HipMamaB's Asian Pop Culture Education Week! Lesson 1: Gwiyomi

A side outcome of my trip to San Francisco with the Samsung Imagelogger team was my introduction into the work of KPop and Hong Kong popular culture. Since you all know I'm a huge dork when it comes to what is COOL AND POPULAR, I glommed onto my new bestie, Hong Kong photographer Kar Hoo Chow, for a crash course on all things popular in Asia. This week, I'm going to school you on all that I learned. Because, really? It's so amazingly fun. 

Lesson 1: Gwiyomi

In Asia you just can't be TOO CUTE. In fact, sugary sweet cuteness is what it's all about. And the song Gwiyomi is just that. A song about a Korean girl's adorable love for her boyfriend and how she wants him to promise that they will be together forever (with a pinky swear), ending with six kisses - one for each finger and thumb.

"One plus one is cute, two plus two is still cute, three plus three is also cute"

Basically the song is the same words over and over sung as cutely as possibly. But on top of it, girls have added cutesy hand signs from 1-6 in addition to adding other cute expressions like pouting and cupping their chins to pretending to be cute bunnies and kittens. And filming themselves doing this. And adding them to YouTube. 

This particular video has over 3,600,000 hits!

While obviously some things are lost in translation, here are the English lyrics to the song: 

Over a chocolate muffin

Waiting for a cup of savory milk

Oppa and I sit facing each other

And scribble on each other’s hands

Don’t look at other girls

No matter what they say

You’re mine (You’re mine)

Don’t even talk to other girls

I’m yours (I’m yours)

Please pinky promise me

That you’ll never leave me alone

1 plus 1 equals Gwiyomi

2 plus 2 equals Gwiyomi

3 plus 3 equals Gwiyomi

4 plus 4 equals Gwiyomi too

5 plus 5 equals Gwiyomi too

6 plus 6 equals chu chu chu chu chu chu Gwiyomi

I’m Gwiyomi

So there you have it. Gwiyomi. 

August 5th…

I haven't shared much at all about my divorce. Those who know me in real life know more details, but for many reasons, I really have tried to keep it off the internet. I don't want things said in anger or emotional turmoil to end up haunting me for years to come. And while I'm a very public person, I do have parts that I chose to keep personal. That all being said, today, I'm choosing to write. 

Today, August 5th, would have been Jason and I's 13th wedding anniversary. 

In years past, I would have changed my Facebook profile picture to a wedding picture depicting us all young, shiny and in love. I would have written something about love and partnership and the adoration of marriage. And I can honestly say that it was always truthful and from the heart. 

Today, I stare at the date and try to evaluate my feelings. I prepared for this particular anniversary by finally removing all the wedding pictures from the walls and wrapping up my dried white rose bouquet that has been on display for almost 13 years. Of course, I cried; A chapter of my life is closing. When I think about the past 13 years I can't help but just be amazed by how much has happened, how much I have grown and changed. I think about the 25 year old bride I was, and the 38 year old woman, and mother, that I've become. And even with how things have turned out, I don't regret having married Jason 13 years ago. 

When you ask divorced couples if they had any doubts before walking down the aisle, many will say they did. Many will tell you that they felt they had to go on with the wedding at that point, even though they didn't want to. Maybe it's because I'm the eternal optimist, but that was not the case with me. And while where we stand today may not be where I imagined we would end up when we spoke our vows on that warm August day in 2000, I know that I was meant to have this experience. I was meant to have my kids. I was meant to learn about myself and grow into this particular woman.

I was meant to spend 15+ years with Jason. 

People keep asking me if I'm okay, and honestly, I am. I may not be "skipping through the flower fields happy" at my marriage ending, but I am in a good place. I've learned a lot about myself (too much?) and I know that no matter how hard the logistics are, how challenging the change is, I know this is what is best for me, my kids, and even Jason. It may not be traditional fairy tale ending, but in truth, "they lived happily ever after" is more realistic for us today than it was last year at this time. And that is ok to admit. 

So tonight, August 5th 2013, I'm going to pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate the past and toast to the future. 

My future. 

The Post-trip Post: Where I Get All Sentimental and Girlie #Imagelogger Real Time Explorer Trip

Did you go to sleep away camp as a kid?

I loved camp. My first year going to camp at CIMI, I didn't know anyone and by the time the boat docked 2+ hours and 26 miles across the sea later, I had already begun to form amazing friendships with people that I would never have met in other circumstances.

Leaving San Francisco on Saturday morning after a whirlwind trip with Samsung as part of their Imagelogger program, I felt the same way. Happy to have had the experience. Loving the new friendships formed. Sad that I will probably never see the majority of the people again. 

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt

Just a little background on the dynamics of the trip. First, I was the only female "Imagelogger" there (But there were two wonderful women from Samsung on the trip as well!). Second, I was only one of four Americans on the trip. All the other invited guests were men, from as far away as Hong Kong, Korea and Italy. Third, I was the only one that is not a "real photographer." And by "real" I mean professional or even good enough to be considered "amateur." And while I know that as a mom I represent 90% of the household purchasing power in the US, and as a blogger I'm fairly influential, it was still a daunting thought going into this trip knowing that I was the lone girl shooting on automatic. 

But you all know me - I'm cool like that.

I can go with the flow and always have a good time. The trip itself was exhausting and amazing. Being the one that always is planning, and prepping and thinking about what's happening next, it was really nice to give up almost all control of my choices for 4 days. The only thing I had to think about was what I was going to wear in the ever changing microclimates of SF and maybe choose an item off the menu for lunch. Seriously, I made 2 choices a day for 4 days, and it was wonderful. If I wanted a new lens to try, I just asked. If I needed a battery for my camera - there was one waiting for me. I was told where to be, how much time I had and when I had to move along. And? It was heaven. If you were following me on Twitter or Facebook, you got a glimpse into everything I experienced. From wine tasting to the races to hang gliding to ferry cruises to a Giants game - we DID San Francisco. 

Life is about experiences - people come into it, even briefly, for specific reasons. Each and every moment of your life changes you just a little and adds to you in a particular way. The people I met on this trip have now all added something to my life, and I love them all for it. 

My heart is full because I got to know them all and share this experience with them. 

And yes, there are still more pictures coming.