Almost Ending November

It that title even grammatically correct? I wonder.

Nonetheless, I'm killing time in between classes and really feeling very sleepy. I've been watching some TED Talk videos which are interesting but my mind is really numbing down and I need some physical thing to engage me and kick out the sleepiness.

This week has been the start of feeling what winter is like in Korea. It's been two weeks since the calendar has officially heralded the winter season but it has been almost warm as autumn until last weekend.

I bravely forego my down jacket today in favor of the autumn jacket and a thick wool sweater underneath today. Wrong choice. Moreover, I forgot any other extras except for my neck warmer that doubles as a cap. I found myself needing to cover my head, neck and even my nose. Even a pair of finger gloves will be welcome. As I get off the bus, I kept on thinking about just buying that pair of finger gloves, the infinity cowl and a mask.

I survived the day but I ended up buying the infinity scarf. I needed to cover my neck and an extra one for my head so it should serve both. I ended up using my neck warmer as a mask since I'm not comfortable using a mask that's newly bought and hasn't been washed at all.

I was considering a black, a light gray, a light blue but I ended up buying a red. My conscious choices of colors nowadays has been blue or red. I'm naturally drawn to yellow but it just doesn't suit my skin color very well specially when it comes to clothes or accessories. Blue is almost the default color when I buy things since it's neutral and slightly brighter than black that I used to choose when I was a younger. This time, my feelings towards red has slowly been changing positively.

I am waiting for Uniqlo to have the same neck warmer that I bought last year. This time, I will get a red one --- a good alternate with the gray one that I have now. Until my next Uniqlo haul!

First Knitting Project

Seven inches! Almost two weeks after I've purchased the yarn and needles, and a lot of trial and errors with pulling out the strings and restarting all over...I have finally made it past the 6-inch-milestone. I got 1/4 done if my plan won't change on the length that I want to go. 

I initially wanted to make an infinity scarf but I might try on making it a little shorter as a neck warmer of sorts instead. It depends how it will hold up once it takes a better shape. I tried to do a knit stitch and purl combination at first but purling got me frustrated I ended up restarting a couple of times. I had to be more realistic to get down to the basics first and just try to complete a simple one for a first project. 

I may try the a project with a different knit next time once I've finished this one. 

The Country Mouse and the City Mouse (The Country Mouse Goes to the City)

City people can be such snobs. This is based from an observation. But I know that this culture has become a norm in urbanized areas where a lot of people come and go in a speed that its almost stressful to keep track of the people that you meet, much less create relationships -- deeper connection. It can be hard to find genuine people. One should not expect that much though if heading to an urbanized locality. It has led me to a greater understanding of human psychology. I should not take it personally.

Hubs asked me if my downtown trip worth it? Yes. But not for the main purpose solely. I was able to figure out where the local express bus, where it goes, one way how to get to the underground subway, navigate the labyrinth of Line 4 of the subway, pick up a couple of the winter pjs for me and P, (forget about H coz he's a hard person to shop for) and generally get a small taste of the financial hub of my adoptive country. Almost right in the center of it!

Korean Fields in Autumn

Korean rice field in autumn looks funny for me with balls of hay usually rolled up in neat white plastics or sometimes black ones. The rice fields that I regularly pass by are really an interesting to look at starting in the spring when the farmers are just starting to plant the little rice seedlings and the field looks greener as the summer rolls on. By that time, it would be colored in bright green.  It gradually turns into golden shade as autumn comes. When the grains are harvested, the hay are left on the ground to dry a bit before being rolled up into white giant-marshmallow-like balls on the field by some farming equipment. They are usually neatly piled up at some part of the field but it is interesting to catch sight of these before that when are randomly scattered dotting the field with those white marshmallows.

I've seen these yesterday on our way home from a Kimjang Festival. It was almost dark but I can still clearly spot those white balls. It was a delight to see them through the window during the subway ride home last night.