More cute stuff

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

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