I’ve spent the last couple of days reflecting on how I wanted to summarize my month. I won’t deny the month was shadowed by Coronavirus, but my daily doodles reminded me of all the nice bits and the fact that life continues, just under a new normal–with masks, diligent hand sanitizing and a slightly heightened suspicion of people and crowds.
Since I’ve already written a lot about Coronavirus (here, here and here) I won’t expound upon the topic too much more. I will say that looking back, I feel ashamed of how I initially reacted to it all. I remember that before the outbreak exploded in Korea, instead of watching the news coming out of Wuhan with compassion for the sick, I started to worry about what might happen to me and my family, and how I would be affected, how I could protect myself, and so on. Maybe it’s natural to feel that way, maybe fear and uncertainty mirrors the worst in people, but it took being on the receiving end of the very mistrust that I projected towards China to make me realize this aptly depicted fact: We’re in this together.
For a while I let fear make me forget the very inspiration behind my blog handle, A Wonderful Sheep, which comes from a story about the kindness of strangers and our shared humanity. With continuous self-reflection and a little help from my very thoughtful blogger friends (Thank YOU), I hope I can reclaim that foundation. (Incidentally and maybe ironically, before I settled on A Wonderful Sheep, this blog was called Memento Mori, which is Latin for Remember that You Will Die… meant to emphasize the preciousness of life but also kinda morbid sounding at first glance.)
ANYWAY, on to some photos from this month.
I felt a little bit of creative block during the month, but did end up sending out a lot of snail mail for International Corresspondence Writing Month, or InCoWriMo.
I also found a little post office nearby that carried way more current issue stamps (the JACKPOT and BINGO from Feb 3 on my doodle calendar) AND discovered Stamp Love, a website that sells vintage stamps in Korea at face value (Feb 11). I bought them to use on snail mail, but I can’t bring myself to part with them yet… I love them all. Here is a sampling from one 10,000 KRW (9 dollars ish) pack.
I got to visit printmaker and illustrator JooHee Yoon‘s solo exhibition in Seoul and left the gallery bouncing up and down, so inspired by her work. Her use of color and texture just blew me away. Definitely check out her website to see what I mean!
I wrote jokingly in my journal this month that I was trying to fill this void in me with bread and stationery… which is kinda true because I did eat a lot of bread and cheese. (Sarah, that’s what the cheese attack is, I stuffed my face with string cheese one weekend. :DD) I also visited about ten different stationery shops this month. I’ve been wanting to compile a resource in English for independent stationery shops in Seoul, so I justified all this spending as research. Hopefully in March I will rein back the spending and compile my research here.
And finally, the last day of the month in this fun leap year, I went to the Strawberry Buffet at the Lotte Hotel. Around this time different high-end hotels have these strawberry buffets and I had always wanted to check it out. It was divine and a sweet way to end the month.
This post is part of Su’s The Changing Seasons Challenge.
About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them.
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month. Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
If you do a ping-back to her post Su can update it with a link to your post.
A wonderful sheep 
I’m glad you are finding joy and kindnesses in what must be a very stressful time in Korea. We now have our second case of Covid 19, and I guess there will be more panicking in the days to come. This one is (literally) very close to home and the woman concerned traveled on some domestic flights after arriving back in the country, so I’m wondering what the atmosphere at airports will be like now. I’m going to Christchurch this weekend, so I am hoping sanity prevails.
I love the idea of a strawberry buffet; exactly what I need right now 🙂
Hope you are well and safe. Kia Kaha.
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Kia kaha to you, Su. I hope you have a safe trip and do take all precautions just in case. Also hope people don’t panic over there. For what it’s worth, even though the atmosphere is different over here (far less people out and about), people generally remained calm and acted normal in public. There are lines for masks at the pharmacy, which looks very apocalyptic, but there weren’t massive grocery shortages or anything. Hopefully that is a good sign for the rest of the world, and hopefully other countries won’t have as bad a breakout as Korea!!
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Thank you. I hope people here will react with kindness and calm too. The thing people seem to be panic buying here is toilet paper — I have no idea why. It’s the same in Australia apparently, and it’s generating some quite funny memes.
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Hey, girl, I think it’s very natural and normal to worry about yourself and your family first. I certainly did too. I’m still thinking of my future travels and plans, but I’m also very sorry for the everyday people around the world who have and are suffering due to what looks like an early attempt by a certain govt to pretend it wasn’t a big deal.
I, too, have been thinking of my reactions during all this, feeling angry towards govts, but then thinking what would I do if I was in their shoes? How to quell the panic, as rubbing alcohol is now free from the pharmacy shelves…watching folks stock up for …? And doing the damn same thing as Thailand welcomes back their illegal workers from S.Korea (140k, mostly from Daegu)…
I feel like everyone else is writing about it, but I’m too scared to post because the wind keeps changing!
Love those vintage stamps and the artist you found!!! We’ll get through this together 🙂
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Thank you for your comment Lani! I think it is natural to think of yourself first, but I also recognized that I let the general feeling that’s prevalent in Korea of “another problem from China” (air pollution being the mainstay) color how I reacted to everything. It’s so complicated on a global scale for governments to protect their citizens but also not destroy trade and the economy/sever ties with allies… and I guess I was feeling that same tight rope dance on a personal level: thinking about how to protect myself while trying not to discriminate (even just in my thoughts). If that makes sense.
Anyway, yes! We shall get through this together!
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I am so glad you are well. From your comments, it sounds like your government is doing its utmost to contain the virus. I hope you can maintain your equanimity. It is going to be a long journey for us all, and yes, we are all in it together.
I find my art a very helpful distraction. I love your February drawing. And how about those stamps? I can see why you would want to treasure them for a while longer. Take care. Looking after yourself and others is a very fine message.
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The number of confirmed cases is starting to drop here so there is hope on the horizon. I’m glad you have your art to help you through this– I think we are lucky to have our indoor hobbies during this time. Sending best wishes 🙂
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That is good news.
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One of the reasons I love your blog is the beauty that I am surrounded by when I pore over your images and read your heartfelt reflections. I appreciate your honesty and openness when sharing your struggles as you often say out loud what we might not be able to articulate, or perhaps are afraid to express.
My random 2cents worth of reactions:
1) Don’t feel bad for wanting to keep yourself & your family safe – I feel that looking after self first so that you can look after others is probably a healthy survival instinct.
2) There is no such thing as too much stationary/paper.
3) Keep celebrating! (strawberry buffets, cheese plates, art parties, love letters, postcards …) Every chance we get, especially in these difficult times.
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This is such a sweet comment, thank you so much for taking the time to write it! I always hesitate before sharing anything personal or reflective (because it’s the Internet after all) but your comment makes me glad I tried. And I always appreciate your beautiful and often very yummy looking blog as well!
Yes, we must first be healthy to help others. Thank you for your insight on this feeling.
Haha, I am glad you are also a paper lover and think that too.
Finally, yes we must continue to celebrate “all things bright and beautiful!” Yes to yummy foods and pretty papers!
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It is always a risk to share a piece of ourselves in this very open platform – it is as gratifying as it is scary, though, and I am very grateful for BlogFriends like you who make it all worthwhile.
I am afraid we are all packrats in our family: paper, thread, cloth, books … too many things we accumulate.
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Thanks for explaining about the cheese attack. 😉 I’ve had a chocolate attack today. 😂 No wonder, I think food is one of few happy resources now…
Your initial reaction to the crisis mirrors mine too, not proud of it but I think a very natural thing to do. It matters that we’re able to realize our faults and try to be better and more compassionate humans. Germany has been on lockdown for 2 weeks now and everything feels very surreal. I saw a report on tv on how good Koreans are handling the situation, sending even packages of food to those in quarantine – here it’s pretty much each to their own. 😯
Love that you keep doodling! Creative hobbies are so important, now more than ever! Stay creative and safe! ❤
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Sarah! So glad to hear from you! I’ve been meaning to email to see how you are doing since I’ve taken my IG break. Thank you for sharing your wisdom — it is a natural instinct but I think we can continue to also nurture our instinct to look out for and care for others! ❤
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