Rilakkuma for YoonA, SM Town New York 2011, & SNSD’s First US Fanmeet Fanaccount

Rilakkuma for YoonA:

The idea of me giving a Rilakkuma to YoonA was when I saw YoonA entering the airport and she started to spazz at the sight of Rilakkumas. I’ve also read that she keeps a Rilakkuma village in her room. I’ve given her roses back in August when she was in Los Angeles for the Eider commercial filming and this time I wanted to up my gift.

Gif of YoonA spazzing to Rilakkuma:

When YoonA saw Rilakkuma video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6KSzKy_4kQ

I wanted to get her a Yoonique Rilakkuma, something that I don’t think she would be likely to have. I had planned to ordered a Rilakkuma online, but things happened and I got lazy to buy one. It was not until the day before the SM Town New York Concert that I decided to buy a Rilakkuma for her. I happened to stop by Chinatown in search for Rilakkumas. There was not a big selection and I did not really like the other Rilakkumas they had for sale. So I finally decided on this Rilakkuma, even though he is a bit plain (aside from the chick backpack/fany).

Night before the concert (W Hotel):

My first attempt to give it to her was waiting for SNSD’s arrival to the W hotel. Me and my friends decided to skip waiting for SNSD at the JFK airport and instead wait for them in the hotel (hoping that there would be less people). When we got there there was already a large group of K-Pop fans waiting outside. When SNSD arrived I had situated myself next to the bus and close to the walkway towards the hotel. I was excited and eager to see YoonA in person again and so I couldn’t help myself but to keep looking up at the bus window for signs of her. The first SNSD member I saw was Jessica and I waved to her and she saw my Rilakkuma and smiled back at me. I was next noticed by SooYoung and she waved back at me as I waved back. When they finally left the tour bus, I tried to wave my Rilakkuma in the direction of them, hoping one of them would notice it but they were in a hurry to get inside the hotel and the massive crowd pushing into the walkway didn’t help the situation either.

Day of the concert:

I brought Rilakkuma to the concert the next day, hoping that I can maybe give her Rilakkuma during the concert while she was on stage. Me and my friends were waiting in line for hours and we were interviewed and filmed by Korean media/news stations covering about the concert. I tried to show Rilakkuma in hopes that they might air my parts and that YoonA would notice it.

M-Net’s Coverage of the concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntmyOQr2c5U&t

I had bought general admission seating for the concert which was basically the floor areas directly next to the stage. (I was situated in GA3.) I was not directly in front of the stage but before SNSD came on stage I was lucky enough to maneuver through a few rows of people. (They had given me free spaces, rather opportunities, to squeeze through as I did not force myself upon people for room.) I was one row away from the side stage before SNSD came on and I remember asking the two girls in front of me if (I think they were SUJU/SHINee fangirls.) if I can squeeze in and get front row when SNSD came out to perform. I was surprised and really grateful that they let me squeeze to the front. SNSD came out shortly after, performing a few songs in the main stage (Run Devil Run I think…) before coming towards the center and side stages. They first entered the center and side stages when they performed Kissing You.

Kissing You Performance:

I was extremely lucky that I was situated between the center stage and the right side stage as YoonA came and stayed on the right side stage for most of the Kissing You performance.Right when she began to walk towards the side stage I had my Rilakkuma out and I was waiving it towards her. She noticed it immediately as her expression changed immediately to complete awe. She noticed Rilakkuma first but she also had noticed me and gave me eye contact. 30-40 seconds that followed that moment was heaven and its was so amazing that I have a hard time reminiscing that particular moment. During that time I really felt that YoonA’s center of attention was directed solely towards me. There was constant eye contact, waving, and she would smile back as I stood fanboying like a fool. It finally ended with a big heart ♥ from her. I couldn’t throw Rilakkuma towards her since the bag carrying Rilakkuma broke and the stage was a good distance from where I was standing and I didn’t want to throw a large plush toy on stage only to miss or to hit her unintentionally. (Plus the security guard was basically in front of me.)

I had Rilakkuma out for the entire concert and I would wave it whenever she would face towards my direction. I noticed that she would wave and look at me a few times throughout the concert. Aside from YoonA’s fan service, I also had a little fan service from HyoYeon and Sunny as well as they had eye contact and smiled back at me.

The concert was all in all amazing and the whole experience of it was on another level compared to SM Town Los Angeles in 2010. I spazzed/fanboyed so much when SNSD, f(x), and BoA came out, my voice started to get raspy. It was great to see BoA perform in person again as she opened the world of K-Pop to me and was my first favorite music artist. Come to think of it, SM Town concerts are the only concerts where I openly and publicly spazzed/fanboyed over them.







- I was really impressed, surprised, and grateful of the people around me during the concert. (I told myself I would be more aggressive for concerts after what happened during SM Town Los Angeles concert in 2010.) They were really well-mannered and really nice. I was bumped (I bumped into him as well) into a few times by a guy behind me and he apologized every time and he even gave me more space. One fangirl gave up her position close to the front in order to get a closer look at her idol on the side stage and I replaced her spot without any problems. (It was getting crowded at that time and there was very little space). I would like to thank the 2 girls again in the front row who allowed me to squeeze between them in so that I can show Rlakkuma and attempt to give Rilakkuma to YoonA. Without their generosity I don’t think I could have had such a great experience at the concert.

Kangta encounter:

After the concert, me and my friends went out to eat in Koreatown before heading back to the hotel. While we were eating one of my friends spotted Kangta eating and drinking with some SM staff members at the corner of the restaurant. We were not exactly sure if it really was Kangta but it was shortly confirmed after a couple of my friends shook hands with Kangta himself after a short trip to the bathroom. One of my friends suggested that we should buy him a bottle of soju for him and the staffs and so we did. In turn he treated each of us to read bean ice cream. We saw him up close one last time before we left. Kangta seems like a really laid back and open guy as he did not seem difficult to approach or be near.

SNSD’s First US Fanmeet:

After waiting many hours at Good Morning America and after only an hour of nap we began to line up for SNSD’s First US Fanmeet at the Bestbuy hall in Times Square. There was a large line forming when we got there and an even larger line began to form behind us as the day went on. Waiting in line this time was not as bad as waiting in line for the concert as we were enjoying ourselves watching the animated billboards. Everyone was excited when SNSD came on the billboard for MTV Iggy’s interview segment with SNSD. I was excited to see YoonA again and on the big screen but my excitement turned to depression as I saw that YoonA looked so bummed out. I was worried that if she was too tired or if something was bothering her. I was in distraught, watching her so out of energy and it even looked like she was about to cry during a few parts of the interview. She was not the only one in the same condition. TaeYeon had the same expression and lack of energy as well. They both were in no condition to be there but due to their schedules they had to. Shortly after the interview the doors to the fanmeet opened. I had situated myself on the standing area facing the main stage and I was in the depths of the crowd. Everyone was so tall and everyone had their fans, cameras, and their foam harts raised. Even for me, a slightly tall person (5'9") had trouble getting a good view of the stage, even on my tippy toes. SNSD came out shortly thereafter and performed The Boys for us. During the performance YoonA tripped and hurt her ankle (or her soles, according to a recent UFO reply) and she limped for the entire performance. I was extremely sadden by this (as if I was not already from MTV Iggy’s interview) and I really wanted to do something to cheer her up. Then the interviews came and all the members but YoonA were sitting down. YoonA came in later during the interview and later I found out that she had to take a break off the stage to wipe off her tears from the fall. I tried my best to cheer her up as the only thing I could do in my position was to raise my Rilakkuma up hoping it would bring at least a smile to her face. When YoonA was asked if she could laugh for the fans, I really wanted to be at the front row. I would have definitely knew what to do to put her in a good mood but all I could do in the crowd was just raise and wave my Rilakkuma. My attempts to cheer YoonA was not all in vain as she did notice me and Rilakkuma again and smiled back at me. One of my friends on stage also pointed out my Rilakkuma to SNSD and I’m pretty sure they noticed it as well despite the crowd.

Autographed The Boys album:

After the fanmeet and interview, I went to obtain my autographed The Boys album CD (Waiting since 4:00 AM in the morning at Good Morning America paid off) and headed towards the airport as my flight would leave the next morning.

Last chance:

SNSD was suppose to leave the same night after the fanmeet and me and my friends were hoping to see them at the airport before they leave back to Korea. This was my last attempt to give Rilakkuma to YoonA. Unfortunately, they postponed their flight till the following day and I was not able to give the gift to YoonA. (It is actually a good thing for the girls since they had an extra day of rest.)

Skykkuma now lives in my home: