WOW!....it has been a fabulous weekend. The weather has been great for the adventures we have had. On Saturday we decided ( we being, Sloan, Jess and I ) to go to Kwangju for a day of shopping. It was fantastic. Hopped on the KTX at 11:10 - pulled into Kwangju at 11:35 and were ready to hit the road.
I was disappointed by one thing that day. There was a cute little bead store that Mathew and I had been to a few times....actually Mathew surprised me and took me there for my birthday, well...I am either blind or it is no longer there....and although my eyes are sometimes not the greatest I think they were working just fine that day! Oh well!
Next we hit STARBUCKS....that's right.....and I swear an Americano never tasted so good. I wish we had Starbucks in Mokpo.....mmmmmm I think I would set up a tent and never leave.
Coffee in Korea is not really all that good...and on top of it they tend to water it down...so....EKKK!
After about 45 min of drinking, talking and people watching we were on our way. We hit the Body Shop ( OMG - good face wash) then hit the grocery store...mmmm chick peas....lol
Its funny the things you get excited about....!!!
We had lunch in TGI Fridays and .....well as they brought out Sloan's and Jess's meal...ugggg...we realized they had forgot to make mine...LOL...so lets just say it wasn't the best meal ever. And 17,000 won later....lol
Last but not least we hit the best place you can imagine...Its the underground market. It is a little store underground..near the subway and the bus station that sells western food...SERIOUSLY...western food....there is cheese and oatmeal, all kids of meat, frozen vegetables, peanut butter, crackers.....mmmm I was in heaven and it was obvious to the Korean working at the cash because he said "mmm I think this is your first time in this store" LOL
All in all it was an awesome trip...but by they end...We were all just so glad to be home!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Where do you belong??
In the last couple of weeks I have had a few discussions in relation to where people decide to live and settle down. The majority of people settle in or close to their hometowns. Our discussions led to why our group of people here in Korea have chosen a slightly different life path. Now, some of us have moved here for good...finding a partner, a good job and have settled in quite nicely. Others, know they are only here for a time and enjoy exploring. For me, I am enjoying my time here in Korea...I think as most of you know I am more comfortable now than I have been in a really long time, and with that comes a little bit of guilt. How is it possible for me to feel more comfortable away from my friends and family and in a foreign country? How is it possible to feel more at home in a place that is so different, a place where I am so different, where I do not even speak the language?
It is a question that has been with me for a while....where is my home? will I ever find it?
People say "home is where the heart is" and maybe that's just it. Maybe I don't know where my heart is.....maybe I never will. Maybe I am suppose to lead a wandering life, an "unsettled" life.
Regardless, I am happy in this moment. I am not sure about the next but as someone close to me has said recently..."this moment is the one that gets you to the next". If I am happy in this one....well...thats a good sign at least!
There is a family that was once close to mine and right now they are suffering. One of them is dying, and this reaffirms to me, as so many other events that have occurred in my life have, that life is short. Putting off things that you can do today, decisions and choices that you are not making because you are afraid of the "what if's", can only bring regret and confusion. You have this one extraordinary life to live....I encourage you to live it with an open heart.
So I say to you...no no ...I challenge you.... make the choices that you are afraid to make, CHOOSE the life you are going to live and live it the fullest. If you are reading this and you can relate to the suffocating feeling that I have felt, if you have at one time stood looking out over the edge wishing you had the strength to leap or even just step into the unknown, decide today, from this moment that you will be open, free from fear, and listen to your heart.
There will be hard times, you will question the choices you have made - they may take you far from family and friends - comfort and familiarity - but I can guarantee that the satisfaction and fulfillment you will find is incomparable.
CHOOSE TO LIVE FREELY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN!!
It is a question that has been with me for a while....where is my home? will I ever find it?
People say "home is where the heart is" and maybe that's just it. Maybe I don't know where my heart is.....maybe I never will. Maybe I am suppose to lead a wandering life, an "unsettled" life.
Regardless, I am happy in this moment. I am not sure about the next but as someone close to me has said recently..."this moment is the one that gets you to the next". If I am happy in this one....well...thats a good sign at least!
There is a family that was once close to mine and right now they are suffering. One of them is dying, and this reaffirms to me, as so many other events that have occurred in my life have, that life is short. Putting off things that you can do today, decisions and choices that you are not making because you are afraid of the "what if's", can only bring regret and confusion. You have this one extraordinary life to live....I encourage you to live it with an open heart.
So I say to you...no no ...I challenge you.... make the choices that you are afraid to make, CHOOSE the life you are going to live and live it the fullest. If you are reading this and you can relate to the suffocating feeling that I have felt, if you have at one time stood looking out over the edge wishing you had the strength to leap or even just step into the unknown, decide today, from this moment that you will be open, free from fear, and listen to your heart.
There will be hard times, you will question the choices you have made - they may take you far from family and friends - comfort and familiarity - but I can guarantee that the satisfaction and fulfillment you will find is incomparable.
CHOOSE TO LIVE FREELY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
I am Finally settled....
AHH...a huge sigh of relief. I have been in Korea for 7 days now...one full week. It is a crazy and amazing feeling to be back all the way across the world and feel so at home somehow. The first two days were a little rough because I was so tired and without a telephone or the internet. It sucked not to be able to talk to my family, but thankfully I knew where Emart was so I could use the public telephone.
I find now that I am sleeping a little better but the time change is still difficult. So some nights I wake up at 3am and cannot fall back to sleep. But that will change in time.
My school is fantastic. My co-teacher and the health teacher met me at the airport and this last week I have hung out with them. No Su Kyung is my co teacher and we get along great. She has helped me with so many things. She has really made the transition much easier for me.
I have met up with some old friends and I am about to meet up with some new ones. This time I am trying to get involved in different activities to keep myself busy. Tonight I am starting Tae Kwon Do, I have signed up again at my old Fitness club, Yoga is three nights a week and I will also have Korean classes a few times a week. I am so excited to be back here. I have already had Heim Pizza. ( which is the best pizza I have ever had....I think Mathew is jealous) I have had gimbap, and have eaten at the log house, which is a fantastic vegetarian restaurant here in Mokpo.
I miss all of my friends and especially my family but this journey that I am on will hopefully lead to awesome adventures and more insight to who I am as a person and what my purpose here is.
I know that we all struggle with the question of " what are we suppose to do with this one life?"
some more than others...i hope that I will find those answers but I am willing to be patient.
I can honestly say that my last experience in Korea was not as good as I would have hoped...but after a year and coming back to Canada..it made me realize how good my life here really was. I love Canada. I love the people, the beauty that exists, with the mountains and the lakes, I love my family and friends...but the lifestyle I had succumbed to was not something I could do for the rest of my life. When I left B.C. I had interviewed for a job that would have taken care of me for the rest of my life. Good Pay, Good benefits, nice vacation, room for advancement....but all I could see was...the end of my road. Once you take a job like that it is very difficult to walk away from it. Your life becomes a pattern of events. You get up, go to the gym, go to work, come home, hang out for a few hours, go to bed....then do it all over again...at least 5 days a week. I would go insane.
So here in Korea my life is more relaxed. I get up, go to the gym, teach from 9-12, then have the afternoons off. I stay at school and study Korean or other courses that I am taking, then go home and do whatever I want..Tae Kwon Do, Yoga..etc. with 2 months vacation....its an awesome life..I get to travel and meet others and have experiences I would not have if I stayed in one place...in Canada.
I truly miss you all. Thank you for your love and support.
I find now that I am sleeping a little better but the time change is still difficult. So some nights I wake up at 3am and cannot fall back to sleep. But that will change in time.
My school is fantastic. My co-teacher and the health teacher met me at the airport and this last week I have hung out with them. No Su Kyung is my co teacher and we get along great. She has helped me with so many things. She has really made the transition much easier for me.
I have met up with some old friends and I am about to meet up with some new ones. This time I am trying to get involved in different activities to keep myself busy. Tonight I am starting Tae Kwon Do, I have signed up again at my old Fitness club, Yoga is three nights a week and I will also have Korean classes a few times a week. I am so excited to be back here. I have already had Heim Pizza. ( which is the best pizza I have ever had....I think Mathew is jealous) I have had gimbap, and have eaten at the log house, which is a fantastic vegetarian restaurant here in Mokpo.
I miss all of my friends and especially my family but this journey that I am on will hopefully lead to awesome adventures and more insight to who I am as a person and what my purpose here is.
I know that we all struggle with the question of " what are we suppose to do with this one life?"
some more than others...i hope that I will find those answers but I am willing to be patient.
I can honestly say that my last experience in Korea was not as good as I would have hoped...but after a year and coming back to Canada..it made me realize how good my life here really was. I love Canada. I love the people, the beauty that exists, with the mountains and the lakes, I love my family and friends...but the lifestyle I had succumbed to was not something I could do for the rest of my life. When I left B.C. I had interviewed for a job that would have taken care of me for the rest of my life. Good Pay, Good benefits, nice vacation, room for advancement....but all I could see was...the end of my road. Once you take a job like that it is very difficult to walk away from it. Your life becomes a pattern of events. You get up, go to the gym, go to work, come home, hang out for a few hours, go to bed....then do it all over again...at least 5 days a week. I would go insane.
So here in Korea my life is more relaxed. I get up, go to the gym, teach from 9-12, then have the afternoons off. I stay at school and study Korean or other courses that I am taking, then go home and do whatever I want..Tae Kwon Do, Yoga..etc. with 2 months vacation....its an awesome life..I get to travel and meet others and have experiences I would not have if I stayed in one place...in Canada.
I truly miss you all. Thank you for your love and support.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Arrival In Korea
I am here....finally here. It was a LONG flight. 13 Hours on the plane, then a 45 minute bus ride only to wait another two hours to get onto a 50 minute plane ride. I arrived in Gwangju, met by two co-teachers from my school. They are fantastic. No Soo has been so amazing and we get along great. AHHH more to come later. I am at school right now and will have lots of time to post and keep everyone updated....I am so excited.
Yesterday morning while wandering around Mokpo I felt as though I may have made a mistake in coming here, I was tired, I missed my family and Mathew and I was unable to contact them as I did not have a phone in my apartment. Yesterday afternoon though after resting, my feelings of regret soon changed to excitement and today....I KNOW that I made the right choice in coming back to Korea....to Mokpo.
It is going to be a great year!
Yesterday morning while wandering around Mokpo I felt as though I may have made a mistake in coming here, I was tired, I missed my family and Mathew and I was unable to contact them as I did not have a phone in my apartment. Yesterday afternoon though after resting, my feelings of regret soon changed to excitement and today....I KNOW that I made the right choice in coming back to Korea....to Mokpo.
It is going to be a great year!
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