Can we talk about Squid Game?
Picnic Journal Issue #9
Hello and Happy Chuseok!
I hope you don’t feel personally attacked that I didn’t send out a newsletter last week. This isn’t really my month, let’s just say that. Is it anyone’s month? Can we just pretend that the last 2 years never happened? Just, like, an unexplained missing 2 years from our life-resumes? Cool. This week I ate a lot of chocolate, avoided doing the dishes, cried at work and went on a road trip! How exciting! What did you do?
Here are three things I spent a lot of time thinking about this week:
Y’all gotta get out of town for a minute
Seriously. Air pollution, traffic, pushy people on the subway, gross city shit. We have to get out of here from time to time, see the ocean and what not. Remind ourselves of our vast, flat earth. Wow, I really have become a native New Yorker. Finally. Not really, I’ve never been to New York. It’s on the list. It’s pretty far down on the list, but it’s there. (I don’t think I have to add a disclaimer, but just for best practice, I should note that I am not a flat earther. I did meet a flat earther once, it was a strange day. Thank you.)
I finally got my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine
It was great. I love modern medicine. I was very disappointed that I didn’t get some sort of sticker or badge to commemorate the occasion, but I have higher hopes for my second dose. “They don’t give out badges at the end” is an acceptable reason to be an anti-vaxxer in my mind. Haha. It’s never acceptable. Gotcha.
‘Beyonce Pad Thai’
I happened to be watching The Mindy Project while writing this week’s newsletter. I just thought I’d throw in Mindy’s brilliant mantra for good measure. This is what I will be whispering to myself this week right before I turn my mic off mute in a video call. Three very powerful words, made stronger by being together.
Weekly Doodles
What I watched this week on Korean Netflix
Squid Game (2021)
Woah! What a show! I’m not good enough at writing to review this show! So I’ll do it anyway. It is pretty gruesome but in the same way that, I don’t know, The Kingsman is gruesome? It’s gross, but it’s kinda like, eh, this isn’t real! Nothing matters!
I will just say that this show is great… until the non-Korean actors come into play. I’m not sure if anyone else cringes their way through the terrible acting of foreigners in Korean films, or if it’s just me. I actually skipped those parts as I found the jokes, the scriptwriting, the delivery… all terrible. As bad as I feel for saying that… I just felt like I had to share. But hey, I’m a foreigner in Korea too. It’s tough out here guys, we’re all just doing our best.
The Imitation Game (2014)
This is one of those films that I’ve been meaning to watch for the last seven years and never quite got around to it. Why did it take so long? It’s great! I won’t spoil it for you as you may have also been holding onto it for seven long years. Shh.
This Week’s Video:
A night in Sokcho with my husband
Last week my husband and I took a much-needed one night trip to Gangwon-do to see the ocean! Who would have known that a few splashes in ocean water could remind you that you're more than just your job? You're a human! A real-life person who gets to enjoy things in the outside world. It was such a great trip and a great way to spend our Chuseok holiday. I hope you're all staying safe and trying not to get stressed out like I am. Also - unrelated but I finally got the first dose of my vaccine. Soon I will feel less panicky about leaving the house.
From the Blog Archives
How to get a non-teaching job in South Korea
Hi job seekers, are you having a hard time finding a job in Korea? I’m sorry to hear that, but it’s also a pretty normal and common situation to be in as an ex-pat. So it’s fine. It’ll be fine. You’re fine. BUT, just in case, I’m here to give you some handy tips on how to get started with what may feel like a never-ending quest. I have a degree in job rejection, but luckily I got a PhD in bouncing back. First, let’s break some things down with a series of questions to see where you’re at, and then you’ll get all of the juicy links to the sites and the things. Keep Reading
Favourite follow on IG this week:
@jennymwalton
My biggest Instagram crush is Jenny Walton who just bought/rented/acquired an apartment in Milan. Why am I so excited that a human I’ve never met has fulfilled a dream of hers? She’s a complete stranger! It’s bizarre, but I love it because I am genuinely so excited for her.
The song I can’t stop listening to:
Ben Platt: Waving Through a Window (Dear Evan Hansen)
Ummm are you kidding me? How does Ben Platt sing ‘Waving Through a Window’ live better and better each time? When your favourite musical is turned into a film with the original Evan Hansen as the main character… it’s just magical. I won’t be needing a Christmas gift this year, this is all I ever wanted. Thank you, Ben Platt, the songbird of our generation. And of all generations for that matter.
Goals for This Week
Get to Friday in one piece
Yep, it’s that dire, folks. My new job is kicking my nuts and that’s all I’ll say on that. Have a great week everyone! And by everyone I mean the one person who reads my newsletter! And by the one person who reads my newsletter, I mean… myself. Yeah, I read my own newsletter. Sue me!
Thank you for reading. Have a great week and don’t forget to buy clothes that are trendy and cool only to get home, regret it and immediately go back to return them and change back into your Uniqlo tracksuit XX
Keep in Touch
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