Today marked a pretty significant day in my life, particularly my life here in Korea. I anticipated spending it reminiscing over a breakfast cooked by Snickers, in the comfort of our bed. But, on account that I rushed Snickers to emergency late, late last night, I settled for reminiscing about it on my homepage while Snickers sleeps off his meds and what appears to be a pretty bad cold.
Today marked the start of year ten for me here in Korea, a double-digit number that I never imagined I'd ever be experiencing here in Korea or even Canada for that matter. The plan was always to come to Korea, do my year, then return to get married in Canada and possibly move to Portugal with my fiance. Well, my fiance is now my ex-fiance and this "one-year-only" country, Korea, is now my home. Boy does time fly when you're having fun and though I must admit it has been all fun, it's definitely been a learning experience to which I have absolutely no regrets and consider myself blessed, privileged and a bit crazy for having gone through. Having said this, here is a list I managed to put together, listing some of the major things that happened during each year I've spent here to date. I'm pretty sure this list doesn't even capture 80% of what has gone done, partly because some I can't talk about (wink, wink) but here's what I remember....
YEAR ONE – Feb. 2005 to Feb. 2006
Started a job as a kindergarten ESL teacher.
Called off my engagement to the retired pro soccer player.
Finance shows up spontaneously in Korea, asking me to reconsider.
Decided to stay in Korea to avoid the engagement call-off repercussions.
Went to Thailand.
Experienced my first case of discrimination, consequently I then decided to dye my hair black.
Visited the DMZ and almost got caught for taking illegal photos.
Met a North Korean soldier.
Started dating The Ex.
Met Andre Kim (now deceased Korean fashion designer).
Experienced my first national air bomb raid practice.
Surprise visit to my parent’s house on Christmas Eve – BEST Christmas ever!!!
YEAR TWO – Feb. 2006 to Feb. 2007
Scooter crash #1.
Visited Jeju Island and experienced the biggest heartbreak of my life there -- will forever hate Jeju.
Broke up with The Ex.
Was "nursed" back to health from pure heartbreak by my two closest Korean male friends.
Got into the public education system with a public school teaching position.
Worked at Eumbong Middle School.
Was hired to be a mentor to a young 7 year old Korean girl.
Adopted Mi Nam and instantly fell in love with him.
Learned how to snowboard.
Went to Japan.
YEAR THREE – Feb. 2007 to Feb. 2008
Scored a sweet university professor position at Dankook University.
Was adopted into the UP Boxing Club family/team.
Started dating Q.
Had a minor heart attack while in the boxing club doing padwork.
Got into a brutal motorcycle accident in which I totalled a racing bike.
Turned professional with my boxing – first foreign female in Korea to do so.
Earned a sponsorship by the Cheonan Trump for my boxing.
Was "nursed" back to health from pure heartbreak by my two closest Korean male friends.
Got into the public education system with a public school teaching position.
Worked at Eumbong Middle School.
Was hired to be a mentor to a young 7 year old Korean girl.
Adopted Mi Nam and instantly fell in love with him.
Learned how to snowboard.
Went to Japan.
YEAR THREE – Feb. 2007 to Feb. 2008
Scored a sweet university professor position at Dankook University.
Was adopted into the UP Boxing Club family/team.
Started dating Q.
Had a minor heart attack while in the boxing club doing padwork.
Got into a brutal motorcycle accident in which I totalled a racing bike.
Turned professional with my boxing – first foreign female in Korea to do so.
Earned a sponsorship by the Cheonan Trump for my boxing.
Started getting privately tutored in Korean.
YEAR FOUR – Feb. 2008 to Feb. 2009
Experienced my first female-induced heartbreak – lost to Park Mi Ran in my debut boxing bout.
Was the focus of two human documentaries.
Was the focus subject of a up-and-coming photographer’s photo shoot.
Got sponsored by the Cheonan Prosecutor's Office for my boxing.
Was discovered on YouTube by Adidas and this lead to them sponsoring my boxing.
YEAR FOUR – Feb. 2008 to Feb. 2009
Experienced my first female-induced heartbreak – lost to Park Mi Ran in my debut boxing bout.
Was the focus of two human documentaries.
Was the focus subject of a up-and-coming photographer’s photo shoot.
Got sponsored by the Cheonan Prosecutor's Office for my boxing.
Was discovered on YouTube by Adidas and this lead to them sponsoring my boxing.
No Christmas meal for me on account of having to drop weight for a fight (super hard).
YEAR FIVE – Feb. 2009 to Feb. 2010
Started dating Snickers.
YEAR FIVE – Feb. 2009 to Feb. 2010
Started dating Snickers.
Got married to Snickers.
Went to Bali, Indonesia for my honeymoon.
Moved out of Sambu and into Ggum Guum.
Dankook University sends Immigration Korea to my house to threaten me about my boxing and contract.
Decided not to renew my Dankook contract so that I could focus on my boxing.
Got news that my mother has pancreatic cancer and then didn't... then does.
Had a massive picture of me boxing displayed in a public gala.
Had another human documentary (#3) focus on me as a female boxer.
Went back to blond hair.
Met Jose Sulaiman, President of the World Boxing Council.
Met Judy Kulis, President of the International Female Boxers Association.
Did a commercial with the Wonder Girls.
Did a commercial for a loan company.
Had another human documentary focus (#4) on me and my boxing.
Starred in two human documentaries (#5, #6) about Snickers.
Had a student hint to and then commit suicide.
Close Korean friend committed suicide.
YEAR SIX – Feb. 2010 to Feb. 2011
Took Snickers to Canada for his first time to meet my parents.
Bought a scooter and started to drive it (despite not having a license).
Got into a scooter accident and landed in the hospital for about a week.
Had a photographer do a focus piece on Snickers and I.
Touched a real life bear for my first time ever.
Had my apartment Ggum Guum undergo it's second renovations.
The wife of a friend committed suicide.
Picked up a university job and quit on the second day because they doubled my hours (not in contract).
Ran my first half marathon.
Accepted my youngest personal training client, a 9 year old girl.
Had to deal with a short-time perverted stalker.
Moved out of Sambu and into Ggum Guum.
Dankook University sends Immigration Korea to my house to threaten me about my boxing and contract.
Decided not to renew my Dankook contract so that I could focus on my boxing.
Had a professional boxing bout in Japan and fought on behalf of Korea.
Reached my lowest weight ever since middle school, 46.3kgs (because of my fight weigh-in).
Started taking on personal training clients.Got news that my mother has pancreatic cancer and then didn't... then does.
Had a massive picture of me boxing displayed in a public gala.
Had another human documentary (#3) focus on me as a female boxer.
Went back to blond hair.
Met Jose Sulaiman, President of the World Boxing Council.
Met Judy Kulis, President of the International Female Boxers Association.
Did a commercial with the Wonder Girls.
Did a commercial for a loan company.
Had another human documentary focus (#4) on me and my boxing.
Starred in two human documentaries (#5, #6) about Snickers.
Had a student hint to and then commit suicide.
Close Korean friend committed suicide.
YEAR SIX – Feb. 2010 to Feb. 2011
Took Snickers to Canada for his first time to meet my parents.
Bought a scooter and started to drive it (despite not having a license).
Got into a scooter accident and landed in the hospital for about a week.
Had a photographer do a focus piece on Snickers and I.
Touched a real life bear for my first time ever.
Had my apartment Ggum Guum undergo it's second renovations.
The wife of a friend committed suicide.
Picked up a university job and quit on the second day because they doubled my hours (not in contract).
Ran my first half marathon.
Accepted my youngest personal training client, a 9 year old girl.
Had to deal with a short-time perverted stalker.
Snickers lived in Japan for a little over two months.
Went to the Philippines and watched 35,000 people cheer on Snickers' professional fight.
Went to the Philippines and watched 35,000 people cheer on Snickers' professional fight.
YEAR SEVEN – Feb. 2011 to Feb. 2012
Started working at a Korean daycare.
Attended a surprise wedding ceremony for Snickers and I, hosted by the daycare.
Had Ggum Guum renovated for the third time -- yes, very annoying.
Quit the Korean daycare so that I could travel to Canada and see my mother one last time.
Snickers travels with me to Canada for his second visit.
My mother died.
Had a huge fight with my youngest brother and still haven't talked to him since.
Started my own personal training/fitness company – Flipside Fitness.
Flipside Fitness sponsored by Adidas.
Had a huge fight with my youngest brother and still haven't talked to him since.
Started my own personal training/fitness company – Flipside Fitness.
Flipside Fitness sponsored by Adidas.
Found my favourite new place in Korea -- Taean.
Received Pyen Chi as a wedding gift.
Mi Nam passed away and Pyen Chi went into depression.
Received Pyen Chi as a wedding gift.
Mi Nam passed away and Pyen Chi went into depression.
Worst Christmas ever because of Mi Nam's passing.
YEAR EIGHT -- Feb. 2012 to Feb. 2013
Balboa Button was added to our family.
Moved out of Ggum Guum and into Mi Gung.
Started a monthly magazine for Flipside Fitness.
Second biggest case of discrimination -- my Korean championship title match.
Worked at Suwon Science College for the year.
The Ex dies in a scooter accident.
Hosted an illegal midnight BBQ party at the top of Taedu Mountain.
Best birthday ever -- Snickers threw me a surprise party.
Had several of my writing pieces featured on Fenom's website (site focused on female sports).
Adopted Pacquiao as our third four-legged family member.
Quit UP Boxing to follow my own dreams.
Quit my job at the college to work full time on our boxing club renovations/plans.
Plans to make my own boxing club start to be pursued.
Attended and completed Seoul Business Start-up School.
Snickers illegally climbs Mt. Soraksan (off season climb) and I stress it out at home.
Best Christmas ever in Korea -- hosted a Very, Merry Sugarplum Christmas sleepover for Flipside Fitness.
Business ties with a tattoo company are made.
Tattoo on my back gets started and Snickers gets his first tattoo.
Spent the winter up in Nowon, teaching floor hockey.
YEAR NINE -- Feb. 2013 to Feb. 2014
10 Magazine prints a feature on Flipside Fitness and Hulk's Boxing.
Professional photo shoot at Hulk's for 10 Magazine.
WOW Motors becomes the official financial sponsor of Hulk's.
WOW Motors becomes the official financial sponsor of Hulk's.
Renovations start for Hulk's Boxing.
Chopped all my hair off.
Hulk's gets broken into while I am there.
Stepped down from my long term coach and take on another -- Snickers.
Chopped all my hair off.
Hulk's gets broken into while I am there.
Stepped down from my long term coach and take on another -- Snickers.
Stepped away from my sponsorship with Adidas so that my club can wear our name and our ideas.
Participated in my third half marathon and ranked first place.
Participated in my third half marathon and ranked first place.
Personal best time successfully made in a 10km race, scoring me 4th place ranking.
My cousin visits Korea on her travelling honeymoon!!!
Flipside Fitness comes to an end (so that I can focus solely on Hulk's).
Flipside Fitness comes to an end (so that I can focus solely on Hulk's).
It's official, Hulk's Boxing receives it's legal business license.
Soft-opening of Hulk's on Mother's Day.
Grand opening party for Hulk's that is catered and features a two-champion sparring session.
YEAR TEN... and, at this rate, with all the action-packed interesting years I've already experienced here, I am super excited and definitely optimistic about the people, places and experiences I'm going to meet, go, and take on. It's already been a crazy, super strange and somewhat derranged life -- a life I definitely NEVER imagined -- but I love it.
YEAR TEN... and, at this rate, with all the action-packed interesting years I've already experienced here, I am super excited and definitely optimistic about the people, places and experiences I'm going to meet, go, and take on. It's already been a crazy, super strange and somewhat derranged life -- a life I definitely NEVER imagined -- but I love it.
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