I rejoice in what I have and I know that fresh new experiences are always ahead. I greet the new with open arms. I trust life to be wonderful. – Louise Hay
"You can be the worlds greatest hero, or its most mild mannered citizen, the only person who can write your story, is you!" - Jonathan Kent to Clark Kent
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My trip abroad was so much fun! A whirlwind of an adventure if I've ever been on one. We were there for two weeks.
Between Japan and South Korea, I have to say I enjoyed Japan better. Or Tokyo specifically since that was the only city in Japan we visited. The Japanese are just so much more friendly, so willing to help when we even look slightly confused.
We got lost on our first night there, and this cab driver spent an extra 40 minutes helping us find out place free of charge. And he didn't speak any English at all.
Our first night there, we lived through a Magnitude 6 earthquake. Where I'm from, we don't get earthquakes. Tornadoes are what I'm used to. I guess there was a couple back to back, but we only felt the one. And between the two days, it killed almost 50 people and injured 3000. More Info At the time, though, we just thought it was a big truck driving by or something that rattled the house. What we felt wasn't very big since Tokyo is 14 hours away from where it originated.
Our first two days in Tokyo, we visited a shrine, a buddhist temple, part of the imperial palace, and took a cruise around the Tokyo Bay. We also drove out to Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi and saw such a breathtaking view of everything.
Then it was off to Seoul, South Korea. We went on another tour of the city. This time we saw a Korean shrine and temple along with an ancient imperial palace, which was pretty cool to see. What's sad to me is that South Korea has only really been out of war within the last 50 some years, and a lot of their buildings were wiped out in the different wars, so they don't have very many in tact historical spots.
Then we went shopping and met up with my friend's aunt who lives there. Got to try Commoners Coffee for the first time (Ouran reference, anyone?). IT was actually quite good. I get the hype now. We found a cat cafe, too! Everything I dreamed it'd be!
Then we took a train down to Daegu, a college town and met up with my friend's old classmates that were still left.
Then we took another train down to Busan, my least favorite city we went to of all. So rude! Apart from all the stares I get for just being blonde, we had a cab driver kick us out in the middle of the road because he didn't want to take us to the ocean front, I guess. So we were stuck in the middle of the road in really nice, fancy dresses. Thankfully, there was another taxi driver close by that picked us up.
We wanted to go to this hotel that was along the bay and overlook the city. We got a table next to the window, and it was so pretty, and the food was super good. Our server was so cute. He spoke Korean to us at first, and then after each course, he'd get braver and braver and use more English. WE could hear him in the back practicing what he was going to say to us. Super adorable.
The next day, we had to drop our luggage off at the airport while we went back out to shop and whatnot. As we were coming out of the airport, these two guys just grabbed me and started taking pictures of me. MY friend had to drag me away, and she was pissed; they never asked!
The shopping turned out rather well as I was able to find a shirt and the only romper I've been able to find that actually fits!
And then on our way back to the airport, the taxi driver asked in Korean if I was Russian, which translates to "Are you a prostitute?" and my friend can speak Korean well, and she told him off, but it was an awkward cab ride back to the airport.
neither time was I wearing anything revealing or provocative.
I tried so hard on this trip to be polite and courteous, but after this, I was so done. I would be nice, but if someone was rude to me after that, I didn't take it. I understand I'm a foreigner, but you don't treat someone like that.
But it got better after that because we then flew to Jeju Island, and had a great time at Loveland, the adult sculpture garden, and Sunset Peak, a beautiful nature spot where you can hike up this mountain and take a boat ride around part of the island.
Then we made our way back to Seoul and almost missed our flight! We got there an hour before our plan took off, and there were long ass lines to get checked in. So we were going to split up and have my friend do the self check in at the kiosk, and then I'd get us a spot in line to just drop off our baggage. It's a good thing I always look lost, because one of the workers came up to me and asked me what flight I was on and what time it was. When I told him it was the flight in less than an hour, he was like, come with me. And I had to run and grab my friend, and this guy helped us cut in front of the line to get checked in. He was really hot, too. It was so nice! And we made it onto our plane, but we were the last ones on. Too close a call.
Our last night in Tokyo, we went to Studio Ghibli, which was a little underwhelming. I was expecting something bigger. But it was still fun. And then we went to Aikihabara and went shopping. Found some cool anime figurines
We had the next morning to do whatever, and we went to a yukata and tea ceremony thing. We got to keep the yukata and make green tea.
We also went to an owl cafe, which was awesome!
I'm glad to be back in South Dakota, though. I had fun on the trip, but I'm so sick of rice. Definitely missed American food!
You guys! I leave on my big trip in 3 days!
All last week was dedicated to getting things done before the trip and saying goodbye to all my friends.
Today is dedicated to laundry and packing.
I can't freaking wait!!!
I'll be posting things on snapchat (nikki_hunke), Instagram (nehunke), and Facebook (Nikki Elizabeth Hunke) for sure. So if you want to add me on those three, feel free to do so!
If I don't talk to you lovelies before I go, hope the coming weeks are great! ANd I look forward to catching up with you guys when I get back at the end of the month!
Wow! I can't believe that the last time I updated this world was back in December! Seems so far away now!
Things have been so busy with my jobs and life. I've actually had a really great social life so far this year, and I am hoping it continues!
Let's see. In January, I went to an Escape Room with some friends. The theme was Aunt Edna's Condo. We had to decipher all the clues and find three items and unlock a safe in a secret room. We didn't "escape" in time, but we were so close.
Have any of you done an escape room before?
This year, I decided I wanted to straighten out my teeth, so I went to an orthodontist, and I just got my invisilign retainers in yesterday and have worn them for little over 24 hours now. It feels really weird to have the retainers in my mouth. I have a little lisp right now. But otherwise, my teeth don't hurt, and I have no discomfort. I can't wait to have straighter teeth!
Can't wait for March to get here. Going to Vegas the weekend of the 11th and I have a concert at the end of the month. And then I'm in Korea/Japan for most of April. And then my brother graduates college in May and will be coming to live with me for the month while he looks for a job, and we might be going to Toronto.
Should be a great couple months coming up!
But I also decided that I was picking up a third job in the next couple months to help pay for my invisalign payments and I had to pay back $1500 in taxes this year, so I'm kind of poor right now. Ha.
But I want to know how all of you are doing!!
