1. Me walking into work was greeted by numerous “I’m sorry to see you today” and frowns as my coworkers and students expressed their disappointment and sympathy for my fight being postponed. Students greeted me with shocked faces and were speechless. They didn’t know what to say and so I told them why my game was postponed. They apologized to me as they left the classroom and so I really appreciated that. So I’d like to send out a special thank you to my coworkers, students and staff who dared the uncomfortable situation by approaching me about the touchy issue that has been weighing heavily on me lately, my game being postponed. You all rock!!!
2. The other day Butterfly texted me, apologizing for her bad manner at the start of this semester. She’s missed more classes than accepted but because of her total turn-around in attitude, I told her I’d let it slide. She’s really changed and today when she walked into my lecture I was so happy to see her. I see a lot of potential in her and I think she’s beginning to see it too. During break time I passed by her and she reached out to grab my hand. “Thank you Professor” is what she said. “No, thank YOU!” I responded. In so many ways she reminds me of my brother Robbie and I think that’s why I’ve really tried to go out of my way to help her. My brother Robbie had a hard time in public school after he was labeled a bad student who lacked ambition. It wasn’t that he wasn’t smart, if anything it was the opposite. He was brilliant, just not interested in the boring subject matter teachers who didn’t see his potential were throwing his way. And I’ll never forget Mr. Smith, our elementary school science teacher who seemed to have it set in his mind to degrade my brother at every possible chance. I remember the first day I stepped into his science class. He looked at me and asked me, “Are you a Troy or a Robbie?” (my brother’s names). It wasn’t until my second year of university that I ever saw Mr. Smith again. I had returned home for the weekend and was studying at the public library with my boyfriend when I caught glimpse of Mr. Smith. Instantly I hid behind a book shelf and cursed his name. My boyfriend insisted we just leave but I couldn’t just leave. Instead, I got up and marched right over to Mr. Smith. He greeted me with a smile and then, instead of asking me how university is going for me, he blurted out “Is Robbie still in high school?” My brother had finished high school long time ago, was now at the top of his class in college and had a gala showing of his photography in Toronto. I should have punched him right there but I stood there, blood totally boiling in my veins. I told him that it was because of teachers like him that I want to become a teacher, to put teachers like him out of a job. I bombarded him with a huge chunk of my mind, in which I was sure to point out the huge success of my brother and how he’s going places, places Mr. Smith and his closed-off shallow mind couldn’t possibly comprehend. After I spat out a piece of my mind, I turned and walked away, leaving both him and my boyfriend looking rather dumbfounded. No one dare call my family something they’re not.
3. Snickers had originally told me that he’d be returning to Cheonan Saturday morning some time because he had to go and do his rounds in his hometown, greeting sponsors and whomever to thank them for supporting him with his Monday game. However, no sooner did I finish class but then my phone began to rang, it was Snickers. It was Snickers telling me to hurry up and go to boxing because he’s on his way to Cheonan and he has a massive hug to give me… hahaha. Two days earlier than planned?!... this guy’s so into me… hahaha.
4. So that’s what I did, I scurried my little Polish butt (what’s left of it that is) home and headed off to boxing. Today I wasn’t as hyper as yesterday but I was definitely super giddy and smiley. Junior Mint is overly happy that I’m dating Snickers and believes that I’ll never leave Korea because of him. I don’t really know how to comment on that but next year I will be staying in Korea for a sixth year. In addition to wanting to complete my Korean language studies, my big goal for Korea is to become Korea’s next female flyweight champion. That’s where my priorities are right now, with my boxing. Once I become Korea’s next female flyweight champion, who knows where it’ll take me next. Who knows, maybe I’ll do some international boxing, representing Korea… that’s be such an incredible honor and, needless to say, such an awesome experience!!!
5. While I was at boxing, Snickers sat down with his boxing coach and spilled the beans about him and I being a couple. Now those that should know do know. The cat is out of the bag and boy does it feel good. I hate secrets.
6. Was pleasantly surprised by Snickers sneaking up on me when I was walking home from boxing. He waited around while I showered and then we headed out into the downtown crowd. Plan was to grab something to eat for Snickers, do some shopping and than catch a flick. Indulged a bit in some Italian ice cream as a last treat before I bounce back into game prep mode.
7. I’m such a creature of habit when it comes to shopping. I only shop at three downtown clothing shops and it’s always followed by a trip to MAC Cosmetics. Snickers is still sporting a black eye from his Monday fight and so, as a joke, I introduced him to MAC Cosmetics… hahaha. He’s super shy about his black eye but I told him he should be proud of it. “If you think your black eye is bad, you should see the other guy!” I noted. The MAC girls working are super cute with me when I shop there and so tonight one-by-one they passed by me and whispered, “Is that your new boyfriend Amy?”… hahaha. You know you shop too much at a place when they’re all aware of your social life… hahaha. Much love to my MAC Lovely Ladies…. Hahaha.
8. Running into my Tuesday students who had already had a field day with teasing me about seeing Snickers and I at the school festival definitely means more jokes, more teasing, and more blushing on my behalf next week in class…. hahaha.
9. We had quite a lot of time to kill before the movie and so we headed over to the Game Plex in Yawoori. Snickers played those old skool video games but insisted we play together. I crashed into him, causing his race car to roll in the Indy game and then I smoked him in air hockey. “Hey, I’m from Canada, hockey’s OUR game!” I joked. I was two for two but then I made a fool of myself when we teamed up to play some random shooting game, in which I accidentally shot him… hahaha. Oops.
10. Any movie that I repeatedly fall asleep in is deserving of two thumbs down but tonight the new Terminator movie got FOUR thumbs down after both Snickers and I fell asleep in it.
QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Did you ever have a rotten teacher?
QUOTE OF THE DAY...
A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.
-- Author Unknown
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:
1. Why didn't you tell them about getting 2 more games? That definitely out-weighs the gloom of the post-poned game.
2. Wow. You should tell people how you feel like that more often. I remember when that one girl who really got on your nerves would always be at the boxing club and you would always wish to yourself to fight her, but instead did nothing. She totally deserved a piece of your mind!
3. Well, considering you spilled the L word with this guy, lets hope he's into you!
4. Weren't you on the verge of going back to Canada only a few weeks ago, and now you for sure want to stay? I hope one little boy isn't altering your decisions...
5. Isn't this like the 10th person you've "spilled the beans" to? Is it a Korean thing? Because dating someone shouldn't be a big gossipy, rumor and secret, highschool kind of ordeal...
6. Sneaked up on you? Stalked! lol
7. Koreans are pretty shy. I guess that's what comes with being sensitive.
8. It's weird to think about my teacher's "other life". They were students too...kind of freaky.
9. Oh no! It's a sign!
10. Really? That's too bad. I hate it when a good series is finished off with a shit movie.
-Bman
Hey Bman,
1. I did tell them.
2. I do tell people off like this.. more than I should maybe.
3. Oh trust me... he's TOTALLY into me! He's aweome!!!
4. On the verge of going to Canada, ya for a visit, but I've been contemplating the whole Korean female flyweight champion belt for some time now, just didn't think it was aquireable until I started working side by side with KBC. They laid it all out for me and so they definitely have me pointed in the direction of the belt. Moreover, I've been contemplating what the heck I'd do for work in Canada for quite awhile now. Me staying in Korea isn't a new idea I just came up with because I have a boyfriend. It's not about him... it's about me and what I want for ME.
5. Dating someone it's a secretive thing in Korea but when you throw in the fact the dedication and focus expected and required from him and I both with regards to him maintaining his champion status and me working towards mine, we felt it best we kept it on the low at boxing. The past couple of months or so he and I have been training at the same time and if his coach knew we were a couple than he wouldn't have let him train with me. Moreover, I really needed to focus on my game prep and didn't want to deal with the distraction of everyone asking me about Q and inquiring about me now dating Snickers. Maybe you don't know how demanding both physically and mentally my boxing is on me but it's super demanding. It requires my undivided attention and so that's why we chose to keep our personal life outside of the club until just recently.
6. Stalked... no. He knew what time I'd be coming home from boxing and so he started to walk in my direction but he did so with his head down and a hat covering his face. Then he turned and grabbed me... it threw me off guard but it was hilarious.
7. Ya, they're pretty shy but it sure beats the overly loud and incredibly blunt and forward western mentality I run into with many foreigners here.
8. Ya, I remember when I first saw my grade 2 teacher outside of class. She was grocery shopping and I think at that age I honestly thought she lived in our classroom... hahaha.
9. It's a sign?! I don't get it...
10. Ya, the movie was brutal. I like my cat nap more than the movie and so that's pretty bad. Series are always dangerous waters to step into because of the extra hype and expectations set from the previous flicks in the same series.
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