Korean Food Blogging Contest

Well the contest has ended for quite awhile now. Been busy catching up with the peeps that went to Schoolies Project last week so didn't really have the time to share my excitement about the contest.

I must say I was expecting to just not get a prize in the end seeing how far behind I became after just two weeks in Australia. And even if I did not get anything, I actually gained a lot from the contest already, so it's been great just being part of it. But seeing it written on the website, I guess I got the 'last' prize, which is superb, since I get something ^^ so honorary for me getting some Korean Food Gift Sets. Still haven't gotten an email from the team, but I'll wait. ^^

Even though I only joined half way throughout the contest, it's really been super fun. Getting to write about yummy Korean food, trying to get my friends to vote and just trying my best. Sure was a great month. Then had to forget about it for about three weeks, trying my best to focus my mind on sharing the gospel and just making the most of my time during the Schoolies Project, which sure was awesome. Will write about it next time, but it sure will be a longgggg post.

I learned more about myself while writing about Korean food. I didn't know I really would go hard out buying Korean and eating Korean for three meals for a few days straight before heading to Gold Coast. I'm surprised I'm not sick of Korean food yet, even though I know nobody could ever be, but maybe the logic of being sick of something after being overdosed of it even though you loved it to bits at the start might have applied to this matter. But it proves not for me XD

And one time, in the middle of my writing when I was doing the demisoda(Tm), a comment asking what the nutritional value of the drinks were. I didn't drink all three demis the same day, so the apple and grape one was in the recycling bin being drunk the latest, and the first had apple one was somewhere in the garbage bag. And yes, you see it coming.... I went through the garbage bag. I remember saying to myself "I can't believe I'm doing this, while my hands searched through all the pretty gruesome contents. It took awhile to have my left hand go through all the objects in the bag... still didn't feel a can like stuff, so opened some tied bags that were in the garbage bag. These bag were meant to be food scarp bags... tied so that the cats might not know it's existence if the food were 'hidden' behind two layers of plastic. I think it's just that our cat just can't be bothered to fool around since we feed her every night so she's not in hunger to make a mess. Finally found the empty can in one of the two food scrap bags... and washed it along with my pretty red hand... since there were traces of kimchi spices in the garbage bag... proof of my hand really searching through the very Korean garbage bag. So yea, so didn't know I would go so crazy just to reply a comment. But I felt that it was worth it, since I really wanted to do what I can, even though it means going through some rubbish.

And I also learned to read some ingredients in Korean... like carbohydrate and sugar after replying about the nutritional value of demisodas(tm). Might have forgotten it though =S but I know I can always learn it again. Then through one of my posts, since I quoted quite a lot from this facebook page... that actually came from wiki, I learned more about sourcing my sites. It really felt like writing a university assignment again. I also learned to write tm and stuff beside product names... even though I am still confused my the different terms for stuff. Like what's the difference between copyright and trademark? So glad I don't do business and might not have to go through all that confusion.

I also videoed myself for the FIRST time!!! still feel weird when I watch that video again. Totally sound dumb in it. I mean who says "two point half cups of water"... well other than me of course XD I think I've explained why I said that line but there's no harm explaining it again aye? In my mind I was thinking 'was I meant to say two point five litres or two and a half cup'... and being nervous and not thinking I started with two point half and then I remembered that the bag wrote 'cup'... so that's how I joined these two sentences. oh wells. Still can never get used to being in a video. might be my first and last time... fingers crossed.

And other than just posting and posting, I got to read other peoples post since they were going hard for the contest as well. So I learned much more about the Korean food, and seriously had a bigger urge to want to visit Korea after reading posts from people who were in Korea the very moment. It's like a fantasy food world with people who look like me... well me looking like them... since I really reckon more people have thought of me being Korean much many times than me being my true identity of a Chinese. Still haven't decided if it's a good thing or a bad thing. There's pros and cons to such a comment.

It was also exciting to see how people started to follow me to do Korean products review as well after I came back from Aus. I swear(well i dun swear... but I mean... i really that I am super sure!) that I was the only one who blogged about Korean snacks and what not and started doing it... since I really dun eat at that many restaurants... and I was going on the road of a cheaper contest participation... so like spending less than $100 for the contest since restaurant review blog posts might be more than NZ 10 dollar for each one... and so not paying for that. I still have a student loan!!! and am still unemployed TT So yea, it was cool to see I made an impact... or could I say big disaster in the contest XD

Plus, I got to have more people visit my blog. teehee. And think I might make a few friendships our of it. So as you can see, even if I didn't get a prize, I would be content enough with this amazing journey that I went on.

The contest taught me a lot in showing who I am and what I belive like being honest, even though it was tempting to just vote for myself. I got to see how evil I am deep down, even though I know well enough that's I'm a sinner just like all men, I guess I just keep forgetting. My will to win the contest really took over at a time, but I had to keep reminding myself to just do what I should and leave the rest up to God. Which is what happened, since I believe that He willed me to get an honorary prize, maybe to allow me to not be proud, and show me that going to Korea isn't a thing I'm going to do quite yet. I had to search my heart at times and keep asking myself if it's okay if I don't get a prize, and what do I really want to get out of this contest in the end. Forgetting about this contest while in Australia was also quite something to learn. It took a few days to achieve it, but by God's grace it happened. It's also amazing how some people talked about spiritual stuff with me on my blog and in the contest. I just love how things happened, the journey that God planned ahead of time. He's just amazing!

Anyway, that's most of my story about the learning experience and thanks all who made me enjoy the contest so much more, like allowing me to eat Korean during the contest period, showing your determination to help vote for me and more. All the laughs and joy I had with some of you are really precious to me. ^^