Canadian Idle

It has been roughly 2 months since I left Korea. I would be lying if I said that, at times, I didn't miss the place. Mostly I miss the fact that you are never more than 3 minutes from an ATM or 7-11. But other than that, the transition has gone smoothly. I will mostly credit this to having something to do back in Canada. School starts in 5 weeks. Also, the fact that Korea wasn't presenting anything new. I got a little bored. Content, complacent, bored. Sure. It happens.

I went to Cambodia. A lovely, tragic, stimulating country. A cure for my itchy feet and another country crossed off the list of SE Asian destinations. It rained a bit, I got a sunburn, conversed with a German journalist about our solutions (although we pretended not to have any) to the world's problems. Ate too many green curries. Pined for India, the mother of all travel destinations. Shopped in Bangkok. I'm such a jet-setter.


Vancouver for 3 wonderful, hectic days. Family, old friends.

And now back in Tamworth. I destroy chicken coops and haul rocks. Spend too much money on fossil fuels. Again, I haul rocks. Canadian cigarettes are $9.75 a pack. I do chin-ups in the garage. Did I mention the rocks? American visitors, good times. Cribbage championships. I am neglecting communication with too many people, perhaps I am in hiding. Content, slowing things down, getting ready for Toronto.

Peace, eh.

Restaurant Review: Dead Fish, Siep Reap

concrete buddha at the door
traditional dancing i ignore
cockroach scurries across the floor
interior i abhor

i have a dodgy stomach and ordered a bland noodle soup with tofu

Yeeeeeeehhhhhaaaaawwwwwwwwww!

I'm done with teaching in Korea. Farewell, old girl, its been a helluva ride.

Memories of Korea: People

I've decide to nip this series a little short. Ultimately, what has made Korea special and memorable has been the people that I've been and the friendships I've formed. I'm happy to have made friends from all over the (English-speaking) world, and it pains me to know that it will be a long time until I see some of them again.
Here's to you.
xoxo

Memories of Korea: Cheonan & Suwon Olympics

The Cheonan Olympic movement was born...probably over beer, and lived its life in the same spirit. The original Cheonan IOC, Che and Fidel, scavenged construction sites for rope on the back of a purple motorcycle, creating a spirited (and at times bloody) tournament eventually dominated by team China. The Suwon Olympics were privileged, with sober IOC meetings, 4-wheeled transportation and flashier prizes, although I felt it lacked the guerrilla spirit of the Cheonan Games (although team Durkadurkastan certainly would not have been out of place in Samgeori Park).

Memories of Korea: A Cheonan Christmas

Because I am counting, and I know that I have but 25 days left in Korea (for real this time) I'm in a nostalgic mood, and thinking back on the place that has been my home for the past 3-odd years (Odd in that is roughly 3 years, and odd in that it has been, at times, odd). I'm planning...a retrospective of shorts, a chronicle of the high points of my times here. First up is the first of several Christmases I spent away from home. The ex-pats of Cheonan gathered in Brooke's apartment to cook a turkey acquired from godknowswhere (actually, I think Jess got it from her sister on base, but I'm not positive), make merry and drink wine straight from the box. There were even kids there.




























Here you see a photo of me pretending I wasn't losing my hair, and as unphotogenic as ever.



This is from my 2nd xmas away from home...but that's not Korea now, is it?

Recent Photos

From the War Museum in Seoul and Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon.


Hey....I've only got a month to go, gotta pack in those cultural excursions.