Coulda Woulda Shoulda

There are many suggestions in guide books about 'what to bring' when going on a trip. You'll always need something from home whether it's 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years. Although I have read certain parts of the guidebook that lists these sorts of things and I did go through the list METICULOUSlY when we left Korea, there are few items that they don't tend to mention in the book that I've learned are pretty useful, you guessed it, the hard way. Zip Lock bags - these things are indispensible, albeit not industructable but hey, they're cheap enough that you can carry about 50 of them with you! They're great for toiletry items and allow you to catagorize so you not always confused every time you have to unpack your bag. I have all my shower stuff in one, my face stuff in another, my 'feminine products' in another, my hair products in another. (And yes, for those of you who are rolling your eyes at the amount of products I'm carry, I'll kindly ...

5 years ago today I land at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, with a pack on my back, a money belt around my neck and killer jet lag. 4 months of planning and 20 days away from D, I was ready to take on the world. Well, at least the Western European part. It was the beginning of this life I now have come to inhabit as a nomad, a traveller, a bum, a itchy feet person. I remember being that person, working in a job i didn't love, spending way to much money in an overpriced city, angry and argumentative, jaded, a bit bitter and overall, lost. Not really that far off from most people in their early 20s, disolutioned with life after school, not quite sure what is meant to happen next and if this, this 'life' is really, all there is. I want to go back to my struggling early 20s self and just tell her that it will all be okay, it will change, it will get better. And it has, because, for the most part, I made a promise that I would never let myself be trapped again. I would never conti...

As you may have read, we are no longer in Australia and have arrived in the magical Thailand. We had heard nothing but great thing about this place, something that always then makes me apprehensive about going somewhere because it then has to live up to it's hype. For the most part, it has. And I'm continuing to learn so much not about places of this world but how to BE a traveller. There are so many things that influence your experience in a destination. I think I've rambled on about this before but I feel it so much more now as I'm living it, day by day, in the moment of the journey. I can't help but compare Thailand to Malaysia simply because it was the first SE Asia county I went to. There are pros and cons to both. It's easier to feel isolated on an island in Malaysia. You could actually see Malaysians on holiday, in the same resorts as you. In Thailand, the islands (the 3 we have been on anyway) are so developed, you're not sure whether or not your in ...

Thank you for all your western food. Thank you for your clean toilets. Thank you for your interesting cities, inspiring landscapes, breathtaking views and vans down by many rivers. I'm heading back to the beach, the place I most feel at home, reinforcing the fact that the reason I loved Splash as a child was not ONLY because I had a crush on Tom Hanks but because I was a mermaid in a past life. Thank you for feeling so much like home. We'll see you again soon. G'day mate. Next stop on the crazy train: Thailand. Bring on the lemongrass and the massages. And of course the sand and the sun.

There was a new concept D and I were introduced to when we arrived in New Zealand - freedom camping. I'm not sure why they're so technical about it because essentially it's just free camping but perhaps people are trying to be very clever about being cheap - 'It's not about the money. It's about the freedom. You know, being free from the constraints of an expensive campervan park." Another buzz word was our 'self contained' vehicle. Self contained meaning everything you need is contained, inside, your van. Fridge. Shower. Toilet. Bed. Shelves. Microwave. And that means, you can just park anywhere. Anywhere? I asked the hostel guy. 'Ya dude (as many hostel guys talk) you can totally just pull up anywhere in New Zealand and just park and just like..be..ya know.' This was great! The cost of the daily rental of the van was cheaper than a nights accomodation and we'd be saving money on food because we could cook every night. It seemed like th...

I'm sure the late Chris Farley will not mind if I steal a line from his motivational speaker on SNL to say that currently, I am living in van down by the river. I suppose it's a bit more than that as it's a van down by MANY rivers...and mountains....and wee towns....and forests... I'm currently seeing New Zealand, a country that I can only say has touched my heart even with the portable toilet and the cold shower I endure every day. And I really can't imagine doing it any other way. Every morning, a new walk or seal watching adventure or horsebackriding through Lord of the Rings territory. Every afternoon a 3 hour car ride along rodes with the most beautiful scenery that you will ever see in your lifetime. Every evening, cooking dinner in the middle of nowhere, emerging from our van to turn the gas on and off as we look out up from the valley towards the mountains and see nothing but moonlight, hear nothing but birds. Getting back to nature is one of the most specta...

Since we've been travelling, I have come across some interesting cultural differences among the countries we've been to. I thought, in Cliff Claven style, I would share with you some of the more bizarre and weird laws and customs from where we've been. MALAYSIA *As the country is predominantly Asian, you do see many women with headscarfs and dressed in the full Muslim attire. Be sure to look closely, though, as you're more than likely to see some Prada shoes, a top-of-the-line Nokia phone and a matching designer handbag to finish the package. *You're less likely to have trouble finding a shop open on Sunday then you will on Friday. And if you're around on Friday, be sure to listen for the bells. *Buses don't have toilets. Most Malaysian food is made up of curries. Now, YOU trying finding something to eat on the days you have to travel 5 hours on a bus. Travel day is starve day. SINGAPORE *You cannot own governement housing in Singapore unless you are a citi...

It's hard to believe we've been on the road for over a month and yet it feels like a century ago I was going to bed at 10:30, getting up STILL EXHAUSTED at 9:00 to go and teach a full day until 6:30. My Korean has definitely waned, although, I have to admit the odd time I do turn around when I can hear it in the street. I have to shake my head and look around just to remind myself that I'm no longer in Korea. Malaysia was everything we had hoped for. Sandy beaches, delicious food, friendly people. So much of what you're looking for when you're on holiday. It had beautiful beaches, some corally, some sandy, all relaxing. Sometimes we'd see crabs scurrying along at nighttime. Other times we'd find hundreds of dead little jellyfish that had been swept to shore by the tides. The water was always breathtaking. All those blues and greens you seen in pictures. So remarkable in fact that I did pinch myself one or two times. Australia has been the "home away fro...

So much has changed since I started ignoring this blog at the beginning of our travels. It certainly hasn't been because of the lack of things to say. More the opposite. But the internet connections in Malaysia were not stellar, especially on the islands and now that we're in Australia, we've simply been spending time eating and drinking and enjoy the company of English-speakers that I haven't really had a good chunk of time to sit down and have some verbal diahorrea on this thing. I think I'm also now in a better place to properly reflect on my time in Korea, one which I do not regret and have come to look back on as a wonderfully wacky and weird experience. Part of me feels like I've gone to the moon and back, that this entire year I've been so disconnected with so many things that everything is new to me. Take for example, pop culture. I had NO IDEA Christine Aguleria had a new CD out OR that she was pregnant and just hiding it. Ditto that on Nicole Richi...

I've often written about my many ups and downs, highs and lows, crazy and sane moments here on this website. What most of you may not know is that the reason there are ups and highs and sane moments is because of the funniest, smartest, most caring, most rational, most patient person in the world. These days, much of his time is spent finding the perfect place to eat, sleep and beach for one very particular and mind-changing Gemini. And he has succeeded as only a Virgo can. As today is his birthday, I hope that all he'll have to worry about is what time he has to get out of the bed to go to dinner. We have now spent 11 of his birthdays together, although he will remind me that on his 20th birthday I was too busy flitting around for frosh week to actually KNOW it was his but still, I was there in spirit. The next 10 have been filled with succulent dinners and exciting escapes and presents that went well (massages) and presents that were more on the peculiar side (a mixed tape???...

Every Monday we would ask our students "What did you do on the weekend?" Depending on the level of the class we would get answers ranging from 'my, mommy, daddy, home' to 'teacher, I went to the mountain and climbed with my mother and father and brother and it was a fantastic day. I was very surprised'. I would envitabley, fill my students in on what I had done. During the last few months, it ended up being the same thing. "I went to the beach". One day, in D's class, when he went to tell his students what he did, one of his students interupted and said, "Teacher, I know where you went. You went to the beach." D laughed. He told her she was right. She smiled and spoke again. "Teacher, I think you love the beach. Always, on the weekend, you go to the beach". She was right. And so off we go again. Back to the beach. For another 5 days of relaxation, snorkelling, sleeping, eating, card playing, book reading and general doing noth...

It's amazing what a trek in the jungle, some days on the beach and lots of different yummy foods can do to change your perspective. I feel like a totally different person than the one that left Korea almost 2 weeks ago. Was that only 2 WEEKS AGO??? I have some pictures I want to post but will have to wait until tomorrow. We're on a land stopoever from the island hopping in Kuala Teregganu on the East Coast. We'll spend a couple of days in the city to start appreciating the sunny beach again once we get back there on Tuesday. It's mostly the not-working thing that has obviously relaxed me. But there is a little of the non-trapped-ness that is helping as well. I don't feel stuck anymore. I don't feel tied down. And I know that I'm on an amazing adventure, one that is destined to end with a big party with family and friends. And that's a journey worth taking.

We're away! We're gone! Asta la vista baby! Bring on holiday! With only one day of permanent holiday officially under my belt, I feel free as a bird. Free as the birds I saw in the bird sanctuary today. The LARGEST ONE IN THE WORLD. The one I went to, you know, when I WAS IN MALAYSIA. I can't believe I'm here and I can't even remember what I was doing before I was doing this. Did I mention it's only been a day? I expect to not have much internet time for the next little while. I'm trekking in the jungle and laying on the beach. Enjoy your August. I'll get to ya when I get to ya.

I find this part of the journey so difficult to articulate. Perhaps this is why I've been so silent here. Mostly, I just feel it's a very personal time, something that while I'm in the midst of it, I'm just not quite ready to share all the feelings and emotions I'm going through. Almost like my emotions seem to be changing so constantly, that if I write anything down, it will suddenly become a REAL emotion, one that's not associated with any stress hormones or general anxiety. And I'm not sure that's really the right way to go. Because I don't think venting in this sort of way will actually solve any of it or even make it go away momentarily. I think it will just paint the wrong picture. One that you can't easily erase. One that is a distroted view of the actual situation. And perhaps my journalistic side wants me to 'stick to the facts m'aam'. And those facts DON'T actually include my roller coaster emotions. Because then maybe s...

There has been a lot going on here in G-town - my mind is mostly elsewhere. I'm feeling a bit excited, apprehensive, sad, happy, angry, tired and content all at the same time. With not much else to say, I'll leave you with some more of my cents. For What It's Worth #2 - LEARN KOREAN RIGHT AWAY It was very easy for us to simply put this in the back of our minds and decide that we would 'just to it later'. Trust me, after your first week at school, the LAST thing you'll want to do is try and sit down and study. I know because we tried. And then we managed to come up with 101 excuses why we just didn't have time to learn the language. Yes, JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME. People - there is ALWAYS time. And I think I would have had a much different - albeit less frustrating - experience if I tried to pick it up right away. It makes it easier to simply socialise in a way you do back home. Ask the convience store clerk if she's having good day. Comment about the fr...

D and I recently celebrated our full year in Korea. On Friday night, we were out with the same teachers who introduced us to Korea when we arrived. After our meal, we ventured off home to spend some quality time in a cool area (can I talk about HOW FRICKIN HOT IT IS RIGHT NOW??) our living room. Not to mention the bartender there makes THE BEST gin and tonics. We started a highs and lows conversation, a little stroll down memory lane. It's more than surreal. It's so strange and bizarre and amazing and weird and hardly possible and many other adjectives not worth mentioning that it's possible that we have been here a year. We have come a really long way. Longer than I could have ever imagined. If you had told me I would survive not only a foot break (yes I KNOW it's not that big of a deal but your are talking about a little bit o a drama head) but foot break IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, I wouldn't have believed you. If you had told me that I after a year I could put 'Can ...

Although I've already celebrated - quite extensively I may add - I thought I'd better wish everyone near and far a happy one. It was quite surreal this year as it's been the first one abroad that I've actually had other Canadians - and even Americans! - to celebrate with. Over the last 5 years, minus the one year when we were home, we were always pumping the day up for people who really, were just happy to have any excuse for a party. This year, it was a bit of sharing of past Canada Day stories, eating of the pizza, the missing of the fireworks and of course, the token drinking of many drinks. It was great. So although I'm not at a cottage somewhere, NOT working today, I certainly celebrated in good fashion. And will be hitting the sack early tonight. Because I'm an old lady people. I went to be 5 HOURS PAST MY BEDTIME last night. Oh dear. Have a great one.

During the first half of April, I had this terrible dream that my little sister C died. I sometimes have these dreams, as I'm sure everyone does about a loved one, that feels so real and intense in the moment, the first thing you want to do when you wake up is actually just give that person a great big hug. When I woke up, I remembered another dream I had had one time about my brother R, dying. It was C that had said to me: "Well, when someone dies in your dream it means that their going to start a new chapter, have some exciting, some new, happen to them. Essentially, they life will change so much it will become a 'new life'." So it's no surprise that I thought of this after the dream I had about her. Later that week, I heard that she had recieved very sad news about her best friend's father passing away. I knew this would affect her very much, as she has been close with the whole family for many years. Strangely, I came back to my dream, thinking that pe...

A couple of months ago, I decided one very important lesson I wanted to teach all my chicldren was how to actually GREET people properly. I would frequently arrive in class, ask individual students 'how are you' only to hear responses such as 'I'm fine', 'I'm happy' or my favorite Korean invention 'I'm so so', which I have learned should REALLY translate into 'I'm okay'. What stuck out the most, was the impoliteness of their responses. And so, I wrote 1, 2, 3 on the board and explained to them that when they are asked this question, there are THREE parts in the answer: 1 - your state of being (okay, well I didn't write THAT on the board as it would have really flew over their heads) 2 - a recognition that something nice was asked of you (ie THANK YOU. Or THANKS. or THANKS VERY MUCH. Or even the Korean THANKS VERY MUCHY) 3 - do unto others..(in other words, ASK THE QUESTION BACK. The variations included HOW ABOUT YOU? or repeti...

"...and so it goes, and so will you soon I suppose..." - Billy Joel I've heard that once you finally begin to 'get' Korea, you leave. I've heard that many people choose to stay another year because after the first 12 months are up, they suddenly begin to realise what it's all about here. On Sunday, I decided to head back to the sauna, filled with naked women and young girls, who scrub and sauna themselves to pure cleanliness. I haven't been for a couple of months because the weather has been so nice but it used to be my regular Sunday routine. And when I walked it, it just felt, well, dare I say a bit like home? Like home in the way it smells and the sounds and that feeling you get after being away too long and realising it's exactly like you never left? I suddenly just felt part of it. Part of something that I really enjoy about Korea. A relaxing couple of hours pampering myself. For only 5 bucks. There are so many things to get frustrated about h...