dinner we enjoyed together tonight.
Several of us went to a restaurant, shared our photos with one another, laughed, and shared memories from the workshop, while enjoying great French food and red wine. We lost all sense of time, space, and worries/concerns about life.
Life is all about spending times with those we love - and with others.
#5: Food (7-26-2012)
Do we eat to live or eat to live?
Food should be used as nutrition to keep us all well fed. At Taize, the way of life is so simple. You get up, pray, eat, and sleep.
For breakfast we had a piece of bread, two pieces of chocolate, and butter. We made a nice little sandwich by putting the chocolate stick in between, and spreading it with butter. It was simple but absolute bliss.
In modern day society, we eat far too much. It leads us to have a bunch of health complications, including obesity, heart problems, and early-death.
We feel that at times we are starving, but in reality we are far from it.
It is also food that brings us together. There is nothing better than meeting friends and family to share a nice meal, conversation, and company. Good food and laughter is what makes life great.
Today I met a Bosnian at Taine named Osnak. Although we knew nothing about one another, one thing we could talk about was our common love of food. He told me of all these delicious meals in Bosnia, especially the tender meats. He was more than happy to hear that I wanted to go visit for the food!
Food is life, but we eat crap. We barely have enough time to have a decent meal - as we are always busy with work. We opt for fast food, junk food, and things with little or no nutritional value.
Why don't we spend more money on good food that actually tastes good? It should be the most important monetary investment we make for ourselves that will make us feel better, live longer, and stay healthier. Buying more designer clothes gives us that false pre-tense, but won't.
We should also fast. Recent studies suggest that fasting from meals make us stronger and helps us better maintain our metabolism and overall health. I think it also brings us closer to those who are starving and suffering. It is currently the month of Ramadan, and I think we can learn much from our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Perhaps I should spend more time eating, relaxing and talking with friends and family. Eat good food, and truly taste the flavors of life.
#6: Religion (7-27-12)
Everyone needs something to believe in. Many live their lives aimlessly, longing for some direction in their life. We are too busy - life is full of noise, and there is never any time for silence, meditation, or self-reflection.
Being at Taize has been a beautiful experience. Surrounding myself with such an incredible community has truly been a blessing that only a few can experience.
People often say that religion doesn't make sense and isn't logical. I met a priest from Slovenia named Janez who was a scientist in a chemical company, who also got his Ph.D. I asked him why he believed in God. After all, aren't scientists skeptical of a higher power - because science is the ultimate "truth"?
However he told me that there are still mysterious things that he couldn't explain in his life - and the mystery of God is what leads him to religion. One day, he quit his job and went to the seminary for 6 years and then became a priest.
I feel that in life there are three things we need to be healthy:
Physical health
Mental health
Spiritual health
We always strive to become healthy in the first two, but fail to become spiritually healthy.
For the longest time, I would put so much emphasis on being only physically and mentally healthy. I would do pushups every single day, and also read a lot of books to stimulate and strengthen my mind. However over time, I knew that I lacked something in my life- which was the presence of God, community, and the Holy Spirit.
Now that I pray and sing at Taize, I feel much closer to God and a global community.
Science can teach a lot, but it is limited. We need religion to help guide us. We all need a moral compass in life.
#7: Being connected (7-28-2012)
We are constantly connected. With our smartphones, iPads, and computers. We crave notifications and a sense of self-worth through the little red circle on Facebook.
We don't want to miss out. On something. We don't exactly know what, but we don't want to miss out.
We need to feel validated with messages that affirm us. Without numbers, how can we quantify our existence and how well we are doing in life? Are we being appreciated in life or not?
I am concerned for the youth of the future. How can they concentrate in this age of distraction?
We all need to have internet fasts every now and then. Spending time to disconnect and "detox" from the ills of constantly being plugged in. Going out, taking a walk in nature, or meeting a friend for coffee. Time to clear our minds.
Being away from the computer more allows us to connect more in "real life". Sure, we can get some interaction via the internet, but how real is it? Can it be better than embracing a friend face-to-face?
The internet is wiring our brains in a different way, and we are becoming addicted. Will you simply sit back and let it consume your life, or will you fight against it?
#8: The purpose of my life (7-28-12)
What is the purpose of my life? Why do I do what I do? How am I contributing to society? Will I leave a legacy before I die? Am I doing all I can to help others?
What do I do? I spread the love of street photography to inspire others, and to also connect them with one another. As Malcolm Gladwell says, I am a connector - I like to bring people together. I want to give people purpose in their lives, and a feeling of belonging.
I am a lover. I spread everything that I have to my friends, family, community, sister, cousins, mother, father, grandmother, and girlfriend.
I have to give until it hurts. To give away all I can, to help others. How can anything bad ever happen to me if I give everything that I got?
Reminder to self: don't help others for the betterment of myself. Do it because I care.
#9: Materialism (7-28-12)
We need more and more. More stuff. More cars. More designer clothes. More electronics. Bigger houses. Flashier watches. Cameras with more megapixels.
Buy, buy, buy is what the television and Internet tell us. If we buy more stuff, we will look more beautiful, be happier, and be envied by others.
Spending money to try to buy happiness will only lead us to more misery.
But spending money can buy us happiness.
How?
Spend money on experiences, not material things.
Buy a trip to go traveling to somewhere you always wanted. Buy a paintbrush to start painting landscapes. Buy a nice dinner for your significant other to go out and experience each others' company.
Spend money to experience life.
#10: Light (7-30-12)
To photographs means to paint with light. Light makes an ordinary photograph magical.
The beautiful shadows, orange-yellow hues, and a softness that touches your heart.
Always look for the light.
#11: Living in the present (7-30-12)
What makes humans different from other animals is that we can predict the future. But that which helps us, makes us more stressed out and miserable.
To truly be happy, we need to live in the moment. To quit worrying about the past, or the future, and to live in the now.
We need to sit down, and appreciate every single breath. We need to appreciate the sound of birds chirping outside, the warm cup of coffee in the morning, or the cheery conversation with a close friend. We need to engross ourselves in these small moments, rather than being distracted with our never-ending to-do list.
Tomorrow is never. Let's live in the now.










