And so I procrastinate. As I suspected I would. Instead of packing boxes I am back here. Writing. But in an effort to be productive I'll make this a short one.
I have six days left. That's right. Six.
It's starting to hit home exactly what I'm doing here. The gravity of the situation. I am leaving behind a great deal of things and people. A great deal of safety and security. Things I once didn't value that highly, but things that only years of apathy can bring to be comforts; I feel like I am throwing myself in the deep end. There is a fear of change that was once not there, rather, it was relished.
I do relish change. This is something of myself that I recently rediscovered, I didn't even know that I had lost it. It's like a flame was re-lit, or rather, that small candle of a plan I lit late last year has grown into a proper fire. It's all quite exciting. I am going to do this.
So here I come Korea. I am indeed packing my bags (first pack underway as we speak actually). I think I need to pack my bags rather than my boxes as yet. I need everything necessary available and then - and only then - will I start dismantling the parts of my life which are normal.
Everything is very quickly going to change, and become un-normal.
I do have a hankering to finish Resident Evil 5 though. I'm almost there...
Maybe later.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
A word on Nana
I would just like to mention my Grandmother, Nana, who passed away two Fridays ago. We had her funeral last week and we got to bury her. It was nice to say goodbye to her before I left. I'm not sure what it would have been like if I had been overseas, it was quite sudden I think, but I feel that is a good thing. My thoughts are with my sister and cousin, who are overseas at this time. Nana loved you both dearly and wouldn't want you feeling bad about not being here at all.
If there are any words that I felt Nana represented, they would be harmony, peace, love, and family. Nana was a peace keeper, a good listener whenever I had something important to talk about, and a measure of balance and fairness I always really appreciated. She also enjoyed a good laugh and even recently wound me up for one. I will miss her greatly, and my only regret is not getting to see her more often when she was in Papakura. I have a great deal of memories of her, all of them good, and to be treasured.
Those four words I used to describe Nana are important. They are something I hope all the generations of her family aspire to. I know I do.
Love, peace, harmony and family.
Rest in Peace Nan
If there are any words that I felt Nana represented, they would be harmony, peace, love, and family. Nana was a peace keeper, a good listener whenever I had something important to talk about, and a measure of balance and fairness I always really appreciated. She also enjoyed a good laugh and even recently wound me up for one. I will miss her greatly, and my only regret is not getting to see her more often when she was in Papakura. I have a great deal of memories of her, all of them good, and to be treasured.
Those four words I used to describe Nana are important. They are something I hope all the generations of her family aspire to. I know I do.
Love, peace, harmony and family.
Rest in Peace Nan
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
In my final days
So here I am, at work, writing this because I know I'll forget everything that's gone down these past few weeks if I dont scribble it in now.
19 Days till take off, 10 till I finish working here.
Here we go.
A while ago I decided to go travelling. I'd had a bumpy road with a certain relationship and in the end the decision was made to leave it. Not without a fair whack of soul searching and thought form both of us mind you, but it's ended for the right reasons this time; and there are no ill feelings. Travelling has always been a huge dream of mine and now that it's here and I have this amazing little plan that is completely my own, I am both nervous and excited.
The travel plan has changed greatly from the original (as the original entailed much chasing of a certain girl across the globe). I was originally going to traverse Europe and the UK with her, and if I couldn't do that, meet her later in Australia. Of course when that fell through rather sadly, I decided to work in the UK instead. But then, after much investigation I've heard that the UK, specifically London, is not that fun to work in. I mean to me it comes down to lifestyle and the potential for adventure and growth, and in the end, London just didn't fill that slot for me. It doesn't feel unique enough. I'll tell you why I decided to chuck that plan in.
If I'm going to be riding the train for two hours to work and back, and be expected to work from 8am-6pm, at a desk job where I'll only get more fat and unfit, then I would rather be somewhere else. If I'm going to jump countries in the weekend do I really want to go to France? Maybe once, but do you want to know where I really want to go? I want to go to Japan! I am a geek, and that country is my Mecca. I could enjoy London if I was being paid mega bucks, but I've done some research and frankly, Seoul just seems like a better option for me. And as I will be a teacher I expect to be on my feet at least half the day, which would be fantastic.
The current plan is to fly to Seoul, South Korea (heby simply referred to as Korea) to meet up with my old man. This in itself may not seem that risque to you, and it isn't really; but the potential, my god, the potential for adventure is far greater. With my father and family there as a base I plan to work as a teacher while learning two languages. I will be learning enough spoken Korean to hopefully make my way around unhindered, but I will also be getting back into studying Japanese, as ultimately this is where I hope to end up working as a teacher or translator.
"Now now, what happened to Europe?" You may ask. Well it's still there, as in order to get into Korea (without a long term visa - yet) I need to have a ticket out. So the ticket out I have will lead me to the UK if necessary and if the teaching thing somehow completely fails. This open ended ticket to London has a one year shelf life and I can change it as many times as I like. So at some stage I will have to at least visit in order to enjoy that ticket properly. So yes, UK and Europe, I will see you soon, I will see that long lost side of the family, I will see your sights, I will party hard at your pubs, and mingle with your women - because I will be on holiday. And in my opinion, that is what holidays are all about.
Next up is a bit about me.
I haven't exactly had a smooth ride since I've returned to Auckland after Uni, especially not after that first year. It's been fraught with difficulty and a fair amount sadness. I have gained about 15Kg's since coming here, and I returned to being a smoker for a year too. But now that I have a plan I feel free. I have given up smoking since February, I can run without my knees hurting, and I have purpose. I bought my tickets a month or two ago, and I am definitely ready to go. So stay tuned. The next time you read this, my story will be a little more entertaining than me sitting here at work in Auckland. Though knowing me it will probably involve me procrastinating from packing my life into boxes that will live under my mums stairs.
I have to say in one last note on the side, I'm applying for this teacher placement programme in Seoul called EPIK, I'm assuming I've been told to do this because they will help me get a longer term visa and work permit, which is cool, though I didn't really want to be going through a programme to do this. In any case I've dropped too much money on verifying my documents to give up on it now.
We'll see what happens with that later, but for now I'm heading home. There are a great many things I want to share and a great many plans, but for now this is how it begins.
I would like to thank a fair few people that made this all possible. I've been asked not to name names, but to those who have helped, whether you be friends or family, I thank you for supporting me and helping me through the hard times. You all know who you are. And of course anyone who gave me a ride anywhere because I didn't have a car! I treasure all your friendships and although I leave the country in search of bigger dreams, I know there is a slim chance I will be back here in six months after contracting some kind of horrible Godzilla disease, so please take it easy on me if I end up back here sooner than planned lol!
Is this too long for a blog? Oh well. I doubt I'll be able to keep this pace up.
19 Days till take off, 10 till I finish working here.
Here we go.
A while ago I decided to go travelling. I'd had a bumpy road with a certain relationship and in the end the decision was made to leave it. Not without a fair whack of soul searching and thought form both of us mind you, but it's ended for the right reasons this time; and there are no ill feelings. Travelling has always been a huge dream of mine and now that it's here and I have this amazing little plan that is completely my own, I am both nervous and excited.
The travel plan has changed greatly from the original (as the original entailed much chasing of a certain girl across the globe). I was originally going to traverse Europe and the UK with her, and if I couldn't do that, meet her later in Australia. Of course when that fell through rather sadly, I decided to work in the UK instead. But then, after much investigation I've heard that the UK, specifically London, is not that fun to work in. I mean to me it comes down to lifestyle and the potential for adventure and growth, and in the end, London just didn't fill that slot for me. It doesn't feel unique enough. I'll tell you why I decided to chuck that plan in.
If I'm going to be riding the train for two hours to work and back, and be expected to work from 8am-6pm, at a desk job where I'll only get more fat and unfit, then I would rather be somewhere else. If I'm going to jump countries in the weekend do I really want to go to France? Maybe once, but do you want to know where I really want to go? I want to go to Japan! I am a geek, and that country is my Mecca. I could enjoy London if I was being paid mega bucks, but I've done some research and frankly, Seoul just seems like a better option for me. And as I will be a teacher I expect to be on my feet at least half the day, which would be fantastic.
The current plan is to fly to Seoul, South Korea (heby simply referred to as Korea) to meet up with my old man. This in itself may not seem that risque to you, and it isn't really; but the potential, my god, the potential for adventure is far greater. With my father and family there as a base I plan to work as a teacher while learning two languages. I will be learning enough spoken Korean to hopefully make my way around unhindered, but I will also be getting back into studying Japanese, as ultimately this is where I hope to end up working as a teacher or translator.
"Now now, what happened to Europe?" You may ask. Well it's still there, as in order to get into Korea (without a long term visa - yet) I need to have a ticket out. So the ticket out I have will lead me to the UK if necessary and if the teaching thing somehow completely fails. This open ended ticket to London has a one year shelf life and I can change it as many times as I like. So at some stage I will have to at least visit in order to enjoy that ticket properly. So yes, UK and Europe, I will see you soon, I will see that long lost side of the family, I will see your sights, I will party hard at your pubs, and mingle with your women - because I will be on holiday. And in my opinion, that is what holidays are all about.
Next up is a bit about me.
I haven't exactly had a smooth ride since I've returned to Auckland after Uni, especially not after that first year. It's been fraught with difficulty and a fair amount sadness. I have gained about 15Kg's since coming here, and I returned to being a smoker for a year too. But now that I have a plan I feel free. I have given up smoking since February, I can run without my knees hurting, and I have purpose. I bought my tickets a month or two ago, and I am definitely ready to go. So stay tuned. The next time you read this, my story will be a little more entertaining than me sitting here at work in Auckland. Though knowing me it will probably involve me procrastinating from packing my life into boxes that will live under my mums stairs.
I have to say in one last note on the side, I'm applying for this teacher placement programme in Seoul called EPIK, I'm assuming I've been told to do this because they will help me get a longer term visa and work permit, which is cool, though I didn't really want to be going through a programme to do this. In any case I've dropped too much money on verifying my documents to give up on it now.
We'll see what happens with that later, but for now I'm heading home. There are a great many things I want to share and a great many plans, but for now this is how it begins.
I would like to thank a fair few people that made this all possible. I've been asked not to name names, but to those who have helped, whether you be friends or family, I thank you for supporting me and helping me through the hard times. You all know who you are. And of course anyone who gave me a ride anywhere because I didn't have a car! I treasure all your friendships and although I leave the country in search of bigger dreams, I know there is a slim chance I will be back here in six months after contracting some kind of horrible Godzilla disease, so please take it easy on me if I end up back here sooner than planned lol!
Is this too long for a blog? Oh well. I doubt I'll be able to keep this pace up.
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