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

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

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!

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

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[bbzSpace FallingObjects]

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

Helloooooo

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which makes:
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Hearts falling again

no...THIS is hearts falling!! darmit!
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No, this is hearts falling!
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Hearts falling

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Update

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

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

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!

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

Doctor Visit

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

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

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

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

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

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.