Ham and Eggs

Poland: A Vegetarian's Haven?!

2009-10-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

I've arrived! Woo hoo! I am in Rybnik, Poland, at long last, after much bureaucratic hoopla, and many hours of traveling on germ-infested airplanes/ports. I say this because I have a cold which I am trying to fight off, and thankfully seem to be managing. Knock on wood.

So, there are NO Starbucks in Poland. And, I'm not sure about the big cities, Krakow, Warsaw, etc, but the take-away coffee culture (that I am so used to) doesn't really exist in Rybnik. When I inquired, McDonalds was suggested to me, as the only take-away coffee! In a hundred years I would buy coffee at McDonalds. No, what people do is go to cafes or restaurants and get coffee in a cup, and enjoy their java there. How horrifying...yet so delightful...to savour my coffee whilst siting...sipping peacefully, in the moment...how novel.

And speaking of coffee, I had my first cup today, my first since arriving! It was SO good. It was just as I thought European coffee would taste. I don't know what that means, but...it was rich and flavourful, the roast had a slight sweetness to it, and it was the perfect temperature, with a
light brownish/tan crema covering the surface...SO good! Following my coffee, was my lunch. A coworker had told me about this vegetarian cafe just up the street from our school. I'm not sure what I ordered, but I recognized 'mozzarella' and I like most vegetables, so I was certain that whatever I ordered, I would be able to eat it. Oh. My. God. It was SO good. Broccoli, yellow zucchini, eggplant, turnip, onion, and potato covered with moza cheese, and pine nuts with a slight curry undertone...delicious! Bardzo mi smakowalo! (That was delicious)

Other foods I've enjoyed since arriving: excellent pierogies at a pierogy restaurant. I think they were stuffed with wild mushroom and bacon sprinkled on top. My first night I had some kind of chicken in cream sauce with potato dumplings which was ok. I've had a lot of instant soups because A) I have a cold, and B)my kitchen situation is a little ridiculous. My favorite so far is dill pickle, which is probably no surprise to anyone who knows me.

Here's to more food adventures!

The Great Canadian Roadtrip: Kenora

2009-09-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

So, Ontario is frackin' huge. Slash, mostly water and trees. While yesterday's drive was spectacular, and took my breath away, today the drive was...not boring, but much flatter, and not as awesome. Thunder Bay was interesting, and I hadn't planned on going through it (I was going to take dirt roads!) but the need for internet overrode my desire to rough it. And I also got a latte at Starbucks, so really, I can't complain. First Starbucks since I left Toronto!

This is my last evening in Ontario, and will be for quite a while...I don't consider Ontario my home, but I do feel some attachment to it...especially after driving across it for 5 FRACKIN' DAYS!!! But I won't be back for a while, I think, and I'll miss it, especially during the fall.

Cups of coffee (so far): 12
Song of the day: The Fever by ...?

The Great Canadian Roadtrip: Nipigon

2009-09-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Driving from the the Sault around Lake Superior was unbelievable! By far some of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I must admit I was one of those pokey drivers, gawking at the scenery.

Cups of coffee (so far): 9
Song of the day: Lost Highway by Tom Petty

The Great Canadian Roadtrip: Sault Ste Marie

2009-08-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

Love the Sault. It's awesome. Great lakes and downtown walks, nice parks with little bridges...so nice.

Cups of coffee (so far): 6
Song of the day: 'Cozy in the Rocket'

The Great Canadian Roadtrip: Manitoulin Island

2009-08-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

So, Day 2, I drove out of T.O. and up the Bruce Peninsula. Gorgeous drive, passed through some cute, quaint small towns, just lovely. Aside from a car almost hitting me, the traffic and road conditions were also great. I got on the Chi'Cheemain Ferry at 8pm, so didn't see much of the crossing. I would have gone out on the deck but it was FREEZING! Anyhow, arrived at South Baymouth around 10pm, and hopefully I can post a video to tell you what happened next...

Cups of coffee (so far): 4
Song of the Day: Sloan, the entire album

The Great Canadian Roadtrip: Toronto

2009-08-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

First, let me say that Cruise Control is bizarre and I don't like it. Sure, you flex our knee, but what is in control of the car? It's too 'Christine' for me.
Anyhow, nothing spectacular happened on the way. I did enjoy driving into downtown which I guess is weird, cuz really, who likes the Gardiner?! But I got a thrill seeing the CN Tower, I won't lie. I suppose after living in Ottawan suburban hell for the summer is responsible for my feelings of nostalgia for big cities.

Cups of coffee: 2
Song of the day: 'Moving Out' by the Dandy Warhols

Oh Canada!

2009-08-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

Reflections on being back in my homeland.....

Well, I can understand what people are saying all around me!!! Information overload! I just don't want to hear what some people are saying. Whoa!

I do want more customer service. Hello? Smile? How are you? Thank you? Have we lost the basics here, or what?! Come ON, Starbucks, where is my legendary service?! And what is with people just tossing money on a counter? Is it too hard to put change in a person's hand? Seriously!

No public vomiting! Amazingly, puking in public is frowned upon here. So is peeing in public. I will have to see how this changes when I travel across this great, huge country of mine.

However, I will have to do so carefully. Despite my Canadian birth certificate, and citizen status, I am ineligible for Health Care. Thanks, MSP. You are fantastic. Please note the sarcasm.

Other notes: living with parents is not advisable. Do so with great caution, and preferable with your own means of transportation in case of sudden (and frequent!) homicidal rages. Side note: there is matricide and patricide, but is there parentcide?

Dogs! Cats! They abound!

People are larger. I no longer feel like an elephant once I walk out my door. But I'll return to that size because of the food here. Holy crap, the plate sizes! Slash, the PRICE of DRINKS!!! The PRICE of FOOD! The PRICE of TRANSPORTATION! It's shocking, absolutely shocking. I'm checking out motels now, and I can't believe it. I almost fell over.

Anyhow, it is what it is, and wherever you are, there you are! Enjoy!

Don't You Forget About Me...but I will forget about this!

2009-05-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

Korea is the land of drunken business men. And can I just say that I will NOT miss this aspect of Korea at all. I mean, seriously, go home to your family. Chill out. At least one day of the week. I am so sick of walking to school at 6:30 in the morning and having to dodge piles and splashes of vomit. And I am so tired of drunken old men approaching me in their halting English, trying to be my friend, asking for my number, wanting to hang out. Tonight was the worst, this man paused beside at the elevator, and gave this low sort of 'hey...' The elevator dinged, I got on, but this jackass sticks his hand in the door and wouldn't let me go up! He kept talking, SO drunk, and his 2 buddies didn't even do anything. And said to them, 'you're friend is very drunk, you should take him home.' And they just stood there with these dumb-ass smiles, half embarrassed, but like, 'oh, it's ok to hassle a woman, he's drunk.' And I'm the rude bitch for firmly saying 'goodnight' not even a 'fuck you' just 'goodnight.' Three times he stopped the doors from closing, even with my thumb pressed to the close-door button. I don't know why, but my last month in Korea has just brought out all the weirdos and assholes. I've had such an amazing experience, but now I'm afraid I'm goign to go home with some bitter feelings towards it.

Don't Look Back

2009-05-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

Well...
My time in Korea is coming to an end...and today I had to put an end to one of the most significant parts of my life here...my cat.

I found her a home in Daejeon with a young mother of a 4 year-old who is very excited to have a cat. I am happy, and it is a huge relief to have her (Echo (the cat)) settled in what I hope is a permanent home. No more moving around from English teacher to English teacher (read: foreigner to foreigner). But, I've just come home to an empty apartment. From the sound of me unlocking the door, Echo would jump down from where she was sleeping-I could hear the thump in the hallway-and would greet me, do a shoulder roll onto the floor, and roll around on her back, showing me her cute little rounded belly...and I would coo at her while she meowed and made little cat grunts, and tell her what good cat she is...and now my space is without.

I can't imagine what my year would have been like without her, though. It's quiet. And still. When I go to sleep tonight, I won't have her furry body snuggled up to my pillow, or on my stomach, purring.

It's funny; something seems so vital one moment becomes obsolete. The moment passes, and it's as though it might not have even existed in the first place. Its relevance disappears. I'm scared of that happening when I go back to Canada; that I will forget my time in Korea, or come to see it as a dream, something seperate from me.

I have one final month...I will enjoy it to the fullest.

Long Time Coming

2009-02-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

So...Happy New Year and all that!

It's a been a while, and much has happened...I am often too beat to do anything more than crash in front of my laptop and watch the latest episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Bones, BSG, The L word, 24, and Private Practice. I am still mad that Pushing Daisies was canceled. Oh well.

With that said, I am working a lot, and I am in fact writing this as a means of procrastinating... However, I don't have that much time, so suffice to say that I am working like a dog (not really, I am exagerating...but it feels like it), watching a lot of t.v., reading 2 books ("Out" and "Breaking Dawn") and not too much of anything else...

I promise to catch y'all up on everything else... there was a trip to Daegu, a birthday (I am now 29 or 30, I can choose!), a misadventure in Japan, some questionable activities, and a lot of overtime...

Love Potion #9

2008-12-21T03:17:00.000-08:00

Contracted some kind of bizarre fever the other day; all of a sudden at 2:00 in the afternoon I started feeling cold, and by 6:00 I couldn't get warm even with sweaters and a down coat...off to the clinic!
Medicine in Korea is very interesting. I've never had to go to hospital, but whenever I need to go to a clinic they are licky-de-split quick. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes to see the doctor. Anyhow, my fever was so high it seemed to shock him a little, and he proceeded to prescribe not one, but TWO shots! The first one felt OK, but 15 seconds or so after the second one I almost fell over. I'm not entirely clear on what was in those...managed to walk home, and after a hot shower rolled into bed and got some much needed sleep.
The really fantastic thing is that my visit only cost about $5 (including the shots), and my prescriptions only cost about $4. Amazing.
Fine now, and ready to finish my stay in Report Card Hell...this is a special circle reserved for teachers...

A Star is Born...no no. Still socially awkward in Korea!

2008-12-08T00:31:00.000-08:00

Hey Folks,
Some exciting news: I was featured in an article about the group I volunteer with, H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Prosper through English).

So I had my first phone interview today, and answered some questions about why I volunteer, what it's like to teach orphans...I think it went well, but sometimes you say stuff, and then later, you think, "Oh, shit, why did I say THAT?!" Oh well, I'll have to check out the newspaper when it's printed.

I was also pictured in a Korean article about H.O.P.E. This led to many parents approaching me at school...awkward! Especially when it's parents of kids that I don't teach anymore, so I don't really remember them...even when they say, "I'm so-and-so's mom," I'm like, "Oh, right, so-and-so's mom...How is so-and-so?" But really, I don't know the heck so-and-so is.

So, for all you so-and-sos out there: learn to recognize the bright smile, and following medium-slow head-nod for what it really is. "Who are you, and how do I know you, and can I extricate myself from this potentially embarrassing social situation gracefully by faking knowing you?"

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

2008-11-24T07:03:00.000-08:00

I had my usual appointment at the Orphanage this evening, with a twist though. I was invited to join my two boys for dinner.

And when I say two boys, that really means the entire orphanage, including teachers and care-takers, maybe 60 or 70 people. I've been reading "Jane Eyre," coincidentally, and the similarities are remarkable. This is an institution, and it doesn't seem that different from the institution Jane grew up at in the book. Like, two hundred years have passed. Shocking. Of course, they have computers now. And comic books. But all the children are separated into forms, it looks like by age and gender. And it seems there is an older child with each form as a kind of leader or mentor.

Anyhow, dinner was awkward, but I appreciated the invitation, and enjoyed sharing part of their daily routine. One boy didn't like the meat in his soup, I guess, and speared all the sausage on his chopsticks, which was a good laugh for everyone. Needless to say, the soup was spicy, and we don't need to speak the same language to understand a hand fluttering in front your mouth!

While I was waiting for the boys after dinner (I think they had some chores to do first) I saw a big photo-poster on the wall; the kind you'd see in a school hallway of a graduating class. I picked out Jiwon and Dong Chul right away, even though they were younger in the pictures. It seemed like they were born in '97 and '98, respectively, and arrived at the orphanage in '04 and '05, respectively. Looking at some of the other pictures, I saw girls who'd arrived in '02. I am currious about how this system works. How long are these children cared for? Until their 18th birthday? Their last year of high school? Do they have a chance at university? Can they get part-time jobs to save money, like teens in Canada? Is there an apprenticeship program where they can learn a trade? Do some stay on at the orphanage and become caretakers and teachers (like in "Jane Eyre")? A friend informed me that because family and family traditions are so important in Korea, marriage is dificult for people who don't have families. These are questions to investigate.

In any case, I think the boys are making some progress. While playing a game, Jiwon said, "Teacher, your turn." Previously I might have gotten a tug on my sleeve or a nudge!

relating dudes to jazz

2008-11-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

There is a Korean Woody Allen.

Not in the cinematic sense, but I went to a jazz club tonight and the saxophonist embodied the same short, slight awkwardness. It's like his body moved at the knees and neck, but was completely stiff everywhere else. He was wearing this amazing tweedish sport coat, a red and white Hawaiian dress shirt, and this velvet scarf about his neck, with slacks that tapered at his feet. Brilliant!
Actually, the whole quartet was magnificent, I heard some of the best jazz ever! My Korean friend took me to the Live Jazz Club in Ewha; this is one of those situations where it helps to have a Korean guide. Even he wasn't quite sure where the club was, all the streets are like a twisted celtic knot.

Romeo & Juliet....Ballet and Beer?

2008-11-17T07:53:00.000-08:00

As my title suggests, I attended a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Sejong Centre for the Performing Arts, which is a 5 minute walk from my apartment. It has been a while since I've seen a ballet, but even so, I felt let down. And let me tell you why:

As I was coming from my weekly teaching appointment at an orphanage and might be a few minutes late, I arranged to meet some of my fellow teachers at the theatre. I actually arrived just in time; I rushed up the wide staircase, located an usher and was shown to my seat. As I sat down, and said hello, and took off my coat and whatnot, the lights started dimming, and the orchestra took their place. I settled quickly, and when the lights were completely out, one of my companions leaned over, and rather than offer me a look at a program, offered me a can of beer.

Dear readers. I swear I am trying extremely hard not to judge. But I cannot help myself! As a little girl my mother would take me to the ballet, and I remember seeing some real classics, like the Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. I remember my mother and I dressing up, and it being a thrill to wear a nice dress; a modern remnant of the historic purpose of going to the theatre: to see and be seen. I remember there being much ado about the dancers, and the music, and the prima ballerina above all. I remember there being a certain reverence. Well, readers, I can understand people dressing less formally nowadays. While a tank top still seems an unlikely choice, jeans can legitimately be dressed up. I can even appreciate some chit chat to clarify who's who (lets face it, watching Romeo and Juliet without the Bard's words is a little confusing). But BEER? What is this, Romeo and Juliet at the baseball park? Romeo and Juliet on ice with the flippin' NHL?! What planet are you from where drinking a six-pack, making tab-opening, can-popping noises no less, during a ballet performance is acceptable behaviour?! Am I crazy? I need your help, dear readers. I need to you to write in and let me know. Have I lost touch with theatre etiquette? Am I that far gone that I think having the person next to me smell of beer and talking loudly is irritating and obnoxious as all get out?!

That said, I think what I am really annoyed with is my own inability to call my companions on their behaviour, and tell them myself, "I don't like this, and I won't condone it."

Coffee Club

2008-11-06T02:17:00.000-08:00

The point of having a travel mug, and USING it, is to a) do your bit to conserve and protect the environment, and b) keep your coffee warm for a longer amount of time.

As a former barista, I feel I have to right to express my...irritation?...incredulity?...is ANGER too strong a word? I HATE it when a barista makes my latte in a PAPER cup when I have TRAVEL MUG right there!!! I mean, SERIOUSLY!!! It's right there! And I even bring the appropriate mug with the appropriate logo matching the coffee shop I am going to! I bring my Ediya mug to Ediya, and I bring my Starbucks mug to Starbucks. And what do they do?! They WASTE a paper cup anyway by filling it and then dumping it into my mug!

I need to improve my Korean if only to tell them what for. I mean, SERIOUSLY? Seriously.

Clap for the Wolfman...

2008-11-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

Ok. Explaining "werewolf" to EFL kids is awkward. Especially if there are some 9 year olds mixed in with the 11 year olds.

All in all, I am a fan of Halloween. I enjoy costumes, I had some awesome costumes when I was a kid. I even had an amazing costume pre-birth; my mom was the perfect size to be a pumpkin! It's one of my favorite pictures of her actually. And lets face it, a Halloween theme is a sure bet for a party.

Not so much in Korea...especially not in school...I am SICK of Halloween. I had 3 days of non-stop Halloween nonsense, spread over 9 different classes, and all my kids turned into candy-grabbing monsters! I'm serious, once you teach them "trick-or-treat," and when they realize that teachers will give them candy as a reward for speaking English, it is game over. Kids who weren't even my students were running up to me screaming, "trick-or-treat!"

The highlight was definitely my Mommy & Me classes. I unfortunately forgot my camera, but one of my moms emailed me a picture. This is one of my favorite kids, and he is the cutest little guy in the world. He is very shy, and doesn't speak much, but when he does, it's like the sun coming out from behind the clouds! His mom included an anecdote: he told his father "Rachel Teacher was Mr. Farmer. Why was she Mr.? I don't like Mr. Rachel, I like Miss Rachel!"

So, the lessons we learned here today are: farmers are only men, and don't try explaining werewolves to children.

This One's For The Children

2008-10-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

And can I just preface this blog with how much I love NKOTB, and how much I wish I could recapture my youth by going to their concert. If only they were playing Seoul...

In all seriousness, I am discovering my love for children here in Korea. Before coming I was truly petrified of them. I didn't know how to act with them, what to say, what to do. And I still struggle sometimes, but teaching the little monkeys has made me see how creative, and funy, and innocent children are. I had them make a craft today, and it was just paper glasses that we coloured and glued sparkles on, but the second they put those glasses on their faces...priceless! Needless to say, all 6 moms got out the camera phones and class became a photoshoot. Brilliant. I hope to get a copy of that somehow...

I Want Action

2008-10-13T22:26:00.000-07:00

Well, voting abroad is a tricky business, but I feel worth the effort and W32,000 (about $32) I spent to FedEx my ballot to Ottawa.
As I sit here, procrastinating may I add, reading polls and internet coverage, I can't help but feel helpless, and worry about the state of Canadian politics, and the world in general. However, after reading my family's blogs from Africa, I feel invigorated with their adventurous spirits, and I am resolved to take action rather than let feelings of helplessness overwhelm me.

Loveshack...Seoul style

2008-10-11T07:15:00.000-07:00

I have finally ventured out to Seoul tower! I wanted so much to spend some of my day outside; the weather was so beautiful. So after work I headed out in hopes of catching an hour or so of sunshine to rest and read my book in...not so much. Got off the subway, meandered through Itaewon, randomly found this opening in a park-ey/forest-ey looking area, followed that for a while and then found a much better looking path with railings and signs of life, followed my nose for a bit (this would be a good time to mention that Seoul tower is a huge honkin' tower and generally speaking one should just walk towards it in order to find it...yeah, I couldn't see all this time in the woods), finally came out to a road, walked up and up this road...p.s. it's dusk, there was no sunshine or sunset for rae rae...

But did get to the tower, and walked around on the terraces. It's a nice view, especially at night. There are locks-all kinds of 'em-lining the barriers. Weird. I took the bus back. I sandwiched myself between 2 couples on the wide bench seat at the back of the bus (story of my life?). Couples were everywhere. It was Couple City. It was Couple Night in Couple City. Good times. Although, one of the things I love about Seoul is how everyone takes public transportation.

Anyhow, wound up in Myeoung Dong, of all places, and decided to catch a movie...of course it was Made of Honour, Patrick Dempsey's latest romcom where the girl loves the guy, but he's a sexy man-slut who can't settle down until she finds the perfect guy and realizes that he really is in love, and of course gets the girl at the end in a ridiculous mid-wedding ceremony confession...oh, Hollywood, how I love thee! P.s. unless you are in-love with Dempsey, don't bother. Grey's Anatomy, anyone?

Where Does the Good Go? Or rather, what defines good?

2008-10-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

As this is my first post, I will attempt zero pretension. An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of...

But of late I have been asking myself this question, perhaps because I have reached the half-way mark of my journey here, in Korea. Perhaps because I am still struggling as a teacher. Perhaps because I am socially awkward (at least in my head...). Perhaps because I listen to too damn much Tegan and Sara...

I've been putting off and putting off blogging. I've read my sister's blog for a long time, and always found it interesting, entertaining, fascinating. Of course, there's nothing my sister doesn't do good...and now other members of my family have started blogging, and from AFRICA, no less. Why am I still dragging my feet? Well, what defines a good blog? I've been reading a whole bunch, and I think my favorites so far are those that chronicle experiences, and have direct, succinct storytelling. The worst are the ones about internal emotional pain, and blah, blah, blah, whatever. So, armed with this, I have started blogging. Clearly.

Speaking of the half-way mark. I have embarked on a new challenge here, which was perhaps unwise, and I am still struggling with my reasons for doing it, not to mention the actual execution. I am volunteering as an English teacher at an orphanage here in Seoul. Basically, English is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow here. Does that make me the leprechaun?! More on that later. Back to the orphanage. I've just returned from my third lesson, and I believe the kinks have mostly been ironed out. Suffice to say that the first visit was mildly successful, but the second left much to be desired, and that I walked out half-way through (think monkeys...like the ones that are pests in Africa and get wine corks sling-shot at them). After a few weeks of fine-tuning, I have 2 students, Ji Won and Dong Chul, boys in grades 4 and 5. Our appointment tonight consisted of light conversation and some alphabet games to determine ability...which is not high...and here it comes, the question: What makes a good teacher?

I honestly don't know what I can possibly teach these children about speaking English. They are certainly not keen on it, first of all. And I don't know how to be a teacher. It is so hard to ascertain if these kids are learning. It's easy with the babies; if they say anything, they've learned! I think when I imagined working at the orphanage, all kinds of images sprang to mind, very Helen Keller, you know, the children and I bond, we love our class time together...I adopt one of them. But of course, the reality is not that, and I think I have a long, slow road ahead of me...Perhaps the best way to be a teacher to these kids is to have fun with them, and hopefully they will learn some useful English along the way.

As for what I've learned along the way here, 6 months in: how to do a headstand, a frighteningly scarce amount of Korean, how to ride a scooter, how to use chopsticks properly and with good form, how to make nice and be professional with people at work who are total tools with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, how to play with young children and not be petrified of them, how to weave in and out of traffic consisting of pedestrians, motorists, scooters and cyclists all sharing what would be a back alley in Canada but is really a legitimate street here in Korea, and now I've learned how to blog. Enjoy.