August 18th, 2009

So..."It's been a while" takes on many different meanings that I will allow to be up for assumption. I'm currently "teaching English" while writing this message.  This is the last two weeks of my contract so the classes are getting less "hard" for the kids as I am slacking and day dreaming about my travels to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia that start in 2 WEEKS and 2 DAYS! Clearly I'm not excited at all..AHH!!!

The year has been a busy one as I'm sure you can assume by the gap between my journals. Also, my internet was down since Christmas and I felt it was a waste of money to get it at home as I'm hardly ever there.  But to update you, life in Korea has been great. It's a shame to leave since I feel I just warmed up to it and discovered things I could use/I want to take advantage of. I've had much drama this year; something I thought would stay in Newfoundland and I would escape. The drama was in Newfoundland but found it's way to me regardless. But being on opposite sides of the world has still kept me somewhat shaded from it. Or should I say, unable to carry through with unreasonable doings out of sheer anger. Which is unlike me, BUT it's amazing how some people can make you feel (hint: resort to last journal).

So, since my last message I've done some traveling. I went to Taiwan which was amazing! And I recommend it to everyone. I also traveled around Korea a little. I went to Jeju-do (Jeju island) which was absolutely gorgeous. And It has made me want to come back to Korea to live again. I will get deeper into the stories from this island another time. I also went to Busan - beautiful city. Second largest city in South Korea. Definitely a place I could live.

I'm not quite sure how to feel as my year in Korea concludes. There are many reason for me wanted to stay. For one, I've never felt safer walking around alone and maybe a "little" intoxicated at 4:30 am. And then, there are many reasons for me wanting to head home; ie: Boyfriend, family, friends, acting, uni, traveling, etc. It's hard to anchor how I feel. I guess maybe I won't know until I get home.

I've been watching some TV lately. One show that I'm sure most of you have seen at least once, if not a preview,  is "Gossip Girl". These are the kind of shows that sometimes make me thankful for my lack of money and annoying student loan payments (in comparison with Prada purses and D&G sunglasses). And then on the other hand, sometimes make me wish I could experience the high life for myself; have everything handed to me, and see if those kind of characters exist in real life. Although, as I reflect on this year it seems I do know something about  evil people who spend their time plotting against others with the soul purpose being just to create drama. I guess everyone has their fair share.

Well, I better leave before the school locks me in. I'm 30 mins past my 4:40 mark. Talk soon!
xoxo

Misc learned:
 
1.Don't drink heavily when camping. Waking up in sweltering hot tent does nothing for hangovers.

2. Always have spare bag of some sort incase of emergency vomiting. Better then ridding yourself of vomit at the front and side entrance of tent and covering with paper/boxes to overt eyes elsewhere.

Teacha Kimbahli

Feb. 23rd/2009
1:05 am, Monday

Kim will one day make movie about own life. There will be sad things, happy things, odd things, cheesy things, and crazy things. One scene will run like this:

* Innocent kind hearted girl comes home from an ordinary Korean day with friend Amy. Girl checks facebook, and discovers 1 inbox message. So of course girl checks message. Message is reply to recent legitimate mature apology that girl sent to anonymous person. Message reads:

"hey kim
(insert fake apology here) sorry i didn't write you back after your first 2 messages but it was basically one of those things that most mothers teach their kids where if you don't have anything nice to say you don't say anything at all?? but then again, i forget that some of us have slightly psychotic parents with distorted values.
so remember in one of your first messages how you ranted on about things not coming across the right way on facebook and whatnot and being difficult to express what we really mean? well i just wanted to make sure this message comes across loud and clear, i mean if facebook was able to make fonts extremely large i would type the following in x1000:

you - are - a - whiny - BITCH.

like seriously?? get over yourself there detective drake, you might want to check your reliable sources before making such a statement as 'i know you wore my dress after' because oh my, guess what? I NEVER WORE IT. I HAD YOUR DRESS BEFORE YOU SENT ME THE MESSAGE SAYING NO AND WHEN YOU DID I NEVER WORE IT jesus christ i have NEVER seen such a fucking sook before as you in my LIFE. its a good thing you wanna be an actress kim, because you sure do loooove your drama!! it actually cracks me up, like i heard from a few people the way you were before but chose to ignore them. matt talked so highly of you i decided to give you a chance. but like seriously, i asked you to borrow a dress, you said no. should of been end of story right?? on your end, i asked you for something, you said no. but noooooooo, you had to call your mom whining and bitching and actually got her to check your closet to see if it was gone???! hahahah are you retarded? YOU ARE IN KOREA FREAKING CALLING HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD ABOUT A DRESS THAT WILL SIT IN YOUR CLOSET FOR A YEAR!!!!!!!!!! and actually after looking at the dress have decided is not even that nice or flatering. must have been bad lighting in your bedroom. and forgive me, but sometimes i forget i am a hobo and feel the need to root through people's colorful closet full of leftover halloween duds. matt showed me cute dress, no big deal. (to 99.9 percent of the world)

anywwaaayyys, to conclude i must say i find you nothing short of arrogant, juvenile and basically a shit disturbor. but i guess you can't help who you get your genes from. at least now i know where it comes from!! like mother like daughter. my only wish, hope and dream for mine and matthew's future is that i NEVER get the displeasure of meeting you. also, i wish you a happy and safe journey to the bottom of my block list.

p.s. thought actresses (and/or wannabeactresses) had good looking boyfriends? : )
Gill "


Yes. Drama. Apparently Kim likes drama. Apparently Kim asked for this dramatic turn out.

*Kim laughs hysterically at well worded beautiful complimentary  message because she couldn't be more flattered.*

After Kimberley stares at cmp with Chuck Norris kill eyes, she turns to Amy (who is verbally spitting out the shock that hit her) and Kimberley let's out, in the softest voice, "Will not waste my breath". This proves Kimberley's obvious dramatic personality.

Next scene: Kimberley soberly and accidentally runs into "Gill" in bar. Sight of "Gill" makes Kimberley so sick she vomits on her.

Film will continue from this point. Film is based on collaboration of true stories. This scene, maybe one of the best as audience will not be able to fully comprehend that a living human being could say such useless, idiotic, vomiting words. Only assumption: Not human. Some sort of alien.

Kim will also include scene of  best friends mad girlfriend ranting at her about her jealousy over Kim and her boyfriend. Kim will conclude with split screen showing Kimberley with boyfriend in current residental country South Korea, and her best friend in Alberta, Canada. Kimberley will also include the 6 conversations they have had in past 2 years.

Film will be good. Can smell it developing in the air.

Movie will be called "Vent".

Feb. 12th, 2009
2:59pm. Technically "working".

Self has neglected to keep up journal. Told self would not let this happen, but deep inside knew it would. Apology.

Very mad at work today. Felt like balloon exploding in slow motion. Misunderstandings. Everywhere. All the time.

Note to readers: self writes mostly  when feeling down. If happy, usually out doing happy things. Just so readers don't think self leads depressing life.

Having good time in Korea as boyfriend was here for 2 weeks. Made Korea seem less foreign to self. Did not notice cars, buildings, people, time...anything. Was focused and enjoying self 100%. Happy happy.

On happy note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE RICHARDS!

Miscellaneous learned:

1. Grow familiar with many undesireable cultural differences, therefore not as irritating as initial response. Grow familiar with misunderstandings, but does not become less irritating and frustrating.

2. North Korea plan to launch missal this week to....nobody knows where. Maybe will be USA since sending missal to South Korea = suicide for North Korea. No updates as of yet.

Update: Toki # 2 = well. Has to get neutered this month. Feel like horrible mother for letting poor Toki's jewels be handled and   c               ...to grotesque for word to make appearance in self journal. Mama's little man soon becomes  androgynous, but will still me male all the same.


PS: May switch blog sites since live journal decides to underline random sentences in own journal. Cannot control computer's mind. Will let peeps know if the aforementioned activity becomes active.

Peace in.
War out.

Wednesday, December 17th
2:57 pm KT

Procrastinating. Should be preparing lessons that are due tomorrow. No dice. All can think about is little child that is at home. Child's name is Toki (bunny in Korean...long story). Toki is baby kitty that bought on Saturday. Makes me so happy. Toki is Christmas gift to self. Expensive...but worth it. Buying Toki christmas sweater next week. Most likely Toki will hate sweater, but will try anyway.

Just when life in Korea gets easier, it gets harder. Only because Christmas is almost here.  Will admitt...is first time being away from Family for Christmas. Me = sook. Am also away from lovely boyfriend. Me = bigger sook. Will be good Christmas because am spending time with friends...and Toki! Oh god...have to buy Christmas gifts.

No money. Because transferred triple amount of student loan payment to student loan office. Because felt like paying a chunk of loan in one payment. Didn't know exchange rate. Lost $300. Mad. Or moreover, sad. Left self with no money for holidays. Stupid Kim. Damn loans. Lesson learned. Will check exchange rate before sending.

Good thing was home this morning when lights were lit on Christmas tree. Had extension cord and plug in hand when heard electricity buzz and next to hand a flame came from lights. Being more awesome than Chuck Norris, self jumped in to save day and unplugged lights. Fire extinguished.

Miscellaneous learned:

1. Korean's celebrate Christmas...but not to extreme that Canadians do. (Have 15 floors in apt building; my apt       is only one with lights in window).

2. Christmas lights made in Korea = fire hazard.
 
3. Korean food that cannot identify is actually better than foods that can identify.

4. Koreans spit everywhere. Sidewalks, Subways (on trains), in buildings.

5. Koreans smoke everywhere. EVERYWHERE. ALWAYS. Love being asthmatic. 

킴발리 (aka Kimberley)

 

Cannot specify date as am writing in hindsight.

Warning: This blog = depressing.

Will write briefly the bad experiences that did encounter over last month. Did not want to talk about it. Still do not. But will write briefly.

1st bad experience: 3 days in row got mistaken for Russian Prostitute once again. Only these times equal less mild. I lied. Once was mild. Second: after staring at me for about 20 mins (sitting on a bench) man sits closely next to me and leans in. My reation: "HAGIMA!" (translation: Don't do that!!!). The only thing I could say that was remotely close to what I wanted. Third: on train drunk old stumbling man grabbed my arm (thinking I was Russian...the only assumption for any contact like this). No one helped...everyone stared and enjoyed the scene.

Second bad experience:  Came home from school and saw dead body that fell from 15th floor of next building. Suicide. Worst thing ever witnessed. No more too say.

Third bad experience: One week after suicide I bought a two month old kitten as to keep from getting lonely. Kitten was rescued from dog meat slaughter house where cat is served with dog. Shelter said kitten had flu. Didn't mind. Wanted kitten to love and to be loved.Had kitten for five days and then brought him to animal hospital as would not stop throwing up. Kitten had three fatal virus' that could not be cured. Two days later he died.

Needless to say, was very sad for some time.

So busy, but will try to write more journals soon.  My apology.

:D Peace out,

Teeeacha Kimbahli (aka teacher Kimberley)

nickname: Kimbop (Korean style "sushi" without fish...if that makes sense).

October 2nd
Thursday
1:00pm

Holy Mother of F*$%ing God! ALMOST STEPPED ON PREYING MANTIS!!!! OH MAN! They are massive freaky over-sized godzilla versions of killer grasshoppers! IT LOOKED AT ME!!!! IT. LOOKED. AT. ME. That's it...it's coming for me. It knows where I live. It's some mutant creature that can read addresses from looking in the eyes of that human. It's an alien. A gi-normous little alien.

Ok. Not that bad. But that's what the moment felt like.

Now am having second thoughts about hiking mountains. Fear of Preying Mantis armies. What do they eat? Where do they dwell? Do they bite?

Going to do research on preying mantis... aka Massive Freaky Over-sized Godzilla Killer Grasshopper...

September 20/2008
Saturday

Was asked again if am Russian prostitute by man from Iran.

Sunday

Just ordered "I'm not a Russian girl" t-shirt written in Korean. Can't wait for T-shirt...

September 18/2008

Holy mo fo...was just getting ready for bed when heard loud loud death shrieking screams outside window. Live on 10th floor....but felt like voices were next to window because so excruciating. First thought voices were those of high school students getting loaded on weekend, but after 10 mins realized it was still happening. So, had to look out window...only out of concern..not because self is nosy... was man and woman. Man holding woman.
First thought: man is trying to rape woman therefore explains crazy screams. Second thought: Woman breaking up with man and man won't have it.
Third thought: Why isn't anyone helping?
Fourth Thought: Should go down and help...except can't speak language therefore could get uglier.
Then heard sirens...after three cop cars and an ambulance pulled up and took woman and strapped her into ambulance...man followed and rode ambulance with woman. Hmm...what happened? Wasn't man's fault...woman was just crazy. Will never know what happened...but still was interesting. And more interesting to fill in the unknown with imagination.
Shouldn't be surprised by odd actions. After all, do live in red light district and am often mistaken for Russian prostitute. Still don't know how to feel about that.
Sketched. Word follows me wherever I roam. Must subconsciously be drawn to red light districts. Maybe was Russian prostitute in past life...

September 15/2008

Come home to not so pleasant surprise...a fast moving flying cockroach running under bed once turned light switch on. Exaggerated a little. More like fast odd looking beetle...which is obviously not as bad as fast moving flying cockroach. Tore bed apart looking for beetle as could not sleep if didn't capture the little shit first. Could not get Feisty Fasty (name for beetle) so turned off all lights and waited to see if Feisty Fasty would come out...no dice...so kept lights off and left apt for one hour (went shopping...)Came back and turned on lights and friggin Feisty Fasty was in middle of floor next to slippers. Killed feisty fasty very fast with sneaker. Probably shouldn't have been so brutal with little bug...could hardly tell Feisty Fasty was once more than dust after shoe incident.

This is why need cat. Cat kills bugs and keeps self company.

September 16/2008

Really want Kitty.

(ps: live journal isn't working very well now..so can't use underline/bold/italics/colors...etc)

Monday, September 14th/2008

9:00am

Family went to restaurant after to eat eel. I stayed home, mainly because I knew I wouldn't eat eel, and honestly, didn't know what would be more rude; going to restaurant and watching others eat eel, or trying to eat eel and failing then spitting it out or vomiting. So, therefore stayed home to save self from embarrassment.

As if  wasn't an outcast already for being foreigner and not eating Korean food, had own small table at breakfast with different food in corner of room. Felt isolated already, but table made isolation official...eh... degrading. Trying really hard to like Korean food but is so different what usually eat. If was Indian food, could definitely eat as love curry. If was Japanese food, could eat more as not majority of food in Japan is fermented. If was Mexican food could definitely eat all food...except dog...if they eat dog.

Misc. learned:
Koreans eat dog
(...don't have anything to say about eating dog...only because so stunned that am speechless).

Slept a lot last night as much as could while sleeping on floor. Family came home from restaurant and sang Norybong (karaoke) while was sleeping. Wanted to get up and participate but felt as though wouldn't get back to sleep and would regret as baby might stay up and scream bloody murder all night....again.

So, stayed in bed.

Best speaking english friends left. Will be left for over 13 hours without speaking english at normal pace. Miss friends.

Theme of today...I.S.O.L.A.T.I.O.N.
(have feeling there will be more of that).

11:30am
Misc Learned:
-Korean maple leaf is much smaller than Canadian maple leaf, and looks like marijuana plant. Maybe "Maple leaf" is code for weed.

Glad that came here, but wish had one day at home before going back to teach.

Just remembered did not take garbage out before left apt...oh god...fruit flies? Hope not. Also, now worrying that left air conditioning on...don't think so...eh!

1:25pm 
OH GOD. Just ate bug infested fruit. NOT by choice. Didn't see bugs (b/c were very tiny..but plentiful) until almost finished fruit. Feel bugs in throat. Maybe aren't there now, but am very paranoid.

On good side, found ice cream I like. Vanilla, with chocolate and chocolate chips. Sounds simple...but is not. Need to see to believe.

Am chugging coffee very fast as feel that coffee will kill bugs in belly and in throat...and possibly in mouth. Want to throw up.

3:00pm
Just went to visit Gochang Dolmen Site and a castle (can't remember name). Beautiful. Gochang Dolmen site is part of Unesco World Heritage Committee. "Dolmen is a prehistoric tomb covered with large table stones and is representative of megalithic culture.

Pretty cool.

Can't stop envisioning bugs crawling up throat...eh ..god.

Eating grapes now as to scrape bugs away from esophagus.

Oh goody, lunch is being served. Probably all fish or vegetables in fishy sauce. What to do...what to do.
Thought self would lose weight in Korea but keep being offered cookies, cakes, etc in place of fishy food. Therefore, am gaining weight. Need to force self to like Korean food soon.

4:00pm
Good. Had beef for lunch. Very tasty.

Misc learned:
Korean always ask things three times (in case of food): "Help yourself", "Do you want some more?", etc x 3.
It is considered impolite to answer yes the first time, and even the second time. Even if person is starving to death...still stay no. Until asked third time.

When buying snacks offer to buy other persons snacks and don't buy anything for self.  Wait until next time when other person is buying to get yours. (Hope I understood this rule right. ***caution: rules may vary***).
Also, they share everything. Heh... broke rule and didn't share ice cream...but it's ice cream!!! who shares ice cream unless they 're a couple? hmm?

Koreans eat out of same dishes. Germs are ignored! Good luck germophobes. (Spelling for germophobes=unknown and too lazy to look up).

September 14/2008
6:00 AM!

Chusok Day. Very tired, as baby cried (or should say screamed violently) alllllllllllllllllllllllll night in same room as self. Made decision not to be mother. Realized am going to be extra tired during upcoming week. Not only can't sleep because of baby, but because am sleeping on floor...very hard floor. Why do Koreans still sleep on floor when option of soft, cozy, squishy, warm, comfortable bed exists? Eh, tradition.  Canadians once slept on floor as well, but moved with times and advance sleeping situations regardless of tradition. But pure Korean experience ... so was ...nice.

Also, why are showers not closed off from rest of washroom? And why are towels so small? Cannot bring clothes in bathroom to get changed because will get soaked while showering, and cannot wrap towel around self to go to next room to change because towel only covers elbow. Had to find way to hang jeans and shirt from high cupboard on wall so would not get wet. Then hung underwear and bra on high toilet paper holder (2 toilet paper holders....guessing one is high for men, and second is low for women? no idea...see? Advanced in toilet paper technology but not in showers or beds).

Misc. Learned:

-Most all toilet paper is scented in Korea.

Very tired. Taking three deep breaths.

11:00 am
Had traditional ceremony. Nice experience. Lots of food I like (ie: Pears, apples, grapes, etc, etc). Smile*
All food laid out in traditional manner. All on beautiful dishes, which were on beautiful tables. One of main traditions for Chusok includes putting food out for grave sites of ancestors. Also, in this case, putting food out for random grave in backyard in middle of farm. No one knows who's body is in grave. But still feeds body's spirit.

Misc. Learned:
-All grave sites have stone tables in front of each grave. 
-Instead of exorcism (cursing/driving away spirits; as North americans do) Koreans welcome spirits on Chusok and keep peace with spirits as to not have spirits do bad things to people/belongings.

12:00 pm
Just hiked up hill with farmers hat on to visit family's father's grave. Odd thing: eating food off of grave site that was left for hours for spirit to eat. Thought in head: "Wouldn't armies of birds and insects eat all food?". Nope. No dice. Food was untouched. So ate it!

So warm. Melting.

1:00 pm

Misc. Learned:
-Koreans don't eat grape peel (korean grape peel is way thicker than Canadian grape).

Things learned previously but didn't record:
-Koreans throw toilet paper in garbage not in toilet. hmm...
-Not common for Koreans to have more than three children.

September 12/2008
1:00pm Korean Time

Can't get anything done without Alien Registration card!! Can't exchange money (as need passport and passport is in alien registration office), can't get paid from school as can't get bank account, can't get phone, cable, or internet (luckily can steal internet from apt building)...eh! Frustrating! Breath. Breath. Ah.


6:00 pm KT
In Southern South Korea now (I work in Northern South Korea). Countryside is outstanding. Many mountains, valleys, old style traditional Korean houses. Very cool. At Co-Teachers mother-in-laws house. Very nice house. Big house (for korea) but average size for Canadians.

Fell bad for refusing most food. But rather not get sick as can't eat wet rubbery textured food or fermented vegetables. Hope everything goes well. Will be sleeping in small room on floor with 5 other people. 2 adults/3 young children. Going to be interesting.

Monday, September 8/2008

Now am officially a teacher. Weird. Very fun. Though, kids are little shits sometimes. Still cute though...loud but cute. Was scary teaching at first, but after 5th class felt very confident. Getting hang of it. And getting more strict. moo ha ha!

Boy wrote "Fuck" on paper for assignment. Suppose to write "Fun". Still wonder if student knew what bad word meant. Laughed on the inside.

Tuesday, September 9/2008

Kids getting louder each day. Was still fun though. Keep getting more strict as days pass; "Listen up class", "Teacher's Time", "Stand up Please", "Sit in the thinking chair", etc, etc. Go Kim. Power. Although, not drunk off power; still very polite. Luckily, Co-teacher disciplines most of time. Only seldom I say these things.

Have to attend meetings at recess everyday. Can't understand anything meeting is about but still is mandatory for Native English Teacher to attend. So just sit back, eat snacks, and drink coffee while listening to gibberish. Very good. Love meetings.

Friday, September 5/2008

Didn't teach today. Just introduced self, sat back and watched co-teacher. Easy. Co-teacher is very sweet and can speak pretty good english. Whew! Also introduced self to all teachers, vice principal, and principal in meeting after school. Questions asked include:

1. Question: How old are you? (always first question asked after name)
     Reply: 22
     Reaction: Deep inward gasp.

2. Question: Where are you from?
     Reply: Canada
     Reaction: Outward poistive "Ahhh".

3. Question: Are you married?
     Reply: No
     Reaction: Awkward pause.

4. Question: Boyfriend?
     Reply: Yes, he's in Canada.
     Reaction: Groans of pity (as if didn't feel bad enough about boyfriend being in Canada).

5. Question: What is your major?
    Reply: Theatre/acting.
     Reaction: Korean conversations and awkward pause followed.

Final thing said from Principal, "Welcome to Korea" (applause from Koreans).
Self reaction: "Thank you very much....Kamsahamnida (korean thank you)"...then shy laugh, and faint sigh of relief. 

Monday, September 2/2008. 8:00pm Korean Time (KT).

Very happy. Had pork. And no talk of drunken conversations of night before.

Also, found out am one day ahead of Canada.

Tuesday, September 3/2008. 10:30 pm KT.

Found computer downstairs in beautiful lounge. Beautiful lounge belonging to Korean Air flight attendants. Therefore, not allowed to use computer or being in lounge at all. If type really soft maybe no one will know.

Heard sound. Heart raced. Person gone. Didn't notice. Relieved.

Managed to send emails with vital info: "arrived safe and sound, etc". Sad to leave pretty lounge with interesting wallpaper as is nicely lit and cozy. Yet, already have broken two rules in Korea so far. Using Korean Air Flight Attendants computer, and walking across street (on crosswalk) while green light for traffic. Korean man yelled at me and gave bullet eyes...but approx. 10 other people walked...so didn't feel too bad.

Sleeping on cot sucks while roomate sleeps in nice cozy bed next to self. She had to be taller.

Monday, September 2/2008. 6:00pm Korean Time.


Cannot believe went full 14 hour flight and did not write one journal. Wasn't as if was occupied...sat on ass for 14 hours. Besides numerous times attempted to escape inner claustrophobic window seat by pretending to have to use bathroom/brush teeth as to not make neighbor passengers mad.

In Korea. Have been here since Sunday...or Saturday...damn time difference has the better of me. No idea what day I arrived as have not yet figured out if am day ahead of Canada or behind.

Korea is very nice. Although, only place have been so far is China town across street. Therefore, have not yet experienced Korea but China instead.

Keith said lives off beef and rice. Maybe will live off beef and rice as one of first meals consisted of raw octopus and squid. Not just octopus and squid, but  raw full-bodied mini bite size octopus and squid. Cannot fathom putting full octopus in mouth as think about brains and poo inside of Octo. No Dice.

Orientation has been fun. Aka "frosh week"- as everyone gets drunk and have loud obnoxious slurred conversations and wonder next day while sitting next to person in class what one may have talked about. But not huge concern as assumed everyone was drunk and can't remember.

mmm...supper. Feed belly. Hopefully chicken or pork available. Fingers crossed.

7:55 am NL Time. Air Canada Flight to TO.

Deadly. Just found out can listen to various albums on Air Canada's program. This means can save MP3 Player battery for Korean Air line as might only have Korean pop music. *Smiling on the inside*.

9:25 am

Song to tell Andrew to download: "Only have eyes for you" -Ella FitzGerald. In sappy mood.

Album to purchase when return to Canada: Ella Fitzgerald: "Gold: Greatest hits".
Good songs:
I Only Have Eyes For You (tell Andrew dl)
Anything Goes
Too Marvelous For Words (Andrew dl)
September Song (kinda...Andrew dl...)
They All Laughed
Cheek to Cheek (Andrew dl...cute)
Ridin' High (perfect song for right now)
In a Sentimental Mood (me right now...both riding high and in sentimental mood...mixed)
If I Were a Bell (thought of Margot Dionne's 2 year class in University. Many "If i were's"....bell...bird...hmm...no velvet though...)

Read Andrew's letter. Very sweet. Held back tears. Very Proud.

All of Me (another good song)
Come Rain or Come Shine (me like)

Captain has spoken. Will descend into TO in approx. 30 mins. Hmm....where's make-up?

Will definitely buy Ella Fitzgerald CD. Very good, and probably won't get to listen to all before landing.

Hmm...just realized flight went really fast. Maybe next flight won't feel like 14 hours.

Can't wait to eat. Stomach is eating itself as Air Canada too cheap to provide adequate snacks.

Hello Everyone,

I usually write in a paper journal but I thought it would be nice to share my adventures with my friends and family, so I'm basically going to copy my journals from my private paper journal into this Live Journal. Nothing is sugar coated, so excuse me if some things may be offensive! Also, some entries are written in full sentences and some are written in jot note style. Hope you can follow it. Just to let you know, my reason for being in South Korea is to teach English in an Elementary School for one year.

August 30th - 7:15am Newfoundland Time-On Air Canada Flight to Toronto.

Here we go. Off to South Korea. It's still very surreal that I'm actually going. It all happened so fast that I barely had time to think about it. I guess it's a good thing in a way; if I had more time I probably would have talked myself out of it.

I just said my goodbye's to my family, Andrew (bf) and Nora (bf's mother). It was the hardest goodbye of my life so far.

I lined up to go through security, and I heard a mother say to her little girl, "Just one tear, that's all. Just one tear". For some reason, overhearing this comment made me cry even more. I guess it all became real to me. I've never left for this long before. I have a feeling that homesickness will meet me for the first time here in Korea. 1 Year away from family, friends, and a wonderful boyfriend in a busy foreign country with millions of people I cannot communicate with and with a language that  I can't read, write or speak. A big change.

 Cannot read Andrew's letter yet. That being said, just taking off from NL now. Still have approx 20 hours before arrival in Korea. Know that being in sad mood from leaving family, bf, and friends, that it is probably not good idea to read letter now...will cry uncontrollably, which will result in awkward stares and gossip from other passengers.

Going to Korea. Teaching. Good choice or Bad Choice? Hmmm...Good choice. Although will miss Andrew and family,  will have great time and meet many people.

Hope I can still act when return home...does rule "if you don't use it, you lose it" apply to acting? hmm...hope not.

Hope I get an apartment to myself. No roommates. Have had share of roommates. Want to experience living alone. No invaded space, all control over decorations, can have guests anytime without worry of disturbing others, can have fully clean apt, can cook / watch tv / walk around in underwear / play loud music and much more...really hope get own apt.

Hmm..just remembered could not bring guitar on flight as would cost $225.00. Pissed. Could have brought person for same amount. Will buy Korean guitar and be happy.

Anxious to get to Korea. Still have over 19 hrs. Ah...turbulence....hence bad writing.

Met record today: 2 peices of checked luggage and 1 carry on. For one year. One year and 2 bags...one year..2 bags. ME. How? Who knows. Wish I brought beige boots from London. Damn. Why did only pack 2 bags?

Think will go to Japan for holiday during year in Korea....maybe Thailand too. And Hawaii. Maybe Australia. Hmmm..want to go everywhere.

Listening to tunes. Going to read Andrew's letter now that am calm.


(This is just one entry so far. I have a lot to catch up on! It'll take some time. Stay tuned!)
Kim