11/11/11

Sometimes I joke about not wanting to get older and I’ve even felt a rush of anxiety prior to every birthday post 23-years, but in reality, I’m quite content with aging. With each year, I feel more like myself, more confident, wiser, more willing to open up to others, more in tune with what makes me happy and what does not, and more aware of what I feel is important in life. What others think about me becomes less important and instead, I care more so about what I think about myself. At 26, I feel more comfortable in my own skin than I have ever felt before…well, not counting those earliest hooligan years when I was certain the most important thing in life was proving big foot and aliens existed, but you get my drift! I’m still a whole bunch of messiness and a little bit insane and probably always will be, but I’m okay with that and those that matter to me are as well. I think some are even starting to understand it, perhaps better than I do. 

Fortunately, messy and insane or not, I’m realizing the more I know myself, the deeper and more meaningful my friendships become. People like real and real people are better at making and maintaining relationships. This year I felt extremely loved by these special people in my life, both those in the U.S. and those previously or currently in Korea. The birthday festivities spanned over a week and I felt like the luckiest person alive.

11/11/11; 2^nd birthday in Korea; Peppero Day; Veterans Day

The Pyramid of Giza was closed and Walt Disney World hosted 11 weddings.
But the world did not end and there was not a Mayan apocalypse.
Some believe it marks the end to greed. Who knows? I doubt it. 

For me, it went a little like this…

The Siddartha Bakshi visited Korea from the U.S. I saw and experienced the country through a true foreigners perspective once again. 

Co-workers surprised me with a cheesecake the morning of my birthday. That's a pregnant belly behind the cake :)

Really lucked out with these folks- Birthday Dinner

All That Jazz, Itaewon

Shannon and Ficken visited from Daegu with CONFETTI CUPCAKES AND FROSTING! FYI, I can't buy confetti cake mix nor do I have an oven, so this was such a wonderful treat :)

I belong to the coolest hiking/climbing group around and the leader, Mr. Kim, organized a birthday party on the mountain that included an awesome hike and lunch celebration on Bulamsan (불암산). Two separate worlds of friends merged. 

Another tasty cake thanks to Sunil (in the blue above)

Grand finale of Sid's visit- The Seoul Lantern Festival

I really hope that all those nearest and dearest to me know just how much I love you.

And finally, do...do...do...I'll be home or the holidays. See ya soon U.S. peeps!