Errrrgh..I've just spent at least 2 hours going thru my pictures to actually edit them....and after all that...this puter ...(even at the perfect PC bang) froze and crashed on me. GRRRRRRRRRR!
SO much for that!
But..blogger has changed and i've got another toy to play with! Woohooo!
AND, I've got my Flickr slideshow right above you! Woooooo! Internet is so much fun!
So here goes a week of no work...and a holiday...and gosh darnit I need it!
And I'm hungry, so I'd better go and eat somethin..
Latah!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
mad night shopper
um ya...this is ME in korea! yup yup...I'm an avid shopper ANY time of day and I have to admit it. Geez I luv Korea for that!
Man, tonight I just couldnt get my groove on right in taekwondo. Errrrrr....poor instructor cutie... and man we're such flirts. Geez...well he is..I'm just trying to keep my composure! It doesnt help that Koreans are so touchy....No personal boundary bubbles thats for sure. But how did they get so cute shy anyway? haha. I'll have to get a picture really realy soon. Of both me doing taekwondo...and my instructor, and the man who owns it. He's like my korean dad. I really love that guy..he's just the best. And all the deep bows that you do in taekwondo...I really want to ingrain that in my head...cuz I really like the feeling that it gives. Its humbling, and reminds you to respect others...in a different way than just smiling at someone does.
Anyyyyway...I'm at a PC bang again. Not so smoky here thank goodness. I always come home feeling greasy and stinking to 'high heaven' they say. Yep..it's nasty. But nothin a little air cleaning and fabric spray or washing wont' help!!
okay..i gotta get me to bed...will update more later...
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Friends leaving, friends that keep in touch
Yep, u guessed it. A very special friend of mine just left Korea back to Canada. How strange is that..cuz I remember her leaving when I didnt know that I was going to Korea myself! I'm soo glad I did. And I'm so glad that she was here while I have been here as well. Its' nice coming and being in a foreign country and knowing that someone is there from home that you know. But it's also good to know that I can survive on my own!
And the wierd thing is that I'll soon be going back to Canada myself. I really worry too much about it. I need to just surf along with it. I need to get a job, and all that stuff again. Egh.....or aaaiiissshhh! as they say here. I like that. It's part of my vocab now!
It was great ..last night I spoke to my friend Brad in Moscow, (formerly of Australia) and man we had a great conversation. I really needed that...to laugh and just be care free of all the stuff that's on my mind. Thanx Bradley ..tee hee!
I've been staying up wayyy too late lately, 3 am the last few...and I paid for it today. I got a fone call waking me up...it was my boss...and he was wondering where I was..then the horrible truth occurred to me...it was 10 AFTER 10, and I was late! Ahhh! Everytime I swear, I've been just on time or a minute late when the boss is there. Geeez! If he's not there, I'm on time! As If! O well, it worked out ok.
John and I ended up going to Ssangji (kindergarten) and they paraded all the kids into a room...all 200 of them I swear...and we had to sing songs with them. Ok..no problem...but what songs? The Korean teacher in charge didnt know, we didnt know, we volunteered some, but what the heck were we supposed to do? Just stand there and learn the songs as we go to 'teach' the kids! Ha ha! Crazy how this works...but it just does. We'll hopefully get it together at some point!
WEll, Choseuk is here for me on Friday pm....and I'll be staying in Korea. I would love to go to China, but it looks like that's not going tho happen. The whole country is on holiday and that's more people that the population of all of Canada doing a mass exodus or travelling to be with their families...so ya...SOL for me. Plans gone awry ..and what else is new. I really have to learn to plan in ADVANCE and decide IN ADVANCE! Well I did have big plans but that's a whole other situation now. LOTS has happened in the last few weeks that has totally set me off balance anyway. But I'm kindof glad to stay here. Less to worry about at the moment.
I know how to travel in Korea. I know the language enough to get by and get to where I need to go. And now I can finally spend some time in Seoul enough to see the things I've wanted to see for a while. Just to cruize around and enjoy myself at my own pace.
I'm going to Kyonngju first though..to see the most 'famous' or 'important' folk village and palaces in Korea besides the ones in Seoul. Yeehaw... I'll have to try my best to stay away from shopping, and to go hiking and get some RELAXATION! I gotta unwind a bit. Thank goodness for holidays!
And then three weeks of teachign and my time here will be over! And then the world is wide open for things to happen. So you never know. I could even come back to Korea! We'll see how I feel and how things go in Canada. Its just the unknowingness that 's making me super anxious!
Imagination overboard!!!
Okay gotta sleep or I'll be up late and regret it again!
Gnite!
And the wierd thing is that I'll soon be going back to Canada myself. I really worry too much about it. I need to just surf along with it. I need to get a job, and all that stuff again. Egh.....or aaaiiissshhh! as they say here. I like that. It's part of my vocab now!
It was great ..last night I spoke to my friend Brad in Moscow, (formerly of Australia) and man we had a great conversation. I really needed that...to laugh and just be care free of all the stuff that's on my mind. Thanx Bradley ..tee hee!
I've been staying up wayyy too late lately, 3 am the last few...and I paid for it today. I got a fone call waking me up...it was my boss...and he was wondering where I was..then the horrible truth occurred to me...it was 10 AFTER 10, and I was late! Ahhh! Everytime I swear, I've been just on time or a minute late when the boss is there. Geeez! If he's not there, I'm on time! As If! O well, it worked out ok.
John and I ended up going to Ssangji (kindergarten) and they paraded all the kids into a room...all 200 of them I swear...and we had to sing songs with them. Ok..no problem...but what songs? The Korean teacher in charge didnt know, we didnt know, we volunteered some, but what the heck were we supposed to do? Just stand there and learn the songs as we go to 'teach' the kids! Ha ha! Crazy how this works...but it just does. We'll hopefully get it together at some point!
WEll, Choseuk is here for me on Friday pm....and I'll be staying in Korea. I would love to go to China, but it looks like that's not going tho happen. The whole country is on holiday and that's more people that the population of all of Canada doing a mass exodus or travelling to be with their families...so ya...SOL for me. Plans gone awry ..and what else is new. I really have to learn to plan in ADVANCE and decide IN ADVANCE! Well I did have big plans but that's a whole other situation now. LOTS has happened in the last few weeks that has totally set me off balance anyway. But I'm kindof glad to stay here. Less to worry about at the moment.
I know how to travel in Korea. I know the language enough to get by and get to where I need to go. And now I can finally spend some time in Seoul enough to see the things I've wanted to see for a while. Just to cruize around and enjoy myself at my own pace.
I'm going to Kyonngju first though..to see the most 'famous' or 'important' folk village and palaces in Korea besides the ones in Seoul. Yeehaw... I'll have to try my best to stay away from shopping, and to go hiking and get some RELAXATION! I gotta unwind a bit. Thank goodness for holidays!
And then three weeks of teachign and my time here will be over! And then the world is wide open for things to happen. So you never know. I could even come back to Korea! We'll see how I feel and how things go in Canada. Its just the unknowingness that 's making me super anxious!
Imagination overboard!!!
Okay gotta sleep or I'll be up late and regret it again!
Gnite!
Monday, September 18, 2006
So I'm planning on going to Egypt in November
Wow. I dont know if I even feel it could be reality yet. Yes, I'm planning on going to Egypt. I can't believe the possibility is real. Everything seems so surreal about it.
But its going to be a dream come true, added to the fact that I've been living here in Korea for almost a year! I could indeed stay here another year. I do like Korea. I'm really going to miss a lot of things about it here. The lifestyle is nice, the generosity of the people is wonderful, the fellow waeguks I've met here have become my second family here.
I've felt a bit like I've missed out on a summer though...and going back to a Vancouver winter isnt something I'm looking forward to. Vancouver had a fabulous summer I hear. That makes me sad and a bit frustrated. It's been so rainy here it feels. Not that we didnt have some nice weather. THank God for Jeju-do! That was my summer ...all of one week it feels like. Ah well..I can't complain. It's been nice and warm. Not like you still have to wear a long sleeve sweater at night like in Vancouver. I do like that about it here. And I havent minded the humidity after all.
I'm paranoid about going back to Canadian finances, dealing with 'reality' again, making more decisions about life in general there, stuff like that. I'm super excited about coming back and seeing my friends and family and other very important people in my life.
I'm a bit anxious as to where my life will go from there. What direction my careers (plural) will take me. Teaching English is something I really enjoy, and then there's hairdressing, and Interior Design that I want to explore more of too. But this has certainly changed some things for me here.
My gosh I'm going to miss those kids...relieved to be rid of them in a small way...but miss them more. Strange how that is. I'm so glad I've had that experience. I'm going to miss coming to work and being greeted with some wierd thing that they have to say. Or coming to show me their latest toy or something strange liek that! Or "Wendy teacher"! Or 'Wonder teacher'! as they've now started recently! Ha ha! Can't argue with that!
And then I've turned so girly its not even funny. I'm loving the shopping here, and I've not saved nearly as much as I thought I might...but I've loved everything I've got here. A camera, a bunch to my sister who's been owed it (or just because I could for once in my lifetime), a trip to Jeju-do that felt like a REAL holiday, I forget what else, but it's all been worth it. And now..a trip to Egypt! Woohooo! I need another 4 years here to pay off my student loans tho. Too bad Canada can't compare to Korea financially right now for me. Darnit! Nah, I've had this experience that has taught me so much.
Well, I'm sitting here at a PC Bang and I should get going soon. This place is addictive..or the internet is anyway! Till next time...
But its going to be a dream come true, added to the fact that I've been living here in Korea for almost a year! I could indeed stay here another year. I do like Korea. I'm really going to miss a lot of things about it here. The lifestyle is nice, the generosity of the people is wonderful, the fellow waeguks I've met here have become my second family here.
I've felt a bit like I've missed out on a summer though...and going back to a Vancouver winter isnt something I'm looking forward to. Vancouver had a fabulous summer I hear. That makes me sad and a bit frustrated. It's been so rainy here it feels. Not that we didnt have some nice weather. THank God for Jeju-do! That was my summer ...all of one week it feels like. Ah well..I can't complain. It's been nice and warm. Not like you still have to wear a long sleeve sweater at night like in Vancouver. I do like that about it here. And I havent minded the humidity after all.
I'm paranoid about going back to Canadian finances, dealing with 'reality' again, making more decisions about life in general there, stuff like that. I'm super excited about coming back and seeing my friends and family and other very important people in my life.
I'm a bit anxious as to where my life will go from there. What direction my careers (plural) will take me. Teaching English is something I really enjoy, and then there's hairdressing, and Interior Design that I want to explore more of too. But this has certainly changed some things for me here.
My gosh I'm going to miss those kids...relieved to be rid of them in a small way...but miss them more. Strange how that is. I'm so glad I've had that experience. I'm going to miss coming to work and being greeted with some wierd thing that they have to say. Or coming to show me their latest toy or something strange liek that! Or "Wendy teacher"! Or 'Wonder teacher'! as they've now started recently! Ha ha! Can't argue with that!
And then I've turned so girly its not even funny. I'm loving the shopping here, and I've not saved nearly as much as I thought I might...but I've loved everything I've got here. A camera, a bunch to my sister who's been owed it (or just because I could for once in my lifetime), a trip to Jeju-do that felt like a REAL holiday, I forget what else, but it's all been worth it. And now..a trip to Egypt! Woohooo! I need another 4 years here to pay off my student loans tho. Too bad Canada can't compare to Korea financially right now for me. Darnit! Nah, I've had this experience that has taught me so much.
Well, I'm sitting here at a PC Bang and I should get going soon. This place is addictive..or the internet is anyway! Till next time...
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
别误会. 朋友关系
I love this shot. It exemplifies the way Asian men are. I really wish Western ppl were more like this. Its so caring and friendly and no implications of anything else but that. I think so anyway. THis is some pictures I just found from some guy in China...and I love his shots!
Monday, September 11, 2006
Weekend ...back to Monday....Aiiish!
Aiiiieeeesh! is what Koreans say when they're annoyed or pissed at something. I love it. It conveys alot, and I said it somewhat even before I came here!
So this weekend I went to Suwon/Seoul to visit some Korean and Canadian friends. It was a blast! I really needed to get away. Even in Korea!
Went dancing to loosen up the bones and exercise. Walked around Suwon looking at the sites, went for a midnight 'walk' around Suwon's fortress wall. It takes 2 hrs to walk around. Candice, Dave, and Peter and I went around it, and half way through stopped off for some YUMMY homemade mandoo. Mandoo is SOOO yummy. Kimchi mandooo! The guys were all in the front window making it. IT's the first place in Korea that I've seen a line up to eat there! And yes it was worth it. It's funny how I love kimchi now. I'm glad, cuz i wanted to but never got it. I just had to eat Korean style for this long to find out. Now it seems wrong if I dont have rice and kimchi everyday! Ha ha.
So this weekend I went to Suwon/Seoul to visit some Korean and Canadian friends. It was a blast! I really needed to get away. Even in Korea!
Went dancing to loosen up the bones and exercise. Walked around Suwon looking at the sites, went for a midnight 'walk' around Suwon's fortress wall. It takes 2 hrs to walk around. Candice, Dave, and Peter and I went around it, and half way through stopped off for some YUMMY homemade mandoo. Mandoo is SOOO yummy. Kimchi mandooo! The guys were all in the front window making it. IT's the first place in Korea that I've seen a line up to eat there! And yes it was worth it. It's funny how I love kimchi now. I'm glad, cuz i wanted to but never got it. I just had to eat Korean style for this long to find out. Now it seems wrong if I dont have rice and kimchi everyday! Ha ha.
Sticker on a garbage can
Doood! That's so awesome! Such a great shot. Tee hee! Darmit I wish I saw/took it!
Update to follow:
Monday, September 04, 2006
Worried sick...literally! :S
Yep, I got sick somehow. Probably cuz I really need to eat more veggies. Here I'm a vegetarian and I never seem to eat veggies. Bad girl.
It was a flu-like sickness...and now I've got a cold. Thank goodness I seem to have slept most of it off on Sunday. It's the worst. The sicknesses I have had here all seem to be the same idea. A sore sore throat, that evolves into flu like ACHES and head cold. The runny nose is RUNNY..as in all of a sudden you'd better have something there to catch it or else! Sorry for the descriptions..but hey..the point was to document all of my stay here in Korea..so this is part of it! And if you're thinking of coming here, it helps to know what u might be in for if u do get sick!
I also highly reccommend if its possible to bring all the meds you're used to from home cuz the meds here dont seem to work as strongly as Canadian or 'American' ones do. ANyway..that's it for that blurb. SItting here in a super smoky PC bang doesnt help too much. THing is you go home and u reek like smoke. Man, I feel like I complain too much.
Anyhoo, heard from my friend who just moved to Moscow to teach English. You GO, Obi Radski! Proud o ya. Now TELL ME THE STORY OF NYC!!! Darmit! I'd like to compare the differences of teaching there and here. Hmmmmm. Interesting thought. I wonder if I could get a job in Egypt teaching, and as a woman would I like it there? Hmmmm.... Or Turkey? Oooh the possibilities!
So, lately I think i've worried myself sick because I've been fretting a lot about going back to Canada, and the issues that will be waiting for me when I get back. UGH...NOT looking forward to it. I'm SUPER looking forward to seeing my friends and family and someone who has my heart on the shores of English Bay. Can't help it. It's gonna be sooo wierd. I've loved the lifestyle here, and I've been sooo spoiled. I've not saved nearly as much as I thought ..but I have paid some things that I wouldnt have been able to in Canada...that's for sure.
I've been able to buy cool clothes, and go places in Korea, and I've taken a trip to Japan, short as it was I've got the stamp and the experience! I was fully expecting and planning to go somewhere 'BIG' on the holiday in October, but it turns out I'll be doing that in November when my contract is over. I have then been thinking...what if I could go to China?!!! Oooh! I really would love to go to see Beijing and Xian where the Terracotta warriors are...and do some shopping that's cheaper than Korea so I hear! How can that be?!!! Man, maybe that's a good reason not to go! But I'm in ASIA darmit! I gotta go places while I can!
Hmmm...save vs experience like i've dreamed of...
So that's the thing, I've got 10 days off, and I will be spending money one way or another. And if China is cheaper...but if I stay in Korea then I'd like to go see Kyongju, the place that is raved about for historical architecture etc..in Korea. A must see...and maybe the DMZ in Seoul. I could cruize Seoul and see more of it...cuz I have only been able to experience rushed weekends there. That's a possibility. But I could be spending the same amount there as going to China. What to do...Someone make up my mind for me!
And the next issue..is saving to go to Egypt! I dont really even feel that it is real! That I'm planning to go..really! TO EGYPT! Strangie! Oh man, but the things I'm gonna see and do! And share! And experience! And yep, I'm going with an insider that knows where he's going! And that's so fantastic, cuz I wouldnt be able to do it myself that's for sure!
So I could actually count the weeks now. I'm feeling anxious about leaving in general. Korea has become normal to me, and now I'm feeling as anxious as I was about leaving Canada...but I know as soon as I get up in the plane to Egypt that will be another adventure fulfilled. But going back to Canada and the the 'known' I'm not sure. It's like I want to live up to the meaning in my name...Wendy means 'wanderer' apparently.
Well, I suppose it's cuz I'm floating after this, and I'm not clear on which direction to go after this. I do know that I'll pursue teaching in Vancouver and see how I feel about that. I do love teaching, but part of me really wants to design still... I'm a bit worried because of the time lapse, and I wonder how I'll be able to cope with that. I'm sure I can just stick my foot back in there again.
Visions of spaces have been popping up in my brain, and I need that creativity hands on stuff.
Regarding Korea, I could certainly see myself staying or coming back here...but that is yet to be seen. I know that it's for me to go back to Canada to get a reality check, to see how I feel with the coming home, and the situations there. And time will tell. Not having any feeling of how that will go, or no way to control it is really frustrating...but what can I do?
Well that's that. Exposure complete...almost.
I'd better git myself to bed soon. Dont wanna get sicker...later gator!
It was a flu-like sickness...and now I've got a cold. Thank goodness I seem to have slept most of it off on Sunday. It's the worst. The sicknesses I have had here all seem to be the same idea. A sore sore throat, that evolves into flu like ACHES and head cold. The runny nose is RUNNY..as in all of a sudden you'd better have something there to catch it or else! Sorry for the descriptions..but hey..the point was to document all of my stay here in Korea..so this is part of it! And if you're thinking of coming here, it helps to know what u might be in for if u do get sick!
I also highly reccommend if its possible to bring all the meds you're used to from home cuz the meds here dont seem to work as strongly as Canadian or 'American' ones do. ANyway..that's it for that blurb. SItting here in a super smoky PC bang doesnt help too much. THing is you go home and u reek like smoke. Man, I feel like I complain too much.
Anyhoo, heard from my friend who just moved to Moscow to teach English. You GO, Obi Radski! Proud o ya. Now TELL ME THE STORY OF NYC!!! Darmit! I'd like to compare the differences of teaching there and here. Hmmmmm. Interesting thought. I wonder if I could get a job in Egypt teaching, and as a woman would I like it there? Hmmmm.... Or Turkey? Oooh the possibilities!
So, lately I think i've worried myself sick because I've been fretting a lot about going back to Canada, and the issues that will be waiting for me when I get back. UGH...NOT looking forward to it. I'm SUPER looking forward to seeing my friends and family and someone who has my heart on the shores of English Bay. Can't help it. It's gonna be sooo wierd. I've loved the lifestyle here, and I've been sooo spoiled. I've not saved nearly as much as I thought ..but I have paid some things that I wouldnt have been able to in Canada...that's for sure.
I've been able to buy cool clothes, and go places in Korea, and I've taken a trip to Japan, short as it was I've got the stamp and the experience! I was fully expecting and planning to go somewhere 'BIG' on the holiday in October, but it turns out I'll be doing that in November when my contract is over. I have then been thinking...what if I could go to China?!!! Oooh! I really would love to go to see Beijing and Xian where the Terracotta warriors are...and do some shopping that's cheaper than Korea so I hear! How can that be?!!! Man, maybe that's a good reason not to go! But I'm in ASIA darmit! I gotta go places while I can!
Hmmm...save vs experience like i've dreamed of...
So that's the thing, I've got 10 days off, and I will be spending money one way or another. And if China is cheaper...but if I stay in Korea then I'd like to go see Kyongju, the place that is raved about for historical architecture etc..in Korea. A must see...and maybe the DMZ in Seoul. I could cruize Seoul and see more of it...cuz I have only been able to experience rushed weekends there. That's a possibility. But I could be spending the same amount there as going to China. What to do...Someone make up my mind for me!
And the next issue..is saving to go to Egypt! I dont really even feel that it is real! That I'm planning to go..really! TO EGYPT! Strangie! Oh man, but the things I'm gonna see and do! And share! And experience! And yep, I'm going with an insider that knows where he's going! And that's so fantastic, cuz I wouldnt be able to do it myself that's for sure!
So I could actually count the weeks now. I'm feeling anxious about leaving in general. Korea has become normal to me, and now I'm feeling as anxious as I was about leaving Canada...but I know as soon as I get up in the plane to Egypt that will be another adventure fulfilled. But going back to Canada and the the 'known' I'm not sure. It's like I want to live up to the meaning in my name...Wendy means 'wanderer' apparently.
Well, I suppose it's cuz I'm floating after this, and I'm not clear on which direction to go after this. I do know that I'll pursue teaching in Vancouver and see how I feel about that. I do love teaching, but part of me really wants to design still... I'm a bit worried because of the time lapse, and I wonder how I'll be able to cope with that. I'm sure I can just stick my foot back in there again.
Visions of spaces have been popping up in my brain, and I need that creativity hands on stuff.
Regarding Korea, I could certainly see myself staying or coming back here...but that is yet to be seen. I know that it's for me to go back to Canada to get a reality check, to see how I feel with the coming home, and the situations there. And time will tell. Not having any feeling of how that will go, or no way to control it is really frustrating...but what can I do?
Well that's that. Exposure complete...almost.
I'd better git myself to bed soon. Dont wanna get sicker...later gator!
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