Frivolities

[tarigwaemir]

Ankle status: getting better slowly but surely? I'm nearly walking normally again, although I do still keep it wrapped tightly. After reading up on sprains, I'm getting slightly paranoid and overwhelmed with too much information. Do I still keep it iced? There's still some minor swelling, so do I take some NSAIDs? Am I exercising my ankle too much? Not enough? Argh. Not entirely sure whether it's in shape for competing next week or not. I think I'm going to go see my primary care physician at UHS and ask her for an assessment tomorrow.

Homework status: near zilch! >_< Have looked at physics problem set and completed some Chinese character exercises, but for the most part, nothing. I did manage to finish laundry, read various fics and check my email every half-hour though. ::sighs:: I think it's going to be a long night.

Your Linguistic Profile:

50% General American English

40% Yankee

5% Dixie

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

My English is clearly not as pure as I thought it was.

From schwimmerin:

This is an odd meme, but since my dear ribosome came up with it, I feel obliged to pass it on somehow. ^_~

List five turn-ons (not necessarily people characteristics, just in general):
1. ivory-tower academics
2. black hair and elegant eyes
3. obsessive determination
4. structure and form
5. libraries and bookstores

(Well, the first, fourth and fifth items are abstract, but turn-ons, nonetheless. >_> If someone ever asks me out on a date, which has near-zero probability in the near future, I should hope they would take me to a bookstore. And buy me books. ^_^)

List five turn-offs (again, just general things):
1. insecurity disguised as arrogance/posturing
2. genius without effort
3. clinginess
4. excessive cynicism
5. ...facial hair and pale-colored eyes (frivolous, I know, but it's true)

List five celebrities you would definitely snog if you were ever given the chance:

All right, I have to revise this. The thought of snogging most of the celebrities I'm familiar with, even if I think them attractive, is rather repulsive, for various reasons. (They're too old, I only liked them in one particular role, they have awful personalities in real life, they're pretty but too dumb...the reason that I worry about my chances of ever getting married on my own efforts is that I don't know how to obsess unconditionally. Here's to matchmaking agencies and marriage dates in ten years...>_>) So, a new version.

List five fictional characters you would definitely snog if you were ever given the chance:

1. Zhuge Liang! (even if he's been dead for millennia) from The Three Kingdoms
2. Park Chanwoo from KBS First Love
3. Nameless from Hero
4. Okita Souji from Gohatto (specifically this movie, because Okita as he appears in PMK is adorable but not exactly somene you want to snog because he's too effeminate when he's not in a killing mood)
5. ...I can't even remember his name, but the young prodigy who becomes advisor to Wang Geon from KBS Taejo Wang Geon (Based on a real historical figure, who was oft-compared to Zhuge Liang. Enough said.)

Huh, apparently I have a thing for strategists, swords and revenge agendas. Not too surprising actually.

Also from schwimmerin:

Comment and I'll tell you something I adore about you. Afterwards, copy and paste this into your own journal.

Oh yes, in other news, I'll be going to Korea for a week this summer! I got accepted to the conference I've mentioned before. It will take place the first week of July. So, any advice about buying airline tickets? How does all this work anyway? (The only time I went back to Korea was in third grade, and we stayed with relatives the entire time. Also, I hadn't gotten U.S. citizenship at that point so we didn't have to bother with visas and the like. So I'd appreciate all the advice I can get, down to what places to visit in Seoul. ^_^)

Yours &c.

Comments

[lazulisong.livejournal.com]

I don't think there IS such a critter as pure English. o_oa Although the West Coast is supposed to come pretty close to it. I mean, my stepfather has a modified Tar Hill (Nawth Caraliner) accent, my grandmother STILL sounds like she's from DC when she's tired -- and she hasn't lived there for about sixty years -- and my mother has a sort of modified Ohioan/Californian accent.

I've had people tell me I sound Southern, actually. o_oa But a lot of people I've talked to don't seem to think I have any sort of accent at all.

[troisroyaumes]

Heh, true enough. I guess all I meant was that I never thought that my English had any particular accent, although that may be because I have trouble detecting accents in general, unless they're pretty obvious. I'm a bit startled though that I have such a strong "Yankee" bias in my speech--much more so than several of my friends who have already taken this meme. Especially since I've spent less time in New England than some of them...O_O;;

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

You and I have the exact same liguistic profile. Strange.

Also, for fun, I tried to see how high I could get the midwestern percentage. It doesn't seem to want to go higher than 30%--does this mean that my father was right when he told me that Western Ohio's English was American English? (He was referring to the standard accents used on news broadcasts.)

[troisroyaumes]

Really? Strange indeed, considering how different our respective regions are. ^_^ I'm afraid I've only a vague idea of what a Midwestern accent sounds like; what are its characteristics?

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

I'm from New Jersey! Michigan is my college state. Michigan has its own accent, with a scandinavian lilt and lots of "ey"s at the ends of sentences.

The most noticible part of a Midwestern accent is the long, nasal a (like the a in ANT not AUNT, and then use that a for everything). The vowels are longer in general, as are the ending consonants. East coast accents are clipped; in the Midwest you hold on to everything for a fraction of a second longer, especially the Rs. I good indicator word is CAR. If you are from the midwest this is a two-syllable word: CAA-URRR.

I can't really be more specific than that, though, since I'm not a linguist. I tend to drop into a Midwestern accent whenever I'm telling stories or appologizing, out when I'm nervous or arguing. Most of the time the difference isn't obvious, and most students don't have pronounced accents. Their parents, on the other hand, do.

[troisroyaumes]

Oh you are? My apologies! I assumed from your comment that you were from the Midwest. >_<;; I guess it's not so surprising then that we have similar linguistic patterns. ^_^

Hm, the friends I know from the Midwest don't tend to have pronounced accents, but now that you describe it, I think I can see where the differences come in. This is turning out to be a pretty interesting meme actually. I've never paid much attention to non-immigrant accents before. ^_^

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

The most interesting thing about American accents is that they vary more by education/social status than by region. Well-off college students will usually speak alike regardless of origin, but if you talk to a farmer or taxi driver you can hear the differences.

And then there's minority accents, which are a completely seperate issue. But they'll follow the wealth-and-education divide as well. Certain accents get discriminated against: african american accents, southern accents. Probably certain immigrant accents. It's self-perpetuating cycle where "standard" accents do better and people who want to do better adopt "standard" accents (along with standard English).

Haha, I do try to be Midwestern. "Pop" and not "soda," all that jazz. If I was living in Texas I'd use "ya'll." These quizes always make me feel a perverse desire to retain my NJ-ness, though. (Not that there is a HUGE difference between the two, but hey. It's a hobby XD.)

[tryogeru.livejournal.com]

You're not wrap all the time, right? You need circulation for it to heal. Joints heal slowly 'cause of the bad circulation (compared to muscle or something) and besides, I know you have bad circulation to begin with. So, wrap it when you need it, but when you're sitting around, prop it up so blood flows better and loosen the wrappings!

[troisroyaumes]

Of course not; I keep it unwrapped when I'm not moving, and I prop the leg up on my desk as much as possible. Also, I wrap it more loosely when I'm not expecting to go outside. Give me a little credit, I did read up on this pretty extensively.

[tryogeru.livejournal.com]

I'm just askin' man. Jeez. Take another pain pill.

[troisroyaumes]

Well, you did sound like my mother. >_

[tryogeru.livejournal.com]

Well duh. I sound like a mother a lot. I blame my mother.
You said you're keeping it tightly wrapped, and was asking for advice, and I was telling you everything I knew about joint injuries. I didn't know if you were keeping it wrapped too much or not, so I took a chance, since I care about you, in case you were keeping it wrapped too much. I am on my feet a lot during the day, and when I was wearing a knee brace, I probably kept it on too long and stayed on my feet too much, and I didn't want you to do what I did. Jeez. Fine then. I won't say anything anymore.

[troisroyaumes]

Sorry, my mother's been nagging at me a lot lately, and I've been rather easily irritated as a result. But you know, your tone was rather patronizing, and I actually wasn't asking for advice, just rhetorically complaining about the contradictory information in a lot of online sources. In any case, I apologize for being bristly; I didn't mean for it to offend you, just trying to say "Yeah I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me." I figured you knew me well enough to read my tone but I guess it's harder over the Internet. :(

[tryogeru.livejournal.com]

No, I could not tell you did not care for advice anymore. I mean, especially since you sounded kinda exasperated by all that stuff on the web. Whatever. I don't care anymore. Hope you feel better.

[troisroyaumes]

::sighs:: I'm really sorry--my fault for not being clearer and less irritable. Don't be mad, neh?

[tryogeru.livejournal.com]

Nah. Not angry. Everyone is allowed to be irritable every once in a while (I am pretty regular in my irritablility. Goes on a monthly schedule ^_~).

Oh, one thing I wondered about your post: You don't like pale eyes? As in, blue eyes? Or beard+pale eyes combo? Or you mean the native american 'pale-eyes' aka caucasian? I first thought the first, then I was re-reading, and I'm not sure now...

[troisroyaumes]

Yeah, me too, although this particular stage of irritability has been triggered by my mother nagging about schoolwork, my ankle, kendo, the Korea trip...I blew up at her yesterday and had to be really patient not to blow up again today. I really need a dose of patience. ::kicks self::

I don't like blue/green/hazel/grey eyes, on their own with or without facial hair. I mean, in real life, you know, blue eyes usually look like this washed-out color and are kind of fishy-looking. I like brown/black eyes best. Which makes it easier, I suppose, considering that pale eye colors are all recessive traits and relatively rare outside of Caucasians...

[tryogeru.livejournal.com]

heh, I don't notice eye color of a lot of people unless I spend a lot of time with them, close up. I usually have a default setting of "brownish"

[schwimmerin.livejournal.com]

Well, sorry my meme is odd :-P. But you did a good job of it anyway, thanks ribosome. I feel loved. BTW I totally agree w/

3. Nameless from Hero

Oh yeah. I shamelessly comment for adoration XD

[troisroyaumes]

XD Of course, we share good tastes, neh? And your meme is odd only in that it's a little difficult to answer. I suppose it got me thinking though. ^_^;;

Where to begin? Well, I adore that we're both dorks, in the best of ways, and that we can laugh over bad science jokes, bemoan our Internet addictions, go to interesting lectures, squeal over Translation the Interpretive Dance (TM) and pipette machine guns, and enjoy movie nights together. I also love that I can depend on you for anything, whether it be explaining the orgo problem set to me or carrying my laundry down the stairs when I have a sprained ankle. ^_~ Oh, and you are my fellow grapefruit addict at breakfast! XD College would be much more dull a place without my favorite ribosome! ^______^

[schwimmerin.livejournal.com]

PS:
don't know how to obsess unconditionally

Ahahaha. Totally NOT my problem ;) But it still doesn't get me anywhere :(

[clocklike.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you hear that your ankle's getting better! :D
And yes, I've really liked some (real) historical figures as well and that includes somebody named Kwang-Hae goon (he was a King's son, I forget which. He was intelligent and had a pure mindset/heart on politics. If it wasn't for his temper... <--couldn't the princess do something about that? o__o)

You get to go to S.Korea! Oh wow, you should definitely check out Namdaemoon & Dongdaemoon (South & East gates) and Kyung-book-goong (the palace! *squee*). Also there are museums in Seoul too. I used to live there, after all. ^_~

And for the "adorable" meme, I'm curious so I'm commenting for that too. (Haha)
Take care! ♥

[troisroyaumes]

Oh, isn't he one of the two kings who posthumously had their royal titles struck from them? He appeared on a episode of the Immortal Yi Sunsin K-drama that I caught while I was still home for spring break. I don't remember much about him, but he sounds interesting. Shall read up on him sometime. XD

Ooh, thanks for the recommendations! ^____^ I think I went to Kyungbokgung the last time I was there, but I don't remember it at all, so I should definitely go again. I also never got to go to Namdaemun! ;_; Everyone in my Korean class raves about shopping in Namdaemun shijang...

As for the meme, well, I have to say that I adore the way you're so affectionate to all your LJ friends. XD It's always so nice getting a comment from you, especially when I've posted about feeling down over something. I also like the fact that you write for a lot of my favorite series of course, because I'm horribly selfish like that and always want more fic on my friends list. <3

[jaebi-lit.livejournal.com]

Congrats! That's really awesome! I wouldn't want to stay in Korea for long periods of time, but for a few weeks, it's awesome.

Must:

go to 인사동 (antiques district)
go to 남대문 (shopping - even if you don't like shopping, it's worth it just for the experience of being in possibly the biggest flea market/mall ever, only indoors and air conditioned. Or it might be 동대문 that's indoors.)
go to 동대문 (shopping)
go to 명동 (my mum described it as the Manhattan area of 서울, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. At any rate, it's a busy, bustling, fashion district with lots of neon lights and glitter.)
eat 닭갈비 (there are lots of little places scattered everywhere)!
go to Lotte World
go to any 서점 and buy lots and lots of 만화, which is dirt cheap (TnO is 3,000 원/1 권!)

I personally didn't find 대학로 all that fascinating, but perhaps that's just me.

I'm not sure if you need a visa if you're going to be there for just under a week - try finding out online with Google or going to the nearest Korean consulate. I had to get one last summer when I went for 7 weeks, but I don't think I had to get one the year before when I was there for just 2.

[troisroyaumes]

Thanks so much! I'll definitely check out all the places you mentioned. (There's an antiques district? <3 And 만환 is only 3,000 원 per volume? ::starts saving up spending money for trip::)

I think my parents have decided to go get visas anyway because they're supposed to last up to five years? Or something like that? So, just in case we ever manage to make a family trip in the future. But yes, it'll be a lot easier if I didn't need to get the visa right away.

[jaebi-lit.livejournal.com]

I came home with v. 10-23 of 테니스의 왕자 and a few of Slam Dunk last summer. Unlike the bloody euro, the 원 has a really good exchange rate from the American perspective.

I went to 인사동 with a friend, and we spent the whole afternoon there (you'll need at least a day for 남대문 or 동대문, though). There was so much beautiful stuff, and so much interesting stuff.

Oh, and one more thing: eat at a 김밥/라면 집 or order 짜짱면 for delivery at least once, just to say you have. So quintessentially Korean. And take the 전철 everywhere (taxis expensive, walking is fine within a neighbourhood but not for getting between them) - if you can manage the NY subway, the 서울 system will seem like heaven. It was one of my favourite things about Korea.

[troisroyaumes]

Ah really? I heard the Seoul subway system could be kind of confusing. But I definitely like subways better than taxis (for one, I don't get motion sickness in them). Oh, and ordering 짜장면! I didn't think of that. I should start compiling all this into a huge to-do list. XD (Heh, I may just end up ditching the actual conference to go sightseeing. ^_^)

[derlirum.livejournal.com]

It was a little confusing in the beginning, but it's really easy once you've ridden on it a couple of times. Plus, there are free little subway maps that have the stops written in Korean and English. (The subway is really cheap -- I hardly ever took a taxi in Korea as it was expensive and I kept hearing horror stories about girls getting abducted. It probably doesn't happen as Seoul is quite safe, but still. XD).

You might want to try the bus system, too. But I think you'll need to have a native Korean show you around on that, though. ^^ I took a lot of buses, too, but of course, with help at the beginning. ^^

[jaebi-lit.livejournal.com]

It's complex and comprehensive, but by no means confusing. It makes infinitely more sense than the NYC subway, and the subway means you're never truly lost in 서울; you're generally within five minutes' walk of a subway stop, and once you're there you can find your way back to any part of the city you want to.

[jaebi-lit.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I usually take Singapore Air to Incheon. I've taken Korean Air and Asiana, but for the last few times my parents have gone with Singapore, usually through a Korean travel agency.

[derlirum.livejournal.com]

I wandered to your LJ again, courtesy of pornkings. (You know, I wander so much here, I was wondering if I might friend you? I've always liked reading your fic recs and your comments on Korean dramas, etc.)

Anyway, I just wanted to drop a few recs on places to visit/eat/etc. in Seoul. (I had stayed there myself for 8 to 9 months, doing the typical Korean-American back-to-my-roots journey. Enjoyed it immensely.) Here are a few places I'd recommend (if you don't mind my being presumptuous to offer them):

Places to visit:

[1] Toksugung: Nice palace (though, sadly, when I went, the museum was under construction)

[2] Ch'angdokgung/Piwon: It was lovely to walk about on the grounds -- and my favorite spot was the pond/pavilion

[3] Chungmyo Shrine: I went to the ceremony in May -- really interesting -- and the architecture of the shrine was lovely, IMOHO

[4] Namsan: Nice panoramic shot of Seoul

Places to eat (all Myongdong 'cause my aunt's business was there):

[1] Hwaenaengmyun: Rather small restaurant in Myongdong that served the best hwaenaengmyun I've ever had(it had lots of wood and no windows) -- wish I could remember the name and location (but I think it's pretty well-known)

[2] Kalguksu: Again, I can't remember the name or location, but it's on the 2nd floor of some building (not really helpful, I know, but I think it's also pretty well-known)

[3] Dolsot Bi-bim-bap: Famous -- lots of Japanese tourists go there, but again, I can't remember where it is (I think the dolsot bi-bim-bap was 8,000 won and it was located in a really narrow alley in Myongdong)

[4] Teahouse in Insadong: There are some pretty neat old-fashioned teahouses there

Places to shop:(a lot of the recs are known for having expensive name brands -- though when I went to Korea, I was just a poor student and couldn't buy anything)

[1] Apkujongdong: Galleria (lots of trendy fashions and people)

[2] Myongdong: Lotte Plaza (lots of stuff, from clothes, to housewares -- there's also a big grocery store and bakery basement level, I think)

[3] Myongdong (generally): Lots of boutiques, such as you'd find on Melrose in L.A.

[4] Dongdaemun: Doosan Tower (lots of cheap clothes -- and it's more organized that those other markets, Namdaemun and Dongdaemun, IMOHO)

[5] Dongdaemun: Migliore (again, lots of cheap clothes -- and it's also relatively organized)

[6] Yongsang-gu: Yongsan Electronics Market (supposedly lots and lots of cheap electronics -- went there to get some Korean CDs)

[7] Myongdong: Shinsaegae Dept. Store (I think it's kind of near Myongdong, if memory serves me correctly)

[8] Apkujongdong: Hyundai Dept. Store (another really big mall-like store -- also pretty fashionable)

Tickets:

[1] I think my mom went through a Korean travel agency. When I first went to Korea, I went on Northwest Airlines; it had a stopover at Narita Airport for a couple of hours. When I returned home for good, I went on Asiana Airlines. I highly recommend Asiana, if you can get tickets. (It's more expensive, but it's cleaner and less dingy than Northwest Airlines.)

[troisroyaumes]

Wow, thank you so much! I've been slightly bewildered as to where to go and what to see, especially in only a week, so it's really nice to have such a complete list like this! <3 I shall be sure to hunt down the restaurants you've mentioned (my mouth is watering already...^_^). Oh, and also thanks for the airline advice--I've never bought airplane tickets before so I've been completely bewildered how to go about it. This advice is really helpful! XD

Oh, and do feel free to friend me; I'll friend back. (It's always nice to find more Korean friends on LJ. XD)

[derlirum.livejournal.com]

Thanks! ^^ I'm glad to know that my rec's helped a little.

By the way, I forgot to mention one more thing re: airlines. Korean Air is another option that you might consider. (I'm not sure how good it is or whether it flies from your area, though.) Also, I think Delta flies to Seoul, too.

Here are the airlines' websites:

[1] Korean Air: http://www.koreanair.com/

[2] Asiana Airlines: http://us.flyasiana.com/

[3] Northwest Airlines: http://www.nwa.com/

[4] Delta Airlines: http://www.delta.com

I think prices range from $600 to $1,400, roundtrip. I tend to think buying tickets from the airline directly or on websites such as Expedia.com might be more expensive than going to a Korean travel agency.


Anyway, I hope you have a great time in Korea!

[faeryetale.livejournal.com]

Meemee. <3

Oh my goodness, your mood picture is hilarious. <3 And I'm glad your ankle is getting better!

How exciting! I'm going to Taiwan for 2 months this summer. ^^

[troisroyaumes]

Ooh, Taiwan! ^_^ I wish I could just take a year off to wander throughout East Asia...

I adore you for...well, being such a lovely, sweet person, warm-hearted and charming. ^_^;; I know it sounds terribly vague, but if I had a younger sister, I would definitely want her to be someone like you. XD (And of course, I adore your writing with its precise, delicate imagery that always makes me want to read it again and again. ^_____^)

[faeryetale.livejournal.com]

Wahhhhh. Thanks, my ego just inflated. XD

[aetherangelette.livejournal.com]

5. ...I can't even remember his name, but the young prodigy who becomes advisor to Wang Geon from KBS Taejo Wang Geon (Based on a real historical figure, who was oft-compared to Zhuge Liang. Enough said.)


^-- His real name is Tae Woo... >_> The actor that is~ (I think..xD)

That linguistic profile is interesting O_O; XD (It's too late at night for me to think properly)

Wooo, Korea?!?! Dayam, I wish. I have no clue though... anything about tickets and all that. When my mom went in Decemeber, we bought the tickets from a travel agent 'cuz it was cheaper than online. =X Maybe it was because she was going to leave the day we bought the tickets...

[troisroyaumes]

I ran a search, and yeah you're right! 정태우, who apparently debuted in that drama. (He looks ugly without the eyeliner though. ::sighs:: And freakily enough, '82. O_O;; I thought he was older than that.)

Everyone says travel agents are cheaper...maybe I should talk to my parents about that.

[aetherangelette.livejournal.com]

Keke. It's cuz I watched that New Nonstop drama... kekeke~ xD <3 that ... sitcom, really. And he does really look young in that sitcom, so no big surprise.

And that linguistic thing... I think it only comes out that way because of the questions asked -.- I tried it...and yea. My results came out pretty similar to yours; I'll put it up one day.

[aetherangelette.livejournal.com]

Oh, NOW manhwa! *__*? xD I'm being a bit hasty, neh?

What else are you doing this summer?

[troisroyaumes]

I'm staying here with my roommate, Daera, and, strangely enough, Annie H. (from Hunter). I'll be working at the same lab I worked at last year. ^_^ What about you? You should visit me here in Cambridge sometime now that I found where the 노래방 is. XD