1. It’s been years, too many years, since I last saw my childhood friend Cameron. We’ve been friends since grade 3. Today he picked me up for lunch and I couldn’t help but laugh at how big he’s got. He’s no longer that super skinny little kid anymore.
2. We headed out to Kelsey’s Restaurant where we reminisced about our school days together and what our fellow classmates are now up to. Many of our friends got married and now have kids. I was surprised to hear that Ryan Babcock, the school cocky-hottie, got married! I laughed and said, “Wow, someone finally tamed him”. Cameron corrected me though and said, “No, he finally found someone who’d put up with his ####”… ha, ha, ha. So true!!!
3. Cam and I ventured over to our old high school, Anderson C.V.I. It felt so strange walking down the halls after so many years! I was eager to see if my favourite highschool teacher, Mr. Scott, was there. Almost all of my teachers have since retired but Mr. Scott was there!!! I was so happy to see him and so I gave him a huge hug!
4. Back in the day when I was in grade 12, I had to do a huge independent study unit (project) for Mr. Scott’s geography class. I did my project on Poland and for my presentation I did a mock bus trip to Poland.. it was super creative and fun. I had worked my butt off trying to do a wicked presentation and, in the end, everyone was impressed. Cool. Turns out Mr. Scott STILL has the name tag I made him for my presentation… wow! I was so flattered!
5. Got a call from my homegirl, Jenn. She just landed in Canada today and so we made plans for Wednesday… cool! It’s so wild to think of the fact that we originally met in Korea but live in neighbouring cities here in Canada. I guess it’s not such a big world after all!
6. Did some shopping at the Oshawa Shopping Center today. Picked up some great pants and three pairs of shoes.
7. Ran into my mom’s friends, the P’s. It was their daughter Lea’s birthday and so they were at this teddy bear store. This store is so wild. The deal is you pick a teddy bear and then they stuff it for you, or “bring it to life” as they say. You then have to register it in the store so that they can print out a birth certificate for it. Then you go and pick out clothes for it. But that’s not where it stops… you can buy it shoes, glasses, a cell phone, diapers, blankets, a stroller… and the list goes on! It’s quite the experience…ㅋㅋㅋ.. and quite the expense!
8. Despite all my memories, friends, family and what-not that I should miss in Canada, I’d give it all up to be back in Korea RIGHT NOW… seriously. Shopping with my mom always turns into some kind of argument and so I showed up home all teary eyed. I told her I’m not coming back to Canada next year and then kept silent the rest of the night.
9. I wish I was laying on my floor at home with Mi Nam trying to lick my face, Kim Tae speaking Konglish and me having not a care in the world. Instead, I’m freezing my butt off, my cat Scrappy-Joe is sneezing in my face and the only sight of any yummy Korean food is the ramian I packed in my bag.
10. I know, I know… I should enjoy my time here. It’s great to see my dad and catch up with old friends but, like the custom’s officer said quite clearly, Canada is not my home.
QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What country do I belong to?
QUOTE OF THE DAY...
The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.
-- Elisabeth Foley
As the story has it, one day I headed to the opposite side of the globe – the Flipside. I arrived in Korea February 16th, 2005 and thought I’d do a year, then leave. I was wrong. I stayed, launched my first company, Flipside Fitness, and then opened Korea's largest boxing club, Hulk's Boxing (now called Hulk's Club).
After 11.5yrs in Korea, I then picked up one day and returned to Toronto, Canada. But then I left again.
Now I live in the Philippines where I am the CEO and head coach of Empowered Clubhouse, the Philippines' first and only boxing clubhouse exclusively just for women. I also am the founder of the Lil' Sistas Project, CEO and designer of Slay Gear and Baa Baa Black Sheep .Ph.
1 comment:
I know exactly how you feel. It's hard the first few days back but before long you'll begin
re-adjusting and then before you know it you'll be crying 'cause you have to leave. At least that's what I went through, every time.
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