seoul punk

so the weekend was swell.. friday night i just chilled with some friends.. saturday i headed to seoul to hang with another friend.. there was a 'beat the cold' punk show where the entrance fee was waived if you donated warm winter clothes.. so we did.. i actually went to two different clubs and saw some amazing bands.. basically going to these shows in seoul is some of the most fun i have here.. i can't believe i missed out all last year.. i just wish my canadian friends who used to frequent shows with me could be here too for them..

thankfully this monday flew by.. i was dreading it and am feeling a little extra bitchy.. though as always when i'm having a bad day i look in my mailbox and there's a letter from grandpa.. if only i could inherit his timing..

so i'm off to watch the l word.. which i'm basically obsessed with right now.. oh.. i'm also officially at my 5 month mark on this contract.. charlie was asking me last night if i was heading home after this one.. i really don't know, but a game plan would be nice..

ciao

maybe healing

well the youngins got me sick.. i think it was a sinus infection.. but i'm starting to get better now.. korea hates me.. or at least my immune system hates korea.. so last weekend i didn't really go out.. i went for a long walk on saturday and for a small hike on sunday.. i broke my laptop.. it's sort of fixed now, but not really..

i'm still going to taekwondo 3 times a week.. last class a little kid got round house kicked in the head (it was pretty fabulous!)..

our manager who has been in korea for 10 years left today.. she was one of my first friends in korea and has been a staple for so long .. it's really strange.. it's hard making friends here sometimes because you know eventually they will leave and that you'll probably never see them again.. i mean, proximity is such an important factor when it comes to friendships.. at least for me.. though maybe i'm just lazy..

anyways,

this is in the old neighbourhood (jisan) from my hike on saturday.. too many trees to take any good shots.. and when i got to the top my memory card was full..
from a walk on saturday.. this is pretty close to my house.. between my place and downtown.. an ajumma yelled at mel and i for walking along a path the wrong way.. though she was wearing a mask (think hospital, not superhero) so i'm not sure if she was laughing or angry..
mel being oh so rude.. i would never give the finger..
again from the walk.. i wish my camera was better.. i've decided that cities look much better at night..

awh... and yay!

first the yay.. i got my yellow belt in taekwondo today.. let's not question why i have it after only a week of lessons and just celebrate my accomplishment.. besides yellow brings out my eyes..

and the awh..

i'm sick again.. i blame the children again.. i have a sore throat and feel like i've smoked 3 packs of cigarettes (i'm guessing since i think smoking is way dumb).. so i lost my voice.. here's what i don't suggest to anyone.. having to teach a bunch of little hellions while you can't raise your voice.. i think the true test of a teacher is their ability to control a classroom with only their eyes.. it worked about 70% of the time for me today.. perhaps i will add this to my list of superpowers..

taekwondo

so i just got back from my first taekwondo class! it was fabulous.. mel and i went at about noon today.. in the class was us, another foriegner and 3 small boys.. maybe about 10-12 years of age.. so far, i have learned how to do some kicks, including a proper roundhouse kick (watch out chuck norris) some punches and have just done a lot of running.. lots of running.. running around the room, running and picking up pilons.. running and kicking.. good thing i like running.. bascially i'm looking forward to the day where i can spar with these small boys and kick some ass to get out some of my frustration towards teaching.. only then can i find true zen..

2007

alright so i don't know where 2006 went but it's gone.. for new years i headed to seoul.. i went to the 63 building (the tallest building in korea i think.. though, 3 floors are underground.. liars).. i went to an aquarium there and to the top to see the view of the city.. then we got some thai and went to skunkhell.. a punk bar that is basically fantastic.. after that we hit the streets to hear the bell ring and to stand and set off fireworks with thousands of other people.. it was madness but pretty cool.. i was also impressed with korea because not 30 minutes after the party started to die down did they have the clean up crew there.. i'm impressed because they can't seem to have garbage cans in the streets.. but whatever.. prioritize..