"PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT" - Love, Me

It's been a long while since I've written. Being at home has definitely been a whirlwind adventure! I have had my ups and downs these past 4 months. It actually is a lot of work readjusting to things back home. Catching up with family and friends. Getting reaquainted with all the favorite things I missed so dearly (in my case Cheez Whiz, all the clothes and shoes I couldn't afford to take in my luggage, etc.) I feel like nothing has changed in a way, but so much actually has. It's been pretty sad not finding a good job. Having to move back into my parent's basement after having my own sweet apartment- well that takes getting used to too. I'm actually living in London (ONTARIO- for all of those who are thinking England...) with my cousin for now, which has been nice. Every weekend has consisted pretty much of heading out of town- to Port Perry or Windsor. Busy busy!!

I will now get to the point of this post...I want to start by saying I've been giving this a lot of thought the last week or so. I don't want pity for having written about this. It's the teacher in me coming out and if I can help one person by posting it, then I feel I've done alright. It's educational and well, since I can't get a teaching job, I guess I'll start doing it on my own! ....

I have recently been diagnosed with Melanoma - aka skin cancer. The reason I'm writing about this is because if it wasn't for my persistance, I would still be in the dark about it and who knows how much longer it would have grown for! I had a funny little spot on my shin (where in most cases with women that's where it starts- common there and also on the back, men it's mostly the back). I brought it to the attention of my doctor who said it didn't look like anything to be concerned about, but if I felt more comfortable she would take what they call a punch of it (a piece). I had this gut feeling that she should just do it- thank goodness. She continued to reassure me that she was positive it was nothing after she had taken it and had to put in a little stitch. She was more concerned that I would be left with a scar where she had to take the piece. Thank goodness though! She called a week later to tell me the news. Malignant Melanoma. Now, as I previously stated, I don't want pity. I wasn't even sure it was anyone else's business. I asked my good friend if I should even write this. I'm still a bit torn on the subject but figured what could it hurt? I'm 27, relatively healthy. Who would have thought?! If you ever have a concern about something that doesn't feel right, ASK YOUR DOCTOR and be PERSISTANT! I wouldn't have considered myself to be a person who loved the sun. Ya I like a tan. Tanned in booths throughout University. Not all the time. Apparently enough though. I guess throughout all this I'm trying to stay positive (thanks to great support of my loving family and friends). I am getting a relatively big piece (toonie sized) of my shin taken out. I still need to see a specialist and will forever now be monitored for anything else (which I have other concerns but have to wait to talk to someone else). It's frustrating. Scary. All the above. As the title of this post states though, this is my public service announcement. I want everyone I know to pass it on- never be afraid to insist on something you're not comfortable with to your doctor. If they blow you off, see someone else. Check for any irregular spots on your body. There are tests you can do (change in size, irregular borders, color, etc.) I always lived with the mentality that so many other people do - "Won't happen to me!" Well this time it did. Thank goodness though I was smart enough to follow through with my instincts! Always trust yourself.

Bittersweet farewell to my love - Korea! xo

Sitting in the Incheon Airport waiting to start my journey home, I thought it only appropriate that I blog about my departure after having spent the last year of my life on this adventure (the reason I started this blog in the first place!)

It's been a whirlwind of emotions, sometimes sad, happy, exciting, depressing, all the above! I have definitely become a different person - both outward and inward. I have a new look on life, different cultures, travelling, meeting new people, and just getting out of my comfort zone. As a wise man said (my father), I have become richer (spiritually). I've actually become richer, both financially and spiritually, but there's no way that someone could even begin to put a price on the latter.

I want to thank Korea- yes, the whole country. I appreciate so much more. I appreciate attempts people make and the kindness, compassion, and patience they have had for me in their country. Leaving today, I still can't speak Korean. I can't even read it (shame on me). I know many words and phrases that have helped me along the way, but still. Most days are a struggle, but I've gotten by on the kindness of strangers who have helped me either translate or guided me with their sign/body language. I feel like I've finally gotten to the point where I can understand a lot based on words I've picked up and situations I've been in. It's a pretty good feeling.

I want to thank my family and friends- both old and new. There are people that I've met here in Korea I'll never forget. My children that I've taught. Not only was this my first official year teaching, but in a foreign land. I will never forget them, how could I?! They are all so beautiful!!~
My new friends/co-workers have been so great. There are some key people that I have fallen in love with, you know who you are- Helping me along the way from being homesick and needing a hug, to needing a partner in crime to cause fun trouble with. Memories I'll never forget.
Thanks to those back home for the postcards, packages, late night phone calls/Skype sessions- all of your love has been appreciated and very much needed this past year. It got me through the times I didn't think I was strong enough to make it through the year!- Now yes, I know, it was "only a year" as so many people have said, however, I dare you to come to the other side of the world, alone, not knowing the language, the country, the people....my year ended up feeling like a couple weeks in the end, I actually don't want to leave! I've fallen in love~

I have travelled, not extensively, but it's been wonderful to venture away from Korea and see other places like Thailand and Indonesia. It's been eye opening to different cultures and ways of life. I've certainly become more tolerable and patient, which I hope sticks when I return home. I've been the minority in a country where it's every man for himself (with millions of people in such a small metropolitan area, either you sink or swim- especially in the crowded subways, shopping complexes, etc.)

I've been in Korea at a time when I didn't know if I was safe. Sure, as so many people have said, the war between North and South has been going on for years, but this last year proved to be different. There was the sinking of the Cheonan and the bombing of Yeonpyeong Island. The environments around me were uneasy. I was getting emails from the Canadian Embassy in Seoul asking to be sure we were prepared to leave in a case of an emergency. I've grown up in Canada which is so peaceful yet now I was in the middle of something I clearly had no control over. I will say this though- what goes on between North and South has NOTHING to do with the fact that Korea is probably the safest place one could ever travel to.

I can easily say this was the most interesting year of my life. I've gotten out of my "box"- the comfort zone so many people are afraid to leave. I have faced some of my fears and feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. As much as this is now the end of my journey here, it's just the beginning of what I hope will be many more years filled with adventure, new places, and experiences. People keep asking me how I feel about leaving. The best I can come up with is bittersweet. I miss my friends and family back home. I miss driving and the little things I took for granted having at my disposal whenever I wanted. However, I will now miss all new things- Kimchi, K.Pop, Soju, my babies, my FRIENDS, running for buses, endless rainy summer nights, ajummas pushing me off the sidewalks, using chopsticks at every meal, chamchi kimbap, chamchi and egg sandwiches, my OWN apartment, $10 purse lady, the list is endless. No doubt in my mind I'll be back here one day, either to vist or teach again. It's just too good to give up yet!!!!~

I love you Korea - DAEHANMINGUK!!! ^^

Special Dinner Date!

Sitting down to our delicious meal!

Frank (glasses), Nathan (middle), Nathan's cousin

The spread!! Mmmm....bottom left corner is bibimbap, Jap Chae is above that, kimchi is the red fermented cabbage, the salad in the blue dish top right, bulgogi is the bowl of meat in the middle, red paste is the pepper paste, yellow pumpkin porridge and miso soup....

Nathan's mom in the background, Lonnie and Susannah!

Nathan and I

The boys and teachers

The lovely host! Nathan and his Oma (mom in Korean)

Eating the desserts I made after dinner

I was recently honoured by getting an invitation to have dinner at one of my student's houses. His mother had heard that I would soon be leaving and told my Korean teacher (who delivered the invite) that Nathan often spoke of me at home and she wanted me to come for dinner. It was so amazing! I can't believe the generosity of the family! I was really nervous because I didn't think the mother spoke a lot of English and I was scared that it was going to be awkward. However, Nathan's mom is friends with another child's mother that comes to my school and he's in grade three so he was there to help translate. I also brought along Susannah as my date and she is able to speak a little bit of Korean too!

When we got there the mother's were cooking so the kids were running around, being kids. Nathan's mom teaches piano lessons and they had four pianos in their house! We got the boys to play for us- they were so good and it was adorable to see!

We finally sat down to sooo~ much food, everything was DELICIOUS! We were given bibimbap which is rice in a bowl with some cooked veggies and you put a scoop of hot pepper paste in and mix it all together- mmmm! There was also bulgogi which is meat in a yummy sweet-ish sauce with onions and they put some dok (rice cakes- but not cake at all, like thumb size noodles, hard to explain). There was miso soup, a squash porridge, jap chae (glass noodles with spinach, other veggies and meat), salad-like coleslaw, and obviously kimchi- SOOO GOOD!

We were there for a couple hours, chatting away, eating and just having a good time! It was so kind and thoughtful for the mother to invite us over. It was also great to see a student in their own environment! Their house was lovely! The mothers were very down to earth and welcoming, never did I feel awkward.
This was such a great experience and something I'll never forget. I'm so thankful for the invitation! The generosity was amazing. Nathan's mom even insist she drive us home at the end of the night and gave both Susannah and I a takeout tub full of Jap Chae...mmmm!~

I look forward to getting back to Canada and cooking Korean food for my friends and family although I must say, anything I make probably won't come close to authentic Korean food in a Korean home!~ xo

Thailand ~ Bangkok!

Sketchy motel we were taken to in the middle of the night

It was right out of a scary movie

Lovely accomodations...from 1970?

Looked a bit better in the daylight

Try doing those stairs with your packs on your back in the dark- had we fallen in, scary

It was actually pretty unique and for about $2 each, well worth it

A house along the riverbank on our way to the floating market

Some of the goods at the market

They even have food boats!! Yummyyy~ Coconut pancakes!!

Devine!

Super neat! They even have beer boats...

A temple off the river of the market

Cool old lamps at the scary motel

Loading down the tuktuk with our stuff...wow

$1 street Pad Thai - the stuff was covered with flies, BUT it was DELICIOUS!!

Mmmmm street bugs

Cheap cheap!

On our way to the ping-pong show~

Super excited!

Hitting it three times for good luck

Biggest Buddha

A ride on the river

Huge sitting Buddha

At the top of the STEEP stairs...

SOOO STEEP!

Legs of laying down Buddha

He was huge!

Thai monk

A lovely lunch after a busy day touring

~HAPPY NEW YEARS~

Yes~she really bought the hat!

Crowded streets

~Chingus~

Late night snacks - Hoppers and Scorpion

Trying to decide if the scorpion was good - crunchy and tasted a little like burnt toast

**READ KHO PHI PHI POST FIRST- this is a continuation from there**

After arriving in Bangkok (delayed flight from Phuket, worked out for the best though because Rachal and Mer's flight was later than ours...) we hustled to the bus station to get a bus out to where the floating markets were....WOW~ we ran around this huge bus station having NO clue where to go, being told to go this way and that...the last bus was set to leave 5 mins before we actually found our bus. It was a bit of a panicked situation. Once on the bus though, we were good to go! There was an insanely scary movie playing for us all to watch- comforting! Stop after stop, we weren't getting off....until finally, we were the last people on the bus. Really?! The lady on the bus (bus chauffer?) Helped us with the information we needed and she called and arranged for us to sleep somewhere, we didn't know where until we were dropped off. In the middle of no where (or so it seemed at nearly midnight). We walked up to this place that was RIGHT out of a horror movie. I was super nervous, to put it lightly. I thought for sure my life was over (thank you Hollywood for ingraining this sort of fear into our minds). It was these western themed cottage-like houses all propped up over water. The wooden boards were less than safe and with a huge pack on your back, almost no light to see, it made for an interesting trek to our cottage. Once inside, their toilet facilities consisted of a squatter (awesome!). The shower was ice cold and the pillow (if you could even call it that?) was a rock hard cushion from a couch. I wasn't very excited to sleep- nervousness. I envisioned, if I made it though the night, a huge tarantula or some other bug crawling in bed with me during the night- never happened and I'm still here to tell the story...In the morning I woke up bright and early- we wanted to hit the floating market and was told it gets busy later in the day. I went to shower and turned my head the wrong way- CRUNCH. Literally, a popping/crunching sound came from my neck. I was in immense pain and for the next day was unable to turn to the right. Wow...not impressed. Was it the weight of carrying a pack? The rough oil massage? The rock hard pillow from the night's sleep? Who knows...it just sucked.

The floating market was cool! We were toured around, didn't buy anything except a breakfast beer and coconut pancakes. We stopped at a temple and looked around. Fed some HUGE fish...headed back and got on the bus to go back to Bangkok. It was amazing to see the ways that people there lived. They had these houses on up high on posts and would, presumably, bath in the dirty brown water of the river. We actually saw a man bathing at one point on a little dock infront of his house.

The bus ride back was relaxing- except for my neck. Before boarding the bus we grabbed some street Pad Thai for $1. Sure all the ingredients were sitting out, being landed on by flies (we opted NOT to have any meat or shrimp in it), but man oh man..DELICIOUS!~

Got to Bangkok and then had to find a place to stay....at that point we were over trying to find cheap accomodations. We stayed at a rather luxurious hotel for $15 a night. It had a pool and everything. It was 5 mins walking distance from Koh San road. Great! We dropped off our stuff and suited up to lay in the sun. I know I said it before but my NECK! I was in lots of pain. We ended up going to a pharmacy (after opting out of a doc. visit). The pharmasist was great! She offered me moreee than enough meds from muscle relaxants, inflamation medication and pain killers. Stayed away from the pain killers...but took the others and it must have been some sort of a miracle worker because when I woke up the next day it felt soo much better!

One of the nights we hit up a ping pong show- for those of you who do not know what this is...google it. I don't know who reads this andddd...it's a bit explict to talk about. Interesting to say the least. I wasn't aware things like what I saw were possible...haha...and that's all I'll say about that.

New Years Eve day was spent touring around. We hit up many different Buddhas~ Sitting Buddha, Good Luck Buddha, Laying Buddha, Big Buddha- it was all nice to see. However, we were scammed hardcore by the tuktuk driver. He told us initially the price to be toured around for the day. No big deal. Well in Bangkok the tuktuk drivers have deals with shops that if they take tourists to their shop, they'll give the tuk tuk driver a gas coupon. Well in between our tours we had to make all these stops and HAD to stay in the store atleast 15 mins or they wouldn't get their gas coupon...well the tuktuk driver kept getting angry at us because we didn't want to bother going in for 15 mins, or the people inside were rude, etc. It was a mess. It was annoying and we didn't want to be part of it! Finally he dropped us off at a place, demanded we give him money and he was going to take off...well forget that. We told him to beat it. From there we tried to see the National Palace- it was super crowded and I wasn't allowed in (because I was wearing tights and a scarf- they are really picky about clothing at places deemed sacred but I thought I was ok because I was ensuring I was covering the spots they don't show- chest, shoulders, knees)....ah well. From there we went on a boat tour for a little bit. Saw more sights. Climbed, what would be the STEEPEST stairs ever- VERY frightening!! We were so tired so headed back for a snooze before a little party action for New Years. We hit the streets New Years Eve night. Got our buckets of booze and wandered. The streets were PACKED. We ended up in a little bar for the actual countdown. It was so weird being so far from home- I had never been somewhere HOT for New Years...we decided on the walk back to the hotel that it would be a good idea to try some street bugs. I chose the scorpion- we shared it. It actually wasn't bad tasting just VERY crunchy!! It tasted like burnt toast. All I needed was some cheese whiz! The other girls ate grasshopper and seeing as I still have a fear of them, dead or alive, it wasn't coming near my mouth. The girls headed to bed, but not being ready to do so just yet I ventured out on my own. I met up with some people we had met earlier. Had some drinks with them. Met a handsome, intelligent man from Norway~ we hung out until the sun rose which was bittersweet because I had to be up a couple hours after to SHOPPPPP allllllll dayyyyy!! We went to one of the biggest, if not biggest market in the world! It was massive! There was so much to see, it was overwhelming. Going on such little sleep did not make it easy for me. I shopped til I dropped, literally. This would be our last day in Bangkok. Afterwards we headed back to our hotel, gathered our things and waited for our flight.

It was a trip I'll certainly never forget~ not to mention I have the tattoo to remind me. I loved it and want to go back, but who wouldn't love sitting on the beach NOT working...well I guess I'd be working in a way...working on my tan!~

Thailand ~ Kho Phi Phi

Pale, tired and ready to leave KOREA

First stop- Shanghai, did it matter that it was only about 10am and we already cracked a beer as we waited in the airport? We had to try a Chinese beer...

Arrival meal when we first got to Thailand....Burger King - can't blame me for wanting a veggie burger? Atleast there was a Chang in the mix!

First full day - Susannah, Rachal and Meredith on the boat over to Phi Phi

View from the pier off the boat...Hellooooo paradise!!~

Susannah, Meredith, Caitlin and Rachal - travel buddies for the week!

Snorkle trip out to a small island (where the movie The Beach was filmed)

Other side of the small island that was private and amazingly beautiful!!~

We snorkled around here after hearing word there was a baby shark in the water, but no luck- didn't spot it

Monkey beach- minus the monkeys

One side of Phi Phi

There were tsunami evacuation signs everywhere

Kho Phi Phi shows Canada a little love! ~ The two Canadians on the trip!

One of the many monkeys that scared Susannah and I from not going up to the top of the lookout

Hot, tired, and sweaty~ The stairs to the look out were super steep and it was midday...not the smartest time for a hike

Tattoo time ~ Looks like he's really hurting me...not too bad

My bamboo tattoo

Took a stroll one day- pier side of the island

One of many delicious meals - some kind of curry, devine!

Thailand for Christmas couldn't have been a better idea! It was so nice to get away from the cold, and what would turn snowy, Korea. I'm used to cold weather coming from Ontario, but the cold in Korea is different. It's a dry, bone chilling bite like I've never experienced before...Thailand on the other hand- steamy!~

We started our journey in the early morning hours. Bus from Hwajung to the Incheon Airport. Flew to Shanghai for a brief layover and then onto Bangkok. Our flight situation wasn't ideal. First short flight was fine. It was the connecting flight from Shanghai to Bangkok. We were stuck, on the plane for close to two hours. It was ridiculous. They had to fix the plane. We flew China Eastern and it was anything but a pleasant experience. Christmas Day was spent travelling- from 6am to nearly midnight...made for a long day. After we arrived in Bangkok we flew to Phuket to stay in a hostel with our friends Meredith and Rachal. They had come from the Phillipines where they're teaching and had been travelling in north Thailand before heading down to meet up with us. We were exhausted when we finally reached the hostel- it was bed for us. The hostel was really nice- super clean, cute!

Next morning was an early one as we wanted to catch the ferry early as possible to make the most out of our time on Kho Phi Phi. We shuttled to the pier and boarded the boat. Approaching the island it was surreal! We had finally arrived!!! We were taken to our hotel where we'd spend the next couple of nights. We strapped on the bathing suits and hit the beach! It was a nice sunny day and our poor pale skin needed that vitamin D! It was so nice and relaxing...definitely how I could spend most of my days (and how it looked like some people did- holy leather skin!). We ate some, you'll never guess, PAD THAI and it was pretty decent. Along the way we had other, better pad thai....one of my favorites before even going to Thailand! Mmmm...

On the island we found it to be very touristy...at night you'd walk down the road and there were bar promoters everywhere handing out countless flyers to check out their bucket specials- buckets of booze. Things on the island were obviously more expensive than they were in Bangkok but that's to be expected.

One of our days was spent on a little boat touring the surrounding islands. Beautiful! We did some snorkling, saw some really crazy looking fish (my underwater camera died before we even finished snorkling- unfortunate). The pictures couldn't do the underwater beauty justice though. The sand was perfect- soo soft and white! I can't say enough about the beauty! I will say though, I felt that Bali - the Gili island I went to was more beautiful (just saying).

One night, the girls and I decided to check out the tattoo place. I had been wanting to get one for a long time and knew I wanted to get a series of feathers, so why not start here?! I over think everything, so I threw it out the window and went for it. The guy (I'm being generous with guy) looked about 10 who did my tattoo. He carved up a new bamboo needle and started away. It took about an hour - maybe not quite. The pain was nothing huge. Some parts were worse than others. It just felt like pinching, but as soon as he would stop, the pain went away immediately (I hear with a tattoo gun it's different?). I really like my tattoo and will forever remember the trip!

Our last day on the island was overcast and kind of rainy. We took advantage of the weather and hit up a massage place. For about $7 you get a full body, one hour oil massage. It was glorious! At the end they do these crazy, weird things where they whip your body around- which later in the trip I think contributed to my popping neck (read Bangkok post).

We headed out early morning on the 29th to head back into Bangkok where we'd spend the remainder of our trip!~