we Rants, Thoughts and Adventures: June 2006

Things that I write in here are my thoughts, rants and experiences. If you take offense to anything read.. please let me know.. or just realize that I may not mean things the way they come across.. and if I do.. well it is a journal to vent my thoughts and expressions... so please take things lightly... though I will try to keep the bitching about others to a minimum... as there is enough bad karma in this world.. and I no longer want to add to that

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

August 1st

So they have finaly chosen a moving date for us. On August 1st we will be packing our stuff up and moving to Ansan. I am sooooo excited, Not only will this be a great work opportunity... but I will be able to have my own apartment. Though I am friends with Paula, our cleaning standards are very different.. and have caused a bone of contention between us. So I think that having our own place will be great for our friendship.
Mr. Jang (our new head boss) went to the apartments on Monday (they are still under construction) and he told us that they are going well and are actually ahead of schedule which is nice. We are also slowly getting a list of the stuff that we will need to buy for ourselves. Basically all of the necessities will be provided (washing machine, stove, fridge, bed, wardrobe) but anything else (couch, desk, pots and pans, etc) will be ours to provide. It will be a little bit of a start up cost... but in the long run it will be nice to buy and have my own stuff.
Anyhoo things are going good... just working on my Canada day presentation for friday.
Cheers!

Friday, June 23, 2006

Being Back Blues

Sorry for the lack of posts... I have been quite busy and overwhelmed with all the stuff I have to do here. Next week is Canadian week at the Village and I am working on a presentation that I will be doing.. it is going to be in front of the Canadian Embassador and many other dignataries... so needless to say I am stressing a little. I am sure it will go fine... but like anything important I am nervous.
I am also trying to get stuff done for the new Village in Ansan. Because there is sooo much needing to be done... it just feels like the workload is endless. I know that come August things will be a lot less hectic... but right now there seems to be no end is sight.
It is funny though... I seem to have fallen into a funk for the last couple of days... it is nothing serious... I love being back here... it is just the bureaucratic bs that is present at any job... it just seems to be pretty high this week though... meh... keep your head low and stay out of the way.
I havent been sleeping well also.. still pretty jet-lagged... and my bunnies seem to be on energizer mode because of the heat... I think I am going to break down and buy a fan.
Anyhoo... nothing much to report... business as usual.
Cheers!

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Home

So I am back and safe in Korea. I am really tired... long trip and jet-lag. I will wirte more when I am feeling better.
Cheers!

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

My Vacation

So these last 10 days in Canada have been really nice. I have been able to catch up with my family and some of my friends (though not as many as I would have liked). Overall though, this was a very expensive shopping trip. I will be going home with a new spring/summer wardrobe and a brand new laptop computer (it is so shiney ah!)
It is really intersting, you never really know or realize how far you've come until you return. Before I left for Korea, I was lost... insecure... and unsure of what the future would bring... but as I am about to leave Canada the second time and return to Korea once more... I can't get over the fact of how much I have grown. I mean there are still insecurities of course... but I know that I am no longer the person I was/hated in my highschool/university days. It is weird... when I look back and remanice or think about the old me... it feels like it was a completely different person. To avoid too much of the gushiness associtated with self-revelation posts like these... let's just say that I am genuinely happy right now. It has def been a journey and a long process... but this new found contentment... well I hope it stays and continues to evolve.
Everyone asks me when I am planning on returning to Canada to start my "real-life"? and several months ago I would have probably taken this question to heart... but now I answer that Korea is my "real-life" right now... I am finally in a place/job that I am not looking for the "next best thing"... where I actually enjoy what I am doing and am proud of where I am. Of course there are days where you hate your job and life and everything associated with it... but right now those days are fewer and farther between then they have ever been before.
My decision to leave Canada and live in Korea has been the best one I think I have ever made... I can honestly say that I am happy.
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Now for a little Chelsea moment:
So anyone who has ever owned a credit card knows the shame/embarassement felt when it is declined. So I am in Walmart picking up a few things for the flight back... pj pants... crunchy bars... magazines... sunglasses... to name a few. So the lady at the cash is ringing in my purchases and when she gets to the sunglasses says "to avoid breaking them, would you like to place them straight into your purse?" So of course I did. When she totalled up the purchases, I handed her my credit card to pay for the substancial bill. She then swipped my card... and it was declined. She tried a second time... and again, it was declined. Great... there was a huge line behind me... and my card had been rejected... Completely embarassed I told her that I would need to contact the credit card company and that I would return for my purchases later. Then I quickly and with my head held low (very low) I left the store. All the way home I was thinking... how could this have happened? What was my balance? Oh I am so embarassed!
When I walked into my parents house, I opened my purse to take out my wallet to call the credit card company... when I notice something in my purse. In my haste to get the hell out of the store, I walked out with the sunglasses! Great... to add insult to injury... I had now shoplifted from Walmart!
Embarassed and completely freaked out I went and spoke to my father, who then drove me back to the store to pay for my "hot" item. When I walked into Walmart, I was praying that I wouldn't be stopped by a mob of mall security. I then quickly headed for the cash register, pulled out the glasses from my purse and paid for them.
Ah... call it a Chelsea Moment!
At least I know that I could never make it as a hardened criminal... my conscience just wouldn't allow it.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

At home with a cat on my lap

So I got in last night around 10pm and left the airport at 11pm. My dad, sisters and niece were all waiting for me when I got out of the baggage area. It was so nice to see them. We then dropped my sisters off at Kim's place and then went to get mom from work. AH! It was soooo nice just to see my mom and to get a big hug... you don't really know how much you miss something until it is gone.
I handed out souveniers (none of which were broken thanks to Paula's amazing packing skills) and then I went to bed. My bed is SOOOO comfortable! Unlike the hard as a rock SEV matresses... mine is pillow soft and you just fall into it. I got about 6 hours sleep... and well now I am awake. But that isnt too bad... especially since I slept for like 10 hours on the plane.
Overall the plane ride was alright. The food with Cathay Pacific was really good on all of my flights. But the leg room was left to be considered. I had a window seat the whole time... so I think on the way home I am going to ask for an aisle seat (preferably one next to the emergency exit).
I am here until the evening of the 14th, then I fly home. Overall the flight time isnt too bad (27 hours)... but it can be a little boring.
Today, we are off to the zoo. It is going to be a welcomed activity, especially since the zoo's in Korea and Japan were so depressing... it will be nice to see a high-ranking zoo. I will take lots of pictures.
Anyhoo... I will try to update a little during my time home...
Cheers!

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Heading Home

So I am right now in the airport in Korea, waiting for my 9:50am flight to Hong Kong. I managed to get a window seat for the whoile journey back to Canada so I am pretty stoked. Though it is a long journey for only 2 weeks... I am so excited to be heading home... I need to see my family.
Anyways, I had better go... just thought I would say HI before my flight... I'll try to drop a line in Hong Kong.
Cheers!

Friday, June 02, 2006

Terible news

So I was doing my rounds... reading my daily blogs... when I came across this terrible news... Shawn, the author of Korea Life Blog took his own life on May 30. He jumped off the top of his building to his death. It is sad to hear that he felt he had no other option then to end it all. It is horrible that the pain may have ended for him, but that it has only begun for his family and friends. Reading his blog was one of the factors that made me choose to come to this country to work... it is a sad day.
I am sorry Shawn that you were not able to find your way in life.
The whole story can be found here.