Australia Day (Better Late than Never)

It was Australia day January 26, where Australia celebrates is achievements, history and culture; reflects on it's losses, times of hardship and change; and gets together to look forward and hope for the future. Also a good time to hang out with mates, be proud that you come from the best country in the world, and how lucky we are.

When I was young, I liked the music of Daryl Braithwaite, an Australian Singer and Songwriter. I've put together a few videos of his tracks, that I found on Youtube.

One Summer


The Horses


Higher than Hope

At the Airport...

I'm at Melbourne Airport now, waiting outside Gate 10 for my flight back to South Korea. I've got a window seat, which is okay - they're easy to sleep on (just lean against the wall with your pillow), and I only have to annoy one person to get out for a walk or to go to the toilet. Just recently, Korean Air started direct flights from Melbourne to Incheon. It only takes about 10.5 hours from take off. Boarding time is 9:10am, Take off time is about 9:40am.

This week was pretty good. I met family and friends, but it was a bit rushed since I had to go to Melbourne. It was good to catch up with friends from High School and Uni. Played a bit of Mini Golf, ate a lot of good food, and it was a really good to be away from Korea, to be able to think about my time in Korea effectively.

I've come to a few conclusions about Korea, and my time there. I've had a great time in Korea - I've made great friends (Korean and non-Korean), been to some interesting places, seen some good sights. But, I've been in the same place for over 2 years. It's getting a bit old. I could easily stay there for longer, but it's time to move on. Career wise, sure I could get a better job, with more pay, in a different area, but that's all it would be. Same job, different place.

One reason why I came to Korea to work for a while, because I didn't have any luck with my teaching career there. I had a few schools and a few people really f**k things up for me over there, so it made me pretty bitter and resentful about choosing Teaching as a career, and I do feel a bit that way as well. But, from talking to my uni friends about how they are going, and how they've been in the last 2 years, with regards to their teaching careers, I've realised that its time to come back to Australia for a while, and give Primary School Teaching another go.

I know that when I leave Korea in October 2008, it won't be the last time I'm there. Korea is a special place for me. I've got good memories and great friends there. I'll at least be back for holidays, or even working in another English Teaching job. If I do, 1 year will be long enough. I've had almost no regrets (everyone has some) about staying in Korea, and I really look forward to my remaining 10.5 months there.

Now for some Korean (which i haven't really used for 2 weeks ^^).

지금 메버른공항에 기다리고있어요. 심심해 ㅋㅋㅋ 어제밤에 멜버른에 비행기로 왔어요. 공항에 도착했을때, 우리사천와사천이 하우스메이트는 날외해 기다리고있었어요. 사천의집에서 Playstation게임 "Buzz" 같이 했어요. 재미 있었어요. 1시에 잤어요.

아침에 나는 6시에 일어났지만 아직도 엄청 피곤해요. 내생각에는 비행기에 탈때 혹시 잘거에요. 혹시 잘수없어요. 비행기니까 ㅋㅋㅋ

호주에서 난 생각 많이 했어요. 한국에서 대단한 시간이 됐지만 호주에서 내인생 (my life? 맞니? 내인생? 아니면 내생활?)를 다시 시작하고싶어요. 한국를 떠날때 미래에 돌아 온것을 알아요 (When I leave Korea, I know I will come back in the future). 한국에서 많는 새로운것을 배웠고 많는 멋있는것을 봤고 많는 좋은 친구들을 만났어요. 한번도 잊지 않아요.

현제 직업에서 10.5개월 남았어요. 끝날때 난 슬플거에요. 하지만, 행복할거에요, 왜냐하면, 한국를 떠날때 regret이 없을거에요 ^^

Cameras and Friends

Lazed around my cousins house a bit yesterday, with not much to do in the morning. I met SJ yesterday, and had such a great time. The night before, she had a problem with her digital camera, so she came around to my cousins house, and I helped her put her photos onto a CD for her. We were going to have Pizza for lunch, but the Pizza place down the road was closed, so we went to Red Rooster. We decided to go into the city, but it was a bit warm. We walked past the Yarra river, and then the plan was to go to the botanical gardens, but because of the weather, we didn't make it that far. We found a place to sit for a while, and talked.

After that, I went back into the city to meet an old uni friend. Walking from Federation Square to Melbourne Central Station took long enough. But, I had enough to find the JB Hi-Fi I saw when riding the tram last time, and went in there for a quick look. I'm mainly been using iTunes to check out music, so it felt a little unusual to walk into a music store that big. Didn't buy anything.

So, I met G at Melbourne Central. It was so good to see her. She's a really cool person, and well, to be honest, she is looking just as stunning as she did when I met her in 1999. It was really good to catch up with her, have dinner, and go to a park near the Yarra river, and just sit down and talk. She had to work on Friday, so she caught a train at about 10pm, and I got the tram back to my cousin's house.

Driving, Passports, Friends and Stress

Arrived in Melbourne yesterday, after 7.5 hours of driving. Left Mildura at about 1:30pm after lunch, and arrived in Melbourne at my cousin's house just after 8pm. We went to noodle box and got some take-away noodles. I got a regular box, so that I would have some for breakfast on Wednesday. Was tired from driving, so got to sleep at about 11am.

Woke up at 6am, but stayed in bed until just after 7am, coz I was still a bit tired from driving. Decided to walk to the city, but after an hour, was getting a bit hot and sweaty, so rode the tram into the city. I got to the passport office with about an hour to spare, but couldn't check in using the computers until 30 mins before my appointment, so sat there waiting, watching the Bourne Identity on my iPod. Checked in at 10:46am, and got a ticket, and actually had my appointment 5 mins early.

I was so relieved to know that I was able to keep my old passport for the visas I needed to get back into Korea. It was all done in about 15 minutes. Nothing wrong with the application (thank f**k, coz I drove 7.5 hours for it), and my new passport will be ready by lunchtime Friday. Just really glad that its all sorted.

Met SJ in the city. Called her after I finished sorting out my passport. We walked around, talking, and found a coffee place to get a drink and chat more. Then we took a tram to Lygon St, and had some Italian food for lunch. It was really delicious, but the Lasagne had a very strong flavour. Then we went back to the CDB for some souvenir and vitamin shopping (some vitamins are a lot cheaper here in Australia, than Korea). Got the tram back to my cousins house (which was packed for a tram, which is nowhere near packed as Seoul subway ^^).

No plan for thursday yet, but might meet up with SJ again. I've lost my Australian accent, but she has gained one ^^

Stress, passports and Melbourne

I know that I tend to stress and worry when shit happens. That's my way of dealing with it, and being prepared.

Now, I have to go to Melbourne, to have a passport interview in person, so that I can make sure, to keep my old passport (which has my Korean visas in it), so that I can re-enter the country on the 8th of December, when I am scheduled to come back. The passports office couldn't not guarantee me that I could keep my old passport, if I did the application though the mail. Also, I can not use my damaged passport as ID for getting the new one (since it's damaged), but luckily I was able to find my Birth Certificate to complete the application.

So:
Tomorrow, drive to Melbourne (7 hours)
Wednesday, passport appointment (and tell them that I NEEEEED the old one)
Friday, get new passport
Friday Night/Saturday morning, drive back to Mildura.

Would have been easier to stay in korea :p

Photos

Blogging from Melbourne Airport

Arrived in Melbourne on time, at 8:10am Australian time. I was sitting next to someone who had been in Seoul for a few days, due to work, and we talked about a few things. Was good to have someone to talk to, rather than be on the flight all bored for 10.5 hours.

Didn't get much sleep on the plane, which I expected.

Went through customs, and my passport checked out, but was a bit damaged due to being washed, not once, but twice, in the washing machine accidently. They kept my waiting for about 10 minutes, and then told me that I need to get a new passport, because its damaged. I've got 2 weeks here in Australia to get it done. If not, I hope I can get my flight back to Korea changed. Also, gotta deal with my visa and stuff, with regard to the new passport. The guy at customs said, if you try to travel with this passport, it will be confiscated. Fair Enough. Rules are there for a reason.

Anyway, Got through customs and immigration just after 9:10am, and found the check-in place for the flight to my home town, but it was too early to check in. Found a place that sold the power connection adaptor things (about $15), so that I can charge my notebook when I'm in Australia (and my digital camera). So, had a bit an hours rest on a chair near the check-in place (had the iPod loud enough so that I wouldn't fall asleep). Checked in at just before 11, for the flight leaving to my hometown at 12:45pm (boarding is at 12:25pm).

I'm pretty tired, and pretty annoyed about the whole passport thing. Have to add it to the list of "shit to sort out" for Monday morning (which includes new passport, and talking about the visa stuff (which I photocopied before I came to Australia), including new driver's license and sorting out bank/credit cards.

I normally tend to stress about things, when I'm in a position where I can't do anything about them. I would just love to be able to sort all the shit out, so that I can feel relieved and relaxed for my vacation.

Coming into Melbourne airport was... WOW! My Australian accent has really changed. Even though I do sound Australian, it's a very weak accent, and to hear all these Australian accents is a bit overwhelming. Also, It feels very strange to be in a place where I am not hearing Korean all the time.

I know I'll feel better after sleep, and after sorting out this passport situation. I guess, its what they call "Reverse Culture Shock". I've become so accustomed to Korea and doing Korean things. I've even accidently said a few Korean words already, and done a few Korean "actions" (like supporting your left arm when receiving money/gifts, and bowing. haha.

I know it's only two weeks. Quick enough to be short. Slow enough to be long.