I am attract rope

I was in the local supermarket a couple of nights ago. For whatever reason, I thought of Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel's enthusiasm for burned Sears Active Wear.

"What time, and how burned?"

I laughed far too much as I walked around looking for sticky-tape.

I hate coming up with titles

....and to think I attempted and eventually completed a university degree in a creative field. I are a sillys buoy.

AHH. I would appear that I'm wrapping up my "year" in Korea around a month earlier than I expected. That makes it my 11 months in Korea, then.... I was asked by The Powers That Be at work to kindly get my arse out a month earlier than was agreed upon. Can't say I was impressed at the time.

I'm currently sorting out what I want to do before and after I return home. Whether or not I want to work in Korea again, where else I'd like to work. I don't think Australia is a long-term option, however. My priorities are leaning heavily towards getting my pale pastey posterior in and out of Australia as quickly and sunburn-free as possible.

I really want to take a holiday before I return. I'm juggling a few ideas at the moment - all in Asia. A 3-country voyage in South-East Asia: Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia was my first thought. I'd ordinarily love to go to Thailand, but I'm a sketchy on the joint, since the coup last year. Otherwise a trip to India, perhaps - really for Dharamsala (and don't roll your eyes like I'm Richard Gere or something) - I could take a short trip in Japan, too, but I'm not overly keen.

Bizarrely, I'm not that excited to be travelling again. I think the idea of going it alone again is a huge turn off. Perhaps I should just go back to Mum's dirt farm and be done with it.

In other news, I went skiing two weekends ago. First time ever - I felt a bit like Paris Hilton on the way down, because I too, had trouble keeping my legs together.

for whatever reason...

I have decided that I'll re-begin posting on this monstrously underutilised thing.

I meant to write more, but I just haven't been bothered. So, anyway it's a few months since I last bothered to write anything.

As has become usual, I'm run off my feet at work. Scrambling to jump through all the necessary hoops. Marking, checking books, calling bewildered students, and now creating exams.

I still manage to get quite bored in this city, but things have gotten a lot better in the last couple of months. The new people - despite working at the other campus of the academy - have been great. Things weren't brilliant before, but I like things a bit better now.

In other news, I have a rather persistent cold at the moment. It's truly amazing

the visa run

This week was okay. I had a pleasant little trip to Japan (Fukuoka), despite the lack of sleep I had before getting there.

We caught a train to Busan [aka Pusan] at about 2am (my usual bedtime thesedays). Then had to fill in several hours, walked around Pusan. Although we did get a taxi to the wrong side of the city because Joe, who I was with was convinced that the "International Ferry Terminal" we found was not what we needed. After the taxi driver asked at a police station, we got back to the right place, just in time to change our money and board the boat.

The trip was OK, I got to squeeze in an hour's sleep, before we got there.

Fukuoka was nice. I managed to find a porno theatre after being in the country for less than one hour. Getting the visa etc was a snap.

I spent a bit of that afternoon having a rest in the hotel room. Went out for a bit of a walk, caught the subway and did some shopping. When I coaught the subway back to near the hotel, I got out on the wrong side of the station and spent 2 hours trying to get back to the hotel.

Not much else happenned. Joe lost his bag not long after we arrived, so I had pay for his (lost) ticket back to Busan when we left. The morning was short, we pickup the visas and did a bit of looking around in a shopping centre.

Came back by boat. Back at home by midnight, after dinner and a couple of other things.

Good trip. Remind me to go back some time.

not much to report, really

I'm doing okay these days, for anyone who's interested.

I have been insanely busy at work creating and marking tests for my little scamps. I made the mistake of making the writing exam for the lowest level ("95") way too easy because the class I teach have absolutely no clue about English.

I have my visa run to Japan this week. I think I leave on Tuesday morning (and pretty damn earlt in the morning) - a train to Busan and then the hydrofoil to Fukuoka. I'm going with Joe - a Canadian guy who I work with, so I won't be left totally on my own for this one.

Last weekend I had a good old walk around some of the mountains near town, took a few photos as well.

That'll do for now. Ciao.

first post!

Righto, my first crappy blog. I'm almost ashamed for starting this, but I've already got a myspace page, so I can't sink that much lower.

So, a fast introduction. I'm an Aussie who is living in South Korea - naturally, I'm doing the English teaching thing. Before this I was in China for 6 months. I "taught" there for about 4 months and arsed around for the rest of my time there.

Korea is obviously cleaner than China. And will be cleaner still, when this yellow dust clears up a bit. Not that we have much of a problem with it here in Gumi than they do in Seoul and other places further north.

It's cherry-blossom season right now, which is cool. They're something I've never really seen before, so quite novel for me. Even better when I get to be outside in daylight. Which is quite rare these days...

stuff

Things appears to be going okay. This week has mainly been concerned with preparing exams for the kids, which will be happenning the week after next. I've got 3 out of them 4 done.

I get my first pay soon, which is exciting. A bit of it will have to go home, as I need to pay back my mum and sisters for helping me out back when I was (voluntarily) stuck in Shanghai, back in January.

No big news otherwise. Oh, I bought some Australian wine today- which was cool. Which reminds me, why aren't I at some drinking said libation?

Also: I found this glorious picture on Wikipedia earlier: Lake Qinghai (in China) as viewed from space.

the continuing saga

Things seem to be largely going well. My documents have all arrived from Australia and I got some photos taken for my visa - I just have to go and get the bugger.

That means a quick trip to Osaka - which will be cool.

It's raining today. I have no money for the moment. I haven't spoke to my family for a long time....

Still have yet to pick up any of the language here... well, more than "hello" "goodbye" and "thankyou"

This blog has very little purpose. Oh well...