Japan was for the most part fun and new, the language barrier should have provoked me to learn a little more of the language but I found you could get by and live without knowing it, it is a secluded life and you say a fond farewell to understanding that of idle chatter, but it is doable.
I left my job, all be it later than I probably should have, and I was sent off with numerous gifts from the mothers, photo albums to remember my visit and electronic photo frames to store some of my recorded memories, I was given a number of little prayer charms that are apparently rather strange to give and for only those of elitist stature (the end part I possibly made up ha ha) I had my flat cleaned with the help of some guys I met on my travels to Japan and I forever feel grateful to every one of them who came to my aide in my hour of .................. oh woe is me............ lets just get going to enjoy the tropical climate of Korea.
Right smack in the middle of winter I flew in and the city of Seoul was blanketed in snow that looked like a covering of sand to me, entering Seoul reminded me of my days in Qatar intially, until you unboarded the plane and felt the climate difference.
So I hobbled off the plane and noticed my luggage had been tagged? I was stopped and asked for a contact number in Korea that I should know... "Bro, I don't know any number im just meeting someone". For a moment or 5 it looked like i wasn't going to be let in, "im just here for 3 months and then im out ok ,dude?" "You stay 3 month then go, any longer and we find you, remember contact number if you come again ok". What a welcoming party....... Shakily I boarded my bus ride to Wonju which is south of Seoul to meet up with Naiyer (who was also teaching there) for which I was very excited about.
Naiyer met me at the bus terminal and after I had devoured numerous doughnuts we took a taxi back to her place. It was small and nice and the underfloor heating made for a change from the piles of ice built up on the roads outside!
As she worked I spent my days thinking about my time in Japan amongst watching films and generally abusing the internet connection that is limited and allotted here........... home makes you realise that abroad they are not spoilt for internet but instead back here we are being ripped off for our cut of it.
Watching the snow fall most days and freezing, outside of the comforts of indoor living I eagerly awaited my return home to the long white cloud. Karaoke and raw fish amongst nights of dodging horrendous driving skills had made me aware that Japan is beautiful, but only to visit.
I thought about my final visit to the bank for which I wanted to close my account. I didnt have a "hanko" (your signature in stamp form) so they got me to sign several sheets, after some time the paper work had become tiresome and hard work in nature, but my signature had to look exactly the way it was when i signed up for the account two years prior..... "ummm dude i have changed slightly and my signature must have also" "i am velly solly, you must fill out folm again and sign same as befoll" on my fourth attempt "thank you lat is good" freeedom i thought, amongst leaving and not closing my account.
Japan has a very bureaucratic approach to most things, and for a kiwi such as myself it can be quite a culture shock but we were in Korea right?
The first thing you notice compared to Japan is the care for their cars, Japan is pristine, if you dirty your car and keep driving it then the best thing to do is to park it up afterwards and commit Seppuku to attest for your crimes, in Korea clean car care is not a priority.
Korean food is tasty but very much like Japanese, however they do seem to eat a much higher intake of fermented cabbage in hot spice (kimchi) and im quietly a fan of this so it went down well.
I met a couple of Naiyer friends (Shannon and Adam) one night and we went out as a parting dinner, they were lovely and Adam the Brit gave me the low down on some Ricky Gervais viewing worth seeing. Both were lovely and very lively kind of people.
Naiyer and I boarded our flight to NZ with one last stop in Japan, I didn't think I would be here again so soon...... only to find out that Naiyer couldn't come into NZ without a ticket out........ why did we even get sold a ticket out of Korea if they knew this would be the case?!
We bought a ticket to Australia (since thats were all the criminals go ha ha) and boarded the flight......
12 hours later and it smelt good to be home.
I concluded this journal blog thing with a link regarding my situation, 6 years ago I was suspected of having multiple sclerosis and 4 years ago I had that confirmed while touring England. Im now keeping a record for myself of my progression for which I invite you all to see. You can click on the user name feverant and then subscribe if you choose to do so........ So here we have it, introducing the old but new me 4 videos in:
thanks to everyone for reading for now.
Kane
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