Anonymous Interview Questions

 Hello!

Mirriam, at http://shieldmaidenthoughts.wordpress.com/, made a post about 'random, anonymous questions'. I haven't done anything like this in a while (since the 'tag' thing died out, hahaha), and so I figured I'd do this! It seems kind-of fun, though I always experience difficulty answering all of the questions.

Lee Minho (1993) in The Moon that Embraces the Sun

• Five ways to win your heart? Be a Christian, understand me, have at least SOME knowleadge of how to cook/clean, be honest, and make me laugh. Could I add on 'artistic' to that? It's not neccesary, just definitely wonderful. ^^
•  Something you feel strongly about? Bad relationships: missunderstandings, favoritism, and lack of communication. Depression (I just can't give one answer, can I?).
•  A book you love? Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones, Westmark, by Lloyd Alexander.
• Pet Peeves? When people don't exit out ads fast enough on videos. When my sister won't stop talking when I don't feel well. Sticky piano keys. Cold hands/feet. The aforementioned things I feel strongly about.
•  How comfortable are you in your own skin? I'm pretty comfortable in it. Some days, I wish I were prettier, or smarter, but I figure I'll deal with it as it comes. I generally only feel that way in the presence of extremely beautiful people (or at least people I find beautiful). As to being comfortable with my personality, I am quite comfortable with it. I have my flaws, and with the grace of God I'll get to them. I am myself, though. I try not to let the strange glances get to me. ^^
•  Something you always think ‘what if’ about?To repeat Mirriam, I have the 'what if it's a dream' thoughts quite often. I also experience some darker thoughts 'if I don't do this, I'll die tomorrow', or occasionally 'they will die on their way here'. They're normally fleeting and very strange, and I have to ignore them. I chalk it up to overactive imagination.
•  Five things you really want? 1. Time 2. A clean bedroom 3. Christmas tree lights 4. A yummy bowl of ramen 5. A trip to Taiwan.
• A quote you try to live by? I don't know...I guess it would have to be verses in the Bible. I'm sure there's one somewhere...oh, well, can't find a quote. ^^
• Five guys you find attractive? Kang Dae Sung, Lee JinKi, Jung Il Woo, Lee Minho (born 1993), and Kim Jong Wan (of Nell).
• Five women you think are beautiful? Yoona, Minzy, Ha Ji Won, Shin Min Ah, Audrey Hepburn.
•  Something you’re currently worrying about? Homework, housework, piano practice!
• What do you hope your future will be like? I'd love to spend the rest of my life travelling and living in East Asia. I also hope I can teach English as a second language, and at some point, I'd love to be fluent enough that I can help teach Korean. I would be completely delighted to be fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Japanese. It would be great if I could tack on Portugese, Spanish, German and Vietnamese. I want to create as a hobby; drawing, painting, writing, anything. I would be happy to tackle the art of washing dishes and folding laundry with a smile on my face. Furthermore, I think it might be nice to learn how to keep bonzai trees. And, if God wills it, it'd be lovely if I could get married at some point in the next 10-15 years. ^^
•  Five weird things that you like? Oreo 'Neopolitan' cookies (I firmly believe they are as good as Pocky), guys wearing 'skinny jeans'-the fitted type that aren't too tight (I've heard this is considered gay and/or extremely unfashionable in American culture), finding dust bunnies, untangling knots, studying people's personalities.
•  Something that you’re proud of? I get really happy when I accomplish things, even little things. I'm proud of learning as much Korean as I have. I'm proud of good grades, etc. As far as being proud of people, I can't list them all here.
•  A problem that you’ve had? I procrastinate! I'm procrastinating right now! Augh!
•  Something that you miss? This summer. It was amazing. Last Christmas, which was equally nice.
•  One thing you’re excited for?The Geminids meteor shower and the Christmas parade tomorrow! ^^
•  Something that bullets your whole day? Bad things happening either around the world or to my friends and family, getting up late and not doing anything.
• Put your iPod on shuffle and name the first ten songs that play? Cowboy Junkies-Sweet Jane, BIG BANG-Cafe, Kang Dae Sung-Try Smiling, NumaNuma Remix (hahahah), Stevie Nicks-Sorcerer, SHINee-Hello, UB40-Cherry Oh Baby, Cyndi Lauper-Time After Time, BIG BANG-Ego, G-Dragon-Butterfly,
•  Things you like and dislike about yourself? I dislike my innability to clean and focus. I like that I find interest in different people and am generally level-headed (or at least I appear to be).
•  What are you wearing? A navy blue shirt with bleach stains on one sleeve, black jeans, 4th of July style socks (way out of season), tennis shoes, and red/brown/white stripped fingerless gloves.
• What do you think of school? I like it. Most of the time.  
• What makes you happy? When someone writes me an encouraging card or letter. When someone does something nice for me, without being asked. When something wonderful happens! When I can sit back and do something enjoyable without feeling guilty.
•  What makes you angry? People who fail to understand others and make fun of them in the process. Though this often makes me more sad than angry. I get angry for a while, but I can't do anything, so then I just feel sad. Very, very sad.

Well, I guess that's it! Hope whoever is out there reading this enjoys the question and answer! And if you happen to want to do it yourself, go ahead! Send me the link in a comment! ^^

-Argentia

Lonely Winter

I want to watch the snow fall outside my window
In the cold darkness outside, warmly with you
Winter is coming slowly 
To the time of your gentle heartbeat

I would be delighted to walk down main street
Gloved hands shoved into our pockets
Guarding against the cold
Bright lights in our eyes

Stars will fall around us, if we just walk together
Please, don't walk apart from me, not too far
I will miss you until I know you
It's not a shameful thing to me

Longing for a handsome smiling face
This does not mean I'm not thankful
Loneliness is not always pain
Firmly believed, quietly stated, often contemplated

Let's not waste away our winter with wishing
But don't forget to think about me
As I think about you
Lonesomely speaking to the stars

-Argentia

17 on the 17th-Once in a Lifetime

So, today I turned seventeen. Seventeen...I love the number seven, actually. I've loved seven since I was about ten years old, I believe. Something about seven is so...interesting.

I woke up at 3:50 this morning to go out looking for the Leonids-a meteor shower that peaks on the morning of my birthday every year. Boy am I exhausted from staying up for this long. I'm going to bed soon! Forget the homework and writing! Hahahaha
You can read a little more about the details of my birthday event on my mom's blog right at this post- http://timestooshort.blogspot.com/2012/11/happy-birthday-daughter.html

My mother, brilliant lady that she is, realized that my friend Christopher and I don't have many pictures of ourselves together. I still can't figure out why. >.< Here's two that Mom took.

Leaning...I think this is my favorite. Except I didn't smile. >. >

My eyes are closed...*sigh*

 

Mom says this is how we normally look. =P

And this is the mountain of awesome stuff I recieved! Thanks, everyone! (I also recieved some wonderful memories!)


-Argentia (Caroline) Krystofel

Chinese Princes

I have grown convinced that Stinkbugs love me. Those flat green/brown ones? Yeah. They love me. For the past year I've seen them frequently. One was on my computer. The other was crawling across the table past my plate. Another one was crawling past me in the hallway while I watched dramas. I found one in my room this spring. And this last one? He was in my hairdryer. Yes. I'm dead serious.

He was clinging onto the grate of my hairdryer. The poor thing had become a dry powdery shell of what he was before. I feel a little sorry for him. But he seriously freaked me out. I'd gone from screaming everytime I see these things to just instantly killing them with anything I had, to watching them fly around in the back yard. Last time there was one in the house, I waited patiently for it to be caught and did not panic. I almost caught one myself once. This sounds pathetic, but these bugs scare me. They scare the life out of me. I hate them, with a passion, and I can't figure out why.

Well, after today, Mom decided that these crazy Stinkbugs must really like me. I agreed, saying "I must be pretty popular in the Stinkbug community-these guys will go to any length to spend some time around me!". XD Somehow, I reached the conclusion that perhaps, these stinkbugs are cursed princes, like the frog in Princess and the Frog. So, yeah. Cursed princes.

Do you know where these Stinkbugs come from?

China.

I can't believe it. I've massacred.... magic Chinese princes. I'm an awful human being! T.T Ahem, anyway, no, I haven't been hurting any Chinese people recently. In fact, I find them quite charming, especially after going to see the Cirque Chinois Wednesday night (I'll post about that later). I would rather give them big hugs rather than ever hurt a hair on their heads. But either way, it was a funny buildup. Definitely comical.

-Argentia

Expanse

Expanse

My feelings are inaudible right now, out of sight
They dissappear into the cold, awaiting night
Patient as it is, looking down with starry eyes
Clear skies

I wish I could lie out beneath the stars and stare
Make patterns of faces in the sky
Travel thousands of miles
Greetings, friend

I want to float through the clouds on a sunny day
A warm day in June, summer's arrival
Touchdown on the bustling, running bright city
Grab a snack, take a bus to the seaside

I breath in the chilly fall air, frozen world in the snow
I want to ice skate across an ocean
Somewhere far away, with thoughtful and crystalline solitude
Where the leaves fall quietly

I want to see the skyline, gray and dismal
Offer an umbrella to a passing stranger
Because you can only buy one for six dollars instead of three
Cluching frail arms, water dripping from a small, flat nose

I dream of walking the beaches again, in the sunset light
Observing the boats, lit up on the distant, never-ending sea
Trails of airplanes and the first few stars in the brilliant blue
While the water reflects golden sunlight close to the shore

And perhaps snowflakes dancing down, a youthful moment
Life in a snowglobe, winds blowing softly
Peering into a warm, crackling fire, clutching loving gifts in my hands
Gray winter world, perfect timing

I suppose the stars could also greet me
If they weren't quite so far away
And so very empty
Lifeless

But for now, on solid ground, the stars are bursting with life
They are a beacon for us to sail by
A picture for us to observe together
Possiblities for us to dream about

Without the burning lights, a contemplative night
Is the same in all seasons; it does not change
Expanse of black, little stars, maybe a moon
Thoughts

 -Argentia

P.S. I'm eating a lonely piece of Pocky before the end of Peppero Day-because it's 45 minute drive to buy Peppero. *sigh*
I guess I'm okay with being given Peppero next year, alright? ^^

An Update

So, recently I haven't updated my blog because of so much schoolwork and such. Believe it or not, I have a break from all the crunching right now, because one of my professors got our schedule screwed up a bit. ^^ I'm completely positive no one wants to hear about school, though, so I'll just talk about the random details of my life at the moment. :)

Spanish (I'm not calling this schoolwork! No way!) has been giving me a little trouble. I'm hitting what I call 'stage 2'. The new words are becomming IMPOSSIBLE to remember and are being lost with the old words, and I'm struggling to read any of the text I'm given without my Spanish-English dictionary (or Google translate, for a quick but not so accurate fix). Thank God that all of our big tests have been open book. Oh, but there's an oral test on Wednesday? What?
I'm also quite worried about the 'Field Trip' assignment we have due on November 28th. I have to go and speak Spanish to a Spanish-speaking person. Just a little-but Spanish, for gosh sake!-and it can be either at a tienda (store), restaurante or soccer game (I'm completely forgetting the names for soccer game right now...futbol something another...jugar is to play...yeah. Hm.).

Superstar K4-Recently been entertaining me with the performances of Roy Kim and Jang Joon Young. The aforementioned is a youtuber I used to follow, so it was extremely exciting for me when I discovered he'd made it on to Superstar K4. It's a Korean music program much like...I guess American Idol or Britain's Got Talent. I don't know; it's a singing show, that's all. People audition and 100 are chosen and then knocked down to the top 12.  I was pretty amazed when it turns out Roy and Joon Young managed to make it the top 4. ^^

(Joon Young is in the off-white coat and Roy is wearing a white button-down. ^^)

Also, I've done a little NaNoWriMo, but I think I'm going to stop at 30,000 words. If I could get there, that would be really nice. I'd have to hit 15,000 pretty soon, though, to finish. So I don't really know. ^^

Our microwave broke, my brothers are belt ranking for yellow belt (I'm sticking with white, thankyouverymuch), Super Junior's Leeteuk enlisted in the military (that may seem insignificant, but it's actually a pretty big deal since he's the leader of one of the most popular groups in Korea), TTMIK had their live streaming of Gangnam and other such places, where they talked about Korea LIVE, which was really cool but also cost me a load of sleep last weekend, hahaha...my friends from NYC came in for a visit at my grandparent's house. That was pretty fun, but also stressful for them, because they were worried about their house and the damage after hurricane Sandy (they live on Long Island).

In closing, it's been really interesting lately. It's also only 7 days until my birthday...4 days until Dad takes me to see the Chinese Circus...*sigh* I suppose life will continue to get interesting, no? Let's see who wins Superstar K4, whether or not I survive my speak in Spanish assignment, and if our new microwave can prove it's as good as the last one. =P

-Argentia

Short Story. -_-

This is a story I came up with/began to write during my vacation in the Outer Banks. Going there always seems to do something to me-I'm grow creative and inspired by the change in scenery. ^^

Anyway...random story bit.

 I stared in disbelief at the situation. Spaghetti sauce dripped from my chin, noodles dangled haphazardly between my mouth and fork, and a beautiful girl sat just ten feet away at the table across from me. I could tell she was looking me up and down with that typical expression which said 'what on earth is wrong with that little Chinese kid?', and I'm sure the embarrassment of the whole ordeal had my face a deeper red than the tomato sauce.

 It was a sad moment in my life. I was reaching for the napkin container with one hand, while the other was occupied with forking the noodles back to my plate, when I suddenly felt cold hands touch the back of my neck.

 I jumped. Then I knew the whole thing was over.

 The napkins when flying in a cloud of whispy white, the metal hitting the floor with a loud clang. My fork dropped onto the table with a thud, spaghetti dumping into my lap. My hands dropped softly onto the table, and they rested there.

 I looked up and glared at him. His dark brown eyes met mine, friendly and excited. I scowled as meanly as I could.

 "Yoo Joon!" I hissed, "what is wrong with you?"

 "Sorry! I forgot!" He explained haltingly, "ah, mess, right, I'll clean..." he murmered, stooping over to begin cleaning.

 I sighed, lowering my head in humiliation. Forget the girl. I was the only guy in the place who had just gone limp because he'd been spooked and couldn't even clean up the horror he'd created.
 I stared at my watch.
 Thirty seconds.
 One minute.
 One minute thirty seconds.
 Two minutes.
 Two minutes thirty seconds.
 Thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three...
 It came back slowly at that moment, just as I was sure I'd be there forever, my sweater sleeves dyed with spaghetti sauce and peppered by parmesan.
 A waiter had come over to help Yoo Joon; my face had been wiped for me, my hands lifted from the sauce, and my plate cleared away.
 "Okay, looks like we're good now." Yoo Joon announced. He smiled at me; his nervous eyes darted about, and he wiped his hands on his jeans absently.
 "Yes," I answered, lifting myself from my seat shakily, "I think it's over."
 "I'm really sorry, Michael." Yoo Joon apologized, biting his lip and squinting at me behind the black frames of his glasses.
 I smiled. I was still irritated, but how could I stay angry at that face?
 "It's okay, Joonie."
 Yoo Joon grinned, "good. I'm glad you're not that angry."
 "If I were, I'd be in trouble again..." I muttered, glancing around uneasily.
 "Let's leave." Yoo Joon whispered, "we're being stared at now, and your shirt's dirty. Let's get a new one."
 I nodded and followed him. We exited the restaurant just above the food court of the mall, and before I knew it, my friend was spazzing out over some designer clothes he'd seen, and then the new video game he hadn't played yet, and then the gourmet food he wanted to try. I watched with calm amusement. He wasn't always so intolerably bouncy, but the day was a bad one for both of us. Stranded for a three-day weekend in Orlando hadn't been our idea of a vacation. Yoo Joon's grandmother wanted to see him for Labor Day weekend and I volunteered to tag along. Yoo Joon's grandmother was a sweet lady, and I liked her a lot. Her house wasn't uncomfortable, and the neighborhood was quiet. If our prescription transfer to Orlando hadn't been fudged up so royally, things would have been fine.
 Yoo Joon's stepdad is a health nut, so he had Yoo Joon attempting to forgo all medications for a week. It was looking so nasty I was about to wring Mr. Park's neck, but thankfully he'd decided that his herbal remedies were no match for Yoo Joon's ADD/HD and resulting insomnia.
 My story was a bit more complicated. My doctor recently died. He was a great guy, we were incredibly close, and I missed him a lot. The substitute doctor that had arrived from Virginia didn't know anything about dealing with a narcoleptic. I'd been so stressed over the past weeks from Dr. Ming's death and my doctor not allowing me to refill my medications, my cataplectic attacks had increased. For instance, last week I was talking on the phone to a college friend and started laughing. My knees buckled, I collapsed into the floor, and I couldn't get up for five solid minutes. It was the worst thing I've experienced since high school and I didn't want to do it again.
 But, it seems Yoo Joon's father and my new doctor had no intention of changing the way they were treating us until Labor Day weekend rolled around and we were stranded in Orlando.
 I wouldn't normally have been so irritated, except I was away from home in an unfamiliar place with my hyper-active bestie and my own habit of falling asleep anywhere I sat down.
 It was only Saturday afternoon.

Days

I'm even bleeding and I don't feel it
Because my hands are so cold, so cold

But my heart is beating fast
My feet are shifting, don't notice, don't notice

It's a long sigh as I use my chapped lips and stiff tongue
To breathe a voice of recognition, for it's all here, it's all here

Winter came earlier than predicted
My soul is calling for more time to the rain, the rain

The grayness of the clouds, swirling above me
The moment of quiet stillness, it brings me alive, alive

November is the definition of who I am in a ways
Quiet, still, traditional, cold and dead, and yet warm, warm

I'm warm right now, yet I'm freezing
Anticipation is taking over my life and I'm nervous, so nervous