to be Canadian

Had to run to my embassy this morning (purple line 5, exit 5, Seodaemun Station). Felt great to be around Canadian-like niceness and English/French signage again.

Ultra Korea 2014

Oh. My. Goodness! An epic, outdoor, musically tantalizing event! Though the audience may have been far crazier in another country, Korea partied HARD. This was nothing short of an amazing show. Four stages. Kick ass DJs. New friends. The good times were a flowing!

I was even lucky enough to meet up with the last Canadian friend I saw as I left the airport for Korea almost one year ago now ... My how this all feels like a quick and oh so slow dream this past year. 

We came. We listened. We sang our hearts out. We danced the night away.

Traveler's

Once upon a time, a Canadian male specimen fell in love with a beautiful, Korean women. After many months of what I imagine to be soju filled days of courting the pair wedded. After weeks of living in Korea, the male opened an authentically Canadian burger joint. As days passed and the years went by, it was only natural that I should happen into this restaurant. And on my was it delicious! REAL bacon. REAL, creamy avocado, REAL hamburger meat. It was delicious. My taste buds are still dancing.

Pak

Sitting on a subway, reading A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. This is how I am spending a vast majority of my sunny, crisp Sunday off; traveling way south (about two hours!) for an ayurvedic appointment and to meet up with mon aimée to grab a legit Canadian burger. Stoked on life at zee moment, though slightly disheartened to be stuck on a train. I'm missing out on feeling the sunrays dance over my body.

Today, an older gentlemen sat beside me. He was dressed like the typical weekend warrior Korean hiker. Totally exuding the part. A real nature man. I could sense he came with a purpose. Sure enough he had an English language question. To be fair, I definitely look the part to assist him, eapecially being the only "whitey" for the entire train!

Pak and I got a talking. It was a lovely conversation. So nice to have a human connection again. A connection outside of work. A connection to snap one back into the real world, whatever that means. It's quite disheartening to look upon the vast masses as see everyone on their phone and other electronic devices, purposefully ignoring others. I can slightly remeber a time when you would make idle chit chat with those on a bus. Those days are long gone, and mostly dead.

Except for today.

Pak has been to BC and many parts of te states for school and for visiting purposes. I find it very admirable and rad he has had so many life adventures. Definitely feeds my itch to travel and explore and to say "what the fuck," because really, what do I have to loose?!

This is life. We only have NOW. Why not seize the moments, capitalize on all the excitemt and exhilaration that there is to be had. Money will come and go. People will come and go. And sometimes experiences come and go; I am not wanting to pass these up.

Also Pak likes Canadian more - we're friendlier. Win for Home! 

t-giving

I am oblivious to the timing of my Canadian holidays :( as I don't have the time off here. I miss them. I miss being at home to be apart of them. Miss my family and my friends who are an extension of my family.

One of the Korean friends went to Costco and picked us Canadians up a HUGE pumpkin pie. By god it was delicious!

Decaffinated

Prior to leaving Canada, I decaffinated myself. I wasn't sure how readily available coffee would be here, I mildly thought of the health benefits, plus I'm cheap and want to save money. Mayhaps this adds to my exhaustion? 

I am not letting it get the best of me though. I have barely caved to a daily coffee for an extended period of time. I try to have at least a day between my coffee days. I do honestly love the taste and the warmth though. 

I have taken up drinking water with iodine in it once a day to combat potential seafood radiation, loads of water and teas however.

And here I can drink the coffee black at times - it's sweeter here. It also does not help that there are coffee shops everywhere  you turn in Korea; which I am told is new. Bizarre though.

I forsee in my immediate future, that tomorrow will be a highly caffeinated day.

last goodbyes

Currently, I am making my rounds to see friends and family before I embark on the year long venture that will not ring me home sooner. I do not think I understood or felt the magnitude of this twelve month hiatus on Canada until Bauer was given to a better home.

I just thought I had more time. It all feels so rushed now; the visiting, then"see ya laters," everything. 

Knowing myself, I WILL go through a short period where I cry, miss family/friends and wonder "What the fuck did I get myself into, you crazy chica?!" But once that 1-3 day period subsides, all will be ok, and the real adventure can begin ...