Japan + Korea film
In April of 2023, I left for 3 weeks to travel in Korea and Japan.
I told myself this wasn’t a time to work.
I’m not lugging around my heavy professional camera and robbing myself of the moment.
So I simply put a small film camera in my bag.
Here’s what I remembered to capture while I was making real memories.
For many many months I took lessons, hired tutors, and even gave duolingo some of my time in an attempt to learn Korean.
When I was privileged enough to live abroad for 9 months in 2020, I lived by only a few moral guidelines.
The biggest one was this-
With any border you cross, you must learn some of the language. The basics if anything. You will say thank you. You will show effort. You will care.
*** pause for memories ***
And, while I’ve traveled around the US, and to a destination wedding in PR, This was my first time out of the country since the pandemic.
Fun pops of color near Shibuya, Tokyo - Japan
This anticipated trip went by lightning fast - As I feared it would.
Sitting here many weeks later, sifting through final rolls of film, I feel like
“What the gjdklfg just happened?”
Did I really do that?
As an adult, All I had known was work. I love to work. Honestly, I love to see progress. But I also don’t know when to stop. I don’t see myself deserving of a vacation. Vacation = guilt. I sometimes just melt into a machine, and lose sight of my humanity, my sensitivity, my color. I cringe a little saying that. “I love to work!” That’s gross, isn’t it? I absolutely deserve a moment where I’m not frying my eyes out beyond a screen.
It doesn’t help that I love what I do. And my clients are extremely interesting and cool. But hey, I really tried my best on this trip. While I couldn’t stop capturing every second of my experience, I wasn’t “working”. Turns out, I love documenting life even when there isn’t a paycheck attached.
Checks out. That’s how I got into doing what I do.
So with my slightly above beginner korean skills in tow, I headed to South Korea. To meet new people, to meet my tutors, the korean friends I made while repeating the same word over and over again in anguish, to try new food, to simply exist in a space where I am a stranger.
I wish it made sense to go on and on and on about this trip. But I could write novels.
That last photo, the one of the cute lady holding up a drawing..
Well, She was amazing. And that is a caricature. of me.
I’ll attached a photo from that day here, of course film — and let you decide how she did.
Braids braids braids (an attempt to mark my youth)
I photographed with a few options I picked up at a film vending machine in Seoul.
Kodak Gold, Portra 400 + 800
and also tugged along some of my Grandmother’s heirloom 30+ year old film. This stuff is super grainy. Super messy. Not always good. But sometimes amazing. Plus, It’s grandma’s film. Cute.
OH, there’s the vending machine I’m talking about. Along with a local, Haley. Here’s some photos of all of us. Not exactly directors cut. But I paid for these images, so I’m using them.
Haley took us (my cousin, India, and I) around everywhere in order to show us the best of Seoul. This was SUCH a busy day.
WE went to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (동대문디자인플라자),
and Gyeongbokgung Palace | 경복궁
and we tried many streets foods in Myeongdong
annnnd we got Bingsu 빙수 (Mango flavor!)
I was so exhausted. And the film was half good half bad. Partially because of user error (The film camera I brought was borrowed, and a point and shoot at best)
This day was especially great because Michele, my new swiss friend, and Anna - a high school friend who relocated to Seoul recently came to meet up for Korean BBQ.
The photos from this are so……! they’re sooooo…. well they’re photos. Blurry. I have crazy eyes in one. Some are awkwardly close. We aren’t models. That’s okay!
Speaking of the Swiss friend, We also adopted a German while we were there. The one film photo I was able to get of us is below.
Erin (left) , Julia (pronounced YULIA!) in the middle, Michele (right)
I originally planned to conquer this trip alone. A little eat + pray + love type of deal.
But my cousin decided to join, and the trip was all the better for it.
Here she is - Her name is India!
We did a lot. Like I said, I can’t begin to cover it. But I can’t let you go without mentioning Seonye 서녜
Okay, who is this person…It’s a tutor friend! I taught her English and she taught me Korean. We met many times through video calls, and I was excited to meet her in the south of Korea, near Busan.
okaaaay. Enough, enough, let’s introduce her.
Majestic Seaside at Waveon Coffee.
This wonderful, gracious, intelligent, amazing woman took us all around. genuinely - ALL. AROUND! She drove us for countless hours, morning to night. To the coolest cafes, the coolest views, and everything in between. She made my dreams come true. And we could not have had the day we had without her.
Are you sick of me yet? Well - either way. This was just the beginning. And to share these little moments makes my world spin. I feel like seeing the world through the lens of film evokes a childlike wonder. We all know why film is amazing. It’s because it takes trust, it takes connection with the subject, and it takes flexibility. You never know what you’re going to get. But you take what you get anyways.
Look forward to one more post about Korea with my two friends Juho + Madelyn! We took some fun casual couple photos on film as well.
