📝 Day 4 – K-Pop, Cafes & Creative Chaos
- Stephenie
- May 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 2
Day 4 started out exactly like Day 2 and 3: waking up soaked in sweat because the AC had once again betrayed us. But this time? We weren’t frazzled. We knew the game now. We were calm. We were caffeinated. And we had plans to have fun.
Allison and I were both competing in the creative class that day, which took the pressure down at least 10 notches. We both agreed: today was for the vibes. Our official competition pact? Dance to as much K-pop as physically possible while grooming. (Spoiler: mission accomplished.)
When we arrived, it was somehow even busier than the day before. There was an obedience trial happening outside, which meant a whole new crowd and a flurry of dogs everywhere. Inside, though? Way fewer groomers — because today was a masters-only day. No students. Just the pros. You know... super casual. Not intimidating at all. 😅
Allison absolutely crushed it with a whale-themed
model that was adorable, detailed, and creative as hell. I? Pulled Lady Bridgerton out of thin air, and if I’m being honest — I kind of slayed. That look came together like I had a team of stylists backstage and not just a pile of craft supplies and desperation.
We danced while we worked — a lot. Like, full-blown K-pop choreography with scissors in hand. It made everything better. Nothing went wrong (!!!) aside from me burning through an obscene amount of rubber gloves because I absolutely cannot stand the feeling of hairspray on my hands.
Gross.
We were all a lot happier with our trims today. Allison, of course, is her own worst critic and will never fully love a trim, but I thought hers was incredible.
Emily’s creative piece turned out beautiful too, though she was less excited about it than her first-day entry.
Once we were done, we returned to our magical dressing room where — like clockwork — Harley had lunch waiting. Again, I can’t remember what it was, but it was delicious, and that’s all that matters.
Then we all walked over to a nearby coffee shop, and let me just say: cafe culture in Korea is on another level. Everything looks like a Pinterest board, the drinks are wild and wonderful, and yes — I was overwhelmed. But once again, Harley saved us via the self-serve kiosk. Truly, what did we do to deserve her?
After drinks, Harley took us over to the obedience
trial, and next thing we know, we’re being brought up on stage with Mr. Shin himself — who, in true fashion, absolutely refused to let us remain standing. He immediately got us seated because he’s just that gracious of a host.
So there we were, watching the trial from VIP seats
while dogs showed off their training skills. And let me tell you — the dogs in Korea? So well socialized. We didn’t see a single reactive dog the entire trip.
Eventually, we made our way back inside for the final awards ceremony, which was shorter than the day before (thank you). Somehow — and I still don’t know how — I pulled off first place in Creative. Allison and Emily both earned honorary awards again, which is still awesome.
But the real win? Allison danced across the stage to “Dancing Maria” to accept her award, and it was legendary.
After awards, we headed back to KKC headquarters and sat at a big round table with people from all over: Harley and the KKC team speaking Korean, Maria speaking Spanish, the Japanese judge speaking Japanese, and the Chinese judge speaking Chinese — all with live translators working in real time. It was a lot for my brainpan, but also such a cool cultural moment to be a part of.
Dinner was at a self-serve shabu shabu place — a DIY stew bar with counters of ingredients you load up, then bring to the table to cook yourself. It was ridiculously good. Afterward, we hit another café (because why not), where we had drinks and some sort of mystery dessert that they lovingly shoved in my face before I even had time to say yes. It was divine.
Then we all just sat and talked. Allison pulled out Google Translate and we had a surprisingly smooth conversation with Mr. Shin about his favorite dogs and why he got into this career. We also chatted with other members of the KKC — all incredibly passionate, fascinating people. One woman told us about her Malinois who had just found his first dead body the week before while doing cadaver work. Casual dinner conversation.
We ended the night with full bellies, full hearts, and full brains. As soon as we got back to the hotel, we collapsed.
🌏 Cultural Differences – Day 4
Korean cafe culture is elite. From the drink options to the decor to the self-serve kiosks — it’s a whole experience.
Social dogs everywhere. The obedience trial was such a cool thing to see, but what stood out the most was how comfortable and well-mannered the dogs were. No reactivity. Just calm, social, chill dogs.
Seating culture = deep respect. Mr. Shin wouldn’t
even let us stand on stage. The hosting and hospitality go way beyond meals — they’re built into every gesture.
A selection of vibrant side dishes, including kimchi and pickled vegetables, served at a self-serve shabu shabu restaurant, ready to enhance the dining experience. Multi-language convos are wild. Sitting at a roundtable with multiple judges, languages, and live translation happening in all directions was equal parts overwhelming and awe-inspiring.
Shabu shabu self-serve = genius. The idea of hand-picking your stew ingredients and cooking it at your own table? Pure brilliance.
♿ Accessibility – Day 4
Today was full of stimulation — dance music, new places, multilingual meetings, caffeine — but the tone of the day was light, and that made a huge difference.
Clear structure + chill energy = a winning combo. We had a predictable schedule, no rush, and the freedom to just enjoy ourselves.
Having Harley nearby helps so much. From navigating the café kiosk to getting seated on stage, she’s our built-in support person and translator.
Self-serve = no small talk pressure. Whether it was ordering coffee or building a hot pot, being able to do things at your own pace with limited interaction is a neurodivergent dream.
Google Translate works when you let it. We used it for real conversations today and actually had deep, meaningful exchanges.
💸 Spending Summary – Day 4
Item | Amount (USD) | Notes |
Meals | $0 | Lunch and dinner hosted again by the KKC. Can they adopt me? |
Coffee + Dessert | $0 | Mystery drinks and surprise dessert. No regrets. |
Self-Serve Shabu Shabu | $0 | Covered by the KKC again. Honestly, I’m losing track of how generous they are. |
Total: ~$00.00
I spent $0 and gained lifelong memories, a first-place win, and a sugar high. Worth every won.
💤 End of Day 4 – Final Thoughts
This day was so many things — silly, celebratory, satisfying. I danced, I groomed, I sweat through another smock, and I somehow walked away with first place. But even if I hadn’t, this would’ve been one of the best days of the trip.
We laughed, bonded, shared stories across languages, and connected with people who genuinely care about this industry. I felt relaxed, accepted, and full — in every sense of the word.
This is the kind of day you dream of when you sign up for something this big. And somehow, we got it.
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