2008

Well it's been 2009 for 15 hours now, and I have to say it's been a good year!

Looking back on 2008:

2008 was a challenging year. From teachers college, to practice teaching, to leaving the comfort of being a student and making the uncertain switch to adulthood! It had it's challenges, but with challenges come rewards. It was also a rewarding year.

I rang in 2008 at Niagara Falls, with my nearest and dearest friends, Steph Phaedra and Jen:





It's hard to believe that was a year ago already!!

At that point I was in the middle of my practice teaching. I taught grade 7-8 music, history and English for 6 weeks, and then in the new year I taught grade 9-12 music.

2 Pictures of West Elgin Senior Elementary School, where I did my practice teaching at the end of 2007.

Then I graduated teacher's college up at Nipissing University. That degree was pretty fun, mainly because of the people I met up in North Bay. Although -35°C weather isn't fun.

Upon finishing my teacher's college degree, I returned back to Hamilton. From then to when I left for Korea was the longest I've been in Hamilton since I left for UWO in August of 2003. It was nice to be able to stick around for that long.

I started off my summer break by playing for two musicals - Beauty and the Beast in Woodstock, and Footloose (also in Woodstock). I absolutely loved playing for both of them, and I am very sad I won't be able to play for musicals until 2010. I played French Horn for Beauty and the Beast and piano for Footloose. Both shows were amazing amounts of fun!

On June 28th, 2008 my sister Jill got married to Jay Buckland! It was a perfect wedding, and I really enjoyed myself. Everything went perfectly and Jill couldn't have looked prettier.

Left to right - Ashley, Bronwynn, Dad, Jill, Mom, Melissa and Cheryl

Jill with Grandma and Grandpa

The siblings! Me, Jill and Melissa

Jay and Jill - what a nice picture!

Then came other summer festivities! Most of my time was spent with Steph, getting into our usual antics and adventures! We went to the Toronto Zoo - something we were planning on doing for years, but only got around to doing this year.

Best friend in the world Steph!

By the stingray pool! I pet them!

Some sort of butterfly emporium

My absolute favourite animal - the Royal Bengal Tiger

.

.

We also frequented Niagara Falls. It is about 35 minutes - 40 minutes away depending on traffic, so it is very easy to get to. We went several times this summer, but two times were particularily memorable! First we went for Steph's birthday! I had a little too much wine at dinner and as a result we decided to stay in a hotel for the night. It turned out to be a BLAST! We had a great night that night. Here are pics from Steph's birthday!

I filled her car up with balloons! Who doesn't love that on their birthday?!

My wonderful group of friends! Left to right - Brent, Phaedra, Matt, Me, Steph and Jen

The view from our restaurant. Quite nice.

Then we went to the casino!

We ended the night by going to a club which was $10 to enter, and each beverage was $6+ after that. Needless to say we didn't stay too long / didn't drink much more!

The other time we went to Niagara Falls was to experience the Maid of the Mist. And experience it we did! It was amazing, one of those moments that makes you feel tiny and insignificant - extreme vulnerability in the presence of really powerful mother nature!

I only have pictures of the American Falls because there was far too much water by the Canadian Falls and my camera would have broken!

Then of course there was the Northern adventures - both the Kinsmen camp at Meaford (an annual tradition celebrated by Steph, Phaedra, Jen and me) and the cottage trip which was really fun!

After frolicking and enjoying unemployed life for 4 months, I had to buckle down and return to the labour force. In other words, I went back to my near and dear pal who is always there for me to lean on.... Tim Hortons. Then everything came together really fast and before I knew it I was on my way to Korea! Saying goodbye was pretty hard, but I keep in touch through web cam and e-mail and the occasional written letter. Korea has been amazing, and my adventures have just begun!

Goodbye party attendees - Jay, Cheryl, Laura, Me, Jill, Jon and Ace

Boots making her escape!

.

.

.

Well that was my year in a nutshell. Looking forward to 2009, I am excited to spend the year in Korea. I plan on visiting China, Japan, another southeast Asian country and then when I leave to go back to Canada I want to visit another country for about 2 weeks. I haven't decided where yet, but I've been looking in to some places. The flights from Korea are extremely cheap, plus I get a discount with this one travel agency. Some of the places I have been looking into: Europe (probably Germany / Austria), India, Australia, New Zealand. Like I said, that last trip is still wayyy up in the air. I'm not sure where I'll end up yet, but I will have the money for it, and I'm up for the adventure!

Anyway, that's my year! I wish everyone a fantastic new year, and all the best in whatever you do!

Pics from my bus tour of Seoul

Starting with the Seoul City Bus Tour, here are some pics!




We went to the Deoksugung (dah-soo-goong) palace



An interesting look at past vs. present



Me under the gate



A dragon thing adorning the steps up to the palace


The main building of the palace


Me in an archway of sorts



I liked the pillars.


Now we're at Namdaemun (nam-day-moon) Market. This is the foreign exchange centre! Secure? Maybe not. Koreans are very trustworthy people!



A nice fountain on the outside of the market. I think those things light up at night.



Then we went to the National Museum of Korea. Here is some of the art from there. It was a fantastic museum!











The main entrance hall of the museum.



The outside of the museum... the place is huge!



This is not on the bus tour, but I'm adding a few more pics just because. This is just outside of the Insa-dong market! A piano!



My favourite store! haha. I was surprised when I saw this!



One of the most amusing / puzzling things I've seen since I've been here!





Anyway, that is my update in terms of pictures.

Today is December 31st, and although the lunar new year is more of a big deal here than our new years, the foreigners and I are going to have a great time!!

We are going to a place somewhere in Seoul. I forget the actual name of the place. It's a district like Itaewon or Myung-dong, but I forget the name. It should be fun. It's 4:00pm now, and I still have to go to Emart for batteries, and some Soju!

Anyway, I wish you all a wonderful & safe new year! Stay over or take a cab! Remember! Arrive Alive! Alright, that's enough of "parent" Ian.

HAVE FUN TONIGHT!!!!!

K bye. Happy 2009!

Cultures and Customs

First things first, this is going to be a long entry. It's divded into two parts - Korean cultures and customs and then my trip today. I took a bus tour of Seoul!

Korean culture and customs

I was speaking to my parents today on the web cam, and it turns out that there are many differences in customs between Canadian culture and Korean culture that I haven't mentioned in my blog!

So, here are some major ones we talked about that I don't think I've mentioned here.

Bowing

I know I've mentioned bowing before in here, but it's worth mentioning again. Usually when you meet someone for the first time, you bow. Also, if you are entering a store (such as E-mart!!) they bow to you and welcome you to the store. Bowing can be used as a 'thank you' also. If you are leaving a restaurant, you may bow and say "kamsamnida, annyongi-kaysayo" (thank you, good-bye).

The Peace Sign

I'm sure you've noticed that many of my pictures have people doing the peace sign with their fingers. That is not a pang for the 60s, but rather a common pose here for photographs! Everyone from children to adults, girlfriends and boyfriends poses like that while they get the photographs taken!

Restaurant Etiquette

I'm using the word etiquette a lot in my posts lately. Partly because I now know how to spell it, and also because it happens to be relevant. Restaurant etiquette is pretty different here in Korea. In many restaurants, there are 2 sections - a place with tables and chairs, and a place with just low tables where you sit on the ground on padded cushions to eat.

Also, there are some table manners you should be aware of. Here is a list of rules I have observed or been taught:

• Upon entering the restaurant, often times the staff will shout from across the restaurant a "welcome" type greeting... I'm not sure what they say though because I don't know how to say welcome.
• They usually only give you one menu to share between 3-4 people.
• They give you huge quantities of food, particularily side dishes. There are many little dishes that can go on the side of the main dish. The dishes I remember seeing have been: fish, kimchi, pickles, radishes, onions, soy sauce, white kimchi, cold soup, lettuce, salad, corn and fruit in yogurt, potatoes, sweet potatoes... the list goes on
• Usually, but not always, you are given a set of chopsticks and a spoon. No fork, no knife. You can find the chopsticks and the spoons in a box on the table.
• They also give you a container of drinking water and an amount of little glasses to match the amount of people eating.
• You never serve yourself. In regards to the chopsticks, you open up the box and hand out 2 chopsticks and a spoon to each person sitting at the table, then give yourself some. In regards to the water, you pour the water into the little glasses and hand them to each person before you pour yourself water. Also, if you want a refill of water during the meal, you ask someone, "Can you please fill up my glass?"
• Also, if you are eating rice (many times rice is a little extra, usually around 1000 won [$1]) never stick your chopsticks in the rice and let them stand up by themselves. They do that at funerals.
• Other chopstick etiquette (there's that word again!) - never pierce your food with your chopsticks, and never play with your food with your chopsticks. I'm sure there are other rules, but those are the only two that I know of
• Still at the restaurant, raising your hand is not enough to get the waitress to come to your table. You have to shout "yugyo!" (yoo-gee-oh) which means "Over here please". Then they come to your table. It seems rude, but hey... when in Rome.
• Some tables even have a button you push when you are ready to order, or if you need something. That saves the hassle / uncomfortable shouting.

That's it for restaurant etiquette. One more major difference between Korean and English is the numbers. Korea uses two sets of numbers that are entirely different from each other. One set of numbers is used for money, minutes, dates and telephone numbers (to name a few), and the other is used for hours, age and counting... (again, only a few examples). You just have to memorise what number set you are supposed to use for each situation.

Here is how to say the numbers for money etc. (which is the only set I know)

English Korean Pronunciation

One 일 (eel) as in feel

Two 이 (ee) as in see

Three 삼 (sam) as in the name but more 'aw' like... sawm but not quite as far as in psalm.

Four 사 (sa) as in sat

Five 오 (oh) as in oh dear...

Six 육 (yug) as in nothing. lol, you say it 'yug' but you don't say 'guh' at the end. You stop at the beginning of the g. You stop and the end of the 'u' vowel by pressing your tongue against the back of the roof of your mouth. That was a long explanation.

Seven 칠 (chil) like cheell

Eight 팔 (pal) as in another name for friend

Nine 구 (goo) as in goof

Ten 십 (sip) but it's pronounced 'ship' kind of. It's like if you were to say 'sip' but you keep your teeth closed for the 's' sound. It's in the middle of sip and ship

Anyway, don't know if you found that interesting, but I do! haha.

Next - more blog! I knew this would be a long entry!

Bus tour of Seoul

Today I went with Lindsay on a bus tour of Seoul. It was 10 000 won ($10). The admission to places totalled 1000 Won ($1)!!!

We went to 3 places - the Dahgsoogoong Palace, the Namdaymoon market, and the National Museum of Korea. They were GREAT fun. I will make a seperate post with pictures of today later (there are many pictures).

After the museum, our bus decided not to come, so after waiting an hour in -20C weather, we decided to take matters into our own hands and take the public transit home! haha, it was an adventure!

Alright, I will probably put those pictures up tomorrow once people have had a chance to read this monstrous entry.

Have a great Dec. 30th everyone! I will update tomorrow before the festivities and I will include some pictures and what not!

The Nutcracker

From far and wide Christmas seems to bring certain traditions. Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" seems to be one of those Christmas traditions that extends the world over. Or at least to Korea.


The Ballet

There are two theatres in Seoul showing the ballet right now. The Universal Arts Centre and the Seoul Arts Centre. We went to the first. It was great! I haven't been to many ballets. The only one I've been to was Oedipus Rex. Actually, that is an opera. I guess that means I haven't been to any. Plus that one ended with a bunch of naked, thriving, plagued sick bodies in a pile. The Nutcracker is slightly more cheerful.

Although I've played much of the music from the Nutcracker, it was great to see it set to dance and watch it from a different perspective.

Theatre Etiquette

Theatre etiquette is largely similar to Canadian theatre etiquette, but there were some major differences. Applause was different. Instead of waiting until after a set of pieces were played people just clapped after every big piece. Also, people felt the need to clap after someone did a nice ballet dance move on stage... as if we were watching an ice skating competition.

Now, I'm not sure about ballet etiquette, so I may be wrong... but in Canada, at an orchestra concert, you usually wait until after all of the movements of a piece are done to applaud. You don't applaud after a musician completes a hard technical passage either! haha.

Anyway, I'm not picky about this stuff, these are just observations I made. Oh, one thing I didn't like was when children insisted on having the 'last clap'... they would be clapping single claps until about 2 minutes into a new scene. I wanted to throw a shoe at them, but I like my shoes.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the show and I would definately go to see it again!

Here are some pictures from my adventure.

Seoul Station - the subway station that's equivalent to Union Station in Toronto




The Universal Arts Centre in Seoul


Inside the UAC



The foreigners in the display... one of those foreigners decided to put his jacket on the little man.


Then this guy came out who reminded me of the Blue Meanies from the Beatles' Yellow Submarine movie. Scared me a bit.




The inside.



Illegal picture I think. "No cameras allowed"...


Nice pic of the tree out front after the show.














That was my day. I'm still on Christmas break until Friday, so I will be taking many pictures. Especially on New Years Eve / Day. So far we have rough plans of going to a foreigner section of Seoul to celebrate the new year.

Alright, until next time!!