Seoulful Urbanist's Selective Lens

최근에 바빠서 집에서 요리를 하지 않고 외식을 자주 하였는데, 마지막으로 싱크대를 쓴 후 잘 치우지 않아서 그런지 싱크대 배수구에서 냄새가 나는 것이었다. 아마도 내가 예민해서 더 거슬렸던 것일 수도 있는데, 하여튼 집에 있던 과탄산소다와 칫솔으로 말끔히 정리를 하였다. 후각적으로도 시각적으로도 불쾌해서 하기 싫은 일이지만 일단 하고 나면 개운하긴 하다. 싱크대 거름망은 sink strainer라고 한다.

 갤럭시에서 아이폰으로 넘어온 지가 어언 3년, 이어폰은 여전히 갤럭시 버즈를 쓰고 있었다. 그런데 그것도 꽤 예전에 산 것이고 이래저래 새 이어폰이 필요해졌는데, 에어팟 4세대가 오픈형이라서 관심을 가지고 있다가 결국 내 손에 들어왔다. 오늘은 새 이어폰으로 음악을 듣다가 든 생각들을 정리하며 영어공부를 해 본다.

As any whiskey lover knows, Taiwan’s Kavalan whiskey has a special reputation for its bold flavors and unique distillation process. During a trip to Taiwan, I couldn’t resist stopping by a Kavalan bar in Taipei 101, that famous landmark towering over the city. I was ready to taste and experience all it had to offer, sampling different grades of Kavalan with each glass. While the flavors got a bit blurry (as did my memory of them after a few rounds!), the experience was unforgettable, and I brought home a few bottles as souvenirs. But here’s the twist: back home, sipping Kavalan on its own felt, well, a bit intense. Without the lively bar atmosphere, each sip packed more of a punch than I’d remembered. So, like many travel mementos that find a cozy corner in the kitchen, my Kavalan sat unopened for quite a while. That all changed recently when I picked up some canned highballs—ready-to-drink, perfectly convenient, but admittedly a little on the light side in terms of whiskey flavor. Ins...

 In the past, beer was my drink of choice. Recently, however, I've found myself indulging more in wine rather than beer. Several factors may have influenced this shift, such as emotional changes, aging, and shifts in societal preferences. About four years ago, I began finding solace in sipping wines. It was a time when I felt overwhelmed by the everyday grind, so I decided to take a spontaneous solo trip to a hotel. I sought to overcome burnout and recharge.  One night, feeling a bit adventurous, I grabbed a half bottle of wine from a nearby store and savored it while looking down the urban night view from my hotel room. That experience proved to be a soothing remedy for my burnout. Even after I returned home, I found myself craving that feeling of relaxation. Subsequently, whenever I needed a mental getaway but lacked the time, I turned to wine. Just a few glasses served as a reminder of my rejuvenating vacation. While I still appreciate beers, they are mostly for quenching m...

In my life, I hold dear two pieces of advice from my mother: 1. Share things with others, and 2. Maintain a neat and clean appearance all the time. These simple yet powerful principles have brought elegance into my life. When I receive a large amount of food as a gesture of gratitude, I usually share it with those around me. Likewise, if I stumble upon a delightful dessert during the weekends, I buy extras and bring them to work to share with my colleagues. Additionally, whenever I come across small but useful items, I purchase several and give them as thoughtful gifts to my friends. This act of caring for others is very natural to me. Not only have I brought joy to those around me but also to myself. Moreover, I'm often remembered as a generous and compassionate person. Although I may not consider myself conventionally good-looking, I believe in the importance of presenting oneself in the best possible way. For this reason, I follow a regular self-care routine, making sure to shav...

In my current work position, which has an academic aspect, I'm required to stay updated with the latest knowledge and contribute through research papers. However, the only time I have available for writing these papers is after work. It can be challenging to motivate myself to do research after a long day because I often feel the need to rest more than my desire to pursue research. To overcome this challenge, I have established a routine over the past few years. Firstly, I make an effort to save my energy and set aside time specifically for paper writing. On work days, I try to finish my tasks earlier than usual so that I can dedicate time to my research without feeling physically drained. Secondly, I understand the importance of finding a comfortable environment for writing. If I'm in an uncomfortable place, I struggle to generate ideas for my manuscript. Typically, I choose a café where I feel at ease, or I create a distraction-free study space at home. I ensure that all the ...