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

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.

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 :)

 

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

"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!

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

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.

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...

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.