Suckling Pig: 2007

Sunday, December 30, 2007

sarang hae yo, yeah yeah

tonight, i'm making it a quiet night.
I've decided not to go out clubbing and chilling in the HK centre...
today's already been a tiring day with relatives and I kinda just want to reflect
and take everything in from my experience in HK.

While on the ferry from HK to Discovery Bay,
i looked at the island...and it made me remember my grandpa
and how that was his place..
how much i missed him
and how much i really love him.
My grandpa was the first person that really made me feel special
and that i mattered.
It's not that my parents did not love me when i was growing up.
But they were busy with their own shit and trying to keep things afloat.
And well...i will admit that my brother is probably more lovable and charming than me...so I can see how i could be hidden by his shadow.
So it makes me even more special for the fact that he noticed me
and actually saw something in me (despite having so many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren)
He cared about me and got out of his way to help me a lot of times...in secret too.
I'll be forever grateful to him.
And I guess as a way to repay him...i'm going to try to live along the lines where if he saw me, he would be proud.
I'm going to try to be a good person.
I'm going to try to be honourable.
I'm going to try....

I've created a few monologues in my head...
but..they're still seedlings and i'm just not going to showcase it here just yet..

pictures posted up here

Full picture gallery here

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Putting the "Ho" in "Hong Kong"

here i am...sitting on a 4 story patio,
having my brunch served by a full time maide...
overlooking the discovery bay, in the distance, disney land...a beautiful beach..
and eagles flying in the sky.
life. is. awesome.

I'm really loving hong kong..actually,
it's not quite hong kong since i'm quite far from the city...
which makes it even more awesome.

So far, i've been chillin' and filling my gullet with wonderful wonderful chinese food.
I've been consuming almost everything in sight that is of Chinese and childhood resemblance
and so far...all of it has been GREAT!
went a little shopping and will be doing more
prices? AWESOME!
bought a pair of jeans for 20 bucks cdn
what?!
lol

I'm feelin' a tad guilty right now because i have yet to call my relatives (who i don't think i've ever met)
but i will...soon...eventually..
it just means that when i do, i have to meet up with them in the city,
which i don't want to do b/c it's so damn busy and crowded.
And as many of you know:
i HATE crowded places...
too claustrophobic...too much shoving...b.o..rudeness...touching.. and so forth.

I'm having an amazing time
and i'm loving the company of eva,
b/c i know really do appreciate good company and good friends..
and...well..just the familiar..
Also, i discovered that my cantonese hasn't fully faded
and it's not as bad as my relatives have teased me about.
My understanding is actually above the level of an average CBC (Canadian born Chinese)
so...*yeee* SUCK IT! you blasted bastards who tease me!

Anyways, i'm gonna enjoy the rest of my day.
Happy belated x-mas...
or Happy Holidays to all!

Here are some pics of my HK trip so far..

Final note:
I think so far, my experience overall has been very humbling..
and grateful for the things and people that i do have...and extremely grateful for the things and people that i don't.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Still at school right now.

Last night was amazing.

My co-workers and boss went out for dinner as an early Christmas party.

Yet again: unlimited food and drinks.

After, we went to a place right across from the restaurant we went to

and my bosses ordered expensive seafood...and bottomless drinks.

I was so stuffed....

and my co-workers were pretty smashed that we started to sing random songs out loud.

Finally, despite being 1am and having to go to work the next day,

we all went to a noraebang...where we sang our voices away till 2am....

plus unlimited drinks lol

We ended the night with a singing of "hey Jude"....

Did i tell you my bosses were with us throughout this entire time?

and that the majority of time, they coaxed us on? haha

*gawd* i really love my employers.

My bosses were smashed and so cute..

at the noraebang, my boss serenaded his wife (my other boss)

and they danced...very cute.

The wife started doing this cute dance and playing with my face....

take into account that she's usually very distant and conservative..and seemingly cold.

So it was a pretty interesting and fun atmosphere.

I had an awesome time.....although we may have celebrated our winter vacation a tad too early...

as today, many of my co-workers had hang overs lol

Obviously, i didn't b/c:

1. i didn't drink that much

2. i don't get drunk

3. i know my limit :P

I think that's what i like about hanging with my co-workers and bosses:

they know their alcohol limits and don't go insanely drunk that they start puking

or becoming a public nuisance...or embarassing.

They only reach a point where they're more talkative and open...

I like that.

Well, as i mentioned before: I'm still at school.

Why? i'm waiting for Sarah to get off work so we can go out to have dinner and a movie.

also, i'm really hoping Lauren will be alright.

She got really sick last night and the doctor scared her today be saying she had appendicitis...

which is SO not what it is because if it were, she would be in a lot of pain...

and probably not be able to move or speak, due to the pain.

But i'm still worried, b/c right now, she's at the emergency room (not that big of a deal here) with Joey and Mrs. Kim.

*crosses fingers* i really do hope she's okay.

As for me...i'm STOKED for Hong Kong! i'll be leaving Sunday

But i really need to clean my place (damn sophie)

B/c once i come back, I'll have a guest, a family friend, Carmen, housing with me for a week.

I'm excited since she's the closest thing to home I have right now..and i'm taking whatever I can.

I also need to buy a 'thank you' present for Eva's parents..for housing me at their place while i'm at HK.

Also have to do a whole bunch of errands....

and reserve a day to see some relatives i don't ever recall meeting, at HK (b/c i'm forced to by my parents).

So yeah...i have a LOT to do before i leave for HK...

i STILL haven't packed yet *eep*

whatever, it's X-mas holiday!!!

Pictures will eventually follow once i get the time to upload everything and post it.

I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday (yeah, i'm being PC about this) and Happy New Years!

This may be one of the best X-mas and new years i've ever had in my life...for now :)

Friday, December 14, 2007

Hey DJ, play my song!

This is for you, baby..
i'm groovin' to this and thinkin' about you.

Kylie Minogue - All I See lyrics

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

"It's fried rice! You PLICK!"

ooo..another update!!
just a few random photogs.
I have this thang with keepin' my bathroom extremely neat..clean..and hygenic.
So here's what i've been doing with my toilettries

look! it matches!
i love these knick knacks i've discovered over my shopping escapades.
Here, I can hang my cup, tongue scraper, razor, my toothbrush AND my toothpaste tube.
I <3

Here's a pic of some delicious food I had with lauren.
From left to right:
a bottle of cider (asian 7-up); an egg drop soup that is absolutely amazing..and i have yet to learn its name, the customary kimchi, Kimchi chun (kimchi pancake..SOOOO GOOOD), and finally, coke in its wonderful original packaging of it being in a glass bottle (you can definitely taste the difference...and it's AWESOME!).

Finally, here's a pic of my favourite spot near insadong.
It's a starbucks, 2nd floor..where i get to people watch and comfortably read and write.
It's great.

and that's it for now folks...some random pics can be found here

last words for tonight

I forgot to mention:
if you can get your greasy little fingers on Kylie Minogue's new cd
DOOO EEEET!
it's hawt, fun, and definitely something to groove to.
Though all the songs on the CD are not cohesive..
there are a lot of great singles.
LOVIN' IT!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

blorg blorg blorg

The day immediately after i mentioned on my blog that i would be counting the days that my school doesn't put up my photo...
they call me out to take a pic of me and then a day later, put it up.
*pfft* 4 days...i shall have that ingrained in my mind...*glares* lol

It's so weird, despite being thousands of miles apart...and being 23..
i'm STILL being lectured by my mother.
this past saturday night, i webcammed with my mom
and she lectured me about..i dunno...breathing?
something that was obviously true.
And as usual, i just gave my bored look or watched t.v.
while reluctantly agreeing.

A follow up on my Matt meeting this saturday.
it was GREAT!
he looks skinnier and he brough me to myondong...
a place in Korea known for its fashion.
We had some amazing lunch..which was chicken and noodles
it was extremely spicy, despite specifically ordering for it not being spicy..
AND we decided to do something new for the both of us:
we went to a cafe shop with a fortune teller
and he told us our fortunes (with Matt translating for me...of course)

The fortune teller said a lot of things that really hit the mark.
My past relationships..and how my character and aspirations are.
I was surprised b/c what he told us was definitely not open for interpretation.
It was extremely specific.
There was one about relationships..
which totally depicts what has occurred in my past
and has sorta set a sturdy foundation of a decision i've been wavering upon.

Another thing is that he said i had a high ego
and would never be satisfied.
Once he said that..i thought: *oh gawd* not another lecture about my big ego,
and restlessness
however! he followed it with very positive messages.
He indicated that because of my big ego, i'll be rising high in my career...
although i'll never be satisfied everytime i reach an extremely high position.

I don't mind that at all.
Sure, i'm restless....but i'm kind of living by a saying a wise person said..from where? i do not know, but it was a long time ago and it just..well...stuck:
When an artist finishes a painting and says that it's his best work,
then he should just quit and not paint anymore..
because there's nothing else to do.
That was his best and nothing can surpass the best.

I don't think i ever want to stop.
And when I do..it'll be when i die.
I want to keep on improving and changing and doing something in life.
Contentness=no progress.

Speaking of death..he said i'd die around my 90s....
yeah....i don't plan on living that long
c'maaan euthanasia!
lol

There many other interesting (and extremely bone chilling) revelations said by the fortune teller...
but i take it with a grain of skepticism...
a minute hopes of it being false
and also a big chunk of knowing when not to reveal all my cards.
So there was much more..but that's all i'm going to reveal for now.

Lastly, last week, I scared the shit out of one of my classes
and made one non fragile student go into tears.
No, i did not threaten to strip infront of them XP
but i was so peeved that he had made my partner korean teacher upset and wanting to quit..
and was doing the same trick on me that I just had a "talk" with him infront of the entire class.
My eyes stared him and the other offending parties down..
and my voice went an octave lower...with a hint of rage.
The entire atmosphere of the class changed....
it was AWESOME!
I dislike it when my cool korean partner teachers are bothered by students,
and I especially will not allow any student taking advantage of my laidback, attempts to make class fun ways...
so they felt the wrath of the HO!
MWAHAHAHHAAHAHA!!

I apologize for not updating as much as i should,
but errands have taken up my life at the moment...
something about writing too many x-mas cards,
taking advantage of my dog not being at home to wash the floors...
and succumbing to lethargy.
I'm extremely excited for my upcoming trip to HK.
I'm stoked to go to a place where I at least know the majority of what people are saying...
and seeing familiar faces e.g. Eva!!
woot!
aaaaand....CHINESE FOOD!!! *drools*
so another time

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Whether I fall

I'm loving this song

I love her voice (i dislike this amateur video..but just listen to the song)

today, i had dinner with joey, jiny and lauren.
It was great, lots of good convo.
After, we went to a Hof and had some cool traditional korean drinking snacks and so forth.
We plan on going to a beijing tour during the korean new years vacation
*woot**woot*
I'm really lovin' my co-workers (well..the elementary school ones, anyways)
it seems really niche...but what can you do.

I picked up my sunglasses today, it's awesome.
Joey forced me to show it off to my bosses, supervisor and the other co-workers.
So i did, with a cheesy smile and the double finger guns.
After, my korean boss said i was a "poonsu"
meaning: a cute jokester..or something to that like.
:)
I'm glad my bosses like me...
although i'm still peeved that they have yet to post my pic on the "Thank you teachers" wall.
4 days...4 days... i'm counting how long they will post up my pic
that's right...i'm building a grudge XP

Sometimes I wish there was a contrapment that hooked up to my mind and recorded everything I thought.
The thing is, I think a lot about what i want to write..but sadly, my mind goes faster than my fingers can write/type.
It gets frustrating...and I do always have quality stuff that i concoct in my mind...
but just never the time or means to jot it down :(
*sigh* d'ah well.

I'm so exhausted now and the sophster's with me now.
So it's time for our bedtime.
i hope everybody's doing good, despite the snowstorm back at home.
I apologize for not speaking to many of you, but i have and will be busy for the next few days...
aaaaand...i'll finally be seeing Matt, my ex tutoree from Korea this saturday!
*Excited*
i haven't seen him for...2 or 3 years?
insane.

Monday, December 3, 2007

pic(k)s

here's some pics, as promised.
I decided to be kind to my slower connected/computered friends
and have made an account with LJ solely for my pics and its lovely rich cut option

http://sucklingpigpics.livejournal.com/

Here's some direct links to it:
Sophie pics with her new do...*Sigh*
http://sucklingpigpics.livejournal.com/762.html#cutid1

and here's some school pics i took
http://sucklingpigpics.livejournal.com/836.html#cutid1

pics of my mountain hike and snowboarding shall be coming up soon...

Sunday, December 2, 2007

fun in the....sun (?)

This past weekend has been pretty awesome.
the first package my parents sent me FINALLY came...so that means...
i am well supported....
by BRAS!!!
WOOOOT!!!
Also, last weekend, i finally bought my parent's x-mas present
and i FINALLY bought a camera for myself....
an awesome camera.
However, I still have yet to pick up my laptop from ange,
so you'll just have to wait for pics in due time.
One awesome thing that happened was that last night, immediately after work,
I went to learn snowboarding with my korean co-worker, joey.
We skiied till 5am...and i eventually came back home at around 7:45am.
It was insanely cheap...basically cost me $40 for rentals and ski lifts.
It was really weird....you can rent a snowboarding/ski suit too!
lol ridiculous
another ridiculous thing is that i picked up how to snowboard after 1 1/2 runs down the hill.
yup, that;s right! in about 2 hours, i picked up how to snowboard (not well, mind you..but i did)
*ah* stubborness...the times when you are of assistance to me.
Joey's friends, who were trying to teach me how to snowboard despite not knowing how to speak English,
was duely impressed and teased Joey about me being better than her, despite it being her 2nd time snowboarding..and it being my first.
It was an amazing experience! and Joey's bf hooked me up with some sweet schwag..
like a van dutch toque and some warm gloves (he's a retail supplier).

Another thing that happened this past week was that the damn dog wrecked my glasses :(
she scratched up my lenses and my frame...
so I had to go to the glasses place with joey in tow to translate and haggle for me.
In the end, I decided to just keep my frame with new lenses (i like my frame...it's versace lol)
aaaaand...i got prescriptioned giorgio armani sunglasses!! YEEEEE!!!
both together cost? 150$
BOOYAH!!
thaaaank-you korea!!
I shall be getting my sunglasses this coming tuesday..and i'm so stoked.

So as you can pretty much figure...it's been an extremely expensive past week with everything...
but i'm happy
and in the end, that's all that matters.

aites, time to enjoy the absolute ridiculousness of "the 40 year old virgin" on tv.

pictures shall come soon, hopefully tomorrow.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

i want a hango oh mah too :(

damnit, wish i had a korean sugar momma too

today, i went mountain hiking-climbing with my boss, his friends, lauren, and her friend, melissa.
It was awesome and a definite change from my other weekends.
We went onto sampeon-san; an easy mountain that's next to dobongsan.
I was definitely not prepared.
I had my timbaland boot...a roots toque...mitts..and my snowboarding jacket...
i was both overdressed and underdressed -_-""

I was DYING going up the ascent.
and my boss' friend, who's also my school's building manager was pawing over me..
and kept on tricking me to go to the more difficult route with him...
which i naively did..
but i did enjoy it b/c i got to mountain climb.
The view was AMAZING and pictures will come up soon once i receive them from my boss.
Also, the descent was great and i wasn't tired at all,
in comparison to my fellow hikers.
The hike took about....4-5 hours.
During the ascent, melissa and i had to pass out on this flat rock,
to the amusement of a korean lady who was resting on the rock.
I literally fell to my back and did not want to get up...telling my fellow climbers to go one without me.
The poor lady was cracking up and saying something in korean..to the likes of:
oh you poor, unhealthy thing. I am amused by your sufferings.
lol (sometimes it's more fun to not know what ppl are saying to you)

During our descent, near the end, we went to this family restaurant that gave us a table right by the mountain stream.
It was amazing.
We had fresh chicken (and i mean FRESH! we picked out the live chicken lol) soup
with rice.
OMG! SOOOO GOOOOD.
it was GREAT!
and i'm definitely going to do it again.
....hopefully with the appropriate equipment.
ALthough the weather today was amazing because it's the beginning of winter...
therefore, no bugs and not too hot and not too cold (for a Canadian)
so in the end, i just hiked with my long sleeved shirt and pants most of the way.
With the occasional putting on my thin coat.
I also love my boss.
During my welcome dinner, my boss and his wife informed all of us that my boss wasn't allowed to smoke
and if we caught him, to take a picture of him and show it to his wife.
Once she left, he informed us that he'll pay 50 dollars for each picture we take of him (and to erase it)
so...i took the opportunity today to take the picture...
as he ran away.
hahaha so funny.
for the rest of the trip, he tried to make a deal with me and to promise him not to show his wife.
hahaha.
so i eventually agreed to erase it for a free dinner (i was just joking anyways)

Also, last night, lauren and i went for some pizza at our neighbourhood pizza place that is a 1 minute walk away from our building.
The pizza guy knows me.
Everytime i walk by, he always says 'hi' to me and if i don't go there for awhile, he probably says in korean that he hasn't seen me for awhile.
Anyways, we ate at the pizza place and there was a tv there.
We decided to change the channels to an Englishchannel (Chicago)
despite being the only English speakers there.
I put the volume really low so that it wouldn't bother anyone.
Later on, the pizza guy turned up the volume up for us b/c he knew we couldn't hear it.
It's so awesome, to have these ppl to be cool with us and be kind.
I'm loving my experience here.
And i think i've become a mountain hiking-climbing fan.
I might go mountain climbing soon...
so stoked.

ANways, tomorrow will be a busy day for me.
I gotta go and pay for my flight ticket for x-mas...
go to yongsan to buy my parents their x-mas present (and maybe get my own..if i can get a good deal...
and i still have to make a test for monday.
Gonna be an expensive and exhausting day.

i hope everyone's having a good day
and i will hopefuly be able to write and send some x-mas cards...
cuz i purchased some awesome and cute holiday cards these past few days.
:)

Thursday, November 22, 2007

ho say "whuh?!"

yesterday, I took my pup to the vet...
and to my surprise, they said that they would shave her down.
WHen i returned, I was in shock!
They gave my dog a very asian dog hairstyle...with BOWS on her EARS!!
BOWS!!!
I loved how my dog looked before...
how she resembled an ewok
it was awesome...
but now...she's so.....GIRLY!
it's gonna take some time to get used to
Although she DOES smell much better.

Anyways, I'm trying to avoid office politics as much as possible.
I dislike politics
and thank gawd I don't understand the majority of what they're saying (them speaking korean, that is)
that I can just assume that everything is fine.
Whether it is or not (which is most likely not), I won't know for sure or exactly what.
*ah* ignorance! how i've missed you!

I've finally received package from my family.
It being the 2nd package they've sent me...and it being the first package i've received.
So you do the math.
I'm concerned about the 1st unarrived package because it has some important things i need in it...
i.e. closet organizers and...well...bras.
Really sucks that it's not here yet.
But i'm stoked that i finally did receive a package...or even mail from Canada.
My dad put in some cool snacks and goodies.
I e-mailed my parents immediately after I received the box at work
and my dad responded with the cutest of smug responses:
"You know I know the best!"
oh dad...

It's going to be a full few days ahead of me.
Alotta things happening including going back to Insadong to get my watch batteries in....
mountain hiking with the bosses...
and hopefully having enough time to go to yongsan so I can get a camera for the folks...
and perhaps dongdaemun to get some shoes and a good knock off purse for my mom....
and also a sweater for my now semi-nude dog.
yes, that's right...i've become one of THOSE people.
But i can't help it, these things are so cheap here and have so many designs...
and 2 days ago, it SNOWED!
SNOWW!!!! i was so happy.
it's finally feeling like it's winter
although i'm still wearing my hoodie w/o a winter jacket
cuz dude...i came from Canada, this is *nothing*
(well, it IS something...it dipped to zero degrees celsius...but that's NOTHING!)
also...my jacket's at the dry cleaners (6 bucks! woot!) so i don't really have a choice.

Alright, enough of this entry.
I gotta eventually wake up tomorrow, although it'll be an easy day...
cuz it's my FAVOURITE time of the month!!
*dum dum DUUUUUUM*
TEST DAY!!
which means: handing out tests and doing crosswords/wordsearches/suduku while those poor poor children stress over their tests....
oh..and eventually marking them (which takes so little time for me)
Now I know why my teachers loved giving out tests.
Although at times, it is a tad depressing b/c some of my classes nearly fail the tests,
but it's not due to my inadequacies as a teacher
but b/c they're terrible students!
My other classes who i get along with: EXCELLING!
the terrible ones?!
to HELL!

alright... time to go to bed before the sophster wakes me up

Sunday, November 18, 2007

finalement

i apologize for the delayed post.
It seems i've been quite busy and reluctant to post.
In the past week, i've yet again, gotten suckered into going to another "Asian night out" bar/clubbing for Erin's belated b-day celebration.
We went to Hongdae.
I got a sexual proposition by some guy from India
and had to feign being engaged to a man in Canada.
With the help of Marie, the story was complete.
I really didn't want to go that night.
I was actually contemplating ditching the group of people and taking the subway home at around 11pm.
But...it was Erin's celebration and the consequences of my actions would be that Erin and Ange would be peeved.
So i followed...with Erin's korean co-worker in tow, Tee.
She glued herself to me due to the mutual yellow-asian skin.
Despite her being in her...30s.... Both her and I agreed that these type of things were not our "thang" and that we were just too old for this crap...
as we watched sad and desperate attempts of ppl trying to pick other ppl up..and public drunkeness.
At 2am, i REALLY wanted to leave and contemplated taking the taxi back home...
due to the crap music being played...
the terrible sight of desperation and drunkens..
and the need for room and space (being in crowded clubs/bars),
which caused me to just hang outside of the club w/ Tee for a good hour or 2.
I should have left with Jemz and Natalie,
I could've been sharing a posh hotel room with them...
*damn* me.
Anyways, at around 3am ish...the gals were tired of the crap club
and we all decided to go to a noraebong (a karoake place) to sing out our energies until the subway opened (5:30am)
and so we did.
It was great!
and i was amazed by the large selection of good English songs there were.
I eventually lost my voice and could not sing.
So I became the designated song chooser.

I alo enjoyed the complimentary jangles they gave us.
At 5:30am, we headed off.
Poor Ange was going to collapse, so Ange, Erin, Tee and I decided to just split a Taxi.
I was the last person to be dropped off...
and Tee, Ange and I found out from the Taxi driver that he did not know where my stop was....so I said "screw it", due to pure exhaustion,
and stayed at Ange' place for the night.
It's weird, I haven't shared a singles' bed with another person for awhile.
And yet again, I share the bed with a person who hogs the damn blankets.

Anyways, these past 2 weeks, i've been getting quite frustrated with some of my co-workers,
especially the English Speakers.
Mostly b/c i know they dislike me, due to my eccentricity and just trying to make things around less dreary...
and b/c they're bitter and homesick.
But i really don't think they should take it out on me.
It seems the many ppl who are homesick tend to take it out on innocent victims.
And I think that's utterly childish.

Speaking of childish:
Despite the many who are older than me (age-wise)
somehow, i'm still the more mature one.
despite my periodic immaturity (e.g. sexual innuendo).
Sure, i may talk the talk..but i definitely do not act utterly inappropriate.
I also don;t outright offend an entire culture,
just b/c they're different from the culture one is originally from.

These things are just getting to me.
And it's embarassing and causes me to lose respect for these people.

Either way, i'm still happy I chose to come to Korea,
I'm enjoying my financial freedom.
Even today when I woke up and was in my sleepy daze...
i realized:
I'm in Korea! This singles apartment is mine!
and happiness and freedom just crashed upon me.
I just had to have the biggest smile on my face.

Another thing that make me excited is my Hong Kong trip coming soon...
and a possibility that Eva might be coming to Korea for 3-12months next year.
I'd be extremely happy if she did.
I'll have someone who i could really connect with and go shopping with.
In addition, we've been talking about me joining her in China after my Korea stint.
And i definitely would not mind.
I should try to pick up some of my mother tongue.
And it'd be a new experience.
Hell, I have nothing really that concrete waiting for me in Canada.
I can't get a decent job and decent pay...
although i really do miss my collection of friends.

I've weeded out all the crap people and have found wonderful, priceless friends that i can connect with.
and now, being here...i gotta start all over again.
I think that's something that sometimes gets me down:
to have to start all over again with finding quality people to hang with...
and who have the essential quality and traits I need to have a decent friendship.
But I know the friends that i have at home are still there.
And that they do exist.
I know i'll be seeing them again
and I know they understand that my travelling is something that I need.
Even my family understands this.

So there you have it...
hopefully i'll get a camera soon...
so i can post hundreds of pictures on here.
But until then, I will attempt to post more regularly.
Quality posts are not guaranteed

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

home

currently, i'm watching a program on the discovery channel regarding the JFK assassination.
*ah* brings back memories of my last year of uni
about conspiracy theories..focussing on the JFK assassination conspiracy theories.

Anyways, this past weekend, i finally said some bittersweet words
that i didn't want to say out loud, but I did..b/c it slipped..but:
"I won't be home anytime soon"

It still puts a lil' pang on the ole heart..
but a sense of freedom and happiness as well.
To be honest: I don't know when i will be back in Toronto.
There really is no good reason to go back and to settle.
And i just don't like settling..
especially when i'm no longer shackled down.
I love living out on my own.

To the many who know me and have witnessed the disaster of my room:
My place is immaculately clean.
That's right!
I'm a clean person.
Back in Toronto, my helplessness exuded through how i kept my room.
I just didn't care and i gave up.
But here, i actually care.
I actually care how i live and what i eat.
I care.
And that is something.

One more note:
I am ABSOLUTELY not fit to teach children.
I'm just too easy going and laid back
I just don't care.
Some kid swore?
"What did he/she say? *woah* that was a good one. How do you say it again?"
"He pushed you? so? push him back then, I don't care"

And to teach children (and even puppies...) i would have to be very strict and consistent w/ my punishment,
and i'm not.
I think i can only really get along with a living being that has fully established its own sense of being.
A finished product.

I'll have to keep that in mind.
For future use.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Now I Know why I'm so attracted to this

Artist: Robin Thicke
Song: The Stupid Things

Lyrics :

Just charge it to my account
I hope I haven't gone over my limit
With interest rates so swift
No need to scream and shout
No doubt if women are from Venus now
I'll get to them somehow

All I want to do is please you
Please myself by living my life too

And all the stupid things I do
Have absolutely no reflection on How I feel about you
How I feel about you
All the stupid things I do have absolutely no reflection on
How I feel about you
How I feel about you yeah

Oh yes I recall
Skipping on breakfast to play basketball
Then feeling two feet small
Sometimes you read like William Shakes
Your scent is sweet like Betty Crooker bakes
I'd love to have your cake and eat it too

All I want to do is please you
Please myself by living my life too

And all the stupid things I do
Have absolutely no reflection on How I feel about you
How I feel about
All the stupid things I do have absolutely no reflection on
How I feel about you
How I feel about you yeah

And all the stupid things I do
Have absolutely no reflection on How I feel about you
How I feel about
Oh how I feel about you
How I feel about you yeah

Sunday, November 4, 2007

music soothes my soul

I wanted to write an entry,
to inform about my week...
how i informed my mother that I have a pet dog...
about halloween..
about how much i missed the good ol' Church st. halloween party...
about people who are not unnerved by my eccentricity...
and about my thoughts on why perhaps i tend to disappear...
but at the moment, I just want to share this song...
To my surprise, hedwig and the angry inch was playing on t.v.
but then i realized: korea has been, so far, the only place where i've seen so many men in dresses...more than pride.

I've been humming to this tune ever since.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

hyphenated-reality

that word has been constantly running through my head
thoughout my time in Korea.

How is it that wherever I go,
I have to constantly prove
either my asian-ness
or my western-ness

in Canada,
to the Asians, I had to prove how more Chinese I was
and to my employers and collegues, my North American liberalness..

And now, in Korea,
I have to constantly prove how North American I am.

Currently, at my school,
I am constantly on edge...
having to prove how Western I am...
having to hide my Chinese roots..
and constantly in fear that my students would drop,
simply b/c my skin is yellow.
Despite my level of English and abilities as a teacher,
I will lose my school's business b/c of my skin...
in an Asian country...

It's unavoidable, isn't?
yes, I am Chinese
yes, I am Canadian
and here, the hyphen resides:
Chinese-Canadian.
Thank you Wayson Choy.

I live in a hyphenated reality.
My skin tells the world that I am of an Asian descent
My way of thought and way of communication, North American.
And yet my practices, perspective...is the mixture of those two worlds.
Why is it that the societies that i reside in must always make a distinction between the two?
That I must either be Chinese OR Canadian.

Right now, I have to be Canadian
and I must hide my Chinese roots.
Sure, I can hardly speak any Cantonese...
but I grew up with a strong Chinese influence (food, traditions)
but I also grew up in Canada... with its own traditions.
Can they not work together?
Can't I show the world both without having to overcompensate one over the other?

Yes, it's true a Chinese perspective is different from a Canadian one...
but it works
the hybrid of the two exists and does not contradict one another.
I know, because I am that hybrid.

And now, this hybrid is at risk of losing a job
b/c a society deems her not good enough to teach English
b/c of her skin.
Despite having a greater grasp of English than the rest of her other co-workers.

so that's what's on my mind as of late.
Sure, things happened throughout the week
but i prefer writing this down.
b/c it's been bugging me.

Right now, i'm really feelin' and playing on constant loop:
Apologize - Timbaland ft One Republic

Sunday, October 21, 2007

just a number

after last night's escapades...
it has solidified my thoughts of myself about
just being too old for all of these late night parties.

i can do with the gambling....
and i can even do with the clubbing...
but i can't do this to my body anymore.
And the club scene really isn't for me,
except just to hang with friends.
Sure, getting random strangers attempting to pick you up
and telling you you're hot
or making out with ex-models just for the sake of it
feeds the self-esteem/ego
but...that really doesn't do it for me.
despite being 23, and technically still "young" or a "baby"
to my co-workers and peers,
i know who i am,
i know what i want..
and i can distinguish the difference between a superficial appreciation and a quality appreciation.
the latter is what i want.
and the former is the one that i just brush off my shoulder or just to simply nod to.

Besides, i don't think i'd really want to meet anyone under those conditions.
just not something i'm looking for when i'm in there.
i just want to have a good time w/ friends.

i know i am young, age-wise
and i can act like a kid most of the time....
but deep down inside,
i'm older than the ones who are three or four times my age.
Life may bring people experiences and knowledge,
but until you actually use it and apply it to your life,
one will never attain wisdom and growth.

I guess i should be thankful for the crap that i had to go through
in order for me to get a grasp on different perspectives
and knowledge.

Final note?
know what your limit is and when to say "that's enough"

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

as promised:

pics!
at the 63 building's crappy sea world.
I couldn't help but do this...for the sex ed. counsellor in me.
..and the konglish
haha

at a korean Lush! (yeah, i'm as surprised as you are)
with...KONGliSh!!!
the koreans have a tendency to switch 'l's and 'r's...
mostly because of their language's switching of the two.

here's me terrified as we got to the fireworks grounds an hour early...
a sea of koreans...
possibility of losing me in this sea of asians?
and me getting lost with the inability to communicate that i'm lost?
99.5%

here's my russian whor...err...i mean...Angela and I waiting in line to get up to the observatory.

here's us being goofs..
with the photo ops section.
it's suppose to look like we're climbing up the 63 building

here's me taking the last parachute as erin falls to her bloody death
bwahahhahaha!!

aaaaaaaaaaaaand...here's my msn pic currently:

Korea: where you can have your dog and eat it too

this past saturday,
i went w/ a group of comrades to the 63 building (Korea's tallest building)
and to check out the international fireworks competition.
the 63 building was *meh* but the photo ops were absolutely hilarious.
(which shall be posted soon)
As for the fireworks?!
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
and i've seen many fireworks in my days...
but these were absolutely ridiculous,
and like in Korean fashion:
absolutely over the top, unnecessary, but visually pleasing.
I was extremely satisfied and in awe.

Also, during the fireworks display,
the realization that:
"Gawd, i'm in Korea! i'm REALLY in Korea! on my own!"
had hit me.
and i felt so humbled.

Another humbling thing that occurred was that on monday...
I GOT PAID!!
WOOT!
working for about a month and a half...
with the 500 000 won advance...
i wanted to dance in my bank when i checked my balance..
but when i was in mid breakout dance.. an old lady was staring at me,
so i quickly walked away
with the biggest smile on my face.
i can't believe how decently paid we are here, based on our benefits,
the type of work we do...
and the living expenses..
it's absolutely insane.

today, while walking the sophster,
i had an interesting...encounter...
which now leaves me to come up with a decision
before i receive a certain call.
and lemmie tell you:
i'm EXTREMELY tempted..

Saturday, October 13, 2007

talkin' and drinkin' with the SLP crew

I just returned from an AMAZING night...
with my bosses and the pre-middle schooler teachers.
Tonight, our bosses took us out for dinner and drinks as a belated welcome party for the new teachers for the night crew.
I was one of those welcomees.
We had amazing fresh seafood (and i mean: AMAZING)
i tried some of the different seafoods i saw at busan..
and i tried the soju that's fermented in a bamboo..
which tastes like an apple flavoured vodka...
and it went down smooth
I was very impressed.

But we had awesome conversations...
and my bosses are amazing and are absolutely entertained by me
and how i interact with many of the teachers.
It was great.
I got to learn a lot about my bosses and my co-workers...
and had fun too.
Even before we went for dinner,
lauren, adam, sunny and I finished early before the other teachers,
so we took out a game of scrabble.
fun stuff.
My supervisor was going to join us, but she thought she would have a great disadvantage against us foreigners (with the exception of sunny).

It was a great day.
and seeing my bosses smashed was insanely entertaining.
And the food and drinks just kept on coming.
It was like an endless stream of seafood, soju and beer.

I'm loving my employment,
and it seems (to my relief) that my bosses are cool with me.

I'll even be hiking with my bosses and a few of my co-workers next saturday on one of the thousands of mountain in Korea.
....i'm screwed
lol

alright, time to do some late night laundry.

Friday, October 12, 2007

the brighter side

it's not that i'm lazy about blogging...
it's more of: i'm too busy enjoying what i'm doing...
or, i'm going to work and there's really nothing much to talk about.

however, I do have something to write now.
This past monday,
I was at my kindergarten class teaching science..
now usually, i hate these classes b/c the science projects i'm teaching
are way over the children's heads...
i have to take care of 12 screaming pre-schoolers that speak an entirely different language...
and i have to do their individual science experiments all at the same time as the rest continue to scream and whine
"help me teacher, why aren't you helping me?!"

But at the beginning of this kindergarten class...
the cutest little korean girl grabbed my arm
(mind you, many korean kids grab onto you...i have been sexually molested by many of them continuously...)
she patted my arm...
and then kissed it.
She then backed away with the most innocent of eyes.

I think i just melted when that happened and brightened up my day.
That was the most innocent thing I think i have ever experienced.
the act of well...appreciation with no strings attached.
and it just occurred out of nowhere,
since i just entered the class with an armful of science materials.
And that very scene has just been playing in my mind for the past few days.
b/c it's rare that i receive such...honest affections.

Anyways,
despite being in Korea, I still celebrated Canadian thanksgiving.
I got hooked up with a 20 lbs bird called "turkey'
and paid 20 bucks for it
*score*
However, I was given the task to cook the turkey...
in a small convection oven...it took about seven to eight hours to reach the end result:

now imagine you trying to cram a massive 20 lbs turkey into a small-sized convection oven...
cuz lemmie tell you...i didn't have to.
I had to cut the ribs open and smash it into the turkey,
take off the wings and legs in order to fit that damn thing in.
It was a 2 1/2 hour wrestle, to the amusement of my co-worker.
But it was no lighter..since I had stuffed the turkey with various vegetables.
In the end, the end product, I must say..was not too shabby:
the turkey with the gravy (all homemade with the very limited ingredients i had)

and the rest of the spread:

here are the ppl who feasted (without erin, since she was taking the pic)
do mind my scrabby look since I had less than 5 hours of sleep
and for the most of the day was cooking a massive turkey,
sweating, cleaning, and hauling that mo' fo' to and fro

As for my trip to the traditional Korea village this past saturday...
here are a few pics:

me trying to work the ancient grinder...
and apparently "failing epically" (by erin)

foraging for some food...cuz as always: "so hungeee"

sneaking into a field of some crop for a photo op

Aaaaaaaand getting punished accordingly for trespassing, korean style

Also, there was an international museum at that place
and lemmie tell you:
it was like they went to the cheapest souvenir shops all over the world
and just put them on display.
It was hilarious and scary at the same time.
Since it was mixed with racist and just utterly incorrect.
hell! they even got China wrong!

alright, time to go to bed.
i would love to receive mail from people *hint**hint*

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

sometimes i surprise myself:

ho - is missing her moobs and the things attached to them says:
you're the date that craps

ho - is missing her moobs and the things attached to them says:
but not the crap date

Derek - CONGRATULATIONS!!! (you moron) says:
lol

Derek - CONGRATULATIONS!!! (you moron) says:
um

Derek - CONGRATULATIONS!!! (you moron) says:
what's the difference

ho - is missing her moobs and the things attached to them says:
the date that craps merely has to go to the washroom once in a while....

ho - is missing her moobs and the things attached to them says:
while the crap date makes me want to be in the washroom all the time

Derek - CONGRATULATIONS!!! (you moron) says:
LOL

Derek - CONGRATULATIONS!!! (you moron) says:
i see

Derek - CONGRATULATIONS!!! (you moron) says:
subtle but big difference

ho - is missing her moobs and the things attached to them says:
indeed

Sunday, October 7, 2007

a revised Nat King Cole song

forgettable.
a bittersweet realization.
sweet b/c the evidence and regrets, lost.
bitter b/c my worth to you, revealed.

today i went to Suwon with Erin and met up with a new girl from England, Marie.
Cool time.
Went to the korean traditional village...
not bad, but it was too commercialized..kinda like Pioneer Village back at home.
I prefer Busan better.

Erin forced me on a rollercoaster-like ride.
Throughout the entire time, I grabbed onto her yelling:
I HATE YOU SO MUCH, ERIN! I HATE YOOOU
as my bowels and organs flew up and down within my body

went back to my area and helped find and move a new couch for Erin
*woot* free stuff.
It was an amazing modern couch..and essentially in mint condition.

Also, Lauren hooked us up with a 20lbs turkey....for 20 bucks!
we'll be having our own little canadian thanksgiving over here...
and why not.

i should go to bed asap.
I'll be waking up at 8am to start cooking a 20 lbs turkey
:*(
pray for leash

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Lessons Learned:

don't cook bacon and eggs.....

when you're semi-nude.

excuse me as i medicate my 2nd degree burns
all over my.....
well, too much information (in public, that is)

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

serenity prayer

after hearing this song from a LeAnn Rimes' concert,
I fell in love with this song.
Of course I could only get it...4 months later :(
but it's finally out.
It's off of her new album "Family"
and..well...i absolutely adore it
b/c it's essentially a musical version of a prayer that i try to live by.

What I Cannot Change
LeAnn Rimes

I know what makes me comfortable
and to know what makes me tick
And when I need to get my way
I know how to pour it on thick
Cream and sugar in my coffee
Right away when I awake
I face the day, and pray to God
I won’t make the same mistakes

All the rest is out of my hands
I will learn to let go what I cannot change
I will learn to forgive what I cannot change
I will learn to love what I cannot change
But I will change, yeah I will change
Whatever I, whenever I can

Yeah I don’t know my father
Or my mother well enough
It seems like every time we talk
We can’t get passed the little stuff
The pain is self-inflicted
I know it’s not good for my health
But it’s easier to please the world
Than it is to please myself

All the rest is out of my hands
I will learn to let go what I cannot change
I will learn to forgive what I cannot change
I will learn to love what I cannot change
But I will change, yeah I will change
Whatever I, whenever I can

Well I know I can’t care about how everyone else really feels
I have enough hurt of my own to heal

I will learn to let go what I cannot change
I will learn to forgive what I cannot change
I will learn to let go what I cannot change
I will learn to forgive what I cannot change
I will learn to love what I cannot change
But I will change, yeah I will change
Whatever I, whenever I can

i love options

hmmm....a year in shanghai/beijing to teach and/or to study?!
mmmmm......i love options
and i love how i can just get up and leave.

also, a vacation with fatman to anywhere around the world?!
w/ free hotel stay?!
*awesome*
i love my life.
seriously.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

fishing self

it's interesting how people can easily lose themselves.
i know i've fallen victim to that,
but not for awhile...a long while
and i'm glad of that.
Of course, I have suffered much for swimming against the powerful waves of conformity
but at least i don't have to suffer from those awful moments of realization and regret of actions made out of character.

And we all know: I have character

of course there have been those terrible moments when i've been torn
about how easy it would be just to follow the crowd
or to just follow whatever direction the wind blows....
but then...i would lose myself
and i've worked so hard to be...well...myself
or to even reach a point of knowing and feeling comfortable with myself.
Hence, despite being in a conservative atmosphere...
i'm really not going to hide myself.
I haven't and the people have accepted me that way.
It's not just b/c of my unique character...but it's also b/c my co-workers and peers know that how I act is completely honest
they know i'm not faking or hiding who i am.
I just..well...am.
And they can't really shun me for being...well...me.
You can't get mad at a person who's being entirely honest about themselves to you.
It's not a deception,
so how can you be mad at a person who has no intention and has not decieved you?
you just can't!

Anyways, that's just something that i wanted to write.
On another note, I've been asked if i wanted to continue being a teacher...perhaps as a long time thing.
My answer?
HELLS NO!
at the moment, i am utterly uninspired as a teacher.
Majority of the time, i feel like smacking a few of the kids.
I also don't think i would ever be enthused about teaching children or any individuals that are the likes of the people i'm currently teaching.
Also, the paperwork is extremely tedious and a plenty.
It's sad that the best part of my work would probably be editting my co-worker's works or the journals the children are assigned to write.
But then...this does beat being a filing girl, a physiotherapist's assistant...or a factory worker (and i should know, since i've had said occupations in my past)
And i'm just enjoying the perks of being here.
Including the many paid holidays...and the many holidays, in general
*huzzah* to asia and their numerous holidays, in comparison to the frugal north americans!

i'll end this entry now.
there were a few things i wanted to put down here...
but it's not fully thought out.

sophie says "hello, my lovely audience. Come and play with me!"
*gawd* she's such a whore.
lol