So today marks my one year anniversary with South Korea. 365 days. No, wait, 366 days (2008 was a leap year after all). I know I keep saying this, but I cannot believe how fast time has flown. Seriously! How has it already been a year! What a year it has been... 사랑해요 한국 !! (I love you, Korea!!)
I'm sitting here on my bed in my itty-bitty apartment where I can see everything I own without even having to turn my head (just a slight movement of the eyes just about does it), I'm sipping on some bad Korean rice wine, my foster-dog, Elvis, is snoring on my feet and I'm watching my favourite Korean boy-band on TV... I love it all and can't help but think how sad I'll be to leave this place when the time comes.
Technically, I'm supposed to be out of the country today, but I've known for a while now that I wouldn't be ready to leave just yet... so I've extended my contract to the end of April - which, coincidentally (or not coincidentally at all), is when Claire finishes up too. Our post-Korea plans are to spend 5 or 6 months traveling around Asia - Japan, China, India, Nepal, Cambodia and Laos. We've partied a lot of our money away here, but we've also managed to save enough to ensure ourselves a fairly a decent trip - whoot whoot whoot! It's my hope that traveling will take the edge off leaving Korea, but as excited as I am about hitting the road and seeing the sights, I really do get a lump in my throat when I think of what I'm leaving behind... Far and beyond, the two things that will be the hardest to leave are my wonderful friends....absolutely amazing, hilarious, unforgettable people that they are, and, of course, my students... some of the cutest kids I've ever had the pleasure of yelling at/reducing to tears.
(for some tear-free pictures of their Christmas pageant extraordinaire, see http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=199354&l=4211f&id=892645136)
Anyway, in no apparent order, here are a few pics (read 'many') from the last couple of months... I'm sure you can see why I'm finding it so hard to leave.
NYE, Cheonggyechon, Seoul... Our first attempt at a human pyramid...
Our second, and much more impressive pyramid... I'm surprised this didn't make the national news given the 7 million photos taken of it by onlookers.
NYE Cheonggycheon, Seoul
NYE - the police were oddly keen to get into photos
NYE - this policeman kindly held my beer while I fished my camera out of my bag... and I think he's probably 12.
NYE - two very excited and cold Aussies
(it was minus 15 or something horrible and we were outside!)
Fun times at Monkey Beach, Seoul... the cocktails come in buckets
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree
This, my friends, is Kimchi, the Korean national dish. The reason it looks like a botched brain surgery is because I made it myself!
I found these little monsters hiding in the cupboard scoffing down cookies
The awesome foursome at Jesse's farewell :(
Yes, my Korean experience is a little more complete, having developed a massive crush on a Korean celebrity.... Meet T.O.P (singer/songwriter/rapper for Korea's most popular band 'BigBang') and my #1 crush. My crush started off as a bit of a joke after seeing BigBang live at a Korean music award ceremony, but has actually developed into a small obsession... (I'm going to marry him. He just doesn't know it yet).
There is a long list of reasons why I love TOP, but if I had to narrow it down to two (which I don't, but I will) it would have to be that (a) he's a dream boat, and (b) he is the only Korean male I've ever heard with a voice deeper than mine. sigh.
(yes, I know... I've been in Korea too long - seriously... one of the other band members who I also like is called G. Dragon... i know it's lame, but i just can't help but love them!)
Speaking of crushes, please meet my 6-year-old fiance, Sean. He proposed to me a while back and of course, I said yes. He's the sweetest, smartest little thing ever... and given that he came up with this pose on his own accord, I think he could be following the footsteps of TOP!
Ern, this would be me on Christmas day, sporting the goodies that Claire gave me - scarf, face mask (i'm always complaining my nose and lips are freezing), a hello kitty and some BigBang paraphernalia.
Having a ball on NYE in Cheonggyechon, Seoul
Claire and I at the Grand Mint Music Festival, Seoul...
Another highly photographed event - apparently no one has ever seen shoulder rides at a concert before.
After making Kimchi, we were "forced" into dressing in Hanbok and being photographed... surprise! mine didn't fit!
Meet another little man in my life... Elvis. Claire and I have temporary joint custody over the little man while arrangements are made for him to be reunited with his mummy in the UK. This pic is from a fundraising night at NowBar for Jorge, Elvis' daddy, who sadly passed away in October. R.I.P. Jorge
Little Elvis already has his black belt in Taekwando!!
Jesse, Claire and I drinking from zip-lock bags at the Grand Mint Festival, Seoul... back when it was warm.
We cooked up one of the finest Christmas lunches the NowBar has ever seen!
Thank you Janine for organizing!
Makin' Kimchi.
I did warn you these were in no particular order...
I'm having too much fun to leave....
