Love you, Laica!!! (((HUGS)))

Did I just cry a bit reading this? Yes. I love the photos you used (Misaeng <3). I feel the same way with my discovery of the korean industry. Being of a multicultural descent, I always felt like my culture was never represented well on television. And what do you know, korean culture felt new, yet not too unfamiliar to my home life. You are no doubt one of the reasons DB is what is it, so thank you!

I'm not crying there's just dust in my eye... *ahem*

*wipes tears*
You’re the awesomest too!
*finger hearts*

@laica
I'm not crying - it is those damn onions I had to chop up for a potluck tomorrow.
totally feel your words. You are loved and you know it. What a blessing right?
thanks for all your hard work over the years I've been a part of DB.
*hugggggsssss*

I swear some ninjas are chopping onions next to me.
This is beautiful, raw, and heartwarming, @laica. And yes, I'm still amazed that such an incredible corner of the internet even exists.

This is beautiful @laica! Am I crying or is someone cutting onions nearby? So glad you're better, and so glad you found dramas and dramabeans.

Thanks for the lovely post, Laica. I'm glad you're doing better now and hope you stay healthy, and stay with DB for a long, long time!

@laica 😘😘😘😘🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍😍

EVERYONE CUE THE GIANT GROUP HUG!!!

*hugs*

Awwww what a trip down memory lane! Thank you for sharing your community experience, Laica. Your experience really hits home! I watch anime, read manga as well. My first few Asian dramas began with Taiwanese dramas, but it wasn’t until Full House that I discovered my love/obsession for Korean Dramas and the journey to actively participating in online communities began

Dramas and drama communities have been a part of my life since I was 18. Twelve long years, I had thought somewhere along the way I’d grew out of my obsession with dramas, but nope, I realized then and now that they have been my sweet escape when things get really tough in real life. Every milestone in my life from the moment I started transitioning out of highschool and preparing for uni life, dramas and online communities have been with me. I believe dramas will still take a big part of me for the next decade and on, and I do hope Dramabeans and everyone here will still be around by that time too!

D-Addicts, Soompi, Onehallyu, Dramabeans, Rabb.it - I’m so grateful that these communities were with me whenever I needed a place to hang out and that I also got to chat with people online that I shared/share same interest with. ♥️

Wow!!! Such a heartfelt, beautiful and personal writing!!! Thank you, Laica. Thank you so much for melting my heart this way. I hope you are really recovered. I could identify with you because I also suffer a chronic illness, although it has never been so bad as to keep me looked in a room. But I have my holes. Fighting!

Y'all are totally making me cry.

Giant group hugs all around! 💚💚💚

Awwww did I just shed a tear on a subway while reading this during a mini rush hour?? Yaaas

Thank you for what you do in this community Laica! Beanies are indeed awesomest!

Laica, you amaze me! I’ve always enjoyed your recaps, and hope you are successful in your graduate studies! This is a lovely site and I’m so glad that you are here. (And there’s the MySoju site again. Curiouser and curiouser.)

You are such a strong person @laica, I can't even imagine what you've gone through.

Your post makes me think I have taken Dramabeans for granted. I don't have any chronic illness or dark periods but DB has nonetheless made a difference in my ordinary life.

"I can’t believe such an incredible corner of the internet even exists." Amen and amen to that!

This was so beautiful, @laica
I can definitely relate to turning to dramas to help get us through difficult times. I'm so glad things are better for you now.
*hugs*

Thanks @laica for this wonderful write up. I wish you all the best with your studies and health. Flighting!!

That is hilarious, we got into dramas almost exactly the same way! I loved your post, @laica~

I enjoy the comedy, snark and camaraderie I find here. Dramabeans is a refuge for me too. Thank you @laica for your writing and for the podcasts. I continue to look forward to both. Good luck with your studies as well (and thank you for sharing about your studies on the podcasts.)

@laica I have been on hiatus in the comment section because of my crazy work schedule. But I can’t help logging in to my DB account after reading your post. Like everyone else, I feel so emotional right now knowing your journey to kdrama, what you went through and what you are still going through. I am always thankful to the DB recappers who spend their time just to give us a summary of each episode’s happenings as this also gives us a platform to share our thoughts about that certain drama and communicate with our fellow beanies. But what you are doing is miles extra special and for that a big hug and thank you so much! I wish you well and always in good spirits. Know that you have your DB community who loves you and will be “virtually” here for you. Cheers to life, love and happiness! 🥂😘💋

i am so glad you're doing better. i'm sorry it was so hard for you.

my journey, as i suspect many others who find solace on the internet, is filled with a lot of pain and sorrow too. and, yea, asian dramas just fill some sort of void. when i first came to DB it was years ago then i took a loooong break. but dramas were in my life in the worst worst worst worst times. it's not embarrassing (i often find things to be tbh) but there's this whole world out there usually in 12-16 episodes and when it's right, it's right. the heart is there. i can't believe it's been that long with dramas for you!

city hall is one of my faaaavorites! also i would love to see your film reviews! i love film and am a ~filmmakeur~~~~

i know the world in general is struggling right now, particularly the US, but i am glad you're back with you're family. i hope you're doing better.

Every now and then I come across the story of Beanies and I get goosebumps! Touching, moving, amazing, ... and I am able to continue listing all the adjectives in this category because every single if them can be true.
I read all the comments and nothing I wanted to say is left unsaid. I just want to repeat “ I’m proud to be among you”. DB gave me a chance to meet lots of wonderful people💙 wish you the best.

And YES to all the onion/dust comments.

My dear @laica many hugs 🤗 😍 What a lovely, personal sharing! I've still crying but smiling at the same time. Thank you for this.

I second and third all you say about this wonderful community and I am so happy and proud to be a part of it.

Congrats on getting on with your Masters and all the best with your thesis and movie reviews. What fun to be able to write about the things that matter so much to you and which you enjoy, and then get a degree out of it!! 😉

I wish you much good and robust health and many fulfilling hours writing! 😘

Thanks @laica. What a beautiful essay on perseverance.
Good luck on your graduate studies and good health!
The beanies above express their thoughts much better than me so everyone gets a thumbs up.

Thank you Laica.
Hugs 🤗😍💜

Woow, this post really touched me! Giving lots and lots of hugs <3 <3

@laica, you are an inspiration and, like everyone else, I have tears in my eyes from reading your very personal story. Thank you for sharing it with us. Beanies are the best ❤️

This is a beautifully written essay. I am continuously astonished at the talent, intelligence, and sheer volume of empathy that can be found in this community. Like many others I too found dramas Dramabeans during a low point in my physical and mental health, and the people here with their wit and warmth have been very much an instrument in the journey to health. It's weird, isn't it, that a niche site about Korean dramas became such source of fellowship? The overlords and minions deserve a huge pat on the back for creating and maintaining this space.

I always enjoy your writing, and I wish you success as you continue your studies.

Thank you Laica for sharing your story. Asian drama is very much my painkiller but fortunately for me not for dealing with the excruciating physical condition but rather to mute the pain facing the political reality of the country I have immigrated to. Just like you, watching an entire cast of people of color onscreen provides me so much comfort especially dealing with the current blatant racist rhetoric of politicians and covert racist attitude of a few people I work with.

Even though I had started watching dramas 3 years ago to mute the pain, but once I've joined Dramabeans, the community becomes my happy pill! Your lovely, intelligent, and funny podcast "Dramas Over Flowers" together with @saya and Paroma @festerfaster is one of the reasons of what makes the community wonderful.

Beanies, if you are able please support these lovely Beanie Minions by donating as little as $1 each month their contribution to fandom:
https://www.patreon.com/dramasoverflowers

Thank you for all you do, especially for those excruciating recaps which took 16 hours to write.......could it be for Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food? 😱😱😱That drama is no painkiller.
*shudders my way to Jeju Island

I am so on board with painkiller factor. for a long time I numbed my mental pain with dramas. then real life happened. AUCH. but somehow, no matter how much real life has hurt me and maybe I will never heal, I don´t watch dramas any more. I still occasionally watch music shows.

I feel like I can write dramas now, though. the material is rich. but that would mean going through it all over again.

I am very tempted to take the painkiller. But I resist.

Dear Laica,

Thank you for your uplifting and inspiring essay. I'm in such good company with my sniffling Beanie buddies.

*passes around virtual tissue box*

Like you, I've had the great good fortune to meet numerous kind souls and kindred spirits here at the greenest oasis on the interwebs. It has been my privilege and pleasure to read many of your recaps. I'm glad to know that your health has improved so much since your early Kdrama days. Keep writing. ;-)

♥

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Glad to hear that you're doing better, and your thesis sounds super interesting!

A very large hug hug from a fellow South Asian @laica. Your story inspires me to do much more and not make excuses for myself. I applaud your strength and grit. Power to you ma'am

To cry while reading and then find out that all the others have done the same...
Thanks for the marvellous and beautiful post, @laica ! You're truly gifted with words and you're a person to draw examples from.
I hope your Masters and the life that follows become successful and happiness-filled.
And those are some really apt screencaps. Especially the one below the true meaning of storytelling part, reminds me of a bonfire-storyteller.

I am glad that you are healthier.

You are not the first person to discover that BOYS OVER FLOWERS is not he equal of the (live action) HANA YORI DANGO- but it does have its moments.

Thank you @laica.
Thank you for sharing your journey and for giving us such a thoughtful insight into your life. Dramas have brought me respite when I was dealing with overwhelming chronic pain as well. I am not of Asian descent, but I live in a different country from the one in which I grew up. Drama Beans and Beanies hold a special place in my heart. I count many of my online friends as true, dear friends and am very grateful for this kind, caring, rambunctious, discussion loving fun, talented, absolutely amazing community.
Thank you for this essay and for the many ways you have helped to shape this place.
Fighting!

I meant to read this piece for a long time now but wasn't mentally prepared to read and comment so first of all thanks @laica for your wonderful piece.
I'm glad you're feeling better and I wish you never encounter any setbacks in your health and life *many many Hugs*
Fighting in your studies 💖💖💖