My World: 2013

Monday, November 25, 2013

My Favorite Coffee Shops so Far

It’s been a while I didn't write my blog post due to being busy. Now that I got time for that (Thanks GOD ^^!!!).

Oh~ let me tell you guys, it is super cold, dark, cloudy raining outside there (and surprisingly it's still in fall season~GOD!!! What an insane weather), and I am sitting in the coffee shop, drinking a cup of hot americano while thinking what I should write about. I am trying to find something interesting to post, but I think it is better to go with "reviewing + sharing" my favorite coffee shops in the city that never sleeps (Seoul).

Well, there are plenty of coffee shops everywhere in Seoul that I have visited. For many foreigners I believe STARBUCKS and DUNKIN' DONUTS are recognizable brands. But there are so many coffeeshops (the korean-owned small business), which is quirky in their own way with themes ranging from rustic to modern, down-home to design school, simple to fancy one.

By the way, talking about coffee shop, the things that come to my mind first are (of course) QUESTIONS. When did I start to drink coffee? When was my first time? And which coffee shop was I visited for the first time?

I am not really sure when did I start to get obsessed with hot/iced americano. But, I guess maybe it was on my freshmen year (second semester) back in my undergraduate. I remember that since I stepped to the second semester, where the school life was getting harder for me and I started getting busier with the bloody homework, assignments, and programming projects, I started to drink coffee. The first coffee shop that I visited in my life was probably Tom N Toms coffee shop, and Latte was my very first coffee. But later on because it is too sweet, I then tried americano. Since then, I got obsessed with americano because it really keeps me awake at night, and yeah easily say as my life savior.

You know this feeling right, when you got a pile of works to do, where those should be done on time, but you don't even know where to start, or you purposely procrastinate. And when the deadline is right around the corner, what will you do??? You definitely got STRESSED out, FRUSTRATED, and OVERWHELMED because things are not going well as you expected. So, to fight against the time you have left, COFFEE is probably the only one you WILL NEED for REAL.

Yes, I admit that it happens to me all the time. When I feel like my time got so short to finish homework + assignments + programming projects on time, americano is the only power that I need. It could help me awake till 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning.

Of course, individual has different reasons of consuming coffee. However, personally, I need coffee because of what I have mentioned above. Need to finish homework/assignment or projects that I got. Here are the coffee shops that I go the most so far:

1). Studio#83 Coffee shop
2). Tom N Toms Coffee shop
3). Starbucks Coffee shop
4). Caffe Bene Coffee shop

***

1). Studio#83 Coffee Shop

This coffee shop is the one that I go the most. It is located near Sogang University. You can go there by subway line no. 6 and get off at Daeheung Station (exit no. 1). Around 1 minutes going straight, you will reach the place.

Check this link out -> https://www.facebook.com/83studio83

The reason I heart this place is that it has nice atmosphere, comfortable seats, and it is very convenient and quite which is really perfect for studying. Besides, Some of the tables has stand lamps on it, complete with the outlets which is efficient for students looking to charge their devices while completing homework or writing papers. There’s also a bookcase that makes you feel like you are in super cool library too.

Iced americano vs. iced latte

Hot americano vs. hot latte

Point card (front look)

Point card (backside look )

I purchased delicious hot americano and hot latte,
and worked on my blog at one of their various table
suited for customers who need a lot of space for their materials

The coffee shop interior design (on the second floor)

Simple and small bookcase
And you can tell from the photo as well
each person is busy doing their things

2). Tom N Toms Coffee Shop

Honestly speaking, I love Tom N Toms choco butter bread. It’s perfect to have with a cup of americano. The place is suitable for meeting friends and discussing things, or chitchatting. BUT, it is not suitable for studying I tell you.

One thing I like about Tom N Toms Coffee shops is they are having shops open for 24 hours a day (but not all, only some of them).

Tom N Toms Coffee Point Card

3). Starbucks Coffee Shop

When I want to have delicious coffee then I will get it at Starbucks. I have tried americano in many places, but if I can evaluate, Starbucks has the best taste of americano so far (Just saying~~~).

Perfect taste

Because too many people mostly go and stay there, I rarely stay in the coffee shop to study or do homework. I usually go there for refreshing and reading some magazines while drinking my coffee. On the other hand, the place is kinda noisy, and the wifi service is a bit complicated to use. However, for those who like Jazz music as I do, then I recommend Starbucks coffee shop. They have super catchy Jazz musics and they are so perfect to be listened. It is worthy to spend money on buying both experience and things. Plus, it is perfect for hanging out with friends and chitchat while having coffee.

Because I found it uncomfortable for studying in the Starbucks coffee shop since they always crowed, I got these babies to create my own Starbucks looks alike atmosphere at home.

Starbucks Tumbler (텀블러) ^^ 올 겨울 걱정없겠다

Starbucks white mug medium size

Maxim Kanu mild americano coffee

4). Caffe Bene Coffee Shop

For chilling out, sometimes I go to this coffee shop. When I was studying at Sogang University, I sometimes went to Caffe Bene coffee shop which is located just across the street of Sogang's main gate. Now that I moved to another place, which is Wolgok, I go to the one nearby. The photos below show how the shop looks like inside (on the basement floor).

Seasonal Caffe Bene Cup

Cafe Bene point card

Anyway, for you who like to hangout and ADMIRE/PURCHASE artwork, I highly recommend you to go visiting Samcheong-dong. It has plenty of cutesy and picturesque cafes. However, keep in mind that most of the coffee shops there do not have wifi.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Most Annoying Things About Living in KIST Dorm

I have been living in KIST dormitory for almost one month and half. After two days of my graduation from Sogang University, which was in August 15^th, I moved to this dormitory.

If I compare the dormitory's room that I live now with the dormitory that I used to live when I was in undergraduate, this dormitory has much more space to move.

I love everything about the room and things inside it. The room design, the size, the bed, the wide size of bathroom, the desk, the balcony, the closet. Everything!!! However, there is only one thing that I DO NOT. I'll tell you from now.

Since the dormitory that I live is specially only for foreigners to stay, then DUH~ I need to live with a foreigner. I was actually excited who I'm gonna live with. I wished to live with someone who at least has a calm relax manner, I mean respect her others or such. But, as what people say, "Things don't always happen the way you want or expect" is TOTALLY RIGHT.

And, yup~My roommate is a pretty girl. She is nice, clean, but there is a thing that I completely DO NOT like about her. She is TOO LOUD. She TALKS a lot. She does CHATTING the whole day I can tell whenever I am in the room without asking whether I am OK with that or NOT. And yeah she TALKS even when I sleep.

The worst part was that she brought her friends into the room and talked while I was still sleeping. She even brought a guy to the room. What a SHOCK!!!! You know, they were in the room when I was out, and I found out when I entered the room.

At first, I thought that I went into the wrong room, so I closed the door again to ensure if it was my room. Then I put my glass on and saw the room number. And yes it is my room.

I was so freaky pissed off, but I tried to be calm and asked if she had a strong reason to bring that stupid guy into the room. I started ask the guy why he was in the room, but unfortunately they both were shock or whatever, plus they don't really speak English well, so they didn't answer my question. What they did was just looked at me and said NOTHING.

That made me repeat my question for the second time, and then for the third time. But they didn't say anything. So, I changed my question if there’s something wrong with her computer, so she brought him to the room in order to fix it up. But, What the Hell??? The guy said he just wanted visiting the girl.

DAMN. My anger was EXPLODED and I started to yell and asked the guy to leave the room as quickly as possible. I yelled just like someone has stolen my stuffs. I tell you I was boiling mad. Why on earth are people so effing IGNORANT???

For the next day, I informed this matter to the International office and to the security as well. And, they arranged an orientation about the dormitory, and started to post warning message all over the wall of the dormitory to not bringing opposite friends into the room.

However, pity me that for the next day until last week I guess, she started to eat in the room, started to talk too much. She keeps her STUPID attitude, and I needed to keep reminding her to SHUT her STUPID MOUTH UP, and not to do this and that. It’s just like a mother who keeps watching her 5 year old baby.

At the end, since I couldn't stand it anymore, I came up with an idea to set "ROOM RULES", and I discussed with her to compromise. And yes, it works until now. She now does not talk whenever I am in the room or sleeping. She keeps the room clean, so do I. We both compromise the rule that we made. I hope everything goes well and keep like this way.

I highly suggest you who live in the dormitory or live in boarding house that share with other people, setting "ROOM RULES" or "HOUSE RULES" is the best WAY for avoiding CONFLICT between roommates.

BE BRAVE to say NO if you feel uncomfortable. I know it is hard for some people to do, but try to be HONEST with yourself. Nobody's gonna kill you anyway if you say something according to your feeling.

So here is the ROOM RULES list that we set up.

Rules that my roommate and I set

BTW, I think I'm out of the topic. hehehe....So, let me go back to the main point, "INTRODUCING DORMITORY". The photos below are the dormitory that I live now. It is called B Dormitory which is only for international students. The funny thing is that this dormitory allows you to live there only for 2 years. If you leave the dorm before 2 years, then you cannot come to live there anymore if you decided to come and live there again.