Tattoos

General, Going Mental, Meanderings Abroad Add comments

Aug 122011

For a while I have considered getting a tattoo, much to my father’s chagrin. The main thing for me is that I didn’t want a cheesy-looking one that would stay on my body forever and I didn’t want it in a cliche location on my body (ie no “I like it from behind” tatts…). So, it took me a long time to come up with something that I wouldn’t hate looking at all the time or knowing it was stuck on me. Also, I wanted to find something that meant something to me and less likely to be seen on another body….

Thus, I came up with this:

I took a picture of my longtime teddy bear friend, Snowball, and then decided I wanted to represent the two sides of me – Asian outside and American inside. So, the Korean flag are represented on the paws and the center circle piece, but instead of the ying-yang blue and red colored inside, I replaced it with the American flag. The top writing is my name in Korean and then my Korean name is written in English on the bottom. It is the best way I could show my duality and constant struggle of identity, but portrayed through the softer side of me in a stuffed animal.

I thought about it for a long time and decided this is what I wanted and would be happy to see every day. The location was a bit more difficult to decide, but I picked my right hip area in the front because I could see it and I like that it won’t be easily seen except in a swimsuit and even then it will just be his little head peeking out… 😉

So, here is the final product:

The next day...just what I wanted! Shhhh...DO NOT TELL MY DAD! :D

The next day…just what I wanted! Shhhh…DO NOT TELL MY DAD! 😀10-Aug-2011 23:45, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.7, 6.64mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800

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12-Aug-2011 01:25, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 160

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Overall, I am quite happy with it, though the writing on the ‘ra’ part of my name in Korean isn’t as accurate as I had wanted…. Still, though the pain was incredible, I am glad that I did it. Not being a real tatt person before I am surprised at how much I like it and that I am considering one more looking something like this:

But, that is still in the conception process….

Anyway, here are some other photos from the tattooing – R also got a new one done that required a second visit to get fixed up, but it now looks good and he is already scheduled to go again!!! 🙂