Korea has come and went. I knew I would think this before I got there, but my vacation was much too short. There were many things about Korea that I loved, chief among them was how much more like America it felt from Singapore. (For more reasons than besides the fact they drive on the correct side of the road)

Korean Fever

I had a conversation with a white guest at my guest house, she this lovely mother who walks with a cane and was born in Zimbabwe and is married to a Scottish man, and she was telling me she was so awed by the people in Korea. "They're all so pretty out there!" she had said, "And there aren't any OLD people wandering around."

I disagreed, then told her about the old Korean woman who nearly pushed me to my ass on the train. We both agreed that it was just so hard to guess the ages of Asians, her son (Who was working in Korea) had been telling her that the people in the handicap seats were all most likely over 60. But it's not about Asian genetics, at all or there would be more Singaporean men here who i would be oogling at. 

I've always thought this and it was only solidified by going to Seoul, but Koreans are so well groomed. There were a pack of four or five Korean girls who had caught the train for a week about 8:00 when I was going to work, and I always admired them. They stood out among the Singaporeans in so many ways-- their airbrushed skin, their bright captivating eyes, smooth hair, distinct style, the way they talked to each other... their posture. No slumping over in baggy printed Ts or scuffing about in high fashioned fitflops. Korean women in Korea were (for the most part) exactly what I thought of Korean women in the past. And okay, their men could be a bit accessorized... but I liked the underlaying style of Koreans more than most other far east Asians.

I should have gotten my hair cut there.

T-MONAY

I was on my own for the first few days, I decided to do a quick walking tour of my area and figured it would be a waste to just wait for my party to get there, so I brushed my teeth. Smiled at the white people eating breakfast at the kitchen and tried not to butt in despite how much I wanted to let them know I was American... The time would come soon enough. And then i walked my way to the place my bus dropped me off at. There was a train station there, and on a whim, I decided to buy a one way train ticket to City Hall. Once at City Hall, I realized they had instant money, and I stood in front of the vending machine for a minute looking at it thinking, 'shoooould I or should i not?'. I bought one. Best investment all trip.

Singapore has a similar system with their public transportation called EZ-link. Korea's T-money was ingenious. and cute. Of them readers out there who own a car and don't need to use public transportation, let me explain to you it's a pre-loaded tap pass that is (Can be) the size of a credit card. You put it on the turnstyle and the style will read it, draw out a deposit, then let you in. In Korea, you can use the T-money card to get on trains, buses, pay for taxis and even at some convenience stores. (I bought a token, which is the size of a phone charm!)

Apparently, a T-money card from Seoul can be used in different cities that use tap cash in Korea. Which I think is pretty bad ass. Just don't forget to load it before you leave the city. Even as a visitor, I didn't mind spending a bit extra on a T-money token; it makes a good souvenir.  

1, 2, 3, KIMCHEE!

Smile; forget about it. Cheese; FIiiift retro. Kimchee is the new catch phrase. Though before I get into food, there is one thing I need to declare before all else: P-- I love you, but this is the last time I go exploring in Far East Asia with a vegetarian. We can go to India together, and any other city that has easy access to non meat dishes-- but seriously... HOW DO YOU NOT GET FRUSTRATED IN ASIA?!

The food, by the way, was worth it. Though I had a few misses, for the most part Korean restaurants had good service, food, prices... atmosphere! Just... remember to bring a guide book or a phone that can google image a bowl of rice.

I would have been quite happy to experience a bathhouse or a traditional style house, but I have to say, sleeping in a guest house was not half bad. Maybe though, because I had my own room. Even then, I was looking forward to coming home. Guess it was cause I was a tad Greedy. =} Ironic right, I was the one who was waiting in Singapore... and he's the one who picked me up from the airport. 

So I have been a cheat and watched the leak spanish version of Young Justice and I have a few things to say about the series continuity. 

Doesn't follow Cannon, but I don't give a fuck-- the show is awesome. This is spoken as an avid fan of the original comics done by Peter David. Now, all other complaints or praises aside, I have been looking up someone's comments about new members to the team and I had to say, I was really appalled at some of the responses. The rumors of new members have been popping up since the show began, Wonder Girl being cheif among the supposed lineup (who I was a bit shocked that she wasn't in the first place). Here are some of my opinions of the most common (or most irritating) positions that people want to fill.

Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven -- Okay okay, I know that this incarnation of Robin, and Kid flash are both the Teen Titan's secret identities. However, Young Justice is NOT a remake of the Teen Titan's story. This team's Dick is a lot more like sidekick Dick and not Teen Titan's Dick, or he's a lot more emotionally like Tim. And though Wally is definitely not Bart, having someone like Bart would make the show too juvenile. Bart's emotional role is filled in by Captain Marvel who is the adult of the group and acts like a child. Besides, Kidflash didn't make it into the last few TT cartoons anyway, so he might as well be new. As for their membership, WHAT skills would they add? Beastboy, a shifter, would be a repeat of Miss Martian's Role. Starfire, an alien would be much like Miss Martian's role. And Raven, a mind reader, would be like... oh wait, stop me if I repeat myself. So then we get to the complaint that Raven is the supernatural link, I turn to make the argument-- What is Zatana? I thought it was very good of DC to freshen up the characters and give some of the less known sidekicks some TV time. I have to say, I was getting a bit tired of the teen titan lineup. 

Kyle Rayner's Green Lantern -- Are you kidding.... he's much too old. Besides, Kyle's role as a hero is kind of like the role Miss Martian fills. And in addition to that, Kyle was never a sidekick-- in fact, none of the green lanters were ever sidekicks. Seems to defy the point. 

Wonder Girl. -- As a fan of the original, I have to say I was VERY surprised that she was not on the team from the onset. I consider the big three superheroes of the DC nation to be Wonderwoman, Batman and Superman. Wondergirl (who was in the comic version of YJ) would have been a natural female choice. I read online that licensing agreements disallowed it, theren I understand, but when they said it is possible, I grew a healthy fear that she may be a reoccurring character and not a permanent member of the team. Now, the funny thing is I actually do not like Cassie very much-- or if they so choose, Dona... (But I hope it will be Cassie) -- I do however think she would make a very well rounded addition to the team. We'd have another flyer, a better heavy hitter, AND a strong leadership type female charachter. Yes, Artemis is a very strong female charachter, BUT she is more of an insecure troubled rebel, and not a confident female leader. I hated it when Wondergirl took over the JY team in the book-- but her charachter is strong enough to be a new voice of reason in the cartoon. Plus... I want a blonde. 

Artemis/Arrowette -- Yes, of course I was a bit peeved that Artemis was picked over Arrowette. But she plays much the same role but darker. The same spirit. And so far I have very much enjoyed her backstory and the development of her character. The problem with having vastly recognized individuals from a prefabricated comicbook continuity, is that there is very little room for creativity, and Artemis is a good outlet for it. I don't see why the team would need another archer, when arrowette's spirit can be filled with the one we already have. 

S'Lobo and Empress. -- Okay... I liked little lobo... and with the intergalactic war coming soon, I wouldn't complain if he became a new member. In the comics, his personality changed a lot from when he first joined the team and when he finally passed away at the end of the book. BUT-- besides being a rough'em up alien, I'm not sure what kind of powers he would contribute to YJ the cartoon... Empress, as well, is the token colored girl of the team, and Her powers is fairly similar to Zatana's. As we have a reoccuring Rocket, and the team leader being a dark (Atlanterian... but he still looks quite black), I doubt they'd bring in another african american. 

Static -- .... really? Isn't he like... non Atlanterian Kaldur?

Supergirl -- We have a super boy.

Secret -- well, they've already decided to show her but not bring her in. She is very much an important charchter in the comics, but since her cadmus role of bring the team together was transferred to Superboy, I will not complain. I do however, really hope that she and Harm could make more appearances her powers (the green lantern isque of the team) were kind of subsidized by Miss Martian. 

Miss Martian -- Okay... I really didn't like her, and I still don't care for her personality; however, her role in the show is monumental-- as a team nurturer, as a love interest, as a powerhouse. I don't like her, but she should be there.

So what am I saying? I want to add S'lobo and Wondergirl just because I'm a traditionalist. But As it stands, I like the lineup as it is.  

I sent a message to Pride, and it was an odd occasion in which he sends something to me back... Something telling me he needs a connection. and all he said was,

"Sometimes I miss you. But just for selfish reasons."

I think that the act of missing someone is inherently selfish.  There is no way that your missing someone could ever be for their benefit. So here is the best part of it all; by missing him, I'm actually indulging in my own self pleasure. It makes me somewhat happy to know that I have been spending these days on making myself feel better. Just a bit. And then it makes me miss him...  =} Selfish, I know. 

He's been unhappy. Not new news. And to my utmost shock, he hasn't found someone else in the time I've been away. Considering how he was... well... That's an old story now. But someone as beautiful and strong, and talented as him... he'd never stay single for long. he was happy to see me; he even let his guard down and told me he missed me.  

It's hard to let your first love suffer. Especially if you still love him after years of ... well whatever it was he did to me. The moment I saw that text my heart broke. I wanted him to be happy. I really want him to be happy. And that's also very selfish of me. 

This is the worst time of the year for my Pride. I know this... I forgot for a while, but I did know it. Last year I cried so hard because I was helpless, far away and useless. Stayed back for something so worthless, leaving my Pride broken and alone. It was shocking how much it affected me. It was alone, and I knew exactly how hard that was because I too was alone. 

This year I guess with Greed to keep me company, I had forgotten what it was like to feel for Pride. He was alone and it was painful; I felt pain for him... but I had forgotten... I had totally forgotten about him. 

After a few months of being out of contact... I had just assumed he didn't want to be reached. i had just assumed he found someone else to keep him company, that being Greedy was a good alternative to being Prideful. I thought maybe my Pride wanted it that way-- lord knows it's been trying to get rid of me for years and I was the one who selfishly and proudly held it back. I'd been so consumed with Greed though that from this I am begining to worry that I promised him something that he actually wanted. I just figured Pride didn't want what I would sacrifice to him...

But he's been texting me now, and i'm wondering if maybe he was hoping to claim on my promise somewhere down the line.

The next conversation I have with Pride will break his heart. And I hate that I have to do this, but I have to. The thing is he's been let down by all of the people who have claimed that they love him and therein lies my only hesitation. I know he doesn't want me, but I will be another that claimed to have loved him truly and would always be there for him-- and now, in the most sensitive time of the year for him, I will tell him I cannot give him any physical comfort. Sucky part is that I still do love him... but I know he's not going to be able to see that. 

But I can't be with him, not anymore. I tried to hold out but I guess Greed got the better of me. And where we promised that we would keep it simple and casual, something in him changed. I don't have those strong feelings for him that I think he has for me, but I do like him-- which is a league more than I can say for any of the other men in my life besides one. And after knowing how he feels about me, even though we're not together really-- I cannot ... well 'cheat' on him. 

Someone asked me, 'Well think of it this way, who do you rather be with? Then just go with your heart.'
I looked at her and said, 'Without a doubt, I love Pride... but I also know that he will never be with me. And I could love Greed more, but I don't right now.'