24.03.13

Today I found out that ill be auditioning for the worship band. I must prepare one song and he'll spring another one on me there and then. Ohhhh dear. That's a bit nerve wracking! At least I have a couple of weeks to fret over it.

Because I went to the practice, I prayed with everyone involved in the service before it started. We went up to the top floor where the acoustics were incredible. To start it off the pastor led, "Lord I give you my heart, I give you my soul..." and we were all just belting the chorus out. It was really really cool. And it sounded amazing.

I got back to Gaksan and was walking around to find fried chicken when I ran into a group of my students. I told them about my quest and they told me the best place to go so I decided to take their advice and carried on. It was packed when I got there and I kind didn't know what to do when I got inside so I'm pleased a couple of other students came into the shop. It seemed to be a queue so we chatted and they did their best in English. To let them know I appreciated it, I got them to teach me how to order in Korean. I felt a bit awkward and silly saying it to the lady, but it was well recieved and I got my chicken.

I ate it on the way home and popped the last piece in my mouth as I walked into my kitchen. That was a mistake. I had eaten it too fast and the last one really set my mouth on fire!

It was delicious though. Good thing too, cos I only know how to order the spicy one.

23.03.13

This was a great Saturday spent cleaning in the morning (I always enjoy it), and then exploring Duryu Park with Gemma and Nicole. We did a lot of sitting and talking while we ate icecream instead of wandering about, but it was definitely lovely and we walked to the cafe which took a while. It's justified ok!?

This morning I went on an internet hunt in my slippers because I needed to see if Sarah was still visiting. I got some weird looks as I wandered the streets, phone out, looking for signal.

I vowed to get my phone sorted today but alas, it couldn't happen! One day I'll be reliably contactable.

My neighbourhood

Flowers are blooming everywhere.

21.03.13

This morning's classes were cancelled because Grade one was on a field trip. I do like how Korea is last minute in these cases because it's like a pleasant surprise when you find out. I do love teaching, but this gave me the chance to finish my lesson plan, print photos for the class leaderboard, and catch up on Facebook. All important tasks.

When I got home I ate fresh strawberries, grapes, had a cup of tea, and some cereal for dinner. It was glorious!

20.03.13

I opened a bank account today! I have a card and everything. There's absolutely nothing in there yet, but it's a start.

I'm feeling more and more like this is my home now. I knew where more things were in the supermarket today, and the streets at night feel comfortable. I love strolling through the area I live. Things are getting familiar.

I know where the tree roots are that have made the footpath lumpy. I trip less these days. It's a good feeling.

Spring is making things a whole lot prettier.

19.03.13

You guys! I finally got me some milk. You know what that means.. I'm in the cashmonay game again. My settlement allowance finally came through.

I also went on a very long post-lunch walk (that's a thing here) with the lovely older English teacher to this river. It was about an hour round-trip but it was cool to hear stories of her childhood and what Korea used to be like. It sounds like a tough time what with the food rations and the lack of jobs for women. Life turned out pretty good for her though I think.

As I was waiting to cross at the lights I heard a small, "Hello" from behind me. I turned around to see a little girl on a bicycle wearing all pink except for her light blue face mask. I smiled and got back to standing there. A minute later I heard another more gutsy, "Hi," so this time I asked how she was and what her name was. After some very cute answers the light went green so I said goodbye. She said a crispy, "See you later," and whizzed off on her bike with her family in tow. Nothing makes my day like cute little kids practicing their English on me.

It was also Taco Tuesday tonight at Dani's. I really enjoyed wandering around E-mart, purchasing stuff and commenting on all the different things to buy. We then went and ate a very yummy taco salad, drank wine, and talked about a myriad of things.

Not a bad day at all.

I got far too excited to see these suckas in the supermarket.

18.03.13

Hello Monday. I did not want you to come, but you ended up being pretty cool.

It was Gift Giving Day Pt. 2 and despite some trembling I marched through the teacher's office and up to the vice principal. I handed over my gift (with both hands) and it was done. Phew!

At the end of the day I checked my school messenger inbox and saw a message which I thought said, "You can go get your settlement allowance from the administration office," so I bounced along the hallway and down the stairs, dreaming of purchasing milk on the way home. After a flurry of Korean, confusion, and wild gestures, the lady called my Co-Teacher who just said to me, "Why did you go there?" over the phone. At that moment it dawned on me that I had misread the email. Instead it said I could get my ARC card which I had already done earlier today.

I said sorry a million times in Korean and shamefully walked out. Way to be a demanding foreigner.

It's cereal and coffee with no milk for me tomorrow morning.

Things have got that serious.

I did, however, find it in my bank account to buy these, very necessary face masks.

17.03.13

DISCLAIMER: This post is about to get super Christiany. I apologize if that's not your cup of tea, but I want to document the remarkable stuff that happened today. Please don't feel obliged to read.

Today has been a great day, although it did start two hours early, with some neighbours hammering away at my wall or something very close to it.
I used the spare time to lay in bed, check Facebook, Instagram, delay showering until I ran out of time... all the important things.

Anyway, I embarked on the 1hr journey to the stop by church and arrived at a cute little cafe for a Skype date with the lovely Lucy Collins. It was so good to see her. To begin with I was ashamed because the cafe was so busy and everyone could see me Skype, but then when I took my headphones out I was ashamed because I realized the cafe had cleared out and I hadn't adjusted my noise level. I was practically yelling at my laptop. Ahhh well.

Church was amazing, yet again. I had missed it without even knowing it. During the first worship song it just felt good and right and like home. The sermon was exactly what I had been thinking about over the past week and a bit. It was about being salt and light and then some really interesting, foundational points on The Law and what it actually means today. I really like how he preaches. It's super biblical, but his style is different and I really like the things he chooses to point out.

Aaaaanyway... so after the service I was talking to this girl, just getting-to-know you stuff, and right in the middle of answering my question about how long she'd been in Korea, she asks, "Do you sing?" As I was mumbling my way through my, "Well yes, but no, but not very well, but I did do worship back home, but I'm not very confident...," she takes my hand and drags me up the front to meet the worship leaders and talk about joining. On our way up there she explained that God had told her I sang and I should join the team.

No pressure or anything. It's my second week! Plus I already told God I didn't wanna get involved in ministry this year because I want a break. And why did he choose the scariest one to tell her about!? I would've gladly done welcoming or even Kids' Church. But no. I'm going along to watch the practice next Sunday.

On my first Saturday night in Daegu I met a girl in Daiso. I was foreign, she was foreign, so she said hello. We had some conversation, said goodbye, see you round, and then kept passing each other in the store and awkwardly commenting on each others' purchases. After a final farewell at the checkout I thought she was a nice stranger and never thought we'd hang out again.

Until I saw her at church this afternoon. It was so cool. I went over and said hello, then she invited me to have coffee with her and a friend and I had a blast. I love it when those sorts of things happen! I even remembered her name.



So there were three remarkable coincidences that I believe God orchestrated for me today. The sermon topic, the whole worship team thing, and the chance meeting with that girl.

He really cares.

16.03.12

Skype in the park with my grandparents this morning was absolutely delightful. The sun was out, I had my favourite jumper on, and they were exactly the same as real life. Nana read me the paper. I learnt a lot about the new pope. What a guy! I made Poppa laugh, and we had a great time. Public Skyping is where it's at.

Tonight was a fantastic St. Paddy's Day celebration. I saw live music! My first gig in Daegu. It felt incredible. The bands weren't the tightest, but they were just perfect for the bar they played in. We danced, sang along, and had a blast. Who would have thought I'd enjoy a Korean, U2 covers band?

Also, what the heck does it mean when someone pokes you on Facebook!? I'm completely at a loss.

The band wanted to be Solomon so badly.

I ordered this all for myself and couldn't finish it. White bread + cream + sugar + caramel + a scoop of icecream as big as my fist.

15.03.13

Today was gift giving day part 1. There were mixed reviews.

First up was the principal. Big deal! I went to his office after much fretting, and I gingerly knocked. He wasn't there! I couldn't try again! I wouldn't have the nerve.

Moments later he came around the corner and invited me in. He bowed a lot and told me to sit down. I bowed a lot but didn't sit down. Instead, I held out my gift and bowed some more. I said the words I had practiced which meant 'thankyou' and then smiled. He took it, smiled, bowed, said thank you and then proceeded to look around his office, narrating in fluent Korean. I did not understand a word. When he walked over to a table and picked up a packet of coffee to hand me he said some more things. I took the coffee, said, "have a nice day", bowed some more, said thank you, and left. I really hope that's what he wanted me to do.

The next gift was a box of coffee mix for the office. I thought I was being sneaky about it when I showed my co-teacher after lunch. Unfortunately she was with a group of other teachers and told me in hushed tones to keep it in my office for us and she'll just take a few to the other teachers' office. Either she's being sneaky and keeping it for herself, or I made a possible social faux pas. Probably a bit of both.

The vice-principal had left for the afternoon so that was an utter failure. 

Here's hoping Monday's better!

14.03.13

I have a favourite student. She has a mushroom haircut, glasses, and she laughs at my jokes. She's pretty much awesome. They were drawing pictures of their ideal boyfriends and she was tracing a guy off a picture on her phone. She's a hoot.

They all are.

Today was White Day. On Valentine's Day in Korea, girls get chocolate and lollies for the boys so White Day is a chance for the roles to swap. As one class was coming in and taking their seats, one boy was shifting uncomfortably in his. He finally got up, marched over to me and held out a lollipop accompanied by the words, "For you, teacher." It was a bit cute. And it definitely brightened my day.

Also, I got the shower ration right for a second night in a row!

13.03.13

Let it be know that today is the day I mastered the pressure to temperature ratio in my shower. It was a small, but very significant victory.

I had no classes today and so have prepared (almost) for the next two weeks. It feels ridiculously good.

12.03.13

These students are so much fun. I thought my lesson on introductions and greetings would be way too basic and boring, but the students actually loved it. They were talking and laughing and getting into it. I was well pleased!

The Ideal Boyfriend/Girlfriend lesson went better today too. They got into it and drew great pictures. I was teasing some students who drew more than one, that they wanted multiple boyfriends. It was hilarious. Some had their phones out and were tracing photos of celebrities. I really enjoyed helping them with sentences and laughing with them.

One girl drew her ideal boyfriend and I said he looked cute. She muttered under her breath, "and sexy" with a very determined tone. I was like, ok! He can be both if you want!

Also, I may have picked a favourite. She has great hair and enjoys my jokes. That's all I ask for in a student. 

11.03.13

 Today there was a lot of stress relating to technology, my stupid computer at school which hates internet and enjoys crashing, my stupid incompatible mac, which doesn't have powerpoint, and the world wide web, which is always letting me down!

One thing certainly made it better... a flippin' fantastic hot chocolate.

It was so good I got another one which warmed my belly on the walk home.

10.03.13

Waking up was made sweeter this morning by the fact that we had put Dani's two mattresses together on the floor last night and fallen into beauty sleep, slumber party style.

A severe lack of sleep left my eyes droopy and dry. After I applied some freshening collagen eye patches they felt so bright and happy. Definitely buying more of them! It was like a new day! For about an hour and then the subway to downtown unfreshed them and made them sleepy again.

We had a fun day with Gemma, walking around the shops. I drank the yummiest strawberry lemonade in existence. There was REAL strawberry pulp in it! It was in TGIF or a restaurant with a similar name. American place, massive chain. I can't remember though. It tasted like America. But it also left me bloated. My tummy isn't used to saturated fats anymore.

After a farewell to Lucy on a crowded subway, I sat in cafe and worked on my powerpoint for tomorrow morning. I'm never last-minuting things again!The day ended on a very high note when the lady at the coffee shop gave me a cookie with my hot chocolate, and I got a Skype with my brother.

I miss his singing! He sang me a song and it made me a little emotional, I'm not gonna lie.

The best beverage in the world.

09.03.13

Lucy came to Daegu today! It was really nice to see her. I was legitimately missing her.

The hang outs and dinners are absolutely fantastic, but they are always missing that Dublin flair. Her wit is unmatched.

We went out tonight, all night. That's a first for me. It was heaps of fun though. We found an awesome bar which was a highlight for me. It's called Organ, which is a bit strange, but it played great music, wasn't crowded, and the guy behind the bar looked super cool. I'mma go again.

In other news, I got bitten by something on my lip this morning. So weird. It swelled a little, but when I took photos it did not match up to the imagined puffy lips so here is a photo of me icing it on a frozen yaleto:

08.03.13

Friday! The end of my first full week as a teacher. I'm not gonna lie, it was a good feeling when that bell rang (the bell is a cute little tune and it is played every period, beginning and end - still loving it though - I definitely do a little head dance every time). Less good when I realized I don't have a powerpoint made for Monday yet. I'm gonna have to drink lots of coffee in cafe's with wifi this weekend to work on it.

I went straight from school to E-Mart and managed to underpay for my drink. We were all confused. The girls there helped me access the internet and I had a Skype with Mum and Dad, Amy and Von. It was fun. I'm getting over the public thing.
Some little kids wanted to sit in the background and watch for a bit. That was fine with everyone concerned. They were adorable.

For the first time since I got to Daegu I felt so far away from home today. I got one of those heart-dropping texts and I just wanted to be there. It feels so helpless to be so  distant with the only means of communication being frustratingly inconsistent.

But I bought a vacuum cleaner! That's definitely noteworthy. It was expensive, but I will never regret.

In other news, my students are getting bolder:

Maybe I won't wear this outfit again. 

But then again…

I choose to take it as a compliment.

I also got called a model, Nicole Kidman, and they said my face was small while they held up balled up fists (it's an attractive quality in Korea). If they keep it up, I'll give everyone A's

07.03.13

Spring is here! It made stepping out of school so sweet as the warmth washed over me. It was a beautiful still day, perfect for a stroll home.

All day I was looking forward to coming home and watching New Girl. I am doing really well. I'm nearly finished season 1 already and I only started yesterday. I reckon I should get an award for being so good at watching TV shows. This year I'm gonna clock the television.

Once again, my students are the best:

I am so badass.

I don't think she's enjoying herself

06.03.13

Today was another good one.

I only had three classes, all grade 1 and all before lunch. I thought I would get a whole heap of lesson planning done in the afternoon, but no...just as I was finished lunch, the lovely older English teacher came and started chatting. She kept saying, "ten more minutes?" It was great though because she's quite hilarious and I love talking about cultures and language and she had great stories.

On the way home I walked through the park by a kindergarten. There were kids playing an it made me smile. As I strolled down the road I heard a little high pitches voice say, "hello!" It belonged a gorgeous girl poking her head out of the car window. Her mum started driving off and she yelled, "bye!" very confidently.

Walking home from dinner tonight I looked up past the power lines and over the tops of the buildings to see three stars glimmering in the sky. It was such a beautiful, clear, warm evening (compared to the last few) and I couldn't help but be amazed that I've seen many more impressive displays in the night sky, but this was the first time I'd ever seen these particular stars. It was quite a moment.

More of my students writing cute stuff:

I thought this was a good twist on a classic.

Very many, thank you. I have ALL of the boyfriends.

And this class must have been right before lunch (in my intro I say that I like baking):

05.03.13

Today was a different day! I was dreading going to school and being bad at it again, but things changed. I don't know exactly what it was. Maybe it was going over respect and rules up front that made things easier, but they actually paid attention and got into it.

I also had lunch in the cafeteria and one of the other English teachers came and sat down and we chatted for ages. She's so great and she seems to be super open minded and just generally lovely. She never stops smiling and although she stumbles over her words sometimes, she carries on! I admire that so much!

That conversation made my day I think.

Also, this assortment of gorgeous questions:

And survey answers:

I'd just like to point out that the use of hangul here is genius. It is "ing".

04.03.13

Ohhhh man I came home feeling so dejected I ate a whole party mix packet.

It feels like my first day went pretty badly. I know I'm probably my own worst critic, but it was certainly not easy! The first class was so shy it was like pulling teeth, and then the second class was so rowdy I didn't know what to do.

Tomorrow better be easier!

Anyway, I met another teacher who is so great. She is the school counsellor and she can't wait to start the teachers class. Neither can I really. I think I'll enjoy it faaaaar more than the student classes if today is any indication.

I got the students to write down anonymous questions for me to answer, and these are some of the best so far:

This guy had an agenda I think.

And they also filled out surveys so I could approximate their level. Some of the finest:

So perfact!

03.03.13

It amazes me that being part of the wider church means that you have family wherever in the world you go. It was amazing to experience that this afternoon as I attended the only English speaking service in Daegu. Everyone was so welcoming and really nice. Taking communion all together was so unifying, and the benediction was a new experience for me, but quite powerful.

Another new experience for me today was skyping in a coffee shop. It was so strange, but I got over my shyness after a while. That is, until mum said "annyonghaseyo" loudly to the girl who walked past. Immediate mute!

I have had soooooo much coffee today. I mistakenly thought one shop had wifi and bought a coffee before I tested it out. I practically had to skull it so I could find another place before 5pm, the set time to see family. Ohh dear. I bought another one in the new place so now it's 7pm and my brain is buzzing. I'm never going to sleep tonight! The issue is that cafe latte is usually the only thing I can pronounce so the barista recognises.

While drinking a coffee in yet another shop this afternoon, I heard some throat clearing so I turned around to see a lady with a piece of pizza in her hand. She indicated for me to take it so I did. It was delicious! Just what I wanted for lunch. It completely made my day that much brighter.

Korea is just getting better.

We shall see how I feel after a full day of teaching tomorrow. Eek!

02.03.13

Tonight we wandered a bit downtown through the streets and settled on eating Mexican. I felt like I was cheating, eating familiar food so soon. It was pretty yum though, and had enough of a Korean vibe with the disco lights, smoke machine, and blaring music. They sang this girl happy birthday and it was absolutely crazy. A birthday song came on, everyone clapped along (NOT on the backbeat, of course), and there were sparklers involved.

A few other things made my day today. I found a cosy cafe across the road with wifi for when mine isn't on. I didn't figure out how to order actual food so I just had a coffee. That'll be the next step.

When I bought groceries, the man gave me a genuine smile to say goodbye. He wasn't afraid of me, like some. He was just lovely.

Also, on closer inspection, my flat is actually pretty gross. I started wiping down the tiles and it was like one of those ads. The difference was shocking. I moved the gas hobs and discovered a whole lot of food and grease. I shoved it back because it was time to leave, but I'm pretty sure it's going to haunt me unless I remove it and scrub it all down.

01.03.13

It is so nice to have Dani, a lovely American girl from orientation, in my area. We live a ten minute walk from each other, and I met up with her this morning so we could tackle the shops together. We bought irons, clothing racks, pots, pans, and baskets together. We communicated, paid, caught the subway, and found our way together. I loved having the company.

I felt like the odd one out yesterday quite a bit in a sea of black hair, but Dani's blonde company made it easier to be a minority.

Everything is quite easy considering no one really speaks English beyond "hello".

We went into downtown to meet up with a few others and eat dinner. It was great fun. The streets were bustling, wifi was everywhere, and shops devoted to headbands, socks, phone cases, glasses, and many more things were open to browse through.

Dinner was the most delicious thing I've had in a long time. Korean food really is even better in actual Korea. I didn't think it was possible!

Snacks at the subway station.

Rachel loves her new french fries socks.

28.02.13

The lack of internet in my apartment found me in a PC Bang (room) in between two teenaged Korean guys, one of which was smoking constantly while he killed people onscreen. As I was chatting to friends back home I would hear laughter, swearing, whooping, and yelling from various parts of the room. It was quite a strange experience.

When it was time to leave I waited outside the elevator and was taken aback by a huge group of boys, packed like sardines into the lift. Some even had to reverse out. When they saw me they double-took in shock and grinned. One of the pluckier ones managed a "hello", another said "how are you?"  It was so friendly and a very amusing welcome to the city of Daegu.

My apartment:

27.02.13

Today was the most tiring of all. We each did our lesson demonstrations to the rest of the class, which meant, as students we played a million games, said a hundred sentences over and over, and gave each teaching team enthusiasm and excitement.

By the end of it, Lucy and I were getting very silly. It was hilarious though, and I could feel myself being more like me.

To begin with at this orientation I've been quite reserved. Friendly, but not the complete weirdo I usually am. Today a slice of the inner crazy came out. It felt good to be comfortable enough to be myself. I'm gonna miss Lucy a lot when we go to our different cities tomorrow.
 

26.02.13

Tonight we could have gone out to cabin house with everyone else, but Lucy and I opted for mask making in the dorm instead. Chris joined us and provided many a humorous anecdote to entertain us.

I had a whole lot of fun and do not regret staying in at all. I have a beautiful mask and extra friendship points to show for it.

25.02.13

Back to lectures today. This time they were slightly less entertaining, although the last class was great. He had us in fits as he described his experience of learning English as a child.

In one of the lesson slots today we did taekwondo. They got in the national team to train us. It was so much fun. We were all pretty rubbish so we just had a laugh.

Epik has really spoiled us. Their aim has been to make us feel like royalty, and they certainly have! The national team, the food, the friendly staff, the amazing lecturers… it has all been amazing.

24.02.13

My feet have never been so cold as they were today. Walking physically hurt. It was so strange. I could have sworn there was ice in my shoes. I am investing in warmer socks asap!

But we had a pretty good time strolling around the historic folk village. It's crazy to think how old everything is. They were actual houses which were lived in by actual people. So cool.

Aaaaaaand there were donkeys. My new friend Lucy loved the donkeys. Ok, we both did!

Lucy ecstatic about the donkey.

23.02.13

Today was easier because I feel like we knew what we were in for. When it was time for our Korean class to start at 7, we were less tired because we had paced ourselves better.

When I got back to my room, I even did some study. I'm really catching on to this Korean spirit! I tried to translate a card from Bryan which he wrote completely in hangul (Korean letters). I did a very poor job, and of course, I can put it in the English alphabet, but still have no idea what it means.

Ahhhh well! I'll get there one day. It did feel very cool to be able to read out loud the Korean alphabet, even if it's still gibberish to me.

22.02.13

Day 1 of lectures began with much excitement, but by 8:45pm when I returned to my dorm, it was replaced by sheer exhaustion.

I learnt so much and crammed my brain so full that the only way to chill out was, of course, going a noraebang (karaoke room).

It was fantastic, although I didn't get to sing Kpop because no one I was with would have appreciated it.

We were in a sealed room, which made it less than pleasant when a couple of people I was with lit up cigarettes and kept one in their hand the entire time. That's a lot of smoke! I got back and absolutely stank. Korea really should make it illegal to smoke inside.

In other news, it snowed today! I got so excited.

21.02.13

The day I had dreaded was here. My fears had been realized. It was time for my medical and the blood test of my nightmares. They always make me a tad queasy.

That's an understatement.

While it was pretty awful, it was over, and we got to eat food, finally!

At the opening ceremony I sat next to a lovely Scottish girl. I hope that we can be friends.

Everyone here is pretty great. I've met so many different accents. No New Zealanders yet, but it's ok because standing with a group of South Africans made me feel like I was home.

20.02.13

I hope it's normal to have several, "What the heck am I doing, I don't want to do this anymore!" moments when you're thousands of kilometers above the Earth, hurtling at top speed towards a distant destination full of unknowns.

That certainly was the case for me today.

It probably wasn't a grrrrreat idea to read cards and letters when I had so much time to think about it all. I have had so much encouragement and my heart is full of love. It makes me wonder why I'm leaving it all.

Despite these crazy thoughts, on the bus to my orientation venue, as I looked out the window to see the skyline of Korea pass by in colourful neons, I regained that sense of excitement. Quite quickly it turned to a sense of sleep, but I am on a crazy adventure, and I just need to have fun.

19.02.13

This was the hardest day of my life so far.

It started out great with some card making and a date with Amy, but it all changed as soon as I saw my grandparents.

I managed to mostly keep it together for Nan. She was telling me about this bible verse she couldn't find and what it means for me when I felt my eyes get hot. Walking down the corridor was tough.

I gathered myself before I went to see Poppa in the hospital wing. It was no use though because I was even more of a mess as soon as I took his hand. The hardest thing was saying goodbye and not knowing if I would get the chance to ever again. He acknowledged it in words and we said I love you, voices breaking, while I held him tight.

I just had to get out of there so I squeezed his hand, said a hasty goodbye and turned away.

It messed with my head and my heart the rest of the day. I was barely keeping it together. Only because of friends and prayer did I manage to contain all that emotion that had been stirred up.

Saying goodbye when you know you'll see someone again is easy in comparison to the likelihood that it's your last chance.

18.02.13

Late tonight I popped around to the Collinses to say goodbye to Wiz.

I walked into their kitchen and she gave me a hug, then Lucy joined on the other side and we got a bit sentimental. I think we said some things and then I was about to get too emotional. It was the shaky voice, on the verge of real tears experience.

Luckily we got distracted enough to save ourselves from jumping off that cliff!

But it was a special moment that I will remember.

17.02.13

All day I couldn't stop thinking about how much effort so many people put into making yesterday so special.

My mum and dad spent this morning at the Elley's picking up rubbish, hosing down tables, packing up chairs and the barbecue to make it all tidy again. They've gone to so much trouble and I hope they know how much I appreciate it.

Along with that, people made salads and brought sweet things. Some even brought both!

I've decided that I'm an acts of service kind of a girl, and this was an overwhelming expression of love that I'm still getting over.

Not to mention innumerable hugs and kisses!

16.02.13

Today was the day of my leaving party. I felt incredibly blessed to have so many amazing friends who dropped in throughout the evening and afternoon. The Elley family did so much to clean up their property and host us all. It was the perfect afternoon, sipping Dad's lemonade and just hanging out with different groups of people. I have had so many hugs!

The most remarkable moment of the day was actually on the drive there. Dad's favourite, Lecrae was blasting in the car and I was thinking about the lyrics of Background when we noticed these bikers ahead. One of them was wearing a jacket with a patch that read, "The Redeemed". They were Christian bikers and so proud of it. That, coupled with the song was enough for me to have one of those profound moments that sometimes overcome you. I don't know what I learnt exactly, something about God being in control and trusting Him as well as not being ashamed of Him. If these guys could be so proud of their faith in a really tough gang culture, surely I can in my everyday life.

15.02.13

I fiiiinally completed the 17-module pre-orientation course, and passed the test with 100%. I don't think I've ever done that before, and although it was an open book test, I was still chuffed as anything. I didn't even look up most of the answers.

The girls came over tonight and tore through my wardrobe, claiming bits and pieces for themselves. I'm so glad that they got what they did. I love how excited they were about their purchases, and I feel so happy that they'll love the clothes.

14.02.13

Lindsay made my valentines day complete by giving me a box of Sweetheart candies. I pulled out my first heart with great anticipation to read the sentiment, only to find that it was absolutely blank. We had a laugh about the possible meaning and my hopelessness before baking the most delicious biscuits of my life.

This evening was a very special dinner with the Turnbulls. One of my all-time favourite things to do is eat yummy food at their place and sit on their couch. We always have great chats and loads of laughs. 

I made Korean which went down a treat (always a confidence booster), we played charades with Milla beene, and ate a whole lot of sweet things. To top it all off, we watched Project Runway with a bowl of pink ambrosia.

A beautiful Valentines day, I think.

13.02.13

We had dinner with the Elley's as a family tonight and on the way home we got a bit silly. By 'we' I mean Mum, Daniel, and myself. Dad's far too mature. It's always hilarious when Mum gets laughing. She has a high pitched giggle and she can't stop once she's started. Dan and I were tickling her from the backseat and she was just hysterical. Dad was trying to drive, and mock unimpressed with the whole thing.

Just a typic car ride with the Ward family.

12.02.13

I said a final goodbye to two friends today.

This morning I had a great breakfast with Esther in Takapuna. We talked about a whole lot of things. She's another old friend whom I love to see every now and again. She was wearing great coral pants. I always feel loved by her. She's got a way of warming you up. That sounds weird.

This afternoon I had a cup of tea and a little walk with Michelle. Every moment felt a little shrouded by the impending farewell. She's a good friend and I am going to miss her a whole lot. I'm so sad to be missing out on important moments in her life this coming year, but I know we'll remain close even if we are living apart.

Driving home was a bit melancholy and I came the closest to tears along this journey yet. A little part of what I'm about to do was hitting me. It was momentary though, as I suppressed it soon enough. I'm not quite ready to ride that wave of emotion quite yet.

11.02.13

Tonight Lucy and I said goodbye to a group of close friends, and in her case, a lover.

Freaks and Geeks is over.

The second time through is just as good, and the finale has some of the best moments of the series.

I have loved sharing the laughs with Lucy, and giggling every time Daniel (James Franco, aka. the perfect man) comes onscreen. It's been so fun to have an excuse to hang out lots. I love that girl!

10.02.13

The annual football showdown between Northcross and Windsor was this afternoon.

I had been looking forward to this for weeks. I love watching football, and this game was a great one.

Typical of Christian sports, there were fouls, penalties, yellow cards, and lots of yelling. It's all fun though and we can be friends afterwards.

Of course, Northcross took it out for the second year with a 2-1 win.

Better be the same next year!

09.02.13

This was the day of two fantastic tea parties, and an amazing evening with Amy. The whole day was remarkable really, so here it is:

Tea Party #1
Lucy  Collins made a beautiful hostess, and her Sims house, the perfect backdrop for a bunch of ladies in floral dresses to eat delightful homebaked goodies and sip on pink lemonade in the sun.
It really was the best old fashioned tea party I've ever seen, with so much effort in the preparation of the treats, and an atmosphere of friendship. I feel like we celebrated being females and had a ball.

Tea Party #2
Cindy's birthday was a great occasion for an intimate little afternoon tea. She had bought us each a very delicious cupcake, and Alysha had made some paper heart bunting to add to the festivities. It looked so dainty and really felt special. They had picked flowers for the table, gave us each a jar for iced tea, and even made us place cards! We took so many photos and laughed so much. Man, I love those girls!

Date Night
Amy and I felt so lethargic when we got back to mine. After the food had all settled down from the lounging on the couch, we decided it was Indian for dinner. I love Indian! It was quite romantic and we talked about all the fun things. On the way home it was decided that we were going to swim, and swim we did. I think it would have made it into top 5 night swims for me. There was slight phosphorescence, and I could see my feet in the very dim light. We shivered our way to Elliot's where I was introduced to the game of Ligretto which is now one of my faves. I'm gonna get real good and beat Elliot one time.

08.02.13

It was Cindy's birthday today. We went out on a bubble tea date and she taught me some Korean things that I may need to know. To be honest, my retention wasn't very great, but I appreciate it all the same.

We had a grand time taking selcas and being Korean. I'm going to miss her vibrance and energy a whole lot.

07.02.13

Sorting out my clothes was a very scary exercise. Deciding what to take, what to keep, and what to get rid of was a bit emotional.

For me, the clothes I own are so attached to memories of camping trips, that time I saw that person, swimming on a hot day, going to gigs, and various other people and places. They conjure up feelings, and it was a lot harder to let go of them than I anticipated.

The most difficult was holding up items that I've stolen of my brother's, that have a remnant of his smell, and deciding whether or not to take them in their slightly stained, moth-eaten states.

The answer was yes, definitely.

06.02.13

Today. What a day! I was so social, and the weather was so typically a Kiwi Summer's day - perfect for Waitangi Day.

This morning, after a frustrating phone call to Apple, I went to catch up with Jono in Kingsland. It was so great to see him and hear about his trip to the US. I love seeing old friends that I've known for ages. It's so familiar and nostalgic.

I couldn't believe it when I looked at the time and we had been chatting for two whole hours!

After another loooooooong conversation to Apple about my phone, I saw Lindsay and we made a pavlova to take to the Kiwiana night at Kirsten's. It was delicious, and such a good evening to celebrate being a kiwi (Kirsten and I were the only ones). Gotta eat as many pineapple lumps as I can before I'm off!

05.02.13

Ahh man I love Amy Lloyd.

It's so cool that we can hang out after long periods of time and still be good friends. I miss the days of seeing here every second day, but it's always good to catch up these days.

We ate amazing ice cream and strolled along Takapuna beach, chatting about our lives, before running errands together.

Doing errands with friends is one of my favourite things. It's like real life and I reckon in those mundane tasks, the beauty of companionship is at its finest.

04.02.13

I absolutely love it when vivid food memories are still reality today.

Rose and I went to the favourite restaurant of our teenage years, where would have many 'grown-up' nights out with our school friends and spend money we earned at our Saturday retail jobs.

The place looked like it had changed hands, but the food was exactly the same, if not better. It was such a relief!

03.02.13

Before today I had never ever had to stop the car in order to chunder on the side of the road.

Added to the mix this morning was a bit of nausea, which is faaaaantastic when you've got a 4 hour journey ahead. I threw up about 2 minutes before getting into the car, and approximately a few times on the hour following that.

It really was lovely.

Despite of this, I felt like eating Burger Fuel so badly when it got to dinner time. I felt confident about keeping it down. I love it when cravings are fulfilled, and that Basic Chick really hit the spot.

02.02.13

Mum and I went to the cutest little farmers market today and bought homegrown garlic, capsicum, and beetroot from a lovely lady.

Unfortuately I was feeling poos so I went to bed the rest of the day. Slightly napping is the greatest feeling. It's nice to wake up from.

01.02.13

Mangonui is full of beauty.

There were these cheeky little moths that disguised themselves as mini monarch butterflies. They were fluttering around by the path down to the beach and I thought they were just babies. But they were tricking!

31.01.13

I have a hilarious family. My brother is great fun. As I was taking photos, he pulled down his pants to moon me. Mum saw and was chasing him down the street, trying to cover his offensive butt cheeks. Dad strode on ahead, trying to ignore all the fuss.

30.01.13

Walks, stunning views, family fun, yummy wine.

29.01.13

I have a great family. We spent 4 hours in the car together on the way to Mangonui in the far North. It was just good fun chillin. Mum held this vase of flowers the whole way which was a bit ridiculous and I had been looking forward to eating one of these fudge chocolates, but alas, when we broke them open and bit into them, they were so disappointing! They tasted like they'd been expired for years. Oh man. Mum and her hiding chocoaltes away until they are forgotten!

28.01.13

I love reading.

Today I experienced a whole lot of it, and even finished a book that I've had for a very long time. It feels like quite an accomplishment as it's a classic, and a great book to have under my belt. "The Beautiful and Damned," by F. Scott Fitzgerald. A masterpiece.

27.01.13

It's been a while since I've been so touched by a message. Carl Lentz did an amazing job of the preaching this morning. I was blown away.

There wasn't any theological revelation, endorsed by the most prestigious seminary school. It was just pure truth, spoken to human beings who needed to hear it.

I needed it most.

I walked out of mainstage kind of like I walked out of that Sufjan Stevens concert years ago. Like my brain needed time to comprehend what had just happened, and until it did, there shouldn't be any unnecessary noise to taint it.

26.01.13

I love it when music is mindblowingly good.

Today there were three acts that really stood out.

In chronological order:

Louie the Zu drips swaggoo. He's amazing. For such a young guy to command such authority over the stage, his lyrics, and the audience was powerful. He did an amazing song with Lydia which was out of this world. It was beyond fantastic.

I enjoyed Lecrae a surprising amount. Not that I didn't like him to begin with, but it's hard to imagine how a rapper can be dynamic enough onstage without a full band. He definitely delivered!He did some awesome dances and bounced around the stage with his sidekick, Cannon. Lucy and I marvelled at his stature and broad shoulders. He did not disappoint.

Tom Lark was always going to be one of my faves. Unfortunately they got stuck with the same timeslot as Switchfoot so there weren't that many people there, but that meant the ones who were, were quality. We danced like loons and sang along. It was great fun.

25.01.13

To say I like things to be done my way is a bit of an understatement. I hate being in situations outside of my control.

Such was the case as we were lined up at the gate, about to enter Parachute 2013. The boys finally had the tents and strict instructions to lay EVERYTHING out so we got enough space for all of us. It was very stressful to rely on them, the two most peaceful guys to fight off encroaching neighbours.

They did a great job, it turned out, and we were very happily and spaciously accommodated. I love it when things work out just how I like them.

24.01.13

This day has been the most earth-shatteringly exhausting days of my life. However, I have completed all of the necessary tasks involved in moving out and cleaning up the Manja house, grocery shopping, packing for Parachute, and all that goes along with it.

The only rest I had was a quick cup of tea at 10pm before bedtime.

But it's all done! Except maybe washing and walking Manja, nut Jesslynn would love to do that right??

21.01.13

Oh man, I am in a fragmented state of relief, shock, excitement, and terror right now, upon receiving a letter of acceptance for the EPIK programme.

I have a job in a school in Daegu, Korea's third largest city. It is an absolute miracle, seeing as a week prior to my documents reaching them, there were only 10 placements left. God had my back this whole time.

If there's anything I've learnt so far, it's that if God tells me He's gonna make something happen, He will. Throughout this process, I've had a gut feeling that I'm meant to be in Korea in February, and that EPIK is the only way to go. It's been very tough to believe it can happen, especially over these past few days.

But He is God and I am not. He alone is faithful. I am so pleased that He is despite my lack of trust at times.

20.01.13

I was having a relaxing afternoon, reading outside when a magical thing happened.

I noticed a tiny flutter of orange out of the corner of my eye and watched as a Monarch Butterfly swooped gracefully in the air around my legs and glided off to perch on a leaf across the garden.

It was the most vibrant colour I've seen on a butterfly of its kind, and a beautiful omen of hope if ever I saw one.

I can't believe something so graceful only has three days to make the most of its own freedom and beauty before it becomes part of the earth forever.

In other news, I received a very exciting text about being in a Tom Lark music video. I can't even pretend I was cool about it. An urgent feeling rushed over me and I had to go and tell everyone who was still at church. Unfortunately, I couldn't go, but having the option is almost just as boastworthy.

19.01.13

I went to a gig tonight. The first in a long time. It was glorious.

There were so many people I knew an awkward amount. Too little to be sure that they'd recognize me and remember my name, and too much to ignore them without being rude.

I went for the ignoring route though.

Ahhh, I'm not so good with certain human encounters like that. One day I'll grow out of it maybe.

The music was lovely, and hearing Farah Loux mixed right and excited about their music was so much fun.

18.01.13

Oh boy today was a great day. Lucy and I picked up some chickens from Thames for her mum. We met up with Bryan in the township and ate in a very disgusting food court.

He managed to convince us to go to his uncle's mansion, where we hung out, took pictures, and dreamed of living in such luxury. When we became quite concerned about the chickens we decided to leave and head back home.

After a lovely dip in the pool I got home and Amy shared some very exciting news with me.

It was so much fun to have that particular conversation. It's been a while. What a happy conversation to have too!

16.01.13

My family is the best in the world.

I don't know how dinner tonight was so much fun. We just make each other laugh with almost every sentence. Dan has his funny gags, Dad makes dry jokes, Mum says silly things, and I soak it all in.

I am truly blessed. I will miss them a lot this year.

15.01.13

I hung out with Yvonne tonight. It was a lot of fun to just chill in her room, sharing files and taking silly photos.

I love when you can just do nothing much together and you come away feel like it was a bonding experience.

Perhaps it was our shared taste in engagement rings that made me feel that. We did some research. Just to be prepared.

14.01.13

I love it when Amy and I are thinking the same thing at the same time. It was meant to be our big camping adventure today, but the weather was looking pretty tragic.

As I was getting ready to meet her, I was glancing outside and thinking that it might be quite miserable to set up a tent in the drizzle. 

When she arrived, one of the first things she said was, "Do you think the weather is too gross to go? Maybe we should just stay here?"

And I was so happy!

Sometimes we don't say stuff like that and change plans because we think the other person wants to do it. I'm so glad it didn't happen this time though.

13.01.13

Today was a remarkable day, but most of all for Eleanor, who decided to hand her life over to God tonight.

She will never forget this day as the moment it all clicked. It made sense that life isn't meant to be lived in a purposeless pursuit of pleasure, but for God, who is the author and creator of all things. That's where true fulfillment lies.

I am so excited that this is where her journey begins. True life starts now!

I got to be a part of the celebration as she and Lucy came to visit after church. Over tea we talked about our lives and after a divinely inspired suggestion from Lucy, we prayed for each other.

I know I needed it so badly, and it was so profound to sit in the presence of God with two special people, and talk to him together.

12.01.13

Lance and Saskia got married today. It's a crazy concept, that humans are called to selflessly devote themselves to another human for their whole lives. It's quite scary actually!

The whole thing was super hot (heat) and super charming. She looked beautiful, and he looked very dapper. His face was struggling to keep composed as she walked towards him.

I think weddings are so special because two people have chosen to be vulnerable towards each other in front of a whole crowd of people.

11.01.13

Tonight was sleepover night, and goodness me Amy and I became 14 year old girls again. We were up until very late giggling about boys. I am slightly ashamed, but also very amused.

It was a whole lot of fun though, and totally worth the lack of sleep!

10.01.13

Today was hot like no other day so far. The air was so thick you could feel it all around you, and everything was sticky.

Last Summer was definitely not like this, but I am certainly not complaining! I even appreciate the instant scorching sensation from touching the steering wheel in my car.

This afternoon I had to go to church to help Links and Sam out with a few things, and it was a very strange feeling. It was not entirely pleasant. I sat at my old desk waiting for them to get out of a meeting and thought about how it's not my desk anymore. I got quite sad actually.

The sadness mingled with nostalgia weighed heavy like the stifling heat.

It's weird how emotions can take physical form.

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How did I forget to write about the most amazing natural phenomenon of my life!?

Tonight after jamming, Amy, Von, Michael and myself went for a swim in the dark at Browns Bay beach. As Michael dove under I noticed his hands glowing in the water. There was the most incredible phosphoresence I have ever seen.

As soon as we moved in the water, our limbs would send a few sparks of pale blue light into the water. The faster we paddled, the deeper and brighter the colour became and we could make our hands disappear into a glow like neon.

It was indescribable.

09.01.13

This evening I went to a potluck dinner at Michelle's house. It was really great to hang out with a group of girls I don't normally. They are beautiful ladies, and so easy to laugh with.

Plus they're all pretty domesticated so we had a whole lot of delicious food, including whipped jelly!

It was so light and fluffy. When you had it in your mouth you could hear all the little bubbles popping. We even had to turn down the music so everyone could hear it properly.

08.01.13

Busan is full.

This whole Korea thing is requiring a whole lot more faith than I'm used to having.

I think there might be a bit of necessary obedience involved too.

Aigoo.

07.01.13

Oh. My. Word.

Lindsay and I went on this MEGA walk today.

It was a lovely time, going down to Browns Bay and then back again.

Just before the hill, I saw a wee pathway so I suggested we take a slight detour and see where it led to.

Well... another pathway and more than a few stairs later, we came out quite far from home. We weren't sure how far until the corners turned into more corners and the road sign we were looking for seemed miles in the distance.

It was a lovely time though. Poor Manja slept the rest of the afternoon.

06.01.13

It was great to sit next to Nina at Windsor this morning. It's nice to think that a small gesture and a bit of conversation could really make someone's day.

Even if she did think I was someone else the whole time. Being mistaken for Annie HJ isn't such a bad thing at all.

05.01.13

Lucy Collins is a ray of sunshine. This evening as she plonked down in an armchair; apologizing profusely for this, that, and the other, and described her tales of woe getting back to Auckland with an empty radiator and a burglar alarm that would not stop, Lindsay and I looked on with awe and bemusement.

In other news, the pond is fixed! Dad came over and saved the day! Good thing too, because there was a moldy sparrow floating on the top and the fish weren't even visible through the algae which had built up! It's such a relief to hear the constant trickle of the fountain.

04.01.13

This morning I got up, made my coffee and started a new book, The Hobbit.

The sun was warm and it was a very peaceful way to start the day.

Holidays are just the best thing.

03.01.13

Today was the sad day I had to leave Matapouri. One last thing before we left though... the Headland Track. It's a lovely walk over the ridges and cliffs, looking out to the vast ocean and back on the township. There are even patches through the bush!

Even though the weather was getting miserable, it was still really great.

02.01.13

Paul Collins is a great man who just does not stop going! Us girls walked around to Pebbly Bay and he took the kayak all the way around the point to meet us there. It was a bit of a nail biter as he navigated the huge rocks and swells on the way in. Some boys never grow out of their daredeviling.

I had a bit of a paddle in the safer waters around the rocks and saw through the crystal water to the bottom. It was truly beautiful.

01.01.13

This morning we got up at a reasonable time and took breakfast to the beach. We sat under a tree and ate homemade nutella on bread, and drank coffee from a flask.

It was great fun, and the vast ocean made an amazing backdrop with it's beautiful blue/green hue.