what did you, who did you see, where did you go… I like to know
31 Mar 2011 3 Comments
in KOREA
SO basically, I don’t know how to make the pictures look better… heheh… bare with me all….
Ok, time for my babble… lets see what happens this time round.
One month in Korea, one month working a full time job, one month …. whoa… where did it go? Feels like forever, but as well just blink. Finally, I have am feeling more comfortable with the work load… still trying to cut it down more… that will take time and finess on my part, so work is in progress and I do feel better about it. The kids are super fun and cute and motivate me to keep on looking for more fn things to do with them… keep them occupied while learning… this week we are learning about the weather… itsy bitsy spider … loves it!!!! Report cards happend this past week as well.. uber stressed as, but held it together and know what not to do next time!!! OH my gosh!!! Work is… work… and really, it is getting some getting used too… I haven’t worked a full time job.. a regular full time job… basically ever… super new to me and I am not sure if I am cut out for a regular full time job… hahah it isn’t even that regular.. being a teacher goes around those 9-5 outlines.. but still… getting used to it.
Lets see, adventures… I am getting to know the city, I am going out and about by myself more and with one or two people who also don’t know whats going on but we are having a wonderful time getting to know the area. The subway freaked me out when I first got here… 9 different lines, and all over the place… now… i love it… color coded and splendid!!really amazing transit! Even the buses aren’t so bad… no idea where they go and can’t really read the signs but everytime have been lucky and ended up where I needed to go…. Surprisingly enough… no getting lost… yet.
We have created wine, or bath or both… decompression nights on Wednesdays. It is a life saver for the week and is something to get over that hump… very enjoyable and silly. Its nice chillin with the ladies. On the weekend a couple of us went to an art show, the artisit was Chagall, my friend Tovah introduced me to his work and I gotta say… would put some of his work on my wallls… which is something for me because I feel too picky most times to want to have a specific piece on my wall. So, yes, very neat and wonderful. The Korean Art museum was something just by itself too, very beautiful and huge and a great location. After the show we went for a belly dance lesson, it was pretty amazing… soo fun, I don’t know if it is enough movement for me though… but who knows… we will see what becomes of it.
I have explored the mountain and river by my home on most Sunday afternoons and I really like it as a reflection time, at the moment, it is ugly, beautiful and yellow, it kinda reminds me of Calgary in the winter. The warmer weatehr is making an appearance slowly so hopefully with it will come green and many other colors that I have been soo yearning to seee… I am in desparate need of my lovely nature. I bought a plant and it makes me happy.. 
I think this is all I am going to write for now… but maybe some feeling for you… I feel happy, and sometimes a bit in need of love, never lonely and mostly excited. I just miss you (my puppy love, family and friends) and am finally getting into a routine where I can think about you more… hehe, overall though, sending much love love love actions to you and many hugs and wonderfulness!!!!
Until next time…
A constant babble of aubs
09 Mar 2011 3 Comments
in KOREA
Time to share and babble of Aubrey isms, no grammar, maybe a little and probably spelling errors… just going to go with the flow and see what comes out for you all to read.
Let’s start with today. March 9, 2011, first day I have felt like, oh, ok. i can do this. oh ok, it’s not a ridiculous amount of confusion. Im getting it. HOooray, i celebrated out loud to myself this afternoon in the staff room… others shared my enthusiasm, finally i smiled for no reason except of just being damn proud of myself.
Let’s break down my day and the students for you. In the morning, I am in charge of ten little gems which is known as melon class. My co-teacher is currently in charge of 10 little diamonds in the rough???? i hope…. called banana class. Both classes are my main agenda. teaching each one an 80 min class… today about the letter a and colours and monkey’s jumping on the bed. i just sing and do the hockey pockey for them. so really fun, just practicing my voice for nori bong… which is amazing by the way!!!
after, my is little gems of melon and hopefully soon to be not soo rough bananas leave for the afternoon, time to plan my next class… SAP1. pure work. reading and being all business like, covering so many topics in just 40min. after them i plan for SAP3. science, for someone, me, who never really liked science, i am doing quite well, probably becasue at the moment it is about plants and animals… my favorite subjects… the kids are great, about 10 years old and higher level english, so less acting and frustration, more, conversation and definitions. i think i enjoy this class immensely and look forward to being able to have enrgy to be fun with it moreso. Finally. we have SAP4 , pure book club. these kids are silly little ones, but so far, interested in what i say.. hope that doesn’t wear out… everything is pretty straight forward after having it spelled out and shown on paper, i didn’t have that… training was a blur in my mind, i hardly remeber.
Other than school, i have been dancing, of course, and staying out till 5 and realizing whoa… where has the time gone. i have travelled to a few different parts of the city, one university area, dance central and one military area.. cheap wings at a canadian bar… rocky mountain house… meant to be. also i have explored a bit of the market of dongdaemun, but need to go there more and at night. this city is crazy, beautiful and an ocean of buildings.. literally. I hiked a mountain that was close by, and when we reached the outlook, all the other hills, and mountains that were not lived on, but still green with the pine trees looked like islands admist the ocean of city. Seoul vastness.. is unyielding! so much concrete… so much so that i have dreamt constantly about rain forests and trees and outdoor wildlife, i even had a lucid dream whilst in a forest and flew within it!!! haha…
my apartment is little, but not small as you would think. it is comfortable and cozy and just suites one perfectly. i have a little couch a table , a wardrobe, washing machine, heated floors and big window and other basics. its perfect. it took forever to clean though.. kinda dirty when i moved in… but it feels goodnow. the shower is somethign to get used to… knowing where the water will leak, and just really getting used to showering in the middle of the bathroom.. kinda strange to be looking at the toilet and mirror and door while you shower. .. but the water is hot and that’s really what matters.
People i have met here are amazing thus far. me thinks that everyone is just living it right now. super friendly, excited for the same things and just ready to explore…. lots of interests, lots of intrigue, lots to do and good people to do it with. im excited to feel more like me… i have just begun the process of getting back into the groove of aubrey.. haha… its a fun one to be in but work has to come first sometimes.. so .. work it is at the moment.. creating a home and a comfort of my neighbour… not soo bad by the way. i love how every alley way is made use of.. flashy lights, restuarants galour, super friendly, quite quiet actually. getting used to the smells and being a random canadian admist the koreans. my favorite thing though is that i have a chain of mountains just across a bridge from me.. about tfifteen to twenty minute walk away and more just a short train ride away!!! so good to have that escape… maybe no more going to the ocean for this girl, but definintly going to the mountain… beau would love that part… hate everything else… but love the hiking part ahaha.
this upcoming weekend i am off to daegu, another city altogether, by way of ktx, or korean train express. it will take about an 1.5 hr to get to. i look forward to the difference i will see and the newness once again of a strange place. i hear it is completely different from where i am now so i look forward to it alot. there is also a sleepover monk temple that we can go to and just see that side of korean culture too.. i look forward to doing that one day, they say the fall is the best due to being surrounded by the many leaves and colours and smells that autumn brings… i know it is my favorite season for sure!!! but yes… super excited for this journey that is about to take place.
i will be taking many photo’s and figure out how to post some on here… so no worries. pictures will come.
alright, i have come to the end of my babbling brook of mind thoughts that are streaming continueously out my fingertips…
again i apologize for my many spelling errors, and grammar tactics… it is what it is and it is me at this moment.. still babbling..
enjoy your days, nights and smiles.
love love love <3
Always Together, Never Apart
20 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
Going away, to a far distant place, going away, with all my grace
To feel so at home where I have never been, makes me look up to the sky and grin.
The days have passed and change has occured, and through all the visions non have been blurred.
I reach up high, as I feel the rain, I won’t look back to feel the pain.
Friends I have loved and lovers who have faded, will always be remembered and honored for what you have created,
for who I am, is apart of you, and you and you and you and you. So don’t be blue,
smile for me, for this is a start of a new journey.
Enjoying the moments, enjoying the bliss, but the time has come to give one last kiss.
We will meet again, in a different time, you will always be a friend of mine.
I am going away, to a far distant place, going away but I will rememeber all your grace.
To all my lovely friends and family in Canada My Journey to Korea begins!!
Catching a Smile
12 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in General Life
The worlds we create in our minds can take us to these wonderful most amazing places that we have ever seen, however they also take us to the darkest scariest placest that one could ever think of too.
It is amazing how each individual lives in each’s own world. Our reality is just that. Mine. Yours. Our perception make up what we see and how we read how this funny moment is taking place. Simply by someone writing on their… yes… I’m going to use it… on their facebook wall a simple statement of, “you make me smile”. Tons of different people, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends are either going to take it personally and feel good about the fact that “you make me smile”, emotion high, or they will take it personally and start wondering who that person is that isn’t them, and what are they missing to not make a smile arise and the emotion falls to a low.
Our reality, locks how we feel, through filling in the blanks. Those blanks are either positive or negative, confident or having low self-esteem. It is incredible. All the different realities we create about eachother, about ourselves every chance that we get.
When I took a walk to the ocean today, I went to the same place I go to time and time again. This time though, I was more present than I have been. I went by that huge washed up log and noticed for the first time a plaque stationed right by it. It simply stated something like this: So you are here now. Might I make a suggestion. Have a seat, get comfortable and forget everything else that is going on in your world, close your eyes and listen to now. Once you have caught that smile, say thank you.
Feeling free and wonderful, I took a squat by the ocean and followed the advice, it is amazing when you find that simple smile and I will remember to do that more often. As my feet took me back over the crushed seashells, rocks turning into sand, I realized that everything else is there, but this moment is what really matters, this is where I am and this is what I feel with each step, each thought, here, now.
There are moments that a person gets to really know what it feels like to be in the moment. That is my reality, enjoying when those tiny escapes happen from my own mind. Grounding. Breathing. Feeling. Real.
Hey Mama, Remind Me ’bout the Good ol’ Days
03 Feb 2011 1 Comment
in General Life
Country music. You just don’t find that many people who like it. I come from Alberta, I grew up with George Straight, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dunn, Shania Twain, Colin Ray and so many more. Country music, holds a special place in my heart, it reminds me of home and I have never felt this dislike that it seems so people have for this genre of music.
I moved to Vancouver 2 years ago, and have only heard and been to one country bar. It was great, the mood was fun, people were great, live band. Memories of my childhood took over me and I was soo exhilarated!! Then the song came on, the song that always gets everyone doing a super fun line dance, The Cadillac Ranch. So I get right into it, I’m center and up front ready for the lines to part and everyone get in on this fun dance… I look around to my dismay, I am the only one doing the line dance. WHAT?! Who are you people, who doesn’t know the Cadillac Ranch. Over and over again in my head I am in shock, looking around and seeing if anyone is attempting to join or try it… no. Vancouver, my first disappointment. Ouch!! I am soo displeased that I even pull the bass band member aside and tell him my shock.
From then on, I look around and see if these people actually know how to do any country dances, two-step, six-step shuffle, even a country cha-cha came on… no, not a single couple came out and showed me something amazing on the dance floor, nor was there a single guy that took me and just started in on a good country dance. So I take my friend, and I teach him the two-step. It was fun and I was glad I could share a part of my history with him. After though, I sent messages to my mom with my funny, disgruntled attitude towards the whole night.
Nonetheless, I had a fantastic time and it just rejuvenated my whole system for the prairie air and forever long Alberta skies. It is definitely something to have those moments of bliss that remind you of what you loved when you grew up. For me, the smell of horses, hay, grass so high over our heads that we would make secret trails and forts, going on an adventure in the rain in search for a bug and cross a boundary where magic begun, the thunder storms, the northern lights at midnight, the millions of stars, walking forever and of course country music, the main item that reminds me of what I loved about Alberta.
It’s Just Around the Bend…
25 Jan 2011 2 Comments
in General Life
In life, people learn how to direct others, how to read a map, latitude, longitude, street signs, red light, green light, one way, turn left, turn right, go catawampus… so many signs. However, not all who can read a compass can follow a map.
Let’s talk about getting lost. I, Aubrey Medwid, am a wonder at it, yet I always find my way…it just takes a little longer. For the past two years I have been working at a company to which we travel about an hour out of town, winding this way, flowing that way, construction rewinding over there. One would think that after two years of driving this route, Aubrey Medwid could figure it out. Not the right assumption. I come to this one intersection, there is a bridge to my left, and three other ways to go. I need to go straight, but my feeling every time is to cross that bridge. About once in every five trips out, I do. About once in every five trips I am convinced for a good ten minutes that it is the right way. After that ten minutes pass, there is another intersection, since it is leading the correct way I should be going, I follow it. Now twenty minutes pass, and all of a sudden I am in the middle of nowhere where there is random mountainous landscape, cliffs, forest, beautiful homes… and a dead end. Definitly not the right way and no way out but retracing my steps. The best part of this adventure that I take, is that I am so convincing to others that I know my way, the passenger in the seat next to me, has faith and believes in me that we will make it, and our destination is ‘just around the bend’.
Another classic ‘just around the bend’ mannerism of mine, happend one fateful day last spring. As the activity coordinator for ESL(english as a second language) students, the ambassador of touring these lovely humans around Vancouver and giving them a taste of Canada. I decided it would be fun to go into Stanley Park and play some good old fashion soccer. Looking for the field in which this activity was going to partake, not so easy of a story. We hop on a bus, get dropped off, I look at a map and take a wrong turn…somewhere?? Entering the Stanley Park wall, clearly not on the right path, but don’t worry everyone, we ‘are just around the bend!!’ Walking, walking, walking… this is an activity that ESL students do not like, before long, (long meaning after an hour) the questions arise. After long (one and half hours), I finally admit that we are the wrong way and where we want to be is up on the cliff that is to our left and there’s no way to it. I offer two choices, turn back or simply push forward to the beach(that may or not may not be… just around the bend). Since I am a master at keeping moral up, they follow. Another half hour…. AHHHHHHHh… heavenly sounds, light beams shining throught the clouds… the beach. I ask if they want to play soccer on the beach… at first very tentative, unsure, and a bit disappointed, but as soon as we begin the game, this misadventure turned out to be one of our most memorable activities!!
There have been many more incidents of myself losing the way, being confident and coaxing others to join me in my crazy ideas. I really hope these incredible moments continue… even if I admitted to my disoriented orientation…follow me?
Life: Taught by a Penguin, Not Just an Equation!
20 Jan 2011 1 Comment
in General Life
In reply to the comment posted by Jack Day to my previous blog about the equation of life, I believe that through introspective thought and through keeping my eyes and heart open, I have come up with a more solid foundation, or equation, to this thing we call “life”. At least, this is my perspective, and how I would like to face each day. Therefore, come with me yet again on this circular road to find out where my equation stands….
Before, I feel like I still did not break down the rudimentary meanings of these three simple words. Knowledge, love and fear. I thought too much. So here, let’s try once more.
The basics:
Knowledge: To be aware of what is.
Fear: Lack of love
Love: Knowledge with the recognition of fear, and always moving forward.
You see, these words are way simpler when not over thought or looked up.
Moving on to how I have come up with the following equation from what I have understood from these three words and from what I see in this world.
If you take a look at the King Penguin for instance, they are tall, powerful, full of lust for life. They have many challenges that they have to face; storms, predators, ice, hunger, and they hold their eggs for 55 days!! They do all this for “survival” or if I personify it, love. They jump even if they know a seal is lurking, when one parent is looking after the young the other goes and eats and becomes strong for they will be trading positions shortly and they always take a chance with what they are doing. I feel that penguins are a very positive creature, and I like to think that I could learn from them and stay on the positive side.
Hence, my break down:
Life = Love + Knowledge + Fear
All these combined make up the many choices, the many perspectives, the many realities that I create in my life. Having all the above and being able to be apart of that is who I am. It is my being.
My fear: Darkness, losing faith,
My Knowledge: I am here, this is the now.
My love: Me. You. Chance. Feeling happy and thankful everyday.
All this and way more makes me who I am.
So what’s your equation?
