I was actually going to go for a Language Cast meet-up (if you follow @ttmik-Talk to me in Korean, you would know what that is). The meeting was going to start at 7.30pm. I was there at 6.30pm. BUT I didn't stay for it. I got up from my seat at 7.15pm, went downstairs and walked out of the cafe and got onto a bus that I know goes back to Hongdae where I live.
Actually, I could have gotten down at a stop nearer to Kimchi Hostel but when the bus reached Hong Ik University's main gate, I got down. At the bus stop, I stopped to take a look at some of the posters advertising various acts. One of the posters was actually advertising a tarot cafe. I didn't pay it any attention. Trust me, there are plenty of tarot cards/fortune telling cafes/shops in Hongdae so it's not the first time I saw it.
So anyway, I was walking down the streets towards home when a pink poster caught my eye. I stopped and took a closer look and it was the same poster advertising the tarot cafe. So in the end, I decided to give it a try. If nothing else, there's always coffee. I walked towards the cafe and then I went upstairs, got myself a drink and then sat down in front of the tarot card reader.
After talking to the tarot card reader about how I was from Singapore and now staying in Seoul, etc, we settled down for the first reading. The first question we asked the tarot was about my vision. I mean I'm in Korea to achieve a few things: Learn Korean, get TOPIK qualifications, translator qualification, if I have money, pursue a masters in Entertainment Management in Korea. So it was a 'LIFE' reading (10 cards)
Here's a summary and what I can remember of it:
Past: Chariot-used to be full of passion and zeal in the job I was in (teacher) which is true but I lost some of that along the way. So one of the advice in my 'FUTURE' card was to find back that passion and zeal again. The present was really on-the-spot. It basically said that I have to settle a lot of things, think a lot and basically starting afresh. You guys know what coming to Korea means to me (if you don't, go back to the beginning of this blog. :p) and how I blog about starting afresh, etc. So that made me cry. But the reading also tells me that I can't keep sitting on the fence about things in general and stop being lazy. If I have set my heart on something, then I should make the best out of it. One card stood out: The empress card. The lady told me that it's a very good card, that in my life there are always people who would be helping me, especially in the area of money. And honestly, thus far, yes, I would say I have no complaints in that area but more importantly, it is the fact that I will have people around me who would help me. Overall, the reading wasn't bad but it did caution and remind me that I need to make a decision and stick to it. There will be challenges, for sure but then what is life without its share of challenges right?
Of course, although I might not seem like it but one of the biggest decision and one that occupy my thoughts A LOT is "Should I stay or should I leave?" so that was what I asked. In the tarot card reader's way of asking the question: Career prospects - Is it better in Singapore or Korea?
I have to tell you, I laughed out loud. This was a 5-card formation, forming a V. At the point where both side meets, is the PRESENT state and it was a BRIGHT picture, of people dancing and joy basically. The lady went, 'that's you at the present moment.'
Ten of Cups
The two ends, one represented 'Singapore' and the other represented 'Korea' and I have to tell you, Korea side were DARK cards and Singapore side was BRIGHT cards. No joke, the contrast was DAY and NIGHT, it's so amusing to me.
Nine of Swords
Ten of Swords
Korea cards:
If I continue to stay in Korea and want to pursue a CAREER, it will be difficult to find a job. I will have a lot of worries that I can't even sleep at night (ok, that seemed to be happening now, the 'cannot sleep at night' part) And eventually I will be so bugged by them that I fall into depression or something. But then, I told myself, finding a job was never quite the goal in Korea. It's good if I can find one but I'm in more for the 'learning' part so that kinda made me a little less depressed.
Singapore cards:
I only remember the Wheel Of Fortune cards. Can't remember the last card but basically, there are a lot of opportunities and eventually I might find something that I like but still it wasn't enough to make me want to go back. My heart is not in Singapore I guess.
So after 'LIFE', 'CAREER', what could be next? LOVE right? This is totally funny and people who knows me well in real life would know who I am thinking of when I do the reading. Can't remember the exact question for the first LOVE reading but it was still amusing to me.
Overall, the guy's impression of me: I'm generous, loving, etc. And the description of the guy: he's family-oriented (he is though some of my friends won't agree with me), he's rich (yes, that too) and he's a spend-thrift (towards people he cares about yes, but not someone to spend money unnecessarily.) I must mention that the Ten of Cups card appeared again, so there can be a happy ending between the two of us. (I can so imagine Genette and Victoria's expression). Our present state was represent by the 'Tower' card which basically meant that something unexpected happened, though I can't really be sure if it's unexpected. But the funniest and MOST amusing card has got to be this:
Strength
The lady told me that the only thing I could do is wait and be patient and one day, the lion will be tamed. Trust me, I really LAUGHED when she told me that. The guy is strong, and stubborn in his own way but if I would just wait it out, we can have the happy ending, that is, if both of us wants it. Well, I have been waiting, my friends think I'm absolutely crazy to be waiting. But I don't know, I believe that we have that one person in our life that we are meant to be with for the rest of our lives and in the strangest, most crazy way, that man is the one for me is how I feel about it. He's NOT unreal and no, he's not one of those idols that I'm crazy about *ahemSeulOngahemJinWoonahem*.
But I can't go on waiting infinitely too right? So of course the next question was 'WHEN?' So this was the last reading. The lady only asked me to pick 5 cards. Can't remember what one of the cards was for but the other 4 was for each of the months from May to August. But when it seemed like there wasn't any 'meeting' in those months, she picked one more card and told me we would probably meet again in September. She said we made contact in May, which was quite true too. And if things really go well, the next time we meet, we might well be talking about our future.
Two of Cups
The card was one that spoke of partnership, of reaching a decision from both parties. I have a suspicion is the Two of Cups but I'm not too sure. I really kept laughing during the two 'LOVE' readings. But well, whatever it is, I believe this time, the ball is in his court. So we'll see.
But the amusing to me is that everything that was spoken pulled at something inside. And in case you are wondering, I spent 25,000won on 4 readings. The first one with 10-cards cost 10,000won but the rest costs 5,000won which wasn't too bad considering ONE reading in Singapore would have cost $60. And the thing was this wasn't part of the plan for the day. I just wanted to go for the meeting, but ended up with a tarot card reading instead. And then, the weirdest thing happened. Steve, the weekend staff at Kimchi, messaged me and was telling me that he wants to go for Language Cast meeting. I was like, 'Ok, that's officially freaky.' Then again, Korea thus far has been one of those 'freakish' trip so I'm just rolling with the flow right now.
Exciting right my life? It's been an interesting ride thus far. I will post up pictures of the cafe at a later time. I need to sync the photo from my phone first. Maybe I should persuade Victoria to have a go at it when she comes to Korea in June. It would be fun! The lady spoke a splattering of Korean and English. I try to clarify using Korean a couple of times so it's mostly correct.
Or maybe I should bring Tako and Suzy (I have to take a picture of her tomorrow. She's very pretty! She's like our Korean practice partner at Maple Coffee) then Suzy can help us translate!
