new location, new blog

Hey! If you've been checking out my blog then you know that my next stop is Kuwait. I thought it would be silly to be writing from Kuwait from a blog titled "canuckinkorea" so here's the link to my new blog:
http://canuckinkoo8.blogspot.com/Stay tuned for more when I finally wrap my head around where I am and how FREAKING HOT it is here! :)
ta!

I miss mini stop patio parties.....

Being back in Canada has been fun, but I find myself often wondering "what would I be doing right now if I were in Korea"....
I miss, in no particular order,

• cheap love motels,
• cheap public transportation (it cost me $200 in gas to go to North bay and back last week, and would not have been cheaper had I taken bus or train)
• naked saunas and getting scrubbed til my skin glows
• running 5k races that make me feel like a star - with my running buddies!
  
• drinking outside the mini stop
• service and being treated like a celebrity
• not understanding EVERY little thing said by idiotic people....ignorance is bliss...I find that the "noise" of English is around me now and I can't help but hear it and that annoys me!
  
• MY FRIENDS!!
• my apartment, and having my own space - as small as it was
  
• my students (well, some of them)

I really miss my friends and social circle there and am having a hard time with not having people around me who understand what coming back to western culture is like after living abroad. There is a certain amount of reverse culture shock, but at the same time I know I'm just "visiting" Canada and will be gone again soon.
I'm still in the process of getting mine and Lola's documents settled for entering Kuwait. The process is similar to what I had to go through for Korea, but I'm much less anxious about the actual move to Kuwait. Even though it's a different culture, the feelings "been there, done that"as far as leaving Canada goes, is much easier....maybe it's because I'm not as attached to Canada anymore, the apron strings have been cut and it's easier to leave....

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks...I'll be changing my blog to fit the next chapter in my life of living in Kuwait....I'll post the link for that here on this site as soon as I get it set up.

Ready to go! (or am I?)

After 2 months of thinking and planning and trying to organize my life and make it portable once again, I'm almost ready to leave Korea. I have less than 3 weeks to go and have a few errands to run, like dr's appointments (for me and Lola), immigration office, and pension office, but other than that, I'm ready to go.
But am I really?
I find myself procrastinating with the errands. As if they're the catalyst which will bring me to the end of the end and am wondering if I'm doing it on purpose. Obviously they're not FUN things to do so that very well COULD be why I'm procrastinating too. I think it's just because I've stacked my summer with such fun things to do that I keep forgetting about the LEAVING part of Korea. I feel like I'm not giving the leaving the due "mourning" that I should. That will, perhaps come later, while in Canada and having a low moment and wondering why I ever left the comfortable, easygoing life I had here. Or maybe it will come in Kuwait when I'm up to my eyeballs in marking and planning and not knowing what's what!

On a more positive note, here's what I've got to look forward to in the next few weeks/months!

• Boseong Marathon - last organized race I'll run in Korea - running with the same group of girls who I started running with almost a year ago now.
  
• Road trip through Jeollanamdo - my first driving experience in Korea - wish me luck!
  
• Alaska Cruise with Mom and Dad when I get home - their 35th anniversary present from me
  
• coffee on the deck at mom and dad's
• running in clean air OUTSIDE along the river
  
• CHOK Bridge run - MY FIRST 10K (oh - my - god!)
• mowing the lawn (yes, I'm excited to even have a lawn to mow after 3 years in korea!)
  
• Bon Jovi and Fergie concerts
• Canada Day celebrations at a COTTAGE on a LAKE!

It's crazy how quickly the time is passing and I'll be home before I know it!

Medicine in Korea

So, I've been sick on and off over the last 2/3 weeks and I thought I was getting better only to be kicked in the ass yesterday with the most ridiculously painful headache, body aches, shivers and the return of a nasty dry cough (probably lingering from the cold 2 weeks ago)
The teachers at school thought that I should go to the dr's and in order to get the afternoon off(go to the doctors and then home to rest) I did.
I came home and took some of the pills and crashed and woke up feeling worlds better.
Later in the evening I was chatting with my mom and was trying to explain the medication and how it is administered here in Korea.

I pay about 3$ for my dr's visit and then she prints out a sheet with the prescription. I then take this paper downstairs to the pharmacy where they take literally a MINUTE to fill the prescription. When they give you the pills it is a cocktail of 3/4/5 different pills and they are all administered in the same package. The dosage is already chosen for you. You can see in the picture that there are 5 packages. I was given 6 individual pockets and they are to be taken 3 times/ day with meals. total for 2 days of meds $2.50
Hope I feel better soon!