On my mind: April Fools

Due to the faster time zone, it is officially April Fools Day in Korea right now! April Fools is a pretty big deal for Koreans, especially among young students in middle/high school. This is the one day of the year when their teachers cannot get mad at them for anything. So these students are willing to go above & beyond to cause maximum confusion and chaos.

Here are some of the funniest pranks pulled off by students in Korea:
- Rearranging signs, desks and chairs
- Switching uniforms with the opposite gender
- Dressing up backwards (literally, so your back becomes your front)
- Holding someone's legs as the he/she hangs upside down from the window
- Moving the entire classroom outdoor

Oh, those crazy Korean kids. 

If you ever plan on celebrating April Fools Korean style, make sure to take all the precautions possible to stay safe and unhurt! As you can see, some of those pranks are pretty hardcore.

On my mind: One-piece dresses

Spring is finally here! You can finally put away those thick jackets and sweaters that hide your figure, and restock your closet with some fresh spring fashion to keep up with the romantic mood of the new season.

During spring time in Korea, there is one fashion trend that always comes back in style as a spring must-have: one-piece dresses. Ladies in Korean know that one-piece dresses are absolutely perfect for spring. These flowy dresses can make you look slimmer, while upgrading your overall feminine appeal.

So do you want to look like a spring goddess? Invest in a one-piece dress. You won't be disappointed, especially with all the varieties to choose from.

On my mind: Electric cigarettes

South Korea has one of the highest rate of smokers in the world. In fact, according to statistics done by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2007, one in two Korean adult men smoke. Eight million smokers. That's big number, for such a small country.

Not only is the number of smokers increasing in Korea, but the way Korean people smoke is evolving as well. It's the year 2011, when almost everything is practically done electronically - say hello to e-cigarettes:

At first glance, you would assume the man in this video is simply chewing on his pen. But look closely - that's no pen, it's an electric cigarette! Wikipedia defines this as:
"An electronic cigarette, e-cigarette or vapor cigarette is a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine or non-nicotine vaporized solution."

More and more men in Korea are catching on to the trend of e-smoking, instead of lighting up regular cigarettes or pipes. With rising cigarette prices, will this rechargeable device make its way over to the United States soon? Well, although I hate smoking - if I had to choose - I would advise Americans to stick to traditional cigarettes. If smoking is supposed to make you look cool, e-smoking is certainly not the way to go.

On my mind: Neighborly love

Love your neighbor. South Korea is putting this phrase into action, and collecting millions of dollars to help with Japan's tsunami relief.

Separated by a mere distance of 400 miles (Sea of Japan), the neighboring countries of South Korea and Japan has had a closely-tied relationship, especially in the entertainment industry. Over the past week, some of the most successful actors, singers, and other celebrities have announced the following figures to donate to Japan:

Bae Yong Joon (Actor)        $900,000 USD
Lee Byung Hun (Actor)       $600,000 USD
JYJ (Singer, group)            $600,000 USD
YG Entertainment             $500,000 USD
Won Bin (Actor)                 $200,000 USD
Choi Ji Woo (Actor)           $200,000 USD
Song Seung Hun (Actor)     $200,000 USD
Jang Geun Suk (Actor)       $120,000 USD
Kim Hyun Joong (Singer)   $100,000 USD
Kara (Singer, group)          All profits from their new single "Jet Coaster Love"

In addition, numerous Korean athletes, corporations, and of course, the Korean Red Cross have sending large sums of donations over to Japan. In the midst of all the chaos and devastation, it's nice to see that some people can be truly beautiful inside and out.

On my mind: Racism is ugly

This poor girl has officially angered the internet with her ignorance. As a result, she has now become the most-hated "internet personality," in less than 24 hours. Kudos to her - if fame is what she wanted out of all this nonsense. Check out this video & listen to her frustration with the Asian community, which apparently to her, is the only race that has no manners & talks in the library in the "Ching-Chong" language.

The internet can be a scary place. Reading over a handful of hateful comments on this video, I was easily given with information about her name, what school she went to, her e-mail address, and even her personal phone number.  I was also able to figure out that she worked as a fashion columnist for the Examiner. Really? An online journalist? She should have known better. Who knows what will happen to her now? Would she be able to walk freely on school campus, or even step out of her house without watching her back? Only time will tell, but there is a great possibility that she will appear on our television screens pretty soon - either on the news or some morning talk show. Ah, the power of internet!

On my mind: The "no makeup" look

Most Americans love to express their individuality. On the other hand, Koreans prefer to blend in. This is why Koreans love the "no makeup" look - you can look prettier, without really standing out in the crowd. God forbid if you try anything bold - with thick eyeliner or bright eye shadow/lipstick colors - in Korea; all you'll get in return is death stare from people around you.

Of all the makeup styles out there, Koreans are BIG on looking natural, almost as if you have no makeup on. This is called the "sseng-ul" look, which literally means "bare face," or "no makeup."

When it comes to achieving the "no makeup" look, it's all about the eyes. Eye makeup is the most crucial part of any makeup process that can either make or break an entire look. So in this case, it is extremely important to keep the eye makeup minimal, or skip it completely. Use nude/matte eye shadow for base, and then apply eyeliner inside your upper waterline only (never the bottom), as you can see on the left. As long as your eyes are subtle, you can apply whatever type of foundation/facial base to cover up blemishes or any other minor flaws.

So, are you feeling like a natural beauty today? Go ahead & try this out!