Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Big Surprise and San Fran
THE BIG SURPRISE:
I flew to Tallahassee with a lot of sadness about leaving, but also a lot of excitement to surprise my mom. I never told her I was coming to the US, she thought I was going straight from Korea to New Zealand. In fact, my original plan was to go straight to NZ, but I found a pretty cheap flight and I really missed home, so I changed plans. It was so hard to keep it from her. I told the rest of my family, one because I had to tell somebody and two because I needed their help in planning. My dad contacted my aunt so that we could go down to her beach house for a few days. I got my brother to make me mom plan a visit down to see him at just the time I'd be around. And my sister, the thing that made it complete, surprised my mom as well by flying from California for a weekend so that the whole family was together for the first time in a long while. Just to make sure everything worked out, I even emailed my mom's boss to make sure she could get some time off in the 3 weeks I was home. Lastly, I even sent my mom a fake flight iteneray to NZ, so she wouldn't have a clue.
So, my flight came in at about 9pm and I got my friend Kate to pick me up from the airport. Despite a short delay because my bags were still in Texas, we rushed home. I had expected the doors to be locked and everyone to be asleep by 10:30pm, but it wasn't quite like that. The door was unlocked so I walked right in. My dad had fallen asleep watching TV in the living room. I didn't wake him because I didn't want my mom to hear. I walked down the hall as giddy as I could be and....well....check out the video!!
I was home for about 3 weeks in which I got to see a lot of people I wanted to. I made it to Gainesville, to the beach, saw friends and family. Pretty much perfect. Becca came for my last weekend in Florida and we flew to San Fransisco together. I brought all my luggage for NZ with me because I flew form San Fran to NZ after a 5 day stop over. This was my second visit out there, but my favorite.
We did some of the touristy things of course, like touring Alcatraz and watching the seals on the pier. I also got a free pass to the aquarium bec works in. Cool gator isn't it.
We rented a car for a couple days and camped out in Big Sur. We went on an awesome hike and explored some of the beaches. Before coming back we stopped in Santa Cruz where we walked the boardwalk and laid in the sand. It was such a great trip. I don't get to see becca much anymore and I forgot how fun it was to hang out with her. Made a good choice in stopping through!!
As great as it was to come home for a while, it felt strange. I seemed liked so much had changed, yet everything was still the same. It's hard to explain. I LOVED getting spoiled by my mom and dad. It was beyond words seeing my brother, sister, and niece again. And it was amazing seeing all my friends. But, I knew I wasn't ready to stay...not yet. I think that made it a little easier to head off for New Zealand. Easier doesn't mean it wasn't hard to say goodbye though. I hate goodbyes and it was as difficult as ever to leave.
I flew to Tallahassee with a lot of sadness about leaving, but also a lot of excitement to surprise my mom. I never told her I was coming to the US, she thought I was going straight from Korea to New Zealand. In fact, my original plan was to go straight to NZ, but I found a pretty cheap flight and I really missed home, so I changed plans. It was so hard to keep it from her. I told the rest of my family, one because I had to tell somebody and two because I needed their help in planning. My dad contacted my aunt so that we could go down to her beach house for a few days. I got my brother to make me mom plan a visit down to see him at just the time I'd be around. And my sister, the thing that made it complete, surprised my mom as well by flying from California for a weekend so that the whole family was together for the first time in a long while. Just to make sure everything worked out, I even emailed my mom's boss to make sure she could get some time off in the 3 weeks I was home. Lastly, I even sent my mom a fake flight iteneray to NZ, so she wouldn't have a clue.
So, my flight came in at about 9pm and I got my friend Kate to pick me up from the airport. Despite a short delay because my bags were still in Texas, we rushed home. I had expected the doors to be locked and everyone to be asleep by 10:30pm, but it wasn't quite like that. The door was unlocked so I walked right in. My dad had fallen asleep watching TV in the living room. I didn't wake him because I didn't want my mom to hear. I walked down the hall as giddy as I could be and....well....check out the video!!
I was home for about 3 weeks in which I got to see a lot of people I wanted to. I made it to Gainesville, to the beach, saw friends and family. Pretty much perfect. Becca came for my last weekend in Florida and we flew to San Fransisco together. I brought all my luggage for NZ with me because I flew form San Fran to NZ after a 5 day stop over. This was my second visit out there, but my favorite.
We did some of the touristy things of course, like touring Alcatraz and watching the seals on the pier. I also got a free pass to the aquarium bec works in. Cool gator isn't it.
We rented a car for a couple days and camped out in Big Sur. We went on an awesome hike and explored some of the beaches. Before coming back we stopped in Santa Cruz where we walked the boardwalk and laid in the sand. It was such a great trip. I don't get to see becca much anymore and I forgot how fun it was to hang out with her. Made a good choice in stopping through!!
As great as it was to come home for a while, it felt strange. I seemed liked so much had changed, yet everything was still the same. It's hard to explain. I LOVED getting spoiled by my mom and dad. It was beyond words seeing my brother, sister, and niece again. And it was amazing seeing all my friends. But, I knew I wasn't ready to stay...not yet. I think that made it a little easier to head off for New Zealand. Easier doesn't mean it wasn't hard to say goodbye though. I hate goodbyes and it was as difficult as ever to leave.
Goodbye Korea
After Tokyo, I flew back to spend my last 4 days in Korea. Many of my friends that did not renew their contract had already left. However, many of my friends renewed to stay another year and so were still around. I had a small goodbye party where we went out for dinner, to one of our usual bars, and then a final round of Nora Bong (Karaoke). It was a great way to say goodbye to all my friends and to Korea.
I had to be out of my apartment before I left for Japan. So, I stayed the night at Rebekah Gordon's house a few nights before making the long flight home. She got me a delicious ice cream cake that me and her and her cat shared. The last night I stayed at Mallory's house because she lives really near to the airport. I took a taxi to the airport, waited a few hours, and then was on my way to Tallahassee to pull off the best surprise I have ever done in my whole life.
Korea...Just saying the word "Korea" makes me think of so many things. Like how scared I was to walk off the plane, how weird it feels to be stared at because I stand out like a sore thumb, how many great friends and people I met, all the different trips and adventures I took in one short year, how many times I heard "hi teacher!!" in one day. I've been gone for a little while now, and I can't believe it's over, that I'm not going back. As different as it is, it became normal to me and I was comfortable. The job was trying sometimes and I'll admit that I was lonely at points, but in all it was such an amazing experience and I know that I'll forever have those times where I chuckle randomly and someone will ask me why I'm laughing. I'll say, "Oh nothing, I was just reminded about one time in Korea."
I had to be out of my apartment before I left for Japan. So, I stayed the night at Rebekah Gordon's house a few nights before making the long flight home. She got me a delicious ice cream cake that me and her and her cat shared. The last night I stayed at Mallory's house because she lives really near to the airport. I took a taxi to the airport, waited a few hours, and then was on my way to Tallahassee to pull off the best surprise I have ever done in my whole life.
Korea...Just saying the word "Korea" makes me think of so many things. Like how scared I was to walk off the plane, how weird it feels to be stared at because I stand out like a sore thumb, how many great friends and people I met, all the different trips and adventures I took in one short year, how many times I heard "hi teacher!!" in one day. I've been gone for a little while now, and I can't believe it's over, that I'm not going back. As different as it is, it became normal to me and I was comfortable. The job was trying sometimes and I'll admit that I was lonely at points, but in all it was such an amazing experience and I know that I'll forever have those times where I chuckle randomly and someone will ask me why I'm laughing. I'll say, "Oh nothing, I was just reminded about one time in Korea."
Takin' on Tokyo
My last trip in Asia before leaving was to Tokyo. I had my last day of teaching on the 31st of August and I left on the 1st for Tokyo. My friends were all either working r on flights back to their home countries, so I went by myself. I have to say I wasn't too excited about this trip because all I could think about was my trip home, leaving my school, moving out, etc. Anyways, I got there and my attitude changed immediately. I met a few people in my hostel that night and ended up spending the entire trip with them and I loved Tokyo more than I expected. It had such a good energy to it. Here are a few city shots, just to get an idea of what it's like there:
These are a few more pictures I took while exploring the city. The first is a bookstore I saw while passing. I want a store like that!! When I was there I ate lots of noodles...actually I think I ate noodles everyday! One of the restaurants I went to, you just walk up to the machine, press the button to the meal you want, sit down at the counter and they serve you your noodles in a matter of minutes!! What a way to eat! Also, Tokyo was covered with Anime and comic shops, arcades, statues, people dressed in costume, everything! Besides the Anime craze, I was really taken back the amount of technology there was. Like Korea, they are so far ahead with all things electronic.
The first morning I was there, I went to the Tsukiji fish markets. I look tired because the market started at 5am. We got there about 6, just in time just to see the end of the tuna auction. I never knew tuns were that big.
One of the days there I took a day tour to see Mt. Fuji. Unfortunately, it as a super cloudy day so I wasn't able to see the peak. We were able to take the bus to the base of the mountain though. At the base where tons of tourist shops as well as a little temple. I missed the hiking season by just days unfortunately. Oh well. With the trip we also took a boat ride on Lake Ashi and a cable car to Mount Komagatake overlooking Hakone National Park. Even though it didn't workout exactly how I'd like, it as still great.
In Tokyo, I made it to a few of the major shrines and temples. A shrine is a sacred place for Japan's original religion Shintoism while a temple is a sacred place to Buddhist. Many Japanese follow both religions. Here are some photos from the Meiji Shrine and Sensoji temple.
Another dayI had time for another day trip out of the city to Kamakura. Kamakura is a city just out of Tokyo that is dotted with Buddhist temples. There were like 12 all within walking distance of each other. Here are a few photo of the many Buddhas I saw in the area.
This last photo is of the Hachiko statue; the dog that waited for his owner outside the subway station everyday at the exact time his train would come, even 10 years after his owner died. Also, at the same station, Shibuya Station, there is a massive crosswalk. I had to make a video of the crowds, and this wasn't even the biggest group I saw. Sooooo many people in Tokyo!!
These are a few more pictures I took while exploring the city. The first is a bookstore I saw while passing. I want a store like that!! When I was there I ate lots of noodles...actually I think I ate noodles everyday! One of the restaurants I went to, you just walk up to the machine, press the button to the meal you want, sit down at the counter and they serve you your noodles in a matter of minutes!! What a way to eat! Also, Tokyo was covered with Anime and comic shops, arcades, statues, people dressed in costume, everything! Besides the Anime craze, I was really taken back the amount of technology there was. Like Korea, they are so far ahead with all things electronic.
The first morning I was there, I went to the Tsukiji fish markets. I look tired because the market started at 5am. We got there about 6, just in time just to see the end of the tuna auction. I never knew tuns were that big.
One of the days there I took a day tour to see Mt. Fuji. Unfortunately, it as a super cloudy day so I wasn't able to see the peak. We were able to take the bus to the base of the mountain though. At the base where tons of tourist shops as well as a little temple. I missed the hiking season by just days unfortunately. Oh well. With the trip we also took a boat ride on Lake Ashi and a cable car to Mount Komagatake overlooking Hakone National Park. Even though it didn't workout exactly how I'd like, it as still great.
In Tokyo, I made it to a few of the major shrines and temples. A shrine is a sacred place for Japan's original religion Shintoism while a temple is a sacred place to Buddhist. Many Japanese follow both religions. Here are some photos from the Meiji Shrine and Sensoji temple.
Another dayI had time for another day trip out of the city to Kamakura. Kamakura is a city just out of Tokyo that is dotted with Buddhist temples. There were like 12 all within walking distance of each other. Here are a few photo of the many Buddhas I saw in the area.
This last photo is of the Hachiko statue; the dog that waited for his owner outside the subway station everyday at the exact time his train would come, even 10 years after his owner died. Also, at the same station, Shibuya Station, there is a massive crosswalk. I had to make a video of the crowds, and this wasn't even the biggest group I saw. Sooooo many people in Tokyo!!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Asian Adventure: part 6... finale
After 2 weeks of traveling, we made it back to Korea in one piece. What an amazing trip it was. But, my girls were still in Korea for 2 more full days,woo hoo!! I found out the day they arrived that I wasn't allowed to come to school for 7 days after being abroad. I had to be on quarantine for Swine Flu; an extra week vacation!! We came back Sunday night and woke up early Monday to go to the folk village. I went there during my orientation, the first week I arrived in Korea; it's a good place to see traditional housing, dress and dance. Then after, of course, we did a little last minute shopping in Seoul. Tuesday they went on the DMZ tour, same as the one I did a few months ago. They went on the tour while I stayed home and did some errands and slept, hehe! (originally I thought I had would have to work that day, so I didn't sign up) When they got back we met up with Rebekah G and went out for Korean dinner once more. When we got home, they surprised me with a delicious ice cream cake!!! and yes, we ate the whole thing!! Oh, and we got free visors off some cereal we bought; we rocked them at the folk village!
It's been two weeks since they left now and boy, it's been a long two weeks. Michelle was first to leave on Wednesday. I did pretty good holding back tears until she left. I know I will be seeing her so soon in NZ!!! Sarah and I had a few hours to hang around before she had to leave me. I also did a pretty good job holding it in until she left, but once she was out the door, I balled. I didn't want it to end. I had 3 weeks of constant fun and now I was in my apartment and it was so quiet. I realized how great of friends they are and how comfortable I am being with them. We did so many amazing things in 3 weeks!
I don't have long now until I leave Korea. I think that makes it even harder. School is out for vacation, so beside one week of English camp, I just sit in my classroom for a few hours each day, by myself, and then come home. Plus, EVERYONE, all my friends I mean, are on vacation. Most people took their holiday in August, so it is really quiet around here. The calm after the storm. I'm getting use to it now and I'm getting more and more excited about what's to come. Plus, I have one more fun adventure before I leave...Japan!! I have started packing up some of my things now and I can't stop thinking about how fast time goes by; another year almost gone. I'll miss it here, I know; but I also can't wait for the next step.
It's been two weeks since they left now and boy, it's been a long two weeks. Michelle was first to leave on Wednesday. I did pretty good holding back tears until she left. I know I will be seeing her so soon in NZ!!! Sarah and I had a few hours to hang around before she had to leave me. I also did a pretty good job holding it in until she left, but once she was out the door, I balled. I didn't want it to end. I had 3 weeks of constant fun and now I was in my apartment and it was so quiet. I realized how great of friends they are and how comfortable I am being with them. We did so many amazing things in 3 weeks!
I don't have long now until I leave Korea. I think that makes it even harder. School is out for vacation, so beside one week of English camp, I just sit in my classroom for a few hours each day, by myself, and then come home. Plus, EVERYONE, all my friends I mean, are on vacation. Most people took their holiday in August, so it is really quiet around here. The calm after the storm. I'm getting use to it now and I'm getting more and more excited about what's to come. Plus, I have one more fun adventure before I leave...Japan!! I have started packing up some of my things now and I can't stop thinking about how fast time goes by; another year almost gone. I'll miss it here, I know; but I also can't wait for the next step.
Asian Adventure: part 5
Cebu, Philippines:
The last leg of the trip was to Cebu, one of the over 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines. We met up with my friend Rebekah, who had been to a couple different islands before meeting up with us. We flew into the main city, Cebu city. We met up with a girl Rebekah had met and she helped us rent scooters!! Scooters round 2!!!
We didn't do too much planning about where we wanted to go, but just that we wanted to head to the southwest. We drove along the coast for a while and then through the mountains which had the most lush, green forests. As we passed the tons of little villages along the road, we were bombarded with greetings. As soon as anyone caught sight of us, 4 white girls doubled up on scooters driving through the middle of no where, all you could hear was shouting, "HELLOO!" They would jump up and down and wave. We later found out that half of the attention was because we were white, the other half is that it is VERY rare for women to drive scooters in the Philippines; apparently it's thought of as too dangerous for women ;)
We made our way down the west coast and while we were driving saw a sign for a waterfall, so we veered off. And wow, what a detour! It was less than a dollar to get into the area and there was no one there but us. The waterfalls were huge and the water was the most amazing blue color. We put on our swimsuits and jumped in to wash all the dust off of us. You may be able to see how dirty our faces are in the first photo...sunglass dust tans. At the big waterfall, the last picture, there was a bamboo raft waiting for us to play on. We look so little!
After playing, we drove a little longer and found Moalboal, a small town about 3 hours from the city on the southwest coastline. As we were driving we just happened upon a backpackers hostel and they flagged us down. Perfect! We ended up staying in Moalboal 2 nights before heading back to Cebu city. In Moalboal, there was an adventure tour company that did daily outdoor trips. We signed up for "River Climbing" up the Kawasan Falls thinking, "how do you climb a river?" Oh...My...God. That trip was by far the scariest thing I have ever done. It started out easy enough; walking along the river, swimming in the pools. But, what you don't see in these pictures is the intense part. I swear, if you did this trip any other place, you would have helmets on and be harnessed in. We climbed over rocks with raging rapids and climbed along rocky, wet ledges with nothing but rocks under us. I have always been scared of heights a little, but I try to push myself by doing things like bungee jumping and parasailing. But this was just me and nature and there were so many time I thought I couldn't do it. And well, at the end we had a big feast and I was glad it was over. It was tons of fun, but the scariest thing I have ever done.
Here are a few pictures from around Moalboal. Being in Moalboal was the closest I've ever felt to being a celebrity. After two days, everyone said hi to us as we walked by. We were known as, "The girls." The people in that town were so nice to us, none of us wanted to leave.
We came back to Cebu city with 2 days before our flight home. The drive back was an adventure in itself. It is monsoon season here, and it showed that day. We all had our ponchos on, had to take a break for a little while during the heaviest downpour, but we made it back safe and sound. Back in the city we met up with the girl who helped us rent the scooters and went out one night with her and her friends. Sarah also had a friend of a friend who lived in Cebu city that we met up with the following day. We did a spa day and I got my first pedicure ever!!($1.50) and a hair trim ($3). woo hoo!
I will definitely be coming back to the Philippines. It's just one of those paradise places, like Greece, or Thailand. I saw only one little island, but I can imagine how beautiful everywhere else must be. The thing that attracts me most though is the people. Though we all stood out and were noticed by all, it wasn't the uncomfortable kind of stares. It was mostly people smiling saying hello and just wanting to talk. Anytime we asked for helped, or even if we didn't ask, we'd have 5 people helping us. I love the Philippines!!
The last leg of the trip was to Cebu, one of the over 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines. We met up with my friend Rebekah, who had been to a couple different islands before meeting up with us. We flew into the main city, Cebu city. We met up with a girl Rebekah had met and she helped us rent scooters!! Scooters round 2!!!
We didn't do too much planning about where we wanted to go, but just that we wanted to head to the southwest. We drove along the coast for a while and then through the mountains which had the most lush, green forests. As we passed the tons of little villages along the road, we were bombarded with greetings. As soon as anyone caught sight of us, 4 white girls doubled up on scooters driving through the middle of no where, all you could hear was shouting, "HELLOO!" They would jump up and down and wave. We later found out that half of the attention was because we were white, the other half is that it is VERY rare for women to drive scooters in the Philippines; apparently it's thought of as too dangerous for women ;)
We made our way down the west coast and while we were driving saw a sign for a waterfall, so we veered off. And wow, what a detour! It was less than a dollar to get into the area and there was no one there but us. The waterfalls were huge and the water was the most amazing blue color. We put on our swimsuits and jumped in to wash all the dust off of us. You may be able to see how dirty our faces are in the first photo...sunglass dust tans. At the big waterfall, the last picture, there was a bamboo raft waiting for us to play on. We look so little!
After playing, we drove a little longer and found Moalboal, a small town about 3 hours from the city on the southwest coastline. As we were driving we just happened upon a backpackers hostel and they flagged us down. Perfect! We ended up staying in Moalboal 2 nights before heading back to Cebu city. In Moalboal, there was an adventure tour company that did daily outdoor trips. We signed up for "River Climbing" up the Kawasan Falls thinking, "how do you climb a river?" Oh...My...God. That trip was by far the scariest thing I have ever done. It started out easy enough; walking along the river, swimming in the pools. But, what you don't see in these pictures is the intense part. I swear, if you did this trip any other place, you would have helmets on and be harnessed in. We climbed over rocks with raging rapids and climbed along rocky, wet ledges with nothing but rocks under us. I have always been scared of heights a little, but I try to push myself by doing things like bungee jumping and parasailing. But this was just me and nature and there were so many time I thought I couldn't do it. And well, at the end we had a big feast and I was glad it was over. It was tons of fun, but the scariest thing I have ever done.
Here are a few pictures from around Moalboal. Being in Moalboal was the closest I've ever felt to being a celebrity. After two days, everyone said hi to us as we walked by. We were known as, "The girls." The people in that town were so nice to us, none of us wanted to leave.
We came back to Cebu city with 2 days before our flight home. The drive back was an adventure in itself. It is monsoon season here, and it showed that day. We all had our ponchos on, had to take a break for a little while during the heaviest downpour, but we made it back safe and sound. Back in the city we met up with the girl who helped us rent the scooters and went out one night with her and her friends. Sarah also had a friend of a friend who lived in Cebu city that we met up with the following day. We did a spa day and I got my first pedicure ever!!($1.50) and a hair trim ($3). woo hoo!
I will definitely be coming back to the Philippines. It's just one of those paradise places, like Greece, or Thailand. I saw only one little island, but I can imagine how beautiful everywhere else must be. The thing that attracts me most though is the people. Though we all stood out and were noticed by all, it wasn't the uncomfortable kind of stares. It was mostly people smiling saying hello and just wanting to talk. Anytime we asked for helped, or even if we didn't ask, we'd have 5 people helping us. I love the Philippines!!
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