My favorite quote of the week:
"The strong independent part of me resisted the embarassing truth for a long time, but I finally came to accept that I'm someone who craves overwhelming, vast amounts of love. Ever since I totally surrendered to this need, it doesn't nag me all the time like it used to. In fact, it feels kind of comforting, like a source of sweetness that never goes away." -Dan Savage
this is something I'm trying to work into my life, and it makes me happy.
Sunday
Monday
Turning 30
You can act any age you want
Birthday breakfast from Erin <3>
'Twilight' themed birthday, complete with book, DVD and of course BOP teen magazine with fold-out picture of Edward.
Turning 30 this past August was pretty anti-climatic. It didn't have the depressing undertones of staying home and wallowing in the self pity of getting older, nor was it a massive, all out blitz fest. It was me and a few of my closest girlfriends, celebrating in style, drinking wine, all agreeing how refreshing it felt to be putting our twenties behind us. Not that my twenties were bad, not at all. But there is something to be said for just not caring about all those stupid little things that seemed so major just 5 years ago. I remember vividly freaking out when I was 25 about the fact that I hadn't achieved all the things I envisioned for myself when I was 18. HA~! Now I'm 30, and still haven't achieved most of them, A) because my path has changed so much since then and B) I just don't care. I'll get there when I'm ready.
My Ladies and I @ W8
So I came up with a list (I love lists) of all the great things about turning 30. Feel free to add any that you think of.
1.Confidence- I've never felt as good about being me nor as confidnet in who I am as I do now.
2. Respect. I always remember thinking that my older girlfriends who were in their 30's just seemed to have it together. and even though I'm not even close to having it togther, I sure can act like I do.
3. Experience. been there, done that, got the tshirt.
4. The ability to not care.
5. Taste- you know what you like, and are willing to spend a little extra time, effort or money to get it.
6. Not feeling like you are "30" . I'm not old. I dont feel old. I feel 24.
7.Being 30 is not evil. its cool. or "30 is the new 20"
8. Wrinkles and grays add character
9. Maturity, HA.
10. Not feeling like you have to have an excuse for not going out every weekend.
11. Cougarism. younger guys dig older babes.
12. The ego boosting feeling that comes with turning down said 'younger guys' because you know better
13. Owning things that you bought for yourself and that weren't given to you as hand-me-downs.
14. Knowing your limits and boundaries.
15. Being able to forgive yourself.
16. Simplifying. I've thrown out so much crap this past year, that I had been clinging to for ages. it just wasnt important to me anymore, and I was able to let it go.
17. Being able to give up in the middle of a list without any good reason.
...(maybe I'll think of some more things later, I have some more stuff to throw away)
Canada so far...
So, I've been back in Canada for about a month and half now. It wasn't as sad as I thought it would be, leaving Jeju. I thought I would have that "bittersweet goodbye" type feeling, but it was mostly just anticipation to get home and start a new chapter of my life.
It's been a while since I was able to throw together and cohesive thoughts. I spent alot of time thinking about things I would write about once I got home, but I could never seem to find what it was that I wanted say.
Every time I come home, I expect it to be just that: home. But of course, I always go through some kind of reverse culture shock that seems to catch me off guard, and gets worst every time. It's an odd feeling to feel like a newcomer in your own country. To feel like you are absolutely supposed to know what you are doing all the time because you are Canadian, but then never really knowing if what you are doing is "right".
I thought that being able to write something about coming home would come naturally for me, but my brain wouldn't come up anything. But, after some conversations with friends about newcomers coming to Canada, something finally clicked: I am a newcomer (in a sense) and writing about going to a new country has never put me off. My brain seemed to be OK with accepting that I was a visitor learning all the lingo and quirks of a new place for some reason, so I'm just going with it. I'm newly landed resident of Canada, for the second time.
A "born-again Canadian" if you will.
Now... if I could just bowing to everyone I encounter....
It's been a while since I was able to throw together and cohesive thoughts. I spent alot of time thinking about things I would write about once I got home, but I could never seem to find what it was that I wanted say.
Every time I come home, I expect it to be just that: home. But of course, I always go through some kind of reverse culture shock that seems to catch me off guard, and gets worst every time. It's an odd feeling to feel like a newcomer in your own country. To feel like you are absolutely supposed to know what you are doing all the time because you are Canadian, but then never really knowing if what you are doing is "right".
I thought that being able to write something about coming home would come naturally for me, but my brain wouldn't come up anything. But, after some conversations with friends about newcomers coming to Canada, something finally clicked: I am a newcomer (in a sense) and writing about going to a new country has never put me off. My brain seemed to be OK with accepting that I was a visitor learning all the lingo and quirks of a new place for some reason, so I'm just going with it. I'm newly landed resident of Canada, for the second time.
A "born-again Canadian" if you will.
Now... if I could just bowing to everyone I encounter....
Yet Unwritten....
I with have a summers worth of writing in my journal that I carry everyday. I have stories and pictures and contemplations all on paper, but not on my blog. I guess the important thing is that most of these things are out of my head, not taking up space, making room for new things to whirl around in there.
I'm leaving Jeju in 18 days. I'm happy and nervous. I'm excited and terrified. I'm finished teaching for the summer, except for 2 more days of summer camp which doesn't count as teaching.
what's happened in the past month, in summary? My hairdresser bleached my eyebrows when i got my hair lightened. Is that normal?
I've been where there is sand and water every possible chance i get.
My newest obsession is now Twilight, the movie and the books- which makes me feel all giddy like a high school girl.
(*whispering*: I even downloaded the soundtrack onto my Ipod. tee hee hee)
My dogs fur has grown out so he doesn't look like a chiuaua anymore, but has been given 2 new nicknames: The Gremlin, and my favorite; Mr. Miyagi (thanks to sister Jenn) We decided that if he had a human voice it would absolutely be that of a small Japanese man. (Peanut, my last dog, would have spoken like Sophia from "The Golden Girls")
what else? i saw a small Korean boy wearing a T-shirt that said "Who's on Top?" a few days ago, that made laugh alot.
... and I'm headin back up to my lovely city Seoul, to celebrate my big Three-Oh, like a pop princess. (well, what I would do if I were a pop princess)
hmm... that's all i can think of for now.... but i have loads more stuff stored away, that I WILL post. I will. I swear. I'm gonna. I even have pictures,... and lists. lots and lots of lists.
I'm leaving Jeju in 18 days. I'm happy and nervous. I'm excited and terrified. I'm finished teaching for the summer, except for 2 more days of summer camp which doesn't count as teaching.
what's happened in the past month, in summary? My hairdresser bleached my eyebrows when i got my hair lightened. Is that normal?
I've been where there is sand and water every possible chance i get.
My newest obsession is now Twilight, the movie and the books- which makes me feel all giddy like a high school girl.
(*whispering*: I even downloaded the soundtrack onto my Ipod. tee hee hee)
I've either thrown away, sold or packed up 80% of my apartment, which makes it look so CLEAN, and also makes me wonder: why hell did I need all that stuff?? who needs 6 red purses? six. seriously.
what else? i saw a small Korean boy wearing a T-shirt that said "Who's on Top?" a few days ago, that made laugh alot.
... and I'm headin back up to my lovely city Seoul, to celebrate my big Three-Oh, like a pop princess. (well, what I would do if I were a pop princess)
hmm... that's all i can think of for now.... but i have loads more stuff stored away, that I WILL post. I will. I swear. I'm gonna. I even have pictures,... and lists. lots and lots of lists.
Lazy summer
Oh god, its been way to hot to do anything other than lie on the beach or lie in an air conditioned room. (both usually involving drinking)
I have 6 days of teaching left before the public schools here are let out for summer vacation and I've pretty much given up. this week we are doing tests, and watching 'Night at The Museum 2'. Yes, I am that lazy this week.
People always ask me what the weather is like over here in Korea- and right now, mid July, it is comparable to the 7th ring of hell. Unless you really love getting out of the shower in the morning and staying soaking wet all day because of the sweaty, sticky humidity- then in that case, it would be perfect for you.
It's 32C today which is about 90-95F, but that's without the humidex. someone said something about it being 55C with the humidity, but i'm not sure about that... either way- it's fleckin HOT.
This is considered rainy Season until the middle of August. and when i say rain, I mean torrential down pours; monsoon. Crazy, windy sideways rain that laughs at your umbrealla and launches it the gutter. lovely.
And if it not raining, it is sweltering, sticky hot. the kind of hot that makes you feel like your brain melted out your ears. again, lovely. I was actually dripping on my desk this morning while grading papers. Super.
May and especially June are awsome. and even the very beginning of July. But the rest of the summer is sometimes just plain unbearable.
It doesnt start to cool down until about the end of September, but the humidity has gone down alot by then at least. I'm just focusing on arriving at sisters house in Canada and jumping into the pool in her backyard, and lying around on the floaty bed. aaahhh.
I have 6 days of teaching left before the public schools here are let out for summer vacation and I've pretty much given up. this week we are doing tests, and watching 'Night at The Museum 2'. Yes, I am that lazy this week.
People always ask me what the weather is like over here in Korea- and right now, mid July, it is comparable to the 7th ring of hell. Unless you really love getting out of the shower in the morning and staying soaking wet all day because of the sweaty, sticky humidity- then in that case, it would be perfect for you.
It's 32C today which is about 90-95F, but that's without the humidex. someone said something about it being 55C with the humidity, but i'm not sure about that... either way- it's fleckin HOT.
This is considered rainy Season until the middle of August. and when i say rain, I mean torrential down pours; monsoon. Crazy, windy sideways rain that laughs at your umbrealla and launches it the gutter. lovely.
And if it not raining, it is sweltering, sticky hot. the kind of hot that makes you feel like your brain melted out your ears. again, lovely. I was actually dripping on my desk this morning while grading papers. Super.
May and especially June are awsome. and even the very beginning of July. But the rest of the summer is sometimes just plain unbearable.
It doesnt start to cool down until about the end of September, but the humidity has gone down alot by then at least. I'm just focusing on arriving at sisters house in Canada and jumping into the pool in her backyard, and lying around on the floaty bed. aaahhh.
Do hot dogs usually melt?
For Nathan, 1975-2009
Nathan Furey was a fellow ESL Expat living here on Jeju, with his wife and 2 children. This past March he passed away suddenly from encephalitis. This Video was made by some friends who knew him well and wanted to let us all remember Nathan.
The Furey Foundation, started by Nathans parents, has been set up by several foreigners living here in Jeju to raise money for the Education of his 2 sons Noah and Juno.
Wednesday
A word about Korean coffee
It was May of 2003, my first day of teaching in Korea. I was nervous and a little scared of standing on front of a room full of children who didnt undertand 80% of what i was talking about. I was thinking about making a run for it when i hear the question that makes me so very happy: "would you like some coffee?" GOD yes! it had been about 48 hours since i left Canada, and that was exactly what i needed: a nice cup of coffee. As i waited in anticipation, I wondered if Korean coffee would be better than coffee from home. Since I was still on a high of being in anew place, I thought "of course, it's going to be great."
"here you are" I spin around expecting a big mug of black yummy goodness.
instead, there is a small papercup,( like the ones the my students peed in for health checks- see earlier blog) with about an ounce of milky, sugary instant mix.
my heart sinks.
but I put a smile on my face and say thank you.
it was exactly how I expected it to be: like someone melted down a bunch of coffee flavored candies into a cup and added hot water.
I felt a small surge of panic.
I had just signed a year of my life to teaching in Korea. How was I going to function for a FULL YEAR on this stuff??
this one event sent me in search of coffee grinds, espresso's and chai tea all over the country. Fresh coffee used to be extremely hard to find in Korea. and it was expensive. which lead to me begging for care-packages stuffed with freshly ground beans from anyone who would send it.
It kind of became like an addiction- not the coffee drinking itself- I already know that i have a small problem- but the searching of the coffee. it was so rare to find, that I would stock up on it, like world war 3 was coming. it didnt matter how much I already had at home, I bought it up like a crackhead. a crazy, coffee feining crackhead.
Its very smilar with English books: they are expensive and rare, and so I find myslef buying books, when I'm already in the middle of reading 5 or 6.
After years of being around the coffee mix, I found a mild tolerance level of it. I dont like it, but I will swallow it down like bad medicine if I have to.
My Korean friends were shocked to learn that we dont have the "stick mix" in Canada, since its so convenient. I then have to explain that North Americans usually enjoy their morning coffee as a "wake up call" rather than dessert style in Korea. They then informed me that they had heard of other Koreans who brought their "sticks" with them while traveling overseas. They laugh when i tell them i got my coffee sent from home. we share a love for 2 coffees that are utterly and completely unalike.
I find it funny that cultures can be crossed and understood through something as small as how someone likes thier coffee :) coffee drinkers unite!
some pictures of the sticks: a "mix" sized cup next to an ordinary cup, 2 sticks and a pencil, and the mix unleashed into said small cup.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)