Wendy Teacher

Offically Moving

2007-09-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

It's time...
...to leave things behind where they are in the past. They had their lessons learned and experienced; and now on to the new ones...

http://wendychamberlain.blogspot.com

latest news

2007-08-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

I think I maybe should change to another blog. I think i havent been writing as much because this blog belongs to my Korea trip. i dont want to have it different...and want to separate and segregate these feelings and experiences in that place...in this space.
I am feeling much much better and more hopeful than my last post. Funny how time really does heal things. I've also been learning sooo much about myself in the last months. A LOT. Too much to say here, and things are too private to post here. Can you believe it...there will be paintings to come. Read into them as you will.
Until then, I'm happy being and working in a very creative space doing hair. Loving the creative people I'm with. And almost all of them are gay...and it's Great. It feels safe and fun. Let's keep it that way. ;)

Pride parades and summer festivals. A cold summer, not as much sun as we'd all like, but summer none the less.
I'm going dancing a lot, and I hope to start a few classes...when time /drop ins permit. Maybe I'll be teaching bellydancing soon. Who knows.
Allrighty...I gotta run.
Everything will be allright.
Positive thoughts lead to positive thinking

What you make of it

2007-06-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

Yep, it does indeedy seem that life is what you make of it. Your attitude and all that. But then what about the parts that you don't make or can't control? What about the people that you thought you could trust and that was all thrown back at you? What then?
Do you just learn to be bitter? Do you just push on anyway? What do you do with all those feelings that you have...shove them down or get physical with them? I suppose that's what it's all about. But why does it have to get so damn complicated? What about beliefs, and what is true?
What about love and dreams and hope?

As you can tell I'm feeling quite disheartened about things. A lot of dissapointments leave me feeling famished and hopeless. But somehow u know that I'm just gonna keep pushing on. But this is a long dark night indeed.

It's in a tough world of everyone is out for their own and will screw what ever it takes to get there. What a sick tired world we live in. It saddens me to see that this is how I'm feeling. It will hopefully change for the better soon. Yes it would be nice if life could hand me a silver platter soon. But I've always had to work for it. I have to believe in myself somehow, and push on. And trust none other than God. Not even myself.

I went to see Bjork a few weeks ago. I LOVE her! The show was awesome, and I met some ppl who hooked me up to a hair job! Yay! But now I gotta make some money and SOON! Shugga daddy??? Please?

2007-04-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

Feelin a bit depressed tonight. A bit lonely. Life is like that.
Had a good day at work today. Got through it with all the other situations involved like new managers and the tension that can cause. Hard stuff. I need to start my own business I think. That takes a lot of planning and money and risk...but sometimes that wot it takes to get ahead.
I had dinner with a friend of mine who is a social worker, and she is trying to get me to go back to school to be an Occupational Therapist. Hmmmmm. Second degree, time, money.

Design
Korea/Teach English
Hair
OT

Too many choices and which is the best for me. Would someone just drop a note and tell me wot to do so I dont have to make up my mind? Ok thanx! Hah!

Well, I should be getting to sleep...geez I just wrote to work. Guess where my head's at? Trying to get used to the idea that I think I might be too independent to be with someone. It might just be better to be on my own. Yep, because I'm only responsible for me, and that's the best place to start out from.

Allrighty..I feel a bit better now that everyone on the planet can hear me..or at least see what I'm feeling. Cuz somewhere in there, I think a lot of other ppl feel similarly too. Perhaps...

Lookit this!!!

2007-04-17T22:51:00.001-07:00

Violently Happy

2007-04-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

Just what it says. I feel happy but there's feelings of violence of separation from a lot of things. That's how life is. A crossroads of sorts.
The other side of that is that Bjork is coming to town...!!!!! And I GOTTA go! No questions asked! Sooo exciting.
I've got a LOT of clothes. I'm a clothes-a-holic. And I love it...but I've got to do some spring cleaning. The next issue is that it's SOOO hard to get rid of things sometimes...cuz the way my brain works is that I can always find things to do with things. BUT, then I have to find the time to do them etc... The same thing with taxes. Stupid little pieces of paper with Numbers on them...and they're all a jumble, and I'm supposed to add them all up and make sense of them! Um, NOT! Then I'm supposed to tell the government about it all so they can tell me to give them more money! Errrrr!!
Its a Saturday, and I slept in and it feels good, but i feel guilty. Stupid guilt feelings anyway. But I really should get out and do something...but what. Cuz then I'll have to spend more money. Errrr....
Oooh...I have an idea. INVITE someone over! Hmmm. Why don't I think of that more often?
I gotta get some CD's burned too. And that take a trip to the cafe somewhere so I can do that.
I gotta get a driver for this mouse to hopefully work. Can't seem to get it to do that. Too old or something?
All these little projects that I need or want to do. Oh yes, and painting. That's the other thing. I can't quite seem to get into that yet. I have lots of things brewing...but I need to get some paint on those canvasses! It will come...it will take time. I suppose it's because there are so many other places my brain needs to be at the moment.
Allrighty. Here's to the next bit...

2007-04-10T02:05:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to Bjork. I've got a new craving for her music. It usually seems to come when I'm at crossroads in my life, or I'm in need of some creativity. Or I feel negative, or frustrated...that's when 'Army of Me' or a few others hit the spot. Yep...gotta love those moods. Not always.

She's coming to town, and I'm hoping to see her. I think she's just strikingly amazing and original and her mind goes way beyond the 'normal'...creedos to her! Swan dress and all. Now THAT'S red carpet! I just gushed over it and her guts to be different and show it at the Oscars. I love originality and the mind that would think that up.

I will survive

2007-04-01T23:17:00.000-07:00

Well, lots has happened in the last week or so. Month or so to be more descript. When it rains it pours.
I'm not engaged anymore, and so that's a major one. To say the least. And there is health problems in my family that is worrying me. And directions in life are all over the place it feels like at the moment.
You know, that fleeting feeling of wandering and never settling down. The dreams of your life just slipping away...and there's not a lot you can do but keep going somehow. I hate that I sound so pessimistic but that's how I feel at the moment.
Friendships that are changed...hope for the future is low.
That we're not engaged will be okay in the end. i'd rather find out that we can't work it out now than later and be even more unhappy. I sometimes wonder about how it all happened. if there wasnt anything more we could do. If we made the right or wrong decisions. Life certainly doesn't have straight lines. But what do you do with the curvy ones? And the ones that all seem to end at a cliff that you pretty much fall down over.
Anyway, I should be glad that I've had the chance to be engaged to such an important friend in my life. I'm just unbelievably sad that it can't come true. But glad that we gave it a chance. He means the world to me, even now...and even if I'm feeling angry and bitter and going through the pains of separation.
So now you all know...but that's life. And I hope that someone out there can see that they're not the only one.

Yep, I'm still here

2007-02-02T16:48:00.000-08:00

So much has happened recently that my head is spinning. I want to start from the beginning, but I dont have too much time right this second. BUt I had to post SOMETHING!
TO make a long story short...well I always try to but does it ever work? Mmmmm not really...a lot have changes have happened since I've come back to Canada. The relationship changes have been very significant. Some sad, and some happy. THen the funny thing happened...my long time very good friend has now become my boyfriend, and then now...fiance! So fast, it seems, but apparently it has been obvious to everyone but us. So .......drum roll......I'm engaged!
So many roads to come here...

Leaving and Arriving

2006-11-23T16:33:00.000-08:00

Well, the last few weeks have been crazy to say the least. I have left Korea, and I'm in Canada! I was hoping to write before I left, but I didnt end up getting to it. The time goes so fast! So I'll try to back track a little.
THe last few weeks i tried to pack up a bit, and get ready in advance. It's really hard to do that. The hardest thing is making the decisions about what stays and what goes. What do you realy need, what should you leave cuz you can get it in Canada anyways, but why do you want to get it again if you already have it? Oh no, I think I just sounded like a pack rat...ya I guess I am in a way, and yes, i hate it and i love it too. I love my stuff. I shouldnt, and I want to be minimalist, but that never seems to happen. Actually, i find comfort in what i have. Evil, EVIL!
Anyway, the new teacher, Michael, came to Kids Club. I'm glad i was there, because man, it's a crazy experience coming to a new school being a new teacher. I didnt have anyone to help me, and I'm sure it would have helped a lot if I could have observed them a bit, and talked with them. It sounds like the other new teacher isn't liking is as much though. I guess that's how it goes.

So, back to me! I had some help from a very meaningful friend to help me move the last weekend, and I couldnt have done it without the help. My gosh. I had to leave some stuff in the apartment that I couldnt take down to the garbage (I'm not sure if it went there anyway), or I would have missed my plane! I feel bad, but I believe they have someone to come in and clean it all up anyway. Still. But I had to catch the plane!

So the last day was nice. The bus driver bought pizza so we had a pizza/goodbye party. i got a shirt that I wanted everyone to sign, and that was loads of fun. Everyone went nuts! So I have a really cool shirt all signed in Korean...and a little English by the kids. So cute. I miss them like mad. Rachel teacher, and the kids. Believe it or not!

I would love to go back, but I dont know what life has in store for me yet. It's good to be back in Canada and to deal with the things I left behind. To see friends and family is nice. All the English is giving me a headache though! Like sensory overload! My time schedule is all messed up. It's getting back to 'normal' soon enough though...but I've been sleepign in till 1 pm. Gotta get onto a schedule of some sort soon! Guess that means getting a job!

THe plane ride over was good. I just LOVE the take offs..you have NO idea! The more the better! I just hate HATE turbulence. Other than that. I was a bit bummed that my seat was RIGHT over the wing, so I couldnt see much even if I wanted to. Darnit. But then mother nature took over that, and it was either dark, or cloudy the whole way. Even over Alaska darmit!

I got to learn a bit of Russian on the plane. That was fun. And i watched a bit of a Korean movie that i really want to finish sometime. I should try and remember the name...crap. It's about a girl and a boy who are friends from childhood, and then end up discovering that they like eachother. Classic and the cutest, especially in Korean!

Michael ended up picking me up from the airport. That was the coolest thing...seeing him after all this time. Getting a ride in the 'bus' too. Tee hee!

So now I'm staying with Ahmed, the guy that has been waiting for me for a year. It's soo good to see him. And now all the rest of the drama continues...

I wonder what will be next...Who knows, I could come back to korea sometime soon! Or go somewhere crazier! How fun would that be?

Oh! And I cant believe how early it gets dark here! Korea's sunsets are almost always around the same time. It's not so much in Canada! But i can SEE the sunsets here, and they're soo beautiful.

And I can't believe how small Vancouver is! Strangie! Oh, and Vancouver is soooo gray and BLAH! I can't believe it! SO what are these architects and designers doing?! Lets get some COLOR!

It's nice to go shopping for clothes that fit, but the prices are a bit harder to get used to again. The food is soooo greasy and fatty...I'm so scared I'm gonna gain a bunch of weight again... It's almost too much for me to handle.

People's personal space is certainly different, and lining up for the bus is so wierd to me! ha ha. I'm used to the rush! And the sky train too! People are so polite! It's almost annoying...just GO! The sky train is so narrow, half the size of what I'm now used to in Gwangju and Seoul. Interesting. People here say sorry WAY too much too. Geez! Just touch me and you'll get a law suit or something! Overall its not that bad. Just the things I notice. And now I'm comparing everything to korea! If i dont compare one way, i'm going the other! Sorry guys...but I guess it's the nature of travelling.

And I'm going desparate to hear some foreign language! Korean please! And another observation, there are SOOO many people here from SOOO many different backgrounds! It's quite amazing! Never realized it before.

Ok kids, that's all for now. Till next time!

John Teacher is kayo to Yonguk

2006-11-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

John teacher has left the building back to his homeland of England. I'm gonna miss him. ANd his 'seawater soup' adventures of lunchtime! I hope I get to come and visit him in England, and we can have a cookathon! Woohooo!
Just not the same without him.

The 2 week countdown

2006-11-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

Well, it's less than 2 weeks until I leave Korea. I can't believe it's come and gone already! Strangie. I've learned so much. Changed a lot, even though I feel the same. I'll bet I'll really see the difference when I go back to the N. American continent. In some ways I dont want to leave Korea. It has become a home to me.
I'm so glad that I've kept this blog. Even if it has waned during the year, at least I've put important stuff on here.
So, what have I learned and experienced? There's a lot to that...in a year. But here's a smidgen. I've learned a bit of the Korean language, the culture, experienced the generosity of the people. I can understand generally what someone is saying in a conversation. I wish I could compose a few sentences that are a bit better than what I can, but that's ok.
I could see myself coming back to Korea, depending on how I feel and how things go when I get back to Canada. I'd like to live in Busan or something like that. I'd like to go to Japan and China still. I did spend a few days in Fukoka, Japan, but I would love to go and see the rest of it.
I've had the opportunity to teach kindergarten, elementary, and a bit of highschool kids. That's taught me more than anything. Man, kids are great. They can drive u nuts, but looking over it, they always come and make u smile somehow. They can be mad at u one minute, and come and hug you the next. And for no reason. Man, I have to remember how to be that forgiving! Forgive and forget that's for sure!
Yesterday, I told my fave class, "red class" that I had to go to canada in 2 weeks. They know it, and they were actually asking, but somehow it was more 'real. One little guy, Sam just took it quite hard. As soon as I showed him on the calandar he started crying, and full on put his head down on the desk for a few minutes and was crying! Oh I got teary and my heart was being pulled...I love that kid! He got up and was wiping his eyes. Just about killed me. But at least they do know that that's how it is when we get here. I wonder if I'll see them again.
So I have no idea how I'm going to pack all my Korean wardrobe collections up! I do have HUGE suitcases, but geez. Here I was trying to not get things when I came, but so much for that! It's okay, I'm glad I did. Even if I didnt save anything.
Anyway, I'll have to finish this later. Lunchtime is winding down...and I gotta do my 5 minutes of prep! Ha ha!
Later!
Oh, and Obi, keep pluggin. It's all part of the trip ;)

Choseuk Continued..

2006-10-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

...so I went up to the Seodeok Grotto the day I left, and i'm glad I did. It was certainly worth seeing. It was a bit smaller than I thought it would be from the models and drawings, but it was impressive.

But I dont think I wrote about tour I took yet. I ended up stopping at the info center, and the guy there spoke enough English to get me by. I wanted to change the time of pickup of the tour I booked so that they would pick me up at the jimjilbang instead of me having to come into town, and come all the way back. So, once that was confirmed...he got me to wait for him to close so he could give me a ride to the Ajapji Pond. I could have taken a bus, but I felt comfortable enough in this case. Strange how that is.

So I got to see Ajapji Pond at night, and I'm very very glad I did. It was fantastic. Have a look through my pics on Flickr to see it. There's 3 buildings there that are positioned amazingly wonderfully together. Now if I wasnt seeing it myself...it would be so incredibly romantic. I found myself imagining and envisioning what it would be like years and years ago(or not that long ago) when the older generations and royalty would stroll through the pond. All dressed in their hanbok and all the colors,...wow. The interesting thing about most things I saw in Kyeongju was that where there weren't palaces, there were markings in stone where the columns would have been. They were all on flat mounds about 2 feet above the paths between them. It was really quite beautiful.

And the interesting thing about that was that I saw it repeated on the hill where the most important palace was too. Just a big clearing with column markings, bu tthere was the 'ice box room' left. That was impressive on its own. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

After the pond, I decided to walk a bit. It was too late to get the bus to the jimjilbang I was recommended to stay at, so I thought I would go to the one in town I went to the last night. I walked by another pond that was filled with Huge lotus flowers and leaves all shaped like big discs. Incredible how big those leaves are!! And the flowers too!

Then I wandered a bit down the street and saw where the famous building is that was used to map the stars. It was all lit up as usual, and it looked quite fantastic.

Then I happened to notice a cafe across the street. It was called Mauricio Del Toro, who is a famous Opera singer. Yep, I had to go in. Why not go and relax a bit. Glad I did. There was no one there...and it turned out that the owner is a Korean Opera singer! I ended up getting a performance even! Woohoo! He put on this TV show/documentary of him singing and about him in Kyeongju. The best part of that was where he was riding his Harley with his Cocker Spaniel on it! Lmao! Then I said I had better go, and he invited to show me the palace and stuff. So here I was going with this Korean opera/biker showing me the sights! And he was a perfect gentleman about it...thank goodness.

So we walked through an old folk villiage, and to the Cheong.... watchtower, and he showed me the palace site and the ice box thing. Yay. Another thing on my list accomplished. And then I got the best part of my whole trip. He said he would give me a bike ride to the jimjilbang! So yep folks, there I was, riding on the back of a Harley with an Korean opera singer! Wooohooo! I've always wanted to try riding on a Harley! I wished I paid attention to what make it was n stuff...but I do have the picture to prove it. Heh heh.

And then there was the jimjilbang. If you dont know from my previous writing, a jim jil bang is a Korean version of a sauna. This one was really quite fantastic. I felt like I was in a country house, and the saunas were traditionally shaped in abeehive style. You have to stoop low to get in them, the door is only about 3' high. And once you get in, there are slabs of wook lined up against the wall vertically, and you sit on the grass mats on the floor and sweat yer heart out! And they had a pretty good sleepign room too. Yay.

The next morning I got ready to meet the bus. Got it just in time. Got some rice growing by the side of the road too. First stop was the Bulgoksa Temple. It's I think one of the most important things to see in Korea. It's another palace that is quite exquisite. You feel like there's royalty that lived there.

It was here that I met the other foreigner that was on my bus. He turned out to be from France. And I turned out to be an interpreter between what Korean I know, and what French I know! Imagine that! And I didnt do too bad either!

The next stops were things I can't all remember at the moment, but they were all things like temples, and monuments, and all very important sites to see in Gyeongju. THe best things about it was that after Korea startign to feel a bit repetitive, it was a nice twist on the 'normal' things I've seen here. They are very similar, but I can start to see the differences. Kyeongju is really different, and feels like it's really old, and yet new, and has that history.

I think the biggest thing that sticks out for me is the dome tombs. They're really quite incredible. They're spaced out or grouped together, and some are more important than others, but they're all quite interesting. At the end of the tour, I walked, or rather, hiked to the top of one. I was surpprised to find that the top was flat. You woulndt know it from looking at it on the ground. Quite interesting, really. It was a great view. I could see and reference how the city is laid out, and refer to the map that they showed us earlier. I met a Chinese woman and her daughter at the top too..and she spoke really quite good English! Ha ha. Then I went window shopping, and then went to the jimjilbang in town.

The next day, I decided to go see the Seokoram Grotto, and then go to Seoul. I had a bus ticket for 2 pm, but in the end missed it. Thank goodness I could exchange it. It was worth staying though. Then as I was going to catch the bus to go to Seoul, I happend to be walking towards the bus when I saw this guy who was obviously a foreigner...and nodded hi. We ended up having a short conversation, and he was off to Seoul as well. So, we ended up sitting together on the bus. Strange. Turns out he is Russian and Uzbekistanian (!) and we ended up only being able to really communicate in Korean! Imagine that! So here I am speakign Korean with a Russian! H aha...and actually I'm suprised at how we ended up communicating. His name is Hon, so he said. It turns out to be Bahodirhon, but eveyone calls him Bahodir, and we ended up hanging out quite a bit during the rest of my time in Seoul. I didnt really have an agenda besides seeing more of Seoul, and this time I ended up feeling I went to Uzbekistan and Russia! He showed me where the Russian/Uzbekistan section of Seoul was, and man it was awesome to have some different food!

THe next day he invited me to hang out with some of his friends for a 'birthday party'...so I figgered why not. So off we went to Incheon, and I ended up going from one friend's house to another to celebrate Chuseok, but it felt like it was Christmas. It was the most amazing experience. A bit crazy freaky, and potentially quite dangerous because here I was one girl, and I thought there were going to be more girls, but it ended up beign all guys. And there I am, only able to speak korean with them! Bizarre. They were all very nice and hospitable, and it was an experience I'll never forget.

We went to go shopping in Dongdaemun, and other places. We went to a really cool building where Karim Rashid designed the interior I believe, or furniture anyway. It was on the 60th floor of the building. We went to the Seoul Tower, but didnt go up because there were lineups for hours probably. Oh well, hopefully another time.

Then all too soon, it was time to go home. I ended up finally taking the KTX (or the fast train) to Gwangju. It took 3 hours instead of 3.5 or 4, I can't quite remember which. It seemed a bit faster than that even....glad I did it that way.

So that was the summary of Chuseok. I'm glad I stayed in Korea, and I didnt even end up spending al lthat I though I would! Imagine that! And I got to go shopping too. Not as much as I would if i were alone, and that's probably what saved me! Ha. Glad it did.

Anyhooo..I really really gotta go to sleep now. But I'm glad I finally got to writing this.

Latah!

2006-10-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

Hey everybuddeeee....
It's been a week since I got back from Chuseok (the Korean Thanksgiving that's as big of a deal as Christmas in the Americas..) and I still havent got to writing about it. I think I'll have to do it in snippetts or something, as time permits.

Well as you see above theres a bit of a story to this bike ride....but that willl come a bit later.

So Chuseok started for me on Friday afternoon when I got off work at 3 pm as usual. I decided to hang out around Gwangju and relax for the weekend, and then leave for Gyeongju on Sunday afternoon. I left Gwangju at 4:50 pm and arrived in Gyeongju almost 4 hours later. It was quite dark, and I just got to the bus station, and then decided to wander around.
I saw a hotel that advertised a sports massage but it turned out they didnt have it available...which rather sucked. No worries. Then I found a hostel that charged about 25 a night. Nah....jimjilbang it is for me. I found downtown somehow, and did some window shopping. Then got a taxi to find the nearest jimjilbang. I've been looking forward to a jimjilbang for a while now. Thank God for them!

The lady there was a bit rude as I got there at 1 30 am and they were cleaning up the sauna room where u shower, and she told me I couldnt wash up! That's the first time that's happened. No worries...upstairs I went to sleep. I found a really nice corner on the marble floor and a pillow and crashed in the room full of snoring people.

The next mornign I woke up at around 930 and checked my email and then got ready to go. I had no idea how or what I wanted to do really. I did some research online to see what sites I should see.

Got a taxi to the bus station where there was an info center, as i decided that might be a good way to figure out where to go and how to do it...someone there spoke some English..yay.

I found out what bus went to a place that's called Poseokjeongji which what is left of an ancient palace or temple and theres a water trough in stone where the kings used to float their tea cups and/or candles. It's really tranquil and beautiful.

Then there was a tomb there of a king, which was the first one i went right up to. There was one downtown too, but I didint clue in to what it was right away as it was night and i was tired.! Duh!

Caught the bus back, and then went to try to go to another place that was a famous Buddha statue, but I got out there an hour later to connect to another bus that went up the mountain and I found out I just missed it. Grrr... oh well.

K, I gotta run.....will continue my Gyeongju adventures....

Vacation/Holiday starts today!

2006-09-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

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!

mad night shopper

2006-09-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

mad night shopper, originally uploaded by Hrabina von Tup Tup.

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...

Friends leaving, friends that keep in touch

2006-09-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

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!

What else can I say...haha!

2006-09-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, this just makes me laff out loud for real. Ha ha.

So I'm planning on going to Egypt in November

2006-09-18T06:52:00.000-07:00

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.

Glitter Graphics

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...

别误会. 朋友关系

2006-09-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

别误会. 朋友关系, originally uploaded by zihawk.

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!

China..why am I not going?

2006-09-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

100_2622, originally uploaded by zihawk.

Wowzers...woudja just LOOK at that architecture? Woooo!!

Weekend ...back to Monday....Aiiish!

2006-09-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

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.

Sticker on a garbage can

2006-09-11T03:35:00.000-07:00

Sticker on a garbage can, originally uploaded by lisamac.

Doood! That's so awesome! Such a great shot. Tee hee! Darmit I wish I saw/took it!

Update to follow:

Worried sick...literally! :S

2006-09-04T06:09:00.000-07:00

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!

The perfect class

2006-08-29T23:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, I just had the best class, in terms of teaching success and I want to write it down before I forget it. I hope some other teachers might perhaps benefit.
I started the class by writing down a conversation on the board that wasnt in order and got them to read it first. I asked them if it was right or not. They said no. Then I got them to order it correctly and I wrote the corresponding number in front of the sentence. Then got them to read it correctly. I also put in a sentence that didnt fit to see if they got it. They actually did somewhat!

I want to go to Paris.
What did you do there?
I played tennis in Paris.
How long were you there?
I was there for eight days.
I want to go to Tokyo.

That was what I wrote on the board. Not in that order. A few words were different I think, but that was the idea.

Then I got a piece of blank paper and wrote "I want to go to Egypt" and folded the paper down to cover just the sentence. I explained quickly that it was a secret. Then I wrote another sentence like "Tyler laughs funny", and a few other ones to get the hint that it wasnt quite supposed to make sense in conversation terms.

I got 3 pieces of paper circulating and after a few tries and arguements over who wrote on which piece of paper and which way it was going after I told them and they didnt listen...I started to count down from 10 or 15. They had to finish writing the sentence in that time. I was suprised at how it got going, and they actually wrote sentences! Or close to that idea.

Then after it was all finished writing and the paper was full and all folded up, I numbered them randomly. They remembered their number and i called out numbers randomly from 1-8. There are 8 kids in the class. If their number was called they got to unfold and read the paper. They understood it and got laughing at things like "Jenny is babo" (Which means stupid in Korean). I used it to explain that it wasnt nice to call someone that. They know that...but its good to explain the concept of not nice. There were even a few "Jennifer is cute" and "Joanne likes Tom"! Ha ha! REmember that stuff when u were 10-12?! Wow...was it really that young an age?

Gotta run...but the gist is that it worked great. And I got them to make up their own sentence for a kooney at the end of class by getting them all to say one word to make up the sentence. It was great and they remembered it really easily and quickly! Woohooo! There is hope!