Just like home

Among the many things I miss from home, winter weather is NOT one of them.

This morning when I opened my patio door I was happy to see snow covering the tops of cars and falling in the air. Ahhhh, it was so pretty and I had been hoping for snow for Christmas.

Once I left my apartment to meet some friends at the pool, I realized how much I dislike what comes along with the pretty snow.

The wind that greeted me when I got outside wasn't pretty, nor was the near wipe outs from the snow that had now turned to slush that had now turned to ice.

Not pretty and not fun.

I was cursing all the way to the pool. Of course the weather here is nothing like the weather we experience back in Winnipeg and people always say to me, but you're from Winnipeg! The coldest city in Canada! you should be used to this or this should be nothing to you.

well, yes, but....

I am a BIG sissy when it comes to winter and don't represent Canada or Winnipeg very well when it comes to cold.

I think I was born in the wrong country.

To close,

I hate you winter no matter where I am.

How many more months till spring?

The Disease of Me

To quote Tom Patrick back in the U of W days, "The disease of me" is when you think that people are always looking at YOU, talking about YOU, staring at YOU, making fun of YOU etc etc.

I had an attack of the disease of me when I was at the bank paying my bills through the machine. It being in Korean of course I have to remember which buttons to press in order for it to work.
I usually take a little longer than the average person and there was an ajuma behind me and I could feel her looking at me and kind of watching what I was doing.

The disease of me is thinking, ok she's staring at you b/c you're big and strange looking to her and she's thinking hurry up you stupid waygook.

Feeling uncomfortable I hurried to finish. When I finally did, I looked at her and smiled.

She was actually staring at me b/c she didn't know how to use the bill paying machine and was watching me to see what I was doing.

I felt so dumb.

I showed her how to put her bills in and then called over the bank helper person to help her with the rest that required language that I do not have.

Your brain is so funny sometimes. I'm getting a little worked up about this woman "watching" me and thinking I'm a freak but she was just wondering how to use the bloody machine!

Perception. It's everything!!

1st time ever

I meant to share this a while ago when it happened.

Some info you need before I go on with the story:

When you stand in line at the ATM here in Korea, lines are not really formed. More like a shoving match can break out for who gets the next available machine. It is extremely frustrating and I dislike it very much.

So one day I was standing in "line" waiting for the next machine with my game face on and elbows out to shove any ajuma who was going to try and steal the machine that is quite obviously mine. I had noticed an older man who was waiting there before me. When the next ATM was available I gestured to him to go ahead, because he was there first.
Much to my surprise, he said no, and gestured to ME to go ahead. We went back and forth with this as he was there FIRST so he should go but he let me go.

I was AMAZED and so pleasently surprised.

It is those nice random moments that make me smile.

It was so nice and it was the first time that had ever happened.

Something as simple as going to the bank and taking out money is usually such an irritating experience for me but this was a nice surprise.

End of another

I can't believe that another year will soon come to an end. It really does fly by.

I feel like I just got back from summer vacation and was thinking to myself, ok, how long until winter vacation?
Now it's here!

Novemeber posed to be a bit of a challenge with the weather change and my self diagnosed SAD. I was eating carbs, carbs and more carbs and sweets like crazy and not feeling goood about myself.
I have now adjusted to the weather and appreciate it everyday when I hear what the temperature is back home!
I am still loving my Tae Kwon Do club and I have a new love, the new gym that just opened across the street from my apartment. Ohhhh it's dreamy. It's clean, has spinning bikes and an attractive Korean boy who opens the gym in the morning when I go.

December has been filled with baking and more baking and me trying not to eat it all before I give it away to people.
Classes have been really slack at school and I think I've watched Merry Christmas Mr. Bean about 30 times.
Today is my second last day of school and I cannot wait to be finsihed and enjoy my vacation.

While like many of my friends, I would love to be jetting off to Thailand or other warm, beautiful places, I have to work a teachers camp in January and will then go to Canada for a few weeks in February.
It won't be laying on the beach but at least it will be a change and a nice trip and I can't wait to see my folks and just hang out.

That's been my life for the past 2 months. Exciting hey!

Merry Christmas all!

xoox

Gross

Something I have NEVER been able to understand is people cutting their nails with nail clippers at work.
WHY do you need to do this at work!

Is your life SO busy that you have NO time at home to cut your nails!?

The rest of us don't want to listen to the clip, clip, clipping of your nails or have to keep our heads up to watch out for flying nail clippings!!!

so gross!!