An Embarrassment of Riches

Since we have been packing and getting ready to move to Korea, we're trying to get rid of everything. The other day some of our old clothes found their way to reception house in Ottawa where new immigrants stay when they first arrive.

A classmate of Jae Cheol's who is a Burmese refugee has kept in contact with the reception house and they call him anytime there is a new arrival from Burma. Last night he came to our house with a new arrival who had been in Canada for 40 days. Apparently he and 19 members of his family came to Canada after living in a refugee camp on the Thai border for over 10 years. He is 27 years old and is married with three little kids. We were able to give him some kitchen things and a tv.

When they left, I cried. It was the most humbling experience of my life. I wanted to do more. I have never felt so guilty in my life about the privileges that I was born to. I have never been hungry. I have never had to fear for my safety or that of my family. I have never had to flee from my home. I don't know exactly what this family has been through, I only know that they were very happy to take what we could give them, however embarrassingly meager, mismatched and used they were.

I heard a radio program about two women in Ottawa who pick up gently used furniture and distribute it to newly arrived immigrants. They make pickups every Wednesday night by appointment. They can be contacted via email at helpingwithfurniture(at)hotmail.com. If you live in Ottawa, maybe you'll one day be in a position to contact these ladies and donate something.

Now that I'm ready to go back to work in Korea, I'm wondering whether or not it would be possible to squeeze a little sun and surf in somewhere. It's absolutely not going to happen, but one can always dream, (while checking out airfares when one should be filing, . . . )

I did it! I got a job! I'm employed in Korea! I'm ecstatic!

Well, finally. I chose a job with a school owned by an American man and his Korean wife. It sounds really exciting and I think I'll probably be able to be really creative in my classes. It also sounds like it's going to be a lot of work. The thing is though, that doesn't bother me. I'm excited about it. I'm going to be in cut and paste HEAVEN!!!!!! Crafternoon, anyone? I already have plans for a Christmas craft day before the Christmas long weekend. Jet lag, schmet-schmag, let me at the students!!!!!!!! I will be singing a totally different tune in a couple of months, naturally, but for the moment, I'm so excited!

Ai-go (for lack of an appropriate swear word)

I seem to have no problem getting interviews. And during the interviews, the recruiters seem impressed. The problem is the recruiters are usually in Seoul and the schools are in Ulsan. Then there's a delay between, "I'd like to offer you the job" and them getting back to me with contracts and instructions for visas etc. Either that or they suffer trama to the brain right after talking to me. I hate to say that this is typical for Korea, but for goodness sake! I honestly have to do it all myself! I recently had an email from an idiot, (recruiter) telling me that if I didn't come to Korea with an E2 visa, I wouldn't be reimbursed for my plane ticket. Well obviously, but I cannot give myself an E2 visa, stupid arse. The school has to start the ball rolling and give me an offer, send me a contract to sign, etc. It's really getting frustrating.

I AM going to have to do everything myself, as usual. What I've decided to do, is get an F2 or spouse visa to avoid stupidity. Well, that's a great idea in theory, but now the problem is finding the information on what's required for an F2 visa. I don't think anyone knows! It's not available anywhere.

Now, I know what you're thinking; the information must be there in Korean and you just can't find it Melanie, because you don't speak Korean. HA! If only it was as simple as that.

I asked Jae Cheol to call the embassy to get the information. They told him they would call back in 20 minutes. After 30 minutes went by with no call, he called them to ask. He was told to call back in another 30 minutes! When he finally spoke to someone who seemed to have some sort of clue, he didn't seem to sure of himself. Jae Cheol would ask if pictures were required, for example and the guy would say something like, "oh yes, you're right, you should bring pictures". This happened more than once. Apparently I also need a bank statement and a record of employment! Yeah, cause that's relevant as to whether or not I'm married to a Korean!

As a result of all this lunacy, I bought a giant bottle of stress formula B vitamins last night. I don't know if they're going to do the trick though, when you're dealing with people like the genius that called last night at midnight!!!!!! "Tell her to check her email" was the message he left with poor sleeping Ji Hye, who lives in the living room. The only problem is, HE DIDN'T SEND ONE! Come on, people!!!! Let's get it together! We can do this!

Tonight I'm going to stop by the LCBO, pick up some lovely dark rum, have a sleep-over at Theresa and Josh's house and all will be right by morning. *sigh*

Another baby comb-over because it's funny and cute at the same time. I love this baby, I want to gobble him up!

Dreaming of blue skies

It hasn't stopped raining in Ottawa in about a thousand years. It's really beginning to get on my nerves, as well as into my shoes. It's getting to the point where I don't even remember what a sunny, blue sky looks like. Once, last week on a morning when it wasn't raining, I went outside and felt like something strange was happening. It took me a while to realise that the strange thing was the absence of rain.

Job search continues, as does stress.

What was I thinking?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Who in their right mind would move for just one year???? It's the most ridiculous thing to do! Actually, wait a minute, no it's not, the MOST ridiculous thing to do is to move to another country with specific luggage restrictions and no prospect of apartment or job. Yes, that's the MOST ridiculous thing, by far.



I think this whole fiasco is going to end up shortening my lifespan somewhat. Look at Snoopy, (my little brother named him when he was ten, okay?) Snoops is 14 or so, and he looks fantastic. I think his secret must be that he's never really even left the house.

I HATE moving!

Golden Boy

Have you ever met anyone who seems to do things effortlessly? You know the person that I'm talking about, the one who can wear white shirts for longer than 4 minutes without spilling stuff on them. The one who looks cute in hats. The one who people make special exceptions for, even when they shouldn't. Well, I am married to that person! I love him, but I'm jealous as hell!

I have sort of a superiority complex. I can't help it, I'm the oldest child. Since birth, I have always secretly enjoyed being the smartest, the tallest, the strongest, etc. And it has always galled me when I'm not. In those situations, I would be forced to snap out of my lethargy and make an effort in order to compete. No fun, you say? Well, you're right, but these things usually pass. Then I met Jae Cheol.

He's clever, he's smart, he's open minded and he's inquisitive. In my family, we love learning and figuring things out and finding solutions. It's what we do. Since we've been in Canada, Jae Cheol's had the chance to spend lots of time with my family and he really fits in well. Now he's turned into a superstar.

I'll give you an example:

We are currently trying to sublet our apartment to avoid paying for the month of December when we're moving to Korea. I have been on the phone daily to the landlord, the super, potential subletters. I placed an add on the internet, I've made arrangements for people to come take a look, I've asked all of our neighbors in the building.

Jae Cheol found our subletter on Saturday!

A friend of his dropped by and brought another guy with him. This other guy ended up taking the apartment. It was as simple as, "do you want to move in next month?" "yes, I do"

How does he do it? The man has the friggin golden touch! And he's cute, too!

Kids - I don't have any of my own but I see 'em everywhere

This is a picture of my nephew Dong Jun, who I haven't seen since December of last year. Since the last time I saw him, he has learned to walk, started speaking and decided to style his hair in a baby comb-over. Yes, he is a fashion icon as you can see by the picture of him below, sporting his new line: grandfather wear for babies.

This picture is a few months old. When I finally see him next month in Korea, I expect he will be wearing tweed, smoking a pipe and walking around with his hands clasped behind his back. I can't wait to see him again because I think that I'll really enjoy being an aunt.

There's another baby on the scene these days, who I haven't even had the chance to meet yet. Her name is Hayden Violet Lee and apparently she is "the perfectest" baby on the planet. I'm thinking of setting her up with Dong Jun. I'm trying to steal pictures from Melissa's blog, but I don't know how so you're going to have to go there to see her. She really is sweet, I can't believe how cute she is. It almost makes me want to have a baby, almost.

This is Melissa's blog http://www.koreangoldfish.blogspot.com/ I love at it about four times a day because she's so pretty and because I'm at work and I can.

The calm before the land of the morning calm

Well, here we go again! Korea, or as I lovingly used to refer to it; the land that logic forgot!

I got an email today from my potential employer saying that they're going to pay me more since I won't be living in the housing that they provide. WHOA EVERYBODY!!!!! SLOW DOWN JUST A MINUTE! That's not what I said. I said that since I'm arriving at least two weeks earlier than when my contract would begin, I'll be able to stay with family for that amount of time. That's what I said!

Let's get a few things clear here: we won't in fact be staying with the fam at all, for the simple reason that it will make Jae Cheol loose his mind! Love the fam, love them a lot - CAN'T LIVE WITH THEM! Especially since we've been hosting a cousin since August. We need time to ourselves and also a place we can designate as a pants-free environment.

Desk jobs make me crazy!

Well, apparently I'm not cut out for a 9-5 desk job. Regardless of where I am or how many tasks I've got lined up for the day, working as an admin assistant just makes me want to ram stationary through my eyeballs to end my misery! Well that and it also makes me fat. Why? Because I am so bloody bored that the only thing to break up the monotony is to have a snack.

There you have it. I am officially looking forward to going back to the surreal world of teaching English in Korea. Sigh, I remember last year while in the midst of packing, teaching, moving and planning, all I could think of was a nice, cushy desk job that gave me lots of time to just sit around. I thought that would be the best! You know, kinda related to sitting on the couch all day except you've got to shower, dress nicely and sit up-right. Well boy was I an idiot! Now all I'm dreaming of is facing down a class full of hyper 10 year-olds who haven't done their homework. I CAN'T WAIT!

Ottawa Food and Wine Show

My brother Luke came to visit us in Ottawa for the weekend and we went to the Ottawa Wine and Food Show. Lemme tell you, good times were had by me! Due to not paying attention, I invited people who couldn't come on the same days as each other. Well, naturally, the only solution was for me to go twice, once with each group of friends! (I've always been good at math!)

The food was good, but kinda overpriced. The drinks, however, yum yum.

So my mom doesn't forget what I look like

I doubt I'm ever going to get past one post, if today's efforts are anything to go by. Well, we'll see if I can keep this up. I'm not really sure I'm going to enjoy the "responsibility" of blogging. Fortunately at the mo, nobody knows I've done this, so it could be a good thing, . . .