Fondue time

Did I ever mention that I have some amazing friends? I admit that I don't have that many, but what I lack in quantity, I surely make up for in quality. I am truly grateful to have met some of the most awesome people in the world, and be able to call them friends.

Now, a little background on this particular friend-we (he and I) met on a cross-country bus trip, from Toronto to Vancouver. We both smoked, had a thing for Kate Beckinsdale, and bemoaned the entire trip. Over the few days on the bus, we became friends. Once we arrived in Vancouver, we exchanged contact info, and, to be honest, I thought that was it.
But, of course, it wasn't. We kept in contact, and it has been 7 years of awesome friendship, spanning breakups, weddings, WoW addictions, multiple moving trips (ours), babies (his, not mine) and more coffee than should legally be allowed.

Anyways, thanks to his awesomeness, Kristan and I got to go out for Fondue for a belated Valentines day date! It was belated A. because we couldn't get a reservation in time and B. because the hubs was sick on Valentines, and I stayed in reading manga (not complaining!)

The place is called Capstone tea and fondue, and is located downtown Vancouver, on Robson St. It's all white and pale green and surprisingly relaxing, given that it is almost always entirely booked.

Now, Vancouver is all about Asian fusion in almost everything it does. It comes with the territory of being the most Asian city in Canada, and having caucasian be a minority in this city. For those who don't know, fondue is a Swiss dish, which consists of melted cheese and chocolate, served with fresh fruits, vegetables and bread for dipping. Being in an Asian fusion city, all the tea options were typically Asian-matcha, green, green matcha, oolong, and so forth, as opposed to European-orange peako, English breakfast, or Earl Gray. I had an ooling tea, and the hubs had a London Fog (early gray with steamed milk foam)

We sat with our drinks for a little while, before we got the set menu of fresh fruits and veggies, bread and-of course-the warm cheese and chocolate. Now, originally, it didn't look like a lot, but, wow, was it ever filling! It totally took the place of dinner, and what  a wonderful dinner it was!

It was a lovely experience, and one I would love to have again. It was healthy, delicious, filling and a lot of fun to do with people that you love. I'm hoping that I get to do this as a double date sometime soon! Maybe in Switzerland, which would be amazing. I wonder how different it is there, in its home country. Although, the man who opened the restaurant is Swiss, i wonder if he changed the original recipes, and, if so, by how much.
xo

10 things you likely didn't know about me!

For those who want to know more about me! Friends, or otherwise, will likely find something here that they didn't know. And it you don't want to read it all (TLDR-I get it) just read the points in BOLD.

1. I am extremely introverted
        I mean, like woah. I can spend time with my friends, but, even with my best friends, when I spend too much time around people, I need an alone break. Sometimes, it gets bad, and I need to spend days alone. I've got enough of a handle on it that I can do a few days, but, it takes its tole on me.
People exhaust me.
The inside of my head is my favourite place to be.

2. I am a militant vegetarian
        While I AM allergic to meat (seriously, actually tested), I wouldn't eat it anyways. I think its gross; bad for the environment; inhumane; and just unnecessary. And people who eat meat, but refuse to be told-or reminded-of what they are eating make me sick. If you can't accept the fact that you are eating a dead animals carcass, then you don't deserve that life that has been given to you for food.

3. I am an environmentalist
        I am huge on the environment. I'm pretty sure that since humanity fucked everything up, its our responsibility to fix it. Global warming? Fact. Wide spread pollution? Fact. Lower air quality on a global scale? Fact. Sushi eating dickbags eating the entire ocean dry of life? Fact. People are doing this, and its about goddamn time people took responsibility.

4. I am currently in college-but I already have a diploma
        I am in school for both English, as my Associates, and Earth and Ocean science (or Physical earth science). But this is not my first stint in post secondary education. Nor is it my second. Way back when I finished high school-a complete failure, barely passed, not even college worthy-I tried to sneak into university be doing Distance classed at the University of Guelph. Now, that didn't work out, for a lot of reasons (but not my grades, surprisingly) and I jumped ship. I worked for a while, and then went to the Ottawa Academy of Beauty for advanced aesthetics and cosmetology. I graduated with honors, and did that for a while. Which didn't work out because of 1.

5. I kinda want to save the world-an by world, I mean just that. The planet. Not the people.
        This related back to 3. People are dicks. There is only 1 earth, and things are finite. If I could, I'd wipe out over half the population-preferably the stupid half-and then live in a global, sustainable manner, with no over population, no useless killing/poaching/etc, and all that. I want to sorta save the oceans, and all those animals that humans have caused to be endangered.

6. I have an almost psychotic hatred of kids and people who sing in public
        Kids? I fucking hate kids. No, I will NOT change my mind. I'm 28 years old, so fuck you and your fucking biological clock bullshit. Not gonna happen. Singing in public? You can actually thank Korea for that one. There was this one annoying little shit that would sing EVERYWHERE, and i sorta wanted to murder the little shit.

7. I am exercise-aholic.
        Does this need explanation? When I was younger, I hated working out. I was lazy, and liked drugs, I was an outcast, and sorta hated all the jocks in the world. Now? I work out with the best of them. I lift weights, I run, I do yoga, I like martial arts-all of it. I am at the gym usually 4-6 days a week. I don't generally talk about it since I believe that I can be, and do whatever I want without having to tell the whole world.

8. I almost married a woman once. But she said no. And that's all you need to know about that.

9. I have this thing where I have low self esteem, but I still think I'm better than everyone else.
        And this has been proven. Both parts. I've won awards for my writing, and my art. I've participated in some awesome community projects, I don't litter, and I'm pretty honest. So I'm awesome. But I have this crippling low self esteem thing where I feel like I could be more awesome.
Or something.

10. I collect books and teddy bears.
        I used to read like it was going out of style-which it was. I don't AS much, which I would like to change, but I have been busy. And all my reading lately has been for school. Teddy bears? Man, I love them. I have so many, its almost embarrassing.

BONUS!
11. I came into my 'geekdom' late in life. Not because I didn;t enjoy geeky things, but because I thought it was shameful to be into video games, books, anime, and comics when I was a teenager. I blame my friends, and the crowd that I ran with ie. the drug kids
But, now that that is over! I love comics, and anime, and geek stuff, and movies, and fantasy, and sci fi, and cute things, and video games, and, chances are, I can beat your ass at Mario kart.

PaperGirl Vancouver-Opening Night

In my last post, I talk about how  I was preparing some art for the Papergirl Vancouver art movement. Well, I did! Actually, I managed to throw together 2 pieces of art, and submitted them with some time to spare.

Earlier this week, I went to the opening night of the exhibition at the Roundhouse Community centre.

The exhibit was up for a few days, and I THINK they are being delivered out today. I think.

Regardless, the opening night was awesome. A lot of people showed up, donating money for the homemade buttons, and creating more art to be given away on movement day.

There was A LOT of art at the show. And music. And food sponsored by various outlets.

The art was great, and totally varied. As were the people in attendance. It somehow all worked and created a really chill vibe in the venue. There was none of that pretentious art crap, just chill, laid back people who were all into free art and creativity. It was fantastic.

I look forward to participating in next years papergirl movement!

And now, some of the art!

OH, and someone snapped a picture of me and my man! I forgot to mention that! This photo credit belongs to Carol Browne 

Spring Festival

This past week, 순전향 had it's annual Spring Festival here on campus. It is, essentially, a 3 day school sponsored bender. Now, it is A LOT more than that, of course, but there is an excessive amount of drinking, and it is-in part-encouraged.

There are also food vendors, major tents and vendors, as well as major activities.

There was also music, including a few K-pop bands, and some DJ's from all over.

But it is mostly about the booze. And food.

That as our one night. Now, it looks like a lot-and it was-but that WAS 5 people's worth. Over maybe 5 hours as well.

There was dancing-a lot of dancing, drinking, good fun, good friends, and I think everyone had an overall great time. No one got OVERLY drunk, to the point of alcohol poisoning, but everyone was good. That I saw, at least.

I only really got to see 1 Kpop band, and it was Rainbow..and, frankly, they sucked. Hard. The voices, the dancing, their outfits, and even their sex appeal-it was all bad. Makes me wonder how the 'popular' Kpop groups are picked.
There WAS a 'metal' group that was awesome, and so were the cover bands.

Oh, and this happened.

Hell, so did this.

Good times had by all. Or most, at least. ^^

xox

And so this is farewell...

For the most part, it is anyways. Most people are gone now. I have my room to myself, and I am not going to have another roommate for another 2 months. I'll be moving into my Winter suite in a week or so, when  everyone else is gone.
I have to say, it has been one hell of a ride, and I am so happy that it isn't over yet, not by a long shot. Despite all the problems I've had here dealing with certain issues, it has been worth every second. I love this country, I love the people, and I have met some of the most amazing people ever.
I still have so much to do, and so many things to see...I am so lucky to have the opportunity to stay here in Korea for another 6 months...well, 5 months, and a month in Japan.
Before all my friends left, we had a few parties, and I (finally) managed to snap some new pics.
We got a bit of everything in these pics-America, Canada, Japan, Korea...it has been a fantastic ride, and I hope that I see all these people again in the future.
Much love.
xoxo