I remember my first Salmon Teriyaki from Zen in Paris. My mind was just blown away with a single bite. I’ve been to Paris for numerous times before, but I was always skeptical about going to that restaurant due to my belief that in Paris, I should always eat Parisian food or a least a Western-style food. Because I could always eat Asian food when I return to Korea. But for an unknown reason, I went to that restaurant when I was fifteen, and fell in love instantly. Even till now, the taste lingers within my mouth and I must always go to Zen every time I go to Paris.
I remember buying my first CD: 1975’s I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful And Yet So Unaware of It.
I remember going to Jisan Rock Valley Festival to watch Troye Sivan.
I remember being obsessed with him. His voice was like the sound of an angel to me. Although the weather was extremely hot, Troye Sivan’s voice was like an air conditioner that “Cool” ed my body and soul.
I remember watching Call Me By Your Name after hesitating to watch it for six months. I simply loved it.
I remember going to AKASAKA a Korean restaurant in Paris. When I first went there, the food was so much better than what I would normally eat in Korea. Especially the Kimchi Jeon was divine. It had a delicate and authentic taste. I had never tasted anything that was this delicious.
I remember spotting Armie Hammer unexpectedly. As I was getting back to my hotel and I recognized someone. I was positive that I have seen that person somewhere, but nothing popped into my head. Then after about a few minutes for my brain to function, I realized that it was Armie Hammer. The Armie Hammer from Call Me By Your Name that I so love. There is sort of an idiom in Korea — 덕계못 — which literally means that fans never get lucky. But I am. This time Lady Luck was on my side.
I remember whenever I would go watch the Phantom of the Opera, I would always hear the sound of my first Phantom of the Opera which I watched in the West End, London. The specific sound, music, and the pronunciation of the actors remaining in my head.
I remember the taste of the first ramen I cooked. I was returning home after school and wanting to eat ramen so bad, I decided to cook myself one.
I remember it being the first time that I have ever cooked.
I remember searching on the internet “How to Cook an Extremely Delicious Ramen”.
I remember it ended up being quite appetizing.
I remember sitting in front of Jackson Pollock’s One: Number 31 in MoMA.
I remember being overwhelmed with the size, the techniques, and everything. There are simply no humanly possible ways to describe how I felt.
I remember listening to the 1975’s song every minute, every hour, every day and every week for three months.
I remember listening to Harry Potter audiobooks every time I would get in my mother’s car.
I remember memorizing all the words and sentences.
I remember waking in Dublin, following the footsteps of the Leopold Bloom in Ulysses. Back then I had no interest in who James Joyce was. I just followed my mother as she led me to various sites. About a year later, I remember reading spark notes on Dubliners for my English literature class.
I remember a dream I dreamt after watching Star Wars for a million times. I remember I was being chased by Star Wars character at my home in my dream. I remember trying to hide from the characters, so I hid under my blanket and fell asleep in my dream. Then I remember dreaming again — within my original dream, like the movie Inception — only to be chased by Star Wars characters over and over again.
I remember being at a concert in my dream. All of the audiences were wearing “Darth Vader” masks.
I remember putting off a fire in my dream or was I the fire that was being ceased.
I remember when it rained heavily, and the laundries would not dry and give off a disgusting and weird odor.
I remember bumping my chin on a black round ball — though I don’t really remember what that was being six at that time — at a playground in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It hurt so much that even though I don’t remember how it happened or why I was there, but I still remember the pain.
I remember watching Juan Camilo Zuniga stabbing his knee into Neymar Jr’s back at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. I cried.
I remember not being able to move while I was in sleep. I was paralyzed and sank into the deep deep black hole.
I remember trying to move but the only thing moving was my mind.
I remember whenever I would eat vegetables, even before taking a bite, I could smell the disgust.
I remember regretting the fact that I didn’t watch Call Me By Your Name at the movie theaters because I was indecisive.
I remember watching the 2014 Brazil World Cup, staying up all night to watch Brazil’s games.
I remember the semi-final game between Germany and Brazil.
I remember being shocked when Germany had already scored “5” points only after the first half of the game.
I remember not being able to sleep. I went to bed and tried to sleep but the only thing closed was my eyes. My brain was making tantrums like a child, not wanting to be put to bed.
I remember eating Kimbap every single day. Now even the slight look and scent of Kimbap makes me want to vomit. This is what happens when your severe obsession finally comes to an end.
I remember going to AKASAKA in Paris again after a year. I once again ordered beloved Kimchi Jeon, but this time it was the worst food that I had ever tasted. What used to be crispy became sticky. What used to be authentic became a midsummer night’s dream.
I remember breaking my left toe. I was running across the room to get something, but I accidentally hit my foot on a metal chair.
I remember it was so painful that not a single sound came out of my mouth.
I remember not realizing what had just happened and walked as if I was just fine.
I also remember not being able to go to the hospital because it was a public holiday in Korea so everything was closed down.
I remember wanting to wear an orthopedic cast when I was young.
I remember breaking my right toe.
I remember doing nothing. Out of the blue, I just stood up and went to my room.
I remember hitting my foot — while I was wearing a slipper that covered my foot — on a stack of books. I never imagined I would break my toe again.
