I am not a huuuge fan of the World Cup (well not compared to hockey) but I still enjoy the game. I like the way it brings people together, even if economically, I do think it's a huge waste of money. What's great about the World Cup though is that in Montreal, there are people from so many different communities and thus there is always someone screaming and cheering. When Italy won 4 years ago I don't even wanna imagine how it was in Little Italy. When Korea wins this year (we are allowed to dream), the streets will be filled with Koreans blowing horns and dancing while eating Kimchi. Okay, I am exaggerating, but it's pretty cool to think that no matter who the winner is, Montreal is gonna be cheering. This whole multiethnicity is what dragged me here in the first place. It's not as lively at night as Seoul and it's not as clean as Hong-Kong, it's not as culturally refined as Paris, Wien or London... but it's definitely one of the most pleasant cities to live in, just because ethnicity takes a whole different meaning here. Our identity is not that of Canadians (except maybe for completely Canadian born Canadians, and I actually know only a few of them, since the Quebecois don't feel they're Canadian either...). We all come from different countries, have different cultural backgrounds, speak different languages... Oh yes, the language thing. How many people in this world can say they speak 2 languages fluently (native level)? Well in Montreal, most people speak at least 3! lol As usual I overgeneralize, but it's true that it's a reality that not many people in the rest of the world gets to experience such richness... In Japan, people live as Japanese, speak Japanese. In France people speak French, are proud of France, eat French food. In here, we all speak French or English or something else, we are proud of many countries at the same time, we eat food from all over the world... For the Earthling that I am, maybe no city is as appropriate as this one. It took me a long time to realize it, but maybe I can finally call this place "home".
It went by fast, three weeks. I had a rough start, being confused about a lot of things... but in the end those three weeks in Korea were good. No doubt that I changed a lot; got more mature and thus am less excited about things that I used to think were amazing before... but overall changes are good and positive. A few comments:
1) I barely drank. And when I say barely, I really mean barely. I had maybe one glass once in a while and I am sure my overall spending on booze didn't exceed 10 bucks (in three weeks). I thought it'd be hard to say no or to avoid all those parties I used to really enjoy back then, thought alcohol is necessary to get to the bottom of Korean culture, but I finally have learnt to step up for myself and say "no, thanks". That is definitely better for my health and my wallet, even if they might not affect my social relations in such a cool way. I am done trying to prove myself and whoever thinks it's shabby and uncool to be a low drinker can go to hell. I like myself better this way and I think it's all that matters.
2) My Prof is as amazing as she ever was, and even better. I had my doubts and my insecurities as always, but she totally chased those fears away. Now even if I were to not be in touch for a while, I could seriously bet my life on this friendship. There is no doubt nobody understands me as well as she does and I am so thankful to God, or Heavens or whoever for sending my way someone as amazing as her. 저의 기운이 돼주셔서 너무나 감사합니다. No, noone will ever understand what this means to me or how I am dealing with this... but I got used to it. To me, it's the most precious feeling ever.
3) Things seem to be going well with the TaLK program. Right now the office in Seoul is reviewing my file and if everything goes well, I will be back in Korea in August. Well, I'd better be, cuz I left a bag full of books, clothes and things at my prof's place and I need to get them back!
4) I didn't drink... but my stomach was nonetheless destroyed. The doctor in Korea said I had too much spicy and salty food all of a sudden and that it differed too much from my usual diet, so my stomach is reacting badly. He prescribed some pills and then he said not to eat anything spicy, salty and to avoid coffee, alcohol, and too much meat. Soooo... what can I eat? I asked. "Fruits, veggies, white rice... all bland, of course". Wow. Thanks a lot. Thankfully I left for Canada the following day, otherwise I don't see what I could've eaten in Seoul... lol
So that was my comments about Korea. It was a tiring three weeks... but it was nice overall. Now what? I graduated. No honours, and no prizes, but I am still proud to be done. And now that I am done, I have to face the whole "You have to think of your future as an adult" part. But first, off to some vacations. Vacations? What's that? Since I came back, I had to run around for graduation with a sick stomach and earlier when I should've been sleeping, I was cramming my head off on Japanese Kanji and Korean vocabs. I think I just don't want vacations. Stress is a good source of motivation, it seems.
