1. I figure that calling my new friend "Mr. Money Bags" isn't exactly nice and sounds kind of disrespectful to him and so today I've officially changed his name to the "Mr. Cheonan Trump"... he definitely is the Donald Trump of Cheonan. Today I headed over to his office, early in the morning, for a nice morning cup of tea.
2. He was 30 minutes late and so I waited in his private office. While waiting, I got a chance to chat a little with his secretary. She's a sweet lady, a little bit older than me, who speaks a little bit of English. She had made me green tea and brought me cookies. I couldn't help but give a little giggle when I saw what cookies she had brought me. There I sat, in this million dollar building surrounded by nothing but luxury and expensive style, eating the very cookies that my mom use to give me back when I was a child.
3. As I sat there waiting, I couldn't help but overhear the commotion in the hall. Mr. Cheonan Trump's secretary quickly rushed in and told me to follow her up to the 13th floor. Turns out some lady had come in for an appointment and her husband arrived home drunk only to find an empty house. Well, he found her here and so he made quite the scene. He was yelling and was all over the place but it was quickly brought to an end when 5 of the men working here literally tackled him down and dragged his drunk butt out the door. Wow!
4. Fridays are always long days for me at school but, with my morning tea time with Mr. Cheonan Trump, my classes, office hours and my plans to celebrate Carmen's birthday after work, I had an exceptionally long day planned. Two cups of coffee later though, I was all pumped for my last class of the day.
5. One of my students, Ross, from my elite Friday class couldn't make it in time and so he joined up with me for my evening class. I consider him to be a quite mature guy for his age and honestly, I feel more like his friend than his teacher. You see, in his class there's only 3 students and so it's quite a relaxed learning environment. I tend to be an open and honest person and so in class we usually talk a lot about what's going on in each other's lives. Tonight, after class, Ross and I walked around and talked about various things, one of which was relationships. He had mentioned that I seemed much happier now, now that I am single. I think he's right.
6. Rushed off to Yawoori to meet up with Carmen. We had made plans to celebrate her birthday together. Upon arriving, I totally realized that I hadn't got her a birthday cake, I felt terrible. I consider Carmen to be my closet foreign friend here and so I really should have been more considerate. Hmm...
7. Sean from work joined us and so off we went to Carmen's favorite fish restaurant where we were greeted by the cute smiley older woman who owns it. I don't know what was up with Sean tonight but wow, he was so funny. He was acting all silly and so between the three of us, we had quite the funny conversation at the dinner table.
8. After dinner, we headed over to this super funky hangout. Ki Dong came out to join us and so that was cool. Besides the one time we all went to the movies together, this is the only other time I've ever really hung out with my co-workers. I know I should do it more, after all, I do like my co-workers but I think my problem is I'm just a homebody who really likes to keep to myself.
9. Anyway, Ki Dong and Sean saved the day by sneaking out to get a birthday cake for Carmen. They made up this silly lie about having to go see some Korean hotties and instead came back with a cake. The staff turned off all the lights and so it was quite a scene when we lit up the cake. The place was packed and it was pretty cool to see all eyes on Carmen and everyone clapping for her as they blasted their birthday song on the stereo.
10. Later on two more of my co-workers, Johnny and Sandy, joined up with us. They had brought some friend with them and so now we had a big party going on. Carmen said she didn't want to make a big deal about her birthday but I think everyone likes to be admired and appreciated on their day. I remember my first birthday here in Korea. I didn't think anyone remembered, especially my Korean friends. I had headed off to the gym for training but as I went to go leave, some of my friends working there stopped me. They sung happy birthday to me, gave me a massive bouquet of flowers and presented me with a cake. It was awesome and I ended up crying because I was so touched.
QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Where will I be when I'm 30?
QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Age is a matter of feeling...not of years.
-- George William Curtis
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.
2 comments:
first, before i comment on this entry, ill respond to previous comments:
-i believe the hug-shortage is like how the stock works. its goes way up, then way down. ever since that video of "free hugs" we've all been doomed!
-what i meant by so many entrys at once was, more so like when you were at that one library not too long ago. i have everything i love to read, but theres so much, itll take awhile to read.
im curious, whats you "relation" to "C Trump"? i mean, why does he have private tea-time with you? i understand how he knows someone you know, but i dont think i understand fully, please explain ><
i remember when i was reading your WAY old posts, and you had your first Korean b-day! that was a "post to remember"
much love,
bram
Yo Bram...
Are you the ONLY one reading my homepage?!!
Damn...
Ok.. so let me comment now on your comments on my comments... hehehe.
Ya, the hug shortage hit me hard this year. I thought being single would score me more hugs but I guess word has got out that I'm one tough chick and so I seem to be repelling the good guys... hehehe.
As for the Cheonan Trump... that's kind of a secret. Let's just say, I'm building up my status here and I'll continue scratching his back so that one day, if I need him to scratch my back, I'll be able to have it.
Do you remember when I was in Canada this past January.. when my passport got stolen?! Well... how do you think I got a passport in one week as oppose to waiting the 3 month period like the other Canadians?!!!
And how do you think I passed through Korea's customs without being questioned about my work visa that was stolen... hmmmm.
I'm familiar with a very influential woman in my hometown and her even more powerful husband, and here in Korea, I was able to call upon a man who's very respected and powerful in the Korean army. One phone call to him and I was able to walk right into Korea with no problems.
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't illegal when I came here, nor am I now, no. But the thing was my passport that got stolen while I was in Canada on vacation had my work visa in it and well, that's a huge deal. A work visa legally gives the bearer the right to work and live in that country for a year. Losing it wasn't just a matter of getting another one, oh no!
So,.. I'm just watching my back and seeing what doors it may open for me in the future.
I'm so done with hanging out with people that require me to give, give, give....
I'm no gold digger by any means, oh no, BUT, I do see the importance in smoozing with some elite people. It's definitely making my life in Korea a lot more interesting too.
Mr Cheonan Trump wants to practice his English with me and so in exchange, I get to smooze with the elite and powerful. It puts me in a very, very, sweet position and could lead to some pretty sweet opportunities and awesome experiences.
He's a really, really sweet man and so I do enjoy my time with him. He's a married man who seems to have everything... intelligence, an impressive education, insane wealth, a beautiful wife, smart children (both a boy and girl), tons of friends, and so I admire that.
Does that answer your questions about him?
And as for my birthday... yup, that was definitely a post to remember, for sure!!!
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