Cambodia in my heart

Long time! It has been too long. Despite my new years resolution to blog more, I haven't done a very good job at it. 

Since ringing in the new year, I have been settling into my life here in Korea, traveled to Cambodia, gotten sick (with a trip with the emergency room), had a few dinner parties, lunched with my aunt, welcomed my parents back from a long trip. 

But of all that, Cambodia has been on my mind and in my heart. 

Prior to going to Cambodia, I had watched the documentary, Nefarious and was heartbroken at the realization of the prevalence and severity of human trafficking.  In preparation for our trip, we watched a documentary called The Pink Room. Having my eyes opened to child sex trafficking left me with a heavy heart and a fear for what I would see and feel in Cambodia. I went to Cambodia with a heavy but expectant heart but I had not been prepared to be blown away. And to utterly fall in love with the country. 

Cambodia. A country that has captured my heart. 

Here's a photo-log of the trip (warning: it's going to be a long one!) 

I went with a team of 16 members from back "home". I was eager to be reunited with friends from home and was especially glad I was able to host them for their layover in Seoul. It felt like a dream to have all of them here in Korea. 

All crowding over the wifi password

Reunited and it feels so good! 

포장마차-style 

After a 6 hour flight, we landed in Phnom Pehn International Airport and made our way to our hotel. 

Arriving at our hotel late at night

Day 1 (Saturday) - After arriving late Friday night, Saturday morning, we had breakfast, got ready and headed out to visit The Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng to learn about the history of Cambodia and the Khmer people. (The Killing Fields are a number of sites in Cambodia where mass killings occurred and where people were buried by the Khmer Rouge regime. Tuol Sleng is a site which was a former school that was turned into a prison and interrogation center.) 

Daily ritual: breakfast at the hotel = 2 sunny-side eggs + 3 toast + coffee 

Tuk tuks: our mode of transportation

Choeung Ek aka The Killing Fields

A very tourity moment

We had lunch at Daughters Cafe, a favorite spot for the team. The cafe is a beautiful respite and the food is delicious. 

Khmer iced coffee!

Tuol Sleng 

Day 2 (Sunday) - We visited a local church. Vibrant, welcoming, overflowing with love and joy. 

Tuning in

Days 4-5 (Tuesday and Wednesday) - We partnered with a local organization called Hard Places Community and during the mornings, our team prepared various stations on different children's books (Charlotte's Web, The Giving Tree, The Very Hungry Caterpillar just to name a few). We told them stories, taught them songs and did activities with the children at Punlok Thmey. 

Prep time! 

"Not a box!" 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

The Giving Tree

In the afternoons, we dispersed to various locations throughout the city for Kids' Club with HPC. 

One of the days, a few of the team members and I decided to go out during the evening hours. We were shocked by the contrast of day and night in Phnom Pehn. Light and dark. The same exact riverfront where we had play games and sang songs with the young children, at night, became a flashing signboards 

"Dark is light you. Depths are height to you." 

Day 6 (Thursday) - We had Soccer Club with the kids from the centers. 

That afternoon, after returning from Soccer Club, the staff of HPC surprised our team with a farewell party! We were overwhelmed by their love and generosity and I will never forget that day. 

Day 7 (Friday) - We worked with another organization, XP Missions and we visited a small village in the slums. We played games with the children, jumped rope with them, made balloon animals, did face-painting for them, sang songs. Some of the team members went around the village and took family portraits and were able to print the photos for them. 

Day 8 (Saturday) - Our last day was a "free" day. Some of us started it off by going to the Russian Market for noodles for breakfast. I had been wanting to try it all week so I was excited to finally get to. 

To those who supported our team, thank you. Without your support, we could not have gone. 

To my HPC brothers and sisters, you are an incredible group of people. You are such an inspiration and encouragement to us. 

Cambodia, you are in my heart and in my prayers. Hope to be back soon. 

Resolutions

With each passing year, I find more meaning in ringing in the new year and having the opportunity to start afresh, to take a look back and give thanks but to also look ahead with renewed anticipation.

And I find myself reflecting even more about what I want to focus on this particular year being in a new country, in a new year. 

I spent my New Years Eve with family here. I was especially eager to be reunited with my grandmother and greeted her with a big bear hug. We reminisced on the past, my relatives telling me how much I have changed and how they didn't imagine Y & I would find ourselves living here in Korea! We exchanged our hopes and wishes. We enjoyed dinner together intermingled with glasses of red wine and topped it all off with a delicious cheesecake to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. 

On New Year's Day, we invited my relatives to our place. We had 떡국 (dduk gook - a Korean dish traditionally eaten on New Years), played 윷놀이, made california rolls for dinner and then went to watch a movie altogether (one that I bawled my eyes out in... it's a good thing we took a picture before the movie). 

I cherish these moments. The laughter, the tears, the conversations, the silence. And look forward to many more moments like this. And with that, I share with you my resolutions for 2015. 

A new year, a new season

Long time! I can't believe it's already been over two weeks since I arrived here in Korea. It was a whirlwind getting here. Let me just say, packing up your life is not easy, physically but mainly emotionally. I found myself getting tearful at the most unexpected times but I embraced even those tears as part of the "journey". Thanks to the help of many friends, I was able to pack up my things, say my goodbyes and got myself on a plane. 

Accompanied by my beautiful passport case (thanks Y!) and Tina Fey's hilarious and insightful Bossypants 

Seoul, the city that truly never sleeps

After 20+ hours of travel and a bout of motion sickness, I was thrilled to get off that plane and to be reunited with my husband after two months of being apart. He greeted me with a cute sign he had made. With my three heavy luggage bags, we arrived at our new (and very empty!) apartment! 

The husband had a big bowl of 육개장 waiting for me at home! 

They say, Home is where the heart is. And my heart is where my family is. But with my family so far apart, my heart has been torn. When I was in the States, I missed my parents and my husband. Now that I'm in Korea, I miss my brother, my babies (Laila and Emmy), my friends and my church. 

The first few days here, I think my body was not yet ready to admit that I was no longer in the States and it only craved American food. So the first day, I had a sub sandwich. And then the following day, I had eggs benedict at brunch. 

First weekend in Korea? Brunch, of course. @Suji's in Itaewon 

Date night with the husband. Tacos @Vatos in Itaewon. 

Though I miss "home" while I try to make this new place my home, I am choosing to embrace this new season and make the most of it. The next weekend here, Y and I took the train down and made a trip down to my parents'. It was a relaxing and refreshing time full of good eats with my parents. 

Snow covered fields in the countryside 

My mom's sandplay therapy room 

Food, glorious food. 

Interestingly enough though, we weren't able to spend Christmas with family. Christmas isn't as "hyped up" here in Korea as it is back in the States. But regardless, we spent Christmas Eve with my cousin and her kids and we spent a meaningful Christmas going to a joint service and walking around the heart of the city. 

With my unni

The packed streets of Myeongdong on Christmas day!

Yesterday, I was able to reconnect with my good friend J from college. We talked about how it's funny that it's easier for us to meet here all the way in Korea than when we are both on the East Coast! Good friends are such treasures and I cherish these moments.

Having some bingsoo in Korea is a given. 

A brisk walk with J&J along the Hangang

Thank you for your patience while I got settled in. You can look forward to many more adventures! 

Merry Christmas

I apologize for having been MIA as of late but I promise to get back into the swing of things here in Korea. But for now, in the holiday spirit, I want to wish you all...

Makeup Menu

I came to a rather interesting realization recently: There is a positive correlation between the cold weather and the amount of makeup I put on my face. In the hot and humid summer weather, I tend to be a minimalist with the "No Makeup Makeup" look on most days. It is most likely because the humidity causes makeup to slide right off my face. But I seem to pile on more during the colder months. (Note: colder weather = drier skin so consistent exfoliation + hydration is key prior to makeup application.) 

Benefit The POREfessional - This primer is one of those "cult favorites". When applied under your foundation, it helps your base makeup stay put and last longer. It minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines, creating a smooth canvas for your foundation to be applied. 

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer (in Neutralizer) - When I want a more "full cover" look, I start off with this concealer. I use it for the "Kim Kardashian" highlighting effect, applying it under my eyes, around my nose, on my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, on my chin. I use my finger to blend gently.

L'oreal True Match Lumi Foundation (in Nude Beige W3) - This is my current favorite foundation. It have a light/medium coverage while having a natural glow to it. I dot it on my face and buff it in with a buffing brush. 

Anastasia Brow Wiz (in Medium Ash) - My favorite eyebrow product! Recently, I have been enjoying filling in my eyebrows a bit more than usual and I'm embracing a thicker, fuller brow look. I'm embracing it all the more after one of my students said to me, "Mrs. Ko, your eyebrow is strong!" 

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler - No need to elaborate here. This is an everyday must-have. 

L'oreal Lash Out Butterfly Waterproof Mascara (in Blackest Black) - 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal (in Brown) - A long-lasting, easy-to-apply eyeliner. I put it on my upper tightline and sometimes on my lashline. 

Jordana Lip Liner (in Plush Plum) - Confession: The other day, I had a few minutes to kill while waiting for a sushi take-out order so I stepped into a Walgreens next door. I perused the aisles of beauty products and walked out with a lip liner for $2 and some change. *Pats self on back* Turns out it was $2 well-spent because it is a wonderful lip liner and it pairs perfectly with the lipstick I had had in mind. (Keep reading to find out.) 

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss (in Shade 09) - I love this color. It is the quintessential fall lip color. It would go with any skin tone. Not to mention I got quite a few compliments when I wore it this past weekend.

NARS Blush (in Oasis) - Sephora had their famous VIB sale recently and yes, I caved and went. I love NARS and wanted to try another one of their blushes. A Sephora representative helped me choose this color and I absolutely am in love. It is the perfect fall blush shade, giving you that "I just frolicked in the cold" flush.