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.