A Korean Khristmas

This was my first Christmas without my family. Most foreigners I’ve spoken to here say that Christmas gets depressing for them, but I am lucky enough to have found some great friends that feel like family to me, so it was a very beautiful, relaxing, and fun Christmas.

Khristmas in the Aparte.

The girls and I decorated the aparte while listening to Christmas music and drinking wine.

I bought stocking and personalized them for Laura, Myles, and myself, and hung them with care...on the wall.

I spent Christmas with my 4 best friends, Mary, Ben, Sarah (+Jinu), and Myles, and Ben and Sarah's parents who came here from Canada for Jinu’s first birthday and Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent at Ben, Mary, and Sarah’s apartment. Mary made a delicious meal for us of fish, chicken, squash, sweet potatoes, twice-baked potatoes, and broccoli. We had Mary’s homemade apple crumble for dessert, accompanied by wine, makgeolli, and whiskey.

The gifts "under" the tree at Ben and Mary's aparte.

Khristmas Eve dinner Korean/Canadian style.

Christmas morning Myles and I opened our stocking at our apartment, and head over to Ben and Mary’s for brunch. Before making brunch we opened pressies and basked in the joy of giving gifts. Then we had our wonderful English brunch complete with bacon, egg, toast, and jam. It was truly a great start to Christmas Day. For the remainder of the day we laughed, chatted, and enjoyed each other’s company. At 9:30pm we had to catch a 3 hour train to Joon’s (Sarah’s husband) hometown where we planned to hike, celebrate Jinu’s first birthday Korean style, and hopefully fit in the Green Tea Fields, and Jirisan National Park.

*Heather, Brian (Ben and Sarah's parents), and Jinu looking at a gift from Sarah.

*Mary, Jinu, and Ben displaying some hand crafted gifts a la Sarah.

*Jinu trying to steal one of my pressies!

We arrived around 12:30am to a town in the South called 순천 Suncheon, known for its mountainous and sea side views, and also the birthplace of Jinu’s 아 빠 (father). Joon’s parents, who drove us to our Love Motel, met us at the train station.

After a semi-good night’s sleep, we woke up bright and early to go on a short hike on a mountain behind Joon’s family’s apartment. What a great way to start the day, the air was cool but refreshing, the hike was the perfect difficulty level for 8am, and both the mountain itself and the views it provided were perfect.

A view from the mountain behind Joon's family's aparte.

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At the top...we made it!

Brian, Ben, Mary, Joon, and Myles at the top.

When we were off the mountain we went to Joon’s parent’s apartment for breakfast, before going back to our motel to get showered and dressed for Jinu’s first birthday celebration. In the past, many children in Korea didn’t make it to their first birthday, which is why it is celebrated so exquisitely. The First Birthday in Korea is called a 톨 Tol, it typically is held at a banquet hall or restaurant, and includes the baby's parents greeting the many guests, lighting candles on a birthday cake, the 톨자비 Toljabee (which I’ll explain soon), sharing a meal and making a toast. The parents wear traditional Korean clothing, 한복 Hanbok, as well as the baby.

Joon, Jinu, and Sarah wearing Hanboks.

The Lee and Tucker family together for the first time.

*The Lee-Tucker family plus Myles and I.

Jinu wishing he were a big boy.

The Toljabee: where there are various items that are placed on a table. The baby (in this case Jinu) picks up an item that is intriguing to him, and that item is supposed to be telling of its future. Each item has a different meaning. The most traditional items are thread, a brush, a Korean calligraphy set, pencil, book, and money, but parents can also choose items they would like to have as options.

*Jinu choosing his future...

Jinu chose a gavel, a judges mallet, that suggests he will work in a law related profession.

*He chose the gavel!

After the birthday party, Sarah, Joon, and Jinu got changed and we went to 보성 Boseong to see the famed green tea plantations. There are thousands of tea trees lining the slopes of a small mountain, arranged in manicured rows following the organic curves of the slope. We climbed to the top of the mountain to gain a second perspective on the stunning fields, and caught a glimpse of the setting sun at the top. When we descended we had some 녹차 (green tea) ice cream, and a green tea latte. We finished our evening with drinks at Joon’s parents apartment, and off to bed we went.

Manicured rows of green tea.

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*Me, Mary, and Sarah.

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*The Lee and Tucker Family's plus Myles and I.

*Heather, Joon's mom, Me, Sarah, and Mary.

*Mary and I...too cute!

*Catching the sunset at the top of the green tea field.

*Dinner in Boseong after a looong day.

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Rising early again to make the most out of our last day in the South, we all climbed into the rented van and drove for about 2 hours until we reached 지리산 Jirisan National Park. It is the largest national park in Korea, not including the coastal national parks, and is the second highest mountain in South Korea, its highest peak reaching 1915m-high. It boasts views of mountain ridges that seem to go on forever, and closely resembled a sea of waves as the peaks were capped with snow. We hiked a trail leading to Nogodan, a 1507m-high peak in the west of the park. The mountain was covered with snow and ice making for an interesting and tricky climb at times, contributing to a stunning and unforgettable hike. The beauty of this mountain is without words, and the fun had is indescribable.

We stopped for lunch and this was our view.

Mary keeping Jinu warm.

*Getting Jinu ready to climb a mountain.

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The snow covered steps...very slippery!

One of the very incredible views from the top.

*Beautiful mommy and sweet baby

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*Sarah and I trying to help Joon carry Jinu up the mountain.

*The fam.

*Team Awe-ful...fighting!

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*Unbelievably, Joon’s dad carried Jinu up the whole way, apparently he is a tank.

*Another one for Team Awe-ful

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*Another mountain conquered

This Christmas proved to be full of love, life, and laughs. It surpassed my wildest imaginings of what my Korean Khristmas would hold. So thank you everyone for an unforgettable, miraculously delicious and exciting holiday season. I love you all with my whole heart.

And to everyone at home, I hope your Christmas’ were busting with love, laughter, and festivities. Sending much love from Korea.

매리 그리스마스

*All photos with an asterisk are taken by Mary, Myles, or Ben.

Farewell 2009, Welcome 2010

As with most things in my life, when something ends I like to acknowledge it by remembering, reminiscing, musing over it, finding lessons, and truths, and welcoming something new with open arms. Although they may be shaky and unsure, they’re open.

I am both saddened and excited by the end of 2009. Saddened because despite the challenges of 2009, I would venture to say that it was the best year of my life thus far. Excited because although I would so boldly state that is was the best year of my life thus far, it was also the most challenging, sad at times, and full of obstacles to overcome. Putting aside all of the negative reasons for being excited to see a new year, I am also pleased that 2010 has arrived as I am on a great path of discovery that is sure lead me to many amazing experiences and adventures. Having a fresh start, a new beginning, with a clearer, more positive, and inspired mind is an extremely warm and glorious feeling.


2009 started with uncertainty, doubt, anxiety, and questions. Those questions challenged me to create a new path for myself. I made the brave choice to quit my amazing and secure job, leave my supportive friends and family, pack up, and move to a country I had never even visited and didn’t speak the language to live and work for a year. This choice has proven to be the best choice I have ever made, and I am extremely proud of myself for it...and modest too!

Since coming to Korea I have had ups, and downs, thankfully mostly ups. I have gained and lost relationships, creativity has sparked and waned (and sparked again), interests have been lost and new ones developed, and opportunities have been both missed and grabbed onto with two hands.

I have been fortunate enough to meet amazing individuals whom have been sources of awe, admiration, change, and hilarity. These individuals have greatly contributed to my growth, and if I’m lucky enough, will continue to do so for years to come. I have seen, hiked, and climbed the most stunning mountain landscapes I have ever seen. I have swam beautiful oceans, and mountain waterfalls. I have ran my first half marathon on the coastline of a gorgeous Korean island. I had my life touched by the most adorable, sweet, and cuddly young minds in South Korea. I have re-discovered a love for reading, and writing, something that was lost somewhere between high school and university.

I have experienced some disappointment in 2009, most notably as of late, in the way of hopes dashed, desires squashed, and pleasures dispelled. But alas, due to my courage and strength I have gotten through it and come out the other side a more wise person, a stronger person, and very possibly a more humoured individual. When life slaps you in the face, return the slap with a laugh!

I have learned a tremendous amount about myself, both good and bad. I have grown and am still growing, I have found strength where I didn’t think I had it, and I have experienced both support and lack of support from people that I never imagined I would. All of these events have molded, motivated, and cultivated hopes and desires for myself that are both frightening and stimulating. I am constantly challenging my thoughts, and actions, searching for more strength, growth, and creativity.

Before entering a new year I will forgive myself for letting my guard down and falling for someone when I should have known better. Although it may have lead to hurt, I don’t regret it for the lessons learned, and experiences had. I will forgive myself for shedding tears for people, things, and situations that in hindsight were not important enough to deserve my tears. I will forgive myself for any time wasted, when it could have been used more productively. Lastly I will forgive myself for not being the very best daughter, sister, granddaughter, and friend that I can be. I am certainly a work in progress, and acknowledgment of things I wish to change is definitely a good step in the right direction.

People will continue to pass through my life for the entirety of my existence. Chapters will close and new ones will open. Mistakes will be made and lessons will be learned. Plans will be made and destroyed. Adventures will be had. Paths will alter. Happiness will ensue. If 2010 can promise anything it is a thrilling journey and further evolution, progression, and development of self, and for that I can’t wait!

So welcome 2010. Enjoy your stay.


"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." ~Anais Nin

A year has passed: A note for Papa

Writing for me has always been immensely therapeutic, and something that has only become therapeutic to me in the last 9 months has been reading. I read everything from online newspapers, blogs, music lyrics, short stories, to self-help books, fiction, and non-fiction novels. I suppose that since exercising my writing is a form of art, therapy, amusement, and simply as an outlet of thoughts and emotions, than I could say that reading serves as an inspiration to that outlet at times.

Along with my usual reading material, lately I have been reading essays, poems, and short stories that my Papa would recite to me growing up, and delving into the works of classic authors. I suppose this is because we are inching closer to the date that my Papa passed away last year. Reading many of the poems that he would recite to me from memory has inspired me to remember, celebrate, and write about his life, what it meant to me, and how it has spurred change.

As I have dealt with the grief of losing my greatest and biggest fan this past year, I have come to truly appreciate everything that his beautiful life has provided me with. My Papa was like no other person I have ever met. He could speak in rhyme without skipping a beat, could sing to your heart like a deep dream brings peace, could make the darkest soul laugh with the greatest of ease, could paint a picture that you would want to jump right into, could memorize something after reading it once and recite it back with more power and intensity than I believe it was written with, and could inspire the most creative and inspired spirit to strive for more as he could create anything out of everything. In my eyes his life was a collection of great works of art. Spoken, musical, painted, and constructed or sculpted pieces of artwork.

While finding and reading the work recited by my Papa for 24 years (of my life anyway), I came across an essay written by Virginia Woolf that is beautiful, and so true in my eyes, that I just had to share it.

"Across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword. On one side all is correct, definite, orderly; the paths are straight, the trees regular, the sun shaded; escorted by gentlemen, protected by policemen, wedded and buried by clergymen, she has only to walk demurely from cradle to grave and no one will touch a hair of her head. But on the other side all is confusion. Nothing follows a regular course. The paths wind between bogs and precipices; the trees roar and rock and fall in ruin."

Virginia Woolf, 'Harriette Wilson', Collected Essays.

This struck a chord with me specifically because I feel as though for the vast majority of my life I was on the "correct, definite, orderly" side of the sword. I was comfortable on that side with my straight paths, my policemen, and all of the hairs on my head left untouched. Then my "orderly" life was pulled out from under me at the roots with the end of an almost 6 year relationship, quickly followed by the death of my role model and great friend. I had a choice to try to clamber up the slippery slope of my deteriorating "orderly" life, or to throw my arms up and leave it behind. Build new windy and organic paths with many inclines and declines, bumps and sink holes, rays of sunshine and flowery borders.

Building new paths would mean stepping away from the 'demure walk from cradle to grave', that promised security, happiness (to which I now realize would have hit its limit), and certainty, to the "dark" side full of confusion, smelly bogs, steep cliff faces, and crazy ass trees. I now see my choice as brave, as I am faced with constant change, confusion, uncertainty, and insecurity, which for many people including myself can be very daunting at times. All of this however, I see mostly as a great adventure. The greatest adventure of my life perhaps, and as scary as this side of the sword seems at times when I step back and look at myself, I realize that this is how my life is meant to be lived. I was never meant to live the "safe", or "correct" life, it just wasn't in my heart and soul. I was living that life because I thought that’s what was expected of me, and in no way do I regret it, I just know now that it is not for me.

I know my Papa would be proud of me for living the life that he knew I would thrive at and find my true happiness in. So despite the falling rocks and steep rock ledges, the quick sand and wetland areas I find myself in at times, I am so fortunate to have realized so early in life that a life of confusion and uncertainty can be beautiful and is beautiful in every way.

So thank you for showing me how, and allowing me to live my life the way that it was intended. I know you would love to be here to have the tables turned, and have me telling you stories of adventure, love, laughs, and life. I suppose this way you can watch it all unfold.

I love you beyond words

xoxo

Meagan Mac-Ash Pash

Spread the word!

Earth Hour 2009 was spent in South Korea for me.  We lit candles and played drinking games all evening, turning Earth Hour into Earth 3 Hours.  It was great fun drinking with great friends by candlelight and it was an unforgettable evening.  

Before turning off the lights showing off our best 'earth-loving' poses

The Earth Hour spread...snacks, soju, and candles

 During Earth Hour 2009

On December 7th to the 18th, our world leaders are gathering in Copenhagen to discuss climate change, specifically with regards to replacing the Kyoto Protocol with an action plan that has new standards to be met and a new strategy for Earth.

A Special Earth Hour is planned for December 16th at 7pm to demonstrate to the UN that we are in support of new strategies for climate change.  So I am proposing that we all turn off our lights in support.  No matter where in the world you are, how many people you have to spend it with, or how many candles or flashlights you own, you can make Earth Hour special, worthwhile, and fun.  Spread the word and have people join you in turning off your lights, or go it alone, either way every light switch helps.  Share your stories of Earth Hour with me and we can get ideas from each other for fun things to do for the 2010 Earth Hour!

For inspiration, motivation, and explanation on why you should join in the vote for Earth, watch this video:


Now if that video didn't do it for you, I don't know what will!  If that video did do it for you than you can also help by going here:
http://www.earthhour.org
and adding your vote for Earth to the hundreds of millions of people all over the world who have already done so.

Vote Earth!!

xoxo

ECC Halloweeeeeeeen!

So it's Halloween, and all of you who know me well know that I tend to get WAY into the spirit of Halloween. I plan my costume at least a couple months in advance, and promptly get to work on making it from scratch. This process involves many gatherings with the LAdies, many bottles of wine, and piles and piles of fabric, thread, sewing needles, and chocolate...teehee!! Once the costume construction is complete, we party our hearts out among friends, kegs, bonfires, and candy.

Well let's just say that this year was not a normal Halloween for me. There was no planning involved, no LAdies, or wine or piles of fabric, thread, sewing needles, and chocolate. That is because Korea seems to not get psyched about Halloween the way us Canuks do! But nonetheless this Halloween proved to be enjoyable, spent with my favourite little people, and my favourite waygoogins (foreigners). The kids played games all morning, and then we handed out candy, and then went on to teach as usual for the rest of the afternoon/evening. There was also no partying for this girl, as Ben, Mary, Myles and I went to Muju for a weekend of fun, fresh air, and relaxation.

Here are just some of the photos that were taken on Halloween.

The best damn group of waygooks in all of South Korea!!!

Myles, Gloria, Ben, Sarah, and myself

Four waygooks and an ass

Eve Teacher(Sarah) and Mary Teacher, now lovingly called Dong Teacher (Dong means poo)

*Ben Teacher

*the kids watching the races

*Eve Teacher (Sarah) as a beautiful doll

*Kayden from Mary's High B class as Woody!!

*Flora from Mary's High B class

*Alice from Low A

*Aurora from Mid A

*Sean from Low A

*watching the kids race each other

Richard, my Papa's namesake, tiniest of tiny people

Little Nicky...always so calm and relaxed

Alice being wild and crazy as per usual

Nicky, my little prince charming!

Alice, my favourite little girl in the world!

Myself, Myles, and Tina

Elizabeth from Laura and Myles' Mid B class

The little turd slingers waiting for their candy

Ben handing out candy to the little ankle biters

One snotty nosed ape, and Ben displaying the aftermath of one of my rage blackouts!

Eugene from Ben's High C class

Laura Teacher and Eve(Sarah) Teacher

David from my Low A class...smartest little man in town...and he kisses my hand every morning! ^^

Emily Teacher handing out candy

Happy Halloween everyone!!! I hope your Halloween was blissfully wonderful wherever you are in the world!!


*All of the pictures with an asterisks are care of Mary's beautiful talent