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!

Aida

2006-08-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

I went to see Aida on Friday! Oooh it was soooo incredibly awesome to see. It's an opera I've been wanting to see for a long time...and I finally did it---in Korea! The vocalists were right up to par, and especially the woman who sang the part of Aida. Wow... The sets were quite large, the larger ones having about 200 people on stage.

There was one song where they had a big Egyptian courtroom ceremony for the warriors coming back from the war victorious, and Aida sang above them all! It was incredible. But the best part of her performance wasnt the loudest part. It was in one of her solos and then duets where her voice dramatically de-crecendoed (geez I forget all my music terminology..so I made that up) to almost a pin-drop, but you could still hear her like she was sitting beside you. I was gasping and the Koreans next to me wondered what I was doing! Ha ha...if you know me that's not unusual! She has definitely mastered the art of throwing her voice and having the utmost control over it. It was obviously a highlight for me.

The costumes were fantastic as well. They seemed quite authentic, but the colors also told a story. Aida was in all red, the warrior and her love was in all blue, the queen was in all gold, as well as the pharoah. There were dancers that had a nude body suit on, with a sheer white Egyptian skirt. Perfect. The woman singers were in all white long dresses, and the men were in dark blue.

The backdrops were very simple but powerful. Sometimes just a lounging bed in the middle and benches on the sides, or even just a picture of the tombs in Egypt, or columns. The best one was either the solo part where there was what I think is the fallen head of a pharoah, so it was a monster-sized head in half on the stage. That sounds a bit grotesque, but it was fabulous. One super large piece on the stage that spoke so much. The other one was the closing act, where on both sides of the stage were triangle shapes in black with an entrance in the middle. At the end of the act, the triangle shapes became three dimentional and started moving together to eclipse Aida and her lover inside them as they sang the most powerful and moving song. Then the pyramid closed, and the queen came around to sing her last lament about not being able to get Aida's lover that she wanted. Such is life...and so is opera. Can u tell I love opera?

And the lighting. Now that was super awesome. Lighting is almost overdone here in Korea, and I'm LOVING it.

Anyhoo...about life in Korea. Its cloudy and humid and rainy again. I'm feeling a bit depressed and feel that I'm missing summer altogether. Thank goodness for the 4 days on Jeju Island...or I woulndt feel like I've had a summer much at all. I hear Vancouver has had one of the best summers....it figures that I've missed it.

I cant believe it will be finished in a few weeks...about 12 of them, or is it 11 now? That's just crazy. I'm feeling quite anxious about leaving here, and the certain comforts it has had, like not paying rent for example!

There is Chosuk that is the Korean thanksgiving holiday that I have to figgure out where to go. I was planning on possibly going to Egypt, but it looks like I will try to do that after my contract is over. So I think I will go to China. I'd LOVE to see the terracotta warriors and Beijing and the big palace there. Crap, I cant remember what it's called right now! But its cheap to travel in China, so I might be well off to do that...and acchieve seeing another country and its treasures! I cant believe I am able to do that! FINALLY! Woohooo!

Gotta run to class....later!

Blue alley again

2006-08-27T10:22:00.001-07:00

Blue alley again, originally uploaded by bendycha.

Was looking at my pics and found this one again. Man I LOVE this shot. The colors and everything. Reminds me of a certain painting...that a certain person and I share. And the COLORS!

Flickr

2006-08-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

2006-08-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

The things kids do...I should have been making a list a loong time ago! Like the words they say that are supposed to be #English! And the grabbing of body parts, and they're alllwayys unexpected and just about shock the...pants offa ya. Then there's the kid things they do like making all those annoying noizes. But not as much as I remember doing! That's a bit emabarrassing! Or not. And nthen the other day some boys were rubbing my legs cuz I hadnt shaved in a few days. Um..yah. Interesting that they noticed.. The boys here are just naturally more in tune with feminine things I swear.

Today I went to a hairdresser to look at color, and this guy ran up to me and was very interested in what i was looking at...(the color chart), and then by the time I was done, I left with an updo for 'service'! It was quite fun to watch him do it...he was just dying to get his fingers in my hair. Blonde and Russian and all...he was pretty happy. But beyond the hitting on me, I could tell he was good...cuz when he was doing my hair he had that look of sheer excitement like I get when I get something really unusual to do or work on. I left with a bow of hair in th back and he teased it all up, and I must say I'm impressed. Not sure about the bigness in the front but it was fun. Highlights, or just a few are called 'color point'. I kinda like that!

And also...about kids...last night I went to jimjilbang with John. We decided to play pool and 2 seconds later we had 6 kids running around and shrieking when we got a ball down..so they could watch it go down! Ha ha. And they were all speacking Korean to us and expecting us to reply. John did...but I was just speechless. Ugh...he's learning conversation way better and faster than I am. I must admit I get lazy tho....I listen well and understand most things in general...but stilll...I should make more of an effort to speak though. In the saunas there are stones that you lay on. Its really great but this time thanks to the kids following us around, the just jumped in and covered us with rocks. It was really awesome. They're so unselfish and have to sense of personal space or getting into yours. It's quite nice in a way. Imagine a stranger coming up to you and hugging you out of the blue almost.

gotta sleep.

Today is just another day

2006-08-21T04:53:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
Man, it's been a while. So many things run thru my head that I have to write, but then...I try to collect them...we'll see what I can do this time. Might have to be a few entries.
Well, this weekend was a doozey..as in good and bad. I stayed up till 430 am in the noribang with a buncha ppl. Was sooo much fun. Liz and I were dueting fabulously, and Mel gave the best solo action to a Korean song she didnt even know...adn blew us away! Julian and Mel had 5 years together today, and he was being the most romantic guy, including bringing a dozen roses and keepign them for a special moment.... Serenades and everything. So awesome to see a couple like that. I'm envious!

School/work is going just fine. I've really come to a plateau of sorts in a good way I feel lately. Everyday is a challenge, but everytime I come out of it I feel good about it. And everyday there are little surprises.

I've been keeping a sticker chart, and every 25 stickers I give them a little present. One little guy, Percy, is not 'normal' as in he is a bit slow or something strangie. But lately he's been all excited about getting stickers so he can get his present. Today he got it! And he started speaking things in English on his own to me that really shocked me actually! I was wearing a tshirt that said "peanuts 10c" and he wrote it on a piece of paper and gave it to me! What a cutie. Melted my heart. I'm such a softie...

OH! and in another class...I've been changed to "wonder teacher"! (it evolved from wendy teacher) lmao! I've never had such a compliment in my life! haha. So now I come in the class "wonder teacher' style...complete with 'cape' and 'super powers'! It's grreat! I've also slowed down a lot in that class, and have been getting better results by doing it, and I'm learning alot with that one too. Like practice on ONE thing makes perrrfect. Not just "doing' the page. Obvious, but that's what it's like being a teacher. Not a dull moment.

Last week we had a holiday. Independance day from the Japanese war in 19something. So all of us whities went up to a temple/museum/hiking site and chilled out by the stream like a lot of other Koreans. Pictures on my flickr site. Got some nice ones too. And of pple! I felt quite inspired like I havent in a while. I needed that.
I need to paint soon! Cant quite do it here too much in Kroea. Doesnt feel like I can take it with me, or that it will last. Which is a bit silly, but I guess that's how it is. I think I need to be less possessive of my paintings...but there's sooo much of me in there.

I cant believe the countdown is somewhat starting for me. At least the realization that life here in Korea is winding down, and before I know it, I'll be moving back to Canada. Im really feeling nervous, and not looking forward to the lifestyle financially...like having to pay rent and stuff. And the general cost of living. And dealing with things as they always were. Nehhhh. But I need to do it too. I need a 'reality check'. I need to see how I feel in an English speaking country again. To see my family and friends and Very Important people in my life.

Its funny how much I feel that I absollutely LOVE living in a country with another culture and language etc. I just absolutely love it..even after all this time. That says something to me. It explains a lot too...about my past and how I forsee living my future too. It helps me to identify with so many people at home. People who arent native of Canada. It makes me realize how we are as Canadians, and how we are not, and how we should be. It makes me realize the stark contrast of how greedy Western society is...and how it doesnt seem like that at all here. A society that lives and has values of family first is wonderful to live in. Sure the priority of money is there, but it doenst rule their lives as relationships and famly do. There's a lot to learn about that stuff for us Westerners I think. But that's my opinion. And I have to own up to the fact that I tend to think in romantic terms. What can I say. IT's who I am and how I look at life. It's really a beautiful thing.

Anyhoo..I gotta run. Time and money runnng out.

Japanese train card

2006-08-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

Japanese train card, originally uploaded by shiroibasketshoes.

Man, this is an awesome card! I wish we had one like that in Korea, but mine is pretty much just as cool. I have it on my keychain and it's roses! I guess I'm gonna haveta take a shot of that too!

Jeju-do to today

2006-08-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Well, i didnt exactly finish my blog on Jeju-do. Dont remember where I left off..but I ended up staying up all night almost because i was paranoid about missing the ferry back in the am, and ended up meeting some Koreans to go dancing with, and then hung out at the 'causeway' like everyone else in the 'cool' of the night, and then sleeping on a 'platform' that was for eating from the fish restaraunts across the street...and waking up to all the people exercising at 5:30 am...and the sunset.

Then I went to a jimjilbang for a shower, and then walked around in the morning sun. What an interesting feeling..especially since its super rare that I'm actually up that early! It was great lighting for pictures!

Then got a taxi to the ferry terminal, and went to get my ticket. THen up on the ferry was interesting. A man escorted me right past some people to my 'room'. It was a 'second class room' but that just meant i was in a room with about 15-20 people. There are no seats on the ferry, but just carpeted floors. A family brought some newspaper to lay on, and they gave some to me which i thought was sweet of them. Where in Canada would u see that? Strangie. I was hoping to stay awake to see the ferry off..but I couldnt stay awake. I just passed out on the floor and sllept pretty much the whole way through. 3.5 hours or 4 to get across. At one point I got up and walked around the ferry. The color of the water was amazing, and it was nice to experience the difference of Canadian ferries to Korean ones! The water seemed clear in spots...wow. For an ocean I find that impressive.

Then we docked in Mokpo, and I went to try to get into the museum of culture and arts, but it looks like it's 'obssoyo' which is 'not there' in Korean. Darnit. But I did wander in the basement that was open to find an exhibit or something that wasnt up yet of architecture! That was awesome. And then on upper floors some paintings, and calligraphy. Awesome stuff...

Then I wandered around downtown, and got something to eat. Namely bibimbap. Sooo yummy. Cant get enuff of it! Then down to the bus terminal to go home to Gwangju.

The week was low key, and I only worked for 2 days, and got Friday off because of the kindergarten kids that werent there, and so I decided last minute to go to Seoul for the weekend. I left on Friday afternoon, go tto Suwon around 11. Went to Candice's. Good to see here, and to be in Suwon. Slept in. Went for the BBQ with Shawn and Jane and Nathan and a few others..was fun. We just hung around all day. Then went to Seoul and had an adventure in Hyundae district. Took bunch of pictures, but my camera's memory was pretty full...imagine that. 1G of memory full...haha...can u tell i love taking pictures?

Oh man, I'm going to have to finish this later. I"m sooo tired and i gotta sleep soon!
As in NOW!

Vacation Destination -- JEJU-DO ROCKS!

2006-07-31T06:06:00.000-07:00

Wow...I'm on a real vacation! Is it vacation or holiday? Good question. Apparently it's where u come from that depends on the terminology. Hmmm. Anyway, I'm here on this volcanic island, and I feel like I'm on Asia's Hawaii, and that it is. It's honeymoon location for Asia too, that's for sure. Vacation destination that's for sure.

I got here on Friday night, and had no accommodations booked, no idea of exactly where or what I wanted to do besides some ideas from friends who had come here before. Some of those things I havent been able to do, but most of them I have, and I'm happy with what I've done here. Even if it's been alone. I mostly like travelling alone cuz I get to completely absorb everything...but I've decided I would prefer to travel with someone. But that someone would hopefully be that special 'other', or someone who doesnt mind my stopping and gushing over everything enthusiastically, or taking pictures of everything, or likes to go by the seat-o-yer-pants (ie. no solid plans, just ideas...) and the idea of "I can DO it"!

Love it. BUT, I also discovered that it's good to have a bit more of an agenda/plan. Not having one is okay too, but it keeps you going a bit more when u have an idea of what you want to do, or what you'd like to do. Ya ya, I can hear all you people who wouldnt DREAM of going anywhere without doing this, or you're saying 'ya wendy, DUH'!! Well hey...that's how it is in my world. And I've learned a few things. Also that I can do it! And I can be a woman and travel alone in Korea no problem.

Tonight I made it to the miniature land park thinger, and after was waiting on the sideof the road for the bus right outside the entrance, and a family in their rented white shiny car pulled over, and asked me where I was going. To Jeju city I replied, and they said we'll give you a ride! So there I was, in a nice car with a nice Korean family. THey said what they could in English/Yongo, and I said what I could in Korean/Hangul. It was fun. It made me miss the days where I travelled and moved across the country (Canada) with my family. I miss my sister!! There were 2 sisters/girls in the car, and they were cute.

So we got to Jeju, and I got out and looked for a PC room/bang to download ALL my pictures in. I'm Hungry though..and I'm craving pizza, or maybe I should be healthy and find some bibimbap. Hmmm...

I gotta download all these pics first though. i LOVE Flickr!

So lets see...what did I do this weekend.
Arrive Jeju City 8 pm Friday night
Looked at a tourist online site to find out what I wanted to do and what there was to do
Walked around Jeju City after taking a bus downtown somehow
Got a pair of pretty Korean shoes! only 15! I wish I got the other ones that were shiny gold and jewels on them too...
Found a Jimjilbang

Sat:
Wandered around Jeju City
Found the Love Park...is this appropriate?!
Wanted to find the Mysterious road...time was ticking and my feet were hurting
Went to the Hella Arbetoreum
Petted a DONKEY! Was going to ride him, but didnt. I've never seen a donkey to ride before! ha ha
Taxi to the bus terminal.
To Seogwipo on the other side of the island where apparently everythign is (how cool is that name..Seogwipo?!)
This island is beautiful!
Went to eat at a really cool down-n-out family restaraunt. Yum..black sauce and noodles are yummy. ONe of the guys there did a show off sexy dance for me! It was hilarious!
Went to find a way to the beach/falls
Got there finally, and it was getting dusk...found the falls...WOW. Sat there and looked up at the stars..yes! there were stars to be seen here! Felt a bit lonely with all the honeymooners or couples around.
Amazed at all the volcanic paving stones. This river is fantastically perfect as well as the falls
Did a drawring
Went to find a taxi-he took me to a jimjilbang in the WOrldcup stadium! Interesting. And very very nice. THe most authentic one i've seen yet. Was a bit too hot to sleep in comfortably though. No worries.

Sunday
Woke up, amazingly enough. Got ready
Went out...look! There's a balloon! Went traipsing through some mandarin field to find amusement park! The guy there spoke pretty good English. I came in through the back side!
It cost 22000 won to ride and admission. You have to go through the maze first. Ok. That was more fun than I thought.
Just in time for the balloon ride. Up up and ...wow this is smooth! See movie clip for experience. Wow, theres the ocean horizon with nothing out there!
Down down down.
Instructed to go on trampoline/bungy ride. Wasnt sure if i wanted to but I thought..heck...I'd better do it! It's "free" Wow that was too much fun!
off to the next location....Emart. Could I just stop shopping?! Ha ha. Got some salad..no bikini though as planned. They'er too expensive! 75 for a 3 or 4 piece. Hmmm..
Took bus to the Jongnam resort. Wow.
Teddy bear museum first....Yes, teddy bear museum. And the building was amazing..and the teddy bears intersting enough. Largest teddy bear museum in the world.
Dumb camera and these AA batteries keep dying on me. UGH. NEVER will get a camera without a lithium battery...but at least I can go and buy the AA's at the store anywhere....
Pictures pictures
I'm officially becoming an expert in taking pictures of myself. How embarrassing...well not necessarily in Korea. Love it. I dont have to feel self-conscious here about taking my own pic in public. EVeryone does it. And why not?
I WAS HERE! And I can prove it!
To get batteries...WOOO! Pitstop in Cinnabon/Seattle's best! WOW was that ever GOOD!
Stop to take picture of Hooters Hof sign!
Back to teddy bear museum to finish off..
Went wandering to Lotte Hotel.
WOW
WOW
WOW
WOW
WOW
I got all teary eyed, and I feel like I've finally had my own honeymoon! HA ha..well not quite...but hey..the thought ran through my mind. I'm missing someone! Darmit! U know who u are...;)

Wandered down to the beach
Met a girl Kelli, and James, and Stew
Ended up hanging out...got dark, looking at the STARS and horizon at night is awesome. I miss Vancouver for that...deja vu
Walked up to the Hyatt...met an Indian guy who was a magician. Took picture
Went into the Hyatt looking for a toilet
Wandered the halls!
Went to taxi to town.
Got a pizza and ate it standing around a street toy machine...YUM Hoping the tonnes of birds above us dont give us a white shower! Ewww!
Went to noribang with Koreans we met on the street!
Wow that was fun
Found a jimjilbang...sleep...

Woke up just before sunrise. Glad I did. That was cool...

Monday:
Woke up again ..found a mat somehow during the night...yay..and a pillow!
got out the door by 11
went to find bus
and mandarines...did i saw how AMAZING they taste here? NOTHIGN like it!
Bus to bus terminal
Taxi took me to a bus terminal...dont remember that mis-connection
He was amazing...came in to communicate for me! My Korean to him was pretty good! I"m impressed with myself
ON the bus...thought i was going in the wrong direction..who cares...its an island!
Hour later, I get off at the side of a road that points to the Caves I want to see. Hoping to find a taxi..no luck...I start walking. Too impatient.
The sign says 3.8 kms. SUre..here we go! I can do it!
After 2 kms or so a car decides to ask me wher I'm going..and they end up giving me a ride right to the door! Wow. only in Korea
Walked around....went to see the caves
Went to leave, to go see Mini Land...and find out that I"m too late. They close in 2 hrs and no bus goes directly there, and I"m on the other side of the island. BUT there's another one close...and it costs 20 000 in a taxi. Whew...well sure why not. Eeeks that's expensive. But ...
So I do it, and get to 'Mini mini land' in luxury. Through the middle of the island and a lot of horses. I want to ride them too...but no time. See a folk villiage, drive by the crater...
Arrive at mini mini land.
Annoyed cuz they guy that was helping me to get a taxi at the 'cave' place was there!?!! What the?/??? I said hi just like that...as IF. HE could ahve given me a ride or something. But maybe I'm glad he didnt. Still!
Pictures pitures of Mini everything. Yay! I can say i was 'There'!
left
Got picked up by Korean family in White Shiny car.
Arrive in Jeju
Find PC bang..
here i am
gotta go find the ocean concert hall
gotta find something to eat
gotta find jimjilbang to sleep
WHEW!

A bit of a run on ramble..but hey..it was fun

Tomorrow am bright n early...4 or 5 hr ferry ride to Mokpo
Bus home (1 hr or so)
Relax a bit....who'm i kidding? I'll prolly be bored and lonely again
But i had a GREAT vacation!

Miss u all...;)
Who wants to come with me next time?

JeJu-Do Island Tomorrow!

2006-07-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Yep, its holiday time. All 2 days of it. :S Neh. Thank goodness its a weekend too. Or I'd go nuts.
Anyway, I'm off to the island of Jeju. IT's the Hawaii of Korea. It takes 4 hrs on a ferry or about 40 mins or so on an airplane, and I'm doing Both! Flying there, and ferry back. So we'll see how that is. I get to take the ferry back to Mokpo, which is a town that I visited in January. Wow..that was a while ago! Went fast! I'd love to go back there quickly, and so I shall!
It's goign to be a true adventure for sure. I dont have an official place to stay, but I'm planning on staying in Jimjilbangs. Cheapest way to do it. But it's first come-first serve idea. I say that because pretty much everyone that can goes to Jeju right now. So it might be too busy. In that case, Korea is known for being able to sleep ANYWHERE...and I plan on going Korean style! Ha. Or I can camp out in the fresh air or something crazy like that. Why not?
I plan on visiting the volcano that made the island, the waterfalls, the tunnels/caves, the beaches, and possibly even the Teddy Bear Museum...yep..u heard right! Everyone raves about Jeju in Korea, so I hope it's worth it ;)
I was planning on going back to Canada or making another major trip on this holiday, but I cant get anymore days off right now...so what can u do? :S People work here like mad! And since I'm here I do too...well somewhat.
I was also hoping to go to China this weekend, but it looks like it's too much for me right now too. SO maybe another time.
Japan I'd like to go back to, and I would love to go to Vietnam, and Thailand..just cuz. Too many things to do and to see! I guess u cant do them all...but I'm too optimistic. Imagine that!
eesh...I'm feeling quite grumpy today. A lot of drama...mostly in my head but real.! Ha ha..that sounds dangerously psycho! Ha ha.. Don't worry..I'm not going nuts...yet. THings you cant control can do taht to u.
It's funny though....we're having a 'festival' in November. I'm assuminng its then because John and I will be leaving. So they asked John to teach a Taekwondo number, and for me to do a belly dancing number! HA! How the heck do you teach kids belly dancing of all things! Specially a 'sexy' dance?! But...I was to be surprised.
One day I just got them to do some very simple moves, and it was a blast! One kid, Sam is pretty good at 'snake arms' too! It's fun to break up the monotony of trying to get them to sit and listen...which is nearly impossible...from what my standards are from what i remember we were expected to do in school..or ELSE. Not so much here....especially when kids think they can get away with much much more because I dont understand or speak Korean. Little do they know!
Hehhh ehhhhhhh....evil laugh. I understand WAY more than they think I do! It's fun to answer them in Korean once in a while. THen they go around to everyone in the class and yell...Wendy teacher Hangul mal! Or close to that idea. And then they all want me to say it again! ha ha. It's cute.
Man, I'm gonna miss these kids. I really love them. Specially when they've been bad and i gotta put them in the Baby chair...or punish them in some way, and then after I try to remember to give them a hug and say 'I love you' or something like that...and then they either get all teary eyed, or get all happy an dit's all forgotten. I wonder how many times I got teary as much as they have. Little boys seem to be my favorite..with their constant mischief and things in their pockets, and trying to see how high they can fly their paper airplanes, or Danny begging me to play bingo! Or Sam screaming like a girl and then laughing histerically. Or Maria shocking me with the English that she knows when I least expect it. That kid is quite the piece of work!
..And then there's orange class. My nightmare...they always seem to be the kids that are the ahrdest to work with. THey're just between everything. And they need CONSTANT change and energy and ..... but they're cute too. And they beg me for bingo as well! I'm not playing bingo much tho, because the parents have wondered if that's all they know how to do in English is say Bingo! SO it's backfired a little..but they have learned a lot through Bingo...so Im finding ways of changing the method of approach!
Wow...so much for a little blurb and then off to bed! But I gotta do that now. I've been worrying so much its showing, and I cant do that...specially to myself. It's amazing what isolation can do to your brain! It goes off tha hook! But I still love living in another culture and language. It's constantly fascinating...and I think I must thrive on it.
Okay...seriusly...off to bed!

Soccer Day

2006-07-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yep, we've been playing soccer on Sundays now. It's so nice to do that. I havent been going to taekwondo for a month or two...and I've really been feeling the difference. I want to go back and get my next belt! So its been good to get some running in. Its fun with friends too.
Lets see, nothing really exciting this weekend. Nothing to report. I didnt leave the house until 9pm yeserday. I think I needed it. Then I stay up too late though, and end up having to recover. Takes sooo much longer when you get older. Did i really just say that?
We had a roof party on Friday which was a lot of fun. Got to meet some new people. I'm one of the old ones now! Imagine that! Time's running away on me! Only 3 months to go. Wow. My boss has asked me to stay for another 3 months, and financially I would love to. But I do have some things back home that I need to attend to. But some of those things involve money that is needed....so in that case, and because I really want to go to Turkey in October, I might need to stay. But the one most important thing/person is the issue. I could always come back if things don't work out... Scary thought.
I really do like it here in Korea. The people are nice and friendly, the hours I work are good. The people I work with are fun. The fashion here is fun, and Cheap. Travelling is awesome cheap. I've made some friends with people here that I hope will last a lifetime. I'm gonna miss those kids somethign terrible I'm sure..but at the same time I think I'll be a bit relieved. But I feel like I've grown so close to them. Hmmm...part of life. Hellos and goodbyes. Ugh...why can't life be fair.
The other issue is what on earth do I do when I get back home? I might just pursue teaching, because I really quite enjoy it. But there's design too. At this point, however, it's all about the money, because those stupid loans are a plague! Darnit!
Okay, I really haveta get to sleep...I'll regret it if I dont. It's 1 30 am here now.
Luv ya all. And Bealaboy...where the heck have u dissapeared to? Into girlfriend land? :P he heh.

Lowered Expectations

2006-07-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

Typhoon Weather and Birthdays

It was my birthday on Tuesday, and it was the day that the typhoon decided to dump the most. It's been interesting for me because I've always been kinda proud of the fact that I always have nice weather on my birthday and have come to have expectations about it...funny how that is. And silly too. But it turned out okay...and the kids at school in Red class (my fave class) sang Happy Birthday to me..which was sooper awesome. I love those kids. And that was thanks to Rachel teacher. :P Then John Teacher and I went to Baskin Robbins for an icecream cake. Now, you might not know, but in Korea that's a pretty cute cake. They have this thing for cute and little cakes here...its kinda funny. I got one that was white and pink with pink flowers on it, and it was yogurt. It had little red heart sprinkles on it to! I wish i could remember the 'name of it'. Something like 'Sweet Garden' or something. The pink flowers remind me of my favorite birthday when i turned 7 I think. I ate that cake and had a big party (the fairy tale kind of party that every girl dreams about with her friends), and then I promptly got super sick that night and threw it all up! Ha ha..but I still have happy memories of that cake. So Pink and White was in the order!
So I have a video of the whole birthday thing...and I'll link it up to here I hope.

So I havent written much..been thinking of it...but just no real energy to do it. I'm in the place of processing a lot of stuff. My birthday was a bit depressing because it's just the realization that I'm 33 now, an dmy life hasn't necessarily come to what I had hoped and tried to have it be. But what do you do about that kind of thing? It's a lot about choices and things like that. And I always wanted to not have regrets, and to make the right choices. It looks like I havent always made the right choices...but I do have a lot of intentions to keep trying to make the right ones.

Future goals:
1. Stop worrying so much!
2. Focus on the future while staying in the now not to be over frivolous and more productive in life
3. Work on my belief in God to be confident with what He wants for me and trust him.
4. Travel as much as I can while I can
5. I would love a future with a family- a husband and kids, but we'll see. Maybe I'm not meant to have that.
6. Learn to save and not spend as much!
7...we'll see don't worry be happy.....

So...there was the mud festival...and here's the link so you'll get what this is all about a bit more. http://www.mudfestival.or.kr/english/festival/festival1.php

Pics are on the flickr website as always.

Okay, well that was my birthday. Oh yah, John came out to hang out after...it was too rainy and everyone didnt want to do anything. :( It's okay, this time I didnt mind being low key. I must be getting older! Eeesh!

Kay that's it for now....except what do I do for the holiday of 4 days at the end of this month? Hmmmm...

tryout

2006-07-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

www.flickr.com

This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from bendycha. Make your own badge here.

Oh the Drama

2006-07-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday I had an interesting incident in school/work. A girl in one of the classes who is always quite quiet came up to me quite quietly. (ha hows that for English 'Q' words?!) I didnt know what was happening but then I noticed that she had her hand over her face, and then there was blood everywhere. Then I realized that she was having a nosebleed. Man, I forgot about that kind of stuff. It was fully gushing. I've never seen such a gushing nosebleed in my life! So I sat her down and got her head back...I couldnt remember if it was forward or back, but back seemed to be the thing to do...and it helped. All the kids started to help me clean up the mess....on the floor and on her dress. It's amazing how bratty kids can be, and then if someone needs something like some attention of some sort, they all drop everything and help. Almost all of them. Ha.
I got one of the kids to call another teacher, and when she got there, she pretty much just took her to wash up and tossed it off. One of the other girls, Bonny, in the class was very attentive and wanted to sit beside the girl (Crystal is her name), and she made sure that she had a big wad of toilet paper up her nose to stop it. At one point Crystal took it out...and Bonny promptly grabbed more toilet paper and stuffed it up her nose! It was quite funny actually for me...or I should say amusing. Kids are human after all! Haha.
Something else happened but I dont happen to remember what at the moment. Will add it later..
Oh, so I've been appointed to teach the kids belly dancing for our school play in November. That's going to be interesting!!
Today I decided to get the kids folding paper today. I wish I could remember the word for it in Korean. It's NOT origami! I've really started to learn some of the differences and similarities in cultures. It's interesting. And other Asian cultures too. Stuff I never thought about until I've come here.
Ha ha....and I"m watching a TV show about jewelry making, and ribbon roses. Yep, you gotta have pretty stuff. What I love about it is that the men are attentive to this stuff too..and have an appreciation of it...and aren't afraid of wearing it themselves. For example, if a guy is with his girlfriend, or even a friend, its not uncommon for him to carry her purse. And that doenst mean by any means that he isn't a manly man. I just LOVE it. They ALL wear pink, and combine really awesome colors, and have fashion sense. Yes, there's the ones who don't quite have it all together, but its rare. The women all wear pretty things, dresses and heels ALL the time. And pretty ones with bows and flowers and a beaded necklace. Short sweaters or 'Boleros' are all the thing. Sometimes I feel I've stepped back into 1950 or something combined with 1980s. Oh yah, and the 80's are alive, leggings under everything. Long 'shirt dresses' with leggings under. I love how they layer things. I've learned a lot that way. Funny...I wonder how it will be for me to come back to Canada. I'm gonna be dressing waaaayyyy to pretty or something. But who cares. I love it. Something else to incorporate into my style. Oh yah, guys wear suits ALL the time too. Boy heaven for that reason. Ha haa...
Wow, that was a run on paragraph...can't help it. What else do you do.
Okay, that's all I can think of for now...
Gnite.

2006-07-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

When I grow up I want to be windswept and interesting.

I happen to really really love this quote from someone online. LOVE it.

This guy makes me happy :D

2006-07-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

Myspace Layouts

soccer and heels

2006-07-03T05:05:00.001-07:00

soccer and heels, originally uploaded by Nyx.

And this too....see previous post.... I"m drooling

soccer and heels

2006-07-03T05:05:00.000-07:00

soccer and heels, originally uploaded by Nyx.

How BRILLIANT is this window display?!!! Man, I want to walk into my house with a wall to the side of this. Or how about your headboard on your bed? SHoes and bars with FLoozball doods on it! Man, I need to get to design again sometime someday! Wooo! I'm inspired and my brain iz buzzin! While yer at it...I've signed on to Flickr. WHY haven't I done this yet? So everybuddy...all my photos, all million of them will be appearing on Flickr from now on for your perusal at any time of the day or night. No invites or sent emails from Kodak for now. But Kodak is still good stuff.
Ooooh I love shoes. And I love being in Korea for pretty shoes like this. You can see shoes like this anyday. And cheap too! Oh help me! Save me from the shoes! Tee hee (never!!!)

Strange silence

2006-06-29T06:27:00.001-07:00

Funny how life is. Funny how decisions and things in life take you to places you never expected. Deep thoughts...more decisions to make. Damn I hate making them sometimes. ...no at most times.
Not sure what to say, but I have a lot to say. Same old stuff..tired of it repeating in my life.
Thank goodness for TV or internet...stuff to keep your mind off of things.
I really have to get some different things to do at school/work. Like phonix games and any game for that matter. I've discovered that I'm just not a games type of person. Doens't help when you're working with kids, and that's about one of the best things to get them learning. I just thank God for bingo! haha. Seriously. But even then it's limiting. :( Well, I have a few variations. But there's only so much you're going to do...Help!
Were having a mild thunderstorm right now. I forgot how much I LOVE thunderstorms. I'd rather thunderstorms and humidity than Vancouver drab drizzle rain anyday! Seriusly!
I'm tired but I dont want to sleep, too much I want to do, but too lazy to do it. Gotta stay in the house or there'll be some small thing to spend money on.
Goign to be strange because Karel is leaving, and I'm really going to miss her. Lots of ppl I know are going, and I wonder how things will be when they do go. It's part of living here and being a foreigner. People always going and coming, people you make friends with and then they leave. Sometimes you make good friends with them, sometimes they're passing through your life.
Doors that open and shut.
I just want to settle down and have a family...but it doesnt look like that's going to happen soon. I want to see Europe and as much as I can very soon too...but time is against me. But I shouldnt think that way either.
We'll see.
I need to make more friends here. And do some hanging out and keepign my mind off of things. My neck muscles are seizing up, and that's a sure sign that I'm stressing and worrying about too much...and most likely needlessly as usual. It helps to write this stuff down..to have that connection to people who might read it...or even not.
My mood in music is Bjork. Man, I'm so inspired by her. Sometimes i feel that I have Madonna and Bjork in my personality. I dont really mind that idea. I always did like a bit of strangeness and whats-the-word; brashness? Anyway, you get the idea. And a bit of James Bond in there. Ha...or his girls or something. Anyway

Strange silence

2006-06-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

Yeosu beach - Grouper Video

2006-06-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

Yeosu Trip Weekend

2006-06-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Its Sat night at a few mins past midnight. And I can't seem to get away from the puter for one night! Geeeez! I can't help it...it's my connection to the outside world, and the place to download my pictures! And entertainment. So there.
Anyhoo...I've come to a town on the coast of Korea (wierd, am I really in Korea? it feels normal to me now) called Yeosu. It's really quite nice here. The main reason why I came here is to get to the ocean again. I don't realize how much I miss it until I get there, and wow. The smell of an ocean is just not like anything else...not really even the smell, but the air itself. And the sound and the magnatism of the tide...
So I arrived, went to a little temple up a hill, then went to the beach. The taxi kept going through this side road that didnt look like it was going anywhere..and I was almost worried. But then we came to a really cool place in the road where it looked like a dead end almost..but there ahead was a narrow tunnel that looked like a train tunnel, and yes, we went through it! It was just barely wide enough for a car, and there were lights all down it thank goodness. I wondered if it was a one way and how the cars were controlled if it wasnt, and then i discovered as I saw headlights coming toward me that there were regular pullout spaces along the way! BIZARRE! It was sooo cool! I literally had my mouth hanging open! The taxi driver was a bit amused I think at the waeguk in awe at some dumb tunnel! Ha ha.
t
Then we crossed some train tracks, and there was a cove with some restaraunts along it, and a beach! So there I was, at the beach! Yeayy! I forgot how nice it is. Seems like "what's the big deal" sometimes..but then you get there and ..oh yahhh! So I sat there and wandered around, took pictures, etc...of course. Found a cool shell, and a green rock, and a rock shaped like a heart! OF COURSE! I was laughing out loud to myself. Sat there and watched the waves crashing. Contemplated the concept that I was on the OTHER SIDE of the Pacific Ocean! Had to go and dip my hand in...and it was surprisingly warm! Imagine that! But that was mmy hand. Looked at the lights from the ships on the water. That was honestly my first impression and made me miss a certain view from English bay ALOT. I LOVE those ships..and I didnt know how much until I saw them there. Something homey about it. But then again lights like that have always been 'home' to me in one way or another.

So then it got dark, and I was still on the beach. Got up and decided to wander around the buildings on the beach 'drive', and got to a 'foodstop' with the staple boiled eggs n salt. YUM. The lady there was super charming and funny. They were watching TV with some guy holding works and they were going off...and they sold fireworks there, adn the 'husband' grabbed one and decided to go out and light one off like that too! IT was so cute. She's all shooing him out of the store so he doesnt set it off right there! Ha ha! Yah, so it inspired me to go and buy some fireworks myself! So that's exactly what i did! I got a 25 missile one, and a 'silver sparkler' one. The missile one was loud and worked quite well, the other one didnt work at all..and i was quite dissapointed. I should have got a Roman Candle. Crazy how you can buy them on the side corner store! And anytime of the year. Ha...its fun. I've never honestly got fireworks before and lit them off myself, and by myself..but hey...I'm in Korea! WHO CARES!

Well,

Vicious Circles

2006-06-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well kids, my life seems to be coming to a sort of crossroads again. Strangie how that is. It's because of a few factors. Mainly because a VIP that I've been very very connected to in Canada that has had my heart seems to have vanished, and I'm left with nothing left but to assume things and to overthink things as well. There's a lot I dont understand, but then again its because of LD (or long distance relationships) that are hard because of the very nature of time and distance. Really sucks, but the I do know that I had to come here to Korea for a reason. I just wish that my VIP had held me back from going if it was really something that was important for him...but I can't say that either, because he had the maturity and decency and wotever other word to describe it to let me go, and do what I needed to do. I just hope it wasnt a mistake. But then I know it wasn't. It's just an interesting thing to plan your future now. To wonder what is next. To try to figure out what you want to happen next, when it seems that it's turning out to be the opposite of what you hoped.
Funny that, how you have your hopes and dreams and plans that you conjure up and try to make happen...and then life has its twists and turns. And again I am pointed back to the quote from my favorite movie which says, "...don't look for straight lines. Life isn't like that." Yep, you can say that again.
Ugh, its all so frustrating. But then its exciting in a way because its a 'hold on and go for the ride' kindof thing. But I wanna control it! I want to at least know how to plan and have a direction in this bumpy ride. And wearing your heart on your sleeve doesn't help either.
Well, after coming to some conclusions in my head and after some really important friends in my life always being there for me...and listening to my constant crooning, I felt a bit more peace today. And I felt happy too. Well, on the path to being more happy. Those poor kids at times...when I have bad days. Then I feel so bad. Right now I dont know what I'd do without them either! Strangie. (that's how u say it in Korean...everything ends in a 'ie'!)
I have to say its true for me that even after all the crap that can happen, and I just want to throw God away, it always gets worse for me if I do, and I always come back. That might sound hokey to some, but that's how it is for me. Man, God has incredible patience with me..that's for sure.
Kay, gotta sleep...

My latest obsession

2006-06-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is by a Japanese artist. His name is Yoshitomo Nara....and He ROCKS! This girl is just awesome because she's this 'sweet innocent' little girl with this attitude that sometimes I have to say I felt like her, and still do at times. IT's like this inner dark side that has to rebel and show her face at times. I have been seeing Tshirts starting to come out with her, and yep..I'm getting them all if I can help it! SOooo cheap! Stop me now!
The one pic is of an original ashtray that he did. I gotta find more like this! I'm starting to 'get' the deal about animation and stuff now. Painting idea? :D
Oh, and by the way, I'm thinking of ideas and opinions about stickers. What the HECK do you do with them besides stick them in some book? Or on your guitar case or your car? What about those tiny ones? What about those big ones? Collage? I have issues with collages. I'd prefer modern simplicity...but..I'm starting to change my mind about how I look at these things. Hmmmmmmm. Anyone have any ideas? I'd love to hear them on the comments or email. Or pictures would be even better! I gotta do this in a generated survey I think...just for fun to see what would happen. Hmmm...good idea. Now to do it...

Silence turned upside-down

2006-06-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a good and bittersweet night for me. Creating my inner world of anxiety all that much more intense today as usual, pluggin along through it, and somehow I always get through the day. I was not sure what to do after work. Thank God for those kids at times, because they keep my brain active most of the day so I don't go overboard!
So I was thinking of going to see a Hangul movie (that's Korean) but it didn't end up happening. For some reason as soon as I come home I just dont want to get the energy to go back out till I absolutely have to. Tv and Internet and food and clothes, and a constant mess of some sort seems to keep me here. All the reading I want to do but can't seem to pick up a book for long. Feel guilty for that too. Man, I'm really hard on myself huh? How on earth do I turn that around? Pray a LOT I guess. But even then I have the choices. Ugh..I hate that.
So I ended up cooking a meal of spaghetti and sauce with braized green and red peppers and 'meatballs' of broccoli an cheese balls. YUM that was good. Halfway through cooking it I remembered Windy (my ex roomie) noticing that whenever I cooked up a storm it was because I was stressed, or most likely upset at something. Yep, it occurred to me that perhaps that's exactly what was happening. I am stressed...about a few major things in my life. And the problem with a few of them is that its not in my control to do anything about it. All I can do is wait and wonder...and drive myself nuts. But I dont' have to drive myself nuts! I can choose what to do with the situation. Do I hold on? Do I let it go? How much do I wait? What is it worth to me? Is it something that will repeat itself in the future? Do I really want that? IT's hard to tell because of the situation if that's really the case. And I feel horrible for thinking that even. But...that's how it is. All I can do is what I can on my end.
So while some of these thoughts are going through my head...I am eating, and watching TV (some horrible TV about 'Camelot' and a lot of gross dead things, beautiful shiny costumes, and a movie with Denzel and Angelina about crime scenes which in a sense was good, but a lot of nto so pretty scenes in there that I'm afraid I'll be dreaming bad stuff). And then somethign occurred to me while I was watching a shot in the 'Lancelot' movie....a Painting!
Yes folks, I did indeed settle down and DID a painting that I feel really quite good about here in Korea. And it involves some Korean even! Yep, I'm happy about it. Especially since I used some 'Korean brushes' and 'Korean paper' and was very influenced by 'Korean colors'. AND I used 'Korean paint' which was acrylic (I hardly ever use acrylic) and used it like watercolor! So I'm impressed with that. I'll download a pic as soon as I get it. I've got sooo many pics to download it's not even funny.
Oh man...I'm just watching a bit of TV..or being distracted by it whilst I'm sitting here typing away...adn there's a show about a young woman who has a daughter, and she has a 'new' boyfriend, and the little girl comes up to the boyfriend while he is sitting at their table eating dinner, and she totally gives him the guilt trip! Its fun to watch Asian expressions and attitudes in talking because at times they can seem really quite whiny or put off. But the funny thing is that it seems light and heavy at the same time. IT's like there's some big guilt trip....but then Asians have this way of laughing it off that's equally as entertaining. I'm so glad I've had the experience of seeing this first hand. There was sooooo much I never knew or understood about Asian people until I came here. And now I'm starting to really be able to tell the difference of different Asian countries too...and that's really cool! Specially for a whitie! Ha ha. I really am going to miss things about this country...
I havent been goign to taekwondo very much for the last few weeks. Bad me...but I guess i need a break. Its getting quite warm and its always humid...so it does make a difference. But I'm determined. So we'll see.
So I gotta sleep here...but I gotta say...I'm so glad I stayed in today. I really needed this time of reflection and inflection. A time to let go and cling to things, a time to get some clarity...but I need a LOT more. A time to spew out some colors and shapes onto a canvas...to portray how I feel outside of myself. I really needed that. Now I just feel alone, and the solitude of the silence. I'd like to console myself with the following....
"It just matters to know that someone loves me to the core somewhere on the planet". And I'd like to add to that...somewhere in the universe." Cuz that's about what I feel I've got left...somewhere deep in the universe there's something constant that won't let me down that I can talk to anytime and I know He's listening. Somehow...
I need to go look at the moon and the stars now...if I can see them. Apparently the rainy few weeks start tomorrow...

Slideshow - My Paintings

2006-06-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

"http://apps.rockyou.com/rockyou.swf?instanceid=29200925" quality="high" wmode="transparent" width="426" height="320" name="flashticker" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"/>

The home of fish!

2006-06-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

The home of fish!, originally uploaded by * B a h a r *.

And this one too!
I just found out that I can blog pictures through Flikr! I LOVE the internet and the things you can find! Specially at FAST computers in a PC bang in Korea! Gotta get me a notebook or a PC...soon....

The Lout Desert, 2004

2006-06-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

The Lout Desert, 2004, originally uploaded by * B a h a r *.

I was just surfing through Flikr and found this wonderful photo. Her whole set just had me gasping. I'm so inspired, and I really really lwant to go to Iran now!

More cute stuff

2006-06-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

And this one too...how cute is that?!

Myspace Layouts

Now I have to figure out how to link to music.

this is too much fun! Stop me now!

havin fun wasting time

2006-06-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.myspace.com/bendycha

You gotta check out my "My Space". Just because it's rediculous how much time I've been spending doing this. I'm trying to teach myself HTML and stuff. I've been playing around with codes and other things just for the fun of it.

All those sparkle tags and cursors and graphics and stuff you can find online. It makes my brain hurt but it wires me up! Gimmme more!

Ya, like this one makes me laugh! Lets see if this works...

Myspace Layouts

Weekend

2006-06-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

Hello people out there. I'm still here. I had a bit of a depressing weekend for a few or many reasons. Some of which are a result of my overthinking things and needless worrying. They say 'just dont worry so much' or 'just dont think about it' or 'it will all be okay' or 'time will tell'. That would be nice if i could change the thoughts that run through my head....cuz they still happen. But it sure helps to hear that though. Funny how that works. I think that a lot of that is the 'isolation' here in that I dont speak the language well...so what else does your brain do? Go nuts I suppose.
I'm missing certain VIP people in my life a lot. But I'm trying to make my time here the best it can be. I dont want to be making it a negative experience by thinking negatively.
I guess its just that my friend Lindsey came and left for Canada, my friend Karel is leaving in a few weeks. My friend Candice left for Germany (from Seoul) for two weeks vacation on Saturday. A Korean friend I thought I made here hasnt called, and I dont expect him to. (I'm kindof glad though because I dont want to have to bother with some things that come with that). I've got a boyfriend in Canada that has my heart, and I think there could be some conflicts there that I dont need.
I've been watching a lot of TV, and I really should get into a book again. I just dont want to for some reason. I'm enjoying the mindlessness of TV for a change...even if it does drive me nuts. I must say I am enjoying all the fashion here though. Fashion TV...love it.
I did a bit of an art project on the weekend too. I got some metal mesh and mounted some cool postcard/pictures on it that I love. There's a pipe that runs along the length of the room on the ceiling which provided the perfect place to hang pictures from 'gallery' style. I strung them up with a bit of twine, or thread so two of them look suspended, and the other big one that I mounted on a cool piece of thin cardboard with a wavy pattern in it. Hard to explain in a way, but I'll just have to take a picture I suppose.
I'm so glad I got that camera. I'm loving taking pictures with it. It's amazing the difference in quality that 3.3pixels to 6.0 pixels make. It's faster, and lighter and easier to carry around.
I've gone completly Korean, cuz you can buy these stickers for extra cheap to put on your cell phone. So it's a sheet of 5"x3" of sticker. It's great cuz it protects your phone (or your camera ;) and make it look fun. The sticker can be transparent, or opaque, depending on what u like. I've finally got the hang of stickers...I spose that's my creative outlet now. I'm going to have to do a 'painting' with stickers I think!

Okay, I gotta run teach a class. Till next time!

Wedding Day for Alison

2006-06-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

Yep, today I got to fulfil my wish and hope of being involved in Alison and Mike's wedding. The phonecall thing worked, and they put me on speaker phone, and I got to speak to everyone there. It was so nice. I got all nervous though...and I almost got a little flustered...but it was great. I was just handed right over..and it happened that I phoned in the middle of a toast to the bride! ha ha! Well, maybe that makes it even better! Everyone in the crowd said 'Hi Wendy'! ha ha! That was awesome. I'm so happy that could happen at least...even if I couldnt be there in person. I know I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I couldnt at least do that! So that's done... Cant believe she's married! Ha! Mrs. Spatari after all that. WIerd!
Man, I did want to give out the dirt though..and if i knew that i could or how the environment was..I most certainly would have done that! but that's ok.
Man, the weekend was really good, and crazy, and all of the above. Candice came down to visit. I forget how much of a habitual person I am, and how I like things a certain way, and then people come into your life and do it differently, and then I realize how self-contained I am now...and it makes me kindof sad. I have to learn to be more unselfish and accepting of interruptions and things not goign the way I'm used to in life. And I relish those things though as well, because it makes it interesting. Just wierd how 'living with someone' makes you realize how habitual you can become about how u like things a certain way. Man, I feel like I"m being really negative here, and if it sounds like it, I dont mean to be. I'm really tired at the moment too...so that would make a difference!
Its just been a day of a lot of emotions and strange feelings to deal with. And PWS..which is Post Weekend Depression!
Candice and I went out to a HUGE club last night that has live dancers and musicians and acrobats and the whole bit. It was pretty spectacular. It feels like you're in a spaceship and it's just over the top. We were hauled over to some guys table from our table at one point, no option to refuse...a hostess just came and grabbed Candice's arm..almost forcefully and guided us over. I came along for the 'girl' support...and that's cool. But the funny thing was that I ended up connnecting with the guy I was sitting beside more than the guy that asked for candice! Ha ha! We just had a blast. I was teaching him how to tango, and he was showing me some taekwondo moves while dancing! IT was great! You know how u meet some people in your life and things like personalities just click..well that's how this was. I love it when that happens...and maybe I can learn some Kung Fu moves from this guy. Yay. And NO, I'm not interested in him any other way...geez you guys. The assumptions that come just cuz I'm an alone woman in Korea! Sorry Asian guys...you're good looking and all...but I just can't go there. Strange but true. Specially cuz I have someone else on my heart too...

Crazy how life is. So anyway...after taking some fun pics..and getting a little excercise...and a little sleep...wayyy too late in the night for me tho...its another day. and right now I'm so tired...and gotta catch up on it.
And I'm feeling a bit depressed and 'homesick' for some certain people at home....and nothign I can do about it. Even a phonecall doesnt solve anything..and maybe makes it worse sometimes. But not enirely..cuz communication is so important to have...to keep those connections in the first place.
I'm also thinking about how fast the time is going..and what am I really going to do when i get back. Especially of living a 'fantasy' life here, complete with the attention you get from people, and the casual way of life, and I'm able to pay my bills here....and get ahead financially. At home it will be back to worrying about how to cope again..and that's somethign I'm not looking forward to. But life must go on...and things will happen when they're meant to. Until then..we will wait and see..
So...talk soon.

2006-06-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

So it's Friday night here in Korea. I'm thinking a lot about certain VIP people at home. One in particular as usual, and another very very important girlfriend...that is GETTING MARRIED tomorrow...well that's June 3 or Sunday very early am for me. If I have my times right. Yeah, that means that I usually wake up at around 830am and that's 330pm the day before in Canada. Wierd. And right then is when she's getting married! WIERD! I wish so much I could have been there...and I could have been a bridesmaid too..which I've always wanted to do once in my life..and here I am. But that was a decision I made..and I'm still glad I came to Korea. SO I hope I can get in touch with them at their wedding, but we'll see what happens.

It's really warming up here right now. It was almost 30 degrees today, and apparently it's going to be getting warmer from now on. Its humid, and I am getting used to feeling like im always a bit damp or oily/sweaty it feels sometimes. Interesting. I've forgotten what it's like from when I lived in Ontario when I was young. But even then, it seems a bit different. It's interesting. We'll see how I feel mid July!

I was thinking that there were going to be a lot more bugs, and so far it isnt bad. I hope I wont jinx anythign by saying that! Ha ha...just my luck.

Anyway, I think I'm going to go to a jimjilbang tonight. I feel like 'going away' and relaxing and sweating it out a bit.

My friend Candice is coming down from Suwon (close to Seoul) for the weekend, so I'll go and get relaxed over night...get my butt up to do some things with the church ppl tomorrow am. Candice, then go out on the town a bit tomorrow night. Then get up and hopefully connect with Alison and Mike's wedding!

Gnite! Miss you all right now...

Addicted to the Internet

2006-06-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

Yep folks, I'm officially addicted. I sit here in a PC bang cuz the puters are SooperDooper fast because they are here to play games on...which by the way, this country is addicted to! Yep, so I've discovered things like sparkle names, and pictures, and online shopping to get my 'eye shopping' fix without spending. Not so sure about the non-spending part. All I can say is thank God I dont have a credit card. That thing would officially kill me. Even tho I would like to have one for those emergencies..but I'd have to freeze it in an iceburg so I would have to work my arse off to get to it! Emergency times 2!!

Hosted by Sparkle Tags

Yep, that about says it all.

Yesterday I went to the Bamboo 'Forest' in Damyang, a town close to here (gwangju). And I went all Korean style. That is..everyone travels wearing heels and dresses. So I decided, if they can do it, I can too! SO I wear my 3 inch heels (how Koreans make heels are different I swear..they're not so bad to walk on! and dont kill your feet as much! dunno..but its true), and a skirt and the whole bit. I LOVE it.

Anyway, I really gotta get out of here. WAY too much time online!

Later!

2006-05-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody,
Well, today is Election Day in Korea, which is a holiday. Yay. Holiday in the middle of the week makes a short week! A wierd one, but still short. Woohoo.

I just got off the fone talking to my gf who is getting married this coming Saturday! Wow! That's a crazy thought. She's finally doing it! Craziness! I'm a bit envious I must say...but not as much as I am sad that I cant be there..and wish I could be cuz this would be the wedding to go to for me. But that's ok...cuz she'll still be there. She got my gift that I just sent a week ago! Wowzers!

Anyhoo...I'm not sure what to do with myself. I've got a headache Wish it would go away. I'm feeling a bit floaty as in should I do this or that...=indecisive.
I wanted to go to the Damyang Bamboo forest, but I'm still not out of the house and it's almost 4 pm. DUH. Maybe I will anyway..who knows.

It's pretty warm today. Almost 30 degrees celcius. I dont mind. I'd rather it warm than cold.

Okay, I really gotta go and do something.

This picture was when I went to Seoul at the beginning of the month. I gotta go get one of the bamboo now!

Later!

Monday after the weekend

2006-05-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

Ha..some Korean guy is freaking out...he's quite drunk. Or somethign is really going on with him. He's yelling at the top of his lungs. He could even be some crazy down at Main and Hastings or something. Strange. I haven't seen anything like that since I've been here in Korea. Wow. Just dawned on me.
There's apparently a huge drinking problem in Korea. You can buy soju in a 550 ml bottle for about a dollar anywhere, and there's pubs everywhere-on every block prettymuch. It seems very neighbourly on one end, and I suppose this creates an issue on the other. The thing is that I feel quite safe here regardless..from drunken men. Or maybe it's just that I havent really been paying much attention, or have not been in areas where there are a lot of these issues taking place.

Anyway, I am glad that I live in an apartuh building with electronic keypad lock on the door, and separate keys do the doors, etc. And sensor lighting that activates obviously to motion. Very glad. I feel spoiled sometimes. I suppose I am at the moment. I'm really goign to miss that. The things that I have grown accustomed to. And things that I'm goign to be annoyed with canada because it isnt like that there. I'm sure I'll be saying...Cmon Canada...get with it! How crazy is that?
Great. The standard has been raised..or changed..whichever comes first.

I went to taekwondo again tonight. I didnt go last week, and I'm feelin the difference. Tonight he got me to do all 3 poomsae which are three 'levels' of technique sequences. I could hardly remember the first one..which isnt such a terrible thing, I think because it's been months since I did it last. So I felt pretty good with where I'm at right now so far. I realy have to keep going. I just needed a break, and I was sick last week too. Even if it was just my ears and a headache.

Anyway, I had a good weekend. We went out on Sat night with Rachel and Lucia (teachers from Kids Club) for Rachel's birthday (on Tuesday). Yu-Gin is leaving Kids Club in a few days to go to Europe, and I'm realy going to miss her. We're at the same spot it seems in life, and she's having a hard time here because she's in her 30's and not married. It's a big pressure by her family and society to be married at least in your mid 20's... Man, I'm glad that I dont have that kind of pressure. It's bad enough being alone in your 30's let alone the other stuff like clock ticking. Man, never thought it was real, but it certainly is. What a phenomenon!

Well, tonight while listening to my favorite radio ITunes- Secret Agent on Soma FM, I found a great new band that I'm in love with! Hefner! Google them for the cool sgraphics and sounds. LOVE it.

Anyhoo..I've got a headache, and I gotta get some zzzzz's. I really do spend WAY too much time on this puter! I gotta get out and do some exploring and exercise more!

Wednesday is election holiday...so we'll see.

Gnite for now! Love to everyone out there!

Google

2006-05-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

Google
Well, I'm sick again for the umpteenth time. I went to the doctor finally today who happens to be an Ear,eye,throat,nose doctor (I wish i could remember the term for that). Anyway, that was pretty interesting. You go in and get checked in, and then there's the doctor's chair right there in plain view, beside the big trolley of metal instruments, and you get checked up right then and there. Interesting. They always have to look up your nose...its so wierd. This time they cleaned my nose out like I was in a dentist chair and it was my mouth! Now That was strange. I've got this ear ache that feels like I'm underwater constantly. You know that muffled sound when you cant hear. Strangie. And a headache and I'm feeling a bit achy too. Sinus issues like crazy. And its ALLL yellow. Sorry if that was a bit too much infobut I spose that's what happens when you're breathin yello.
Thank goodness for friends online that keep me occupied and that I can talk to....cuz if it weren't for them, I dont know what I'd do. I'd be goin nuts. And I'm glad that I can share some of this stuff with you guys...it really helps the lonliness knowing that someone out there cares. Crazy how u can feel that was in a big huge world...but that's how it is. It's big and tonnes of people in it, but it still gets lonely. Especially for the ones who are the most important to you and the one that has your heart. Across the ocean...but soon enough......sometimes I wonder if I had my head on right doing it this way. But I do believe I came here for a reason and I'm sooo glad I did. Things happen for a reason...so ...God knows.
I'm also havin a hard time because my best girlfriend who is going to be having her cinderella dream wedding is getting married in 2 weeks, and I was going to be her bridesmaid..which I've always wanted to be, and I'm here so I wont be able to make it. It's really hard...and I really wish I could be there. But we talked about it before I came, so it will be okay. But still! I'm really going to have to come back in July if that's what's meant to happen, but I'm not sure what's going on right now. Such is life I suppose. I have to learn to accept and take it and not try to change and control everything that is not mine to control. Or to smooth over to make it be all nice in my world. Life isnt straight lines..its just not like that. -(quote from my favorite movie, Kama Sutra the Love Story). Man, what I wouldnt do to see that right now. I've seen it no less than 150 times , and I still never get sick of it. How can that be?!!! I just want the Cinderella story but I wonder if it's passed me by...
Gnight

Land of Flexible People!

2006-05-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Yep, not the Land of the Morning Calm, but the Land of Flexible People I say!! I was in Taekwondo tonight, and just amazed at the flexibility of the guys here...let alone the girls. The guys are more flexible than I've seen a lot of girls in my life! That's shameful! Doin the splits better than me...grrr. I gotta shape up!
Anyhoo..I wanted to write about the last weekend and going to the 'Korean' opera. It was quite interesting. i have pictures, but it doesnt start to tell about the audience experience! When I finally go there, and found the theatre I was about 15 mins late, and I thought I wouldnt be able to get in. But no..they just ushered me right in...and without paying! Okay! Thankyou!! So I went in and tried to quietly find a seat. But apparently it didnt matter because for the rest of the show...and durnig the whole thing I assume, everyone was talking away, and getting up and running around! Um...okay. The singers were just carrying on like it was normal, and I guess it was. I was trying to figure out when they wre going to be quiet, but then i guess they weren't. And the funny thing was, it seemed normal...and then one singer came out and gave the 'sssh' sign to the audience, which helped for a few minutes, and then everyone started up again. STRANGIE!
I got a few really great shots of the singers though...Yay for my new 10x zoom camera! Love it for that!
Anyway, I gotta get to bed.
Latah!

lets try this one

2006-05-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
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[bbzSpace FallingObjects]

This looks like something didnt happen..but it did. Hence the falling hearts. Tee hee. How cute.

Helloooooo

2006-05-16T06:59:00.000-07:00

H
E
L
L
O
which makes:
H
E
L
L
O

Hearts falling again

2006-05-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

no...THIS is hearts falling!! darmit!
H
e
a
r
t
s

2006-05-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

No, this is hearts falling!
H
e
a
r
t
s

Hearts falling

2006-05-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

♥

Update

2006-05-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Well last weekend I went to Seoul to visit Candice. I had planned on going to Gyonngu (sp) but by the time we got to the bus station, there was a 2 hour wait for the next one, and time was ticking. I was going to go with John, but he wanted to go to Daegu, and I wanted to go to Seoul. So there.
I love last minute stuff. Keeps you on the edge...and sometimes drives the 'planner' people nuts. Ha (evil laugh).
So...I got to Seoul, hopped on the subway to Insa-dong (the art community or 'Commercial Drive' of Seoul). I love going places by myself, cuz I just have the opportunity to eat everything up sensually-visually, aurally, all of that. And discovering things by just daring to go places like back alleys and geting pursefully lost almost. Its that sense of adventure that gets me everytime. It's the feeling I live for. That keeps me going. Cuz there's more out there!

On the way into Insa-dong I had to find the way in from the subway station. There was a sign that said 'Insa-dong' but I wasnt sure. It led into back alleys or pretty much pathways between buildings that were about 4 or 5 feet wide. Paved with brick, and the houses in lots of wood and plaster. The patterns are beautiful, and I love the lanterns and lamps that are in the windows. Mostly made of a wood or metal frame and covered in paper or a fabric that is very simple. And the hight of the buildings are quite low, and the windows feel like they're at a height where u can almost look in. Except there are wood shutters on them and maybe paper or curtains. LOVE it. Oh, and the alleys dont go straight! They have corners and angles that dont seem to make sense, but then that makes it more fun.

One corner I came around, I saw an open wooden heavy gate, and a really nice looking courtyard. At first I thought it was a house, and then maybe a restaraunt, but it ended up being some meditation place that was really popular, and kindof a hidden treasure. That's what it felt like to me anyway. If I didnt have to go meet Candice and Luca, I might have stayed. I'll have to go and look at it some other time I guess. It felt really peaceful and I loved the design of the courtyard, and the house around it. There were windows and a patio all around too. Pine trees and shrubs. That's the thing I like about Asian style is that everything seems to be suited to 'human' or anthropometric proportions. You can identify with it.

I met Candice and her new boyfriend Luca, and we hung out a little bit, then they had to run, and I had the chance to hang out in Insa-dong. I was going to go somewhere else..but the time it takes to travel around Seoul...I might as well stay there and soak it up.

We had mentioned going to a traditional tea house later, but I ended up finding one while I was wandering, and I thought I'd check it out even if we were going later. And just in case cuz u never know. And I'm sooo glad I did! I kinda didnt feel like I had a choice cuz I was right in the restaraunt before I knew it, and I felt like I should stay.

The design here is so beautiful too. The natural wood, and plaster, on the ceilings, and its interesting how the electricity is wired up. It's quite exposed, but it was busy enough in there, that I didnt really notice for a while.

So then I wandered around to look at the cool stuff in the shops. Lots of Colorful fabric, Chinese looking fabric. Purses, and bags and pillow cases, and table runners. Lots of metal stuff like Korean bells, pipes, bookmarks, jewelry. Tonnes of hand phone charms everywhere of course. Some shops with artwork pieces on paper. Lots of jewelry with jade and coral and wood. Oh, and tonnes of ceramics with the Korean celadon glaze (green).

Then there's the one building that is a big ramp all the way up 3 or 4 floors, and then a central staircase down (or up) with a huge metal rose vine all the way up the stairwell. All painted green and red. It's the most amazing buildign I've ever experienced I think. And how the shops are all laid out and the use of space here...or lack of space it might seem to any American. What I love about Korea, is that you can reach out and touch a complete stranger to move them politely out of the way, and there's no question about it. Nothing rude about that. Its more polite than anything cuz you're moving them out of the way so you don't run them over! Ha ha! Imagine that!

Anyway, I have to make this a bit shorter. Saturday Candice and I went to the National Gallery of Korea. Talking about architecture....WOW. Why are there not more buildings like this in Canada/America? Not many words to describe it except breathtaking. After an afternoon in the Gallery, our brains were filled up to the max, and so we went and met Luca again.

Then we went downtown Seoul to eat. And I experienced my first Kimchi pizza. Ya, I was worried too, but I ended up LOVING it. Right up there with bibimbap! Then we met some of Luca's friends and went out for the night. Woohoo.

Sunday we went back to Yangsan Electronic Market to figure out if I should exchange my new camera or not. I ended up keeping it. I hope its the right one. Sometimes I'm wayyy too perfectionist!

Then we went to the big palace downtown Seoul. Lots of pictures and stuff there. Was amazing to see...pictures do it better. I'm goign to have to go back myself just to absorb it all... The water palace was the best. Ya, sure, I'd love to live in there too! Oh, and in one of the buildings was where one of the last Korean queens was killed....and they're just restoring it. Wowzers.

And then it was time already to go back home to Gwangju. I went and hung out around Yangsan for a few hours, and then took the subway to the Bus Terminal and tried to find the right bus. That place is HUGE!

I finally got the place, and I think somehow I got bumped up to the nice luxury busses with really nice wide comefortable seats. I'm not complaining there!

Yay. Now I really gotta sleep...cuz I have to write about this past weekend. Not as much excitement thats for sure...but hey.

Later!

peculiarities

2006-05-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Just thinking and observing Korean charachteristics. I'm watching TV. Cute stuff...and funny stuff, and wierd stuff. Love relationships, ways of dressing (all guys wear suits and its sooo awesome, or they're wearing jeans and layered t shirts. Girls all wear dresses and hi heels...or super short shorts or skirts, or short dresses over pants...and the 80's are still here!!! or they are casual with jeans and tshirts that are almost always layered) I'm learning the Korean way of layering finally...I've always been curious. Other things like eye tucks and nose surgery is super popular. I havent really paid attention too much, but then sometimes you look and something's a bit different...oh..they eyes!

Teeth are quite important too. You can get toothbrushes at every 7-11 or Mini Stop or Family Mart you go. That is any convenience store. When I stayed at a hotel in Seoul they give you keys ( actually I had to ask for keys) and a toothbrush. Essentials. You can get these really cool little packs with little toothpaste and toothbrush anywhere...like in the 'stationery' stores everywhere. Everything is sooper cheap, and I have to try to stay out o fthose places..cuz there's so much that is interesting to get. I've become a pencil case junkie...they're great to store little things in besides pencils!! Travel makeup, jewellery, thumbtacks, pins, hair stuff, all that kinda stuff. Things that I would use anyway.

So I got a fishy and a cell phone!! Craziness! Lindsey is leaving tomorrow to Thailand, and I get her fishy and cell phone. Yayyy! A cell will be sooo awesome when I go to Seoul....its crazy without one I must say. I love the craziness of Seoul. The crazy subway system...I forget until I compare that Vancouver has ONE line, and Seoul has I dont know how many. At least 15? And then there's transferring from one to the other. Thank Goodness the signs are in English too.

I went to Seoul this past weekend for the Children's Day long weekend. It was pretty good. I dont remember if i already wrote about it, so I will fill u in anyway.
I went on Friday am. Arrived at about 430. Made my way by subway to Insa-dong..the artsy area of Seoul that I absolutely LOVE. It's not directly obvious from the street, so I ended up wandering a bit...I LOVE doing that by myself. And I fell in love with the back alley streets...and found a really cool meditation centre there. Apparently it's 'famous' in Seoul. And I found a really cool tea house that I went to later by myself. Man, that was the best part of the weekend, I swear. So peaceful and very Korean.
Insa-dong was crazy with whities (foreigners) and I happened to bump into a few people I knew! Crazy how small the world is sometimes.
I spent a few hours with Candice and Luca, her Korean boyfriend. Then they had to go, and I decided to wander around and then I got familiar with the shops, and the crazy awesome buildign that is a ramp all the way up to the top. It's transition is so lazy and peaceful and a slow but steady climb. I LOVE that place so much. It's called something that starts with 'S'.
Then Candice and Luca came back and we went for tea in another really cool place. Then we went to see a Korean film at a DVD bang. Good stuff. Funny movie. Man, Koreans are really interesting when it comes to family dynamics. I dont know if I'd ever understand it...but it's really interesting.
Then Luca showed me a hotel in Insa-dong..which cost 40 a night. LOVE it.

The next morning I woke up to a rainy day. Met Luca and Candice, and we went to the electronics place, and I GOT MY NEW CAMERA! It was so cute. The salesman was really helpful, and he gave me some good stuff with my camera like a case, and a card reader, and I got a 1G card with it. Then, I said I had to go to the bank to get the money, and they packed it all up for me. I thought I would go and come back, but no, he took a picture with me and my new camera...and gave me hi fives and a hug, and then he sent me off with some other guy carrying my bag up to 3 different ATM machines and up 4 floors to one that would give me the money. Then right there, I forked over the money in 10's cash! Done deal. Ha! Then a couple of bows later, and he was off...and I had my new camera! WOooooo! I love Korea for that stuff!
Then we went off to lunch of icecream...never enough icecream in Korea...or I should say...a lack of...

Then Candice and I went off to the National Gallery of Korea. WOW...that was amazing. The building took my breath away...man, Alison and Brian...I SO thought of you guys! google the national gallery of Korea (images), and you'll see what I mean. After a few hours there...and just one floor, we had about all our brains could handle. Then we went to get our stuff..and I heard someone singing. Then we went outside to discover a man singing an opera song! I just about cried it was so beautiful...well I for sure had tears anyway.

Okay, I'm going to have to finish that later..cuz i really ahveta sleep! And I cant spell or type anymore! Ha!

Later....

Seoul fun

2006-05-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

Yep, I ended up coming to Seoul for the weekend. Completely unexpected mostly. I was going to go to Gyongju (not my town of Gwangju) which is one of the best places to go in Korea for temples and history. I was really looking forward to going, and it seemed like the weekend to do it because of the long weekend (Children's Day is the holiday)...but it ended up by the time John and I hooked up to go at the Bus Terminal the only buses that left were 2 hours later..and to make the best of the weekend we decided to different places...and I came to Seoul. Yayy!

So here I am...at 2 pm on a Sat night....in a cooooool PC room that isthe coolest one I've seen yet. I've got TWO screens in front of me, and I'm addicted. Man, I love this country for technology and access to it!

I've been running around with Candice and her new boyfriend, Luca. He's nice enough...and he's been really helpful in getting around Seoul. He's lived in the States for the last 5 years, and just got back 4 months ago. So Candice and I have been in Korea for longer than he has...! Well...recently anyway.

So, I must tell you about the incident on the way here. I'm going to stay in a jimjilbang (sauna) tonight.....but when we were going around in the taxi, he stopped really close to a SUV, and I didnt see it very well...being rainy and dark and all....and I opened the door and ended up scratching his door. The guy was inside it too. Ugh..I felt so awful...and he came over, and was pretty upset, but composed..thank God. I just had this look of horror on my face, and I didnt know what to do....and he saw me, and I have to say it..thank goodness I'm not ugly...cuz it sure helps looking like damsel in distress...which I was.! How terrible is that....but funny enough..I was just watching a show of 'Joey' the other day, and the whole topic was how girls that were 'hot' could get things for free, or get away with things! Ha ha... That sounds like I'm quite conceded and arrogant, and I hate that..but its the only way to describe the situation! Ha ha!

Soooo for my bigger news...I GOT MY CAMERA!!! It's a Nikon. And I'm quite surprised about that. I really wanted the Panasonic Lumix, but there wasnt any zoom really. So the Nikon has a lot of features that I wanted. It doesnt have manual though...but I decided to sacrifice that because honestly, all the options on there will be enough to do the trick anyway. It does have an option for something similar too. It has a large screen, and tilt feature, which I realy use alot.

It's funny, the salesman got a picture together, and he gave me a hug when we were done! Hahaa! I'll have to post that as soon as I can figure out how to download it. Man, I hope I made the right decision, but I think I did for what I got. Eeesh..I gotta just make up my mind, and go for it at some point!! Geeez! But now I want to get a Polaroid, and a bigger SLR..and and and! I think I just need to be a photographer!! Haha! But this is great for what I need now. I just ahve to find out if I can fix my Canon somewhere and I'm set. Even if it's slow or not. THe Nikon is good because I can just stick it in my pocket too. AND its FAster!

Candice and I went to the Korean National Museum today too. Wow..if anything it's fantastic design! The use of marble and granite and any stone here is just breathtaking. Its' funny how much I notice this stuff, and most people dont really I find. I'm soo glad I have that insight from design school and experience. And the lighting here just blows my mind too.
And the attention to the littlest details.

Candice and I went out to an Italian restaraunt too...and had penne with eggplant and cheese. YUM. It's funny, the thing most waeguks (foreigners) miss the most is Cheese.!!! ME tooo! Even if there's some cheese here, its just different.

Whaddya do.
Well, I'd better get to bed at the JJB (jimjilbang). Talk soon!

2006-05-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

here's the latest ...a conversation with my girlfriend who lives here in Korea too. Thank God for her. It really has been nice having someone here who is going thru the same things. She got here about a little over a month before I did.

We're talkinga bout some things that we're finding in Korea. And ya the shopping mania...

Don' worry Bee happy said:ok im off to taekwondo...
Don' worry Bee happy said:talk soon!
Candice said:bye! (was cleaning house)
Don' worry Bee happy said:
Don' worry Bee happy said:bye

Tickle Monster!! says:oooh man...i just got finished stickerin up my keyboard
Tickle Monster!! says:wooo this is fun
Candice says:nice!
Candice says:how does it look?
Tickle Monster!! says:freakin korean awesome
Candice says:haahaha korean awesome
Candice says:YOU'RE KOREAN AWESOME
Tickle Monster!! says:WOW....i just saw the new Hera commercial
Tickle Monster!! says:i was peeled!
Tickle Monster!! says:haha
Tickle Monster!! says:i'll take a pic of the keyboard
Tickle Monster!! says:i am changed forever
Tickle Monster!! says:haha
Candice says:peeled?
Tickle Monster!! says:as in eyes peeled and jaw dropped on the flooor!
Candice says:ohhh haha
Candice says:ya take a pic so i can see
Candice says:(love the 'tickle monster' name btw...soo cute...so sesame street or something)
Tickle Monster!! says:tee hee
Tickle Monster!! says:its cuz that's wot im becoming at school...tickling sure helps let me tell ya
Tickle Monster!! says:i forgot how simple and fun that was!
Candice says:oh ya???hhaha
Candice says:ya it's korea..u can touch people here and not get hit with a harrassment charge
Tickle Monster!! says:http://www.extralot.com/artist_item.php?lang=2&artist=1133&referer=15
Tickle Monster!! says:tru i love it
Tickle Monster!! says:i was thinkin that the other day
Tickle Monster!! says:k check out this gilr
Tickle Monster!! says:i got a tshirt with her on it
Tickle Monster!! says:and i love her! she's so disturbing !
Tickle Monster!! says:and then look at her 'name' !
Tickle Monster!! says:
Candice says:oh dude, i totally know that artist
Candice says:japanese
Candice says:amazing stuff hey??
Tickle Monster!! says:ya
Tickle Monster!! says:i'm really gonna be getting into stuff like cartoonish stuff like that
Tickle Monster!! says:what else do u know
Candice says:ahh, not too much...i came across that artist accidentally at ubc bookstore
Candice says:i also love the artist 'my neighbour totoro'
Tickle Monster!! says:o ya?
Candice says:the artist of totoro
Candice says:oh yaaa, u gotta check it out
Tickle Monster!! says:oooh u gotta see my jacket w buttons all over it
Tickle Monster!! says:i'm button addicted and sticker addicted and....
Tickle Monster!! says:tshirt...
Candice says:oh ya?? buttons...love
Candice says:it
Tickle Monster!! says:http://www.extralot.com/description.php?lang=2&item=32950 oh man...look wat this says
Tickle Monster!! says:im hooked! that's ME!
Tickle Monster!! says:even my name means 'wanderer' !
Candice says:ya sooo cute hey?
Candice says:love it
Tickle Monster!! says:disturbing..and cute
Tickle Monster!! says:strangie
Candice says:REALLY?? you are that i think...so cute
Tickle Monster!! says:awwww shucks
Tickle Monster!! says:haha
Candice says:kind of free spirit...you
Candice says:wanderer
Candice says:it's true maybe
Candice says:artistic...creative...yep, that's you!! you're a lil sleepwalking girl with sheep ears!
Tickle Monster!! says:hahahaa
Tickle Monster!! says:now i want the tshirt that has a giraffe on it and it says 'deep throat' !
Tickle Monster!! says:
Candice says:hahahahaha NO WAY
Candice says:so rad
Tickle Monster!! says:yah...dunno if its stil there but i'm going to find out soon
Candice says:maybe you told me...i think i told you about that shirt that says "i love my weiner" (at the bottom of shirt is a weiner dog)
Tickle Monster!! says:u know how korea is for see it get it or its gone
Candice says:sooo good
Tickle Monster!! says:on NO
Tickle Monster!! says:that's freakin AWESOME!
Candice says:YA
Tickle Monster!! says:i dont wanna leave korea for the cool tshirts!
Candice says:i'm kicking myself for not buying
Tickle Monster!! says:konglish
Tickle Monster!! says:ya...im gona be doign that for the deep shirt too
Tickle Monster!! says:and the one that says 'i girls on it
Tickle Monster!! says:hahahah
Tickle Monster!! says:im glad i got the boyfriend one tho
Tickle Monster!! says:tee hee
Candice says:haha i love girls..awesome
Tickle Monster!! says:oh and not just 'i love girls' but also 'cute girls'
Tickle Monster!! says:haha
Candice says:hahaah
Candice says:NICE
Candice says:ya...i'm actually keeping a lil notebook and writing down funny sayings on shirts when i see them
Tickle Monster!! says:ohh that's an awesome idea!!
Tickle Monster!! says:so hows it lookin fer the weekend?
Tickle Monster!! says:i think im gonna do kyonggju
Candice says:damn...and i can't
Tickle Monster!! says:i need to go somewhere
Candice says:ya...good for you
Tickle Monster!! says:or i could go to seoul..
Candice says:i will go to kyeongju another time...with you i hope
Tickle Monster!! says:ya
Candice says:it's supposed to be amazing

Yah...I gotta go to a concert VERY sooon. And we'l see what happens this weekend. I'm soooo glad I'm feeling wayyyy better this week. Feelin back to myself...but im realy getting annoyed at my rib. I went to taekwondo on Monday, but it felt pretty sore after...well not too much..but just enuff that i didnt go tonight. Grrr.... I wanna GO but I'd better be careful!

I love how the weather changes here. One day its not sure what's going on..and the next...BANG...it really is spring and Warm too! It was 20 celcius the other dya, and it feels like summer to me. Humid too, but I think I dont mind it. We'll see what happens. The yello dust is still here tho. At least my cough is a bit better. Or maybe I'm just getting used to it.

I spent a lonnng time in the PC bang the other day (4 hours!!!) and i found some really cool websites ---like the one where i got that heart post it below. How cool is that?

Anyway...talk to ya next time.

hmmm...lemme try this...dunno if it will work like this

2006-05-03T02:35:00.000-07:00

Doctor Visit

2006-04-26T01:45:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday I went to visit the doctor. About my rib really hurting and I thought it could possibly be broken or at least cracked. Thank God it isn't, but he ended up saying that he would give me a shot to help the muscle. And so that's what he did. But the freaky thing is that he gave me THREE shots UNDER the ribs, and in to the NERVES in my muscle! Okay, I was a bit freaked out, but man, it sure helped and worked!!
I just had blood work done too just before that, and that's no problem, but I was so nervous because when I was younger, I did a lot of reading in medical books and about midwifery. And there I learned about epidurals and how crazy and potentially dangerous they can be! A needle going RIGHT into your spinal cord and if it hits the wrong muscle...just a smidgen, you could be impaired for life. So guess what's going thru my mind when he's doign that. And needles going into the trunk of yer body is a bit freaky if u ask me. He said after when I mendtioned why I was nervous, was because of this, and he said...oH! I give about 12 epidurals every day! Well that made me feel better...after!
His office was beautiful...and the caption in the waiting room was "We care, God cures" Wow. You wouldnt see that in Canada, unless it was a very religous space, and not generally. I liked it actually.
I wish I got pictures of it. It was designed quite well. The place is actually a clinic, but when you go into the treatment room, there were beds all along the walls, and the emergency room curtains around them, open or closed, and a bunch of people there being treated. Interesting.
The finishes were nice, and it felt intimate and peaceful. I got an xray done of my ribs..,and got ushered around to different places. I saw the doctor about 4 or 5 times in general. The funny thing was talking to him at first, and we got talking about the design, and then he said...I guess you didnt come here to talk about design, and so I guess I'd better treat you! IT was quite nice. I didnt feel that I was being rushed, and I felt like I was being listened to. And it was personable. And in English! yay.
So now I'm taking some muscle relaxants for a few days. And I cant go to Taekwondo this week :( Oh well, I think i need a bit of a relaxing week.
It was relaxing yesterday, nice and warm and sunny...no coat kind of spring day. I got to work and the kids were gone on a picnic, so I didnt have to do anythign till 2! That was quite nice. I went and got some cheeze toast and a smoothie all for $2 or 2000 won. Sweet lunch! And quite good. And of course, cheap!
So today, I'm still feeling fine, I cant feel my rib issue so much, but if this cough keeps up, I'll be going back. He's doing blood work for antibodies to the vaccines I got in Canada and need to update. So we'll see. I just want to get them DONE! So 70,000 won later...this is with no medical insurance...and considering that's quite a fine price... in canada I dont even want to know how much that would be.
Well, that's it for now. I'll have to write about my weekend in Gukseong...but pictures do most of that. Just ask, and you'll get em, or email me. bendycha@hotmail.com Righto...catch ya later!

Yello Storm Today

2006-04-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a crazy crazy day. I think I just explained about the storm earlier....so I won't repeat. My lungs are goin nuts. And this cough is really getting to me. It now feels like I've got booted in the ribs..or I've broken one or something.
Not sure if that was due to the Jungle Gym class of Taekwondo tonight or not. It was so much fun....and I highly recommend taking an exercise class with kids. They laugh things off and respect u for the silly things u do...or how silly u look. And that takes a certain amount of 'laff it off' yourself. And once u have that, yer fine.
So I'm drinking a bottle of Italian mineral water that cost me the equivalent of 1$. Ha! It's called Acqua Panna. I think i've seen it in canada...but not quite sure. "from the hills of Tuscany" Yep. The luxury!
Anyway...I'm not fallin apart..I'm just lettin u know what it's like.
Anyway...my mind is blank right now.
Oh, the other thing...I've been starting to think about what it would be like to be back in Canada. Strangie (I say 'strange + ie' because that's how the Koreans say it...and it's starting to stick cuz its funny) Yep, THAT"s where I'll be having the culture shock. I have only really felt it briefly that I know of here. I just love cultures and languages so much that I"m a natural! What can I say?! ha ha. Ya right.
Okay, gotta play with other puter stuff now. I really do love puters, and I really do spend wayy too much time on here. But it's cheap and time consuming, and brain consuming too. I've just found out about the world of plug ins for MSN. LOVEIN it.
And thanks to my ol faithful friend in Aussie-land....I'm gonna have a new funky avatar on here hopefully.
Anyhoo....the highlight of my day....listening to a certain hot Oud player online. Yep....that was memorable. ;)
Later!

Yello Dust Info

2006-04-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

Hey u all,
For all the inquiries of the yellow dust issues I've been having...as in coughing and a bit of a raw throat from coughing..here's some good info about what's happening and why.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_dust
Yep, there u go.
Today at noon got really quite dark. It felt like it was twilight or something. The strange thing is that it was just like a dark storm. And it rained and I heard thunder! Oh man I LOV thunder! But the air is dark and eery feeling, and looks yellowish.
I gotta run...to class....
Later

Coughin

2006-04-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,
Well, what to write about first. I officially got my blue belt in Taekwondo! Yeayy. I'm so glad I've been doing that. I learned a few new moves, just like i do every night. Yay.
There's this kid there that has taken a liking to me...oh I think I already wrote about that. Anyway, he got me to count to 100 in Korean. Pure Korean numbers that is. Hana, dul, net, set, dasot, yasot, ilgop, yodol, ahop, yol, yolhana, yoldul, .... yep...u get the point.
I'm so proud of myself cuz I bought somethin in complete Korean the other day. I havent quite arrived at full sentences..but it did the trick. Even when the guy answered me in some English, I kept at Korean. Trade ya!
Um, what else. Oh, yesterday I was told my Mr. Shim-my boss, that we were goign on a field trip today. So we went today to Family Land...a theme park. IT was pretty fun actually. Poor John was sooo sick. It was the first time I've been on such a thing with so many kids. My official job was to be the school 'mascot' or something. And then parading around with at least 200 kids is an interesting experience. Herding them on to rides and stuff.
Man, Koreans are complete posers. I must say I love it. You dont have to worry about taking pictures and offending peole....well, with consideration anyway. And yes, everyone still wears 3 inch heels to the park! I must say I like that too. I just dont know how these girls all do it...but they ALL do!
Man, I cant think anymore. And this cough is hurting. I think I might get some good stomach muscles after all with this!

Cherry blossom weekend

2006-04-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
Here goes an attempt at another entry. Its actually excerpts from a conversation with my 'brother', Michael
It saves me time and energy typing twice!
By the way- I'm 'juseyo' which means please in Korean in short....

oh man...i just got these stickers for your keyboard im going sticker nuts how embarrassing!juseyo 님의 말:i had the best most amazing tea experience yesterday
MichaelTell me about the tea
juseyo the tea ..well let me send u pics first
juseyo :nah..i'lll tell ya about it..too many pictures
juseyo 님의 말:well i went with candice to a very small town about 1.5 hrs away from Gwangju juseyo 님의 말:there's a cherry blossom festival there..and also it's 'famous' in korea for one of itls oldest markets there
juseyo 님의 말:complete with rice straw roof and stuff
juseyo 님의 말:so we were trying to find our friends juseyo 님의 말:and went into the little town and walked along a street with complete cherry blossom trees on either side...wow....on the way to hopefully see a big temple
juseyo 님의 말:but i saw this really cool lookng shop across the street
juseyo 님의 말:and first off..the door was enough to make me happy
juseyo 님의 말:but then we wen tin and there were all this amazing pottery
juseyo 님의 말:(pls dont mind my terrible english)
juseyo 님의 말:and as we were looking around, the lady owner of the shop invited us to sit down juseyo 님의 말:on stumps...literally around a table in the middle for tea
juseyo 님의 말:so we did, and i FINALLY got to witness the proper pouring and serving of green tea
juseyo 님의 말:the ceremony idea
juseyo 님의 말:there's a tea pot for steeping
juseyo 님의 말:a bown that you pour the steeped tea into juseyo 님의 말:bowl juseyo 님의 말:and you pour hot water into the bowl first ..swish it around
juseyo 님의 말:and then pour in a circular motion around the cups that you are going to drink out of
juseyo 님의 말:in 2 steps in that way
juseyo 님의 말:and then she got more hot water from the ..what do u call a 'tank' with hot water already in it...a boiler i guess
Michael 님의 말:I've heard all about the Japanese tea ritual, this sounds very similar
juseyo 님의 말:and then poured water through the strainer which was a wood strainer in the shape of a flower
juseyo 님의 말:(you'll notice it)
juseyo 님의 말:and then poured the tea through that
juseyo 님의 말:and into the bowl juseyo 님의 말:and then poured it into our cups
juseyo 님의 말:it was the most amazing green tea i've EVER tasted
juseyo 님의 말:even in Korea juseyo 님의 말:i was so excited juseyo 님의 말:and we bought some AMAZING insence
juseyo 님의 말:oops
juseyo 님의 말:and holders
juseyo 님의 말:and she ended up giving us a whole bag of tea each that cost 10 ea
juseyo 님의 말:which is really expensive here
juseyo 님의 말:well not really reallly..but on its way there
juseyo 님의 말:whew!
Michael 님의 말:That sounds like something amazing
Michael 님의 말:I'd love to experience that, I have a great appreciation for tea and ritual
juseyo 님의 말:me too
juseyo 님의 말:it was the perfect experience...in a way out small town of korea
juseyo 님의 말:i was jumping around i was so excited
Michael 님의 말:How is work, how is your health?
juseyo 님의 말:work is fine
juseyo 님의 말:health is fine considering im hacking up yello dust
juseyo 님의 말:from my lungs
juseyo 님의 말:my back just got really sore from my self afflictions of worry fits that i am constantly giving myself
juseyo 님의 말:other than that
juseyo 님의 말:im good
Michael 님의 말:Yellow dust does not sound good
juseyo 님의 말:its just wot happens here and everyone gets it
Michael 님의 말:What are you worried about, my sister?
juseyo 님의 말:o just ..im not sure wot they want me to do at school with a class..and it seems that they just leave u to try and teach these 4 yr olds for an hour with no idea of what they want to teach
juseyo 님의 말:most of it is my job to teach them English and part of that is to come up with my own material..but not really
juseyo 님의 말:i wish they had a curriculum that i could follow that worked
juseyo 님의 말:and i somewhat have that there..but it sucks
juseyo 님의 말:and when i give them these color sheets to learn the colors and shapes....and they color them ..and write their name on them...the parents dont like it cuz they think they're jsut coloring
juseyo 님의 말:and they're not...its a way to record, and to keep them controlled, and a method to teach them!
juseyo 님의 말:and the korean teachers know this..and try to deal with the parents abou thtis...or so they say
juseyo 님의 말:but im not sure what to do
juseyo 님의 말:but try to get differnt stuff
juseyo 님의 말:..so what can u do but the best u can
Michael 님의 말:This sounds like a bit of a precariious postition
juseyo 님의 말:it is...
juseyo 님의 말:and i dont know how to make everyone happy
juseyo 님의 말:so i think i might just go to the director and talk to him about it
님의 말:I had better go to sleep.
juseyo 님의 말:ok
Michael 님의 말:Take care
juseyo 님의 말:thanx for listening..or at least letting me blab
juseyo 님의 말:gnite

so there it is...
The weekend was lovely though, although it went a bit too fast. I wish i felt more relaxed. But we went out to see a cherry blossom festival. We wanted to see a temple, but it was too far, and our time was running out.
Candice came down from Seoul, and that was really nice to hang out with her.
We went out to a town called Gurye, and then to another I cant remember the name right now. IT was a little tiny village and it was really beautiful. There was this hideously lit, but beautiful in its own way, bridge crossing the river. Yes, of course I have pictures!
There was a beautiful road lined with cherry blossoming trees on both sides that ran along the river, and it was sooo crowded. There is also one of the oldest open traditional markets there. Yep. I got my pic taken with this cool Korean biker. We didnt even realize it till we saw him going by with his girl on the back! Hilarious! He was all decked out too... and with his friend in Army uniform and those aviator glasses. yep..they were pretty hip.

Blasting Korean music and ajumas (grandmas) dancing around was entertaining too. Then there were suggestive wood carvings mounted on tables along with a drink of some sort that I'm sure was believed to make you more ...ahem...verile!

So we had dinner, and looked around, and then it was time to go back. WE had to get a taxi. I cant believe it. We got a taxi to go for a 10 min drive.! As if ! If we did that in Canada that woudl be a small fortune. It was 17,000 won or 17 dollars! Craziness! I love Korea for that!
LOVE it!
Then we just missed the next bus into Gwangju, so we went and hung out, and then went to find a jimjilbang. Gotta love Korea for that too. 6 bucks and you've got a place to lay yer head. and a shower and the rest in the morning.
It was the most crowded jimjilbang I"ve seen or been in...for sleeping especially. Imagine being in a large room with people everywhere they could find room on the floor, and almost all of them snoring. IT was kindof soothing in a strange way! We all were sleeping on the stone floor...which doesnt turn out to be so bad after all....if you have a pillow, which i didnt for the first half of the night. Hmmmm. Maybe that's why my back isnt so good after all tonight.
Anyway, we got back, and then Candice had to go back to Suwon, and I went home and did my thing.
Here we go for another school week. I better get to bed soon.
:D

Descriptions

2006-04-05T05:27:00.000-07:00

Just came back from Taekwondo and the master said that next week I'll have my blue belt! Woohooooo! Yayyy! I'm so happy! I was sooo tired tonight...and i didnt even want to go...but it paid off after all.

One older guy there and I keep getting paired up ...either in stretches or he teaches me poomse or the technique sequences that are crucial to Taekwondo and advancing. Poor guy...he's maybe 15-18 years old..and he gets so embarrassed. It's quite cute actually. His name is something like Eun which means Silver in English! How cool is that?

There's a boy there that has taken a liking to me, if not a crush (I must add that he's about 10 yrs old) and he is keen on teaching me Korean. It's really cute. He's really quite good at English, and he's teaching me Korean...complete with drills! And then he makes funny faces at me.

Man, I've discoverd that my memory sucks for when you are told a word and expected to remember it somehow! Grrr. Koreans seem to think at times that you can learn it by being told once...I wish! But then I have to teach them English, and that takes repitition...HELLO! Even the teachers at school do that. They've at times said..."dont you remember?" Um ...hi...do you teach a language? Yes you do...and HOW many times do you have to repeat? Man, that felt good to say!
But then I still love them. What can u do.

I'm getting the requests to go to Play Bank (the jungle gym downstairs) or starting to get the 'can we go outside' for class. Then if I say I'm not allowed...which apparently I'm not...then they all start saying in korean thinking I cant understand them that other teachers have let them and they were cooler and I'm hard on them. Well sorry kids. I'd love to...but I'd rather keep my job. We'll see what buttons I can hopefully push to get them out once in a while! What ever happened to field trips n stuff? Hmmmm... Okay...so I want to be the cool teacher. Ha ha. I try anyway. Some things are just not comparable though.

So I was just reading in the Gwangju News (in English for foreigners) about the Yellow Dust season or 'Hwangsa' as it is called in Korean. I am noticing a difference in the back of my throat and having to blow my nose as usual. Sorry..but that's a fact of life. Mucus and all. Eeegh, I hate that word! Here's an excerpt from the magazine...
"...the annuall phenomenon "hwangsa", or yellow dust, is made up of clouds of dust brought from China and Mongolia's Taklamakan desert, the Gobi desert and the huanghe river basin. Carried by strong winds in the spring, the dust affects China, Korea, japan and Southeast Asia. Since desertivication is the main cause, yellow dust doesn't occur in the winter because the ground is frozen; in the summer, rooted plants prevent the dust from being spread."
Cool, huh? I keep looking for yellow hues to the sky and air, but I havent really seen anything to note. Apparently you can see it in Seoul. I' wanna go up and see it! I'm so glad I live in Gwangju. Less pollution and stuff like that to deal with.

Oh, and I'm reading an article about getting eye glasses here in Asia. Yep, dirt cheap! You can get frames ranging from W10,000 to W200,000 (won) for designer frames. Most are priced around W10,000 to W75,000 but you ca get a discount on almost any of them in the W50,000 range. (for price conversion just add or knock off some zeros for Canadian vs Korean prices- 10,000 won is $10 Canadian approximately). The article says you can get the whole thing for $23-$50. Yep...cuz I did. I didnt realize that I was getting the whole treatment till they told me to sit at the eye station, and they checked my eyes. Thanx! I needed to do that anyway! And then you can get them fixed for free if u need to. Nice!

Sometimes i feel guilty for how inexpensive some things are ...realizing the labour that went into it...but that's how it is here. Strange but true. The thing is that you tip in other ways. And also I realize that people give more of other things...and I hope I do the same for them in return.

Okay, I'm gonna publish this for now. If anything to make sure that I dont lose all this writing work!
Gnite if I dont get back on here again.

part 2

2006-04-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

yep ppl are walkin around an dsocializing here at 2 am on a sunday night. dunno. lol
anyway the saunas have stones and things in them. one has pink quartz, and another one has clay balls. it's housed inbetween logs

Night at a Jim-jil-bang

2006-04-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Yep...I'm here at Migliore's Jim-jil-bang. Migliore is the equivalent to Sears in Canada....and they happen to have jimjilbangs/saunas upstairs...just like most things in Korea...just go up the stairs and u never know what you'll find. A lot of theatres are on the top floor of these dept stores too.
This jimjilbang is just great. I think its' the best one i've been to so far. And I say again...what on earth am i gonna DO when i get back to Canada with no jimjilbangs? :O Sauna it up 'normal' style I guess like the rest of them. I'm on a puter here and its timed...so hopefullly it wont quit on me.
The best part about this placeis that they have mini nori-bangs or karaoke huts! pay 50 cents and sing a song w yer friend!

Laughing at lessons

2006-03-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

Well today went pretty good, I must say. I was praying hard that I woulndt stress out so much...and voila! It sure worked! Thank God. I was actually relaxing and having fun...
And then I went to taekwondo ...late again cuz working later makes it hard to get ther eon time. But it's ok cuz other kids do that too..so I dont feel so bad. Really, all I missed was the warmup. So then we do some drills, and all of a sudden the instructor or Kuk Sa Nim, (Pak Am-Oo is his name) starts completely cracking up laughing to himself..and I have no idea why. I think he might be laughing at me though....I wouldnt be surprised. i guess i looked quite funny trying to get back on the 'ball' at doing a crossover face block arm move called olgul-makki, and I was fumbling a bit, and it must have been hilarious... I've never seen him like that!
I love how Koreans will just laugh at you...and it's ok. Its honest and funny and critisizing and caring all at the same time. I felt completely embarrassed but that's just Korean...and that's part of it. And I was laughing as much as he was almost. At myself...if I was indeed the one he was laughing at. What made it funniest is that he has a silent strict manner...and I'm not sure what was funnier-him laughing or me not sure who or what he was laughing at. I cant even describe it enough. He was laughing for a full minute or two while we all stood there in our 'pose' and tried not to laugh ...which made it funnier as he covered his face. It was priceless!

Anyway, on the weekend I went on a tour to a famous place in Korea. It was a bus ride 2 hours away. It's two mountains that are joined together, and we hiked between them. At the base of the mountain was a small lake that had pedal boats in it! The best part was they were shaped like swans or ducks I think. Woohooo! I wanted to do it..but it wasnt in the agenda.

SO we went to the base of the mountain, and there in the crevice was what they called 'pagodas' which were stones piled up with no mortar or anything keeping them together. There were about 80 of them but two of them were the most impressive. Apparently they have been there for 100 years or so. Amazing when u think of that.

There were Bhudda statues and small caves with incense and water in or around them. People were bowing and praying or paying their respects or just beign tourists. There were the regular temples there too. Several small ones. Then I heard a beautiful sound of a drum. Stopped me in my tracks actually. As I got closer I discovered that everyone was taking a turn at drumming. I was told that it is the largest drum in Korea. Hmmmm. Later when most ppl had tried, I went back and played on a it a bit. I got into trouble though because I wanted to make a big long sound, and not just 3 bangs on it. So I did it and the rumbling sound was amazing coming from this huge drum. But ya, I got into trouble for it...and the old man 'guarding' it said only 3 in Korean...so I went back and finished the deed. Man, that was fun.

Then we climbed up to the top of the join of the mountains...and did a tour guide blurb of the stories or myths of the mountain. Why does there always have to be a story...why can't it just be that there are just simply two mountains with an odd shape and are taller than the rest and are unusual. I'd like that. But then again, stories are interesting...and charming.
There was a cave a short climb up...and I'm so glad I did that. It was a sight to see.

Then down the other side to a restaraunt for gooood bibimbap. I know one thing for sure....I'll be visiting Korean restaraunts for bibimbap in Canada. I think I'll miss it! And even plain ol rice and kimchi! And hunks of seaweed in soup. Yum. And dried up pieces of seaweed lightly toasted with sesame seeds. YUMMMY.

Then I got some souveniers...and hopped on the bus for the next item on the list. Dying fabric or making ddeok-rice cake. I chose fabric of course...and we were given a white silk handkerchief to tie up and dip into first a yellow dye made from onion peel, and perhaps a dried fruit that was yellow. Of course it HAS to be yellow! We're in Asia! I'm really growing to really love and understand yellow a lot more. The very earth is yellow here...and the most beautiful color of it too.
Then the next color option after the first fixative of a bitter salt like substance was a dark brownish green that was made from iron dissolved in water. So dippidy dooo...and there u go. Dip it in 3 more solutions and presto! Dry and iron it up and you've got yourself a naturally dyed handkerchief. It was a bit fast, and I wish I could find out more about how to get the materials and where..but the lady only spoke Korean, and the interpreting people werent able to interpret fast enough I guess. Whatever..it was worth it.
The building itself was beautiful too. The walls were made from yello earth I think, and the window frames were painted an aqua blue. Stunning.

Then we came back and went out for a big Shabu-shabu which is a hot pot that u cook greens and various mushrooms and red pepper in a pot, then you get plates of very thinly sliced beef, or whatever, and dump it in and let it all cook up...and it's really quite delicious. I tried a small piece of the beef...just to experience it..and it was some of the best tasting meat I've ever tried. Yep..you heard me. But I'd still prefer to be veggie. Sorry..cant' help it. But I feel that I want to try whenever my brain will let me. Ha. I did try escargot after all! DID I REALLY DO THAT?!! Well to me that 's part of experiencing cultures...but man...did I really do that?!!

On Sunday night I went out to see Pride and Predjudice. Ya ya agirly movie so they call it. BUt it was good. And I was crying by the end of it. I cant believe it but I was. I NEVER cry at movies. ...except Dancer in the Dark. WOWzers..that one got me bad.

The weekend was great, but it was hard just because everyone's boyfriend or girlfriend has come to visit, and I miss mine! Darnit! But these things happen for a reason...but it's HARD!

Well, I gotta sleep. I cant seem to get to sleep until at least 1 am , and it's 1 30 am right now. I'm too wired. I gotta stop that somehow. It would really help my stress level I'm sure. I'm just glued to this puter! What can I say, I'm a junkie.
Okay, whaddya know...I've written another post in my blog! it's about time! Spelling mistakes and lazy English and all. I really do teach English properly u know! Ha!
Miss you all...

Yello Dust Season

2006-03-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

Land of Yellow Dust in my throat. I was wondering why my throat was so dry. It feels that I just cant get enough water in there or something. I forgot that it's Yello dust season. I want to go to Seoul to see it, because apparently you can see a bit of yello in the air. Interesting. In case you dont really know what or why, it's yellow dust that blows down from China every year at this time of the year. I dont know too much more about it, but that's about it. Apparently you have to beware of your eyes that you dont get dust in them. I dont quite understand how that works either, but I've been observing, and no one wears swim goggles or anything...and I havent felt that I've needed to. So there.

Well tonight i took the night off per se, and I went to SangMu (a neighbourhood of Gwangju close to my place), and I was going to see a movie. It ended up that they were starting at times later...so I went and walked around. I had been there before, and saw this building in the distance, and had wondered what it was. So I just started to walk in that direction. The top of the building was lit in blue, and in a curved shape...so that's enough to pique anyone's interest. there was a large section of the road that was divided by a roundabout at the end, and 4 lane 'highway' on both sides. in the middle is paved with 4" tiles, and then there are patterns recessed in the pathway. Squares of grass, and 'elevators' in different shapes. The landscaping is ecquisite. The recesses are waterways, and there are stepping stones and little bridges. It ends up in the middle of a 'sundial' where the waterway stream runs into.

Then you look up, and there across the street is the building. WOW. It's the modern architectural prize of Gwang-ju that's for sure. I didnt quite understand it until I came closer. Wooo! I can only explain it more with the the pictures I took.
Regardless, I felt a return to me again. The spirit of adventure and exploration. I'm soo glad i didnt go to the movie!

K i gotta sleep now. :D

sleepy time

2006-03-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

So I went to Taekwondo tonight. I was a bit late cuz I only had half an hour between getting home and cooking dinner and getting there. I really didnt feel like going, honestly, but I'm glad I did because I got some energy out. It's interesting and nice how when Koreans ask sincerely how you are doing they dont ask that exactly, but they ask- have you eaten? I thought at first that they were going to ask me to come and eat with them everytime at first, but now I finally clued in! Man, we did another 'street fighter' move tonight. Woohooo! I'm so glad I'm at least doing this...if not really moving up the ladder fast, I'm at least there and showing up.

I'm so tired right now. I actually cleaned up my place. Having a loveseat is a bad thing for me, cuz everything tend to pile up on it. The benefit of having such a small place is that it gets messy FAST, and you have to keep on top of it more. Darnit.

Okay, I'm too tired to write...will do more next time. There's a few things I gotta say before I forget them soon!

The first picture is Maria and Kevin. The second John, my coworker and his friend Stephie from Germany visiting. The last is Joey stricking a pose! Kinda scary!

Pissy Korea Day

2006-03-19T23:55:00.000-08:00

Yah, I'm having a pissy day today. I love these kids, but sometimes my voice is just hoarse from trying to get their attention. Particularily in this one class I just had. Grrr... So I'm writing this to get my frustrations out. Poor kids..I was pretty much swearing in the last one at them. But it certainly did get their attention...for nomore than 2 minutes! There's this one girl Sally that is just a tomboy, and she has a really loud voice. You can't control when they talk that's for sure...and the thing is there are 5 other boys in the class, and she gets them all going. And one new boy, Robin, is pretty smart and is keeping her in check all the time, cuz he will recognize when she's doing something bad, and he will call her on it! It's hilarious actually.
Oh man, my voice is gone! I really try to not raise my voice as much as possible, but there are times you really have to. Or I just havent found a way not to yet. Keeping their interest is important...and I stress out about creating that interest enough for them. Gotta love Bingo for that. Yep.
Gotta run.
I gotta post pics of St. Pattys Day soon.

2006-03-09T04:56:00.000-08:00

Oh...I wanted to add this in...its worth noting! Freaky stuff.

I had a tiring day today. working longer hours. I had a kid totally freak me out today. He hit another girl, and I didnt see it happen. The other girl was just sitting there and grinning after, and I dont know what was happening...I think she was rubbing the issue in that made it happen. It was his fault for hitting her though. But at one point after trying to ignore him (so i wouldnt let him get away with spazzing) I saw that he was just furious...he was breathgin really really heavy, and he had a demonic look in his eyes, and when I saw it I really got scared. It's somethign u had to see I guess. I don think i've ever seen a kid so mad...or anyone for that matter. It was like he coiled up and then he slammed the desk so hard it scared me. Then he did it a few more times. I was with him and tried to get him or someone to tell me what was so wrong. But of course in a situation like that its beyond interpretation and words. Then he got so mad he got up and tried to crawl out the window. It looked like he wanted to jump or something and we are on the 3rd floor. Scary! So the class was almost over anyway, and I packed him up and took him to a Korean teacher where she sorted it out. IT turned out that he was in the wrong (the other girl was there too). But man, I was shaking. Freaky stuff.
Anyway, I gotta go and get me some sleep. I'm glad today was over!

2006-03-09T04:30:00.000-08:00

My latest hair style. And my Christian Dior earrings! Tee hee! I love this country!

2006-03-09T04:28:00.000-08:00

This is what u do at the jimjilbang. The marble floor is heated of course, and those are the sauna 'huts' where the temperature is mounted outside digitally. See that? Love the doors. Stones are 'inlaid' on the exterior and interior. I'm addicted. You can also sleep here overnight. It's great for 5-8 bucks!

Back to School! in March!

2006-03-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

Yep, school starts in March here. School ends at the end of February, and then March 1 is Korean Independance Day (one of two, I believe), and then the next day its' back to school! Ha!
These poor kids. They work so hard. They're really in school from 6 am till 10 pm. Tonight there was a kid falling asleep in my class, and its not the first time. That's not from me...c'mon...it's from them workin long hours. I see kids out on the street at midnight a lot of times too. Usually they're out playing around by then like kids should be. But I suppose they get somewhere in life a bit better if they're more educated, and the discipline of that makes a difference.
I was talking with John the other day about that and we were saying how we feel intimidated by them in terms of how much they have to study and do study. There's a reason why Asian people seem to generally be smart, or intelligent. Because they study so hard! That's a generalization, but the general manner in which they do their work an dlive their lives is pretty diciplined it seems. But the thing about it is that they dont seem to be working all that hard. They just seem to be relaxing at the same time, like in the little stores everywhere, there's TV and they're watching it. Or in a restaraunt, they're sitting there eating or socializing. I dont know quite how that works, but the thing is that they're ALWAYS there. Stores are open til 10 every night, and who knows how long restaraunts are open.
And here all of us Westerners only work from 8 to 5. And then we go and hang out, drink beers, play sports, and stuff like that. BUT, the comparison could be the same because even if we're drinking away, or socializign then, we are still being schooled in life. So dunno, how do you argue that.
Annnyyyyway!
I keep sittingdown towrite, and I just havent had much energy for it. My schedule is a bit more draining this month. New school year, new students, (the number has doubled now for the new school year here at Kids Club), new everything.
My schedule is from either 10 or 11 am to 7 pm. Yah, I'm complaing a little cuz it's a few hours more than I've been working, but I shouldnt complain becuase after comparing notes to the other English teachers here, I've got a really really great schedule. Some teachers are working starting 6 am, and finish at 10 pm. Usually a few hours break between, but still. So I'm really thankful about that.
What else....um....not much else except I really gotta crank down and not spend money on little things. They sure add up.
Oh, and in school for the last few weeks I've been having all these stupid paranoid thoughts in my brain about my performance. Iv'e realized all the stupid stuff that goes on in my brain and how it relates to my performance, and my attitude about myself. It's really pathetic, actually. I just have realized how I think myself down so much that it really starts to happen. UGh....sssstupid! So this is a major thing that I've been learning that all my worry mostly is in my own head. I suppose it's because even though people are all around me, the language difference helps to isolate thoughts or feelings, or makes you wonder why you are feelign a certain way, and what is the cause and effect, and what part of it is cultural, and what part is yourself and your culture, and realizign those differences. It's really fascinating I'm sure to study...and quite another thing to be in that situation, and to deal with it.

What else...dunno cant think of anything at the moment. Except that its interesting how life just goes on. There's all the excitement and new experiences of moving to a new country, and then life happens again, and you have to learn to deal with it from another perspective, and I'm sooooo glad I've finally had the opportunity to experience this! Woohoo! And now I dont think I want to stop! I wish I could travel around and go somewhere different every 3 months. That would be perrrfect. You could live there for a little bit, enough to find out the gist of the place, and the goodies, and then try out the next place. I wonder what kind of job that I could get like that. Hmmmmm. A job that pays a lot of money I suppose.

K, signing out for now. Oh, it's starting to warm up and its feelin like spring. YAYYyyy! I must say I have absolutely LOVED the weather here in the winter...cold or not..it's DRY and sunny usually. LOVe it!

Ciao or Annyongkyseyoo

Weekends-man there's gotta be a better title than that!

2006-02-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

Seems like I live for weekends, but what's funny is that when I'm done on Friday, I'm not sure what to do with myself! Well, not for long...there's always 'eye shopping' to do! oh yes. too much. All the little things you can manage to do. I try to stay at home enough so I dont spend too much. I have to save after all! I came here for that reason... They have such pretty stuff here that is so cheap! Thank goodness the shoes dont fit me!
And most of the clothes, but actually after losing all this weight, I think I could fit into stuff! Scary thought. I actually found a pair of pants that fit me the other day! Woohoo!

Anyhoo...

Strange and wonderful country

2006-02-22T21:52:00.000-08:00

Well yes, this is a strange country sometimes. I'm trying to remember all my observations, but I always seem to forget them when I sit down to write. Hmmm... One rightnow is that they serve sponge cake and whipped cream and cherry tomatoes together! Interesting. The taxis can go ahead of the cars at a light, and go right around to the front if they're not too far behind...gotta love that. The kids get a birthday cake and the teachers eat it. Yep..that happens...poor kids. Maybe that's a good idea tho. Not so much sugar high. Ha ha.
I went to E-mart last night to get some groceries. It's like a superstore but a huge 5 floor one. one floor for groceries, another for clothes, another for household stuff, and others for services...etc. Quite a good idea, actually. Stores usually have only one of an item...department stores or not. What you see on the rack is what u get, so everything looks like a mishmash of stuff, but somehow it works. There are individual stores on the one department floor, so any section you go to is a different subsection store. The thing I like is how special you feel. Everyone is expected to tag along with you while you are browsing or shopping. At first it was a bit uncomfortable and annoying..but u get used to it. The key words are 'eye shopping'.
The special feeling is from all the attendees bowing to you if you pass by or give any sort of attention their way. It feels like a red carpet sometimes. And very polite with a twist of class to it...even if it's normal here. I wonder what I'll do when i get back to Canada and start bowing to everyone!! Just habit now.
Gotta run to class now.
Later...

Reverse Banana = Yello Belt!!

2006-02-20T04:25:00.000-08:00

Yayyyy! I got my yellow belt tonight! And I didnt sit out as much! I'm so excited! Accomplishment! Never thought or imagined really doing this. Love it.
Last weekend I went to Seoul and Suwon (a city close to Seoul) where my friend Candice lives. It was her birthday on Sunday...she hit the 30 mark! We went and danced and she teased the Korean boys by giving them a note from the 'Canadian girls'! It was so much fun! It's just fun to see their reaction cuz they're so shy! Good thing they're not my type tho..!! Even if they do dress amazingly. Darnit!
So I'm watching the Olympics in Korean...kindof interesting.
Back to Seoul. I went up on Friday night....got there at 9:30 on the bus. I was planning on going right to Suwon to Candice's but I was too tired, and decided to stay in a jimjilbang (sauna). Man I love Korea for that. So about 8 dollars and you have a luxurious feeling shower and sauna and hot tub which I believe has herbs in it (?), and a place to sleep. Then a shower in the morning, and everything you need to get ready for the day...and feel relaxed. LOVE it. What am I gonna do when I get back to Canada??? I guess i'm going to have to build one myself!
This one had a nice sleeping loft. The ceiling wasnt very high though. Maybe 5' high. But that wasnt a problem, really.
So then I went by an art shop...oh man....keep me out of there! They have great ceramic sculptures you can paint or do whatever with. Man, would I LOVE to get a Venus or bust of Beethoven or something sometime.
Then I got myself on the subway (which is a feat in itself- they can be quite complicated or simple too- but it takes a lot more energy than you realize until you do it) and headed towntown Seoul. I went to see where this bookstore was, and found a gem of a place. I really like how Seoul is laid out downtown. Once you start to understand where everything is..not that I have mastered that by any means!
Then after I went and saw the Samsung Tower in the daylight! Woohooo! So, there I am staring up at it...the landmark of Seoul....and I think to myself, I thought....why am I not going UP there?! So I did just that! I went in, and found the elevator, and went up up up to the 33 floor! (interesting number)...and as soon as I got off the elevator.....WOW! I have pictures to prove it. You are standing in the core of the building, and there is a hallway to the 'circle' surrounding it. It's really quite incredible to stand there and see the gap and look down 33 floors to the ground and the little cars and people...etc. There was a wedding up there in the restaraunt and bar/lounge. Ooooh it was beautiful. I didnt go in to the wedding because I looked like a hiker in a fur coat...which is quite rediculous when you think of it...but I would have crashed the party for sure if I could! Picture opportunity!
So I stared out the window for a few minutes....and then just before I left, I found the washrooms. Every good interior designer or person who appreciates it should Always check out the washrooms!! And man...it surpassed my expectations! The women's door is in a short hallway, directly at the end. It is opaque frosted glass in white with a black silouette of a woman on it. And then ......I walked in..and ...
OH MAN....I was standing there with my jaw hanging open..literally for about a minute or what seemed longer. There, right in front of me was a stunning black and white toilet with a huge window looking over Seoul to the mountains. WOW! It tops my top 10 list of the best toilets I've seen. (the word is toilet here for washroom, and I'm trying to get that into my head)
Yep, now I'm rambling, but who Cares!
So I had to run and meet Candice at another subway station...so off again. I wish i had time to go see the big palaces there...but I will have to at another time. Soo much to do, and so little time!
Met Candice at Namdaemun Market, and went looking at all the stuff. It really can get overwhelming but its so fun to see.
Then we went back to Suwon when it just got too overwhelming! I was carrying my backpack and a heavy bag with me too...then we went out dancing and to a noraebang (karaoke room) till 4am! Man, its been a looong time since I've stayed up that late! But noraebang is perrrfect late at night! Especially when you have a cold and your voice is hoarse anyway. The reverb that seems to be permanent on the mic isnt so bad then! lol
Sunday we got up and the mission was to go and get some hair stuff to do Candice's hair. I went and forgot my scissors and everything like a dumba** . So after eating a breakfast of 'toastuh' which is how you say 'toast' in Korean (heh heh). It's so yummy... fried egg and cheese with hot pepper sauce and mustard. Couldnt be any more perfect. (wow..hows that for crazy English). YUM. Sat there looking at the fortress gate under a red umbrella. I can't belive I'm FINALLY able to experience this!
Went to the hair supply store, and got LUCKY! I got a pair of scissors so cheap I dont even want to tell you! Okay okay, they were SEVENTEEN thousand won. Take the 'thousand' off and that's how much they cost in Canadian! OH MAN! I was like a kid in a candy store! CRAZY! Mind you they're probably not the best quality of metal..but who cares!!
Then we went and got my train ticket just to be sure. Last time I thought I could catch one pretty much any time, but they only go at 6:30 and 10:00. Last time I had to wait 2 hours to get the 10:00 train which got to Gwangju at 3 am. Nope...dont want to do that again.
Then back to the house to do Candice's hair...which turned out super cool...of course! ;) heh heh... and then by that time it was time for me to go. Ugh...not NEARLY enough time to do the stuff we wanted to.
Oh, before I forget, I have to say that we saw a girl getting her nails done, and she was having the tips painted in POLKA DOTS! man, I want mine like that!!! How cool is that? The trend is to leave the nail bare looking, and just paint the tips whatever you want. A pattern, or solid or a sparkle coating that fades off into your natural nail. Man, that's fun.
Well, that's about it for now. I gotta go baste in the realization that I've graduated to yellow belt. Yeehaw! And the taekwondo master invited me to his house on Sat afternoon. That will be interesting I'm sure! I'm trying to figure out how I work this though, because they will for sure be inviting me for dinner, and I dont' want to bother saying I'm vegetarian, because they'll get all stressed out about it...and not know what to do. Sometimes I've found its just better to not say it, and just pick out what you can eat. But I dont want to offend them either. Well, whaddya do.
Sidebar-I dont like using wood chopsticks anymore! I find that the metal skinny ones are better and easier! Imagine that! Ha!
Okay...time to go to bed.

Oh yah...Valentine's Day

2006-02-16T05:32:00.000-08:00

It was a good day... It was a lovely morning waking up to a special email to start my day. Right on time too.
Got a lot of chocolates for the kids, and had fun giving them out....
..then today....I decided to get myself some roses. White of course, and a few pink....thinking about my Grandma Orlo. I can't believe that she's gone. So unreal.
So I'll think of her and some other people who are special to me everytime I look at them.
Bollucks Valentine's anyway! Why can't we do things nice everyday?

2006-02-16T03:46:00.000-08:00

Well what a day. I started at 11 am as usual today, and about 15 mins before the end of class, Rachel came in and told me that Mr. Shim wanted to have lunch with me. Ugh...so I get all paranoid, wondering what's wrong, and getting all these thoughts in my head. How can u tell that I'm at what they call the 3 month blues.
It turns out that it was the 3 month let's take the English teachers out to dinner! Man, why do I do that to myself?! Anyway, it was a wonderful lunch at a really nice Chinese restaraunt. We had two traditional Chinese dishes, I wish I could remember the names of them, accompanied by Korean kimchi and radish and seaweed, etc... The service was impeccable, and it was served as a 5 course lunch. First the radish and kimchi and seaweed, with a plate of 'plankton' which was really surprisingly yummy. I never imagined eating plankton! I thought it was only something the creatures of the sea ate! But I should know better. Korea IS the sea! Well it seems like that's all u eat here! Cabbage and rice and seaweed and every animal from the sea imaginable, or unimaginable! Ha ha! Not that there's anything wrong with it.

....so back to the meal, the plankton was served beautifully in a mound with 3 pieces of something on the side that I actually tried. I thought it was a mussel or something, because it was a slice of something purple and around it was a brown jelly like substance. So, I was feeling like I could stomach something adventurous, and so I tried it. It turned out to be a duck egg! And it tasted like a smoky hard boiled egg! Interesting. And not that bad at all.
Then there was a soup of clear jelly like broth and small pieces of something white and orangy-red. It was a crab soup with egg. So I tried it too, and it was pretty good. The thing I have a hard time with is the slimy texture...but other than that...
Then we were served a plate of deep fried pork and a few veggies in sweet and sour sauce. I had some veggies. Yum.
And then fried rice. And then desert of lychee and pineapple. Yum! And of course through the whole thing was a wonderful green tea.
In terms of the interior- sigh- it was beautiful!!! Especially the chairs. They were authentic Chinese sitting chairs complete with dark stain and bowed back and arm rests. A bit narrower than I remember they were supposed to be, but it makes sense if the people are smaller. There was bamboo 'trees', and Chinese wood carved plaques on the wall. The walls were in dark grey plaster, floors in tinted concrete (dark grey-green) - quite nice, really. The walls on one side of the restaraunt, right over the raised 'traditional' platform were in a Gorgeous red wallpaper with gold designs on it. Oh...WHY did I forget my camera? Well, I suppose its about time that I exercise my writing abilities. Lazy English or no. (yes Michael..I admit it!)
And then, just as suddenly, after Mr. Shim said that Koreans eat fast...we were up and out the door!
It's amazing really, how food defines or is definative of a culture and country. I was just watching Jamie's Kitchen on TV. My new fave show...because I didnt ever watch TV at home in Vancouver very much on purpose. But I LOVE this guy! It's him on his trip to Italy right now. And something I noticed... everyone likes to wear gloves when cooking food, and they did in Italy too (on the show). Hmm..smart really. The red pepper paste can stain quite a bit, and cleanliness is comforting!
And tonight I actually went out to eat..and finally tried the Korean porridge restaraunts I keep passing. I had vegetable soup..and wow was that GOOD! I'll be a regular there! IT's rice with a thick broth...like when you cook oatmeal with lots of water, and it's slightly slimy. JUST how I like it. And smal chopped veggies.
I really miss cooking, but yet I dont because my time is experiencing now. Even though I can't cook and bake here that much, I'm enjoying learning that as a vegetarian, eating here isnt really that bad at all! I feel really quite healthy! Healthier than I have been in a long time. Yay!
But, today I got sick AGAIN. UGH. Must have been the Valentines chocolate. And/or me punishing myself worrying about stuff I dont need to. All of that. And I'm going to Seoul tomorrow and I ALWAYS manage to be sick! How does that happen???!

Argh...and speaking of...I'm going to go and sleep as much as I can tonight. Worrying myself sick isnt good!!

Where does the time go?

2006-02-13T06:22:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is - the day before V day. And I'm reminiscing of Korean ways....I suppose not reminiscing, but contemplating. Yep, I feel like actually writing in a bit more of a proper English way. Okay, so much for that!

All the stores and streets are loaded with the 'frouffiest' (non-English word?!) Valentine stuff that you could even imagine. Big humonsterous (my own English word) baskets of 'stuff', huge stuffed animals or chocolates all individually wrapped and decorated as cute anything! Hard to explain all the stuff. Oh, but guess what. Valentines is different here because only the girls have to buy something for the guys! What the...?!! And then they developed a day called 'White Day' where the guys buy for the girls! Imagine that!

Oh, and there's 'Black Day' too. That's when everyone who is single wears completely black, and they eat black noodles with black sauce and EVERYTHING is black! That makes complete sense because of how this culture is traditional in the sense that everyone is pressured to get married or be married. There are wedding centers everywhere you look pretty much, and I think it would be great to be married here, because everything is here. Just rent the space for a day and presto! you're Cinderella wedding is right there!

Oh man, I was looking through the Hyundai Department store last night...and I thought I would go and look at the men's clothing for a change...and there were the most amazing ties! Wowzers! There were lots with flowers on them, and there was one in particular that looked pixellated and integrated were Swarovski Crystals in it! Damn! It was 75,000 won (or close to $75) Wowzers. It was BEAUTIFUL! Hmmmm...maybe I should get that for me! Nah!

So last week I finally got myself to the National Museum here in Gwangju. It was really quite interesting, especially because everything I saw there was also somethign I could buy on the street. Except that the new things are new, and the old things are really old- if that makes any sense! It had pottery that was the original celadon (I think that's right) which is the light green color that Korea is known for in its pottery glazes. And the most memorable thing for me besides the paintings from the 11 century were the coffins. They looked like capsules and they were made from clay-just like pottery would be. Of course! I asked my students, and they called them tombs. How very cool. You could probably fit at least 3-5 people in them too!

So Candice came down to visit me this weekend which was really quite refreshing. We went around town and then to the jimjilbang on Sunday. Man, I really dont know what I'm going to do when I go back home to Canada and I cant go to a jimjilbang! I'll be in the rec centre with all the rest of them! I can understand it soooo much more now!

So the last few weeks have been kind of hard for me because-as I found out- I'm at a 3 month 'hump' and I couldnt figure out what was wrong until Yu-gin, one of the teachers mentioned it. I was having all these stupid anxieties about everything like my performance, and other things in my life all bundled up, and what a relief it was for me to realize that it happens to most people. Not quite in the same way, but there is a shift of things. Its hard to explain, but I suppose its just growing pains.

Well, that's about it for now...I wish I could record every thought that comes into my head sometimes. There's just so much, but I realized that there is only so much I can share...because its one thing to write or read or listen to it, but it's a whole other thing clompletely to experience it. I just wish words could convey that sometimes...but then I'm so glad that they dont at times too.

Oh, I just remembered, I got the book 'Memoirs of a Geisha' and read it, and then the movie just opened here a week ago, and I finally went to see it. The one thing that struck me while I watched it was that I have such a different and maybe better understanding of the movie because I am pretty much living it here! Well, not quite- I'm not in Japan or in the early 18th century, but I'm here in Asia, and very close to Japan, and I've been there now, and wow!!!! If I saw this in Canada I would just relate to it on an American point of view. A movie that has simply been stylized; but being here and living amongst these people (who are different but similar to Japanese people) and living with the architecture and different ways and spaces and ergonomics and customs of Korea makes me understand it soooo much more!

It was just a sudden realization that while she looked up and over the rooftops of Kyoto for the first time, that I see that here and that's my reality too! But it's just mixed in with modern times too! How bizarre and wonderful and I'm sooooo thankful that I'm having this experience!

Now I just need to learn Korean sooo much faster! Apply myself would be a good thing! Its hard though when your job is to speak English all day! Okay so that's no excuse. Allrighty!!!

Okay time to sleep...till the next time.

Havin a bad Korea day

2006-02-01T04:50:00.000-08:00

Oh man. Yah, I admit it...i don't love Korea everyday. Last night I was up till 2 am with other anticipations in my more personal life, and then today school was a bit crazy. Then at taekwondo tonight I didnt do as well as my expectations. The instructor did say that I was flexible enough...but poor John got what I call the horrific stretch. Oh someone putting the physical pressure on someone else's body isnt my idea of fun, or Johns! Poor guy, I felt that almost as much as he did! Man, i feel like a control freak sometimes. Not so cool..and than that makes me more annoyed! Whaddya do. Go to sleep and wait for tomorrow.

SO the next issue is that I havent been learnign Korean as fast as I'd like. I just have to use my memory and practice and USe it more...I'm good at listening..but the speaking is another ting sometimes. It's good in a way because it makes me remember what it's like to learn another language, and the awkwardness of speaking it...and that makes me empathize with my students better. I've been somewhat guaging it by John, my co-worker, as we have arrived in Korea at the same time...and he's learnign faster than I am...darnit!

The next thing is that I'm trying to decide where the best website is for putting my albums of pictures. As you should know I love taking LOTS of pictures, as I think it really tells a story better than words at times. That might be because I'm such a visual person. Sometimes I think nothing gets through my head unless I visualize it or see it. That can be good and possibly bad at times. Whaddya do once again.

This past weekend (long weekend of the New Years Doggy - heh) I went to Mokpo, a coastal city about an hour away from Gwangju. I'm Sooo glad I went! The big attractions there were for me, the ocean, then Yundul mountain, and then the museums. It was sooo wonderful to be near the ocean again. It amazes me how powerful it is...the draw of it too.
Then I went on a taxi ride, with a woman taxi driver! cool! to the Yundul mountain, and the one place I wanted to go to was closed, and then across the road was a Buddhist monestery/temple, so I hiked up the stairs to that. Then I came back down and walked along the road when i heard music coming from the mountain. I looked up and tried to find the commotion...and decided that I shoudl go and check it out. So I went up one big set of stairs...then along 'stone paved' paths to more stairs and paths and stairs and stairs and paths to a statue, and lots of 'lookout' temple structures. The darker it got, and the higher I got, the more amazing it was.

Man, I'm sooo glad I came here to experience this..FINALLY! Another country and culture...why is it that I thrive on this? Dunno...but I love it. The mountain was also lit by lights that changed color. There's lots of lights that change color in Korea...on buildings...all of that..on mountains..anything. I love it!
So that was a night, and I walked down this hill to downtown. I swear everything in Korea in terms of what's in the stores is the same. But that's allright...then you know what you're gonna get anywhere! Ha! Then I took an adventurous taxi ride and asked for a jimjilbang (sauna) that was open 24 hrs. Some of the are open all night with sleeping rooms and some arent..so I had to make sure. Of course then was the time when the taxi driver, who was around 22 kept saying that I could stay at his house! Um...NOT! But thanx for the offer! ha haa.
A stay at the jimjilbang is definitely a thing that I wish everyone could appreciate! You go in for a nice shower, and srubadub, and a hot tub soak, and any temperature you want...well two or three temperatures anyway. A sauna in all temperatures..at least 4 or 5. Then get some clothes on (shorts and tshirts issued to you in the sauna colors). Then to find the place to sleep on a warm marble floor..ohhhh yeahhhhh! The only thing was that it was a bit noisier than I might like. There were families with brand new babies there all awake at midnight. Interesting how that works.
Sleeping on a hard warm floor is actually easier than I thought. At one point the room I was sleeping in was a bit warmer than I wanted, so I moved to another room. At one point, the cafe lady came to me and put a blanket and pillow on me...how sweet are these people?! A little later, I wasnt quite asleep...was somewhat tossing and turning, and then a mother and her baby on her back came in. There was a big window, and she stood there and sang her baby to sleep...and me too! I was thinking...how magical is a mother's lullaby...and how precious. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............

The next morning was interesting to wake up to. There I was in a jimjilbang! IT wasnt so awkward after all. I got up, went to find a massage chair that wasnt being slept in by another person, and had a morning massage. NICE! THen down to have a nice long scrub shower, and hot tub...and on the road again!

I went for a walk after, and discovered I was a lot closer to the beach than I thought! It was so nice to be right at the water again. A father and his son was flying their kite there. That was neat.
Then I found a taxi, and went to the museums. WOW. The architecture was amazing. I ended up going to the Natural History Museum which was amazingly put together-combining great architecture with a wonderfully laid out display of everything from dinasaurs to insects of any type you can imagine.
THen back to the bus terminal, and back home. YAY.
Whew!
Gotta sleep now...till next time!

New Year Comin Up

2006-01-25T05:45:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Asian or Lunar new year is this Monday here in Korea. This morning I got to work, and the director said, "Wendy, come here." Of course I'm so silly to think, okay what did I do, and he brought me into the 'office' and pointed to a 'group' of bags on the floor, and said "Happy New Year!!!" How sweet was that. So it was what I thought it would be.

Apparently the gifts that are given are either a gift set of no less than two or four tubes of toothpaste and at Least 4 bars of soap, and 3 plus body washes. Yep. Happy New year!
But then the other alternative is an alcohol set of some sort. One BIG bottle, or 3 or so bottles of nice Korean rice or berry wine or someting complete with little 'tea' cups. The cups are NEVER in groups of four, only three or two or maybe five. Yep. Four is a BAD number. Doesnt matter if you have 2 couples coming over....hmm that's a thought. I wonder if Koreans do invite 2 couples cuz the number. Huh.

The New year here is just like Christmas here. They told us at school today that a lot of Korean women work so hard that afterwards they have to go to the hospital or take medication!! As in cooking and serving and entertaining, etc... Wowzers!

Anyway....I wonder if Sex and the City is really a good show for me to watch. Its about one of the only tv shows i really enjoy because yes, I can identify. But my gosh!

Well, I wanted to go to Seoul for New Years, but I thik I'll have to stay home. Maybe go to the coast or something would be fun. Yah, I might just do that. A trip by myself perhaps. One to do some artwork. Yah, i think it's about time I do that. And I can maybe afford sometime to get an EASEL! Wooohooo! I can hardly wait.

So taekwondo is going well. I'm so glad that I'm taking it. It's moving along quite fast considering. Apparently in Korea the levels go along quite a lot faster than in the 'Americas'. I'll be hopefully getting my yellow belt next month. Yay! But i've got a lot to learn though. I'm so glad to be exercising though. A new obsession...

So I've finished reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" and I can hardly wait to go see it in the theatres this weekend. Yep, its just opening here this weekend. What is that, at least a month later than Canada? I think so.

Cats *the Broadway play* is coming at the beginning of Feb too. I hope I can go and see that. We'll see.

Well, time to go to bed. Talk soon....

Monoculturalism

2006-01-20T07:32:00.000-08:00

Yep. I think that's the biggest thing about being here in Korea. The MONO culturalism. Everyone looks the same, dresses the same, acts the same...eats the same.... and I wonder if they think of doing anything different. And actually I'm somewhat appreciative. But I wouldnt trade it for the opportunity of knowing the things about different cultures and the people in them like I do...and that's what I love about life. And the fact that after all of that...we're all the same: humans. We all feel the same things generally, and act the same way generally, and love, and cry, and eat, and sleep...yep. We might think and act differently in some ways, like personal space or our methods of speaking or reacting or presenting ourselves to the world, or behaviours towards our family and friends and the outside world...but really, we're all the same species. Just different shades.

So, now that I've been in another far off land for almost 2 and a half months, coming on 3 already, its so interesting to observe what I've learned, and how I've become comfortable walking outside, and reminding myself that I am indeed in another country, and I love it. I can explore new things, and practice and learn another language on the basis of survival, and not just pure interest or to brag. ;) heh heh.

It's so much fun to see our differences too. Sure, they might not be quite what I'm used to, but that's the beauty of it. As far as I'm concerned, God has a great sense of humor! Mr. Creative Himself.

So, it was John's birthday today. He's 25. What a great age to be teaching English in a foreign country. Man, I wish I could have done this at his age. Anyway, I made him wear the crown that they have the kids wear when they have their birthdays. The staff at school sang him happy birthday...and tonight we went out to a place called Miller Time and they all sang him happy birthday in a Korean way of doing it, and they got Liz up with John 'on stage' to dance for the whole place! Ha! All the koreans watching the birthday boy dance! They gave us hats to put on so we could all get a Polaroid taken, and of course I wore the big a** fro! Woohooo!
Koreans are such hospitable and wonderful people.

Oh, which reminds me, they have a TV program here where a guy has one rose....no, it's not 'the bachelor', and about 10-15 girls have to dance as sexy as they can for him, and then he gives the rose to the sexiest dancer! haha! It's quite fun and entertaining to watch...and yes, sometimes embarrasing.

So without further adieu, I'm going to have to go to bed. I have volunteered to help at church tomorrow. Yep, I'm the English teacher there as well! Ha ha.

I hope I can get the movie of John on here....if not, I'll ahve to find another way of sharing a Korean style birthday with y'all.

Later!

Today

2006-01-20T00:26:00.000-08:00

I get off work at 2 on Fridays which makes it quite a lovely weekend and Friday! Soooo glad. But then I dont know what to do. I'm scared to go shopping or 'eye shopping' as they call it here because U know how I am. Too much to buy! So, here I am at home. I guess it's good, so I can clean up my place once in a while. You really have to be on top of that here, cuz all these little itsy bitsy scurrying ants just find EVERY crumb you've got in a minute if you're not careful. So it's good...it's teaching me to be cleaner which is a good thing. Good thing I have a small space then!

It's John's birthday today, and we all sang him happy birthday and I went and made him wear the crown that they put on all the kids when they ahve a birthday. IT was hilarious! Heh heh.

I gotta run downtown in a minute. I will be meeting Rachel, *a girl from work* and looking for a present for John.

Last night I had to do some taekwondo again. They told us that we had to come for 'exercise', and just how nicely they do it, you cant refuse. And I dont really mind. I can learn more Taekwondo! It's so beautiful, really. I just see it as choreography that is really useful if you need it!

The moves he showed us last night are getting a bit more complicated...its fun, and I'm soooo glad I'm doing it.

K, I gotta run. Later!

What a day

2006-01-18T04:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I had the second lesson in Taekwondo. It's kinda funny cuz John and I are the only white belts there. White is the beginning belt color. So we get called up in front of about 30 kids that are black belt to learn our white belt lessons! Great. Yep, we get the initial giggles, but overall I think they're just amused at two whities that are foreigners learning the ropes!
We start the class by doing some warm ups, and part of that are the basic kicks and punches. I can hardly wait till I can do the spin around one. It's the first time i've tried to do it, and i think i really like the feeling. Wow...I cant' believe I"m learning Taekwondo in Korea! Wowzers!
So, we learned the basic punches today, so I think I got it. It's easy..but it's choreography. I love it.
I'l finish this later. Gotta sleep

Pinnochio

2006-01-17T07:42:00.000-08:00

The kids called me Pinnochio today! Lmao!!! I never thought of what it would be like in in reverse! Ha ha! I suppose it could look like that to a Korean! Ha ha.
That's about it really. I gotta get some sleep. I keep staying up super late cuz I cant seem to sleep. hmmmm.....
G'nite.