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Tuesday 26 February 2008
So..ummm..yeah
I thought this blog at least deserved a closing post.
At this point in time, I have finally been released from the land of Gimchi
To wrap up, I had a nice early flight out on the Friday morning, leaving behind an apartment quite full with trash and a helluva lot of food, which I'm hoping the BC crew managed to raid before Mr Kwon.
Oona, Johnny, Stella and I spent an amazing week in Thailand, actually more accurately we spent a week in the islands, I saw absolutely none of actual Thailand. But Koh Phangan/Koh Tao are absolute paradise, it was amazing weather, the food was great, it was all relatively cheap and I managed to scrape up an Advanced Open Water/Nitrox diving course.
So that was amazing, but after some Kerfuffle, I finally had to head back to NZ.
That was two weeks ago now. And I have done nothing since.
It has been a tumultuous two weeks, because I have had to rethink my entire life plan, the funny thing is, now at the end, it is exactly where it was before I started reconsidering myself.
Ahh, what a life.
Now for Med School.
At this point in time, I have finally been released from the land of Gimchi
To wrap up, I had a nice early flight out on the Friday morning, leaving behind an apartment quite full with trash and a helluva lot of food, which I'm hoping the BC crew managed to raid before Mr Kwon.
Oona, Johnny, Stella and I spent an amazing week in Thailand, actually more accurately we spent a week in the islands, I saw absolutely none of actual Thailand. But Koh Phangan/Koh Tao are absolute paradise, it was amazing weather, the food was great, it was all relatively cheap and I managed to scrape up an Advanced Open Water/Nitrox diving course.
So that was amazing, but after some Kerfuffle, I finally had to head back to NZ.
That was two weeks ago now. And I have done nothing since.
It has been a tumultuous two weeks, because I have had to rethink my entire life plan, the funny thing is, now at the end, it is exactly where it was before I started reconsidering myself.
Ahh, what a life.
Now for Med School.
Tuesday 29 January 2008
"Brad Teacher No Go New Zealand"
The most heart-wrenching 6 words coming out of Kate's mouth (she's the picture to the right) coupled with a running jump slash hug.
So it turns out the news of my departure didn't actually go over their heads.
This morning, first thing as I walk in the door, Kathy hands me a piece of paper with the words 'Brad Teacher email'. Two minutes later I get the same request from Ann on a blank piece of paper. And then half an hour Kate does the jump slash hug.
My girls are really gonna miss me.
Later on, I asked Kate if she wanted to come back to NZ with me, she then explained in her English that when she gets bigger she is going to come to my house. Kathy wants to come too.
As much as I can't wait to get the fuck out of here, there are a few kids I'm gonna really really miss. And it's gonna be so sad, they're like my own at this point, surrogate little cousins, i guess.
It's good to know they're gonna remember me, at least for a little while...
So it turns out the news of my departure didn't actually go over their heads.
This morning, first thing as I walk in the door, Kathy hands me a piece of paper with the words 'Brad Teacher email'. Two minutes later I get the same request from Ann on a blank piece of paper. And then half an hour Kate does the jump slash hug.
My girls are really gonna miss me.
Later on, I asked Kate if she wanted to come back to NZ with me, she then explained in her English that when she gets bigger she is going to come to my house. Kathy wants to come too.
As much as I can't wait to get the fuck out of here, there are a few kids I'm gonna really really miss. And it's gonna be so sad, they're like my own at this point, surrogate little cousins, i guess.
It's good to know they're gonna remember me, at least for a little while...
Sunday 27 January 2008
So I'm all ready to go, my house is half packed two boxes of stuff has been sent home, I'm pretty sure my final pay is in my account and I have travel arrangements all the way to Koh Phangan.
I have four days of work left, it's absolutely fantastic.
I've been telling my kids, and I've been gettting a lot of cheering, goddammit.
Told my kindy, I don't think they understood, they probably won't even notice a new teacher.
I've had a great week actually, I've got afternoon kindy last period everyday and it is usually incredibly painful but I've been going downstairs and playing with toy trains (to clarify, I'm playing with the trains, my trains.) instead of teaching them, well technically they're probably learning better by playing in English than studying at the age of 5.
We went on a pretty awesome field 
trip on Friday with the kindy kids to the Civil Safety place, lots of fun stuff for kids to do, it was great for me when I'm standing in a room with two guides 5 other teachers and 50 kids and I'm the only on who can't understand a word of what he's saying.
Here's them learning what to do in an earthquake (the whole room is shaking).
Here they are in a wind tunnel experiencing 30m/sec (?) winds.
It was hilarious, mainly cos I was standing there and a bit of drool flew out of my mouth and the rest of the teachers are laughing their asses off.
This one was pretty cool they had to use fire extinguishers (actually water hoses) to put out a fire on a big screen.
The teachers went first and we couldn't put out the fire, a couple of the groups of kids did though. Grr.
There was also a VR rollercoaster ride though I didn't understand where it fitted into the safety idea, and an awesome little assault type course, covered in smoke.
Overall the most reasonable and fun experience the kids have had.
So here's the final line-up of Winnies-D sans Julia but she hasn't really fully integrated anyway.
Had a pretty hard-out week, too much drinking again. Went out in Cheonho for the last time on Friday night, went to Starbucks (not in any way affiliated with the coffee, surprisingly).
We were drinking 13 dollar jugs of beer, 2 liters a go. It got messy when someone had the great idea to play Never have I ever (We sucked way too much at bottles and kegs).
Managed to polish off 7 of them by the end.
Went to Yongsan yesterday to pick up a DS card for Lachlan, was a great trip managed to play with my new lens (Oh yeah I got a telephoto lens for my camera from Oona for my birthday, it's great fun)
.
Here's a picture taken from the stoop of the old BK. OK well that doesn't mean anything to non-Seoulites, but Sam will understand.
Last night we went to the Casino, pretty much to eat and drink for free :)
I walked in with thirty bucks in my wallet, spent the twenty I wanted to, then just before we left, the evil spirit told me to just put one more bet down, bet your last ten, you don't need taxi or booze money. Turned it into thirty and walked out even. Stoked.
Then went to a bar to watch some live music, first up was this three piece Korean band playing indie rock, they opened with a song in which the chorus was 뉴지랜드요, 뉴지랜드요 screamed out. This translates to New Zealand yo, New Zealand yo. Fucking amazing, I wish I could have understood more, but even my Korean friends couldn't understand the singers.
I think that might actually be everything... yip.
Adieu, 5 more days til Thailand
Brad
I have four days of work left, it's absolutely fantastic.
I've been telling my kids, and I've been gettting a lot of cheering, goddammit.
Told my kindy, I don't think they understood, they probably won't even notice a new teacher.
I've had a great week actually, I've got afternoon kindy last period everyday and it is usually incredibly painful but I've been going downstairs and playing with toy trains (to clarify, I'm playing with the trains, my trains.) instead of teaching them, well technically they're probably learning better by playing in English than studying at the age of 5.
We went on a pretty awesome field 
trip on Friday with the kindy kids to the Civil Safety place, lots of fun stuff for kids to do, it was great for me when I'm standing in a room with two guides 5 other teachers and 50 kids and I'm the only on who can't understand a word of what he's saying.Here's them learning what to do in an earthquake (the whole room is shaking).
Here they are in a wind tunnel experiencing 30m/sec (?) winds.
It was hilarious, mainly cos I was standing there and a bit of drool flew out of my mouth and the rest of the teachers are laughing their asses off.
This one was pretty cool they had to use fire extinguishers (actually water hoses) to put out a fire on a big screen.The teachers went first and we couldn't put out the fire, a couple of the groups of kids did though. Grr.
There was also a VR rollercoaster ride though I didn't understand where it fitted into the safety idea, and an awesome little assault type course, covered in smoke.
Overall the most reasonable and fun experience the kids have had.
So here's the final line-up of Winnies-D sans Julia but she hasn't really fully integrated anyway.
Had a pretty hard-out week, too much drinking again. Went out in Cheonho for the last time on Friday night, went to Starbucks (not in any way affiliated with the coffee, surprisingly).
We were drinking 13 dollar jugs of beer, 2 liters a go. It got messy when someone had the great idea to play Never have I ever (We sucked way too much at bottles and kegs).
Managed to polish off 7 of them by the end.
Went to Yongsan yesterday to pick up a DS card for Lachlan, was a great trip managed to play with my new lens (Oh yeah I got a telephoto lens for my camera from Oona for my birthday, it's great fun)
.Here's a picture taken from the stoop of the old BK. OK well that doesn't mean anything to non-Seoulites, but Sam will understand.
Last night we went to the Casino, pretty much to eat and drink for free :)
I walked in with thirty bucks in my wallet, spent the twenty I wanted to, then just before we left, the evil spirit told me to just put one more bet down, bet your last ten, you don't need taxi or booze money. Turned it into thirty and walked out even. Stoked.
Then went to a bar to watch some live music, first up was this three piece Korean band playing indie rock, they opened with a song in which the chorus was 뉴지랜드요, 뉴지랜드요 screamed out. This translates to New Zealand yo, New Zealand yo. Fucking amazing, I wish I could have understood more, but even my Korean friends couldn't understand the singers.
I think that might actually be everything... yip.
Adieu, 5 more days til Thailand
Brad
Thursday 17 January 2008
Slowly getting there
Not long to go, am slowly chugging through the things I need to do.
So it was my birthday a week ago, was good, thanks to all those who dropped me a line (I'm looking at you Cameron, I still haven't heard anything from you.)
I finally got my written acceptance to Med School, allays my last fears.
Had a nice dinner on my birthday, and on the Saturday went all out, an all you can eat and drink restaurant (beer, wine, spirits...Only in Korea) with everybody I know in Korea, sadly we all fitted at one table, albeit a giant 20 pax one. I got way too drunk and had to be dragged home by my all too fantastic girlfriend (Sorry again). I remember most of the night, eating way too much, going to a bar to see Nick's band playing, being given Nunchaku by Seongbe, then going to a Norebang, feeling ill, throwing up and then poking my head into every room trying to find which one was ours.
Strangely I felt pretty good the next morning.
As I said my to-do list is steadily getting longer but luckily I'm crossing things off about as fast as I'm putting them on. My flights home are fine, still working on intra-Thailand travel.
Just got another box of stuff to send, my bags gonna be empty at this rate.
On the vein of organizing travel, I did something yesterday which made me realize I'm turning into my Mom. I was on the Thai Air site trying to book a flight back to Bangkok from Koh Samui, and for some reason there was a super-deal if I wanted to take a 6am flight on the 9th (it was like half price) so I started booking it and filled in all the details but when I finalized it, it said that there was an error so try again. So I did, and the flight had sold out, my fucking luck, thats obviously why the ticketing didn't work. However, I found the contact email and sent them a story about how I was booking a flight and their server malfunctioned and I lost my awesome price. Mentioning how it shouldn't cost me 60bucks extra because of a mistake on their end (utter bull) I politely asked if they could offer it to me at the original discounted price anyway.
Hi Mom.
Anyway, he emailed me and turns out it was just a temporary problem, and there were actually still seats left. But by then I had decided to take the train.
So it was my birthday a week ago, was good, thanks to all those who dropped me a line (I'm looking at you Cameron, I still haven't heard anything from you.)
I finally got my written acceptance to Med School, allays my last fears.
Had a nice dinner on my birthday, and on the Saturday went all out, an all you can eat and drink restaurant (beer, wine, spirits...Only in Korea) with everybody I know in Korea, sadly we all fitted at one table, albeit a giant 20 pax one. I got way too drunk and had to be dragged home by my all too fantastic girlfriend (Sorry again). I remember most of the night, eating way too much, going to a bar to see Nick's band playing, being given Nunchaku by Seongbe, then going to a Norebang, feeling ill, throwing up and then poking my head into every room trying to find which one was ours.
Strangely I felt pretty good the next morning.
As I said my to-do list is steadily getting longer but luckily I'm crossing things off about as fast as I'm putting them on. My flights home are fine, still working on intra-Thailand travel.
Just got another box of stuff to send, my bags gonna be empty at this rate.
On the vein of organizing travel, I did something yesterday which made me realize I'm turning into my Mom. I was on the Thai Air site trying to book a flight back to Bangkok from Koh Samui, and for some reason there was a super-deal if I wanted to take a 6am flight on the 9th (it was like half price) so I started booking it and filled in all the details but when I finalized it, it said that there was an error so try again. So I did, and the flight had sold out, my fucking luck, thats obviously why the ticketing didn't work. However, I found the contact email and sent them a story about how I was booking a flight and their server malfunctioned and I lost my awesome price. Mentioning how it shouldn't cost me 60bucks extra because of a mistake on their end (utter bull) I politely asked if they could offer it to me at the original discounted price anyway.
Hi Mom.
Anyway, he emailed me and turns out it was just a temporary problem, and there were actually still seats left. But by then I had decided to take the train.
Tuesday 15 January 2008
Counting Down
13 more work days to go,
Yesterday I purchased my flight home, looks like I'll be landing in good ole NZ at 1320 on the 10th of February
Yesterday I purchased my flight home, looks like I'll be landing in good ole NZ at 1320 on the 10th of February
Wednesday 9 January 2008
Tuesday 8 January 2008
Last Throes of 22
As I sit here, drinking a Kahlua-spiked smoothie and watching American Gladiators I reflect on my last year and realize I don't have too much to show for it. I've made some amazing friends, had some really fun times but have come out the other end at least 3 years older, tireder and with a realization that some people don't deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt, did I mention with a touch more cynicism.
It is my first birthday away from home, however it's also my first birthday in a relationship.
Anyways, half an hour to go in Korea. (I'm already 23 in NZ)
And I will leave you with a picture of the bathroom of the bar I spent my New Years in.
It doesn't quite do it justice as there was in fact more around the corner.
It is my first birthday away from home, however it's also my first birthday in a relationship.
Anyways, half an hour to go in Korea. (I'm already 23 in NZ)
And I will leave you with a picture of the bathroom of the bar I spent my New Years in.
It doesn't quite do it justice as there was in fact more around the corner.
Wednesday 2 January 2008
Sunday 30 December 2007
All-Inclusive 2-day Ski Trip
Does not include second day lift pass or rental. First day skiing actually only 2.00-4.30
Does not include food of any kind
Accommodation consists of a small patch of hard wood floor, no bedding provided, your floor is actually the floor of the room where the all night party will be held.
10-15 people in a small room: 20+ in a big room
Staff will be completely uninformed about what's happening, and the boss, the only one who does know what's going on, will be unreachable at all times, even by the other staff. If you do manage to get hold of him, he will brush you off and then avoid you from then on.
Party consists of free booze, and three of the participants are also DJs. No band.
Includes 12 hours a day of downtime in a variety of situations.
You will not be informed of any of this until you ask and ask and ask to find out.
_______________________________________________________
Now compare this with the actual release
Compared with:
PRE-NEW YEARS SKI PARTY
in Gang-chon resort, Gangwon-do
2007, Dec 29 ~ 2007, Dec 30
So I went snowboarding yesterday, this was quite hilariously mishapped.
After being brushed off time and time again about finding us somewhere else to sleep and finding out the second days skiing was not covered, we managed to track down the boss (at this point all but two of the staff had gone home, they had been told they'd be back home by 6pm, and started complaining about 7.30pm)
We finally convinced him to give us twenty bucks back and take us to the nearest train station in time for the last train at 9.40.
He then broke down and started blaming absolutely everything and anything, then managed to delay the driver, and kept walking away. Finally we got driven to the station at just after 9.30 at which point the driver parked about 1km from the station and said that way, we managed to follow the road and luckily the 9.40 train was actually 10.00.
The morning was no bad, with us wandering around at the slopes for an hour and a half trying to find where our rental gear had been dropped off and trying to find somewhere to put our stuff, and also lacking in our ski passes, that ran from 12.30-4.30 which we finally got just before 2. We'd been there since just after 12.
This company, Ztravelbug Korea if anyone is wondering, made Boston Campus look organized.
Which is saying a lot.
The couple of hours of boarding was good, there were pretty reasonable lines, and it was hilarious boarding on a hill that has just had a few trails of snow thrown on it around the trees and grass.
Sadly there were no jumps for even the most imaginative person, but it was nice to feel like I was one of the best snowboarders on a mountain.
I will be going back in the next couple of weeks, but just a day trip and without the tour group. Get three times the slope time.
Does not include food of any kind
Accommodation consists of a small patch of hard wood floor, no bedding provided, your floor is actually the floor of the room where the all night party will be held.
10-15 people in a small room: 20+ in a big room
Staff will be completely uninformed about what's happening, and the boss, the only one who does know what's going on, will be unreachable at all times, even by the other staff. If you do manage to get hold of him, he will brush you off and then avoid you from then on.
Party consists of free booze, and three of the participants are also DJs. No band.
Includes 12 hours a day of downtime in a variety of situations.
You will not be informed of any of this until you ask and ask and ask to find out.
_______________________________________________________
Now compare this with the actual release
Compared with:
PRE-NEW YEARS SKI PARTY
in Gang-chon resort, Gangwon-do
2007, Dec 29 ~ 2007, Dec 30
Schedule
2007, Dec,29(sat)
10am – departure (Hamilton hotel In Itaewon)
11:30am - arrive the pension nearby Gangchon resort
12pm - lunch
1pm - rent ski gear and change clothes
2pm ~6pm - ski
7pm - back to the pension for Pre- New years ski party (Bends and DJs for all night)
11pm - BAND performance
Following the band performance
Dj VENUS with MC Jaedai will perform until the wee hours
2007,Dec,30(sun)
all free time for ski
7pm - back to Seoul
Lift pass ticket
Daytime Ticket will be provided
-Included
Transportation, all ski and snow board gear, (Clean and comfortable ski suits and snow board suits are available) lift pass ticket (daytime ticket ), hotel (5people for 1room , 10people for big size 1room), New year party cover charge, free bears and drinks for 2hours (from 9pm~11pm)
So I went snowboarding yesterday, this was quite hilariously mishapped.
After being brushed off time and time again about finding us somewhere else to sleep and finding out the second days skiing was not covered, we managed to track down the boss (at this point all but two of the staff had gone home, they had been told they'd be back home by 6pm, and started complaining about 7.30pm)
We finally convinced him to give us twenty bucks back and take us to the nearest train station in time for the last train at 9.40.
He then broke down and started blaming absolutely everything and anything, then managed to delay the driver, and kept walking away. Finally we got driven to the station at just after 9.30 at which point the driver parked about 1km from the station and said that way, we managed to follow the road and luckily the 9.40 train was actually 10.00.
The morning was no bad, with us wandering around at the slopes for an hour and a half trying to find where our rental gear had been dropped off and trying to find somewhere to put our stuff, and also lacking in our ski passes, that ran from 12.30-4.30 which we finally got just before 2. We'd been there since just after 12.
This company, Ztravelbug Korea if anyone is wondering, made Boston Campus look organized.
Which is saying a lot.
The couple of hours of boarding was good, there were pretty reasonable lines, and it was hilarious boarding on a hill that has just had a few trails of snow thrown on it around the trees and grass.
Sadly there were no jumps for even the most imaginative person, but it was nice to feel like I was one of the best snowboarders on a mountain.
I will be going back in the next couple of weeks, but just a day trip and without the tour group. Get three times the slope time.
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