The view from our hotel!
My co-workers and I found some fun at the airport. We got the chance to dress up in hanboks, a traditional Korean dress, and practice bowing. Bring on the Joseon dynasty!!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Malaysia
Fun in the sun! (And the local mall!)
The view from our hotel!
My co-workers and I found some fun at the airport. We got the chance to dress up in hanboks, a traditional Korean dress, and practice bowing. Bring on the Joseon dynasty!!
The view from our hotel!
My co-workers and I found some fun at the airport. We got the chance to dress up in hanboks, a traditional Korean dress, and practice bowing. Bring on the Joseon dynasty!!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Canadian Encounters of the Third Kind
Canadians are everywhere. I have met or been reunited with several Canadians over the past six weeks. I probably know more abut Rick Mercer, Ontario, the war of 1812, the tooney, and the order of the Canadian provinces than most Americans do.
Welcome to my encounters with Canadians of the Third Kind.
Encounter #1- Canadian in Korea
I first met Alan at 6:30 a.m. on a very chilly Seoul morning back in early March.
That is a lie.
Alan and I first met online and began communicating back in October. We swapped emails a few times a month, but started communicating more regularly in early February. He proposed the idea of meeting in person and offered to fly up to Korea for a week so we could meet and hang out. I happily agreed at the genius of his idea. :)
I first “encountered” Alan at the Seoul airport. He is originally from frozen tundra like myself, but currently lives and works in Manila. His poor body could not stand the shock of the cold after becoming acclimated to tropical weather. I immediately steered us to the Korean sauna for the afternoon. Luckily, he is a BIG fan of spas and saunas. He came back to Daejeon to see my place, meet friends, and try out yoga. I give him props for bending and twisting in unnatural ways for the first time!
After a week together, we agreed I would fly down to Manila two weeks later and continue our “getting-to-know-you” process. See Canadian encounter #4 for more details!
Encounter #2- Canadians in Malaysia
Two days after Alan left, I hopped on a plane to Malaysia with several of my co-workers to attend the EARCOS 2009 conference. (Check it out at www.earcos.org)
If overseas teaching occasionally gives me the chance me to attend to professional development sessions about film and vocabulary, then spend my afternoons lounging by the pool and drinking pina coladas, I might never return to the States!
I met several Canadian teachers at the conference and got a chance to reunite with my Canadian friend, Mary. I met her at writing conference back in Seoul in October 2007, then again during my Japan trip in February 2008. We enjoyed catching up over dinner and dancing at the conference. One of my favorite parts about teaching overseas is meeting so many interesting teachers!
Encounter #3- 1/16th of a Canadian
The morning I got back from Malaysia, I hopped on a bus headed for Seoul. After ten long months, I was going to reunite with Davia!
Davia is only 1/16th Canadian. I am sure my math is incorrect, but her mom is Canadian, so that technically makes her 1/16th Canadian. Right? Maybe not, but she is a bit of a Canadian at heart.
We had a whirlwind week of fun! Davia works for the U.S. Navy in Japan, and her military credentials allowed us to stay at the Yongsan Army Base in Seoul. I instantly feel odd being around American culture, but after I saw Taco Bell, things somehow felt right again. :) We spent time in Seoul and Daejeon going to palaces, museums, performance art shows, shopping, doing yoga, and just talking about life. I was very sad to see her go. Davia is moving back to the States, and will not be “next door” anymore. I look forward to our reunion at Rebekah’s wedding this summer!
Encounter #4- My Shy Canadian
I headed to Manila at the beginning of April to hang out with Alan a bit more. He met me at the airport with roses in tow. I knew it was going to be a good week! We spent the first few days in Manila attending church groups, playing floor hockey (or ball hockey as the Canadians say), eating fondue, and meeting his friends. Last year I went to Manila on a mission trip, so it was interesting seeing a ritzier side of the city.
Alan, his friend Phil, Phil’s girlfriend Grace, and I left Manila mid-week and traveled up to a mountain area called Baguio. The four of us spent time hiking, visiting Stations of the Cross, visiting an old U.S. Army retreat center, eating, and chatting about life. It was a welcome escape from the heat of Manila. I will not lie, but being back in the mountains made me yearn to visit Switzerland again! After returning to Manila, Alan and I decided to take the plunge and start a long-distance romance. I think Phil said it best: "thus starts the romance between the extroverted American and the Shy Canadian.”
I cannot wait to learn more about Canada's national igloo!
Welcome to my encounters with Canadians of the Third Kind.
Encounter #1- Canadian in Korea
I first met Alan at 6:30 a.m. on a very chilly Seoul morning back in early March.
That is a lie.
Alan and I first met online and began communicating back in October. We swapped emails a few times a month, but started communicating more regularly in early February. He proposed the idea of meeting in person and offered to fly up to Korea for a week so we could meet and hang out. I happily agreed at the genius of his idea. :)
I first “encountered” Alan at the Seoul airport. He is originally from frozen tundra like myself, but currently lives and works in Manila. His poor body could not stand the shock of the cold after becoming acclimated to tropical weather. I immediately steered us to the Korean sauna for the afternoon. Luckily, he is a BIG fan of spas and saunas. He came back to Daejeon to see my place, meet friends, and try out yoga. I give him props for bending and twisting in unnatural ways for the first time!
After a week together, we agreed I would fly down to Manila two weeks later and continue our “getting-to-know-you” process. See Canadian encounter #4 for more details!
Encounter #2- Canadians in Malaysia
Two days after Alan left, I hopped on a plane to Malaysia with several of my co-workers to attend the EARCOS 2009 conference. (Check it out at www.earcos.org)
If overseas teaching occasionally gives me the chance me to attend to professional development sessions about film and vocabulary, then spend my afternoons lounging by the pool and drinking pina coladas, I might never return to the States!
I met several Canadian teachers at the conference and got a chance to reunite with my Canadian friend, Mary. I met her at writing conference back in Seoul in October 2007, then again during my Japan trip in February 2008. We enjoyed catching up over dinner and dancing at the conference. One of my favorite parts about teaching overseas is meeting so many interesting teachers!
Encounter #3- 1/16th of a Canadian
The morning I got back from Malaysia, I hopped on a bus headed for Seoul. After ten long months, I was going to reunite with Davia!
Davia is only 1/16th Canadian. I am sure my math is incorrect, but her mom is Canadian, so that technically makes her 1/16th Canadian. Right? Maybe not, but she is a bit of a Canadian at heart.
We had a whirlwind week of fun! Davia works for the U.S. Navy in Japan, and her military credentials allowed us to stay at the Yongsan Army Base in Seoul. I instantly feel odd being around American culture, but after I saw Taco Bell, things somehow felt right again. :) We spent time in Seoul and Daejeon going to palaces, museums, performance art shows, shopping, doing yoga, and just talking about life. I was very sad to see her go. Davia is moving back to the States, and will not be “next door” anymore. I look forward to our reunion at Rebekah’s wedding this summer!
Encounter #4- My Shy Canadian
I headed to Manila at the beginning of April to hang out with Alan a bit more. He met me at the airport with roses in tow. I knew it was going to be a good week! We spent the first few days in Manila attending church groups, playing floor hockey (or ball hockey as the Canadians say), eating fondue, and meeting his friends. Last year I went to Manila on a mission trip, so it was interesting seeing a ritzier side of the city.
Alan, his friend Phil, Phil’s girlfriend Grace, and I left Manila mid-week and traveled up to a mountain area called Baguio. The four of us spent time hiking, visiting Stations of the Cross, visiting an old U.S. Army retreat center, eating, and chatting about life. It was a welcome escape from the heat of Manila. I will not lie, but being back in the mountains made me yearn to visit Switzerland again! After returning to Manila, Alan and I decided to take the plunge and start a long-distance romance. I think Phil said it best: "thus starts the romance between the extroverted American and the Shy Canadian.”
I cannot wait to learn more about Canada's national igloo!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The A-Squad comes to Korea
“Nelson, I’m sitting in first class right now on my way to Seoul. I”ll see you soon.”
Click.
Rick’s words almost made me drop the phone. First class seats? How in the world did he score those tickets? Oh, wait. His friend David works for United Airlines. It really does pay to know someone in the aviation industry. I hung up the phone with giddiness. Rick was on his way to Korea!
Rick is one of my dear friends I made after moving back to Minnesota in 2003. We met at Starbucks, worked together for about a year, and have been friends ever since. He and I like to joke that we are from the same zygote because of our similar interests in books, philosophy, TV shows, and being spotlight stealing dancers at weddings. I was definitely excited to see him!
Rick and David arrived in Seoul on a Thursday and I joined them Friday evening to begin a week of fun. My friend and co-worker, Jen, and her Canadian friend, Joss, became part of our A-squad fun. The five of nestled into the bottom floor of a hostel and explored the city together. We went temples, the DMZ, palaces, the noraebong, a folk village, restaurants where old Korean ladies defended us drunk Korean men, and the jimjilbong for the infamous scrubdown. The boys fell in LOVE with the noraebong. I think we went almost every night; the boys even sang their hearts out on a train!
Last Saturday, I sadly brought my guests to the train station. I hugged them both numerous times and begrudgingly stepped off the bus. Seeing Rick and David makes me wonderfully anxious for my summer reunion with family and friends. I am trying hard not to mentally “check out”, but I think the fire has been lit. There are plenty of fun things to do in Korea- two more friends coming to visit in March, professional development to Malaysia, spring break- but I cannot wait for summer. Let the countdown begin!
Click.
Rick’s words almost made me drop the phone. First class seats? How in the world did he score those tickets? Oh, wait. His friend David works for United Airlines. It really does pay to know someone in the aviation industry. I hung up the phone with giddiness. Rick was on his way to Korea!
Rick is one of my dear friends I made after moving back to Minnesota in 2003. We met at Starbucks, worked together for about a year, and have been friends ever since. He and I like to joke that we are from the same zygote because of our similar interests in books, philosophy, TV shows, and being spotlight stealing dancers at weddings. I was definitely excited to see him!
Rick and David arrived in Seoul on a Thursday and I joined them Friday evening to begin a week of fun. My friend and co-worker, Jen, and her Canadian friend, Joss, became part of our A-squad fun. The five of nestled into the bottom floor of a hostel and explored the city together. We went temples, the DMZ, palaces, the noraebong, a folk village, restaurants where old Korean ladies defended us drunk Korean men, and the jimjilbong for the infamous scrubdown. The boys fell in LOVE with the noraebong. I think we went almost every night; the boys even sang their hearts out on a train!
Last Saturday, I sadly brought my guests to the train station. I hugged them both numerous times and begrudgingly stepped off the bus. Seeing Rick and David makes me wonderfully anxious for my summer reunion with family and friends. I am trying hard not to mentally “check out”, but I think the fire has been lit. There are plenty of fun things to do in Korea- two more friends coming to visit in March, professional development to Malaysia, spring break- but I cannot wait for summer. Let the countdown begin!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Regret
"I do not regret the things I've done, but those I did not do."
-Rory Cochrane
I did not kiss Bret or Jemaine.
I did not drink a Foster beer.
I did not jump off a bridge.
I did not hold a koala.
I did not see a sumo wrestling match.
I did not catch a flying fish in the air.
When traveling, some opportunities are missed. A person cannot see everything that Lonely Planet or Frommer's has to recommend; however, that is the beauty of traveling. Some things are meant to be missed. Others are meant to be seen.
Over the last two months, I have been very fortunate to travel to three amazing countries. Over Christmas break, I went with three friends--Chris, Jen, and Scottie--to New Zealand and Australia. Two weeks after returning from the land down under, I went to the Japanese cities of Fukoka and Hiroshima. I traveled via ferry boat from Korea with seven of my good girlfriends from school. Each trip was vastly different. I went from testosterone to estrogen, Anglo to Asian culture, sweltering tropics to cold cities, shepherd's pie to sushi, art museums to atomic bomb museums, and skydiving to saunas.
I didn't see or do everything that the guidebooks suggested, but it doesn't matter. Some things aren't meant to happen when others are. I have no regrets with my trips, except for not taking enough pictures. These trips have taught me to practice mindfulness when interacting with others and my surroundings in the moment. Things feel more engaging, sweeter, and more connected. This blog entry has no room for regret.
I was supposed to kiss the stars goodnight.
I was supposed to drink Strongbow instead of Foster beer.
I was supposed to jump out of a plane.
I was supposed to lick an ant that tasted like lime instead of holding a koala.
I was supposed to see a poker match between four people instead of a sumo match.
I was supposed to catch an Elmo doll in a bus of twenty random strangers.
-Rory Cochrane
I did not kiss Bret or Jemaine.
I did not drink a Foster beer.
I did not jump off a bridge.
I did not hold a koala.
I did not see a sumo wrestling match.
I did not catch a flying fish in the air.
When traveling, some opportunities are missed. A person cannot see everything that Lonely Planet or Frommer's has to recommend; however, that is the beauty of traveling. Some things are meant to be missed. Others are meant to be seen.
Over the last two months, I have been very fortunate to travel to three amazing countries. Over Christmas break, I went with three friends--Chris, Jen, and Scottie--to New Zealand and Australia. Two weeks after returning from the land down under, I went to the Japanese cities of Fukoka and Hiroshima. I traveled via ferry boat from Korea with seven of my good girlfriends from school. Each trip was vastly different. I went from testosterone to estrogen, Anglo to Asian culture, sweltering tropics to cold cities, shepherd's pie to sushi, art museums to atomic bomb museums, and skydiving to saunas.
I didn't see or do everything that the guidebooks suggested, but it doesn't matter. Some things aren't meant to happen when others are. I have no regrets with my trips, except for not taking enough pictures. These trips have taught me to practice mindfulness when interacting with others and my surroundings in the moment. Things feel more engaging, sweeter, and more connected. This blog entry has no room for regret.
I was supposed to kiss the stars goodnight.
I was supposed to drink Strongbow instead of Foster beer.
I was supposed to jump out of a plane.
I was supposed to lick an ant that tasted like lime instead of holding a koala.
I was supposed to see a poker match between four people instead of a sumo match.
I was supposed to catch an Elmo doll in a bus of twenty random strangers.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
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