Me and my random stuff

Hi! Just sharing a little bit of myself, my thoughts, some pictures, and what goes on in my life ^_^ IG: ivonne_y96

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25 things about my 2017

1~Song of the year?

My song of the year….either Closer or Paris, by the Chainsmokers

2~Album of the year?

HER by BTS. It took me a bit to like one of the songs, since I hadn’t really paid attention to it, but as I listened and read the translation of the lyrics I completely fell in love with it all. Come one, this group is full of talent (and maybe I am a bit biased)

3~Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year?

Mark Forster! He is a german artist I discovered through two of my german friends and boy, I got hooked up with his music!

4~Movie of the year?

Beauty and the Beast. It used to be my favorite Disney movie as a kid, and to be able to see it in live action, with Emma Watson as Belle was just magnificent.

5~TV show of the year?

Hmmm….I think for me,i it was The Good Place. I really liked the story and was definitely not what I expected it to be. The humor is amazing...come on, Kristen Bell!

6~Episode of tv or webisode that defined the year for you?

I think it would be in Strong Woman Do BongSoon, when she was being all cute with Hyungshik! I guess that would be because I was in my first relationship and I found out how cute, or sticky or corny, or whatever you wanna call it, I can be.

7~Favorite actor of the year?

Taehyung in Hwarang :3

8~Game of the year?

Fire Emblem Fates and The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild (although I have only seen my brother play, but I am super super Zelda fan!)

9~Best month for you this year?

I’d have to say from February-July, since it was the months I was on exchange. I can’t pick one in particular since these months all had something special in them!

10~Something that made you cry this year?

HAVING to break up with my S/O since we were moving back to our countries after exchange and also having to part different ways from all those important people that made my semester in South Korea memorable.

11~Something you want to do again next year?

TRAVEL! I definitely want to travel a lot, or at least a bit like I did in 2017. It doesn’t matter if it is to the state next to mine, I just want to see new places and try new types of food.

12~Talk about a new friend you made this year

Clarice! Where should I start! She is like me, but from Singapore. Of course, she has all this qualities that make her special and different from me, but we do share so many opinions and I guess you could also say experiences! I was super lucky to have met her on the first day I arrived to the residence in Korea. I sat down next to her and BAM! We clicked immediately. Talking about hair, piercings, kpop, among other stuff. She is some of the reasons that my semester was amazing and lucky I keep talking to her, so I am grateful I was able to take a friendship with me.

13~How was your birthday this year?

It was both sad and amazing. It was my first birthday without my family, since I was on exchange. I got a bit of homesickness that day. I started celebrating a day before. One of my korean friends took me out to this great delicious dinner  and even bought me a cake (from Pari Baguette). He took me to this place where the trees were with lots of little lights, sang happy birthday in korean, popped the little confetti thingy you see in dramas and took some pics. After that I went back to residence and when out clubbing. So my birthday started on the metro, literally.

The next day I went to Myeongdong with two of my now close friends from the semester exchange, took some pics and had lots of fun. In the afternoon, I went to the SM Town store near Samsung station, and watch exolution on the theater.

At night, a few people from the residence (which I had very few days of had know, but still super nice and sweet) surprised me with cake and a few gifts. I will never forget this birthday!

14~Favorite book you read this year?

Crazy Rich Asian by Jacky Kwan! READ IT! It will soon become a motion picture.

15~What’s a bad habit you picked up this year?

Eeeh….none, I think?

16~Post a picture from the beginning of the year

17~Post a picture from the end of the year

18~A memorable meal this year?

Eating japanese food in Busan with my ex! Best meal ever!

19~What’re you excited about for next year?

I might travel to Germany! Looking forward to finding a job and save money for when I graduate.

20~What’s something you learned this year?

I do have a soul! Jk, I am actually a very sweet and loving person. I learned that even if I like having my free time, I’d rather share those moments of silence with someone I like or love. It is a really nice feeling. I also learned I like backpacking and not really like doing it alone.

I also learned how to to eat with chopsticks and a spoon at the same time,

21~What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year?

I have a hanging rack for drying my clothes!

22~Favorite place you visited this year?

South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia in general!

23~If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be?

Don’t stress! You are going to have the time of your life….trust me.

24~Did you keep any New Year’s Resolutions?

Yup. I managed to keep my good grades at school, travel, and I think that is pretty much it.

25~Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one

No. I’ve been wanting to draw again, but then again I am not that good...at least not to create my own characters. Buy maybe with practice I will be able to.

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Song: Universe

Artist: EXO

Contrary to how I feel, painful words come out

I made you struggle

And I’m struggling too

Unlike my determination, nothing’s getting better

I always disappoint you

And I regret it too

I don’t think I can forget you When the wind gets cold The night our breaths touched With smoke coming out of our mouths We warmly held each other With happy laughter Nights we dreamed of a tomorrow That will shine like the stars

I’ll search the universe Until I can find you again I won’t let go, even the smallest memories Memories engraved in the seasons They come and go several times But I will still call out to you

Laughter and tears, scars and healing Questions and answers, they’re all in you You have my world, you’re my small universe The moment it vanishes, I will disappear as well

These aren’t feelings that I can end In just one day, with just one try I feel it so much it hurts Wherever you are, I’ll go to you

So I will find you Because that’s love Because it’s love

I felt this song could explain how I feel, how you made me feel, how you make me feel, and what we both went through. I guess I haven’t completely gotten over you. I meant it when I said you were my first love and I will always have this type of affection and love towards you.

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Leon, Guanajuato!

My first time being in this state and this city! I went mainly to visit a friend. It was supposed to be just me, but in the end my parents, brother, and his girlfriend joined as well....thank you!

For me, the fun highlight was being with my friend, staying at his place, eating carne asada with his family and family friends, drinking, meeting two of his friends, drink more beer, and a few shot of soju (for old times sake), and sleep super late.

It felt like being back home, back in Korea (so weird that Korea, in a way, is home to me). Cooking early in the morning,while we skyped a few of our international friends. I loved his company and his humor...as always. Wish I could have more days like that back home!

We drove around the city, ate a bit and just laughed. We even ate korean food!

Sadly, I was just able to be with him two days.

I miss him tons. He is one of my best friends. He is like a brother. 

But hopefully we will meet again February 2018, along with the other mexicans from the residence!

Picture taken: November 19, 2017

Entry date: December 28, 2017

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This was my view on my last days in Seoul, South Korea. After arriving from Bali, and my almost 3 weeks of backpacking, I came back to the city were it all started.

I felt both happy and sad to be back.

I was happy because I could enjoy korean food, korean streets, korean everything for a bit longer before heading back home. I could also meet my korean friends one more time before traveling to the other side of the world. I could meet with the manager from my former residence, who was like a mother to me during my stay in Korea.

I was sad because my friends were no longer there and I truly, deeply, missed them with all my heart and might. Seoul some how felt so different from the previous times. I had no energy or will to go out and have fun like before.

I stay at a close friend’s house. She was my korean teacher when I studied back home. I felt so happy when she was with me. We would talk, joke, eat together, drink together, and for a while, I felt like I lived the korean way. We lived in the room that is in the top floor of the building. The tiny one they show on dramas...that one. It was the two of us and a cat. I slept on the floor, but I even enjoyed it. I was not alone. At least when she was not working. 

On the time she was working, I would head back to the residence where my backpacks still waited to be properly packed. I would spend time with my manager/mom and talk. I did last minute shopping, just until I could bear being alone.

I did enjoy the last few days, but I was also ready to head back home after a long stay out.

I miss my friend and the cute cat from time to time. Back home I have a room to myself, and as much as I do enjoy from time to time having time to myself, I miss having someone to accompany me.

Picture taken: July 20, 2017

Entry date: December 28, 2017

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A narrow bridge. We must go over it in order to reach the other side of the island.

I was happy being behind the handsome driver...he drove, carefully, but also sometimes stupidly...enough to make me laugh so hard, you couldn’t see my eyes. I was either in charge of taking pictures, or being the group GPS.

“Please don’t kill my phone“...those were the words he would always repeat everytime he handed me the phone so that I could “lead” the way.

I loved holding on to his waist, which made me feel safe, as if he was my anchor to the ground. I loved how the breeze would cool me down in the nice hot tropical weather.

I loved all the different roads we took in order to get to a new and beautiful destination. I guess above all, I loved your company the most. My travel through Asia wouldn’t have been this lovely and memorable without you...and of course our other companions.

I had always wanted to travel in a scooter/bike

Picture taken: July 17, 2017

“You can always trust me“

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Coffee, cookies......COFFEE & COOKIES

I do have a serious problem with food. 

There are so many things out there to try...so many places to visit....

Food is a nice way to be able to experience a new and different culture.

Photo taken: August 8, 2017

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My first time traveling completely alone….well, not really XD

I ended up meeting several of my residence mates and friends along the way. I remember walking on the streets of Kyoto with a local friend, when all of a sudden I spotted three of my guy friends (two germans and a dutch)

Later that night I met with them to have dinner and to go out clubbing…damn, those were really fun times.

I miss the fun and honest conversations…the deep ones as well. But I just really miss hanging out with guys. They are so simple and so fun. They don’t think too much before they speak, but not in a way that will be insulting…just fun!

I know my description has nothing to do with what I am talking about. But seeing the way I used to have breakfast (which was very delicious) in the hostel back in Kyoto. Potato salad, a nice little piece of bread, and soup with rice <3 Ah, don’t forget a nice, warm cup of coffee.

Thank you guys for the amazing and beautiful memories.

Picture taken: June 26, 2017

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Even when it suddenly feels like everything in the universe is going against you, don't forget to smile. Life is full of ups and downs, so don't let a small shift make you want to give up. It might seem easy, but I can assure you things will eventually get better. Today is raining and really cloudy. I feel sleepy and with no energy at all. All I want to do is stay in bed, with something hot drink and watch tv (would be nice if I could have you next to me). Am I missing you too much? Am I relying on you too much? A little song to feel relax: https://youtu.be/HEYOsR1DlWE "How can I be so lucky to have met you, who is a blessing. If we're together now, Ah how great it's be..." (Dedicating this to all the special people I am missing right now) Picture taken: 17 of October, 2017

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My little sunshine is learning to sit outside of the kitchen while we are cooking! She is so cute, yet annoying at times (in a good way, she is 9 years old but there is still a lot of energy inside this little ball of fur)

November 6, 2017

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Found this interesting bakery in the city center. I love going and walk around this places, see what there is, and look at the people. Man, I know some people don’t really consider this to be bread, but for me, it is!

Pan dulce and bolillos are always good when it is cold, along with a nice, hot, cup of coffee/chocolate.

Anyway, I will always be in love with about my culture. It really is nice to be back  home and be able to be doing all of this with my mom.

P.S. The doughnuts were gigantic.

November 8, 2017

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This is one of my favorite spots in campus.

I like coming here to work, listen to music, read, eat, watch netflix, video call...there are so many reasons why I like coming here.

I like the little lake in the front, the many ducks lying around (and sometimes being annoying because they want to take away my food), I like the peace and tranquility of it.

I am just waiting for the season to change and bring a nicer weather with it. 

Currently dying with final projects...sort of. 

November 7, 2017

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This is the first time I ever post something so personal, but I really want to put it out there. I guess I feel like maybe at least someone will know how I feel, and will be able to relate. Maybe there is someone else dealing with the process of having to break up due to distance, or something similar...well, here it goes. Sorry for the spam and the endless note...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXmBe1rEXwU

November 6, 2017

Letter to you:

If you will ever come across this note, I do not know, but this is for you 내 첫 사랑

Hi, how are you doing? Have you been well? Have you been enjoying your time being back home, working, training, and going out? Have you found someone that gives you all their love? Do you still think of me, or do you still remember those beautiful moments we shared? Do I still have a piece or special place in your heart?

All of this things cross my mind eventually. Sometimes it is just one of these questions, sometimes more than one, sometimes even all of them. It’s been 111 days since I last saw you in person, since I last held you in my arms (while tears streamed down my face from the pain of going our separate ways), since you last kissed my lips, since I last looked you in the eyes (that light brown that I love, with the cute wrinkles that form around them when you smile/laugh), since I last had a nice breakfast with you...I could keep going and maybe never end.

They say that time heals and takes away the pain, but I think it just lessens it. The pain slowly leaves, and is replaced by tears of happiness and occasional small smiles. Just like my questions, memories of you pop into my mind. Sometimes when I’m driving, sometimes at the movies, sometimes in my sleep. I don’t miss you to the point of feeling “pain” in my heart, or the point of not being hungry and not wanting to eat, but there are times that I do miss you.

I feel there are so many things I never got to show you, tell you, live with you, and to be honest, there were many times (and maybe deep down still there) that I wished and hoped that I go just one more day with you. So that I could hold you, look you in the eyes, hear your voice. You became the main character of my songs, the one to whom I would sing to every time I played those songs and sang to the top of my lungs, the one I thought about when I watched those cheesy dramas. You became my world, but at the same time you didn’t.  You made me want to be a better me, to learn from you, and to teach you about me.

Man, remember I was kind of seeing someone else before we ended up together? I thought you were odd, and loud, but that didn’t stop me from thinking about you or wanting to look for you at club, only to stop myself every time because “it was wrong”, since we lived in the same place, had friend in common, and according to my criteria “you would never, ever, notice me...HOW COULD HE EVER FALL FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME”. To be honest, I still wonder WHY ME? But look back, and for me it was always you, even though I didn’t know or didn’t want to admit it. You were always in the back on my mind, I didn’t liked it when I knew you liked someone else, or something happened with another girl. I guess in those moments, I wished I was here.

I realized, I liked you enough to say “FUCK IT”, and just go for it and do things I had never thought I was brave enough to do...I actually took initiative, and didn’t wait for you to do all the work (like guys in my culture would). You also helped to learn to love myself, to be happy with who I am and how I look, to stop comparing myself to the “ideal” type that society has created. You simply loved me for who I was, even my flaws.

Now, I have no way to end this letter, since everyday something new happens in my life, that I wish I could share with you. If you ever happen to come across this (which I doubt), know that, even though we haven’t spoken in weeks, there’s not a day that goes by and I don’t think of you. But I want you to know I am doing fine, I am doing good, dealing with my hectic life in university, and the things that come with it. I am learning and struggling to keep balance in my life. I am back to being the food lover that you met back in those days in Seoul. I living day by day and enjoying.

Please, be happy, be safe, and enjoy life. I hope once in awhile you do think of me, and remember my face, the love I gave you, and the happiness I shared with you. Thank you for showing me that happiness can be found in a tiny room, with just two people sharing conversation, laughter, and much more. Thank you for being that source of happiness during my exchange, my unexpected and my exception to all those rules I had since I arrived to the residence. I wish this could go on and on, but maybe there is no point, since I am just leaving this piece of my thoughts and feelings out there for someone random to read, or for someone to completely ignore it.

Thank you for all. Te quiero mi changuito, aun tienes un espacio muy especial en mi corazón, y nadie lo podra quitar. May we meet again soon, smile at each other, and share some nice memories. No me olvides.

P.S. I miss holding your hand, feel the warmth, and the calluses you had due to the weightlifting. I miss how you I would wake up to have to hand either holding mine, or around my waist. I miss watching you concentrate, and study, while I would lie around in your room and secretly take pictures of you. I miss looking at you with a type of look that I have never given to anyone. Thank you for letting me love you and for loving me back. Thank you for those little moments in my second room. Vielen dank. Everyday I start to smile and smile more, but not like the way I did with you.

~Yours truly.

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After a nice weekend of eating, spending time with my brother, studying german, and partying...I am not sick, with a week with a lot of things to do, and worrying a bit about upcoming projects that are due.

Right now, I wish I would be cuddled up in my bed, with a nice, warm, tasty, HUGE, bowl of porridge that will make me feel good and also warm me up a bit (the weather right now is so crazy, it is getting chilly at different points of the day)

I had always seen porridge in Korean dramas and I was able to eat it for the first time last semester. Now, at first, I was convinced I wasn’t going to like, since the texture is really similar to a mexican dessert (arroz con leche) which I don’t like. But still, I wanted to try and prove by myself that it was as good as they make it seem in the dramas.

This is indeed, super delicious! Sadly, I can’t go stop somewhere right now after my class and buy it, since they don’t sell it :( But maybe, with a good research, I can find a super good and similar recipe.

Being a bit sick led me to this craving, which made me look for the picture, and brought the beautiful memory of being accompanied by two lovely and beautiful friends on my adventure to try this amazing korean dish! (the origin is probably not korean, but at least it was korean style)

이거 먹고 싶어 ㅠ-ㅠ 

entry date: October 31, 2017 (Halloween)

Picture taken on: April 25, 2017

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그 XX Amazing concert with amazing company! I remember running to the stadium with my friend after we got off the taxi (there was a lot of traffic, on a saturday, around 5:30 pm in Seoul, maybe I should had been ready earlier, but the concert didn't start until like 1 hour or 2 after we arrived! IU and CL were there as well....man, Korea has the best concerts....always with very lively and cheerful fans...and lots of guest! June 10, 2017

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Hope for things, but don’t just sit there and wait for the to come. You need to work hard in order to achieve those goals you have in mind. Only you can determine which direction to go.

Ah, we weren’t even able to communicate due to language barriers, but we still understood each other while we spend time together <3 Busan has always been, and will remain, my favorite city in South Korea. I guess what makes it special to me, ever since the first time I went, was the people that live there and how sweet and warm they were to my family and I. Someday I hope to come visit me so that I can do the same for them.

I hope Buddha doesn’t forget what I wished for that day (and the same wish I did the first time I went to that beautiful temple, which ended up coming true)

~I miss my korean mom and sister!

 February 18, 2017 (Same date as BTS concert in Seoul T-T)

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So funny how we are able to remember days just by looking at a picture.

This was the day I first tried salmon sashimi (not my favorite, but indeed an interesting dish to try...but the fried chicken was delicious!)

The day was a bit chilly, it was crowded since there as I don’t know who in a tent and everyone was waiting outside to take pics (probably someone famous)

Wish I could have this type of decoration in my room

May 6, 2017

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언니 축하해!

I’ve always thought that the small, tiny surprises, are the ones that stay with you forever. They are the ones that touch your heart and make you realize many things.

Although this surprise wasn’t for me, it was stayed well engraved in my mind. I remember that my friend, after looking for a job for almost 9 months, texted me to tell she had found one. I was so happy for her, since she had been very worried and very stress about not finding one. That day, I went to buy a small cake, and headed to her apartment. She knew I was visiting, since we decided to had dinner together there in order to celebrate.

We bought different types of food from 노량진 and headed to her house. I remember so well how surprised and touched she looked the moment she was me get the cake out of the bad I was holding...Even 후추 liked the cake!

Lately I have been missing so much those days of way too much freedom and fun back in Korea, but I am also enjoying being back home.

Hopefully I will be back to Korea one day and meet all those lovely and amazing friends that live there! As for now, I will work and give my best in my life in Mexico!

(That day was also the scariest metro ride ever....after the inauguration of Lotte Tower, that was hectic)

This picture was taken by my friend.

April 5, 2017