Life Goals and Achievements

It's totally not been 21 days since I lasted posted something... Anyway, I joined Pinterest last night after my friends persisted that I do it, and I've made three 'boards' so far to do with my life: life goals, achievements and relationship goals. And since I haven't anything in a long while, I though I'd share what things I have done and things I want to do (relationship goals will be joined together with life goals). Because why not. So here:

Trying Something New + Update

Okay, as you people know, my blog is mainly focused around Korean dramas. But due to the amount of things happening in my life and the posts I've cut down on, this blog is rarely active now. So I've decided to make this blog a more personal blog (aka writing about stuff happening in my life) than an information blog. I'll still probably do reviews, choices, upcoming dramas, etc., but I need a place to put down some of feelings when there's no where else to talk about them.

So yeah, look forward to more life posts from me.

Patriarchy, Abuse and Gender Roles in Asian Dramas

WARNING: This article contains sensitive content

Note: Also, I'm aware that some of these dramas have good aspects as well, but I'm going to focus only on patriarchy, abuse and gender roles. I'm also aware that what I'm talking about here is not restricted to Asian culture only, so there is no need to get insulted if it so happens.

Asian dramas in general are very entertaining, however, there is a dark side to almost everything, and that includes Asian dramas and some of the values and relationship models that have been promoted by them and media. This topic is not related to the Asian entertainment industry alone, its roots are deeper and they lie in Asian culture, history and gender issues.

Karma

I don't remember what I've done or said for karma to bitch slap me in the face, but it's hit me hard today. Really hard. It's nothing depressive or aggravating, so don't worry your cotton socks.

As some of you may remember from a while back, in my first ever monthly choices post, I posted about getting my 'The Amazing Tour is Not On Fire' tickets. That day is soon approaching (12 days!), and I'm super excited for it. I've actually have a countdown in my planner since April of this year, counting down the days until the 9th of October. 

3 Week Hiatus

I'm just making a small post on here to say that I won't be able do anything or post for the rest of this month because I'm on a 3-week holiday to Corfu. I have downloaded the dramas School 2013 and Reply 1997 to watch while I'm there, so I will probably make one or two posts on here while I'm away, just for their reviews. This also means that new articles won't be updated until September, and any major news while I'm away will have to be found somewhere else.

A Significant Life

"One way to get out of a nightmare is to wake up. But if I can't wake up... the nightmare continues." - Jang Hyuk Rin, Yong Pal

"After seeing the results, things that seem unrelated come together to form one, and unimportant moments all feel like destiny." - Park Yeon Seon, White Christmas

"When we were in school, you studied really well, so I had a hard time, because I had to go to the same college as you. Even though it was annoying and difficult, I followed you. But for over half my life, I followed you. I didn't realize that me following you around wasn't a habit, but love. For not going anywhere and sticking to my side like gum, I'm grateful." - Park Ji Eun, Producer

Dragon's Loyalty Award - Dorama Minaoshi Ver.

Rules

1) Display the award on your blog.

You'll find the award linked in my personal posts tab.

2) Announce your win with a post and acknowledge the person who nominated you.

Thank you muchly Eve, from Pen & Key! I've been long waiting to do another post like this, and you've made that happen! Thanks again!

3) Present 15 awards to deserving bloggers.

Emma (EmsyThorne)
smilesifyXO (Smiles No Matter)
And that's it...

Shizuku Takahashi - Hiding Behind a Mask

I discovered my addiction for the internet during my last year of primary school, 5 (technically 6 now that Year 10 is over for me) years ago. The first thing I did was sign up on Facebook and add all of my friends, from my school and from my past friends in Belgium. However, after that, I wanted to join more social media, like Google+ and Twitter, but because of a tiny incident in past, I didn't want to use my real name. Around that time, I had also discovered anime, and it was probably around at that time I was watching Bokura ga Ita (We Were There) and Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun. And I came up with the idea of using a Japanese styled name as a persona on the internet, and so, the name Shizuku Takahashi was created.

Who Are You: School 2015 Ending Rewrite - The True Ending (Part One)

Eun Bi and Yi An stood together on the bridge of many events. The bridge that first gave Tae Kwang his romantic feelings towards Eun Bi, the bridge that Eun Byul finally confronted Yi An on after she disappeared for months on end. And now, they both stand there again to tell each other what needs to be said.

“I didn’t realize you would be leaving so soon.” Yi An finally started to stop the awkward silence. Things had been so difficult for them both recently, especially with Eun Byul’s sudden reappearance and So Young’s constant threats towards Eun Bi, that they both weren’t in the greatest place.

A Meaningful Life

"She never felt like she belonged anywhere, except for when she was laying on her bed, pretending to be somewhere else." - Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park

"Now all you can do is wait. It must be hard for you, but there is a right time for everything. Like the ebb and flow of tides. No one can do anything to change them. When it is time to wait, you must wait." - Haruki Murakami, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

"...I sometimes think that people's hearts are like deep wells. Nobody knows what's at the bottom. All you can do is imagine by what comes floating to the surface every once in a while." - Haruki Murakami, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

Writing Boredom: Regret

 A combination of cheese, tomatoes, and manicotti pasta fell down towards the ground and arrived with a huge crash as the platter smashed into sharpened pieces. Heath stared down at the mess he had created, refusing to look directly at Sera. He tried to contain himself as she uttered those words, but no amount of self-control or anger management classes could have stopped him from venting out his frustration on the ruined meal. Unable to stop, Heath walked towards the dining table and put his hands down as to suggest a menacing demeanour of anger and dissatisfaction.

My May 2015 Choices - K-Dramas, Actors, Songs, and more!

May has gone by extremely quickly and I've found some new favourites of mine this month. Although it might not be as much as last month, it's still something!

Who Are You: School 2015

At the start of this month, my new favourite Korean drama started (it even beats Pinocchio!) and it's been an absolutely amazing ride so far. It follows the story of Lee Eun Bi who was previously bullied at her old school. One day, she commits suicide when she was accused of something she never did, but was saved by her unknown twin sister, Go Eun Byul. However, after Eun Bi was saved, Eun Byul went missing and Eun Bi was forced to take her place at her new school with the childhood swimmer - Han Yi Ahn, and the hot delinquent - Gong Tae Kwang. I'm so sad that there is only another three weeks left, but I honestly hope the writers end the drama well with Eun Bi together with Tae Kwang and Eun Byul with Yi Ahn - also making sure that Eun Bi does not move school again.

TMI Tag - Dorama Minaoshi Ver.

Eve - Pen & Key - invited anyone who wanted to do the TMI Tag (on her last post) to do it, and I had no other posts scheduled to do, so I thought I might as well do the TMI Tag as well. This also means I'm stealing a lot of Eve post ideas, but I hope she forgives me! ;) Anyway, here we go!

1. What are you wearing?

I decided to have a pajama day because my mother recently got injured so we can't go out for a few days (with the exception of the gym, but we skipped today because she was in pain), so I'm wearing my purple Geek pajamas with a lovely stripped bottoms.

Don't Let Your Actions Destroy Someone Else's Life

This post is a few months older than I would have wanted it to be, but I'm posting it now, so that doesn't really matter. In the following video, it shows us how only one female journalist ruined a family's life by simply saying a few words. This Korean family was a happy one, they didn't have a single worry or doubt in their minds. However, one day, the father of the family went missing when his firefighter squad were almost all killed in a massive fire. Without investigating anything, reporters fled to the family and asked about his whereabouts - all assuming that the father had run away from the fire. By doing these actions, this pushed to mother and the younger son to commit suicide by jumping of a cliff (the younger son managed to survive). This led the elder brother to loathe reporters.

The Creative Blogger Award - Dorama Minaoshi Ver.

I was tagged by Eve - Pen & Key - to do the Creative Blogger award. The rules of the award is to just give five interesting facts about yourself. And then tag a bunch of people who you then want to do the award. So let's do it!

Five Facts About Me

1. I run a YouTube channel called Luxio Limerence, which I basically just open Pokémon packs, trades and other Pokémon merchandise. I've only uploaded one video so far because I just started on Thursday (30 April 2015), but I'm recording and uploading another video tonight, and then again on Monday (4 May 2015).

The British Tag - Dorama Minaoshi Ver.

Eve did a British Tag in her last post, and she tagged all British people, and as I am British myself (and somewhat Belgian), I thought I should all do the British Tag. I'm also tagging anyone who is British.

1. How many cups of tea do you have a day? How many sugars?
I don't usually have any sort of hot drink unless it's an extremely cold day or I felt like it, and when I do have a hot drink, it's always hot chocolate. Tea is way too bland in my opinion, and if I were to have it, I would have around about 20 sugars.

My April Choices 2015 - Books, YouTubers, Actors, and more!

Yeah, it's not like I borrowed this idea from Marzia or Eve... Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my favourites of this month because I don't have much else to do.

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

Right at the start of this month, I finished one of my most cherished books ever. Fangirl is an amazing story about a geeky, fanfiction-obsessed university undergraduate falling for her roommate's tall and smiley best friend, whilst also dealing with her twin sister becoming separate from her by drinking and partying with friends, and her mother reappearing again after she left them both at a young age. You can easily connect with the characters in this story, and you just love almost every single character.

Rest in Peace: A Tragic Loss

Last night, round midnight, I found out that a classmate of mine passed away that same day. He was someone I never really talked to much, but he was still someone that was fully part of my form. When I found this out, it took me by shock and I still haven't fully recovered after more than 12 hours. I was unable to sleep for 3 hours thinking about the loss. This made me realize how precious my friends and the time together we have is. You don't know when you are going to lose someone who is a part of your life, and when you do, you will never be prepared for the impact it brings on you.

R.I.P Matthew.

The Emotional, but Fictional After-School Events of April 20th, 2015

When I got home today, one of the worst emotional roller-coasters happened to me, and it's been a very long time since I felt like this, so I thought I'd share with you all my trauma that occurred in the world of fiction and fantasy.

Best Blogging Buddies Award - Dorama Minaoshi Ver.

Rules of the Award

1. Make a post about the award on your main blog.

2. Tag the person who nominated me in the post.

3. Nominate all of your friends/buddies and people who deserved the award.

4. Ask at least 15 questions.

5. Answer all the questions your nominee set for you.

Yay! I got my second blog award! Even though I've only done one other award, I love doing these because I find them quite fun to say the least! Anyway, I want to thank Eve - Pen & Key - for nominating me, and giving me some brilliant questions!