Korean Dramas? What?!

The year 2013 was the year I had watched so many dramas, I'd honestly lost count. This included marathoning entire series to watching episodes as it aired. The thing is, it was all American and British dramas like White Collar, Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, Sherlock, Doctor Who, all of which were heard of and popular in the media.

Around summertime that year, a friend of mine was trying to push something new towards me, Korean dramas. What?! Honestly, I never considered to watch dramas that were not spoken in English. It never occurred to me that I may be interested in dramas other than the normal British and American ones that everyone goes on about or are advertised in mainstream TV.

As I'm someone who's open to change (well at least I like to think I am), I thought okay, why not, let's give it try. This friend of mine, decided to give me a drama that was popular amongst the K-Drama fans (one that converts everyone to a K-Drama addict), Boys Over Flowers. And what a mistake that was. I guess you have to know your audience when you want them to try something new. I never actually got past the first episode of that drama, thus my judging it may be unfair but truth be told the acting was appalling that even the infamous Lee Min Ho (Korean actor praised for his looks and acting - overrated in my opinion) couldn't sway me into watching any further let alone give another K-Drama a try.

Now this friend of mine had been a K-Drama addict for a while by then and was on a hunt to bring a few more into her addiction as she went along. After months of not-so-subtle encouragement and pestering she finally had me giving it another try but this time she picked a different drama, A Gentleman's Dignity. I've gotta say, she'd nailed it with her recommendation, because after that drama, I was hooked.

Since, then my addiction began and all I watch now are just K-dramas, and I could give you endless list of reason why they're awesome but in this blog I'm aiming to give you an idea of what tends to happen post-K-drama addiction.

One thing I wish my friend had done before veering me towards this, was to seriously give me a heads up. Without a doubt you absolutely and undoubtedly need, is the K-drama addiction warning.

So, here are the things that I think I should've been forewarned about before attempting a K-drama:

1. Say goodbye to sleep

You become nocturnal once you become a K-drama addict. It's a case of 'just one more episode and then I'll sleep' but sure enough, you'll find that it's time for work and you haven't greeted your pillow.

2. Greetings to a hearty appetite

One thing about K-dramas is that the characters are always eating, and man does the food look awesome. So, after watching that episode you'll most likely gander off in hunt for some ramen (or in most cases for me a crappy instant noodles).

3. The constant swooning

Yes! These guys and inexplicably swoon-worthy - you'll be sitting there with a joker-style grin, the hands in fists clutched to the chest and the dreamy wistful sighs.  Every time you watch a new drama, you fall in love all over again. By the end of your first month, you would've had quite a few oppas! (Hangul for boyfriend.)

4. Second Lead Syndrome (SLS)

Now this one you need to get used to, because man it happens in way too many dramas. The guy who is absolutely perfect, treats her with kindness, respect and love but oh guess what he's soon pushed into the 'friendzone' and the female lead skips off into the arms of the cocky, arrogant first lead. Wae?!! (hangul for why, which leads me to my next point...)

5. Hangul dropping

You'll soon find that your non-K-drama friends are looking at you weirdly as you start to use hangul words and phrases in your daily life. Ottoke?! The effect this addiction will have on you...

6. Sudden Desire to go to Seoul

So, before your places to visit may have been like, America, Singapore, Mauritaus etc, but now randomly what makes it to the top of your list? South Korea! After your addiction, you've a growing desire to visit the places and eat those mouth-watering food and perhaps bump into a gorgeous oppa or two. So, get ready to adjust your bucketlist and make room for what comes with this addiction. And I tell you it's helluva a conversation starter too.

7. K-drama to K-pop

What's more likely than not to happen, is you start to spend a lot more time on google, from googling that hot first lead to finding the soundtrack of that drama. Eventually, anything Korean-related will get you jumping in excitement. Therefore, it's inevitable that you'd get hooked on to K-pop, if the the likes of SHINEE and EXO are anything to go by, 'cause boy can those guys move!

8. Irrational Excitement

Well, I don't know whether this applies to all K-drama addict fans but I can be sure to say that many of us would've experienced this. I'm referring to the stupidly irrational way we behave when we come across a Korean person. They are just people who, at that moment look at you as if you're demented. I guess, the excitement derives from the feeling that you'll be able to connect with them due to your K-drama addiction. Makes no sense, and I'll admit I'm guilty of this. Had one of those moment during my trip to Istanbul, and grabbed my cousin's arms so tight and wide-eyed, 'Those people are Korean!' and her deadpan expression said the rest...


So, these are only a few of the things I wish I'd been warned about before jumping on this band wagon of sleepless nights and nonsensical excitement. There's plenty more consequences I assure you and if you're one of us then feel free to share your ideas with me, I'm sure we'll agree on plenty.

The Geek Within

Fanfics are huge nowadays and some of them are particularly entertaining. One particular fanfic that stood out to me was The Shoebox Project, introduced to me by a fellow amazing HP fan (and a brilliant friend).

So, The Shoebox Project is a fanfic based on the Marauders from Harry Potter set during their years at Hogwarts. The reason why I mention this is because, as you've probably realised I am a huge HP fan - books and movies!

This blog is about the extent to which I loved HP and it was just not me. While I was working at Sky, I met two of the most amazing girls who happened to share the same level of geeky passion for HP as I did. As with any geeks, we characterised ourselves with the Marauders - Moony, Padfoot and Prongs (Sorry no Wormtail, spoiler he's a rat!).

Just a little backstory, these marauders were mischief-makers and got up to all sorts during their time at Hogwarts. Moony, was unfortunately cursed as a werewolf and as loyal friends do, the others practiced the art of transfiguration within the confines of the Gryffindor boys dormitories to become animagi, taking the form of a dog and stag respectively, to keep this friend company during his moon-inflicted change. While Moony was the one who tried to keep the others in line with the rules, he could only resist the urge to get up to no good oh-so much.

Anyway, we took the idea of The Shoebox Project and implemented into our normal working days (Yes, we are weird and such geeks, but we love it). Our geekishness took to new levels and a chain of emails (much like the letters from The Shoebox Project) began.

Here's an example:

A reply from Moony (one of the amazing friends) to Prongs (myself):

Beautiful Brown-Eyes Prongs, 

I grow weary in these hot summer days, they make me ever so prickly, I must apologise for my foul moods for the past couple of days. The moon, she is not kind at all. Why must she plague me in all her glory when she is full? I cannot enjoy her for I go into darkness. But alas, I must go away so as not to cause any harm. Fret not, four days away will be but a thought of the past by the time I get back to my Marauders.

I shall try and follow both your paths of mischief but I fear that the good-two-shoes part of me will always hold me back for I cannot cause any mayhem. 

Oh, manizing ways? I suppose I could try bringing it out a bit more to help cover our tracks. However, I think I have more to learn from you dearest Prongs and the ever mischievous Padfoot, than you have to learn from me. 

I do hope this reaches you safely, I am off to find a peculiar muggle treat. They call it ice cream and it comes in different flavours, shapes and sizes. It's frozen and they have a chocolate version of it... If I do find it to be extremely good for my werewolf senses, I shall endulge thee with it on Thursday...

Looking forward to the reunion ^_^

Messr. Moony

Reply from Prongs (myself) to Moony:

Most Esteemed Messr Moony, 

After leaving your company yesterday, I felt a certain emptiness that I was not expecting and I must say it took me back a little. It seems that your attachment has become rather official and it would be painful to shake you off so, I am to hold you closer to my heart. 

So, as I sat in my room awaiting a response from you my until-now frivolous buddy, the sun began to sink and the moon took its place in the sky, it was nightfall. I came to realise that the mailbox would not shudder alerting me of your response. The disappointment... and soon sleep overcame me and I had forgotten. 

With a dreaded feeling that my hairy-backed friend would not be here today and the absence will be a gaping hole, I made my way to work and sat where you once sat (or at least I think you did). The gloomy feeling came to an unimaginable end, for the mailbox gave a happy little ping and dear Moony had sent owl. And as if that was all it was, the length of the note and the content was precise, for if I had not received an essay with fancy-schmanciness from Moony, it would be something else entirely. 

How can I stay mad at that annoyingly adorable face? I cannot! Moony, you know how it affects me so, when you talk of the pain the moon inflicts upon you. Be strong old pal! We'll have a good chase about. 

Four days will indeed be a thought of the past as I know I am to expect more notes from, telling us of your happy time in the sun and doing the typical nerdily Moony thing and gaming away! So relax now and do as much good things as you can do, because once you're back I'm afraid there won't be much law-abiding. 

Fear not dear, if my troublemaking does not have much effect, then me and Pads combined and nothing shall keep you from coming over to the world of mayhem and fun. 

Manizing must definitely re-surface, and your monogamous attachment to the musically-captured Flitwick must be concealed during our frolicking runs. Do not sell yourself short wise ol' Moony, for you have the raw material for what is to make a true mischief-maker and with amazing and beautiful company like Padfoot and myself, there is no mistake!

Safely, but untimely Moony, but I guess that is to be expected when such effort was put into this. A muggle treat? I've heard of such a thing. Different flavours? Why Moony? Why would you need any flavour other than the luxuriously mouth-watering taste of chocolate, that in this case will melt in the warmth of your mouth and cool oozingly down your throat?

Oh dungbombs! Why are you torturing us, while we sit here in this office with no sunshine and staring at computers? Thursday you bring this frozen cream and enjoy it with your favourite pals. 

Careful now Messr Moony, sounds like it's not just the moon that will grow the fur on your back, your wolf senses heightening with the taste of this ice...cream you say? Hmm looks like you've already begun taking risks and having a good time with it. Told you my honourable friend, that you are a natural. Well eventually! Haha!

Before I bid you farewell, I would like to introduce our very illustrious and grammatically-grounded friend, Padfoot. 

Messr Padfoot, welcome to our little life of Shoebox in the real world. Let us hear your thoughts on this and whatever wild ideas are bubbling inside your head. 

Until the mailbox rings...

~Messr. Prongs


This was a little snippet of what these email exchanges looked like and they went on for a while. We threw in references from Shoebox, the original HP books and twisted it with our daily routines but mostly it was a lot of nonsense made to entertain one another during those really dull or crappy days at work. As you can see work can be made to be rather enjoyable. Any reference to other HP characters, was most likely a reference to a colleague or friend who was assigned that character due to their uncanny likeness.  

This was just to present to you 'sane' people that being geeky and dorky shows passion and one can really have a good time with it. For those of you who are hiding your geekiness (as I once did), no need... unleash it and have fun with it!