Pull Out the Mistletoe!

Well Christmas is here and tomorrow I am hosting a Christmas Dinner in my home. I forgot to put the turkey in the fridge two days ago and once again I am up late with the turkey in cold water. I guess I will never learn or maybe this is part of the fun! Ha ha ha!!!

Christmas Eve I will go to Kang San-ae’s concert. I’m not sure where it is, but he really wants me to go and I’m really excited to see him in concert. I remember before I met him I had watched him perform live on TV and thought he was interesting even though I couldn’t understand the lyrics. Now I finally get to go!

Christmas day I plan on being home alone and actually I have to prepare my painting for an art show which is opening on Wednesday night.



Merry Christmas!

Back to the elephants not laughing!

I posted earlier, The elephants may not laugh but I will! With my preliminary drawings so I now present to you the M&M elephant!


I did have another one similar size, the Cherry Elephant, but that was stolen from it's installation site! ㅜ.ㅜ

Stuck in my cave???

They say you can't be friends with everyone, and this is so true. People come and people go, we grow old with some and we argue with others. I believe those that do come into your life they come for a reason and there's a lesson to be learnt from each relationship. I am going through some low points in some relationships at the moment that are really hard to deal with emotionally. I feel that I'm on a rollercoaster that I cannot control but I really want to get off. I'm trying to recognize my lesson with this one particular friendship and I guess I am learning to listen to myself and my body more as well as the fact that I can't keep giving everything that I have and that I need to start saying, "no".

I have some good people around me who seem to be a reflection of my own self. These people have become my family, they hurt when I hurt they laugh when I laugh. I know that I have them and their love and I respect them so much. It's fun to hear friends tell me they can be "cold" or a "bitch". Why can't we just say, "no" and do what we want or maybe don't want???

Hah, here comes a confession, so I did read, "Men are from Mars, and Women are from Venus"! It mentioned how men, need to go to their cave as this is their place their safe haven. Hhhmmmm, interesting as I was told by an upset person that I should just stay in my cave. Am I in a relationship? Am I a man and I've been hiding it??? Ha ha ha! No, I'm kidding here, I mean, what does that person mean? I'm here in my studio painting for two upcoming group shows (one deadline has already passed - hence I'm late). Is this my cave? But I'm trying to be a professional artist, don't all artists have their spaces, their haven for the work they are passionate about? Is this my cave where I hide? I think I need clarity? What is so bad about being here?

Communication is Breaking Down!

Well I don't know where to begin really. I am painting, slowly though. Uhm yeah these days I haven't wanted to post as I've not been in a positive frame of mind. Last week was extremely stressful (roommates) for me which showed as my skin was breaking out as if I had hives on my face! I have another stressful week ahead seeing that my visa status in Korea ends and I have to go through the renewal process which isn't so bad however my school has insisted that I get a physical before they resign my contract, great, what if something isn't right, I need to fly out on Wednesday???

I'm not sure if I can have a vacation as there was some communication problems and I guess my forgetfulness but the truth is I'm tired of getting second person information I completely depend on friends for translation and sometimes I get 5% of what I need to know. Naturally there are going to be problems but people get angry with me. However it's effected my vacation time meaning that I am obligated to do an art show which starts right in the middle of my vacation time. For some that don't know a vacation for me means escape from Korea. I love Korea for many things but I need to get out now and again to refresh or even touch up on my own English skills!!! I need to be somewhere more positive and I was planning on going to India with friends to see a friend who recently moved there, plus it was a bonus that my uncle will be there at the same time. Anyway I am still trying to figure out something, maybe Cambodia and Vietnam but for a week???

I'm also tired of being told by Koreans to remember that I'm in Korea and that things are different so I need to turn off my own cultural switch and turn on the Korean. Well sure that's something that I have to do, however I'm always considerate of the culture but it's hard to uphold 24/7!!! Some days I am too tired or some days I'm just disgusted with what I witness like a teacher who was punishing students as he caught them stealing, but to hit them on the head! Sorry, but that's wrong! I said so which upset a few people seeing that I was younger and a woman! Well there are things that I can't accept and I don't see why I have to either.

And for something completely different........

I found this beautiful apartment in New York, man I wish!

A crazy start!

Friday is proving to be a crazy day. It all started as I strolled into work only to have the PE teachers look at me and wonder what I was doing, until they asked me if I had class. Well sure not for another ten minutes well that was out the window as they told me that the school decided that the schedule was to start like 20 minutes earlier and cut to five minutes in between each class as opposed to the ten that we normally get. Hhhmmmm, I guess they failed to let us know, as all the teachers in my room was running around however the classroom teachers knew about it. Anyway it was like shotgun teaching today as I could hardly keep up with my own speed and before I knew it, the classes were all over for this week. Yay!

Well took off home and realized how sleepy I was; I fell asleep on the subway almost missed my stop. Went home slept for 20 mins then off to the gym, met my personal trainer for an hour then had some power pump class for another hour I did try the pilates class for the first time, however after ten minutes I could take no more. Showered took off for some sushi then home stuck in traffic. Got home did some laundry tidied my room packed my bag and now about to take off again to Seoul station to catch my train to Daegu.

I know that the weekend will continue like this as am staying with my friend Young-joo she's someone who multi-tasks all the time and wonders why she's tired. It's her mum's birthday and the whole family is coming for dinner thank goodness it's at a restaurant not at home like her dad's which was two weeks ago. As I don't fancy cooking or cleaning. Already I'm getting messages from Daegu about when I'm coming what I'm doing can we meet. I'm still getting messages from people in Seoul jeeze, once you send out busy energy it all comes at you at once. However the weekends that I'm home alone and wonder what everyone else is up to, they're no where to be seen. Oh well

TGIF!!!

Li Wei at Pyo Gallery, Seoul

I visited Pyo Gallery this evening as my friend had invited me to an opening for Li Wei who was there in person. To be honest with you I can't really say that I have seen his work before however I was quite impressed.

I’m not too keen on photography I guess it’s all that hype that I see living here in Korea. I mean, every Tom Dick and Harry possess some brand of a totally outfitted digital SLR hanging on their shoulders only to click away in some coffee shop, with the subject of themselves. Or it’s the numerous shows that I see in and around the city normally in corporate spaces of photography that someone’s granddaddy took.

However there are the few that can understand and manipulate the photographic image and Li Wei is one of them. His images allow me to have a moment, to be aware of myself as I look upon the position that his body may be in as I realize my own body and it’s limitations. Or his head projecting from the ground like a rock in a zen garden. I appreciate the amount of effort that it takes in order to create the image. I can clearly see that it’s more than just an image that I can be apart of his performance without having to be there in person.

About Li Wei

Li Wei began his career in the late 1990s and is already one of the leading artists in Asia. His projects include over 40 site-specific performance pieces that enact strange fantasies such as a head flying solo around Beijing or bodies catapulted into car windows.

This is where I've been!

Okay so I've been away for a bit, unfortunately I didn't go too far. I've been working, working and working. However the weekends are still busy with activities that range form visiting a friend in hospital, visiting a friend's art show in some new artist residency development, workout with my personal trainer, or just pig out with my friends along with some dong dong ju. Oh, I forgot to mention the other activities such as installing art in a park only to have thieves clear it all away but alas I am still painting but not for a park!

So who do I work with, well check it out!

Richard Halliday

Art school was full of interesting people, interesting art as well as the odd happenings. I was fortunate to meet some amazing people. However tonight I was rather shocked to find Richard Halliday is listed on the Internet movie database website. Halliday was one of my instructors whose lectures were both entertaining as well as informative. Every artist he mentioned he had to tell us that the artist was dead which always got us chuckling but the best was when he just stopped talking about art and looked at one guy with a baseball cap and told us his theory.

To wear a baseball cap you must be a dunce,
to wear it with the lid backwards,
then you're really stupid,
but the worse is to wear it sideways,
you're an absolute twit!!!

Ahhhhh, the art school days still make me laugh ;P

The elephants may not laugh but I will!

It all started with a runny nose!

Today has been a strain; the cold & flu season is hitting me early as well as students who were rude enough to destroy materials that I took a lot of time to make. I almost lost in one class where I found an envelope full of flashcards needed for this week’s activities cut into pieces or nasty words written all over them. What were these kids thinking???

So I found some laughter on this particular site, check it out!

Car rental brochure, Tokyo:

WHEN PASSENGER OF FOOT HEAVE IN SIGHT, TOOTLE THE
HORN. TRUMPET HIM MELODIOUSLY AT FIRST, BUT IF HE STILL OBSTACLES YOUR PASSAGE THEN TOOTLE HIM WITH VIGOUR.

Thailand Trip Touches Orphans’ Hearts

I posted in July about a dinner and wine event to raise money for orphanges to visit Thailand. Today I received an update on the trip you can read it here at The Korea Times. Also for more pictures check out their website.

Yes, I'm single but no thanks!

I recently realized what Helen Fielding meant in “Bridget Jones Diary” with the use of the term “singleton”. I enjoyed the book when it first came out, however I hard time relating to the character in some ways as I was a younger single gal at the time. Later we had “Sex and the City”, which I watched and came to love as the series rolled on. Now that I find myself in my 30s and still single I am starting to see what the stories all meant. I have some married friends who have said that they envy my single life as it means freedom. But what I hate is this portrayal that single women are obsessed with their looks as they are concerned with their many lovers as they hunt for “Mr. Right”.

What does this all mean??? Let me list the things that annoy me about being single.

1. I’m tired of men approaching me and assuming that all I want are lovers. They bypass the small talk and cut straight to the, “let’s have sex” then have the nerve to say that I’m too picky.


2. The phrase along with the tone that they feel sorry for you, “You haven’t found anyone special yet?"


3. The other phrase that I hate,"You left it too late”. What does that mean?


4. People telling me that they have it harder as they have children to take care of whereas I live a carefree life with no stress. So that translates to; it’s ok for me to stay and work late, it’s ok for me to babysit when I visit as I always have a night out, it’s ok for me to travel longer and further, etc...

I don’t mean to whine I guess what sparked it off was another guy asking me for sex tonight. Yes, I’m picky but when you see what men I have been meeting, you too would feel the same. I believe that there are great men out there as I have great male friends I have respect for myself and I don’t believe I need to prostitute myself in order to have a good date.

However I must add I’m not in the best place for a single gal like me to date. There are many good Korean men, however interracial dating is not readily accepted here in Korea there’s social pressure as well as families that are not supporting or even open-minded. The foreign men in Korea; well I must say I really don’t know. There are many messages posted on various expat websites talking about how annoying, sweaty, obese, ugly or hairy we Western women are, which in return shows the lack of men with respect for women or even the intelligence. The single foreign men are almost non-existent in my life in Korea they seem to have eyes only for Korean girls but I’m just someone they work with or whatever.

Anyway, respect goes out to people who choose their own paths, how boring life would be if we all lived the same way the same time and so on. We are meant to be different so please respect that!

Why, I stay in Korea. Chapter II

Here's another reason to hang out around Seoul! Kwon Sang-woo (권상우), my goodness what a hottie!!!
If only...

Whahh me got a creative block!

I have a meeting coming up this weekend for Anyang Young Artist Group. We are to present our sketches for an interactive (for children) public art to be on display in a park that is famous for it's stream. However, I’m having some sort of creative block, I have no idea of what to do!

So, I had a little look around on the web to see what's out there, as let's face it, I haven't seen something like this for a long time and I'm what you call, "Out of it!!!" So anyway the following artists are what I discovered tonight and what I found to be interesting.

Michele Kong is an emerging artist is from the U.S. and works with some interesting materials particularly hot glue which reminds me of Mandy's hot glue dress which she made while we were attending college. I really appreciate Kong'’s sensibility as well as her play with nature and synthetics.

Nina Levy, creates what some (Art News) call “The New Realism". I find her works provocative and intelligent which invokes a deeper thought that sends you on an adventure into the narrative as you are left with your own interpretations.

Jacob Dahlgren takes patterns to a new level. Using everyday objects in a repetition it becomes art in it's own right as it's interesting to see what new pattern emerges as well as the beauty that it takes on as it's removed from being just that ordinary object.

He's gone!

Ah, my dear friend Nayan has left Korea. It's just wierd that he won't be here. I got used to having him around, a restaurant buddy, a mac fanatic who understands the language my mac speaks, a lounge buddy, a movie trailer buddy, a photographer who takes better photos than you can, a Mr fix-it, an art critic and finally just a friend indeed! He's a man that has hard shoes to fill oh well I just have to go to India with the Seoul Gang and bug the hell of him there!

This is a long one, sit back and relax!

My holiday was great; I didn't realize how much I missed the UK. It was nice to stay and hang out with my family and old friends; it makes a difference being with people you have a history with. I felt so comfortable; my old British self came out along with my natural accent (not all the time though) but it almost like I felt like I was speaking a different language. It was nice the one day I went uptown to London when some guy happened to ask me for directions to Shaftsbury Avenue, and amazingly I was able to tell him even though the last time I was in London was three years ago.
I stayed with Jasmeet for the first three nights, we hung out with her two kids and caught up on a lot. Jas, I miss you tons!



I then visited Joice, she's an old family friend that used to work along with my parents on two separate occasions back in the British Telecom days as we all worked there at one point in time. She's now become our adopted grandmother as she's visited us in Canada many times and it is planning on being there for my brother's wedding even though she's not as healthy as she used to be.

I stayed with my cousins Jackie and Debbie along with Jackie's son Thomas. It was nice to see them and where they live, as the last time I was around they were just about to receive the keys for their place. We also had a lot to catch up on as well as to see how fast Thomas has grown. In the photo below from left to right: Debbie, Me, Kim and Jackie. We all went to Greenford High School.

I then took off to Cornwall to meet the Foremans at their caravan. They paid for my ticket, which was so sweet and thank you so much Audrey. It was nice to spend time with them as my last trip I only got to see them for one evening.

From Cornwall I took three trains to get to Poole, I felt like I was on a tour of the southern part of the UK, it took a bloody long time, but I got to go to Bristol and pass through the beautiful city of Bath where I have an uncle. I stayed with my cousin Claire and her family. It was wonderful to be with her and her family as I only saw Claire once since she left Greenford in her teens it was a good opportunity to get to know them all, and be a family. Thank you Claire, Ty, Brandon and Bradley

I stayed two nights in Claire's home then back to London via the National Express bus, a lot faster than the train. I then stayed with Denise, my mum's good friend, and someone I've known since I was four! I got to spend some time with Racheal, which was great but too bad we didn't have time to go out together. Oh, well next time! I took off on a Saturday and visited my Uncle Nicky and his family and I realize that I didn't get a photo of everyone but I did get one of Kelly and her husband. It was so comforting to be with them all and catching up with Kelly, Louise and Luke who are all doing well and let me tell ya they are one good looking family!

I managed to get one day to go uptown, too bad I didn't have more time. Debbie came up too; we started off early at Oxford Circus then onto regent Street. We popped into Hamely's and didn't venture upstairs, as we know we both could spend the day there, as Hamley's is the wickness toy store ever! There are toys everywhere with employees demonstrating some of the toys it reminded me off the one Christmas where all the aunts in the family rounded up all the kids and off we went to Hamley's to visit Santa - a treasured memory!!! We spent some time in Soho, a place that I would love to live in, even if it's a tiny flat I really don't mind! We had lunch in a Korean restaurant, as I wanted Deb to try out some food, which she liked. Did some shopping bought some sexy boots then it was dinner in one of my favourite restaurants in Soho, Jimmy's a Greek restaurant that Denise's husband had started going to like 30 years ago when he was attending St. Martins School of Art. I totally recommend the restaurant.

Last stop in the UK was again with Jasmeet as she has promised for each time I come she would pick me up and drop me off as it's her duty, and I thank her so much. I love it when I get to see her at the airport and she has the biggest welcoming smile that can't be beaten! We met up with our high school friends Caroline and Susheela as well as their children. They are both doing well and I can't believe how big the kids are, it's amazing how fast kids grow.


I flew to Hong Kong and had three nights with Cherie and Coby, I was planning on spending time on the beach as my suitcase was overweight and financially I was getting thin. However Hong Kong had other plans as it rained the whole time forcing me inside. I took off one day to the art museum and it was closed as usual as this always was the always the case even when I lived there!!! I did though get my hair done as a way to kill time. Oh well

Cherie lives on the 38th floor and interestingly her landlord was my old boss from when I lived there back in 2000


Now I'm back at work, it's hard to get back into the routine of things. Nayan is currently staying with me however he's leaving for India on Tuesday and now I have a place to stay in India!!! :P I will miss him!
That's all folks thanks for reading :)

Crazy Airports in the UK

Yet again we are to surrender to terrorist threats! As you know I'm in the UK and just noticed the news about the security threats on Brtitish flights to the U.S. However it's effected all flights and forcing some seriously restricted hand luggage allowance. Check it out!

And now for something different. This is Jasmeet's little boy, Balraj and her daughter, Rasna. The sweetest kids! We're eating some Indian sweets something I miss a lot, but that's a good thing otherwise I might end up looking like a gulab jumun.

In Jolly Olde Englande

I'm currently in the UK visiting friends and family. So far so good. I've been staying with my good mate Jasmeet in Slough, catching up and chatting about the good days back in high school. One of our old mates Glen came up to visit and I really am out of the loop and can't remember half the people they remember.

Today we visited Jasmeet's family not just cause of me wanting to see them but also because today is Rakhi Day, a Sikh tradition that celebrates brothers. The sister normally ties a colorful string bracelet to her brother's right wrist then feeds him something sweet like burfi then they hug and this is the best part, he gives her some money. It's great to see and something I also took part in with Jasmeet's brother Harpal.

I realize that I miss so many other things about the UK, one them is Jasmeet's family, they're super great and consider me part of their family. I got lots of hugs as we tried to catch up on things, such as her sister Kiran's wedding just three weeks ago. I feel like I'm still English as my accent is back too! I'm still me the way I was before I left to live in so many other places and experience a variety of cultures and things.

I've already had my bangers and mash along with a shandy in a nice pub. I've been spoilt by Jasmeet and her family with all the roti in the world as they all remember my favourite dishes. Oooh, and kulfi ice-cream for dessert - wicked!

Update on the Dinner and Wine Party

It was a great night, and I thank all that came, I realize that I am blessed with so many great friends who care so much which is why I stay in Korea!

More articles on the event and the trip came out. Please check out the following:

Korea Times article, Funds Raised for Orphans' Trip

Korea Herald article, Charity party organizer issues challenge to fellow Koreans

You can also read a previous article on the event.

Visit the website, to follow the children’s adventure or if you wish to buy some cookies that the children will make.

Mendhi Paintings

I really need to take better photos, or at least try in the daytime rather than some silly hour which I seem to have a habit of doing. These are small canvases, only 15cm by 15cm. However the frames are quite deep, which I love and haven't found in Korea as these were bought in Vancouver and packed in my suitcase. Ah, I miss Loomis or Opus on Granville Island.

Mendhi Painting 1, detail at an angle
Originally uploaded by Shazzbazz draws the Line!.

Mendhi Painting 2
Originally uploaded by Shazzbazz draws the Line!.

Mendhi Painting 3
Originally uploaded by Shazzbazz draws the Line!.

Mendhi Painting 4
Originally uploaded by Shazzbazz draws the Line!.

More Whys!!!

Sorry to say that I seem to be posting about my little dramas with technology and so on! Yep, the saga continues. My washing machine is now on the list of broken things, in good timing too as I only need to get my stuff ready for the trip. Hhhm is it ok to show up with dirty laundry like I used to when I was in college and visiting my parents!
Also the whole laundry room is on the list, as I had a few rude visitors that persist that they're here to stay. I opened the door to the laundry room which is in a covered and glassed in part of the wrap around balcony that I have, to find that my slippers could walk off on their own accord as it was crawling with maggots when I turned them over!!! Yes, I freaked, and freaked and did some more freaking. There were tons of theses horrid invaders all over the floor. It took a few phone calls to calm down as it was me, myself and I that had to clean it up. So, as I cleaned up and needed some air so I opened the door to the balcony only to start freaking again, yep there's more, this time they covered a body of a dead rat! I love cats, but at this particular time I just had to damn them and their love for a jolly good hunt!
So today is a new day and yep, these laundry room squatters continue to protest for their right to stay, I have no idea where they keep coming from, I clean up, turn around, and boom there's another one! I am thinking of what to do, maybe a another kind of pest control, like a team of two cats, I remember the two that Cherie and I had in Hong Kong who were awesome as they helped us a few times to kill the oversized mammoth cockroaches that would gate crash our home. However the two cats also liked to bring in their own friends that Cherie and I didn't quite agree with. I remember playing tennis with a rat that they wanted to show us, but dropped it when the screaming started. I used an electric fly squatter to try and get it out, hence my use of the tennis parody. Or poor Cherie finding a dead mouse that the cats lost interest in a few weeks ago, or how about the cats being sick and finding parts of a lizard, yum, fun times they were!
The bottom line here folks...I hate living alone but then again I wasn't alone as my roommate (a guy) was in his room the whole time and I didn't realize it, and he didn't hear my screams. Ok, let's try this bottom line thing again... I hate living with people - no that doesn't work either. Ok how about this one, I miss having a man around, OMG not that one!!! Ah here it is... I miss my dad, yeah that works!!! :)

Why, oh why???

Everytime I am about to embark on a trip my iBook starts to go funky!!! I was telling my UK cousins that I will bring my iBook and show the slideshows of my travels but most important Canada and my parents new home. Now, I think I may have to drop it off in the Apple repair shop and go without it.

This is when I wish I was living in the States! Here in Korea, it will take longer as they have to order everything from the States, they can't understand me as I explain my problems. They will just do diagnostic tests this will be the third time I have dropped it off for repairs. These are the problems:

1. Twice this week my computer just stopped (especially while playing iTunes) and advised me to restart, which has never happened before and I've had it for almost three years my warranty runs out in December!
2. The screen has white spots again, yep again as it was supposedly repaired before.
3. The screen slowly gets darker then lighter.
4. It can't play CDs as the computer doesn't recognize it and just ejects it, or sometimes I can't eject it forcing me to restart just to get it out or it just gets stuck!!!
5. I bought Microsoft Office and was never able to get the Power Point to work.
6. I no longer can use Window's Media Player I have tried so many things to get it working.

Jeeze and to think I know so many people who bought either an iBook or a Power Book the same time as me and I'm the only one to keep revisiting the repair shop! One friend who was a Mac repairman (Canada) thinks I certainly have a lemon and it should have been replaced with my last visit as I have too many things going wrong. I know some of my friends are probably laughing and saying that I should have stuck it out with my PC, but I'm still a Mac fan!!! (Fingers Crossed)

July 28th for dinner and wine?

Yes, I'm still alive! I've been painting, and painting and that's it folks you guessed it, painting! I'm busy preparing for July 28th, and let me tell you why!

There will be a gala event on Friday July 28th in Chongdam Dong. The purpose of this event is to raise funds for nine orphans to visit Chang Mai, Thailand who will perform a traditional Korean Dance. It's a great opportunity for these youngsters to see another culture as well as to realize how lucky they truly are.

The event starts at 9pm in La Festa, Chongdam Dong (02-540-7006). There will be a Latin performance, and an art show.

The Korean Times featured the story and you can see my lovely friend Irene who I'm so lucky to know. There's another article in the Kscene (local free mag), I will try and get one and post it. I can't believe the photo they used for that article, I only had five minutes that morning to get ready, and now all of Seoul has seen how I look, yikers!

Also, I am going to the UK for my summer vacation for three weeks. I'm looking forward to the trip as it's been three years since I last visited. I've already talked to some of my cousins and my friends and they're pretty excited to have me visit. Plus I need a top up on my accent, as I'm becoming something else that no one can place! So, if you're in the UK let me know, I'll be in Ealing, Slough, Poole and Cornwall, oh and in Hong Kong for three days too.

Got to get back to the painting, enjoy your weekend!

Emotional Rollercoaster

I have two things to write about I’ll start with a positive note…

I finally have a painting in a gallery in Korea. It’s only one, which is all right. I am part of an artist group just outside of Seoul; called “Anyang Young Artist Group” the show is only up for a week but it’s something as well as the beginning.

But…
I can’t stop thinking about yesterday while on the bus I witnessed a man kicking his dog.
I couldn’t believe how scared and humble this poor soul looked. I wanted so much to jump off the bus to follow and record this with my cell phone camera (That’s what they’re for right?). However we were on a highway and getting across the street is difficult.
I am ashamed that I did nothing. Korea is not a country that strongly supports animal rights. There are a few people here that love and care for animals it’s amazing when I ask my students to see who has a pet, I may see only 3 out 36 hands go up if I’m lucky.
I miss having pets, I would love to have one but the truth is, I still can’t decide on what country to live in plus I’m not always home which isn’t fair for them.

I don’t understand people who abuse animals!

This is a Korean Jindo dog just like yesterday. They have an interesting history that is worth reading about here. Also I found a great site Lonley Lifetime about the dogs in Korea that need help.

India Arie

What an amazing song. I loved the lyrics...

I Am Not My Hair
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY...

I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I ma not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

What no comments?

Well I know some of my friends are reading this blog, but sometimes I wonder is anyone out there? One friend mentioned that she's had problems leaving comments, or is it that this site is terribly boring well, either way tell me about it, please :)

Lor' luv a duck! have a good chin wag. Know what I mean?

Lor' luv a duck! After talkin' ter me mum I'm 'appy but still can't believe my bruvver is ge'in' married. . Know what I mean? Blimey! looks like a lot ov family an' friends comin' from da muvver land where ter put 'em all? Nuff said, yeah?

Lawd above! Missin' da old coun'ry deese days espcially after chattin' wiv Jas, think abaaaht makin' a trip dis august. . , innit. Besides i' would be great ter come back ter Kawera talkin' like dis, an' yeah I used ter sound like dis fer those who know my Canadian persona., innit. Lor' luv a duck! These days it's limited fer me farfer's wet tears awer da poor souls what go drinkin' wiv me. Know what I mean?

Blimey! have a look at my old bus - reminds me ov my shoppin' days in Ealin' awer be'er yet ge'in' ter da tube. Nuff said, yeah?

Dae Han Min Guk! ~~Fighting~~ '대~한민국'

Again 2002 Bravo Corea

"Reds Go Together"

These are the things I hear and see everywhere as everyone it seems is preparing for the game tonight (in a few hours) against Togo. They expect about 1.2 million to be on the street, I just came home and I can say yeah! There were tons of people with the red devil horns as well as the red T-shirts - seeing that they're sold on almost every street corner. Ha ha ha I'm watching the news, they're reporting from the World Cup Stadium here in Seoul but the regular news too, and you really can't hear too well as you can hear the crowds in the background.

Update on the game (for those that don't know).

Korea 2
Togo 1

Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?

This is cute, reminds me of my students, it's something I wish I could do if I didn't have such large classes. Check it out.

What a busy Week!

Monday: dinner with my landlord and Suhee (old Roomie). What a nightmare he went on and on about his success and power as we drank more alcohol he told us about his girlfriends and his dating policy, "she must be one year older than my daughter." The nasty thing is, he is married and they live in the apartment below. He was hitting on poor Suhee, good thing she moved out!

Tuesday: early morning start with a hangover. Met my friend outside of Seoul, met her artist group for a picnic in some strange valley directly under a highway the place that we sat in turned out to be a dog meat restaurant (freaked out). My new roomie, Philipp moved in who is also an artist and got me painting.

Wednesday: not so bad, had dinner with Nayan in our favourite Buddha's Belly, got home did some writing went to bed with an upset stomach.

Thursday: woke up at 3 am, the upset stomach was turning for the worse it kept me up pretty much all night leaving me exhausted and still in pain..yep folks food poisoning again! Called in sick but extremely tired I started painting until 11pm.

Friday: so far not too bad, well got a phone call, one of my Daegu students is in town and wants to see me, I really have no time.

Saturday: I will be volunteering for an orphanage far from Seoul thank goodness the time has changed to 9:40 as the previous time was too early. I then have an artist meeting at my house at 7pm plus I need to hand in my portfolio (not ready) which is a hot item at the moment as many people require this from me, which is why I'm here in my office with a painting...sshh...don't tell! ;P

Oh and thank you Amanda, Cherie and Jasmeet for your help with my artist statement, it's really interesting to get three different view points. Take care all!