Back in Canada

Well, I made it safe and sound. I have finally returned to my home country after 3 years and adjusting very well. Korea was a great experience, one that I won't forget, but I just knew it was time to pick up here again in Canada. Still trying to get used to the chillier weather, but that will come in time. Not missing everyone staring at me one little bit. I rather enjoy blending into the crowd. Well, until I have more news, hang in there, I am.

Yes, I am still alive!

I know it has been forever since I last wrote. Well, there was a time when I was trying to finish my couple of university courses before my vacation started in February. So that meant doing assignments and exams in a frantic panic. Then it was off to Thailand for 12 days. What an amazing time I had. Elephant trekking, kayaking, diving and spending a day at a luxurious spa. That was certainly the life. I started at Ko Samui on the east coast and travelled to two smaller islands from there, Ko Phagnan and Ko Tao. The people, the places and the food were totally unbelieveable. Then it was off to Bangkok for a short stay before returning home. Or should I say back to Korea. And what a shocker that was, as I immediately felt isolated and missed the wonder Thai culture. It seems like everything has been downhill from there. Our teaching positions for the new semester aren't what they were suppose to be, our dormitory has enforced tighter security which is just a pain in the butt and I want spring.....Now! If it is any consolation, I am looking forward to going home. That means job hunting soon though. And well....next month is my birthday, last one in Korea. I am looking forward to reuniting with friends and family once again. So that sort of gets you up to speed with me. If it is any consolation, I got a really great adolescent course that I am doing right now and enjoying it!!!

Ok, here's a funny one, and even I had to laugh!!

I know it has been a while but my Korean friends have gotten into skiing and they steal me away every chance they get to go skiing. I am not complaining, it is fun and we have a great time and mid as well enjoy it while I am here. But really, this weekend is for me, I gotta get some work done.

So tonight, I even made myself laugh out loud in the supermarket. Well, here in Korea when you buy fruits or vegetables, you bag what you want, then give it to a clerk nearby so he weighs it and puts a sticker on it, so the girl at the counter can just type it in. Well, I bought some tomatoes, which I will shortly make a toasted tomato sandwich for myself, and then proceeded to walk around the store to continue my shopping. I had this feeling that someone was following me and I tried to lose him in the store, going down different isles. Finally he cornered me around a pole and reached for my tomatos. I realized I hadn't gotten a sticker on them. I apologized in Korean and had to laugh. I am sure he didn't think it was that funny. Oh well, that is another day in Korea!

It's been a while!

Well, New Year's has come and gone and what a blast! Went on a 2 day ski trip with 13 of my Korean friends. None of them had skied before but what fun we had. They really picked it up easily and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Maybe except for the one time they got cocky and wanted to try an advanced hill and I pulled them out of the bushes. But we all survived.

Grace, you should probably be in Singapore right about now and I am missing you in addition for Debbie. I just can't imagine you two apart. But hey, when I finish my masters from USQ, we will have to come for the graduation ceremony. How does that sound? I know it was probably terrible leaving. I will have to do the same in the summer when I have decided to go home but we have to relish in the experiences we've had and look forward to all those to come.

Plugging away at my readings for my courses. And happy that Deb, you are back online. We can get caught up and tell holiday stories. Also got my Thailand trip planned for Feb......12 days. The university even encouraged me to take a couple of extra days if I was going and not to worry about our prep schedule, so that is exactly what I did. I cannot tell you, how terribly excited I am. Starting to pack already.

Well, gonna run for today. I have just been enoying the weekend relaxing, cleaning, and reading, recovering from a little bit of a cold from the ski weekend last weekend. It has been sooooo nice. Catch you later. Waiting to hear about Grace's adventures.

Sigh!

Well, I just finished my last report for a month or so now. Time to catch up on readings. What a relief. Thank goodness for the extra automatic 2 week extension around Christmas time.

Well, Christmas has come and gone and missing snow and the real season of Christmas back home, but New Year's is still on the way. It was kind of nice to know that there are bigger and better things to look forward to next Christmas season as they are a little dull here if you don't have a foreign social group.

Ski trip ahead this weekend. I can hardly wait. Even bought new ski pants for the occassion. Wanna be warm, stylish and just having a good 'ol time.

I know that everyone is enjoying their break right now. So kick back and take a load off with a nice cup of hot chocolate to warm your inards.

Talk to ya in 2005!!!!

You wanna erk me at Christmas Time?

Well, I have been running around almost as much as Grace has, just trying to get gifts together for my Korean friends. Since they don't really celebrate, it is a wonderful time to show my appreciation for their thoughtfulness throughout the year, without them expecting it! Also just having so much fun wrapping too!

Yesterday, my Korean friends dropped the bomb on me, they no longer want to go to Thailand with me on vacation in Februrary. Can we say "TICK ME OFF AT CHRISTMAS TIME!" I don't really know why I should be surprised, as this seems to be the norm, but come on.....They just don't realize that Sanata may not be very good to them this year in such a case. Well, I don't know, maybe it is meant to be. I can do what I want, when I want and maybe I will find some really cool people to travel with along the way. Gotta look for the bright side, and hey....it is Thailand!

These Korean friends happen to be apart of the group that we are going skiing with next weekend. And what a coincidence.....I happen to be the only one of the 14 that actually skis. Could be an interesting weekend. They may become very sorry that they backed out of Thailand when they are going down the ski hill backwards will no instruction. Oh I am so mean! Or they could be a replicate of "Brigit Jones: On the Edge of Reason." I haven't howled so loud or for so long!!!! If you have no clue about the movie, then it is a must see!!! Maybe it was all that much funnier because I was watching it with Koreans that didn't get most of the inside jokes. Crystle, stop it, you are soo bad!

Kay, gonna run and kick some butt at taekwondo. Maybe even those deserving might just happen to get in the way by.......mistake!

I am catching it for not updating again! Ooops!

Ok, everyone, I really don't think that many are interested in my blog and I just use it as a venting tool, but I am finding out otherwise obviously....nice to know. Holly man one whole week since I blogged last, I am really sorry.
The reason being, I have had my head in the books trying to finish the gosh for saken paper for one of my masters courses. I am not particularly fond of the prof so that is not helping in my motivation either. I haven't been able to finish all the readings either...still plugging along. But got the majority of it done today, now just for some referencing. Then to throw off my motivation even more, one of the guys from our course sent me his assignment to share ideas, and oh my gosh, is he a keener or what! So I was panicing and fretting instead of using that energy for my own paper. NOTICE TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: Do not look at others papers thinking that it will help you, do your own thing and be happy that you used your own brain. It is not worth the energy to get freaked out over.
The weekend was eventful. Met a friend for lunch, but she was an hour late because she bought a pair of shoes so 3 minutes later she wanted to return them or get a refund and the saleslady wouldn't do it, so she called the police to enforce some action. Korea..........So I knew that this was all going on, but she wanted to look after it herself so I waited patiently and did my Christmas card shopping which I am way behind in sending. They will have to be New Year's cards, but some of them are really pretty and cute. It will be worth the wait everyone. So once I met up with my friend, we did Pizza Hut. I had been dying for pizza. We tried the new Italian one, go figure and it was pretty good, thankfully no crazy corn that they put on everything here in Korea. Then we watched The Bridget Jones Diary movie, On the edge of reason, part 2. I haven't laughed so hard. My stomach was literally hurting for a day. There were so many jokes that I am sure were not translated for the Koreans, so I was in constant laughing mode. Heee Heee. I would definitely give it 3 thumbs up if I had 3. So after that, I was to meet my dear friend Dal Bong E for dinner. We went to his favorite Korean restaurant that is so totally Asian with such a serene setting, gold fish and beautiful lighting, and at least 3 levels. A nice weekend. Didn't feel like I had much time to rest or work unfortunately.
So now, Christmas is closely approaching, need to pick up some fruit baskets or something for some of them and we are intensely looking forward to New Year's big ski trip with 10 other Koreans that don't know how to speak English very well most of them, never mind never having skiied before. Always an adventure, therefore the title of my blog. So that fills you all in for now. Gotta get that paper done and sent away in 3 days. Wish me luck. Back to baduk lessons tomorrow afternoon to see what little child I can play against and make them angry at me. !!!