Highlights of my Day... Friday, February 6

1. Due to the new Korean regulations with regards to renewing my work visa, I now have to get a police criminal background record check. So last night I spent some time calling the police in my Canadian hometown and my parents, organizing that. My parents are helping me out, which is awesome, but what's more awesome is the woman, Liza, at the police station who's agreed to help me out. She seems pretty cool and besides the initial phone conversation we had, she's already sent me two emails to make sure I understand all that needs to be done and whatnot. Very sweet... very so not expected.

2. I guess if I wasn't such a wangtta I'd be able to spontaneously meet more amazing people like Liza.

3. Back to the background check... because I'm not able to physically go to the police department in my hometown and get the procedure done, I had to travel out to Seoul today to get my ID certified. The Canadian Embassy wasn't picking up any of my numerous calls and so I called the Busan location to inquire. "It should only take 20-30 minutes" said the woman who answered. And so on that note, I printed out the map and jumped on a bus. Mission: Seoul Canadian Embassy.

3. From Cheonan to the Embassy it took me just a little under two hours and after finally reaching the Embassy, I was greeted by a Korean woman who was quick to flex her "power". It wasn't so much what she said but how she said it.

Lady: Do you have an appointment?
Me: No, I don't. I was told by the Busan location I wouldn't need one.
Lady: We're only seeing appointments.
Me: Excuse me?
Lady: We're only seeing appointments.
Me: Yes, I heard you.
Lady: Make an appointment and then come again for your appointment.
Me: No,... I didn't travel two hours only to have to come back.
Lady: Maybe you didn't hear me, we're only seeing appointments.
Me: And maybe you didn't hear me repeatedly calling. Look... (showed her my
cellphone call list, it showed that I had called her office 20 times today).
Lady: Hmmm....
Me: I will wait.
Lady: But they're very busy.
Me: As am I so I suggest you make right what is wrong here.

4. I really didn't want to get into an argument with her, or anyone for that matter, and I knew my traveling time really wasn't her problem but seeing her sit there while the phone line continued to ring ticked me off. Twenty of those ignored calls were mine. After about an hour and a half of waiting as patiently as I possibly could, I stood up and walked over to a small poster posted right beside the lady's front desk. I didn't say a word to her or even look at her for that matter but instead I took down the email and number for the customer service feedback.

5. Five minutes later she called my name. I had traveled almost 2 hours and waited about 1 & 1/2 hours for a meeting that took seriously no longer than 2 minutes. All the lady did was photocopy my passport and ID, stamp it, sign it, and then give it to me. Then I had to trek back to Cheonan... fun.

6. Bought a sandwich at this wicked small sandwich shop tucked away, called "Sand Moon". At first the two girls behind the counter looked worried when I first walked in. "I don't know English" the one girl told the other. "That's OK. I know Korean." I added, and with that they instantly smiled and a conversation was sparked. That's what I love so much about Korea. They don't really expect us foreigners to speak their native language but when we do, they're so thrilled, almost appreciative of our efforts, regardless of how much we stumble on the language or mispronounce things. My only regret is that I didn't start my Korean language studies earlier. Anyways, the girl made me this awesome tuna salad sandwich and I stood there talking with them long after I was finished it. Nice girls, great sandwich!

7. Lately I've been leaving my boxing training till late at night, like around 9pm. Black Skinny and Panty Boy Jr. usually train around this time too and so there's always a lot of awesome energy when I train beside them.

8. Junior Mint was incredibly stressed tonight and in pain. Panty Boy Jr. has a fight coming up to defend his title and so tonight Junior Mint made him go extra rounds on pad work. I told Junior Mint that I could train by myself tonight but he insisted I do pad work him, like always. Mind ya, during pad work I had a bit of an accident.

9. Junior Mint's been pushing me to focus on my upper cuts and so when I was whaling away, doing upper cut after upper cut for almost a full round, a sharp pain flooded Junior Mint's elbow and so he suddenly pulled the pad away. "BANG" went my upper cut against my own head... hahaha. It was hilarious but actually it kind of scared me. I instantly fell to the ground. "Did you just give yourself an upper cut?" Panty Boy Jr. asked me. "I think so... hahaha" I responded with. Dang... it left me dizzy.

10. After training Q and I resorted to the comforts of my red couch which actually isn't really so comfortable, but anyways. The other day I picked up yet another book by Sophie Kinsella, titled "The Undomestic Goddess". I laid down on the couch today and started it. I'm not really into chick books but I like her writing, it flows so naturally, like a conversation, and it's a super easy read. Covered half the book tonight, cool.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want.
-- Oscar Wilde