Okay, okay, so I've been back from Thailand for a few days and I still haven't updated my blog. I promise this will happen, and it will be in great detail and I will regale everyone with stories previously unimaginable. It's just been extremely busy since returning to Busan, and I'm not even back in school yet (which, incidentally, is where most of my blogging gets done). However, I will warn everyone, the biggest casualty of the trip was that Lucky, my camera, was stolen on my very last night there. The reason I didn't have it on me is because the memory card was completely full of Thailand pictures. Which is a huge bummer. But I will steal pictures from my friends, and now I have an excuse to get a new camera, so there is somewhat of a silver lining.
To everyone who has emailed me or sent me messages recently, I will respond when I have time to give an adequate and heartfelt response that you deserve, but please know that I am so grateful for your love and support, and I am not ignoring you. There are just not enough hours in the day.
I love you all and happy Saturday!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Jen Gets Another Stamp On Her Passport
Tomorrow Marcus, Sarah, and I leave for Seoul, where we will fly out Saturday morning for Thailand. I am so excited I can barely stand it! We are flying into Bangkok, staying there for a couple of days, then flying down to the southern tip of Thailand and taking a ferry to the island of Koh Samui. We’ll stay on Koh Samui for a few days, then we’ll take another ferry to the nearby island of Koh Phangan where we will end our trip with the half moon party on the beach. Yes, please.
The high in Bangkok today was 91˚ F, and I can tell you, we are jonesing for the heat. Isn’t it funny how maybe I complained about 91˚ in July, but now it sounds ridiculously appealing? It’s all relative, I guess. This wretched cold has got to end, that’s all I care about. Luckily, I live in Busan where it’s not as dreadfully cold and snowy as other areas (such as Seoul), but it still ain’t warm. Speaking of, one thing that is a real drag is that we will pretty much have to wear bundles of clothing up to Seoul, but for the entire trip to Thailand I could probably fit all my clothes in a backpack. The outfit I will be wearing to the airport will be more material than all the clothes for the entire trip. A small price to pay, but still. An out-of-season warm front would be welcome in Seoul, that’s all.
When we get to Bangkok, we will be staying at the Boonsiri Palace near the popular tourist destination, Khao San Road. We’re planning on touring the city, shopping, riding some elephants, petting some tigers, and eating some delicious local food. Then we’ll head to Koh Samui, where I assume we'll do some beach time (probably A LOT of beach time), but we'll also see some Buddhist temples, do some water activities, and tour the islands best attractions. And last, we head to Kho Phangan for more of the same, ending with the Half Moon Party. The full moon parties are a big event every month, such a big event that they also began celebrating half moons, and I’m assuming this is because then they can have twice as many parties. We won’t be in Thailand for the full moon (slight bummer), so we’ll attend the half moon instead.
This is one of the reasons I wanted to become a teacher, for the massive amounts of vacation time. I'm about to cash in on all my (not so) hard work. I'm going to get my first winter tan ever! It's been 2010 for only two weeks and I'm already sure that I love it. Just like I knew I would.
The high in Bangkok today was 91˚ F, and I can tell you, we are jonesing for the heat. Isn’t it funny how maybe I complained about 91˚ in July, but now it sounds ridiculously appealing? It’s all relative, I guess. This wretched cold has got to end, that’s all I care about. Luckily, I live in Busan where it’s not as dreadfully cold and snowy as other areas (such as Seoul), but it still ain’t warm. Speaking of, one thing that is a real drag is that we will pretty much have to wear bundles of clothing up to Seoul, but for the entire trip to Thailand I could probably fit all my clothes in a backpack. The outfit I will be wearing to the airport will be more material than all the clothes for the entire trip. A small price to pay, but still. An out-of-season warm front would be welcome in Seoul, that’s all.
When we get to Bangkok, we will be staying at the Boonsiri Palace near the popular tourist destination, Khao San Road. We’re planning on touring the city, shopping, riding some elephants, petting some tigers, and eating some delicious local food. Then we’ll head to Koh Samui, where I assume we'll do some beach time (probably A LOT of beach time), but we'll also see some Buddhist temples, do some water activities, and tour the islands best attractions. And last, we head to Kho Phangan for more of the same, ending with the Half Moon Party. The full moon parties are a big event every month, such a big event that they also began celebrating half moons, and I’m assuming this is because then they can have twice as many parties. We won’t be in Thailand for the full moon (slight bummer), so we’ll attend the half moon instead.
This is one of the reasons I wanted to become a teacher, for the massive amounts of vacation time. I'm about to cash in on all my (not so) hard work. I'm going to get my first winter tan ever! It's been 2010 for only two weeks and I'm already sure that I love it. Just like I knew I would.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Jen Watches Friends Perform
So I've been here just about 4 months, and I finally feel like I have my feet under me. I know people, I have a 'network', so to speak, I know how to get around to almost anywhere by subway, bus, taxi, or train, I can read (sound-out) Korean words, for the most part, and I actually feel comfortable here. So I guess it takes me about 3 months to make a place my own. In Barcelona, I didn't make it quite that long, so I never got to this point. But it's definitely good to know.
Saturday was one of my most favorite days in Busan so far. A group of us attended a spoken word poetry/prose reading at a charming little place in Kyungsun called Cafe Radio. It seems that many expats are poets or artists or performers of some sort - I guess it comes with the territory - because we all like to bet the center of attention. I thought I might read something I'd written, but nothing really felt right, so I went just as a spectator; however Marcus and Sarah both did some of their original work. There were maybe 15 performers in total, some reciting their own poetry, some reading poetry written by others, some doing dramatic recitations (which were my favorite), and one girl even performed a song she'd written. It was fantastic. My friends are ridiculously talented, what can I say?
The atmosphere was cozy, part wine bar, part coffee house, and the artist/writer crowd was a nice reprieve from bar scene - although to be honest most of the group did migrate all to Headquarter Bar down the street afterward - but still. We felt like we had earned it. And the best part was all of the new, smart, interesting people we got to meet. It was a really great time, a fun night in a place that's finally starting to feel like home.
This is a monthly event, and I'm really looking forward to February. Perhaps by then I'll have the gumption to get up there myself and contribute to the goodness. I kind of feel like I owe it to my community. And to myself.
Saturday was one of my most favorite days in Busan so far. A group of us attended a spoken word poetry/prose reading at a charming little place in Kyungsun called Cafe Radio. It seems that many expats are poets or artists or performers of some sort - I guess it comes with the territory - because we all like to bet the center of attention. I thought I might read something I'd written, but nothing really felt right, so I went just as a spectator; however Marcus and Sarah both did some of their original work. There were maybe 15 performers in total, some reciting their own poetry, some reading poetry written by others, some doing dramatic recitations (which were my favorite), and one girl even performed a song she'd written. It was fantastic. My friends are ridiculously talented, what can I say?
The atmosphere was cozy, part wine bar, part coffee house, and the artist/writer crowd was a nice reprieve from bar scene - although to be honest most of the group did migrate all to Headquarter Bar down the street afterward - but still. We felt like we had earned it. And the best part was all of the new, smart, interesting people we got to meet. It was a really great time, a fun night in a place that's finally starting to feel like home.
This is a monthly event, and I'm really looking forward to February. Perhaps by then I'll have the gumption to get up there myself and contribute to the goodness. I kind of feel like I owe it to my community. And to myself.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Did 2009 Live Up to the Hype?
I went back to my old blog and found this, my first blog post of 2009. It feels really good to reminisce about that time in my life, and how happy I was, and what high hopes I had for the year. I can't say I was disappointed.
Because This Is 2009
The end of last year was rough for Good Time Girl. It seemed as though the good times were going the way of the economy (current event shout-out). It took me some time to sort things out, but I came to the conclusion that if I want to be happy, I should just do it. And I am.
Why? Because this is 2009.
This is not the year I pouted about not travelling, this is the year I took the initiative, went overseas for a month, and didn’t come back.
This is not the year we broke up and I moved out of a place I thought I would never stop calling home, this is the year I made my own home and met people unlike anyone I’d ever met before.
This is not the year the Mini was severely injured in a 4-car accident and was in the shop for 40 days, this is the year we escaped from any close encounter unscathed.
This is not the year I rang in the New Year in the back of a cab after the organized party we were at got shut down by TABC at 11:45, it’s not the year I had strep throat and spent the night in Wisconsin hotel room, and it’s not the year I had to get up at 7 the next morning only to go watch the Aggies get their asses kicked in the Cotton Bowl, THIS is the year I rang in with an epic party at the Av surrounded by people I love. And with pictures galore so I will never forget it.
This is the year I am truly happy. This is the year of positive thoughts. This is the year of receiving. This is the year I see how much I can surprise myself. This is the year of living dangerously. This is the best year yet. This is the year I am me.
Because This Is 2009
The end of last year was rough for Good Time Girl. It seemed as though the good times were going the way of the economy (current event shout-out). It took me some time to sort things out, but I came to the conclusion that if I want to be happy, I should just do it. And I am.
Why? Because this is 2009.
This is not the year I pouted about not travelling, this is the year I took the initiative, went overseas for a month, and didn’t come back.
This is not the year we broke up and I moved out of a place I thought I would never stop calling home, this is the year I made my own home and met people unlike anyone I’d ever met before.
This is not the year the Mini was severely injured in a 4-car accident and was in the shop for 40 days, this is the year we escaped from any close encounter unscathed.
This is not the year I rang in the New Year in the back of a cab after the organized party we were at got shut down by TABC at 11:45, it’s not the year I had strep throat and spent the night in Wisconsin hotel room, and it’s not the year I had to get up at 7 the next morning only to go watch the Aggies get their asses kicked in the Cotton Bowl, THIS is the year I rang in with an epic party at the Av surrounded by people I love. And with pictures galore so I will never forget it.
This is the year I am truly happy. This is the year of positive thoughts. This is the year of receiving. This is the year I see how much I can surprise myself. This is the year of living dangerously. This is the best year yet. This is the year I am me.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
2009 - A Year In Review
Wow. 2009 was a big year for me... to say the least. If I think back to one year ago, I would have hardly believed you if you would have told me all the things that would transpire, all the things I've done, who I've become. 2009 was my breakout year - I consider it the most important year of my life... so far. I lived, I learned, I loved, I laughed, I cried, I rejoiced, I moved, I shook, I worked, and I played. And I grew. I evolved. I am evolving. And I am proud of myself.
So here is a compilation of the biggest and best year in the life of Jen. A 'Best Of' list, if you will. Because of all the things I did in 2009, most of all, I enjoyed myself.
Best First Moments of the Year - NYE at the Av
Ringing in the new year in Angela's courtyard at the Avalon with people I love more than I can say - Mark, Angela, and Kaitlin. Fire in the fireplace, music piped in, and neighbors and friends spilling out into the courtyard, migrating from one apartment to another. That night was just a harbinger of the greatness that was to come in 2009. We were happy.
Best Collaboration - Don't Dress For Dinner
Don't Dress For Dinner, the comedy of errors that Mark directed at Mesquite Community Theater, in which Angela played the ditzy mistress, and I worked on costuming. It was hilarious, and just a blast to be a part of. Mark's directorial debut was a hit!
Best Travel Destination - Amsterdam
Now, this is a big one, considering the year I've had. Europe and Asia are in on the race, but I have to say, my best trip was a 3 day excursion from Barcelona to Amsterdam. Angela had come to visit me in Spain, which was a holiday all in itself, and we made a trip to visit my friend Ann, who had an apartment for a month in Amsterdam. It was just a fairytale place, so quaint and beautiful, and both Angela and I fell in love immediately. I was in the best place I could imagine with the best people I could imagine. So I guess in a way, it was a fairytale.
Best Concert - Lollapalooza
I'll tell anyone who asks that Chicago is my favorite city in the US (although to be fair, I haven't really been to that many of them), so to get to visit Chicago for the 4th year in a row was a dream. Johnny and I traveled there in August to go to Lollapalooza, a yearly music festival we had been to once before. I dropped the ball on the hotel reservations at the Sheraton, but was able to get a hotel at the even nicer Westin on the river - and on points, no less - so all was forgiven. It was four days of luxurious accommodations, delicious food, great music, hipsters dancing, and generally just having a good time. Because that's how we like to do things.
Best Day - Last Day at McAfee
Okay, I can't pinpoint just one day because there were just too many good ones. But one that sticks out at me, where I remember proclaiming it to be the 'BEST DAY EVER' repeatedly, was my last day at McAfee. Kaitlin's group was going to the Ranger game and had invited me along, so I left at noon. I remember driving out to the Temple, zooming down the highway in the Mini, I had the windows down, and I was just singing at the top of my lungs. Life was good. It was a gorgeous, crisp May day, I was done with working for the foreseeable future, I was with my best friend, and the Rangers even won a game. Then after that, we picked up Angela and headed out to Plano for the Ticket's Great Game. I had made us Ticket groupie shirts, and we got interviewed on the radio at the game. Best girls, best time.
Best Date - Champagne and 'Hot Air Balloons'
It was the Saturday before Labor Day, and I was leaving for Korea in a week. I went to the King Bucks show with Kaitlin and Jason downtown at City Tavern. Keith, one of the band members, came to talk to me, and asked me on a date for that Monday, Labor Day. To set up the story, we had met a few times before, and had a running joke about going on a hot air balloon ride. So the next day, Sunday, I meet Mandy, Craig, Trent, and Greg at Mi Cocina in West Village for some farewell margaritas. After that, they wanted to go to Adair's to see some other friends, but the King Bucks were playing there, and I was sort of reluctant because I had just been to see them the night before, and had plans to go on the date with Keith the next day, so I didn't want to seem too eager. But I thought, who cares? I want to hang out with my friends, and I'm leaving in a week. I needn't have worried, of course he was glad to see me. And I him. It was an afternoon show, so it was over by around 6 or 7, and Keith asked me if I would want to meet up later that night because he had something to do in the interim. So I said sure, I'd meet him a couple of hours later up at the Magnolia Theater, where he is the bar manager. I hung out with my friends for a couple more hours, and I headed to the Magnolia. When I got there, he had procured crab cakes and calamari from Cru, the wine bar next door, and a bottle of wine at a romantic little table in a nook by the bar. I thought, all this for me?, but I didn't know the half of it. We ate for a little while, then he wanted to take me on a tour of the theater, so we went back in the projection room and saw all that neat behind-the-scenes stuff. Then he had me climb the ladder onto the roof of the Theater. When we got up there, I saw that he had laid out a blanket, a bucket of champagne and glasses, with mylar balloons tied to the bucket. He said, 'It's not a hot air balloon, but it's the best I could do on short notice." And I just remember thinking, thanks Universe, I needed this. It was so kind and romantic and fun. He had me write down a wish to tie to each of the balloons and we let them go, floating off into the atmosphere. It could have been kitsch, but it was just awesome. And he had done all that without even knowing we would see each other that day. It was the best first date imaginable.
Best Trios - Me, Mark, and Angela, Me, Holly, and Elle, and Me, Marcus, and Sarah
I used to be of the mind that three-way friendships don't work because 2 of the 3 would be closer friends and the dynamic would be skewed, but I was wrong. This year I have found myself a part of some of the best trios life could bring me. In Dallas, Angela, Mark, and I were inseparable for a time. We'd be at Angela's apartment together just discussing life, with all 3 of our laptops out, watching funny videos or Intervention and making each other laugh, every day, without fail. I hated that those good times had to end, but we had to make way for other things. In Barcelona, Holly and Elle and I forged an immediate friendship in our TEFL class. Two more beautiful girls could not be found. We would get together to go on 'adventures' around the city, or just head to the beach a thousand times. I couldn't have enjoyed Spain nearly so much without my Vancouver gal and my Aussie lady. They are so fab. And in Busan, I am so grateful every day that Marcus, Sarah, and I had the good fortune to become friends. We are best friends, and we will tell anyone who asks - and a lot of people who don't. Without them, Korea wouldn't be half as good. I feel so lucky to know that you can still forge such tight friendships with people, even at adulthood. If you really want to call me an adult. I love you, friends!
Best Party - Valentine's Day Hat Party
Angela and I had cooked up this crazy scheme to become party planners, and our debut party was one for the record books. We even made a sash for the winner of Best Hat. The courtyard of the Avalon was the scene, and there were funny hats galore. And hats off to Craig (pun intended) for the best hat ever - he dressed as a bunny and made a gigantic top hat to wear around his legs. A rabbit in a hat. I loved it.
There are many more 'Best' things, and I could write a novel, but I'll just say that 2009 made me happy. It was a good one. So. Many. Changes. But overall, for the better. I can't even begin to imagine what 2010 will bring, but I know I'm going to love it. Life is what you make it, and I am making it worth living.
So here is a compilation of the biggest and best year in the life of Jen. A 'Best Of' list, if you will. Because of all the things I did in 2009, most of all, I enjoyed myself.
Best First Moments of the Year - NYE at the Av
Ringing in the new year in Angela's courtyard at the Avalon with people I love more than I can say - Mark, Angela, and Kaitlin. Fire in the fireplace, music piped in, and neighbors and friends spilling out into the courtyard, migrating from one apartment to another. That night was just a harbinger of the greatness that was to come in 2009. We were happy.
Best Collaboration - Don't Dress For Dinner
Don't Dress For Dinner, the comedy of errors that Mark directed at Mesquite Community Theater, in which Angela played the ditzy mistress, and I worked on costuming. It was hilarious, and just a blast to be a part of. Mark's directorial debut was a hit!
Best Travel Destination - Amsterdam
Now, this is a big one, considering the year I've had. Europe and Asia are in on the race, but I have to say, my best trip was a 3 day excursion from Barcelona to Amsterdam. Angela had come to visit me in Spain, which was a holiday all in itself, and we made a trip to visit my friend Ann, who had an apartment for a month in Amsterdam. It was just a fairytale place, so quaint and beautiful, and both Angela and I fell in love immediately. I was in the best place I could imagine with the best people I could imagine. So I guess in a way, it was a fairytale.
Best Concert - Lollapalooza
I'll tell anyone who asks that Chicago is my favorite city in the US (although to be fair, I haven't really been to that many of them), so to get to visit Chicago for the 4th year in a row was a dream. Johnny and I traveled there in August to go to Lollapalooza, a yearly music festival we had been to once before. I dropped the ball on the hotel reservations at the Sheraton, but was able to get a hotel at the even nicer Westin on the river - and on points, no less - so all was forgiven. It was four days of luxurious accommodations, delicious food, great music, hipsters dancing, and generally just having a good time. Because that's how we like to do things.
Best Day - Last Day at McAfee
Okay, I can't pinpoint just one day because there were just too many good ones. But one that sticks out at me, where I remember proclaiming it to be the 'BEST DAY EVER' repeatedly, was my last day at McAfee. Kaitlin's group was going to the Ranger game and had invited me along, so I left at noon. I remember driving out to the Temple, zooming down the highway in the Mini, I had the windows down, and I was just singing at the top of my lungs. Life was good. It was a gorgeous, crisp May day, I was done with working for the foreseeable future, I was with my best friend, and the Rangers even won a game. Then after that, we picked up Angela and headed out to Plano for the Ticket's Great Game. I had made us Ticket groupie shirts, and we got interviewed on the radio at the game. Best girls, best time.
Best Date - Champagne and 'Hot Air Balloons'
It was the Saturday before Labor Day, and I was leaving for Korea in a week. I went to the King Bucks show with Kaitlin and Jason downtown at City Tavern. Keith, one of the band members, came to talk to me, and asked me on a date for that Monday, Labor Day. To set up the story, we had met a few times before, and had a running joke about going on a hot air balloon ride. So the next day, Sunday, I meet Mandy, Craig, Trent, and Greg at Mi Cocina in West Village for some farewell margaritas. After that, they wanted to go to Adair's to see some other friends, but the King Bucks were playing there, and I was sort of reluctant because I had just been to see them the night before, and had plans to go on the date with Keith the next day, so I didn't want to seem too eager. But I thought, who cares? I want to hang out with my friends, and I'm leaving in a week. I needn't have worried, of course he was glad to see me. And I him. It was an afternoon show, so it was over by around 6 or 7, and Keith asked me if I would want to meet up later that night because he had something to do in the interim. So I said sure, I'd meet him a couple of hours later up at the Magnolia Theater, where he is the bar manager. I hung out with my friends for a couple more hours, and I headed to the Magnolia. When I got there, he had procured crab cakes and calamari from Cru, the wine bar next door, and a bottle of wine at a romantic little table in a nook by the bar. I thought, all this for me?, but I didn't know the half of it. We ate for a little while, then he wanted to take me on a tour of the theater, so we went back in the projection room and saw all that neat behind-the-scenes stuff. Then he had me climb the ladder onto the roof of the Theater. When we got up there, I saw that he had laid out a blanket, a bucket of champagne and glasses, with mylar balloons tied to the bucket. He said, 'It's not a hot air balloon, but it's the best I could do on short notice." And I just remember thinking, thanks Universe, I needed this. It was so kind and romantic and fun. He had me write down a wish to tie to each of the balloons and we let them go, floating off into the atmosphere. It could have been kitsch, but it was just awesome. And he had done all that without even knowing we would see each other that day. It was the best first date imaginable.
Best Trios - Me, Mark, and Angela, Me, Holly, and Elle, and Me, Marcus, and Sarah
I used to be of the mind that three-way friendships don't work because 2 of the 3 would be closer friends and the dynamic would be skewed, but I was wrong. This year I have found myself a part of some of the best trios life could bring me. In Dallas, Angela, Mark, and I were inseparable for a time. We'd be at Angela's apartment together just discussing life, with all 3 of our laptops out, watching funny videos or Intervention and making each other laugh, every day, without fail. I hated that those good times had to end, but we had to make way for other things. In Barcelona, Holly and Elle and I forged an immediate friendship in our TEFL class. Two more beautiful girls could not be found. We would get together to go on 'adventures' around the city, or just head to the beach a thousand times. I couldn't have enjoyed Spain nearly so much without my Vancouver gal and my Aussie lady. They are so fab. And in Busan, I am so grateful every day that Marcus, Sarah, and I had the good fortune to become friends. We are best friends, and we will tell anyone who asks - and a lot of people who don't. Without them, Korea wouldn't be half as good. I feel so lucky to know that you can still forge such tight friendships with people, even at adulthood. If you really want to call me an adult. I love you, friends!
Best Party - Valentine's Day Hat Party
Angela and I had cooked up this crazy scheme to become party planners, and our debut party was one for the record books. We even made a sash for the winner of Best Hat. The courtyard of the Avalon was the scene, and there were funny hats galore. And hats off to Craig (pun intended) for the best hat ever - he dressed as a bunny and made a gigantic top hat to wear around his legs. A rabbit in a hat. I loved it.
There are many more 'Best' things, and I could write a novel, but I'll just say that 2009 made me happy. It was a good one. So. Many. Changes. But overall, for the better. I can't even begin to imagine what 2010 will bring, but I know I'm going to love it. Life is what you make it, and I am making it worth living.
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