Changing Seasons – August 2025

Farewell August, hello September! Please excuse the slightly delayed Changing Seasons update. When I got my new phone, I imagined my camera roll would be overflowing with high-def photos and I’d have lots to share. Alas, I actually didn’t end up taking many photos this month, and so summing up the month was a bit more challenging than usual.

Formula 1 fangirling continues and I caught both the Hungaoring and Zandvoort races this month, just before and after the official summer break. Somewhere along the journey from binge-watching Drive to Survive to following races live, I have became a McLaren fan. Specifically a Lando Norris fan. I blame it on the algorithm. YouTube just guided me to Team Papaya.

Here’s how a fan in Korea watches F1: follow the race on a Swiss broadcast and listen to commentary on a British guy’s YouTube livestream. Also pictured is the Japanese Alfort mini chocolates I discovered this month. I’ve tried the strawberry, milk and melon flavors so far. Melon was just so-so, but I could eat the other two every day.

Earlier in the month I did a few exercises from Rosalie Haizlett’s book, Watercolor in Nature.

And attempted a few healthy meals.

Not pictured are all the snacks from the convenience store that undid all that effort. My weaknesses are: Chupa Chups sour bites, egg salad sandwiches, NarangD or Chilsung Cider Zero (I know it’s ironic I drink a zero sugar soda while also buying literal chunks of sugar), and the aforementioned Alfort mini chocolates. Happy to report that four days into September, I have not had any of these.

My phone did earn its keep with some crazy cool close-up shots of the full moon this month.

My J-ARMY friend, Uri-Hanna, came to visit again and we met up for dinner one day and breakfast the next morning.

Had my first bingsoo of the season (a mango version which actually didn’t have any of the traditional red beans), and then another classic bingsoo later that same day after dinner at my friend’s place for her housewarming.

Saw what Google tells me are Sugar gliders in the park this day. These can join literal chickens and a parrot to the list of strange animals I’ve seen people bring to the park. I felt bad for the little creatures; they were hanging on for dear life on top of that light post.

My friend invited me to visit the National Museum of Korea since she had an extra slot for the VR immersion experience. I’ve heard the museum had become pretty popular recently, and it was definitely busy this weekend. Their merch team has done a great job coming up with trendy gifts with traditional motifs, so it was fun perusing the gift shop. And I believe the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters also has tourists and Koreans alike visiting the museum.

Afterwards we got dosas at an Indian place, Saravanaa Bhavan, in Itaewon. The food was delicious, and you could tell the place was legit because we were the only non-South Asians there! Yumm dosas…

And finally, my proudest crafty project of the month: I hand sewed curtains from a linen cloth for my little window in my kitchen. They are cute and I’m proud of myself for upcycling something I had to make something I needed.

The weather is still warm and humid in Seoul, but there was definitely a cooler breeze in the air this afternoon. Autumn is marvelous in Korea, and I’m hoping the cooler weather will get me out of the house to explore more. Wishing you all a wonderful start to September!

This post was written as part of the The Changing Seasons challenge. Please check out Ju-Lyn’s post to see how other creatives around the world spent their August.