The little engine that could

Time Out

2010-12-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

I've been up for six hours now and I'm still in my pajamas. I've got a full cup of coffee, a fuzzy green blanket, and no desire in the world to move. I should move. I should buy groceries, mail christmas presents, wash dishes, do laundry, and find dinner. But in actuality, I don't really HAVE to do anything. Everything can wait. That's the beauty and curse of living in Korea- Few responsibilities, lots of free time, and no pressure to conform. No one expects any of the foreigners to be anything but different. And those, are easy shoes to fill...

2010-11-29T05:57:00.000-08:00

As most of you probably know, things are pretty tense in Korea right now. North Korea and South Korea are on the brink of war, and no one can predict what will happen next. Everyone seems to have a different way of coping with the situation- some of my friends are completely ignoring the news, and others are planning their escape routes. I feel like I'm somewhere in the middle. I've started carrying a copy of my passport in my bag, and looking for places to go if I must leave Korea. I say the word, "BOMB," several times a day and think of the word, "BOMB," several times more. On the flip side, I've also been contemplating going back to school next year in Daegu, and moving to another branch. That's right, I've been thinking of staying even longer! But what will happen next? Only Kim Jong-il know the answer to that. Hold on to your hats!

Tricks and Treats

2010-11-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Halloween this year was very exciting, and it was probably the silliest I've had since I was a kid. Sometimes it seems like the longer I stay in Korea, the younger I get! ;)

Thinking Pink

2010-10-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

It is breast cancer awareness month, and I've never been more aware! My mother is now in complete remission, but my own health has me concerned. My grandmother, cousin and mom have all been diagnosed, and the doctor says I am at high risk. He also said I need to get a mammogram as soon as possible. I don't think I would feel so bad about this if I was in Canada, but trying to deal with my health in Korea is very stressful. Tomorrow I will venture into a women's health clinic, where I'll awkwardly ask, "Do you speak English?" This will probably be followed by, "Doctor? ENGLISHEE?" What will happen after that is anyone's bet.

There are lots of little things to think about too: Does birth control effect my chances of getting estrogen based cancer? What about drinking soya milk? Should I give it up just in case? And how many other things should I be avoiding? No, this is not the time to tell me some quote about living your life in the NOW. Yes, I know that stress causes cancer too..

2010-10-11T16:29:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I was totally obsessed with singing the "Hi, My Name is Joe" song. I recently taught it to one of my classes, and they too fell in love with the button factory. Here is one of my favorite classes performing one of my favorite childhood chants:

2010-10-05T07:09:00.000-07:00

Today I had a student salute Hitler in my class. for some reason he thought it was going to be hilarious, and I think he was quite surprised when I threatened to kick him out. When I asked the kid why he thought Hitler was so funny, he said, "Hitler made war!" Why do boys daydream about going to war? What makes them think that blood and death are such awesome subjects? I obviously don't understand, and that's probably a good thing-wanting to be a princess is far more sensible anyways. My classroom will continue to be a war free zone as long as I'm a teacher. I might even install an invisible metal detector for all the invisible guns my students like to carry. And as for Hitler? He'll have to learn English somewhere else.

2010-09-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today at Taekwondo, one of the ladies said, "Diana, how do I spell Wednesday?" After I told her the answer, she responded with, "Diana, how do I spell Porno?" Obviously her Wednesdays are more exciting than mine!

Quote of the Day

2010-09-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

"Teacher, you are a small tower."

2010-09-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

"Crowded classrooms and half-day sessions are a tragic waste of our greatest national resource-the minds of our children." ~Walt Disney

I wonder what Walt would think of the Korean education system?

Grub

2010-09-07T07:00:00.001-07:00

How many bugs have I eaten since moving to Korea? That is a question I ask myself far too often. I seem to be fighting a constant battle against insects. First, I have a colony of little red ants who live in my apartment. They crawl across my keyboard, they sit in my chair, and they eat all of my porridge! It's actually come to the point where all of the food I own is either in the fridge, or has never been opened. Yet as hard as I try to keep the bugs from getting into my dinner, they make their way in before I've even gotten the groceries home. Today, when I was cutting up a new head of lettuce, I had a little red worm slither out of the leaves. And it wasn't too long ago that I found slugs napping on my celery. As happy as I am that I found these creepy-crawlies before I put them in my mouth, I can only imagine how many I missed! Yuck! I hope they were high in protein..

Packing for Canada

2010-07-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Day 1:

1) Spent an hour downloading music from 1995.

2) Counted the amount of carrots I have left in the fridge.

3) Pulled out a suitcase.

4) Stuffed all of my old taekwondo belts into the suitcase.

5) Exchanged some money.

6) Tidied my desk at work.

7) Printed my itinerary.

8) Bought candy and alcohol.

9) Made a little pile of important papers.

10) Confirmed with my Mother that I want Nachos on saturday night.

11) Wrote a blog.

Girl Talk

2010-07-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

I have one class of all girls, and they usually want to talk about boys. They tell me all about their school crushes, and their future rock star husbands. Yesterday, I decided to ask them what kind of guys they would actually want to date, and this is what I got:

A Month of Good News

2010-07-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

I just passed my black belt test in Taekwondo, and I couldn't be prouder of myself than I am today. A lot of this has to do with how difficult the month of June was for me. I was so stressed out with my personal life that I almost convinced myself not to take the test. Tired, sad, and worried, it took everything I had to get up in the morning and go to class. While training, my mind was constantly drifting to my problems at home, and on more than one occasion, I bit my lip to keep myself from crying. It was one of those times in my life that I'm not exactly sure how I persevered, but I did, and it worked! To make this moment even more rewarding, my mother has gone into complete remission. At the time I took this test, we were still waiting for the results, and she had asked me to drop-kick cancer's ass on her behalf. So that's exactly what I tried to do; I punched an invisible disease around a large auditorium while my Mother tackled the real thing at home. Together, my Mom and I fought like ninjas, and together we passed our tests. In receiving my black belt, I feel that I have both fulfilled and old dream and won an epic battle. This belt will forever signify the potential to achieve any goal, the power of endurance, and the courage to get through anything..Even on the other side of the world.

2010-06-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Student: Teacher, how old are you?

Me: I am twenty-eight.

Student: Oh, you look thirty-one.

Me: Awesome.

Notice

2010-05-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

Diana, her thoughts, and this blog are temporarily out of order. Please email for updates instead. Thank-you.

어머니

2010-05-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

If the apple doesn't fall far from the tree,

And I get to be like my Mother,

Then I'm luckier than I thought I'd ever be,

And I wouldn't change my life for any other.

Happy Mother's day. I love you!

2010-05-05T18:22:00.001-07:00

A watermelon costs sixteen dollars in Korea!

어린이날

2010-05-04T21:39:00.001-07:00

Today is Children's Day- Which is a public holiday in Korea and a time to celebrate kids. This means, most people get the day off to have fun. Luckily for them, the weather is perfect for playing outside! However, some schools are still open and mine happens to be one of them. I already know that the kids will be hounding me to play games and I haven't decided what I will do yet. I don't blame them for wanting to have fun and I definitely understand why they don't want to be at school. I don't want to be at school either! I have a feeling my inner child will win this round.. ;)

빨간 띠

2010-05-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

Since the last time that I wrote about Taekwondo, I have graduated from a blue belt to a brown and then on to a red. If you are thinking that this seems incredibly fast, I would totally agree with your assumption. I am not sure why we are moving at such a quick pace, and I wish we were advancing through the ranks a little slower. I don't want to rush into getting my black belt. What's the point?! The process has always been far more rewarding than receiving a new belt.

Nonetheless, we have started mentally preparing for our black belt test. The first step in getting ready was watching a group of other students take the exam. I certainly underestimated what a huge production this is going to be. There are hundreds of participants, 10 examiners and an audience of parents. I know I'm going to be exceptionally nervous! Here are some photos of the stadium where we will be taking the test, and a video I made of the opening acts:

Home as a Holiday

2010-04-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

Did I mention that I re-signed my contract? As long as everything goes as planned, I will be staying in Korea until August 2011. However, I am still going home this summer, and I'm already daydreaming of Halifax..

Here are the top 10 things I'm anxious to do, see and taste:

1) I want to hug my Mother!

2) I want to sleep in the spare bedroom and cuddle with my cat.

3) I want to drink my Mom's filtered coffee with a spoonful of vanilla flavored sugar.

4) I want to visit my friends.

5) I want to swim in Long Lake with Chareen and then go for a beer at Tom's.

6) I want to eat a home cooked meal with my family.

7) I want to go to Cape Split.

8) I want to go shopping for shoes.

9) I want to speak in full sentences everywhere I go.

10) I want to take A BATH!

2010-04-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

In March, my Korean friends took me to a place to make pottery. It was a great day in the country, and I really enjoyed doing something different. I also appreciated the chance to be creative, even though my imagination was strictly monitored. I think they were afraid that since I am a foreigner, I wouldn’t know how to successfully do something Korean. As soon as I accepted the supervision, I realized it was more beneficial than not.

Even with all the coaching, I did manage to screw up my mug! When I went to put the date on the side, I wrote May instead of March. I didn’t know how to fix the mistake, so I decided to change the incorrect month into a word. Now my mug says, “May your cup always be full!” It is a rather corny quote but it did make us laugh. On the other side of the mug, my friend Cindy wrote the saying in Korean. We thought it kind of balanced out my mistake and made it more special.

After our masterpieces were finished, Cindy cooked us sweet potatoes over a fire. My hands were freezing and it was delightful to warm them up with a tasty treat. They were by far, the best potatoes I’ve ever eaten.

Yesterday I got my mug back and it turned out better than I expected. You can’t really see what we wrote on the sides but I still think it’s lovely. The sentimental value definitely improves its beauty.

Here is a photo of my newest cup and matching spoon:

Smooth Talk

2010-04-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

One of yesterday's discussion questions was, “when you are hurt, what makes you feel better?" A geeky boy in the back of the class raised his hand and said, “Diana teacher makes me feel better.” If this kid was trying to get me to like him, it worked.

A Hot Cup of Choices

2010-04-04T19:51:00.000-07:00

This week I have to decide if I want to sign another year contract or not. I have been flopping back and forth with my decision for quite some time. A part of me wants to stay and another part of me wants to leave. I feel like staying in Korea is a practical choice and that there has been no real reason to go home. I kept thinking to myself that life would be, “so much easier if I had a reason to return to Canada.”

Now it turns out, I may need to go home, and it’s ironically so much harder than staying put. It is all especially daunting since my decision is now partly based on a family member’s health. Of course, family is more important than anything else. It is amazing how trivial ones problems become when something of real significance actually presents itself. Or even the possibility of something significant presents itself! I don’t actually care about much other than this right now.

I will know by the end of the week, what my next move will be. Until then, I will probably occupy my mind with some sheet music and a good book. Hopefully this will make the time move faster and ease my anxiety. Everything works out the way it’s supposed to, right????

Today’s poem. I’ll stop doing this soon. Maybe.

You are a teacup,

and I’m your matching saucer.

Without you, I’m only a little plate.

An Easter Away

2010-04-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

It is Easter Sunday and the weather is beautiful. To celebrate all things good, I went for a bike ride around town. Actually, my plan was to get OUT of town but this turned out to be much more difficult than I expected. I also didn’t anticipate the amount of construction and traffic lights that would interrupt my ride. I spent a good chunk of my adventure with one foot on the ground, and another chunk of it having starring contests with Koreans. Even though I won each stare down, I was irritated that they were gawking at me in the first place. Yes, I am foreign. Yes, I can ride a bike. Perhaps I sound like a jerk, but it isn’t fun being watched every day. Obviously today, I was feeling defiant.

On a brighter note, I spent some time investigating spring’s latest arrivals. It is really exciting watching flowers I’ve never seen before come into bloom. I also attended an Easter party at a friend’s house. We painted eggs and ate chocolate until we were all too tired to paint or eat anymore. I’m really happy someone took the initiative to make Easter special. I think a little home away from home was just what we all needed.

An Easter Haiku:

You are much sweeter,

than a bowl of mini eggs,

but both I can’t reach. ;P

2010-03-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

I like words that begin with the letter C. Here is a list of some of my favorites: circumstantial, coincidence, convenient, control, comfort, choice, curiosity, consideration, consume, compassion, compromise, communication, confidence, courage, commit, continue, create, change.

Ahh! Aren’t they strong and beautiful?! And each word holds such meaning! It is possible that these are the most important words in the world. At least in my world!

The letter C rocks.

Thinking of You

2010-03-23T23:26:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven’t been posting anything. I’ve got lots of ideas written down but none of them are complete.. which is a very good example of my current mentality! Hopefully my brain and my blog will be more fruitful in the near future. Until then, happy net surfing!

Not So Blue

2010-03-12T07:51:00.000-08:00

Today is a great day. Not only is it friday, but the sun is shinning and it feels like spring! In addition to the good weather, I passed my blue belt test this afternoon. I’m not fully convinced that I deserve a new belt but I am happy nonetheless.

To top it off, I have finally managed to touch my toes! Although this may sound like a simple exercise to you, it is a difficult task for me! Perhaps more than the weather is finally improving!?

My Inner Insect

2010-03-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

Okay. So I’m still not interested in writing a proper blog entry. I feel like I’m trying to make a lot of decisions right now, and they all seem interconnected. However, I would like to post an image that enters my mind every time I go to Taekwondo. This is how I imagine myself to look as a cartoon character!

A long, lean, fighting machine:

Although, he is much tougher than me!

Catching up!

2010-02-28T07:35:00.001-08:00

I’ve received an unusual amount of blog hits over the last week! I don’t really know why this is happening, but I thought maybe some of you were looking for a vacation update?! If so, I will try and humor you with some new information..

The truth is, I haven’t felt like writing about Thailand. Some of my trip was really amazing and some of it wasn’t. However, I do not feel that my blog is an appropriate place to divulge my entire Thailand story!

What I have decided to share, are some wonderful snippets that have graced my mind since returning to Korea. I think the following memories will make me smile forever..

One early morning in Phuket, I sat on the beach and drank fresh coconut milk. The simplicity of the moment was incredibly satisfying.
Watching wishing lanterns float up and blend in with the stars.
In Ko Pi Pi Don, I went snorkeling for the first time. I was so shocked by the aquatic beauty, that I gasped and inhaled a mouthful of sea water.
On a day tour, we visited a secluded little island to enjoy some more snorkeling. I have never been anywhere more enchanting or tranquil. I find myself thinking of this place when I’m in a classroom full of crazy children.
While elephant trekking (which I didn’t enjoy), I watched golden leaves rustle in the wind. I felt like I was the only one in the world who had witnessed this magical moment, and I enjoyed the privacy.
Feeding monkeys at Suwankuha Temple was extremely entertaining. I was both nervous and fascinated by the hungry little creatures.
One evening, my friend and I found an extremely large and hairy spider in our guest house. After pulverizing the critter, we slept with the light on.
On my last day in Krabi, I treated myself to an aloe vera message. It was both delightful and a cheap.
I was lucky enough to make some interesting new friends. The gift that keeps on giving!
I watched a little of the olympic games with a Korean cab driver on the way home. I taught him how to say, “ gold, silver and bronze.” We had a lot of fun!

Hope this satisfies your curious minds and thanks for checking in. :)

2010-02-12T05:59:00.001-08:00

Today I received my purple belt in tae-kwon-do. I have always thought that martial arts would make me look cool but the better I get, the more nerdy I look. It's kind of funny.

HAPPY NEW YEAR (설날)! I'M OFF TO THAILAND!

I Am the Party!

2010-02-07T00:29:00.000-08:00

I know that not everyone loves birthdays, but I think they are wonderful! A birthday is an occasion to stop and give thanks to the people that make our lives special. Not everyone remembers to do this on a regular basis. We often don’t say the things we are thinking, because we foolishly believe there will be infinite chances to do so in the future. A birthday is an opportunity to reach out to others and to celebrate life.

Yesterday, I thought a lot about my own existence. A thought about being a little girl and what a little me would think about the life I’ve decided to live. Would a younger Diana admire the older Diana I’ve become? If I could do it again, would I choose a less convoluted path? Would I warn myself of the tribulations to come? After reading my birthday emails, I don’t think I would. I’ve met wonderful people all over the world because of the life I have chosen. Some of my biggest mistakes have rewarded me with the most precious gifts.

Thanks to all of you who helped make this weekend great. Thank-you for your emails, calls, and for drinking wine with me. And finally, thank-you for making my 27th year so pleasurable and my 28th so promising!

The Half Way Mark

2010-02-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

It has been exactly six months since I moved to Korea. I was unaware of this anniversary until I coincidentally opened my passport and noticed the date of entrance stamp. I wish I could write that it’s been a memorable day, but I’ve spent most of it wanting to rip my own hair out. I even got so frustrated this evening, that I thunked my head against a wall when I arrived home from work. I am now sipping ‘sleepy time’ tea and trying to calm down. Nothing really happened to make so grouchy. I think I’m just ready for a vacation. Apparently, I both need and deserve one! :P

감사합니다

2010-02-02T06:27:00.001-08:00

Today I received a love parcel from Cordia and Mitch. It was full of wonderful things to read, cuddle and eat! As you can probably imagine, I’ve already devoured a good chunk of the chocolate and my fluffy new kitty is sitting on my lap!

Thank-you, Cordia and Mitch. You are dear friends and I owe you EVERYTHING! ;)

Pet Peeves

2010-01-31T21:06:00.000-08:00

I miss animals. I miss walking in the front door and being greeted by a fuzzy four- legged creature. I miss waking up in the middle of the night and feeling a cat nestled against my feet. I miss every about my Atticus other than cleaning his litter.

Most Koreans don’t have pets. I rarely see animals around the neighborhood and when I do, it’s not enjoyable. The dogs are either chained up outside and forgotten or they are dressed like little humans. I suppose I should mention that the worst fated pups are the ones that I haven’t seen. Those canines end up in dog soup..

The few cats I’ve encountered have behaved like strays. Whenever I see a kitty, I crouch down and meekly try to call it over. My warm intentions are never enough to shake them from their fear of humans. I often wonder if they’ve been mistreated..

As of late, I have also heard a lot of foreigners say they don’t like animals. I seem to be submerged in an anti-pet environment! Was that part of the application process I missed? Obviously, I’m joking but I sometimes wonder. People who don’t like animals have always confused me. In fact, my mother raised us to question the ethics of anyone who dislikes furry critters. Should I question the ethics of the entire country? If I decided to, I would only being hurting myself. Korea is a beautiful place, and It would be a shame to disvalue any of its goodness! Instead, I am trying to open my mind and damper my judgmental thoughts.

I don’t know how long it will be until I return to Atticus. A cat is not enough of a reason to go home but it’s one of the reasons I would like to. Although it may sound silly, I think he would prefer for me to stay here and be happy, than to come home and be sad. I hope in the future, all the things I love will settle on the same side of the world and I can stop choosing between them. That would be purrrfect.

Playing with Colors

2010-01-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I received my green belt in Taekwondo. It is the fourth belt out of nine. Graduating to a new color is fun because It’s a visual representation of ones achievements. The excitement is comparable to collecting passport stamps or school certificates.

When I was a kid, my mother made me take swimming lessons. Similarly, the levels were marked by colors. The day I received my first badge, I was so proud that I slept with my swimsuit on. Although I do not feel the need to sleep with my taekwondo belts, I enjoy climbing a 'color ladder' as much as I did when I was a child.

Eatables 3

2010-01-26T18:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I made shepherd’s pie. It has taken me quite awhile to figure out how to cook in Korea and I’m proud of myself whenever I do. One of difficulties in making a ‘Canadian’ meal is finding the ingredients to do so. Luckily, there is a variety of imported foods at Costco.The second challenge is cooking without an oven. I am slowly figuring out ways to improvise but some dishes still seem impossible. I shared my shepherd’s pie with Na Yeon at our weekly language exchange. I don’t think she really liked it. Even so, my disappointment in her inability to finish my food was quickly evaporated by the chance to eat it myself!

Show and Tell

2010-01-26T06:03:00.000-08:00

Today I received some christmas presents in the mail! The box my mother sent was mailed in November and we've both been anxiously waiting for it to arrive. The other gift is from one of dearest friends at home. Thank-you Jenny and Mom! You are good family to have.

Here is a little glance at my Christmas in January:

Tea, hot chocolate and bath products from Jenny:

An Advent Calender. Perhaps since December is over, I should eat a chocolate every hour of the day tomorrow.

Shoes! A little scrunched but still wonderful :)

This was supposed to be part of my christmas dinner. Instead I had ox bone soup and a hot dog. Better late than never!

My mouth is full of chicken bones right now. I keep saying to myself,

" just one more.." but I can't stop eating them.

National Geographic magazines:

This shampoo is my guilty pleasure. I didn't need it but I wanted it..

The best surprise of all!! Slippers:

What is a life without Hollandaise sauce? Luckily, I won't have to find out!

I thought this was going to be a necklace but as you can see, it is clearly not! Chili peppers:

Thought of the Day

2010-01-20T19:09:00.000-08:00

Eatables 2

2010-01-19T22:07:00.000-08:00

Every tuesday, my friend Na Yeon (나연) comes over for a language lesson. She is teaching me ‘survival’ Korean and I’m helping her speak conversational English.

Today, Na Yeon brought over the ingredients to make kimchi jjigae (김치찌개). This is the first Korean dish that I have learned how to make. Unfortunately, there was a little accident with the hot peppers and the stew is extremely spicy!

Gibber

2010-01-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

The days are rapidly passing by but I don’t have much to say about them. I’ve decided to take a break from my usual thoughts and allow myself to be consumed with more present ideas. I have been thinking about taekwondo, Thailand and shoes. Here are some details about each..

Taekwondo: I just graduated to an orange belt and have a green belt test in two weeks. My flexibility is a problem and I have legs like an old race horse. Consequently, I need to work out more in between classes. Here is a video of our next test's poomse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZO_1wZN6bY&feature=related

Thailand: A birthday present to me! I am going in February and am already anxious to sit in the sun. While most of the trip will be a solo adventure, some of it will be spent with a friend. Right now, I am trying to make general decisions about where to go and how to get there.

Shoes: My sandals are falling apart and I want new ones. The problem is that shoes in Daegu do not come in my size. I am investigating my options.

This is my life in blog form. I don’t intend on being any more exciting anytime soon. As a result, all important and pressing matters will have to find me for a change. At least I’ve narrowed down where I can be found!

2010-01-10T05:57:00.001-08:00

This weekend I went to my friend Jinah’s wedding. Unsurprisingly, Korean weddings are different than they are in North America. A Korean ceremony often takes place in large wedding halls, where lots of other people are getting married at the same time. I have been to two Korean weddings now and both incorporated the use of electric violins, fog machines and neon lights. The ceremonies take about an hour and this includes the toast, cutting of the cake and photos.

Afterwards, everyone is invited to eat at a buffet while the family has a more traditional ceremony. I imagine that Korean weddings are similar to those in Vegas.

It is easy to chuckle over the differences in our matrimonial customs; however, western weddings are as equally strange! Like most things pertaining to love, there seems to be no right or wrong way to follow your heart.

Eatables 1

2010-01-07T22:04:00.001-08:00

Since moving to Korea I have been eating something new almost every week. This habit was born from my curiosity and love for food. I keep thinking that eventually I’m going to hit the Korean jackpot of awesome snack foods, but so far most of the items have been pretty funky. I rarely finish eating what I’ve started, and the left over products end up in the garbage, toilet or in someone else’s mouth. Usually, someone at school will accept my half eaten gifts. I’ve decided to start keeping track of my mini taste adventures. Why not?!

This week’s food of choice is hot squid jerky. It is spicy, extremely tough and very fishy. The flavor would be passable if I could chew it faster but it’s too hard. Nonetheless, I’m going to try and finish it!

Presents from Above

2010-01-03T21:17:00.000-08:00

Today it is snowing! This is a rare occurrence in Daegu and everyone seems as excited as I am. The air is warm, the snow is soft and happy children fill the parks. What a wonderful way to start the day/week/year!

Some pictures of the neighborhood:

Mountains and Molehills

2010-01-01T08:43:00.000-08:00

It is new year's day and I just woke up in a new apartment. My first thought of the morning was, "I am warm." My second thought was, "It is quiet." Which was followed by a sigh of relief because this hasn't happened in quite awhile. For me, this move is another example of the power of perseverance. If things are bad, push forward until you can make them good. Like most people, this concept is a recurring theme in my life. It is also the reason I titled my blog, “The Little Engine That Could.” I hope this morning’s glee is an omen of more great things to come in 2010.

Notable Memories of the year 2009:

I learned what it means to be self-employed.
Had a life changing epiphany about choices and self control.
Volunteered with a music therapist and spent time with an isolated senior citizen.
Completed a 60 hour TEFL course. However, I didn't finish the other 40 hour course I signed up for. Oops.
Got my first A+ on a university exam! I even studied while I was fishing ;)
Reconnected with some old roots from home.
Moved to Korea.
Started a comfortable and secure job.
Learned how to read Hangul and speak extremely basic Korean. I practiced on old boxes..
Climbed the Great Wall of China!
Sang my first karaoke.
Visited my first temple.
Went on a tour to the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea.
Started Taekwondo for the second time.
Ate my first and only bug.
Met some incredible people.

I’m sure the list goes on but I suppose it’s time to start looking ahead and stop thinking about the past. Best wishes to you all for a happy and love filled year.

I Own Things

2009-12-29T22:10:00.001-08:00

It is time to pack up my apartment to move two streets over to another apartment. As exciting as this move is, right now I am swimming in a sea of items that need to be packed. As usual, I’m surprised by the amount of stuff I have collected. I am also amazed by the amount of dirt and garbage I’ve allowed to accumulate. I feel like a chipmunk scurrying around its burrow gathering items to hibernate with. Only I have a computer and I am wasting my precious time on it. I also have to go to work in an hour.

A Classroom Full of Little Mirrors

2009-12-28T18:41:00.000-08:00

On the weekend I got two inches cut off my hair. A little girl in one of my classes said, "Teacher, did you get your hair cut?" Then she continued with, "last week you were sexy and now you are cute." Want to know what you really look like? Talk to a child.

2009-12-27T21:42:00.001-08:00

I was sorting through my bookshelf when I came across this picture. The young 'artist' is a student I call, "Billy Bob Princess Monkey." As you can see, he's a funny little kid.

2009-12-27T06:36:00.000-08:00

A little christmas conclusion:

The most important part of the holidays are the people you love. Although I was sad to be without mine this christmas, I had a great opportunity to learn something new about my family. It turns out, that love is far more powerful than the constraints of time or distance. Love is a durable band that can stretch across the world and touch even the most distant of hearts. This christmas, I learned just how strong my dearest connections are. I suppose no gift could be greater than this.

"And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day."

2009-12-24T20:37:00.000-08:00

This is my first christmas away from home. As most of you know, I have been dreading the last two weeks of December for awhile now. This concern was due to the departure of my three closet friends and a strange holiday away from my family. Alas, two of my friends have left and it is christmas eve! In some ways, it is just as sad as I expected but in other ways it seems to be kinda funny. I have received emails and cards from all of my family expressing their

dislike for the holidays. My mother and sister are in Costa Rica- where they are happy that christmas is almost nonexistent. My father will work the entire break and I am getting up to go skiing at 4:30 in the morning. Even my grandmother is looking forward to these 48 hours being over with. How did we all become such scrooges? Could the holiday blues be hereditary? Either way, I find it kind of amusing that we are all semi-sulking on opposite sides of the world. Perhaps next year, we will all just learn to be grateful we can sulk together. Now, I’m off to find baileys for my coffee! Merry christmas!

Videos

2009-12-19T22:19:00.000-08:00

The Last Supper:

Silk worm snacks:

2009-12-15T19:11:00.000-08:00

Success! I am now a yellow belt and my toes are not broken. This also means I am one step closer to kicking your butt.

Check out the kids' smooth moves:

Something new and useful:

Cold medicine please- 감기약주세요

Dear Prometheus..

2009-12-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

I have my first test in taekwondo tomorrow! Consequently, I have been stressing over the idea of incorrectly kicking a board and breaking my toes. In order to prevent this tragedy, I have been trying to improve my technique by hitting books. My feet are now bruised and tomorrow's test will probably hurt more than it would have if I hadn't practiced.

A lesson: Apprehension usually hurts more than the actual thing you are fearing. However, I doubt I will remember this one.

A christmas without rain boots

2009-12-10T07:18:00.001-08:00

It is a rainy day in Korea and I have been sulking. The days of December are quickly passing and discussions of christmas can no longer be avoided. I’ve never been overly fond of the holidays but this one seems especially daunting. This will be my first christmas away from my home and I’m feeling alone. To add to my yuletide anxiety, my mother and sister will be in Costa Rica, my step father is in Afghanistan, and my closest friends are leaving Korea.

To summarize things for you- My loved ones will be scattered around the world, and my only communication with them will be through emails.

It isn't hard to point out that it was my choice to leave home and that I am choosing to be sad. I'm a particular person that doesn't settle easily; thus, If the company is not right, I usually prefer to be alone. I know I am responsible for my own isolation.

Time will tell how this christmas will pan out. Perhaps something good will happen or I’ll learn to enjoy my solitude. Until then, lets all hope that the days ahead are a little sunnier than today.

A picture of someone special at home:

태권도

2009-12-05T21:10:00.000-08:00

Last week I started Taekwondo. Here are some of the reasons I decided to join:

I practiced as a child but quit to pursue other interests.
I now have enough time to do whatever I want during the day.
It is a great way to stay in shape and become more flexible.
Taekwondo was developed in Korea and is part of the Korean culture.
The first month of training and my uniform are free.
There are only three people in my class, so we should be able to ‘level up’ quickly.
It is possible to get my black belt while being here.
I will surely learn some Korean words.
It is fun and makes me laugh.

A barrel of monkeys!

2009-12-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

The greatest difficulty of living in Korea is the language barrier. I repeatedly find myself in a predicament where I cannot tell someone what I am thinking or what I need. In such cases, my friends and I rely on actions and sound effects. Even though our grunts are an effective way to communicate, they have also become an ongoing joke between Cordia, Mitch and me. We often ask one another, “how would you achieve this goal using caveman?” Then we make up a series of noises and movements that make us giggle like children.

In October, the three of us went to a mask festival in Hahoe. Half way through the performance, the foreigners in the audience were summoned to dance on stage. With little time to think, we independently decided it was a good idea to dance like cavemen. We flailed our arms, hunched our backs and paraded around while the audience clapped. It took me hours to stop laughing.

What kind of impression have we been giving Koreans about English people? Have we been damaging our reputation with our ape-like behavior? It’s possible, but I am sure they also notice how much fun we are having. It turns out, sometimes saying less is more.

Here are some pictures of our dance moves in Hahoe:

Discussing our skills

Reliving the moment

A walk around

Things I have learned:

How to make Texan style hot sauce with Korean ingredients!!

I am hungry ~ 배 고파요

Me

2009-11-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

Today is Good Sounding day and I feel lucky. Nothing exciting ever happens on the 27th of November but it is something I have always looked forward to. Good Sounding day is my own personal holiday to celebrate me.

Of course, most people feel this way about their birthdays but birthdays come with baggage. Unlike my aniversário, I do not expect anyone to remember that today is special. I do not feel any older and I will not receive a hallmark card.

What l plan on doing is snuggling under some warm blankets and then taking an extra long shower. I will also drink a lot of coffee and eat a particularly large portion of cheese. I will moisturize my feet and then put on clean socks...if I can find clean socks. I will do regular things with care.

I've posted some pictures of good things for you on my good day. Hope you have a good weekend. Goodbye.

Breaking Rules

2009-11-25T08:03:00.000-08:00

I have a class every wednesdays that mostly consists of little girls. A couple of months ago, one of these girls asked me to draw a puppy in her notebook. I didn’t see the harm in it, so I made her a puppy. The little girl carefully colored it in and then put it away. The following wednesday, the same little girl and two other girls asked me to draw them kittens. I am not really suppose to draw in class but I did it anyways. In order to redeem myself as a teacher, I told them they had to participate in class to receive any more pictures. I felt pretty good about my compromise with the kids.

I am beginning to see that there are problems with this deal. The number of little girls wanting pictures has multiplied and now some of the little boys are wanting pictures too. During my class, I am probably popping out a new picture every two minutes. In addition, I have noticed that these children are bringing markers and crayons to class in order to tailor their critters. I have turned english class into art class.

Even though I am aware that I am doing something wrong, a part of me enjoys it anyways. When I was a little girl, I always wanted someone to draw me a picture. I took great pride in cutting those pictures out and laminating them into toys. Now I am the adult drawing critters for little girls.

Eventually my ‘art’ class will come to an end. These children will level up and new ones will level in. So for now I think I will continue to humor these children with dogs, kittens and birds while they try to speak english. That isn't so bad is it?

Things I learned today:

Rabbit ~ 토끼

Hop~ 깡충

Horse~ 말

Today's lesson

2009-11-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

Someone once told me that I would learn something new everyday. I used to dedicate a couple of minutes every night to acknowledge these daily finding but eventually I quit. Somewhere in between being too busy and not caring, I stopped recognizing my baby steps. Instead, I started noticing the big steps everyone else seemed to be taking. All of my peers were getting their masters, getting married or 'getting' pregnant. I was saddened by my lack of direction. So, in an effort to change and to pay off my loans, I moved to Korea.

Korea is different than Canada in almost every way. While living abroad, I've learned that you cannot expect the ordinary to be anything but unordinary. Consequently, I have found myself immersed in daily lessons and my life has turned into a succession of foreigner baby steps. Culture shock forced me to take one day at a time and I have gratefully (not gracefully) accepted this challenge. In an effort to be humble and to trust that things will work out in time, I've temporarily slowed down. Perhaps this year I will learn how to properly use a semicolon or maybe I will become flexible enough to touch my toes! Or maybe, just maybe, I will stop trying to control everything and I will learn to be content with the way things are.

This blog has been designed to share with those I love, the lessons I am learning on my great adventure. I hope you enjoy my medley of thoughts and that some of you find comfort in my awkward journey to understand myself. What did you learn today?

다이아나