Merry Christmas!!

Hey Everyone, so it is almost 3am here and I was up most of the night doing touch ups on my video that I was going to post up on my blog for my significant other Meet as a Christmas present. I did this as a surprise and so even if u just stumble upon this video while looking for blogs PLZ PLZ PLZ! Leave a comment for Meet and let me know what you think of my gift to him. Again Merry Christmas everyone! To Meet, I'm sorry we didn't talk  much today, but I wanted to make this video for you and make sure it was done. So here you go.. though I may seem like I don't care much at times.. I really do! Luv ya!

Birthday Bashes and Thanksgiving Fun!

Hey Everyone! Since im on a blogging role why not keep going! Anyways, I'm back with a wonderful update of my beautiful and wonderful life! So, my birthday was on  Novemeber Sixteenth and I finally turned 25! It was a heartful and warming birthday and though small, was one of the best I have had so far.  I came home, opened presents, ate cake, and curled my hair for the first time, but the most touching part of all was that my cousins from Canada drove down for only one day and celebrated it with me. They also left me with this: 

One of my most treasured gifts recieved on my birthday.

Two of my fav ppl!

I was also soooo thankful and excited to see my two sisters Ritu and Nasib, without them, my birthday would be a bore. I love you two soooo much! Oh yeh and I can't forget my dog Nawaab! I am so grateful I got spend my birthday with the people I love the most! 

Ritu, Me and Nasib YEY!

Fun fun fun!

Ritu likes peacocks and peanuts (in her own words)

Now on to THANKSGIVING! Made of turkey food and warmth us Americans loooooovee Thanksgiving! Even though some people don't celebrate it and rightfully so! I just call it my day to be thankful for the people surrounding me! I made dinner for the first time for the kids at  work! I then went to Ritu's to go stuff myself with the best food in town! Her mashed potatoes and stuffing are to die for! 

The day after I went with Gurneet to Black friday shopping and founds some awesome deals on clothes and though others may think the experience is a bit too much for them I love mulling in the crowds at the mall. Especially with my sidekick Gurneet!  The day after, me and Gurneet proceeded to put up my FIRST EVER CHRISTMAS TREE! Since, I don't celebrate Christmas my mom never put up a tree and she threw out the one the other owners of our house left behind. I remember being in second grade and crying to her to put up a tree and her saying "It won't work, the dog will tip it over." What an excuse! Anyways I told this story to my significant other and he bought me a small one and so I asked Gurneet to come over and we did our first ever Christmas Tree! I was so excited and so was she! I made brownies to celebrate the occassion!  Overall, the holiday weekend was wonderful and I enjoyed every moment of it and I hope everyone else did too!

Secret Garden!!! (kdrama)

So I'm so sorry to all those that follow my blog (which is not many), but I've been quite busy preparing for grad school and the holiday season is in full play! But I'm back! and boy am I back with some fantasitic news! So to any kdrama addict I have to absolutely spread this fantastic news! I just started a drama two days back and it has totally captured my heart and it is none other than Secret Garden! For those of you who have not immersed yourself in Asian dramas and find this interesting keep going for those of you who don't SORRY THERE WILL BE MORE varying posts.

Anyways, back to Secret Garden... the drama revolves around two protaganists: Gil Ra Im ( Ha Ji-Won) and Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin aka Kim Sam Soon fame). The story unfolds into many other complicated characters such as Joo Won's cousin Oska and  Yoon Seul and Director Ajjushi, but its better to talk of only the main characters to those who haven't seen the drama. The story is of two characters of two opposite socioeconomic status that meet through a series of misunderstandings.

While Joo Won is  portrayed as a cold, rude and ruthless rich business man (chaebol), Gil Ra Im is a caring, cool, spirited, and poor stunt woman who takes her career seriously. While Joo Won suffers mental ailments such as claustrophobia and insomnia and only goes to work twice a week, Gil Ra Im is hard working and faces the trials of poverty, lack of self- respect and loneliness. As they both meet they both become fascinated with the others feelings and thoughts and begin to form an undefined relationship. Love? Hate?Friendship? Only time will tell in this drama. Throughout the drama though, one finds Joo Won intiating an interest in Ra Im and in return finds a violent and ill-mannered Ra Im. One later finds out that Ra Im is acting on caution and mid- way through the drama both Gil Ra Im and Joo Won end up switching bodies for a bit through magic. Once the bodies of these two protagonists switch, hilarity ensues! Both learn about the others life and both begin to reallly understand the others persepectives. What I absolutely fell in love with in this drama was the beautiful portrayal of both characters by the director and the slow unraveling of the background stories of the characters. You also get to rewind back to major events in the drama and look at the small details that led up to the major events of the  latter episodes.

The director lays out a wonderful script, equally wonderful actors and a awesome OST to go along with it. My favorite part of this drama is the Hyun Bin and Ji Won's portrayal of the opposite character once switching bodies.They both do a wonderful job of picking up the slightest mannerisms and characteristics of the opposite gender and individual! I haven't found a single episode I haven't laughed in and I love each character to death.! Though, in the beginning Joo Won is annoying  character who wears crazy track suits; he begins to grows on you slowly . Joo Won's portrayal of a not so typical male is a unique addition to the story and Gil Ra Im's lack of femininity does the same. Everything combined from the cinematography, direction, action, actors and screenplay gives an absolutely fabulous drama to end 2010 with and start 2011 with for any drama addict!

Todays Song of the day : Baek Ji Young That Woman Secret Garden OST

A little bit of old... A little bit of new.. The Quarter Life Crisis

So recently I have been really thinking about how my 25th birthday is coming up in a week or so and I've been wondering what I value, what has changed, what needs to be changed, and what should stay the same and so I decided to rant on my findings.

Most Important Finding #1: No matter how much people tell you, Indian or Non-Indian people YOU ARE NOT FREAKIN' AS OLD AS DIRT! In many psychological and scientific aspects people call being 25 the quarter life crisis period. It is when one is too old to hang out with the college kids, but too young to hang out with the married, single, with kids, or without kids middle aged adults. It's also a period where you aren't studying, but aren't the rich old person that can drive the expensive car and go around the world to expand your horizons and really forget your criss. It's a period in ones life where you are BROKE, and are trying to find out WHAT IT IS YOU ARE EXACTLY MADE TO DO  in your life. It's also a time where an individual finds out that right after college your not going to be driving the nice car, living in the nice house , and wearing the expensive clothes right after graduation. Though this sad realization hits you later than you'd like, I dont' feel that it's a negative. Being 25 for me is quite a humbling experince. I've been shown at 24 that, yes, life doesn't go as I have expected it too, but there are a whole bunch of oppurtunities out there for me and all I need to do is jump on them; and with hard work and perserverance I'll be a successful individual not only materially, but as an human being. Yes I've lived a quarter of my life (assuming I live to one hundred), which in a realistic point of view is not going to happen, but I looking at it that way makes me want to live with more enthusiasm and live each day to the fullest. As for marriage and partners etc... I think YOUR NOT TO OLD, you have time and life runs its own course and  time is what will find you the right one, not age!
Time has found me mine, and I have to say I value him more and more each day and as I get older I learn what a integral part of my life he is and how he makes me want to live each day even better.

     

Most Important Finding #2  Value The ones you love and try and enjoy as much time possible you have with them!  As I've grown older I've seen many people sick in the last few years and a few I've seen pass away at such a young age. If I look at myself now from when I was in college. I remember I was busy busy busy and life was about studying studying studying. An education is important don't get me wrong, but find time for those you love. I don't regret putting school work aside at times to spend time with my girls and my parents. I may be behind a little, but I'll tell you, it was worth it. You can't get back moments spent with those you love. Cherish them.. enjoy them.. and for those whom you cared for and really didn't value you.. let them be.. and hope that maybe oneday... they'll think like you and if not.. don't waste your precious moments on a person who can't value the meaning of why you are living. I live for the ones I love and the ones I care for.. compassion is what human beings are made for and I really do believe that.

 

Most Important Finding #3: Your parents don't hate you or make your life hard on purpose. They just love you and want the best for you. As I become older I become more and more understanding to my parents. Don't get me  wrong. We fight, we yell, we argue, but I try to empathize with them. When your young your parents are wrong, when you an adolescent they are annoying, and when your an adult they are the ones that were your stepping stones and YES their weirdness and craziness makes sense. I love my mom and dad and as I grow older I realize their stubborness is a part of their love for me. They want me to be my best and want the best for me. It doesn't mean what they want from me is always right, but it is important to understand the middle ground and not just your point of view. Don't ever give up on the ones that never gave you up on you . It's hard and rigorous, but I think more to myself more and more, what if I had a daughter what if I were mom. What if I were dad and I find that I might have similar thoughts to them. Really.. try it.. its weird how you find you really do see their view! Time is short on earth, thats what I have really found out, and time with your parents even shorter. So learn to cherish them and spend time with them. I don't ever want to think oh I wish I had done this with mom or done that with dad. I want to say, yes I did this with mom and dad and it was etc..

Most Important Finding #4:  Dreaming is dangerous when action isn't taken. I dream of learning dance one day, I dream of becoming a counselor, I dream of having a home, husband, children and the white pickett fence. Look... you can say all you want, but you really need to take action.The children and husband can wait for me , but try what you think you might enjoy and accelerate in. Work hard in career aspiration because really, YOU CAN DO IT! I love sketching, but I really hadn't opened up my sketchbook or paint set in a while, but at work I realized painting soothes me so I also went out and bought and a paint by numbers and HAD A BLAST! (to which I'll post the painted painting once the piece is finished) and I opened up Gurneet's art supply box finally and found out many new things! TRY IT, don't just SAY IT! You'll be amazed at what you find out about yourself.

Most Important Finding #5: Educate yourself. Knowledge IS power. The more you know the more you find out about not only about things around you, but about yourself. You grow in not only in terms understanding about facts, but about finding out about yourself. I realize each and ever day that when I learn something new, it adds on to the I know about me list. I recently picked up Dalai Lama's book "The Meaning of Happiness" just to skim and ended up reading the whole thing! Not only that, I realized that spirtually I haven't grown as a person and decided to look into more spirtual aspects of my life and in return found that I can take a spiritual outlook into my career, education and personal life. It's amazing what knowledge can do. It can change others lives too. My wanting to be a counselor can provide those individuals/children with behavioral health issues such an impactful few months, I had never known that. If my one word can make a difference in ones life and my one act can change a child's life at times, my thousands of dollars of education and even free knowlege has been worth that one moment and one word I spoke. As I grow older I realize college helped me understand others and their problems, educating onself about others and issues can provide a step closer to helping one another.

So though, being 25 may be a quarter crisis for some, I think it's been an eventful 25 years for me. I've grown and am proud to say I'm 25! I thank god for the opportunity to let me live and see this age and really allow me to grow! Quarter Life Crisis, MY BUTT! I'm going to live this 25th year with all the enthusiasm I can!

2PM Is Back!!

Soooooo... 2pm is back and boy are they back with a bang! I know from a previous post I said they had some growing to do and boy have they grown!It has been a week since there debut and I love the song and the dance concept! These boys are always getting better and better and there eye makeup is getting more and more! I have to say besides the crazy amount of eye makeup keep it up boys! You always top the previous performance and I'm supporting you! 2pm fighting!

THEY ARE BACK! (CLICK HERE)

F.Y.I. It's Korean not Chinese..

So recently I had my iphone at work and was listening to songs on it, when a curious co-worker said "What song you listening to?" I, being proud of my taste in music handed my iphone over with the head phones and said "Why don't listen for yourself?" She sifted through my songs and said "What are these songs? They look like Chinese since the writing looks like it?!" I enlightened her with the fact that the songs I listened to were in fact Korean and that I absolutely had a love for them. She gave me a weird look and said " Do you even understand Korean?" and I told her that no I did not, but that is where youtube and its english subbers came in handy for me to understand the language. Even after all the explanation she gave me a look of OOOOKAAAY. In all honesty though, alot of people I approach have mistaken Korean music for Chinese and I find it quite amusing that people usually reply "What's the difference? They are both the same almost." To which I really want to respond "So I guess Americans are the same as British right?" Two different continents, two different cultures, and differing in dialects. Don't get me wrong I have not only kpop(another name for korean pop) on my ipod, but also Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian all on my ipod, but I find a I have a certain affinity for Korean music. So while I sat down today thinking about what to post next on my blog I decided I'd provide people with a little insight on Korean music and give them my favorites in this area. To those Kpop and Korean music experts out there, I ask for forgiveness in advance, four years of listening to Korean music hasn't made me an expert at it, but I have found a sense of happiness in the Korean music industry, more than that of even the American music industry. So Let's Begin my little adventure of my top favs on the Kpop scene! Before we begin though I'd like to give people a bit of background on Korean music. Mainstream Korean music can be split up into 3 genres: pop, trot, and rnb (is that how you spell it?).

        Korean trot music can be considered what we as American's look at in the history of music as the classical music of kpop. It is the shortened form of foxtrot and though I'm not very familar with this genre of kpop I do know that I only know one singer that has absolutely won my heart in this genre and that is Park Hyun Bin. From Kondeure Maeundre to Pa Ra Pa Pa he starts to grow on you with his strong vocals and cheesy music, but it was Oppaman Mideo that won me over to him. Though Park Hyun Bin is an acquired taste for foreign listeners I've grown to love his vocals and his personality through watching various variety shows. He is one of the few young singers that has carried on the history of the fast fading trot genre of music of kpop.

PARK HYUN BIN MUSIC VIDEO HERE





Moving on to recent evolving of kpop I have found that the Korean music scene over the past few years has been taken over by idol groups (the American definition of Boy and Girl Bands/Groups) since there are SOOOO MANY. I'm only going to list my top 6 idol groups in order.

1. DBSK/TVQX: At the top of my list is this absolutely fabulous group know as Dong Bang Shin Gi or Tonshinki in Japan. This group is made up of 5 absolutely AMAZING vocalists. The groups name translates the "Rising Gods of the East" and in all honesty they are. They started of in Korea and have risen to popularity all over Asia and especially Japan. Most of their songs are must listen too songs and they had the highest votes for the international star most wanted on her show! These boys can not only sing, but they can also dance! They are a package deal and really are the epitome of true performes. My favorite all time song of this group personally is Mirotic! 

DBSK MIROTIC MUSIC VIDEO HERE

2. Big Bang: In second and in close to DBSK is Big Bang. This group of five boys have never let me down with their music. Whether they sing as a group or have separated as individual artists the group has always wowed me with their vocals and performaces. The group shot to fame wit their single Lies, but it was Haru Haru that totally won me over with these boys. The group has show their versatility in music by parting in their individual works and still come back to provide their fans with music that never gets old!

BIG BANG MUSIC VIDEO HERE

3. 2NE1: pronounced as "To Anyone" this four girl group debuted in 2009 with their single "Fire" and has acclaimed fame more than any other group that debuted with them. Not only can these girls sing, but their sense of style and dance is something refreshing to any music scene. These girls stole my heart with their song "Fire" and has won me over with their new song "Clap Your Hands". Known as the girl version of the Big Bang there was no way I couldn't put these girls right after their male counterparts!
2NE1 CLAP YOUR HANDS MUSIC VIDEO HERE!

4. SNSD: In at number four is So Nyuh Shi Dae or better known in as Girls Generation. To be honest this group didn't wow me with their debut song "Gee" I'm not too fond of the cutesy songs, but for some reason the song and dance got stuck in my head. I can understand why Korea was taken by wildfire with the "Gee" dance. It's absolutely addicting. These girls have their strengths and weaknesses in my opinion. I think their image sets an unrealistic expectation for young girls in South Korea and to be honest I think that some of their songs are not really that amazing vocally. I put these girls on my list though because they really wowed me and have grown vocally when they performed their song "Run Devil Run". The song and their performace is by far one of my favorite kpop ones of all time!
SNSD RUN DEVIL RUN MUSIC VIDEO HERE!

5. Wondergirls: In at number 5 is Wondergirls of JYP entertainment. They shot to fame with their song "Tell Me" to which South Korea was overcome with the "Tell Me" dance wave. The video was cute and the dance is addicting, but these girls seem to still have alot of growing to do vocally. I put them on my list because these girls have REALLY improved since their tell me days and have worked hard to become global stars in the U.S. too. These girls may seem familar to you because they debuted in America with "Nobody"on tour with the Jonas Brothers and did make it on to the American Billboards. Some may have seen them in Limited Too clothing stores tv screens (since thats where I seem to see them whenever I do at the mall). They recently released their new US and Korean sing "Two Different Tears" to which the video guest stars comedian Bobby Lee. The girls wowed me with their vocals on this song and I absolutely find the video humorous!
WONDERGIRLS 2 DIFF. TEARS MUSIC VIDEO HERE!

6. 2pm: Last, but not least I added 2pm. Thesebefore 7  boys and now 6 were all over the place when they debuted with 10 out of 10. Their vocals were weak, but their leader Jay Park excelled in both areas. Their dance was what held these boys together and really shined throughout their debut, but it wasn't until Again and Again that these boys shot to fame. The song was amazing and the dance even more amazing! Though they seemed to have still been weak during Again and Again performance they really brought on their dancing! I added these boys because even with so much controversy involving their leader and going on as a no leader group this group has consistently become stronger and improved in their singing. I really give these boys credit for holding up to all of the netizens backlash and really coming together even after losing their leader!
2pm AGAIN AND AGAIN MUSIC VIDEO HERE!

Now since I made the kpop list so long I promise to make the rnb genre as small as I possibly can!

1. Wheesung: One of Korea's well-known R&B artists. Wheesung won my heart with the Craig David's korean remake Insomnia. His vocals are flawless and so are his performances. No one can top his music in my heart and to add on to it he has written many famous songs for korean idols such as "I go crazy because of you" & "I'll Back Off So You Can Live". Recently he came out with his song "I thought to marry" which has been playing on my ipod NONSTOP! He oozes with talent and one can't help to fall in love with his voice

WHEESUNG'S INSOMNIA MUSIC VIDEO HERE

2. Hwayobi: At number two, is this absolutely down to earth, but AMAZING singer. She looks like ones aunt next door on a normal day, but on stage she sets an aura of beauty around her. Her singing makes you love her and just stare at her in awe. Her vocals are one of the most amazing out there and whenever she sings all I can relate her to is Whitney Houston. She makes you feel one with her songs and I fell in love with her with her song "Rose" and recently fell in love her song "BYE BYE BYE". Her voice engulfs you in the emotion and the story of each of her songs and I cannot tell you how much one falls in love with her on stage and off stage personality. She is the epitome of an awesome vocalist out of the girls in Korea    

HWAYOBI BYE BYE BYE HERE!

Brian Joo: Starting with the group Fly to the Sky, Brian broke off as a independent artist. Though many of is korean songs were big hits. I absolutely fell in love with him when he sang Jason Derulo's korean remake of "In My Head". He sang it better than the original and his voice and dance moves captivated me completely. He is someone I've been trying to look into, but haven't had the chance to, but his voice is OOH LA LA!

BRIAN JOO'S IN MY HEAD MUSIC VIDEO HERE

4.Lyn: As I said before I'm not one to really like cutesy songs, but it was Lyn's "Honey's Baby Love" that made me catch interest in her. Though the song has a subtle underlying cuteness, her vocals and stage presence gave a mature touch to the song. I looked her up on youtube and found that she has done many renditions of kpop artists and her voice is to DIE FOR! The girl does wonderful renditions and can sing and I look foward to her future works!
LYNN'S MUSIC VIDEO HERE!

And there was my list of kpop songs! Hopefully you guys were enlightened and not too bored, but as I wanted to spread the interest in this type of music I hope many of you will grow to love my love! Until next time! Ciao!



Welcome!

Hi Everyone! If I've sent you a link to this site, Congratulations! Your on my I want to invite you to my life list! If you're someone who happened to stumble upon my blog welcome! The more the merrier! Before I start with anything I'd like to thank my cousin Gurneet's friend southkoreashuffle.blogspot. It is because of him I found it AMAZING how much of an insight and how intriguing a blog is. I've become a major fan of his blog and really found it inspiring through allowing a window into his life. So.. I decided to start my own! Well now.. with my thank you's out of the way. I figured my first post would be on ME! SURPRISE! (Not really)  I'm a 24 yr. girl/woman (depending on what time you catch me at and what mood). An aspiring child and adolescent psychologist along with college professor. Now as for my  likes and dislikes I have so many that I'll have to list them.

Likes:

1. Food: It's a integral part of my life its my social lifeline, and a hobby  Korean, Indian, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese I love them all!  My two favorite dishes are dduk bok gi and mom's curry chicken.
2. Dance: I started in the latter part of high school doing Indian dances such as Bhangra, Giddha, and Bollywood dance. I later in college learned line dancing  and have recently through kpop acquired a taste for hip hop. Dance lets me feel free and connect with something I love in a healthy way. I hope to take my love for dance and learn in it professionally sometime in the future.
3. Music: WHO DOESN'T LOVE THIS?! I love all kinds of music and over the years have acquired taste over vast genres of music. I sang for 9 years of my life and seeing as I even at one point in my high school career contemplated on becoming a music teacher I find that I'M ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH  MUSIC. I love kpop (korean pop), jpop (japanese), twpop, cpop, indian, classical, ghazals and much more!
4. Exercise: After I graduated college, I really found a deep connection with keeping my body healthy. Whether I exercise three times a week or three times a month I have found in not only keeps me fit physically, but mentally also.
5. Anime/Manga: A friend in college introduced me to this fine art of japan and source of entertainment and I have never been able to come back! Anime and manga also helped me find a hidden talent of sketching that I had and allowed me a way to let out my stress and really find a hobby that calms me!
6. Nature: I love it! It calms me, lets me connect spirtually and provides me with a sense of oneness with other living things!
7. Books: I love reading! As time has gone by I have found it harder and harder to find time reading, but I've tried to commit myself into reading one book a month or every two months recently. So hopefully you'll probably see posts on books I've read
8. Asian Dramas/Variety Shows: You'll see my love for this in TONS OF POSTS on this site. Though people make fun of me for this hobby I just can't seem to give it up. Kdramas have got me hooked and they are my one source of imagination and dreaming in life. I figure they may be cheesy at times, but they always leave me thinking about life and really allowing me to ponder circumstances in life.

Things I hate:
1. Gossiping: Please refrain from gossiping about others to me. We all do it at some point in life, but I try to keep away from it. My motto: Live and let live.

2. Discriminating/Pesimmism: I really dislike people who seem to discriminate and have a very black and white way of life. I like to really contemplate issues  in life and really roll around in something before I come to firm decisions. I can't stand narrowminded individuals and really believe that to understand one another and overcome differences is to accept those differences and really delve into understanding all areas that we can of topics, cultures, and life. I really also cannot stand negative individuals. Life is too short to be hating it. Try to love it as much as you can.

3. Talking behind others backs: If you can't say it to their face don't talk about it all

4. Drama: I try to keep away from it. I like it better on tv not in my real life.

So that is me and hopefully I haven't bore you to death. You'll probably hear alot about my likes on this blog, please feel free to express your opinions about my posts. As for now.. I leave with one of my favorite new kpop artists Lyn 린 an astounding singer and I love her renditions of other kpop artists!CLICK HERE ! Enjoy! Ciao until next time!!