Cozmopolitan Sunkyoung

Initially, a very small of my colleagues and I were going for drinks to catch up with each other, especially with one of our previous colleagues, as well as to celebrate my birthday. However, when I sent a group email to much bigger number of my colleagues for this gathering, it turned out that I’d ruined Eliette’s plan for a surprise party for which she secretly tried to bring all the colleagues by keeping me on the original plan.
원래 가까운 동료 몇 명끼리 회포를 풀겸 내 생일 겸 업무 후 조촐한 자리를 갖기로 했는데
내가 전체 메일을 보내는 바람에 몰래 더 많은 동료들을 모아 큰 자리를 마련하기로 한 엘리엣의 깜짝 파티 계획을 망쳐버렸다.

As I was grateful for their caring about my birthday, I bought a cake myself (well, it was the first time for me to do this) the day before, but I was chewed out in the end who on earth buys a birthday cake for oneself. I learned that sometimes it is better not to take too many initiatives.
이렇게 생일 자리 마련해 준 게 고마워서 케잌을 손수 샀는데 (나도 내 손으로 내 생일 케잌 산 건 처음이었다),
자기 케잌을 자기가 사는 사람이 어디 있냐며 또 한 소리 들었다.
쓸데없는 오지랖으로 이래저래 민폐를 끼친 셈이었다.

Qiuyi suggested going for lunch to a Korean restaurant close to our company. I was very careful in selecting the menu, of which would please my colleagues. I asked the waitress extra services for my birthday and we got ‘jab-chae (typical party dish: fried noodle with vegetables and beef in soy sauce)’ for free!
츄이가 점심으로 회사 근처 한국 식당으로 가자고 아이디어를 냈다. 어떤 메뉴를 골라야 이 친구들이 맘에 들어할지 고심을 하고 있다. 생일이니 서비스 많이 부탁한댔더니 잡채를 공짜로 주었다!

A set of 3 shots of Dewi eating ‘lettuce-wrapped rice’ for the first time
보쌈 처음 먹는 데위의 쌈 싸먹기 3종 셋트

I was very satisfied with having lots of Korean food after a long time. A group photo in front of the restaurant after lunch.
간만에 한국 음식 실컷 먹고 흐뭇해하고 있다. 점심 먹은 후 식당 앞에서 기념 촬영.

I was having a blast! Koreans should hold something in their hands when giving speeches. I was really touched a lot by a card, both sides of which were completely filled with messages.
나 완전 신났네. 한국 사람은 연설할 때 손에 뭘 안 쥐면 말 못 하지. 두 면 빼곡히 채워진 카드를 읽으며 완전 감동한 나.

I didn’t expect my birthday would be so much full of happiness. Being grateful to my parents for sending me to this world and having such warm-hearted people around me and great friends who sent me sincere greetings from all over the world… it was the day I realised what an extremely lucky person I am.
나의 생일이 이렇게 가슴 벅차도록 행복한 날이 될 줄 몰랐다.
나를 이 세상에 보내주신 부모님께 감사하고
내 주위의 가슴 따뜻한 사람들과 진심어린 축하를 보내준 세계 방방 곡곡의 친구들이 있어
내가 얼마나 복이 많은 사람인지 알게 된 날.

More photos are here / 더 많은 사진은 이 곳에