All good things..come to an end...

Well, my experience is almost over. That's okay!! I have met some awesome people. Worked with some hard working guys & gals. Saw an amazing country. Had an opportunity of a life time! Home time...family to live for. What more can a girl from Bruce County want!!!!

For all of you who have followed my experiences, thank you. You all rock, and I am glad you enjoyed (as much as I).

Til next time....

Stay safe, work hard...and party even harder!

Nicole

What's been happening...

Hey there folks! Been awhile. I have to admit I haven't done much travelling or spending money!! Jusst working during the week, and getting to know new friends at night. Partying, going out for dinner, having a potluck evening, movie night at the neighbours. A little shopping here and there, and doing my daily 5am walks (no, not the weekends). Just "living in Korea". I haven't been to well either, so that kinda knocked me down last week. We're thinking it could be the water, as there were a few of us not well.

I hope to do something this weekend. Weather is getting nicer, pool is open. Monsoon season hopefully is behind us.

I believe there is a trip to Seoul in my near future with Julie.

Hope all is well with you and your families. Sure do miss mine.

Been a long 2 weeks....but, I'm coping!

Well, Les and the boys (and Winnie - Jonas's friend), have been in Cuba on our 'family' vacation. Haven't really been able to contact them, except for one little email from Nick, but had to cut it short cause he was "sweating balls", and then about a week later, I got an MSN chat with Jonas for about 10 minutes, and then he types "gotta go, sweating balls". So, needless to say I am second place to 'sweating balls'.


But..they come home tomorrow! Now, I can SKYPE them!! I bought a webcam so I can see their tans (or burns..if you know who didn't wear sunscreen!).... I can't wait.


Tomorrow is my hubsters birthday...50~something...ALREADY???!! Where the heck did the time go! He was sooooo.....dark haired when I met him!! Oh well, I love him just as much as when he Bon Jovi hair. Happy Birthday Les!


Let me get to the Korea stuff.... I work all week, and keep my weekends to partake in the last bottle of Bailey's in the bar and share it amongst 6 or 7 of us, add a few pitchers of beer and maybe a soju shot (if they have any), and voila....hangover Saturday sets in!! BUT....fun doesn't stop there.


So, my buds and I head out on a Saturday day trip to Andong...no..not AND Dong...AN Dong. We travelled a few hours to visit a Korean Mask Village in Hahoe.....no, not HAY ho....it's Ha Hoe...like..."HaHo HaHo it's off to work we go"....okay..it's Hi Ho..does it really matter ???? This place is a beautiful place!! Strange, but so traditional.


We start the visit at a totem pole store. Lots of totem poles!! Cool looking and fun! VERY fun...eh Deb and Bonnie??? Can't elaborate on that, but I have it on video ;)



We then went to watch a Mask show, put on by the locals. Ummm..the only way I can describe it is...odd, non-english, but apparently funny. They had the crowd laughing....not sure what is funny about chopping off bulls balls, or a lady peeing on the ground, and her 'mate' licking it up. hmmm...I didn't laugh...didn't seem to amuse this girl too much. BUT, hey, it's their culture..and well, male parts are too!!! LOL (again, have it on video).


We toured around a little market, where they sold masks and soju. Soju is their drink! It's wicked but popular! So we got a few free shots to start our day, had a cold beer, cause, you can drink anywhere here!


Lots to see .. ancient homes that people actually still live in. Must be kept in the families and past down the generations. Very nice..clean and tranquil.


We totally enjoyed our day, and when we left, we figured ... we can drink in the car, so let's!! I shouldn't be posting this, cause I feel 'dirty' as I own a cab company..BUT, the driver is NOT allowed to drink .. Zero Tolerance! BUT the passengers can!! So, after having a few brew, we decide to go to the Hilton (my old stomping grounds), and have dinner with Gary...my ... ex...neighbour. I totally enjoyed my steak dinner! Yum...the Hilton makes a mean steak!


I get home...feeling no pain, but of course my friends aren't at the bar..they are all trashed and have to go home!! LOL So, I pop open a bottle of Zifendel, and well....called a friend. Laura and I had a great chat...it was her lunch time, and my 'get pissed' time. Talked to her for awhile, and once I was seeing cross-eyed I knew it was bed time for this girl!


Sunday was a quiet day..of course!! LOL I puttered around the condo, rearranging furniture, cause I get in that mood once in awhile.


I whipped up a nice pot of chicken soup...was worried it might be seagull or duck or some other pheasant..but it tasted like chicken, and after all the veggies and more veggies was in the pot....it was delightful! YUM-ME!


I started walking with my friend Julie. She is from the Bruce site (lives in Kincardine). She is an exerciser, and is now known as my kick in the ass. I hope to at least get in a size that they sell here!!! So, I'm up at 5am every morning (that's my goal anyways), and walk around the resort twice. This takes me about 35 minutes. It starts out up hill, and goes around the resort. What an awesome view. Love watching the sunrise!


Then it's shower, breakfast, make my lunch, and on the bus to Wolsong Nuclear! Where my job is busy and my boss is great. I think we are gonna make a good team.


Well, I'm sure you just want to see pics now....so here's some pics from my trip.


Enjoy....
miss my 3 men!!

View..walking around the village

Part of the act

My pals, Deb & Bonnie..and the totem poles

My travelling pals!!

Traditional homes..buildings

The toll bridge!

Hi there folks!

Just a post to take you on a little tour of my new home for awhile.

Just want to mention first, that I did get to party with my fellow galpals Bonnie and Debbie. These girls are so much fun! We even had the Korean bartender dancing and singing along to "It's My Life"...by Bon Jovi.

Crazy fun....I love it !!

I moved into my Condo at the Mauna Resort over the weekend. I'm okay here! I like it better than the Hilton. It's great to live like the rich for awhile, but the novelity wears off, and I miss cooking!! Can you believe it?? I just wanted to get the "home sweet home" feeling. There is no husband, kids or cat, but I do have their pictures out on display for me to see everyday.

Had a great webcam msn chat with my long time best bud Lorrie, and then I had a fantasic SKYPE chat with my parents. Felt like they were next door!
Can't wait to talk to Les and the boys....when they get back from their vacation.

So...........here's a quick look where I'm hanging out these days.

Welcome to my new temporary home!

Some shots of the view.

In the far distance past the mountains, on a clear day we see the East Sea (Sea of Japan).

AND...if it's really REALLY clear, we can see Japan!!

My Condo

Happy Canada Day !

Another weekend .. another set of emotions

Hi there folks!

My weekend included a bit of everything. My routine Friday night, a hangover--lonely Saturday, and an interesting, educating, tiring day.

Friday after work, again, I trip to my pals Bonnie & Jeff's.

They've invited me, or I've invited myself, I don't think matters, we know what we do and that's....Friday night drinking at D'Areche!!


After a few beers and unwinding from another successful work week, Bonnie and I head to the Lounge. There we meet up with Deb and Rick. Another great couple! My new pals! I know that we were having a great time..but do you think I remember what I wanted to blog about Rick? I've been racking my brain! I'm sure he remembers....but will he tell me?

We sat around, had lots of laughs and drinks, and watched Rick try and play pool...I didn't, cause, well, I was too busy in and out having smokes with Darrin chatting and giggling about good old Port Elgin and what we WEREN'T missing!! And seriously talking about our families and our futures that we are trying to give them.

SB is in this pic..he is a good guy! The three amigos..all the same age! lol After knowing and working with Darrin for over 3 yrs...we found out that our birthdays are one day apart!! Guess who is older??

Okay..to the good stuff. Soju! I've been warned about this stuff! Let's put it this way... I remember this pic..but I don't remember much AFTER this pic!!

Saturday, well I have to admit was a very quiet, lonely day. The fun was gone. Hung over city was here!!! Man....I was so depressed and feeling like a bag of crap! I didn't want to talk to anyone but my husband. So I called him at 4am his time!! LOL

I knew he'd be up...heck..he was out having his Friday night. He put me at ease. Surprise everyone..he does have a soft side that I and his mom can only see! LOL

After chatting with him and listening to a music video he asked me to listen to, I refocused on my priorities in life and decided....I'm hungry!

So, I go and have dinner for one. One well done sirloin steak and a glass of white wine, ahhhh....just what mamma needed!! That hit the spot. Nice hot bath...with bubbles ended my day, as I fell asleep with a smile,thinking ..my boys are getting ready for the long awaited vacation. I know they will have a good time..........................without me! Seriously, they deserve to have this trip..they worked hard at school this year.

Sunday - I head out on the Gyeongju Bus Tour with a few fellow coworkers. What a great trip! Koreans are so spiritual and respect their history and religion. The culture and the heritage of this country is impecible. The structures, tombs and temples are not extravagant,but yet elegant and well taken care of.

I was in awe at all I saw and experienced this day in the ancient city of Gyeongju. History has never been one of my things, but the Korean history is so spiritual. It really helped me understand the true meaning of life.

Past, Present, Future. Simple, clear and true. Exact thoughts of this weekend.

Here are some pics I took. I witnessed several National Treasures. hmm..didn't see Nicolas Cage though.....

Enjoy. More pics on facebook

Not about me..but funny!!

There's this guy, Gary. He lives across the hall from me in the hotel. He came over on the same flight as me. We didn't know each other, but now we do. We share a car to work everyday, and sometimes we do the breakfast buffet and or dinners. Anyways, he's a really nice guy. Smart..don't tell him I said that! Just a little briefing about how nice he is. .... he is here for 6 mths. Unfortunately his wife can't come to be with him, but she does have a good job, therefore that's why. She's lucky...she's driving around in his corvette!! LOL Anyways...he's been emailing her and calling her all the time. She finally had to tell him to stop doing it so frequently because it bothers her and upsets her all day. She really misses him. So, instead, he calls the local Oshawa radio station and dedicates a song to her. They announce it and play it for her while she is driving with the convertible top down...she's mush! See..he's a good guy!

So the point of this entry..................I told him I'd tell you all...... You think my sauna story is priceless...WELL.....Gary's is funnier!!

Gary is at work and needs to go take a leak. So, he's in the men's washroom. The door opens and he doesn't pay attention. He's standing at the urinal, and all of a sudden, someone is mopping the floor between his legs!!!! He's like...WTF?? He turned around .. and it was the cleaning lady!!! He's really ... shocked..I guess. So, he's telling us this and we are howling!!

Today, he said every time the cleaning lady saw him...she giggled!! He says he is getting a complex!!!! LMAO!!!

Had to tell you....it's funny how the culture is so different here.

Tonight we went out for Korean BBQ, and when I went to the washroom in the restaurant..it was a unisex washroom. Nothing weird happened, but just think........I could be sitting on the toilet and some guy could come in and take a leak....or even worse...sit in the stall next to me!!!! EWWWW............. Thank the Lord, I'm a fast pisser!!!!

I'll post some BBQ pics tomorrow..it's late...tomorrow is another work day :)

Have you heard of these guys???

I'm guessing they are fairly big soccer players in this part of the world.

Anyways, the team is on my floor this week!!

They freaking change in the middle of the hallway....cute...english dudes...in underwear...now were talkin'!!!