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Life These Days in South Korea: May 22-June 1, 2025

by Lina Clémence June 5, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

Thursday, May 22

I finally, after what felt like a 97-hour journey, arrived back home to the goshiwon at 3am. Like the trip to Japan, this one also had many moving parts for me to be anxious about. And I was too anxious to try to take my anti-anxiety meds with me, so…

The ferry from Japan arrived in Busan, South Korea around 12:30pm. Then there’s the whole immigration/customs process, about which I was Very Nervous – what if they said NOPE, you can’t come back in. Technically, they can do that. They don’t need grounds. They can deny admission (admission?) to anyone they want. So it was a relief to get through there with no problems. Ferry security is a little less High Pressure on the whole security thing anyway.

I discovered my phone was not working…the international plan I’d set up with Verizon had ended…and apparently immigration notifies the phone services immediately, that I am no longer a resident and so my Korean phone number will be cancelled. It was actually a little confusing if it was being shut down now or not til June 16 (random date). My automatic billing date is the 22nd, which is today, so we’ll see what happens. If I lose the Korean phone number I will probably also lose grocery and food delivery…and maybe some other things I’m not even thinking of.

So – No Phone = SUPER ANXIETY for me. No phone in an unfamilar place? acjnSCHNwknciuaxjnqs12iuey9327r8ufjwnc.

Fortunately, there were taxis right outside the ferry port and I got someone to (slightly begrudgingly) take me to the express bus terminal (it’s 45 mins from the ferry). I got there 2 hours before the bus to Seoul was due to depart and since Busan is not Seoul, there were only a few little independent food places and they were all getting ready to close up shop. I managed to get a corn dog and a kitkat so at least I didn’t starve to death while I was waiting.

What I DID do while waiting, was reach out to Verizon to see if I could restart the international plan for a few more days while I got my Korean phone number sorted out. She was like, why don’t you go on the Ultimate Unlimited Plan which offers unlimited international service to 210+ countries and it’s only $1 more than your current plan??

Uh, YEAH, why DON’T I go on that? Why didn’t anyone offer me that when I first moved to Korea? Why didn’t anyone offer me that just last week when I signed up for the $12/day International Plan?? Sigh. Anyway. That’s a relief to have. I still need a Korean phone number for some things here, but if I can’t get my permanent number sorted out I’ll just have to get a Korean sim card with a tempory number. It won’t allow me to order groceries/food, but…

Anyway. Finally the bus came and it was super luxe. It was a 4-hour trip from 10pm-2am. We had a slight delay with an elderly woman who was crying, then screaming, then scooted on her butt on the floor up to the driver…he tried calling someone…she finally calmed down and walked back to her seat and we carried on. I never understood what the problem was. All I could make out was him saying “please don’t cry.” Thank you 18mos of Korean language school.

Again, when I got to Seoul, even though it was after 2am, there were taxis right out front, so there was no transportation issue. I walked into mmy room around 3:30am and was like WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!?

Then I remembered that, because I had to have the landlady in while I was away to fix my sink, I had REALLY cleaned up before I left. I just didn’t recognize it so neat! But what a nice surprise that was!

I’d rescheduled my dr’s appt for this morning cuz I knew it would just be too much to get up and out that early the morning after All That Traveling…so I just took it easy today.

I was supposed to go tonight to a kpop concert at my school…my building friend Kim likes one of the girl groups, and I thought it would be fun to see Psy (“Gangnam Style”) in person, but…I just did not have it in me to stand in line from 2pm to get seats for a show that didn’t start til 8pm. From my window I could hear when they cheered for Psy, it was so loud!

And now I am officially a language school dropout and just a “tourist” in Korea. I booked my flight to LA for Aug 8, so that’s like 11 weeks. I want to re-do my “to do” list so I make sure when I leave I’ve done all the things I’ve most wanted to do.

And I’m sorta looking forward to being in the states for a bit…I’m house/pet sitting for my niece when she and her family go to Hawaii for 11 days. It’ll be nice to stay in a super comfortable house with a car!!! While I’ve spent a ton of time in LA over my lifetime, I’m really never there independently so I’m making a list of things I want to do while I’m there. After a couple weeks there I’ll head to San Antonio to stay with other family for a couple weeks…and then finish up in Florida with Katie for the last month…then be back in Japan for November 1.

Friday, May 23

I’d sorta had plans today just locally, just with myself. But when I woke up I was so congested, I didn’t want to be out in public trying not to sniff or cough or blow my nose. It’s 3:00 in the afternoon and I’ve gone through over half a roll of toilet paper with nose blowing. Enough Already! I’ve had this cold since April 14!!!

I spent the day in my nightgown (yay) working on a couple blog posts for the next few weeks. It’s so nice to be able to spend more time working on posts without feeling guilty that I’m not studying.

I’m trying to post more consistently about life in Korea…vs just MY life in Korea…and things related to traveling, travel on a budget, traveling with anxiety, etc. Eventually I’ll take these same topics to other countries.

Is there anything in particular about Korea or traveling on the cheap that you’re interested in, that I can write about while I’m still here?

Saturday, May 24

Did I do anything today? Not really. Worked on a weekly “itinerary” for my weeks so I don’t just laze my days away. It’s very general so far – now I have to prepare lots of STUFF. It starts Monday.

Sunday, May 25

I headed out this morning on an easy mission. An apartment building being taken over by climbing roses in the neighboring town, Seongsu, and I wanted to take pictures. Then to a donut place I’ve been wanting to try for ages. And on the way home stop at the phone store to see about extending my phone number the rest of the time I’m here.

From the bus on the way to Seongsu I could see the phone store wasn’t open. I’d suspected it might be closed on Sundays. I found the climbing roses easily enough. But I got to the donut store an hour before opening (at 11:30am). Interestingly, regular restaurants open early in the morning, but donut shops and many cafes not til later, closer to noon. And I don’t care for spicy stew first thing in the morning. So I walked around for half an hour looking for somewhere I could sit inside, but found nothing. All the chain coffee shops (Starbucks, Mega Coffee, etc) are out on the big main streets and I was deeper inside the neighborhood. And already felt I was reaching my walking limit. So with another half hour to go I said oh forget it and headed back to the bus stop.

Which was right next to an open chain coffee shop. Of course, ha. I headed home anyway. Stopped at the convenience store when I got off the bus. I wanted a sandwich. I got what I thought was ham and cheese. But was actually ham, cheese, and crab. Like a crab spread. They always put something on sandwiches that I don’t think belongs.

Monday, May 26

I went with my school/building friend, G, to get his hair cut. I had a couple things to get in the mall so I didn’t mind going along with him. But ArtBox, where I was going to get new pens, was closed…and the market didn’t have the roasted chicken I was looking for, so…I was forced to sit in Starbucks with a bagel and a Grapefruit Honey Black Iced Tea. Life’srough.

Since that was my outing for the day, the rest of the day was spent indoors making my list of things I want to do/accomplish this week, and a nap while listening to a new book I’m not crazy about.

I have a very limited selection of audiobooks. I refuse to pay $$$ for them. Mostly I listen on Spotify but most of the books I want to read are longer than the 10-hour limit so then I have to wait til the next month to finish and that’s annoying. One month when I was reading something I was really enjoying, I paid extra to get extra hours…and what’s unused is supposed to carry over from month-to-month, but now I can’t figure out how to access them again.

I can’t get Libby set-up again til I’m back in the states.

But I had some books on Chirp that I bought long ago when I was a heavy audiobook user (whenn I was driving 100 miles a day to and from work), so I’m working my way through those. Even though so far I’m not loving them.

Tuesday, May 27

Headed over to the phone store to see about extending my Korean phone # the rest of the time I’m here. It said online it opened at 9am. I got there at 9:30, not open. I waited til 10:15. No one ever showed up. There wasn’t like a coffee shop or anything in the area to hang out in…and the sun was hot while I was just standing out on the street. So I went home. I’ll try again after my eye appointment on Thursday.

I came back and spent some time updating my Korean Anki (flashcard app) decks to continue learning more vocabulary. And spent an hour on my first Japanese lesson. Whoa. THREE different alphabets, all used for different things…like within the same sentence. I thought it was confusing (and it is!) that in Korean they use two sets of numbers. One for like counting, and the other for like telling time, etc. And even with time, you used one set for hour, and the other set for minute. I was forever getting numbers mixed up.

I finished the really long remote work project I’ve been working on for over a month.

Napped. Scrambled eggs and sausage for dinner. Finished a cute Japanese drama.

Wednesday, May 28

Not sure what happened. My alarm was set for 6am, I wanted to go to a rose garden while the light was still low and there wouldn’t be many people there. I don’t remember ever hearing the alarm, but I woke up around 8:30 with the alarm set to snooze.

So, I opted for a lazy stay-in day.

And then proceeded to spend three hours, with the help of ChatGPT, to try and fix my blog emails that have not been sending for some time. Do any of you still get them? Every step required 2-3 pre-steps. Ugh. I hate things like this…and in the past (and why it hasn’t been working for so long) I would say “oh I don’t have time for that right now.” But now I do…so I’m hell bent on fixing it. It’s still in process, but…I’ll get there.

I just got a new work assignment, so I’ll spend the afternoon on that. Oh, it’s already 3pm. I haven’t had any lunch. I’ll eat and then get to work.

I feel really relaxed these past few days. It’s good.

Thursday, May 29

Alrighty. Guess what I get to do next week??

ANOTHER EYE SURGERY.

Not the originally planned procedure to remove the silicone oil…but an all new surgery because the retina is detaching again. A different, more complicated procedure that hopefully (knock on wood) should hold this time.

And…after I went through all that back and forth about my insurance before I headed to Japan (cuz remember I lose the Korean National Insurance when I’m not a student anymore)…and ended up paying $500+ for an international medical insurance for three months….today they said I’m still on the Korean insurance. I was like that’s a mistake, they called them, I spoke with a woman AT the National Health Insurance. I explained about no longer being on a D4 visa, that now I was a tourist and I had a new “leave by” date. She was like, as far as we’re concerned, as long as you keep making your payments, you’re on the insurance until August 23. So. That’s good. And now I’m trying to see if I can get any refund on the International insurance…if they say no, I’ll ask if I can just change my end date, and apply the insurance to the next time I leave the US.

But in the meantime, even WITH insurance it’s still $$$ out of pocket. And I’m really hating the Korean hospital experience. The useless pain meds, the uncomfortable hospital costume, the food. And then the whole two-weeks-face-down again. And the painful eye and the endless eyedrops.

Ugh.

So, my day, that I thought was going to be an hour going through follow-up testing at the hospital, then a trip to the phone store to get my number sorted out, turned into five sweaty hours running around in the hospital ($250) for pre-surgical testing and then home to collapse.

Friday, May 30

My alarm was set for 6am…but I woke up at 5am to lovely light…so went ahead and got up and headed to Daeyeonsan Rose Garden. I started out on the bus, but the second bus never came (sometimes the app says the bus will arrive in just a few minutes…but the signage at the bus stop says it’s going to arrive in like 52 minutes. I’ll wait for the earliest one, but if it doesn’t come, I reroute myself or sometimes – like today – end up in an uber). The driver got me to the general area, not understanding I wanted the rose gardren, not just the park entrance. And I did not realize the rose garden was up a hill. And stairs. Sigh.

All of Korea is up hills. Amd stairs.

Anyway, I made it. And it was well worth it.

I’ll just share a couple pictures here cuz I’m going to do a separate post on the garden itself.

I got pretty emotional, sitting there taking in the beauty. My sister and I used to love going on summer garden tours and we especially enjoyed old and climbing roses. I was grateful it was early and there weren’t that many people around.

And when I left I had to walk up another, super steep hill to the bus stop. It was one of the micro-local busses and it was such a fun ride going up and down steep steep, narrow, winding roads…with someone else driving, ha ha.

The rest of the day was spent doing remote work, editing rose pictures, and studying Japanese. With a mid-day nap 🙂

Other than ^(*#U^@!! eye surgery, I’m finally enjoying retirement. I despise obligations. Sometimes even when they’re my own. I don’t want anything to impinge on My Time.

Saturday, May 31

Another month’s end. Just two full months and 8 days left in Korea. And my stupid eye will take up close to one of those months…with surgery, face-down time, then just general discomfort time. I’m really aggravated but what are you gonna do. But I can hardly believe that’s all the time I have left!

In more stupid news, I finally got to the phone store and was told no, I cannot extend my phone number/service til I leave Korea in August. I will have to get a new Korean sim card with a new Korean phone number. I told him not today, cuz a) according to the text from the phone company, I have two more weeks til they shut me down, and b) maybe, just maybe, the phone company will follow suit with the insurance company and just keep me turned on as long as I’m paying. It’s worth a shot. And frankly I don’t even know that I need a Korean sim card at this point as I have the international plan now from Verizon and have unlimted international data, talk, text on my US phone number.

And I’m not entirely sure I’ll lose food and grocery delivery. I needed the phone number to set them up…but now they go through my Korean bank for the money…and I’m still able to move money into the Korean bank without the Korean phone number, so…I’m not sure if immigration just notifies everyplace (like they did the phone co) and says NO MORE CHICKEN FOR HER.

Anyway, that was my little outing for the day. Other than that, just remote work, photo editing, chatting with a NY friend on Instagram…

Sunday, June 1

I mostly just grumbled to myself about having to go to the hospital tomorrow for TWO DAYS before they even do the surgery. I Do Not Understand. I’m taking my laptop and to-do list and will find somewhere with desk.counter seating and at least get some work done. Once the eye is surgered it’s hard to do much of anything involving seeing for awhile.

I finally got onto the Medicare site thinking there was gonna be a whole rigamorole to get signed up, but no. It’s pretty much automatic if you’re only doing the first two levels (Plans A & B), and that’s all I’m doing for the time being as most of my time, at least for the coming year, will be spent out of the country.

Laundry, putting away a Coupang order, straightening up the room so a) it will be nice when I come back exhausted and b) in case they need to come in while I’m gone. Last year this is the week they cleaned all the air conditioners, so…

And it’s June. Happy June.

Wish me luck with the stupid hospital and the stupid eye surgery.

See ya later luv ya bye.

June 5, 2025 0 comments

Plus Size Fashion

The Long Version of Today’s Experience at a Korean Hospital (if this isn’t something you’re interested in, keep scrolling and trust that you’ll have missed nothing important)

by Lina Clémence June 5, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

Back Story: Remember in this week’s This Week you read about my upcoming eye surgery and the curiosity (to put it mildly) about why I was being admitted to the hospital two days before surgery SLASH I’m messing with the timeline here, don’t be alarmed if you’re confused. It’s confusing.

In next week’s This Week in South Korea post you’ll read the short (but still very aggravating) story of my day spent getting admitted to the hospital two days ahead of my eye surgery. But I felt it was far too long for the This Week post (next week) so am making it a stand-alone post…if you want to read a lot of me complaining and being aggravated (word of the week), go ahead. If not, by all means, scroll on to the next post, there’s nothing to see here.

PS: no pictures.

*********************************************************************************

Monday, June 2 – two days before my surgery is scheduled

I had an 8:45am appt with the nephrologist to talk about my kidney again…I guess they need to check on whatever medical issues you have before going into surgery. I’m grateful I didn’t have to see the psychiatrist and get the “6 years is too long to be on welbutrin” speech again. Neph Dr shared about my low functioning kidney (old news to me at this point, have been hearing about it since summer 2021). Anyway, she also mentioned my “Korea Cholesterol,” which a dr talked to me about LAST summer before I had the kidney procedure but no one ever did anything with that information even though I asked someone, I forget who, about it.

I call it my Korea Cholesterol because I’ve never had a cholesterol issue before coming here. Anyway, she put me on a statin, which I’ve heard conflicting views on but…I’ll give it a try. I’ll go back to see her end of July to see if there’s any change to my cholesterol level AND she said it COULD help my kidney function.

Okay, so, finished with that by 9:15. But I’d been told to check-in at admissions at 11, so I waited at the hospital as it wasn’t really enough time to be worth going home and then returning. I had a not very good, expensive, breakfast in a cafe in the hospital, sat at a very unfortunate chair:desk ratio situation in the lounge area of the hospital to get some remote work out of the way, then got some snacks from 7-11 (also in the hospital) to put in the fridge in the hospital room. I have not been a big fan of the food I’ve had here, so…forewarned is fore-armed.

At the main hospital check-in, it’s a whole process…with ticketing and payment kiosks, prescription pick-up windows, general cashier/scheduling windows, and admission/discharge windows. I was supposed to be going to A/D but the kiosk kept giving my tickets for general windows, so I’d wait my turn then go up and try to explain that I was really supposed to be at admissions, but the kiosk didn’t give me a ticket for admissions, could they please help me. At the first window, they didn’t understand. They look at their computer, they look at my paperwork, they look at my translator app where I’ve tried to explain and they’re just like “why are you here?” Finally she got it (I think) and told me to go back to the main kiosk and now I’d get the right # for A/D. Okay. Back to kiosk. Still got a general window ticket. waited AGAIN, when it was my turn I went to different window, started explaining all over again, but this one looks at her computer and is saying something about money. I said I already paid for this morning’s appt…surely they weren’t already charging me for the surgery?

Turns out I was due a refund from last week’s eye exams and opthalmology consultation because at that time none of us were aware that I was still covered by the Korean National Health Insurance. But now they know, so I get a refund. Nice. But she wants to wire it to my Korean bank. And I want it back on the card I used. I can’t move (well, maybe I can, but I don’t know how and there’s going to be a fee involved) money from Korean to American bank. I’ve only wired US to Korea, never Korea to US, and the money isn’t as immediately useful to me in the Korean back as it would be just back on the original card (most useful) or in my US account (second most useful). Back and forth back and forth, I don’t have my bank book with me, here’s my ARC (Alien Resident Card), here’s my passport, oh wait, I found my bank # in my phone…all this takes a lot of translation apping and gesturing. Finally that’s done (the money will be in your Korean bank in 2 days, okay fine whatever okay), and she writes an A/D window # on the bank of my kiosk ticket (why didn’t the first person just do that?) and I sit down to wait. In a few minutes I hear my name being called beh-TEE! beh-TEE! And it’s the bank refund girl…and she says the money will be there today, that my bank had been asleep when she first tried to do it. I understand none of this cuz…what does my bank have to do with anything if she’s just moving money from the Korean hospital to my Korean bank account. Anyway, okay, whatever.

FINALLY…it’s now 11;40 and I’ve been trying to check-in to admissions for 45 minutes. I FINALLY get to the A/D window and he goes, you were supposed to check in at 11am. AARRGGHH!!! I said I’ve Been Trying!!! However, he says…your admission time has been changed to 2pm.

(this is a blank paragraph) (blank like my face)

I never noticed before, that the words face and cafe have the same four letters in them.

Internally, I’m all WTF &*%^&&^^%!!! but outwardly I’m One Big Sigh and an insincerely smiling KAMSAMNIDA. I could have gone home at 9:30 when I was done with the nephrologist. I didn’t need to lug all my hospital and work stuff all over up and down. I could have been in the comfort of my own room.

I was already aggravated about the repeat eye surgery in the first place. I’m INCREDIBLY aggravated that I have to check into the hospital TWO DAYS before the surgery. And now I’m DOUBLY INCREDIBLY aggravated that they have wasted my time and my morning.

Those of you who have been here for awhile KNOW how valuable my time is to me. Don’t Waste MY Time! That’s MY time. Don’t mess with it.

So I go home. Turn on the ac (it’s gross and humid out), get out of my sweat soaked clothes, put my nightgown on, and get in bed. I doze. It’s lovely. An hour and a half later, I get up, get redressed, repack all my electonics (that have been charging while I rested), and get BACK on the bus to the hospital.

You’d think that would be the end of the story but NOOOOO.

Guess where the kiosk sends me? Yup. But at least this person understood right away, wrote an appropirate number on the back of my ticket…I waited briefly then FINALLY got the Admissions window. We got through all the stuff…eye surgery, no guardian, cheapest room please, I get my bracelet and up I (try to) go to the 4th floor.

The elevators are a little odd, they’re on both sides of a wide hallway, and the 4 elevators for the odd-numbered floors are one side and the 4 elevators for the even-numbered floors are on the other side (ooh, same for side and dies). How many times have I been to this hospital? And this is the first time I’ve noticed that. So for once I get myself on the proper side from the get-go, waiting for an UP elevator, get on and try to press the button for the 4th floor. My vision is bad, it’s sort of hard to see but I swear there is no 4 button. Someone else on the elevator realized what I was searching for and just pressed “F.” And then I remembered that the number 4 is considered bad luck in Korea…so I guess the F represented Four.

In my goshiwon I live on the 4th floor and press the 4 button every day.

OHHHH. That could explain a lot.

ANYWAY, when the door opens at F, another patient takes my arm and walks me over to the other side (the odd-numbered floors) and points to the 9, says “koo,” like…huh?? I said, anyo (no), SA (four). AHHHHH she says, then walks me through the closed doors to the floor and shows me to the nurse’s station.

What was THAT about??

Anyway, At this point in the day I am just like…so confused by everything. A nurse takes me in and starts doing all the things, what meds are you on, any allergies, how are your teeth, do you have a guardian, etc etc. It’s a lot of translation apping and me signing things I do not understand.

Then, kahp-jug-hee (all of a sudden), she goes JIGGUM!!! (right now!) – go to the angwa (optholmalogy dept), JIGGUM! Like…you’ve been jerking me around all day and now *I* have to hurry?? Ha. At least I was still in my clothes. Last time I had to put on the hospital costume first and then they pushed me around in a wheelchair to do all the eye things…when I was sitting, the top kept opening (it’s a v-neck button down) and showing too much boob and belly so I had to keep clutching the fabric parts together. At least I was spared that.

I went back downstairs (on the correct elevator), took a number from the opthalmology dept kiosk and waited my turn to go in and get drops in my eyes then get whisked through all the different rooms for the different tests. I always feel like they take me through faster than other people. I do all the tests, I see the surgeon FINALLY. Blah blah blah she says. And now I get to ask – the surgery is on Wednesday, right??

Dr:Yes.

Me: Then what am I doing tomorrow?

Dr: Nothing.

Me: Quizzical look on face.

Dr: Well, you can go out during the day but come back in in the afternoon.

Me: What am I doing tonight?

Dr: Nothing.

Moment of silence.

Me: Then…can I go home NOW…and come back tomorrow afternoon??

Dr: Uhm…I think you can. Yes. That would be fine.

THEN WHY HAVE I BEEN HERE ALL DAY, MINUS 2 HOURS WHEN I MANAGED TO ESCAPE??? Why didn’t they just “admit me” when I was there at 9:30am then say I could go home and return Tuesday afternoon?? Why?? Why? WHY???

But okay, okay, good. I have to go back upstairs to get my overnight bag that the nurse up there told me to leave while on my angwa journey. I get off at F all by myself (and they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks) and go to pick up my bag and I am WHISKED to my room, shown my clothes on the bed, she’s pulling the curtain closed so I can change and I’m like no no no JIB-EH KAYO! I’m going home!

Oh the shock and horror on their faces. What? Why? What? Back out to the nurse’s station we go so I can try to explain that the surgeon, not 15 minutes ago, told me I could go home and come back tomorrow. Okay okay they said. Then tried to get me BACK to the room! Ha ha. At this point I was like I AM JIB-EH KAYOING no matter WHAT you say.

Finally the head nurse called The Powers That Be who said that yes, I was allowed to go home. I had to sign a bunch of things, I guess saying that if anything happened to me OUT THERE while I was tachnically admitted to the hospital, that it was on me. OKAY FINE LET ME GO HOME.

Every Nurse: BUT YOU’LL BE BACK TOMORROW AT 4, RIGHT??

Me: gone.

And I took the SECOND uber of the day.

Honestly: 2 busses, 2 ubers, + 1 crappy breakfast = $27. Getting to go home? PRICELESS.

But the waste of the day?? UNFORGIVABLE

I got home at 5:20pm. Exhausted, sweaty, and so annoyed.

The one bright spot is that I actually took one of the xanax this morning, knowing how anxious the whole hospital ordeal makes me. And it worked. No anxiety. ANNOYANCE, yes…but no anxiety.

And later, my friend Giorgio and I went up to the roof with ice cream bars and just chatted.

The End.

OH so the reason they wanted me to be admitted on Monday when the surgery wasn’t til Wednesday (this was another question for the surgeon) is because Tuesday is Presidential Election Day (remember their “current” president was impeached so this was a snap election to get a new president) and Election Day is a government holiday and they don’t do admissions on government holidays.

That was the explanation, but I don’t think it was a good enough reason. Why not just surger me on a different day, that’s NOT the day after a government holiday? Or, since the surgery is not til 9 or 10 in the morning, why not just let me come to the hospital that morning and not make me stay over at all? This just seems like a situation that could have been so easily avoided.

AND…why not schedule the nephrologist’s appointment for while I’m admitted to the hospital? Instead of making it a separate appointment, making me spend more of my time? I mean, I know why…so they can bill separately for that consultation. But I’d gladly agree to pay for it while admitted, cuz then it would be an In The Hospital Activity, a way to pass the long, boring time…instead of using, yes I’m going to say it again, MY TIME.

Anyway. In the end, I had a good night’s sleep and am now having a leisurely(ish) morning before I have to re-pack and go BACK to the hospital at 4pm.

Just in case you were curious.

OH – and a cute moment in the day (gotta make sure we don’t miss those!) was when I was done in the opthalmology department and headed back up to F, all the nurses at the station got up and said “beh-TEE! ANYONG!” (which is “familiar” hello and goodbye) and waved the Korean wave. Which was adorable. They’re all very cute.

Okay, goodbye.

June 5, 2025 0 comments

Plus Size Fashion

Plus size guide to summer fashion with Karen Millen

by Lina Clémence June 4, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

Written by

Lauren Nicole Coppin Campbell

_{This article is in collaboration with Karen Millen.}

Shopping as a plus-size woman has felt more like a nightmare task than a leisure activity for far too long. When very few brands care to invest in their curve collections, the mission to find pieces that are of high quality, fairly affordable and on-trend is a feat. But, things are beginning to change. More and more brands are noticing an overwhelming demand, and as a result, are extending their lines and introducing curve collections. But who should be on your radar? Well, it just so happens to be Karen Millen.

Known for their occasion wear and chic silhouettes, the retailer has branched out and created a range of curve pieces available in size 18 to 24. No more are the days of settling for outdated styles that make you feel far more mature than you are or the other extreme of overly sexy styles and silhouettes that don’t always work for everyday looks. Karen Millen is filling a massive gap in the market by providing styles that take inspiration from what we see on the runway and in magazines. Thereby giving the fat fashion babes exactly what they need. So, I’ve pulled together some of my favourite looks that I think could work for you this season, no matter the occasion.

Pop of colour

As someone who is a proud member of the “go bold or go home” committee, there’s no better time than Spring/Summer to wear colour and Karen Millen isn’t lacking. Forget the muted tones and add a pop of colour into the mix, like this jumpsuit. Not only will you gorgeous in the sunshine, but it’s scientifically proven that wearing colour helps to boost moods. So, why not wear something that quite literally could spark joy? For some fun styling, I’ve mixed some prints by including my beloved Zebra print bag and gingham mules to take the look to the next level.

SHOP: *Curve Luxe Gold Trim Detail Jumpsuit, £107.40, Karen Millen; Bow High Heeled Mules In Gingham, £35, ASOS*.

Safari Chic

But if colour isn’t your thing. Allow me to introduce you to my friend. The safari chic trend is one that’s been around for years and, much like florals, pops up ever so often, and while many of us might not be going on the safari trip, we’ve always dreamed of. The chic adventurer style is happening, and it’s happening now. Thankfully for us curvy girls, Karen Millen has us sorted. Offering various styles from belted shirts to pleated dresses, KM is giving the girls sandy toned goodness this season. If this trend is exciting your inner traveller, I’d suggest creating a monochromatic look this season. Like the fashion IT girls of last season, try creating a head-to-toe beige/brown look. I’d advise incorporating lighter colours, but there’s no harm in keeping it dark this season.

Show off those legs

One of the difficult parts of entering Summer is the amplified body image issues many experience. Unfortunately, warmer weather can cause anxiety and trigger self-esteem issues. But this year, I’m really championing stepping outside of your comfort zone. As much as I worry about the appearance of my cellulite, stretch marks and stomach, the one thing I’ve learnt in the last year is just how short life is. Despite the hang ups I have around my body, I never want to look back on a moment and regret not experiencing, doing or wearing what I wanted. It’s minuscule in the grand scheme of things, but I know firsthand what it’s like to not want to go somewhere or wear something in fear that I’ll be judged. And this year it stops.

So, this summer, step out of your comfort zone! That doesn’t mean wear all the things you ‘hate’ at once but start slowly. A great way to do that is by incorporating more skirts into your wardrobe. As silly as it may sound to some, wearing a skirt can be a daunting experience. But as we start to make a conscious effort to own our bodies, wearing the things that once made us feel uncomfortable can become an empowering action. If you’re wondering where to begin, Karen Millen has a great selection of skirts. From denim to a-line, knit and mini, here are some of the best KM have on offer.

While the plus-size fashion industry still has a long way to go, the launch of Karen Millen’s curve collection feels like a step in the right direction. Rather than creating styles that can’t be found in their main range. The curve collection mirrors the style and feel of the main range. I look forward to seeing what’s next from the brand.

Photographed by Alise Jane.

Written by

Lauren Nicole Coppin Campbell

Lauren Nicole is an intern at ‘faking it till you make it’ society, and also the founder of Fashion Killer. Sharing unfiltered anecdotes that make her parents cringe.

June 4, 2025 0 comments

Plus Size Fashion

Where to staycation in London: Royal Lancaster London

by Lina Clémence June 4, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

Written by

Lauren Nicole Coppin Campbell

As restrictions continue to lift and staycation plans across the nation resume, there’s one place in the heart of London calling for you to visit. The Royal Lancaster London, located 2 minutes from Lancaster Gate station, offers luxury and impressive views overlooking London that will guarantee you a night or weekend of fun, indulgence and sightseeing.

The iconic mid-century building has undergone significant renovation in the last couple of years to be reborn as a stunning five-star. Its new and improved opulent design glows with sophistication and offers guests 411 rooms across 18 floors. From the grand entrance to each hotel room, premium retro reigns supreme with geometric brushed gold and 1960’s inspired booths; the hotel is an Instagrammer’s dream. And trust me, we saw first-hand plenty of women getting their snaps for ‘gram before their night out.

So, whether you’ve missed important celebrations with loved ones over the last year, need an indulgent break or are simply eager to rediscover the city, Royal Lancaster London has it covered!

The Room

As soon as we opened the door of our corner Park Suite, we were greeted by the most incredible views of London. The living room and bathroom overlooked views of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, while the London skyline dazzled from the bedroom. There was a certain air of stepping into the role of a wealthy Londoner, and we very much revelled in it.

What’s for breakfast?

Head to the restaurant for an exquisite breakfast spread, buffet-style, including everything from fresh fruits to warm pastries and a full English. But if none of that is picking your fancy, feel free to order from the menu. But, I would advise making sure you try the scrambled eggs. I’d argue they were quite possibly the best eggs I’ve ever had.

How about lunch and dinner?

While we didn’t have lunch or dinner at the hotel, I’m told Nipa Thai is popular among guests and Londoners. Described as one of the most incredible Thai restaurants you can visit, it’s only an elevator journey away when staying at the hotel. With authenticity at the heart of everything they do, from their décor to their traditional all-female, all-Thai kitchen, led by Head Chef Sanguan Parr, Nipa Thai is a must-try. I’m very disappointed we already had a dinner reservation somewhere else.

Where should we go if we want to eat out?

But if Thai cuisine isn’t for you, the hotel staff are more than happy to arrange a cab to take you into Mayfair, Soho, Fitzvoria or anywhere else. I’d personally recommend, Park Chinos or Hakkasan in Mayfair, or Ham Yard Bar and Restaurant in Soho.

Who should we bring?

Whether you need some alone time and like the idea of doing that in the setting of luxury, or you fancy a night of fun with your partner or best friend, the Royal Lancaster London is the perfect spot. Why not enjoy an afternoon of shopping and sightseeing, soak in the tub and then get ready for a night out of fun in the heart of London. Now, you’ve got to answer if that sounds better alone or with your partner in crime.

Written by

Lauren Nicole Coppin Campbell

Lauren Nicole is an intern at the ‘faking it till you make it’ society and the founder of Fashion Killer. Sharing unfiltered anecdotes that make her parents cringe.

June 4, 2025 0 comments

Plus Size Fashion

Write an title about: The Seven Easiest Items to Thrift

by Lina Clémence June 3, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is:

Sis,

It feels so good to get back into thrifting! I took a bit of a hiatus last year because to be honest, I was not finding much at the thrift when I would go. With the growing popularity of thrifting, it was not leaving much on the racks to discover in my area. So, I took a break and during that break, I discovered my love of estate sales. I was actually leaving an estate sale recently one Saturday morning when I decided to drop into Goodwill. I started this new year optimistic about thrifting again and my first thrift trip of the year was so fruitful.

You know they say that the beginning and end of the year is a good time to thrift because of so many people cleaning out their homes for tax season. I could not believe how full the racks were. I found so much! Plus, because of my new love for estate sales, I have broadened my horizons to thrifting more than accessories and clothing. I have started thrifting more housewares, such as glasses, utensils and more.

As I have been getting back into it, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the most common things you can find at the thrift store. It’s not limited to clothes and the best part is that EVERYONE can find something.

The Seven Easiest Items to Thrift

1. Outerwear

Outerwear is by far one of my favorite things to thrift because of the ability to find high quality pieces. You can find amazing vintage blazers, coats and more at the thrift store. Plus, you can find trendy ones, statement ones, etc.

2. Housewares

Whether you have an upcoming dinner party or you’re just in the market for items for home, the thrift store is the perfect place to find affordable housewares. I’ve found everything from formal dinner plates to cute, pink glasses. I’m still even giddy about the perfect measuring cup I got for $1.

3. Dresses & Skirts

There are always plenty of dresses and skirts available every time I go to the thrift store. I love that you can find the denim dresses that our teachers used to wear back in the day and even fashionable skirts that you give you Clueless vibes.

4. Children’s Clothing

The children’s section surprisingly does not have many people in it when I go thrifting; however, so many people are missing out on quality clothing in that section. New or very gently used children’s clothes are donated often so it’s a great place to find a variety of children’s clothes.

5. Accessories

Accessories are typically my second favorite thing to find while thrifting. You can find high quality pieces at the thrift store like great costume jewelry, silk scarves, hats and more. Since I love layering jewelry, I absolutely cannot leave the thrift store without checking the section to see what gems I can find. I found a beautiful gold necklace marked down to $2 recently!

6. Jeans

If you are in need of jeans, check out your local thrift store! They usually have racks on racks on racks of jeans and you can find every fit from baggy to straight leg. If you are someone looking to distress a pair of jeans yourself, the thrift store is the perfect place to grab an affordable pair.

7. Graphic Tees

Thrifted graphic tees have my heart! They can be a bit trickier to find due to resellers often scoping them out, but there’s nothing like finding a vintage graphic tee at the thrift store. I have found some of the quirkiest tees. One of my favorite finds is a Tupac tee that my husband actually found for me while thrifting in Winston Salem.

What is your favorite thing to find at the thrift store?

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June 3, 2025 0 comments

Plus Size Fashion

Write an title about: Where’s the Love? | FabEllis

by Lina Clémence June 3, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

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Sis,

Is this a safe space? I have to be honest in saying that making creative friends over the last few years has been incredibly hard for me. I hate to say that, but I believe there is power in being honest. Being a creative is such a unique experience because we have our quirks, we have our art forms we love and some of the world just does not understand what we do and why we do it. That’s why having creative friends as a creative is so key. You need people that get you and most importantly, see you. They see the beauty in what you love and why you choose to create.

Knowing the importance of having community within the creative world is why I originally built the Triad Women Bloggers Network several years ago. I know how essential it is to have a place where creatives can come together, learn and talk about our journeys with people that truly understand. Although the group is deactivated, I still know the significance of finding your creative community. That has been my personal struggle over the last few years.

In fact, it has been a pain point I have often brought up in therapy. I currently do not feel I have creative friends that I can turn to for support and that’s hard. It wasn’t always this way, but I slowly started to see a change over the last year. I’ve seen creative friends that supported me heavily online for years slowly stop their support. I understand that people have lives outside of social media and the algorithm does not always show our content, but this was different.

It went from people showing lots of support via comments and likes to simply just occasional likes yet I would see those same people commenting on mutual friends’ posts constantly. Where did the love go? It caused me to withdraw a bit last year to really take time to reflect. It still hurts somewhat because you begin to think, were these ever really my friends or were they just getting what they needed from me at the time? I may never know, but I did learn a few things about myself in the process.

I had to learn to stop over giving. I’m so big on supporting other creatives that I was often blind to the fact that that support was repeatedly one-sided. I had to learn to fall back on that. I also learned that at my core, I do have a big heart for people in general. There will never be anything wrong with that, but with that, people can take advantage. Your discernment has to be on point and you have to know not to ignore it.

As much as I love being a creative, I’ve had a few times where being online has reminded me of high school. I was never in the in crowd in high school and I often feel the same about social media. However, I had a few close friends in high school that meant so much to me and I’m hoping that one day I will find those same creative friends today. The journey has been hard, but it’s most certainly not over. Here’s to manifesting I connect to the right people this year…

How do you connect with other creatives? Any recommendations on where to meet fellow creatives?

God bless & stay fab,

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June 3, 2025 0 comments

Plus Size Fashion

“Beach” Outfit – Extra Inches

by Lina Clémence June 2, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

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Every body is a beach body and a beach outfit stays a beach outfit – even without a beach! Period. even if Miss Rona is still on the run, fashion can be a nice way to change the mood and the help to feel different. Even if it is just a bit dressing up for a sunbath on your balcony!

I looooove co-ords as you know hence I posted loads of them. I ordered this one to wear it at the beach. At the sunny beaches of Florida during a long planned vacation that was planned for May. well… that did not happen, so the category is: Balcony instead of beach! Making the best of the moment.

Yeah, itms just my balcony and neither Miami South Beach, Key West, Disney World nor Fort Lauderdale. But hey… sunshine is sunsihe no matter where you enjoy it!

Co Ord Set Beach Strand Badehose Kimono Asos Plus

Until everything is not back to normal I refuse to complain too much and to make the best out of it. Being happy about the little things that already work again, meeting friends having dinner outside and so on. I hope you are alright and able to see the few good thing in this situation!

Accept your Extra-Inches – love yourself!

Shopping-Links:

Kimono / Shirt by ASOS PLUS (size 3XL) – via ASOS (hier…)
Swin short by ASOS PLUS (size 3XL) – via ASOS (hier…)

Please see my size guide for comparing your measurements with the provided sizes I wore the clothes for this blogposting.

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Extra Inches is you place for inspiration and ideas for plus size mens clothing

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June 2, 2025 0 comments

Plus Size Fashion

Lavender Love – Extra Inches

by Lina Clémence June 2, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

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Show some love for this lovely lavender look 🙂

Added a little pop of neon to this all lavender outfit:

Accept your Extra-Inches – love yourself!

Shopping-Links:

Jumper* by ASOS PLUS (Gr. 3XL) – via ASOS (shop now…)
Pants* by ASOS PLUS (Gr. 3XL) – via ASOS (shop now…)

*products have been provided for this posting

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June 2, 2025 0 comments

Plus Size Fashion

Socks, Hats, & Coats OH MY! Winter Wear Is Here! – Curvy Sense

by Lina Clémence June 2, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

It’s time to start layering up! And Curvy Sense is here with some of the trendiest, warmest, pieces to keep you nice and toasty this winter!

via GIPHY

Let’s start from the top, and work our way down!

HATS!

A sure fire way to keep your body nice and warm, is to start by covering up your dome! Shop our new Headwear Collection, with more styles coming SOON!

You can shop our SHERPA BUCKET HAT, in this Grey, or also Cream. Or grab our FAUX FUR TRAPPER HAT, in this Black, or Grey, or Ivory! There’s Beanies too!

SWEATERS!

It’s not called Sweater Weather for nothin’! A good sweater is a must if you stand a chance against Jack Frost.

Shop this gorgeous Mustard CROPPED MOCK NECK SWEATER, also available in Olive, Rust, and Red. Or, if a hoodie is a must in your fight against the cold, shop our Rust CASUAL HOODED SWEATER, or in Black. For more options, head to our full Sweaters & Cardigans Collection.

OUTERWEAR!

Things are starting to heat up, but you can’t really brave the elements without a great coat or jacket! Trust in our options to find your new chill barrier.

Don’t sacrifice fashion and style with our outerwear options! Keep it classy this winter in our PLAID DOUBLE BREAST PEACOAT, or hit the slopes in our BELTED HOODED PUFFER COAT. Take a look at our site for more faux fur, parka, and fleece options!

SOCKS!

There’s nothing worse than frozen little piggies! Keep your feet nice and warm while you curl up with a good movie, and a cup of cocoa with our new Winter Socks.

Our new SHERPA LINED WINTER SOCKS feature the cutest designs, like this SNOWMAN and POLAR BEAR! Not to mention their super warm, with a full Sherpa lining, and grippers on the bottom. Grab a pair for yourself, and for that friend who’s always cold!

BOOTS!

These boots were made forrrrr keeping your feet warm, and that’s just what they’ll do! Take a look, but you know you wanna take a feel!

For maximum warmth, you’re going to want to buy our SPIKED CIDER TALL LACE UP FAUX FUR LINED BOOTS, available in this Tan, or Olive, and Navy. And if you prefer something a little daintier, I suggest our Black HOT TODDY FAUX FUR TRIM LACE UP BOOTS, also available in White or Cognac. For our full selection of Fall/Winter footwear must-have’s, shop our Boots Collection.

There you have it, a taste of what we have to offer this Winter season! Be on the lookout for new additions each week, and please, stay warm my friends!