closing time.

It's almost time to go so I've been compiling a list of things that I will miss about Korea, and things that I can live without.

What will I miss about Korea:

• The incredible transit and transportation systems
• My Ediya cappucino which only costs me 2,800w
  
• Aloe juice, Milkis, makoli
  
• my apartment
• my kiddies
• cheap dry cleaning, medicine, dentist visits, beer,
  
• stationary
• the fastest downloading speed in the world
• the incredible amount of shopping
  
• Hongdae, Idae, Myeong-dong, Sinchon, Insadong ie. shopping!
• Being far away from Asia again when there's still so much to explore
• Norebang, Wii bang, DVD bang....all the bangs!
• My dance studio
• my sweet work schedule which I won't get anywhere else ever!
• Maple Bear
• My friends :)
  

What won't I miss:

• Being pushed everywhere I go because there are SO many people
• kimchi...was never a fan
• having a phone that takes me 5 minutes to send one text
• street traffic
• Soju bleh!
• not being able to understand 90% of the people here (my own fault)
• Being so close to North Korea
• Not having general access to Wendy's, sushi, spinach dip, a car
• more green spaces ie. grass
• Not being close to my family and friends at home

I've been packing, sending home boxes of all the clothes and shoes I've accumulated over the past year (let's not talk about this one). I have 3 weeks left and for the first time I'm really starting to feel it. I've watched so many other people leave that I can't believe the next person will be home. I'm so looking forward to going home for the holidays but I'm torn. When you get so comfortable somewhere, it's hard to leave but I think I'm almost there.

I have lived here for 16 months so no matter what I will miss it. I will miss the food even though it's too spicy, I will miss the people, my job, my responsibility free life. I love it here and every place has their pros and cons. I couldn't have asked for anything more and I know that my experience here has changed me forever.

It'll be a sad day when December 17th comes and I hope they have a moment of silence across the country for my departure. Already shedding a few tears at the thought.

Until next time,

j xo

bangkok.siem reap

Over the Chuseok holiday Angela and I took our 5 day vacation to see one place that I've been dying to travel to for ages....Cambodia.

We left Seoul Saturday September 18th after work and arrived into Bangkok during the wee hours of Sunday morning. We were only scheduled to be in Bangkok for a day, mainly as a stop over because neither of us had seen it although we had both been to Thailand. Our main purpose for this trip was to get to Siem Reap.

After a very short sleep, let's call it more of a nap, on Day 1 we got up and ready to see everything we wanted to in one day AH!! We started our tour by seeing the Reclining Buddha temple. It was gold, massive and beautiful. The temples around were beautiful too, very intricate and detailed.

After the Reclining Buddha we traveled to see the Floating Market which is actually a ways out of the city. We hopped into a boat which would take us through the channels. I expected the Floating Market to be all food but since its become a tourist stop it's mostly souvenirs and trinkets that you can buy. All I wanted was delicious fruit so as we floated around I was grabbing fresh Mangosteen and Mango's to munch. It was so interesting, and nothing like I thought it would be. I think the market has changed alot over time and isn't what it used to be but is still pretty cool. After the Floating Market we drove to te Tiger Temple for Angela, she has always wanted to pet a tiger. The temple had all these rules we didn't know about clothing wise SO I didn't end up going in but Angela did so she got to pet a bunch of different rescue tigers and get her photo taken. By the time we got back to our hotel it was pretty late and we still hadn't eaten. We grabbed some delicious thai food mmm I swear I could eat thai food every day if I had the chance. We made it an early night because our next day was going to be spent traveling via bus to Siem Reap.

Day 2 of our adventure started early and slow. We took a shorter than we thought bus trip to the border between Thailand and Siem Reap. At the border we got our visas (wish my visa for Korea was this easy) and passed through easy peesey. Once in Cambodia, it was only about 2 hours to get into Siem Reap and to our hotel. So to recap, in one day we have taken these forms of transportation: small van, another small van, walked, shuttle bus, cab, tuk tuk (during our stay in Siem Reap I would learn to love tuk tuks). We arrive at our guesthouse Ei8ht Rooms which is right by the main downtown strip Pub Street. It is the cutest guesthouse, so perfect and romantic with Ang and I sharing a bed and our mosquito netting. Anyone who goes to Siem Reap must stay there.

With only a short walk we were at Pub Street where you can find most of the restaurants, bars, shops and markets. Every night on Pub Street, street-food type vendors set up shop and every night they take them down. The food is amazing and SO cheap, like 1 or 2$ for a meal which is actually crazy. That's where we had our first meal and it was delicious. All of the food we had in Cambodia was incredible actually, there was nothing I ate that I wouldn't have had again. Angela ate the Ammok curry which is a staple in Cambodia. It taste similar to thai curry and is just as yummy. After wards we went over to a bar called Angkor WHAT??? which is by far one of the best names for a bar EVER!! We tried the local beer which was delicious and hung out, watching the crowds flow through the streets. I was surprised to see how many travelers were in Siem Reap considering it was low season. I already knew I was going to like Siem Reap, it had a good vibe and I felt happy and comfortable being there.

Day 3 was our trip to Angkor Wat. It was early but already stupid hot outside so we knew it was going to be a rough day. We were up nice and early to meet our tuk tuk driver who was going to be taking us around for the day. Before making our way to Angkor Wat we stopped for our basic vacation breakfast which consisted of fresh fruit mmmm pineapple, watermelon and our new favorite were these thingys that tasted similar to lychee but were all stringy on the outside. With our breaky in hand we drive to the Angkor Wat temples, buy our tickets and get to the main entrance. At this point I was beyond excited! I was finally getting to see Angkor Wat, a place I had wanted to see for years. Seeing Cambodia was a must for me and I couldn't believe that I was actually there, with Angela, at that very moment. We spent the day walking around the ruins of the different temples and it was truly unbelievable. They were larger than life and so amazing to think that they were built and then abandoned just like that. Many of the ruins are still intact but ofcourse some have taken hits over time.


My favorite was Ta Prohm because it was unique from all the others. It was smaller but had trees growing out of the ruins from all angles. There was something eerie about it, I still can't put my finger on it but it just seemed so unreal. The trees were enormous and so striking. I don't know how they grew, how they are so big or how the roots look the way they do like spider webs or candle wax but they were truly amazing.

Look how small I am compared to this tree, and that's not even half of the tree either.
When leaving the temples we saw wild monkeys on the side of the road so we stopped to see them, little did we know we were about to get attacked!! These monkeys were not messing around but they were not as scary at the monkeys I met in Kuala Lumpur at the Baha Caves. We bought mini bananas and they didn't even wait for us to give them the bananas because they came straight to us and grabbed them. I think we were more afraid of them then they were of us because we were screaming and they were just fine, eating away.
Getting to see Angkor Wat was such a high point in my traveling life and a place I'll never forget.

Day 4 was a laid back day but still a good one. We took our morning pretty easy, ate breakfast, had some gelato and then took a tuk tuk to the country side with our friend Sarath and our tuk tuk driver David Beckham :) We drove through the countryside and through some smaller towns to see what real Cambodia life was like. The weather the beautiful, I still remember the clouds and the way the sky looked which was unreal.


We took a boat out to see the floating village which was quite the site. Literally, it's a village that floats on water. All of the houses are on water and they travel by boat...crazy right!! As we went by we were waving to the kids and people in the houses. We even stopped by the pagoda where are the children play to join them. We were skipping rope(well Angela was), lifting them up, handing out candy and taking pictures. The kids were adorable and there were so many of them. At first many of them were nervous to see us and play with us being the 2 whitest people in the universe BUT after awhile they warmed up and started lining up to play. After leaving the floating village we continued driving around the countryside and went to visit a cousin of David Beckham's (our drivers) and see their house. The were rice farmers and fed us this amazing rice treat which was wrapped in leaves and boiled. There was bean inside and you eat it with sugar mmm yummm! It was so nice to get out of the city, see green, especially after living in Seoul. I miss the quaintness and simple life, not like I ever had one, but I miss the idea of one which I haven't seen since moving to Seoul. It was great to see real people, away from the tourists and the busy spots, and just see the normal life that these people lead.

That was our last day in Siem Reap. After another wonderful dinner that cost a few dollars, it was Cambodia bbq and delish, we did a little more wandering and went over the the Night Market to do some shopping....and did we ever shop! How we got all our junk home is beyond me but my bag weighed twice as much as it did on the way over!!

Day 5: This was our travel day. We got up early to once again catch our taxi to the border, pass through and then catch our bus back to Bangkok. We got back to the city with quite alot of time left before our flight but not enough to actually do anything so we spent our time in the very air conditioned Bangkok airport eating, spending the last of our thai baht and sleeping. Finally it was time to leave our mini vacation and travel back to Seoul to continue our teaching life.

This marked the last trip I will take while living in Seoul. The next time I get on a plane, it will be taking me home to Canada back to where I belong...weird huh!! My ticket is booked, December 17th I will arrive back at Pearson to be home for the holidays and until I decide to leave again if at all :) I've seen 6 different countries in Asia, 7 including South Korea, and although there are still many more to explore, it'll have to wait for another time.

Until then,

peace out

janey xo

the cutest kids in the world award goes to:

Love them to bits and pieces and wish I could put them in my pocket and take them home :)

it could not possibly be hotter in this country

I have to say that although I have my moments of annoyance in Seoul, I'm not quite ready to leave yet so it's a good thing that I'm not. I think I have alot of growing left to do and although it won't be complete in 5 months but I think I'm making good headway. It's a good place to be, although I have way too many distractions, but I can easily zone out the rest of the world especially when you don't speak the language...ignorance is bliss I must say!

Anyways let's not talk about me, I'm boring! I'm going to talk about Korea and my recent discoveries and inquiries.

You know what every place in the world needs.....more street vendors! Ok well maybe Seoul has too many but honestly you don't even have to go into stores here, you can buy everything on the streets and it's CHEAP too. The best is the street food, not just hot dogs but Korean food, kebabs, waffles, everything!! I love love love it and think that every place should have food this widely available :)


Seoul is WAY ahead in fashion, but not in everything. Every genre of fashion history is being rocked at all times but sometimes it's just too much. My biggest pet peeve right now, colourful socks with any kind of sandal, especially of gladiator variety! It pains me to see girls walking down the street in 35 degree weather wearing bright purple socks with their cute gladiator funky sandals. Isn't the point of sandals in the summer time to give your feet some freedom...this is supporting every kind of food repression and I'm not ok with that. Stockings and heels, stockings and sandals, stockings and everything....there should be a rule during the summer time...no colourful socks allowed!!

The cat/dog cafe: This is one of my favorite places to go..the cat cafe more than the dog cafe. I love dogs, I love all animals BUT about 20 different dogs together in one room is loud and hectic whereas cats are chill and calm. I have been to the same cat cafe in Hongdae a few times and I could spend all day there, I just love it! It obviously makes me miss my kitty and want an animal asap but it's a great way to fill the void. Many families in Korea can't have animals because the city and living spaces aren't really built for people let alone pets. There just isn't enough space inside or outside for pets like you would see in North America although lately I have seen quite a few large dogs being walked around. Anyways this is the perfect setting to give cats/dogs a lovely home, give them food and loving from random people :)



I have noticed in the past few months that I have sweat glands in my body I never knew existed until my summer in Seoul. This city is so insanely hot, and I mean deathly hot, people need ways to stay cool right? Seoul is filled with mini splash parks, well that's what you'd think their purpose was when really there are just fountains everywhere that are used to un-sizzle. Cheonggyecheon stream in the middle of Seoul has become headquarters for children and pretty much anyone to enjoy....think swimming people, except te water only goes to your calves. I wouldn't go as far as to drench my entire body in the water like the kids do but putting your feet in is the perfect way to stay cool on these sweltering days. I wear one day I will run through a fountain even if its not socially acceptable :)

Despite the heat I'm staying cool and happy...did you expect anything else?

One love

janey xo

it's a long road ahead

Lately I have been in a mood...I can't exactly describe it. It's not homesickness, I'm not mad at anyone, I'm not sad, I'm in in a mood and it's a bad one. I don't think I've ever gotten in a bad mood that's lasted so long and it's coming out on all those around me...well not the ones I like atleast.

I'm just totally out of energy and running on empty. I'm usually a night person but I can't seem to stay awake and stay conscious past a certain hour. I have no motivation in general which is the weirdest part. My kids are driving me mental and pushing me over the edge. But what's really getting me is the people in Korea. Walking down the streets, being on the bus...they all just piss me off! I'm from Canada where people are polite and say things like "excuse me" when they are pushing by you or if they hit you say "sorry" once or twice. I feel like I'm losing my Canadian-ness because people aren't like that here, they are rude and it's just the way the culture is. I get pushed around all day by people who all act like they are in the biggest rush, bumping me and not even acknowledging the fact that they're stepping on my feet or hitting me. It's so irritating and I try not to let it bug me but this week it's ALL coming out. I mean I have places to go, I have to be at work too but I'm not running into people all day and when I do I say "SORRY" even in Korean.

Korea has all these charms, all of these traits that are just so Korean...that's the only possible way to describe it. But lately Korea has been losing it's charm to me and the things that were once charming are now annoying or frustrating. If I hadn't decided to stay until Christmas, I would be leaving in less than 2 months, about 6 weeks. But in reality I have been away for over a year now if you include camp last year so maybe it's that. I need to somehow convince my body and my brain that I'm not leaving yet and still have 5 and a half months to go...I need to look at this long road ahead and power through! People always say to me that they admire what I'm doing and could never do this either because they have too many things for them at home or are just homebodies...well guess what, I'm one too! I've turned my apartment here into the place where I retreat too since my home in Oakville is too far away! I like being home, I like having familiar things around me, people I know, my bed, my cat, and a good book. I like being boring...I think I actually am boring! To be honest I don't really know how I stay away...maybe it's because I know that there's an end point when I get to go back or maybe it's that I try not to think about it so I don't really let it affect me. Whatever it is it's starting to drift but I don't want it to taint me experience here and I won't let it!

I guess I'm just being a baby, it's not the first time. I'm really good at complaining about things when I shouldn't because I'm lucky and I know that...I just need to be reminded :)
I have more things to say but no time right now...I will write again tomorrow!

Until then,
jane-aroo xo

1 year

1 year ago today, around this exact same time I was arriving at the Geneva airport from an all night flight from Toronto. I would soon be hopping on a train to Sierre, be taking the finicular up the mountain to arrive in Montana. Today is the day that staff training begins at ISCM and 1 year ago I was apart of that...I would be getting picked up at the finicular station, checking in and getting horrible staff photo taken which would haunt me all summer, I would once again be having the butterflies in my stomach about meeting new people, seeing old face and looking forward to another unbelievable summer....but I'm not, is it awful that I'm jealous?

I'm in a wonderful place in my life with wonderful people. I love my job and I'm happy to be where I'm at...so how can I possibly be jealous? The thing with people is that we always want what we can't have, we want to be where everyone else is and do what they're doing. We want another persons job, their apartment, their fashion sense, we constantly want something else but what's so wrong about what we already have!?! It can be hard to live in the now when my life here is so temporary, it's so easy to think about what's next especially when I have my end date.

I really can't complain, I have a great life and have nothing bad to say. I think I'm just upset that I can't be two, three or four places at once...I hate missing things, missing people and missing experiences that I know are bound for greatness. I'm constantly missing things, missing birthdays, house warmings, weddings, hockey game nights, delicious family dinners so I guess this just adds to my list of things I will eventually have to make up for...watch out 2011.

Today I just feel kind of lonely because I know that if I was at camp, I would be spending the next 10 weeks surrounded by hundreds of people at all times and I like that. There's no place in the world I would rather be than there because there no place in the world that makes me feel the way I feel there....so free (the air quality and the mountains help). In a city like Seoul, with millions of people around me all the time I still feel so small and insignificant all the time. Putting the language barrier and my obvious non-asianess aside, I just don't feel surrounded like I do at camp and I don't get that same feeling. I like feeling small sometimes, and insignificant, and totally lost because it means I have to fight to be noticed and find my place but sometimes it's exhuasting. I miss camp because it's effortless, it's easy, it's also equally as exhausting but I know that, I get that, and I can handle that.

Another thing that struck me about ISCM starting is that it was a year ago that I left home and said goodbye to most of my friends/family until I return. It's so crazy to think that I've been gone a year because it definitely doesn't feel like one. It's strange to also think that I'm here for another 6 months, 6 months that will probably go by just as fast. I do look forward to going home, I think about it all the time because I know what's waiting for me which makes it hard to wait BUT I need to continue to try and live in the now, so I don't missing what's right infront of me.

~janey waney xo

sans expectations

So it occurred to me recently that no matter where you go in the world you always have expectations. it's almost impossible not to. Whether it's Italy, Australia or New York, you hear stories and see photos and without having been there you have an idea of what it will be like. Expectations can be our best friend or our worst enemy, especially if they're not met.

Our image of a place can be totally tainted due to someone's description either for the better or the worse. People tend to have very different ideas on what they want their traveling experience to be...whether it's vacation, relaxation, adventure, immersion, and another person can't really compare their trip to yours. But they do, and it happens to me and everyone I know anytime they go somewhere. I'm just as guilty for creating expectations or smashing them to pieces but I can tell you that there's nothing better than going somewhere where you literally have none...this brings me to my trip to the Philippines.

When I found out that I would have time off in May, I really wanted to use it to do some hardcore traveling and planned on making my way to Cambodia for some history. Due to lack of flight availability and expenses it wasn't going to work out. After deciding to stay in Korea until December I realized that Cambodia could be done at another time. My 2 friends Alice and Angela were planning a trip to Boracay in the Philippines and it only made sense to tag along. I never really imagine myself going there, never really needed to, but after having gone my need and my desire to return is stronger then my initial desire to go in the first place.

Getting to Boracay is quite a trek and here's how it went: Left City 5(my apt building) at 6:00am to take a bus to the airport, flight to Manila, shuttle from Manila airport to another airport, flight from Manila to Caticalan, trike from Caticalan airport to ferry boat, ferry boat ride to the island of Boracay, trike from ferry dock to our hostel. And thus brings us to FRENDZ RESORT!!!

Frendz was like my home away from home, except tropical! It was the best hostel experience I've ever had and it started from the moment we arrived. Everyone was so welcoming, so friendly and it was a guarantee that by staying at this place we would have the best trip ever!! Our room was perfect, had a balcony, a hot shower and most importantly AC!! Boracay was beyond hot, it was beautiful don't get me wrong but SO hot that I think I lost my weight in water and gained it back in beer :)

Boracay is known for its white beaches and sunsets which bring people out from all around the island each night to watch it. It truly is an incredible sight to see and share with some wonderful people. The ocean was amazing, the water so warm and the beaches were the best I've been on. The set up for Boracay is perfect and because its so small its easy peesey to get around. We spent alot of our time on the beach and alot of it at the hostel hanging out or drinking. The best thing about the Philippines is the price of alcohol....let's just say less than 2$ for a beer!! CRAZY right, well now you can understand why I drank my weight in beer.

Our first night out on the Boracay beach was to a club who's name I don't remember but I do remember the fire show with our favorite lady boy Carla!! She was incredibly and introduced us to the fire dance which we now frequent at clubs....its the new rage I swear! But seriously, amazing!! After this was a much needed dip in the ocean and why keep our clothes on...that's right, a skinny dip! Well me not so much, I can't even shower at the gym BUT I did my best. I have to say that nothing says "hey, nice to meet you" like a skinny dip in the Philippino ocean eh! Now Ang, Alice and I were bff's with our new Frendz buddies :)

Day 2 was obvi spent on the beach, drinking mango shakes, drinking beer ie. just drinking and soaking up the sun. Yes I did get burnt and yes it hurt alot, worst ever I think but totally worth it! That evening was one of my most favorite dining out experiences. We walked with our Frendz friends a little off the main road to a market called Talipapa's. At this market you can buy fresh fish, seafood, meat and veggies and then bring it to a restaurant where they cook it to your specifics. It was incredible to have such freedom and chose what you want. Since I didn't eat any meat or seafood there meant splitting a hell of alot of veggies with my new friend Ines who was also a veggie lover PERFECT!! We essentially took over this little restaurant, all 20 of us from Frendz, and chowed down on the deliciousness. It took a looooong time for our food to come out but was totally worth the wait YUMMY!! After our 3 hour dinner we spent another night out on the beach bar hopping. The girls ended up going home early so it was just me and the boys. it's amazing, I can be tired every day in Seoul but as soon as I get to the Philippines I can survive all night on little sleep...the ISCMer in me keeps me going! We went to this crazy club on the beach that night and although I went there twice the name of it still escapes me. There were little tables and bean bag chairs on the beach and a dj spinning up top...the drinks were flowing and so was the dancing. It was the perfect night out and another late one!!


At this point I'm lacking all kinds of sleep and hungover...so why not get up early and spend the day on a catamaran!! We rented a private boat to take us around the island, take us snorkeling and to the Crystal Caves. I spent most of the morning sleeping and hating my life but obviously the views were incredible and it made me think I LOVE MY LIFE!! Honestly what could be better then good friends, a beautiful beach, the sun shining, sailing on a private boat...I just took it all in! After our sailing excursion, myself, Alice, Angela, Tien and Jeff all thought why not go ZORBING!!!! Ok let me explain, zorbing is when you roll down a hill in a giant plastic ball. Sounds silly, well it is, but it's also awesome!! It's not scary, just funny and we had some great laughs!! That evening, we met up with our director Eric and his wife for drinks at the Hobbit House...again, let me explain. So the Hobbit House is basically a bar where really short people (ie. hobbits) serve you. I don't know why they don't have a bar like this at home...apparently the Philippinos don't find this offensive. Well it isn't really, it's again just silly and not really anything special except for the awesome reference to Lord of the Rings and the hundreds of different kinds of beer!! After that another late night drinking at Frendz and walks on the beach!!

On day 4 I'm starting to crash, so thank goodness we were going to be spending another day on the beach drinking mango shakes, drinking beers and soaking up the sun! What a life, I could get used to this for sure! We met again that night with Eric and Pat for dinner which we followed with a lovely swim in their hotel pool and then a visit to the same beach club who's name still escapes me. I've mentioned some of my favorite things about the Philippines but not all of them so I'll take some time to do that now. Other than the obvious ones, I loved the people. Everyone was so friendly, not just at our hostel but everywhere we went. I guess coming from the Korean rudeness it was such a needed change of pace and made me feel at home. The shopping and eating was awesomely cheap and just all around wonderful. And there was just something about being in Boracay, it was exactly what I needed, the perfect refresher to celebrate my half way point of living in Seoul.

Our last day in Boracay was another relaxing day, buying souvenirs, eating halo halo's, drinking mango shakes and more beer, soaking in our last rays of sun, watching sunsets and spending our final evening at Bom Bom, the acoustic BoB Marley inspired bar on the beach...no better way to round off our adventure.

We got up the next morning at an ungodly hour to pack, eat breakfast and check out with enough time to make the same trek back to Seoul. Leaving Frendz and Boracay was sad but I like to leave knowing that I'll be going back some day :)

Since my time in Korea and out of all the trips I've taken, my trip to Boracay can go down as my favorite. There were no expectations, no stresses, no schedules, no sites we really had to see....all we did was take in each as they came and go with the flow. We met some great people, had some amazing moments, some perfect firsts, spent amazingly beautiful days on the beach and in the water and really what more could you ask for. It was exactly what I needed, exactly what we all needed and I wouldn't have changed anything about it. I will go back to the Philippines some day, there's so much more to do and I couldn't imagine never returning after such an incredible experience.

Since being back in Seoul I feel different and I thought it was just me but other people have noticed the difference too. Again, I don't know what it was, where the change came from...it might have to do with the amazing weather and the amazing things that have been happening since our return...but it's there :)

It's only been since I've been back that I realized how fun Seoul is and how much I appreciate being here. Ofcourse I miss home and that will never go away but I know it's not forever so I have to make the most of it while I'm here.

So here's to our summer of 2010, our summer of adventure and summer of fun

*cheers*

sandy sailboat

Rediscovering Seoul

So I know it's been awhile and I guess that's my fault EXCEPT that it's not and I'll tell you why....

I have spent the last month or so loving life in Seoul. I was loving it so much that I didn't have any time to write about it. Now let's not confuse things, this post does not mean that I have time and therefore am hating life but I finally have decided to stay up late to write this long winded message in hopes to jot it all down before I forget.

On April 8th, my friend Ashley arrived in Seoul. This was really the beginning of getting my groove back!! It actually took another person coming here to get me out of my routine and back into the tourist in me who still hasn't seen so much of this country that I call my temporary home.

We started with the DMZ tour one early Sunday morning. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile now and decided I couldn't keep waiting for the nice weather and just had to go. Now I'm still totally torn about this experience but what I can say is that it's eye-opening. It's a tour that thousands of people do a year so they have it organized down to a tee. Nothing is really that shocking, well nothing you see at least but history doesn't lie and that's the surprising part. For a demilitarized zone, there is more military then I've ever seen around it. The DMZ stretches for 4 miles, 2 miles on each side of the border and inside that zone weapons are not around...it's the outside that's intimidating as ever. You can't even take pictures of NK, you have to stand behind a yellow line to capture a glimpse and really it's just hills and fields. There's alot of shit that went down here, alot that I don't really know but I can tell you that the most affecting part of what we saw that day was at the Freedom Bridge where families and visitors have left notes on coloured flags. These messages are of sadness, love, but mostly for peace. I was lost in translation for most of them but you can't deny emotion and you could see it by just glancing at these words. The truth is that what North Korea did was awful and everyone knows that but somehow it gets caught behind the line of sad war torn countries and when it comes down to it Korea isn't doing too badly. We don't know alot about NK so it's hard to say their stance but you can speak from the families. Every year, on one special day, families that have been divided by this demilitarized zone are able to come together and see eachother. These families have one day to see these loved ones and that just breaks my heart. can you imagine a border dividing you one day and wherever you were at that moment is where you'll remain....can you imagine not being able to leave your own country. Makes you appreciate the ability to travel and it makes me thank my lucky stars for being from such a free country. I don't really want to go into NK, I think by doing so I'm making what they're doing ok and funding their peoples mistreatment but atleast I can say that I saw it, even if it was from afar through a set of binoculars.

Next stop....Gyeong-ju. Now Gyeong-ju is where the old Shilla dynasty reigned and is a UNESCO world heritage town. In all my Korean travel books they mentioned that going there is a MUST for my time in Korea so when my friend Yang-Keun asked Ashley and I to join her I figured why not! It is a 5 hour drive from Seoul and when we arrive very late at night there is one image that is everywhere....CHERRY BLOSSOMS!!! In Seoul, they are scarce with the weather being so bad but in Gyeong-ju they are in full bloom and amazing! The trees line the streets everywhere you go like palm trees in Palm Beach. Seeing this is reason enough to take this trip but there is still so much to come still. Our first day we meet another friend of Yang-Keun's and set off on our adventures. We take our time but have many stops to make. First is a temple where I first discover the prayer stones. There is this area with stones that have been used to make statues that resemble Inukshuks. Visitors of the temple pray and build these statues without using the stones that others have used. They are everywhere and amazing so we joined in and made our contribution while sending a few good wishes. Next, we go up the mountain to see the golden Buddha and have the pleasure of catching the beginning preparations for Buddha's birthday coming up on May 21. We then travel back down and head to the tombs and if you didn't know any better you would just think that they're giant hills...or atleast I would. There are too many to count and they are everywhere. The size is based on importance but yet we still don't know how is inside of them. We have a few more stops and one is to this tiny stream that royalty would sit around and write poetry. As they wrote they would drink tea which they would pass down and around the stream. For some reason the cups would never turn over, this mystery is unsolved but what a life eh! Finally, we headed to the most important place of the day....where the King's would have their parties. Through time and war many of the buildings are essentially non-existent and being rebuilt but reading the stories is enough to imagine it all.
On our second day there we find ourselves driving towards the sea to the one and only sea tomb. It is a collection of rocks not too far from the beach where the remains of a previous King were laid to rest. It's pretty cool, and a little weird, but who am I to judge when I too would like to be cremated. We also make our way to a few more temples, you can't be in Korea without seeing a few temples, and round off our trip with a nice 5 hour drive home sans traffic. When you don't driving anymore and rely on public transportation you forget how annoying traffic really is! Seeing Gyeong-ju was an amazing piece of Korean culture and what made it even better was hearing about it from a Korean who actually knows the history.

When Ashley returns from a 4 day trip to Beijing we kick it into high gear. We have 3 final days to take on the town and we do a pretty good job at it I must say. Weeks ago I had this idea to have a party but of course it had to be themed so it became the "dress like a Korean" party pretty instantly. Why you might ask? Well living in Korea your view of fashion totally changes when there are so many ideas of it around you. It wasn't just a chance to tease Koreans for the way they dress but more to see our interpretations....and were they ever out there. We had the drunk business men, the girls who look about 13 when they are 25, the ajumma, the minnie mouse, the girls who wear heels all the time and the nerds....let's just say it was amazing!! The following day we had a full on girls day of brunch, Wii bong, duty free shopping and more shopping. Who knew you could duty free shop at any time as long as you have a plane ticket to somewhere...they are everywhere! Ashley and I then headed to Hongdae to the Hello Kitty cafe. Now there is nothing more Asian than this cafe that is the most intense place I've ever seen. When I say they love Hello Kitty I really mean it....absolutely everything is Hello Kitty themed down the the designs in your cappuccino. Afterwards we made our most amazing discovery of all.....the cat cafe! This cafe is called Cats Living and is literally just a cafe where you can go and play with cats. The cats are really well kept and loved obviously since people pay to hang out with them. They have their own little toys, beds and hiding places to explore. Now for me, this place was heavenly and exactly what I needed. I miss my orange cat and this was a nice little filler until I get home. Our last day together consisted of a visit to the Steve McCurry photography exhibit which was breathtaking. His photos were stunning and pulled at every emotion I have in my body. He's famous for the "Afgan girl" photo which graced the cover of National Geographic and became one of the most influential photos ever taken. That evening was time to celebrate by drinking apple and kiwi fruit soju out of an apple cup....probably the best way to drink soju since I can't actually drink it on its own. Our last dinner was at chicken ginseng soup and was incredible. Anytime you're sick or just really hungry this totally hits the spot. It's a whole chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng in an amazing broth mmmmmm makes me hungry for it just writing the words.

The next day Ashley left me :( and was ready for my vacation to the Philippines with Angela and Alice which is a whole other blog post that I will get to VERY soon!!

The whole point of this post isn't just to tell you my day by day activities but was really to remind myself that there is still so much in this city that I haven't seen, and so much I'll never see, and I have to remember that even though I live here I'm still a tourist too. Sometimes we just need little reminders to bring our feet back on the ground and this was a little one for me, not to take this year for granted and to make sure I take it all in stride. Always a learning experience, always a lesson and they never stop eh!

That's all folks. I'm peacing out for now and will be back shortly!!

janey waney xo

what i would give...

....for a dance class right now.

It has been 7 months since I have actually danced and it is absolutely killing me. Now that I'm in a bigger apartment I do what I can around my floor and stretch as often as I can but seriously, come on, a dance class is not much to ask for right?! I honestly feel my body shake when I listen to music, something that I could choreograph to or learn a dance to but instead I'm on the bus and am limited to dancing in my head. I swear one day I will just break out in a routine in the middle of the street like they do in the movies. My dreams to open a dance studio get bigger and bigger every day that I am without dance...I think they should make a tv movie out of me and my poor unfortunate life eh!

The gym and yoga isn't enough, I need more and I miss dancing SO much. I could go for a Shawn Byfield routine and would give both my arms for it, except then the routine wouldn't look too good but you get what I mean....I'm dying here! I've had to subject to learning stuff off youtube and that's just sad. I need mirrors and springy wood floor and speakers!! When I get home I am signing up for every dance class imaginable to get myself back into shape....and although I might suck for awhile I'm determined. So anyone who is reading this and is lucky enough to be taking a dance class, please enjoy it an extra amount for me and think of me while you're performing....and I will be crying lol ok too dramatic I think.

Dreaming of dance from now until September,

janers xo

"I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance"

Koreans don't wave

So it occurred to me after being here for a little while that Koreans don't wave...they don't wave hello or goodbye, they just don't wave. In Asia, people like to bow. Let me re-phrase that, in Korea, people loooooove to bow. They don't just bow once, when they bow they go big or go home. There are usually 3 or 4 bows, maybe more depending on how many people they are saying hello or goodbye to. It's hilarious, well at first it was, now I'm just used to it. But even worse, now I bow too! So I'm bowing and waving and then bowing again, people probably think there's something wrong with me. I also think that I've converted my kids and parents into waving because I do it so incessantly that they probably just gave in and joined me....I like to think that if foreigners are taking over Korea, maybe waving should too! I'm just worried that when I go back to Canada I'll bow to people when I'm saying thank you as a natural instinct...somehow I don't think bowing would fly in Canada.

I also realized this past weekend that I stopped taking pictures. Of course I take pictures of events, my kids, nights out BUT not of the Seoul scenery or places that I go. I spend so much time in the same areas that I forget that I'm still kind of a tourist. I mean I live here, I finally after 6 months feel at home in my apartment but still, I'm not here permanently. I forget, as many people do here, that Seoul is actually pretty cool and there are so many quirky parts of the city that I really need to remind myself that those things won't always be there. I have my memories of them but I feel like Seoul is a place you can't really explain, mostly because half the things here are unbelievable....you need that evidence so that people don't think you're lying. I always carry my camera on me but stopped taking photos so on Sunday at the Andy Warhol exhibit and then walking around Idae I started again without even thinking about it. It's the little things here that I love and that I can't take for granted. It's the graffiti on walls, the poorly translated English, the names of clubs and restaurants that leave you wondering (ie. Nuts Dogs Coffee hmmm figure that one out), the fashion and just the daily happenings here that leave you wishing you had a camera. Koreans don't know how hilarious they are, how entertaining the things they do and say are. You don't see it when it's you, but for me I just can't help but smile, then get frustrated, then laugh and smile again. I love living here because it makes me feel something, even if that something isn't always good. It makes you feel alive, those moments when you remember where you are, you just can't help but appreciate it! Don't get me wrong, I have many moments of anger and annoyance, but I think I do wherever I am when things are different or don't go as planned. Sometimes I forget that I'm the minority, that I'm the weird one and when things go wrong it might actually be my fault just for not being Korean. And ya that sucks but that's the way it is so really can I complain? Well probably not but I will anyways :)

Until next time (picture me bowing and waving about 18 times, just to make sure you get the point)

janey
xoxoxo