Treehouse Livin' and Jungle Zippin'

I have a pretty intense fear of heights - I hate climbing latters, I don't stand on apartment balconies, and I even have difficulty looking over railings at the mall... but I chose to come face to face this phobia last week when Lynn and I participated in The Gibbon's Experience. This "experience" is set deep in the Bokeo Natural Reserve in Northern Laos and uses it's funding to help protect the forest and wildlife of the area. What this meant for us was three days living in a tree house some 150 meters above the jungle floor; living, zipping and trekking through the jungle.

Day 1: Seven of us packed into the back of a truck and were taken 1 hour north of the border city of Houe Xai, and 1 hour along winding dirt roads deep into the jungle. We began our trek in a small Laos village; a tough 1 hour long process up the mountain (that quickly reminded me how 4 weeks of vacationing has made me well out of shape) before being fitted with our harnasses and ushered (read: zipped) into our treehouse home. Our guides (two 18year olds from the local village) made it look so easy, just clip in, step off the platform, soar....... My heart was racing a mile a minute but I forced myself to take the leap and enjoyed the thrill of it all.

Our tree house (1 of 6) was a truly remarkable construction; 3 floors, running water, a full shower that allowed for a breathtaking view of the jungle, and a squatter with a hole straight down to the jungle floor. What made this experience all the more terrifying were the swarms of bees threatening to sting you in all the wrong places. For much of the first day, being in the treehouse at such a high elevation was painfully frightening, so I sat in the middle of the mainfloor, almost wishing i could stay in my harness, clipped to the tree... just incase.
After a quick view of home, we set out with our guides who showed us around the trails and the zips. Each take off evoked fear (as zips were up to around 600 meters long, and some 200 meters above ground!) but each zip provided great thrills and stunningly breathtaking views. Our guides were hilariously entertaining, loved what they were doing, and were amazingly knowledgable about the sights and sounds of the jungle. Equipped with a sixth sense for hearing and scoping out Gibbons, on our first day out we did just that. Quietly the pack of us ventured deeper into the jungle, off the beaten back, following the keen senses of our guides. There we witnessed about four gibbons soaring through the trees- it truly was an amazing sight.
That night dinner was zipped into us, and sunset occured shortly thereafter, rendering us into complete darkness (save for a few candles which enabled us light for a few card games before calling it a night).

Day 2: At 5:45am we awoke to the sound of the zipline as our guides entered our treehouse for another full day of exploring. The early morning zips were stunning, zipping through the fog, unsure of what lied ahead, and still providing more breathtaking views of the jungle. After breakfast we took a long hike, including new ziplines to another treehouse deeper in the jungle. The trek was painful, but the outcome was rewarding and each zip eased my nerves a little more.
That night, around midnight, a huge thunderstorm rolled in. Infact, it seemed as though we were sitting between two storms in fierce competition with each other. Lightning flashed like strobe lights, about 30-40 times per minute, illuminating the entire sky. The thunder boomed and echoed through the jungle. It was a phonomenal natural display, and slightly frightening given our treehouse elevation.

Day 3: After a few final zips we said goodbye to our jungle lives and headed back into town. Three phonomenal days, intense heights, breathtaking views, grueling hikes, thrilling zips, amazing opportunity, experience of a lifetime.

Lessons Learned.

My time is Korean is through!. It was a stressful last few days of winding down, packing up and saying goodbye... but now that I'm in the tropics, I'm care free, worry free, and just thinking what cocktail I'll buy for 1.50$ on the tropical terrace in our guesthouse tonight.

So, in China, Kate taught me a valubale lesson for getting through tough times. "if it sucks, it only has suck once"... (so suck it up). It's a valuable motto for travelling and one that I kept repeating to myself on Wednesday on our commute from Bangkok to Cambodia. We left Bangkok at 8am, and boarded a coach bus that was taking us here... once over the border (a grueling 2 hour, steaming hot process) we boarded our next minibus that would take us the rest of the journey. A rickety 20 seater, packed with people and gear, aircon less, shockless and comfortless. For 6 long hours we bounced along the dirty road, inhaling dust and blinded by it. I guess the advantage of such a raw experience allowed me to witness a country unlike anything I've seen. I saw the grass hut home, the starving cows crossing the road, the kids bathing in the dirty stream and locals at work, at play, at leisure. And it gave us plenty of time to plot out a new means to return to Bangkok, beause anything that bad, had bset only suck once!

With that experience out of the way we now are in the midst of our tour through Siem Reap and the temples of Ankor Wat, as well as the Capital city, Phnom Pehn. It's hot, it's cheap and it's been a fabulous experience. There are more details than I have time to write, so I'll attempt to download some photos soon...because now it's time for my cocktail.

In the News

Beijing, China. One person was killed and 75 others were injured while setting off fireworks over the past day, the capital city's firework office said on Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2008)

..and this in no way surprises me after witnessing first hand the festive and explosive celebrations that surround Chinese (Lunar) New Year in Beijing… an event which rendered me speechless, and will be etched in my mind forever…a truly amazing sight to behold.
The Chinese ring in the New Year by letting off fireworks intended to ward off devil evils. As darkness fell on the city fireworks began to explode around the city in preparation for midnight. Around 11, Kate and I took to the streets to witness the chaos and stumbled into a small residential courtyard surrounded by apartment buildings. In every direction, families let off fireworks of all kinds, volume and colour, causing children to scream and laugh, car alarms to flash and sound, and us to smile and frolic in excitement.
At about quarter to midnight we found some fellow tour-groupers and snuck through a window to the roof of our hotel. The sight of the surrounding city was unreal. In every direction, as far as the eye could see, we witnessed the best and biggest, un-choreographed display of pyrotechnics imaginable . Fireworks ignited from thousands of streets, courtyards, sidewalks, balconies and parks, shot into the sky, ricocheting off buildings and each other, and echoing though the night sky. Words still continue to fail me, so enjoy the video…

Beijing : Chinese New Year

In Canada, flying used to be a common part of my working and personal life, but since coming to Korea, I hadn’t left the country in 11 months had developed a horrible feeling of cabin fever. So, the pleasure, excitement and thrill of taking a trip to Beijing was that much more appreciated and need. Oh, and how can one pass up Chinese New Year in China!!??
I didn’t believe it was possible to pack so much into such a quick trip.. but 5 days later, I’ve come home having climbed the Great Wall, explored the Forbidden City, stood in Tiananmen Square, watched New Year fireworks, visited the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Llama Temple, Watched a acrobatics show and martial arts performance, took part in a tea ceremony, rode a rickshaw through the ancient part of town, danced with Mongolian performers, bargained for cheap goods, and flew business class.
Though I may have hated touring in sub-zero temperatures, the experience was amazing and well worth every toe I froze off in the process.

The Name Game

Students at academies are usually given English names for the convenience of their teachers. When students arrive in my class without, I usually let them choose, and if they want I will give them a list of options on the board. This has enabled me to have almost all my best friends in my classes, and it’s a pleasure to see them week after week when they’re living oceans away.

Last semester, a student arrived in my class and claimed to not have an English name. After making a list of options, “Steven” was welcomed into MIP4. This student is a little odd, and quirky, but is certainly entertaining. A couple weeks later, Steven was in the staff room claiming to be “feeling dark” and being a “dark angel”. While he conversed with Kate I learned a number of things : Steven used to be Kate’s student, Steven used to go by the name Maximus, Steven is in fact a girl. SHIT! I felt horrible, there really was no way of knowing, so I quickly just resorted back to the name Maximus, and so she been called ever since. Until last week that is, when she bolded exclaimed she would now be known as “Strawberry Fresh Maxi”….. I almost think Steven is better…

Trooper

This evening I was taken out for dinner with my student Ellen and her non-English speaking mother. I had planned to meet them at 6:30, and at 4:30 I woke up from a day of napping on my floor and was still feeling the ill effects of the previous night. I cursed myself for poor decision making and spent the next couple hours trying to feel alive and get ready for what was ahead. Being the anti-socialite that I am, I was really concerned about trying to make conversation and using my student as a translator between the mother and myself. But the conversation side of things ran smoothly and what I should have been concerned about was their choice of “traditional Korean food”. Korean style is to have many dishes all over the table, and everyone shares the food, and both Ellen and her mom were excited for me to try it all. The plates kept arriving, and about 90% of them were heaped with various forms of seafood. I wanted to be a good sport, and didn’t think it would be appropriate to express my dislike of anything fishy. So, I toughed it out, tried everything that was there and played an hour long game of mind over matter. Some bites required a chaser in the form kimchi, and some pieces could easily be camouflaged and hidden in my bowl of rice, all the while my stomach wondered how I could be so cruel. But I managed, I’m alive and I played the game well enough that they requested for me a doggie bag of seafood Korean pancake… mmmmm....

Recap

I will admit to being disappointed in myself for my lack of blogging these past few months. This doesn’t mean that the winter months have left me completely bored and lonely, though they have perhaps slowed things down a little.. and maybe made me a little lazier. However, there’s still been time for adventuring:

1) Attending a coworkers wedding: an opportunity to experience the true Korean ceremony, which involved sharing shots of Soju with the bus driver at 2pm.
2) Working Christmas day, but still managing to celebrate the holiday festively: a virtual present opening with my parents and siblings, a wonderful Christmas breakfast and afternoon with Lynn, and a delicious traditional dinner with fellow foreigners.
3) Welcoming 2008 in a typically outrageous fashion: ringing in the New Year in the back of the cab, obnoxiously screaming at passers-bys and harassing the cabdriver, and all this before we even made it to the bar for the real gong show to begin.
4) Partying with my director and learning the secrets of his past: his #2 hit on the Korean charts in 1997, his attempt at Priesthood, and his childish personality that had frolicking around the department store and spending money on an air rifle bb gun (and plenty of drink, food and norae) instead of paying us on time.

More unforgettable experiences to appropriately conclude 2007, and welcome 2008!

Simple Pleasures

“If all the snowflakes were chocolate bars and milkshakes
Oh what a wonderful snow fall it’d be.
Standing outside with my mouth open wide,
ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah”

Few things excite me in quite the same way as the first snowfall. Sadly, however, I live in a part of the country where such weather is rare, a sad reality for someone who gets so much enjoyment out of it. However, on the way home from the bar last weekend, a wonderful thing happen. Snow – big, fluffy flakes.. it was beautiful! However, my desire to frolic in the night snow fall was hindered by the amount of soju I had consumed .. sadness. But, then yesterday I was granted a second chance. On my way to the subway it started flurrying. As people stepped out of stores, they had confused looks on their faces, some looked up, quizzically, as though questioning what was being thrown at them. Kids looked excited, one child put out his arms and began spinning, screaming and looking up at the sky. It was fabulous, and I could definitely feel his excitement. So I stuck out my tongue like a small child and caught for myself a Korean snowflake. Delicious.

Just Go With It

It seems a mis-truth leaked to one of my classes prior to today, and though I am uncertain of where said rumour began, I do know that the outcome today was well received.

Walking down the stairs to one of my elementary school-aged classes, one of my students ran up and motioned for me to hurry to class. Upon nearing the doorway I saw that the lights were turned off and was expecting a prank that I wasn't so sure I could handle, but in fact, there was nothing malicious about their intentions...instead, I was greeted with a chorus of 'happy birthday', a cake on my desk with candles, presents, and a confetti firecraker! It was amazing, and the kids were SO excited that they had succeeded in surprising me. I didn't want to break their little hearts, and it seemed a shame to do so, so I played along. I celebrated my non-birthday birthday, by eating cake, talking about my birthday plans and playing games all class.

I wish I'd thought of this sooner!

Deck the Halls

The first week of December marked not only my 9th month in Korea, but also the beginning of the holiday season. Being my first Christmas away from home, I wanted to make my apartment as festive and homey as I could. With a scented candle burning and Christmas music playing, I decorated my standing plant with bulbs and lights, surrounded it with the presents my mom had sent from home, set out a bowl of candy canes, hung snowflakes from the ceiling and my stocking above my (makeshift) tree. My apartment felt so good to come home to, and I was prepared to celebrate the holidays alone.

I should have known that nothing is ever as good as it seems, still I wasn't prepared for the surprise I was hit with last week Wednesday… I would be moving. It was a heartbreaking transition, leaving my cozy apartment… home for the past 9 months, and packing up my life. I arrived here in Korea with a suitcase and a backpack to a spacious apartment with only a bed, desk, chair and microwave. However, knowing so many people who left before me, I have accumulated enough to make my place a comfortable haven, and moving a bit of a nightmare. But, now that everything is said and done, the new digs are great, the location is convenient and my Christmas decorations are back up and looking wonderful. Feliz Navidad!

Teacher Evaluations

Some days teaching can be bit of a challenge, some days it can be a lot of fun, and others it can have me laughing my ass off. Perhaps this past Tuesday’s class with my child prodigy embodied all these elements in just one lesson. Let me start by saying that Simon and I have a great relationship.. he’s on my messenger list, he emails me papers to edit and calls me without fail every weekend to ask about his homework. So, I couldn’t take his actions too seriously….

Alright, so it was writing class, and Simon and I were editing and revising the paper he had written me for homework. Upon giving him a grade (80% - and very generous for the quality of the work) he snapped out of wonder child, into normal kid mode, believing the mark that I had given him was unfair for his efforts. In a fit of childhood rage, weighing heavily on the side of temper tantrum, he grabbed his essay, flipped it over, and claimed he was going to evaluate me. He chose the categories and the grades as I sat by shaking my head and laughing in disbelief. The first mark given was for “Style and Creativity” (though I’m unsure for what) where he was generous enough to give me a 5/10. Then came “Intelligence and EQ”, for which I scored a meager 3/10. The Third was for “Student Care”, where I barely made the board, earning an embarassing 1/10. But the last mark was the one that really got me, and made it all worth while.. Evil 10/10.

At least he got something right!

Momma B in the SK

One week off work, treats from home, and time with my mom... what a fabulous break! For 9 days I played tourist and tourguide, exploring the city (and country) with my mom. It was a great way for her to get a glimpse into my life here and the way of a foreigner in Korea. In just her short time here, she learned to read Korean, to say thank you and goodbye, and that when walking in the streets she was a minority and many people who could speak english, often felt inclined to say "hi". My favourite experience happened in Seoul, and here's how it went down:

(mom (M) and lynda (L) are leaving a palace in the city, and are approached by a Korean male in his late twenties on a bike (K))

K: Where are you from?
L: Canada
K: Ohhh, very good. I see you. You have nice sunglasses. You are rich.
L: Uh, thank you.. but I don't think so.
K: Can I guess.. She is mother?
L: Yes she is.
K: You are tall. People in Canada are tall? Not people in Korea.
L: ha ha some people are tall. My mom is even taller than me!
(dude turns his attention to my mom)
K: Mother... you are very lucky. You have intelligent daughter and tall daughter. I have many fantasy.
M: uhhh, thank you.
L: Gotta Go!

buwahahahahaha.... awesome. Guess the secrets out.

Team Lady Fury

There have been a number of occasions over the past 7 months where I’ve felt like I’m a competitor in The Amazing Race – bailing on cabs to run up mountain roads, speeding in a taxi through the mountains in a mad rush to catch a train, then jumping on that same train while it began to depart, perhaps even eating dog soup… and all was not in vain, as this past weekend, these trial tasks came in handy as I competed in The Amazing Race Busan. This was a foreigner charity event that saw 50 teams of 2, race around the entire city completing tasks, taking photos, finding specific products and locations while attempting to master the bus and subway systems and out race the other teams to the finish. For 7 hours tension was heated, bodies fatigued and legs in constant motion we did it all: kissed a fish, ate cooked silkworm larvae (almost), and formed a Korean/Waygook pyramid -among many others- before crossing the finish line. The race ended in a bar at Gwanagli beach, where the famous bridge there would become the backdrop to an absolutely phenomenal fireworks display for hundreds and thousands of onlookers. An explosive ending to a long and wonderful day. Go Team!

Guilty Pleasures

Since coming to Korea I’ve become quite involved in the bowling scene. It's such a competitive good time, it promotes teamwork and sportsmanship, and on a Friday night it definitely goes well with a bottle of soju. I know it’s a little geeky, but it’s insane amounts of fun, and I’ve even been able to rock the boys with some high scores and turkeys… Mad Skills… Truth is though, I’m no stranger to the lanes... I grew up in the middle of nowhere, but was just a 25 minute walk from a 10-pin alley, I played in a league every Saturday morning in grade school, and I even competed in tournaments with my parents.

Judge me if you may, but my blog is becoming a sort of confessional of the secrets of my past and present, and the bizarre inner workings of my mind. So, I figured there was no sense in stopping now… Truth: Bowling is Fun, and I love it!

And I challenge all you non-judging competitors to a night at the lanes!

Looking the Part

As the warm summer sun fades, and the cooler fall weather rolls in… I feel that our weekends at the beach may be replaced with hikes in the mountains. This past Saturday we ventured up and spent three hours on beautiful, and at times exhausting, trails that led from my neighbourhood to a temple at the other side of town. I’m convinced that hiking in Korea, (or Busan at least) should be considered a national sport. Every weekend, large numbers of people head to the trails for some mountain trekking. I’m not sure though which aspect is the most important… the hike itself, or the attire that goes along with it. Hiking gear will always include a full ensemble of hiking shoes, jackets and pants..(possibly matching if you’re a couple) and may also adorn any combination of the following: a walking stick, waist pack, visor, gloves, backpack and headband. In the more popular spots, all of these items are available for purchase at the base of the mountain just in case you’re an impulse buyer who forgot your wind breaker when you left the house. It doesn't matter the intensity of the hike, if you’re on a trail in a mountain you must come equipped to conquer based on attire. Goodbye Bikinis, Hello Fanny Packs.

Korean Thanksgiving

It’s called Chusok, it’s a three day holiday, and it’s a time for Koreans to be with their family and exchange gifts sets (think tea, honey, SPAM). What this meant for me was a short vacation, but having not booked a flight or ferry out of the country at least 2 months prior there was zero opportunity to leave Korea, but that in no way interfered with my holiday fun.

We kicked off the extra long weekend with a Friday night gong show of free beer. The following day we boarded a ferry to explore Geoje-do, a beautiful island about an hour off the coast of Busan. For three days we lazed, swam, gamed and drank. The weather wasn’t in our favour, but it didn’t impede at all on our good times. Koreans were more than helpful with calling us cabs, or driving us waygooks around the island in search of food.. then providing us with treats if they were too full to house us for the evening.

The results: Five Restful Days, Amazing Hospitality, Competition to the Max, Good Company, and Plenty of Laughs – all great reasons to give thanks.

A Slightly Tactless Entry

As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words… so I’ll let these photos do the talking for this one.

Don't judge me too harshly...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

A Goodbye for Mai

I have never prided myself on being a spontaneous person… Acting impulsively is not one of those things that I’m into, known for, or comfortable with. But sometimes it can be a difficult thing to avoid, particularly living in a foreign country, where I find myself forced to succumb and adapt rather quickly.. and so, it was with Mai’s departure weekend. I couldn’t have predicted the outcome, and had I given myself time to think through it all, I would have denied myself the enjoyment that was Saturday night.

Following an intensively competitive few games of bowling, the crew headed to a beach party at the other end of the city. As is customary of our nights (days, and lives) we brought the debauchery, caused a ruckus, and began wrestling… This behaviour landed us, at 4 am, fully clothed, in the ocean. Once we were in there was no turning back, so under a moonlit sky, we frolicked in the warm crashing waves without a care .... trying to remain oblivious to how cold it would be once out, how hard it would be to get a cab, and how far it was to get home.

What followed were 4 grueling hours trying to warm up, and stay awake in order to get Mai to the airport for her 10am departure, and our tearful goodbye. A sad ending to a wonderful evening… but hurrah for the lack of sane logic that led to one of the best nights to date.

A Mid-Way Perspective

Time is a funny thing… sometimes hours can feel like they’re taking far too long to pass, and the weekend seems so far away, yet months can pass you by in the blink of an eye.. and so if feels with the past six months I have been here… and it blows my mind. I’m no longer a “newbie” though in some ways I still feel like I only arrived last month. But, I’m settling in so well, and I’m living this life now, and it’s a strange but wonderful reality. What seemed strange and bizarre at the beginning is now normalized and commonplace.. (which hopefully explains my less-than-frequent blogging). I have a life, a routine, friends, acquaintances, drama, boys.. all the great things that keep me sane…

But my six month mark also held some of the hardest times since being in Korea. In the past 2 weeks, I have said goodbye to two very close friends. Girls that have made a mark in my life and helped define the first half of my time here. But that’s the way things go, especially living in a foreign country… Most of us are here temporarily, so people are constantly in and out of our lives.. but these same individuals are part of the small circle of people that we have here… so with no family around the friendships, though brief, are insanely intense, and wonderful. So, the summers end, my six month mark, and the tearful goodbyes haven’t been easy, but they have encouraged me to remember all the great experiences I’ve had since coming here. And I’m ready to begin anew, and step up to what the next six months will offer… I’m only half way done, so my adventure is far from complete!

For the Kid in You

Generally speaking, I dislike watching movies. I think it has a lot to do with a very short attention span that often times I’m more obsessed with watching the clock than the film (and that’s when I’m not already asleep). And since I know I’m missing out on some good entertainment, culture, learning, thinking etc.., I make an effort to watch them now and again… and I think that Korean theaters may help me with my problem. The other day I tagged along with a group that was going to check out the new Simpson’s movie which was playing in the kids section of the theatre. (yes, it seemed strange to me too) Heading to the late show meant that we were the only ones watching this particular film, and walking inside we were all stunned and excited by what we found.. a theater filled with plushy couches to seat 2 or 3, brightly coloured and uber comfortable, with drawers underneath to store your goods… but that’s not even the best part… The 20 feet or so in front of the screen was just a huge soft pleathery mat. Lying down during the movie, in a theater, was cozy, and the wrestling and tumbling we could do on it afterwards was heaps of fun. Having to overlook the fact that probably a dozen kids pee on these mats weekly was just about the only problem. So perhaps these comfy surroundings won’t help keep my interest in movies, or help me find a new passion for film, but at least they provide I comfortable place to fall asleep!