... and months later...
I know, I know... most of you (if anyone still checks my blog) probably thought I have given up on being a blogger. Well, life has been crazy... so much change since January, mostly because.... I got engaged! Pretty awesome, huh?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!! Wedding plans have been keeping me busy, that along with securing a full time job in Abbotsford... I've been here almost 3 months already. I really can't believe how fast the time goes by. I'm also teaching piano lessons one evening a week, and tutoring a math student one evening a week.... which leaves very little time for blogging. I don't really mind; you eager beaver's will just have to get used to minimal postings on my end.
I just thought you'd all like to see some pictures, which Sean and I just had done for our engagement... I will post a couple.
I look forward to hearing from some of you and will try to do a better job at keeping my blog updated.
"Ciao for now!"
Christmas Time is here
In the blury whirlwind that defines the month of December in western cultures, I have yet again been lacking in keeping my blog updated. (I don't really care what people say about Chilliwack... look at this beautiful view! A glorious sunny day after the first snowfall!)
This month has brought many great things, and some bad things. My absolute fave... the first snowfall! I'm sure most of you who read this blog are from the same area, but let me just tell you that snow is my favourite thing and it was, and probably will be, the highlight of this year. To me, snow gives the fading beauty of fall a complete make-over! Bright, white, fluffy... ahhhhh. We ended up being trapped in the house for a few days, but I loved it! Drinking tea, watching videos, breaking out the Christmas music, and curling up with a good book and warm blanket.
The snow has disappeared by now, and I'm eagerly awaiting another series of fortunate weather events! (Again, don't diss Chilliwack! This is the view from my kitchen window!!! Mt. Cheam is always there to greet us while we eat our cereal!)
I have filled the rest of this month with doing some accompaniment, shopping for the "perfect" Christmas gifts, which I am finding, I'm not so good at!!!! and spending lots of time with Sean, and drinking Starbucks - these are my other favourite moments!
("Christmas Tree Shopping" on Sunday with the gang! But, this pic is just me and Sean!)
The tough spots of this season are all related to family conflicts, desires to have the perfect Christmas, but having such high standards that I am disappointed over and over again, and wishing that I wouldn't feel this way. I am so tempted to just escape for this Christmas season in order to gain perspective... there's this feeling of discontentment, knowing that I shouldn't be worrying/stressing over the things that I am.
I could go into more depressing detail, but I will spare you all, and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas filled with good, warm, relaxing memories. I hope to see some/more of you in the New Year!
Argh...
...so I haven't posted anything in a LONG time and some of you have probably been wondering if I am still alive. I am. But I really hate sitting at computers in freezing cold basements; that's why I have not posted - that and the fact that I'm still not really "structured" in my life at the moment.
I can hardly believe that it's been two months since arriving back in Canada. Some might say I've adjusted back to Canadian life well, but I still feel a serious lack of direction in what I should be doing with my life. But here's some irony - just in case you thought I'd had enough of teaching English to Korean students - I'm teaching English to Korean students in Chilliwack 4 nights a week! How funny is that?!
So what else have I been doing since coming home? I think a list may be more effective than a large, run on sentence:
-seeing my wonderful boyfriend!
-looking for a job
-looking for a car
-spending time with my family (some good, some challenging, but families usually come with both!)
-hanging out with my boyfriend! (His name's Sean.... for those of you who know I have a boyfriend but may not remember his name)
-going to Starbucks for 1/3 of the price of Korean Starbucks! AND NOW THEY HAVE PEPPERMINT MOCHAS MY MOST FAVOURITE DRINK! (Hey, I just realized, I can actually spell words like 'colour' and 'favourite' the Canadian way! WOO HOO!)
-seeing friends (though not as many as I had hoped to by now)
-shopping for new clothes to replace all the tattered garments that the superriffic Korean washing machines have ruined (but I'm most definately not complaining!)
-trying to get used to eating Canadian food (the one negative of coming home! It's all so cheesy and saturated with dairy, that I think I actually have food allergy's...but I really won't go into details as to why I am suspicious about that!)
-doing some piano accompaniment (it actually makes me very happy to be playing the piano again!)
-Going on dates with Sean! (By the by... I'm expecting a very large "Christmas present" this year!!!! Anyone guess what it might be? I'll keep you posted!)
-and... looking for more jobs and more cars
I think that about sums it up. Obviously, it's a lifestyle that is a lot more relaxing! I enjoyed a whole month of NOTHING! (Besides going to the gym... which I've been getting lazy about recently, but next week is always a new chance to pick it up again!)
Some really good job opportunities have come up and I am having a difficult time trying to decide which one would be "best" for me. I feel that I could benefit, for myself and for others, at both jobs, but it's so hard to choose! (I'll give you more details as plans unfold.)
Life, I've realized lately, is NOT about answers! So, my lesson since coming home is to worry less - about money, about relationships, about time - knowing that everything has a way of working itself out, wheather it's what you expected or not! As I ponder (now there's a good word!) the pace of life Koreans live, and the ever increasing life of the average Canadian, I am hoping to start a new trend... not of laziness, or slack, but affirming, to myself and others, that going here and there and having no time for yourself, or the ones you love, is really silly! So this is what I want my life to look like:
-A job that pays well and that I'm happy/content with
-Work hard for a while and pay off the rest of my retarded loans in 4 more years (5 MAX.)
-Enjoy events (on a monthly??? basis, otherwise it gets too busy) like concerts, plays, movies, hikes (maybe), eating new foods
-Sleeping in on Saturdays, followed by a leisurely brunch, making phone calls to friends far away, reading a good book, going for a walk, visiting (occasionally) with family and friends
-Going to Church on Sundays (hopefully a Church that I enjoy - but that's another story in itself), spending the afternoos playing games in the winter, going for walks in the fall, hikes and road trips in the spring, and beaches and bbq's in the summer
-Making the time, and saving, so I can fulfill my urge to travel and explore so much of this beautiful world
-And finally, living all of this with a good man at my side! (Hee Hee! Sorry for the cheesiness!)
Apparently I like lists today. I know this one seems a little more "full" than a simple life, but everything is in moderation. I want to be able to have the kind of life where you come home from work, you sit down with your family and have an enjoyable and relaxing meal, without worrying about where you have to be next, and what person needs to take what kid (obviously looking way into the future here, but still applicable to our idea of time) where for what practice. I just don't see the point in wearing yourself out for other people. If you're tired, you're tired and you should say "no" to a million and one things that may "require" your attention. Saying "no" to people without letting them make you feel guilty for wanting time by yourself. (Ha! I realize I'm being somewhat of a hypocrite, looking at my schedule and realizing I don't have a free weekend until AFTER January! YUCK!) Like I said, this is what I WANT my life to look like, not what it currently is at the moment.
Well, there's a little ramble about my life, settling back into the Canadian ways.
Keep commenting, I will check them, and I will make updates to my blog!
And for the sake of visual stimulation, since we all know that reading isn't any fun with out pics, I'll throw some pics on here of random stuff... just for fun! There! That ought to hold you over for a while! These are just some random snaps since I've been home!
Things Change, things come and go...
Well, guess what!? Bet you never will... well, maybe you will if you've already received a mass email from me...
There have been a change in plans... last week Andrea injured herself in Hapkido (the martial art she has been studying for the last two years) and we're coming home earlier as she needs to have surgery :(
I've been really disappointed about not being able to go through with the travel plans for Cambodia and Thailand, but I just have to keep telling myself that it'll happen, just not now.
So our new arrival date is
Octber 2nd at 11:10am at YVR... anyone feel like being on the welcoming committee? Hahaha!
Needless to say, I'm sad to be leaving Korea for many reasons, and scared to be coming home - it's easier to leave home than to come back it seems sometimes... but maybe I'll be surprised by what "home" has become while I've been away... I know so many people are very happy that I'm coming back early... I just gotta wait until I feel the same way.
It's wierd to think there's so much invovled in leaving after only being here one year... every weekend we're trying to see friends, do shopping for things that we will miss back home and for gifts, and figuring how much Korean booze we can sneak into our suitcases! (Hee hee! Don't worry, it's for sharing!)
The other day I remember that our parents have a hot tub and I have to say, it got me very excited about coming home! I bought a new bathing suit for our Thailand trip, and was bummed that I probably wouldn't be able to wear it for a long time, but then remembered the hot tub... wierd and small things make me happy.
Anyway, I'm off for a bit more shopping... the weather is TERRIBLE today. There's a category 2 hurricane somewhere over the island where Fukuwoka is (Japan) and here in Busan we are getting a little - well, it's more than a little - of the wind and rain... so shopping isn't too appealing, but when else am I going to do it?
Okay... see you all soon!
Category 5 - literally and metaphorically, at least in my mind
Well, I can't believe that I've let more than a month pass since my last blog... work has been busy and I've been addicted to TV and sleep! However, our intensive classes (extra classes while students are on summer vacation, so technically, they don't really get a summer vacation if they go to academies during vacation) are now finished, and Andrea and I recently finished watching "Six Feet Under" - an HBO drama series of 5 seasons. I tell you, we were on a marathon... there were a couple of 5am-ers... now tell me that's not addiction?
Now with all this extra time I'm getting the proper amount of sleep required and trying to do some reading - you know, the kind that's good for your soul, or whatever you want to call it.
Looking ahead and realizing that I only have 26 working days left, and realizing how much garbage has gone on this year, I feel apalled at how much of my attitude seems to have gone "sour"... wishing I could start over. However, if I started over, I would definately find a better job! Well, I guess my "fresh start" will come when I get home... there's something refreshing, and terrifying, about thinking of "starting" life. It's not like I had a lot going on before I came to Korea, so when I go back there isn't really anything waiting for me... no job, no specific hobbies... but I guess now's the time to think about what I really want to do with my life (easier said than done, since I'm very capable of changing my mind based on current moods... SHEESH!) and then just do it! Hey, anyone have suggestions... or know of any interesting jobs that pay well??? If you know me, even a little bit, I need hints... the time is coming up fast, and as much as I'd like to wait a LONG time before finding a job, financially I can't :( Curse to my loan payments! ARGH!
Well, there's a Category 5 hurricane occuring somewhere over the Pacific Ocean near Japan and we're definately feeling some windy and rainy weather from it (no worries, though, it will probably die down before it gets any closer to Japan). Check out the cool link to this weather site. You can even watch the hurricane move! Pretty cool! I love this kind of weather... it puts me in such a peaceful and relaxed mood; wierd how wild weather can make me feel the exact opposite.
http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/Sorry no pics today... just felt like writing. But good news, Andrea's photo site is now updated with A LOT of current stuff so check it out. Click on the link on the side bar that says "Andi's photos." Enjoy.
Road Excursions
It apparently seems that my mental capacity to think after 9pm is decreasing ever so quickly as the time passes on and my energy and interest in sitting at the computer are very low. So I apologize to those of you who actually want to read about my "same-same" life.
Well, to sum up... has it really been two months since I last wrote???? ... The end of June came and went in a flurry and July wasn't much different! As always, there are the tensions of miscommunication and lack of respect at work, but Andrea and I were able to make some good time for play!
We headed to the west coast of Korea in the middle of
July for this AWESOME festival - it was a kind of advertising campaign for a cosmetic MUD - so basically we went and played in the mud! So fun! (The unfortunate part was that we bought a disposable camera to take photos down at the beach and at the end of the weekend, some one decided they would steal our camera, with a full roll of film! Seriously, I don't understand people sometimes!!) The weather wasn't the greatest, but the water was warm and the waves were HUGE, so we had a lot of fun swimming! It was almost like this huge outdoor spa :)
with a mud bath followed by a seasalt scrub! We ended up meeting some of Andrea's friends from Pohang and played soccer in our bathing suits in the pouring rain until 5am!!!!!!!!!!! Never thought I could do something like that... we were on the beach with some random Korean men and a couple other foreigners and played and played! I even scored 2 goals! Talk about lucky :) Needless to say, I impressed those Korean men quite a bit! All that work ended and we felt the chills set in and decided to eat some soup to warm up... only to have our very early breakfast interrupted by a nasty, HUGE fight between some Koreans! It was NUTS! They broke two windows (pushed eachother through them) and then started breaking chairs over the heads of anyone who became involved in the fight! The cops came, but they didn't arrest anyone... I always thought that Korean cops would be tough because most of them are trained to the highest level in martial arts, but when these crazy people started hitting the cops, they just tried to "talk things over"... it's shocking! Drama, drama, drama.
In other news, we just got back from a 5 day "drive-around" vacation! Andrea, our friend Robyn, and I all got our Korean driver's licenses so we rented a car and the three of us, and Andrea's friend Natalie visiting from Canada, drove through almost all of the provinces in Korea!
Our first stop was a Green Tea plantation in the area of Boseong (in case you want to look at a map of South Korea you'll be able to see where we went!), then we headed to an area called Haenam - just for the nite. We found a pretty nice hotel that was decently cheap... none of this "roughing" it stuff!
The next day we drove to an area called Mokpo, hoping to find some good beaches, but no luck. So we sat near the sea in this concrete walk-around (kind of like the sea wall in Vancouver I guess) to plan out what to do. We headed up a mountain by the sea and took some great photos and had pat-bingsu (an ice and red bean dessert) in this amazing, swanky coffee shop! It was a nice treat after a day in the car!
We continued to the beach area/National Park called Byeongsan (or something like that... Andrea's not around at the moment so I can't ask for names!!! hee hee!), found a hotel, and woke up the next morning for a day at the beach! It was a great beach... clean, sandy, and cool lava rocks/cliffs! It wasn't crowded like many of the beaches here in Busan; we were able to set up an area that was relatively private for just the four of us!
Later that day we drove towards the interior of Korea and ate bibimbap at a famous restaurant in the best area for bibimbap called Jeonju. Stayed the nite there and then headed out the next morning for Suwon (near Seoul), making a stop at Gapsa, one of the oldest standing temples in Korea. Apparently the site was supposed to have survived all the Japanese invasions and bombings and what not, but the buildings we saw looked fairly new... I was a bit confused :) We had tea at a traditional tea hut there and it was so peaceful being away from city noises and hearing the sound of gushing water and feeling the wind through the windows.
We made it to Suwon, ate some tofu, said goodbye to Natalie (she was off to Canada early the next morning), and drove for a couple hours east to a newer city called Wonju. We stayed the nite there, and continued our last part of the trip...
We went to some caves - Kosu caves in an area called Danyang - and explored the "bowels" of the earth :) It was really breathtaking! There were times when you could look up or down and stare into these crevices that seem to go on forever!
On our last leg of the journey, we stopped in Pohang to see some of Andrea's old friends and finally arrived in Busan at 2am! YIKES! It was a long trip, but totally worth it... and sooooooooooooo cheap... VERY GOOD!
Now it's back to busy, busy, busy, BUSY schedules and having very little time to email/blog/etc. etc.
Andrea and I have found some great entertainment though... our friend Jacquelyn has got us hooked on the series "Six Feet Under" and we are addicted! It's this great show and I totally recommend it if you're looking for a totaly different kind of TV show to watch... it deals with so many "controversial" issues in very different, and fresh ways, and is a good "escape." We're also being introduced to lots of really great music, so downloading music keeps us entertained for hours... totally not something I'd ever be into... I feel like such a nerd... but if you're interested in learning about some interesting artists, look for the link to Jacquelyn's blog on my side bar... COMING SOON!
Well, hope that's a good enough summary... will try to write more in the weeks to come!
A link to lots of good photos on Andrea's photo site:http://community.webshots.com/user/luvliestladee
Free from the bonds of debt!
...well, there's still about $35,000 + to go, but this week I paid off ONE of my student loans! Now that's reason to celebrate, isn't it!?
I feel I've reached a new level of "adulthood"... but maybe not. (Who knows, the amount may grow even more if I decide to go back to school someday... sheesh.)
At least I can say that I DID accomplish something in Korea... I know I've complained a lot about my current situation, but it's so hard to be positive in an atmosphere where positive attitudes are "cast out to sea" and friendship in the work place is frowned upon; when your students don't show any improvement and you ask, "Why am I here? Am I really a "teacher"? Am I even any good at what I'm doing????" Life is a confusing thing at times... don't you think? I have gone through high school and university, planning to be a teacher - someone who can challenge students minds and influence children in a positive way, especially in a "world" where 
"togetherness" and community are growing less and less common and where often parents don't even know how there kids are doing. Being here has told me that I do like teaching (regardless of the poor work conditions), and where before I thought, "No way! I'm not going to like teaching young kids" now I think that it would be a great "career" to choose. But... there is so much more that I'm interested in. How does a person "choose" what to do with their life, especially after escaping a certain kind of western reality? Now that the end is coming soon, that question looms bigger, and bigger, and BIGGER in front of my face, and even though I'm excited to be back at home, the uncertainty terrifies me... like the big, open, mysterious ocean. I am one teeny, tiny person in this INCREDIBLY HUGE world, where I often view my life choices as not having much significance...but maybe they do and I just don't want to face the "consequences" or "benefits." It's true that running away from problems (I'm REALLY good at that) is easier to do, and this is what I often do, than being brave and telling myself that I can DEAL with the uncertainties, etc. Maybe these fears are a kind of debt and I am anything but free? Financially free, well, getting closer, yes, but what about emotionally, spiritually, etc? Those are the "freedoms" that matter more, aren't they? Where you are not kept in a shell because of your own personal fears?
Well, how's that? I was only going to write the first exciting few sentences, and it's turned into a "self-searching" journal of sorts, with absolutely no resolution on my part (like a 4-3 suspension in a creative, unpredicatable piece of music, where your ear wants to and longs to hear the resolution, but it never does and you are left in a state of tension... you walk away from the music, but in your head you keep singing "4-resolves to 3, 4-resolves to 3, 4-resolves to 3... it has to, it has to, it HAS to!")
To close, here's a quote from some music lyrics that I am listening to right now... kind of fitting:"I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean, a vapour in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling, You catch me when I'm falling
You told me who I am, I am Yours."
*These photos were taken by Andrea when I wasn't really aware... she was preparing to take a picture, and I was "preparing" to be captured, only to realize that she had captured the entire process! Hee Hee!*
The sky... if you can call it that!
So, here's an example of the sky I was referring to in my last blog... prepare yourself; maybe you want to get a pollution mask just to view the pics!
The sky makes you think it was a cloudy, misty day, but... WRONG-O! It was sunny and about a billion degress hot!
Here's another example of the air quailty...
So, the story: We had a day off yesterday and thought we'd be productive and do some sightseeing...
well the hike we decided to do turned out to be longer than 5 hours and we had thought it was only two hours...oopsy... we were totally unprepared! No water, no food...it got a little tense towards the end, but we finished the hike and then pigged out all nite on food and water!
In spite of the poor planning, we had a good time. We went with the new couple at our school, Robyn and Marko. It was great to hide away from the city and spend some time in the mountains... the hiking here is quite beautiful; only wish I liked hiking a bit more ;)
Well, today is back to work and there's no more "holidays" until the end of July! BLAH! Hope I can make it.
On the bus
I was on my way to work this afternoon; the sun was out, and you could actually see the sky - I often forget that the sky is blue because it's mostly yellow/gray/pink/brown - ish colours... eek!
The wind was warm and cool at the same time, but it was the kind of wind that makes you feel happy!
I got on the bus, and I thought, "Man it smells good on here!" I thought that I was just smelling myself as I was wearing some new cosmetic products (also another GREAT way to start your day! Aveda+MAC=morning "make over!") that I bought yesterday. (I used gift certificates, don't worry Mom... I'm not spending ALL my money!)
Then I looked over and saw this lady carrying this gorgeous flower boquet... It smelled soooo delicious, like lillies, which I think have one of the best flower smells! It was the best trip to school that I've had all year. It was a great way to start the work day :) Too often I'm always in such a rush that I get to school and everything annoys me or brings me down... or worse, BOTH!
Anyway, that's all I wanted to say... Sorry that this isn't some detailed description of some wacky adventures. I haven't had too much time to "explore."
OH! Here's one... Andrea and I went to the Busan Aquarium the other week. It was pretty fun, except these CREEPY, and very bad smelling, Korean speaking Russians kept following us around! UCK! This wasn't the most spectacular thing to see, but it makes a good photo :)
A month in the world of blogging
YIKES! I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last entry...and I really don't think this will be as "significant" an entry as maybe it should be.
The last month has been filled with all sorts of things... Our good friend "Teddy" (Korean name: Young Hyun) left for Canada on May 15th so Andrea and I wanted to do as much fun stuff with him as we could. These things invovled several day trips to places unheard of by most Koreans, which was kind of cool.
We went to a ceramics festival in a town called Mungyeong - so many things to take in... ceramics, bmxing, random acupuncture, and Andrea and I even got to make our own ceramic vases which turned out quite nice :) We also went to this crazy motorshow - that's me attempting to kidnap Teddy and shove him in the trunk of a car! Hee Hee!
We visited a green tea field in the area of Boseong... but we went with a travel package and didn't have much time to explore the fields or try any of the green tea or "nokcha!"
We visited several temples in our neighbourhood on Buddah's birthday which was May 5th. A lot of the temples here are quite spectacular... the architecture of the buildings is so mysterious and beautiful... and seeing as it was Buddah's birthday, the temples were adorned with colourful lanterns and fresh boquets of flowers. It was nice to spend the whole day outside and interesting to watch all the people go about their religious rituals.
On to more materialistic things... I've managed to buy my very own digital camera this month, which is pretty exciting... so now I can take my own pics instead of "stealing" Andrea's all the time... although I still think she takes way better pics than I do! The only bad part about buying it here was that it doesn't have an English manual and I haven't had a lot of time to figure out what all the settings do... but I've been impressed so far at the quality of pictures if takes!
The weather is getting warmer and I am excited to try to do some shopping... as I'm very close to paying off one of my loans, I'm going to allow myself to "splurge" a bit and try to find some nice summer clothes... seeing as I forgot to pack very many! Oops! In spite of the warmth, it's been rather wierd weather... almost like home. There was a fairly large typhoon in Thailand recently and I really think it's affecting the weather here... the winds are CRAZY WILD these days and it's been rainy, foggy, and just unpredictable, which I've been told is not normal for this time of year.
The end of May is practically here and there's only 4 months left to go! It's so wierd, exciting, and scary - scary because I'm totally unsure of what awaits me at home and hope that I'll be able to find a job quickly so I can continue to pay off my enormous loans, both to the government and my parents ;)
My boyfriend, Sean is hoping/planning to come visit at the end of July for about three weeks, and then I'm planning to go to Thailand and Cambodia with Andrea. I'm really excited!
Well, I know this may seem "meager" but hopefully the pics will be interesting enough at least for a couple days until I can maybe think and write about more specific things!
Annyong!
