December 31 2012

Well, this year is coming to a close.  Boy, has it been an eventful year.

January

• I travelled to Canada to attend TORF and surprise my nieces - the first time I was actually with my oldest niece on her birthday AND it was the first double digit birthday!
• Signed a letter of intent to take a position in Dubai

February

• Returned to Korea from Canada and Koshka (aka girl cat) was ill; vet diagnosed her with end stage renal failure. This signalled weekly trips to the vet, multiple blood tests, and daily medications for Koshka

March

• Started part 1 of a 3 part specialist qualification in Teacher Librarianship through Queen's / Ontario College of Teachers - in conjunction with finishing up the remaining classes for my Master of Education Degree through Deakin University in Australia

April

• Started the paperwork process for my UAE visa.  NOT fun or inexpensive.  Hired a lawyer in Australia to take care of all my Australian paperwork and a firm in Canada to take care of all the Canadian paperwork while I was living in Korea.  (Paperwork for UAE visa must go through several steps in the originating country before it can go to the UAE Embassy in that country, before it can pass through immigration in the UAE...)
• Koshka spends a week in hospital after a 'crash' with her blood work numbers.  Sent home with a nasal gastric tube for feeding and hydration - she hates the tube and the tube is removed after 2 consecutive 'good' sets of numbers.

May

• Finishing up last papers for MEd and starting process for cats to leave Korea and enter UAE
• Finished part 1 of Teacher Librarianship specialization

June

• Finished all requirements for MEd degree.  Waiting on confirmation of graduation
• Start part 2 of Teacher Librarian specialization
• Koshka has another ' crash', another week in hospital, and finally comes home with another nasal gastric tube which is replaced with an esophageal tube for hydration only  - she would eat without the nasal tube.

July

• Waiting on visa confirmation from UAE
• Koshka goes in to have the esophageal tube checked and adjusted - doesn't come out of the anaesthetic.  RIP Koshka 

August

• Final preparations for moving to Dubai.
• Hooligan departs 6 hours before me for a road journey to Seoul, some time at the exporters facilities, transfer to veterinary quarantine in the afternoon for a midnight departure.  Hooligan will arrive in Seoul 4 hours after I do and will go through the importation process with a local importer and be delivered to the Dubai apartment.
• I depart a few after Hooligan for a rail journey to Seoul, have too much baggage and have to pay baggage overages, flight delayed out of Seoul, arrive in transit through China - they don't like the fact that my passport isn't pristine and it takes 'awhile' to clear customs to change planes.  Flight out of china delayed due to late arrival of onward aircraft, further delayed by bad weather (yes it was monsoon season and it was a near coastal airport), finally bussed out to plane several hours later to walk through the deluge to the steps of the aircraft to sit on the tarmac for a further 2 hours in the hopes that the weather would clear enough fora take off.
• Arrive in Dubai with all my paperwork to be told by UAE immigration officer I was denied entry - it was sorted when he looked up the correct flight.  (he had assumed that because I had a Canadian Passport and a Canadian originating flight had just landed that I was on that flight and of course there was no record of my immigration status connected to that flight).

September

• Started work at the new school - hectic, busy
• Start to furnish my empty apartment
• Finish part 2 of Teacher Librarian specialization

October

• Start part 3 of Teacher Librarian specialization
• rented a car (Nissan Tiida 4 door coupe) and started to drive in Dubai (yikes!)
• Attended a 3 day IB workshop (level 3) on Librarianship and the IB
• MEd (Educational Leadership and Administration) degree arrives - it is official I now hold a MEd(EdLead&Admin) degree.

November

• Purchased a Mitsubishi Outlander GLS V6 3.0l CVT.  Finding driving less stressful - in part due to some confidence and in part due to driving something a bit bigger
• Saw Skyfall (Daniel Craig is a very good blend of the earlier 'man of action' James Bond and the more recent ' ladies man' Bond)
• Hooligan still not acting himself after the loss of Koshka and the move.  Off to the vet's.  THANKFULLY just a bit of digestive and elimination issues - new food, some laxative paste and he was back to his old self. (the relief I felt was immense.)

December

• Finished part 3 of Teacher Librarian Specialization
• Awarded Teacher Librarian Specialist qualification on my Ontario College of Teachers teaching license.
• Spending the winter break in Dubai, watched Twilight Breaking Dawn pt 2 (I had seen the others on the movie channels while in Korea, it seemed only correct to finish the series), The Hobbit an unexpected journey 3D, The Life of Pi 3D, and Argo.

I hope that 2013 is a wonderful year for anyone who is reading this - that any challenges you face help you to grow and the opportunities which present themselves to you are breathtaking and adventurous.

Happy New Year one and all.

How was your day?

I have spent the last 4 days nearly going blind doing data entry (ISBNs and Barcodes) due to a 2 year back log of cataloguing for the library - there is no scanner in the back room and the software/database license was allowed to lapse so EVERYTHING has to be done manually.

I am on a course over the weekend, 8- 4 both days, excited about the course but as I am feeling completely burnt out I am not so sure the timing is the best! Then, I return to work to spend another week doing more data entry ( I describe it as fighting a forest fire with a teaspoon) -  basically I am  working a 12 day week.

I find out this morning my CC is blocked due to a bogus $1000 charge -  some place called " NO MORE RACK"...  those who know me will see the humour in that!  I need to fax the bank to sort this out as the bank can not find my POA forms for my POA can't do anything.

I attempted to rent a car today - will need it for this weekend course and to get around while I look for a car to purchase - but didn't have all the necessary papers.  EVERYTHING requires a ton of copies of a ton of things!

Phoned an Electronic shop in the Mall of the Emirates to ensure they had what I wanted - the clerk swore blind that they had it in stock and yes, madam, several of them.

 I took a taxi to a few blocks short of the Mall of the Emirates - forgot I hadn't gone to the bank yet, walked the rest of the way to the MoE and promptly went to the ATM.

I bought a printer and a few other electronic items (The printer I wanted, the one the fellow swore blind was in stock - of course it wasn't)!

 THEN, I spent a lovely time with security as I "BEEPED" leaving the story - clerk forgot to demagnetize one of my purchases and with several bags, multiple pockets and many places in my handbag it took awhile to find my receipt.  The hysterical giggling woman (me) seemed to unnerve the security guards. There were many apologies from clerk, security and store once I produced the receipt - I kept giggling (I couldn't stop) and said " It was just that kind of day." 

So how was your day?

First day of Work in Dubai

Ok, well it wasn't exactly work, but it was all related to work.

The schedule was: 0800 pick by bus, delivery to school, introductions, then off to medicals 0900 - 1300.  1300 - 1400 lunch at school, 1400 - 1600 presentation, 1600- 1800 bank to cash furniture allowance cheques.

Reality:

at pick up for 0800... no bus... several phone calls... bus pick up a bit after 0900.  direct to medicals.. dropped off at medicals to await individual from school with necessary paperwork....

eventually called for blood test, then a bit more waiting before being called for chest xray.  Medical finished at 1230

off to school for lunch.  Presentations cut short due to equipment malfunction. given to keys to my apartment as my bed had been located and moved to the apartment.

driven to bank number 1 - closed.  driven to bank number 2 closed.  driven to Dubai Mall, let off to wander the mall looking for a bank.  eventually found a bank and cashed furniture allowance cheque.

driven back to morning pick up location and dropped off.

Stopped in to my apartment for a quick look - bright  and sunny with LOTS of windows (kitchen 1 window, living room 3 windows and a glass door, bedroom glass patio door....)

back to my sponsor's apartment - Hooligan VERY vocal and pleased to see me...

Now for a shower and an early evening as tomorrow I will shift my luggage to my apartment.  I will also measure the living room so that I can order a sofa and chairs etc....

August 21 2012 one very long day!!!

August 21 was the date for my journey to the next stage of my adventure - Dubai.

Up and at it at 0430 - last minute bits and pieces, coffee and a yogurt.  Hooligan picked up at 0600 to start his journey - a drive to Seoul, a few hours at the Pet Travel Agency (Gina Nam at First Class Pet is amazing!) then off to Incheon International Airport for Quarantine Inspection and a few hours in the Live Cargo facilities, next a flight to Dubai.  He cleared Dubai Customs and agriculture quickly and was delivered to Motor City shortly there after (DKC rocks!!).

Hooligan spent the next 3 hours telling me in minute detail all about his journey (I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't as fluent in MEOW as he thinks I am)...

My journey was a bit different from Hooligan's.

I left my Korean apartment at 0645 for a 45 minute drive to the KTX station in Eonyang.  The Bakers helped my wrestle my 2 suitcases, 1 carry on and hand bag on to the train - they quickly hopped off before they had an unexpected trip to Seoul ( We had said our farewells just before the train pulled in to the station - it only stops for 5 minutes!).  The train departed at 0822 and it was a smooth 300km/h ride to Seoul arriving  at 1045.  A porter helped me wrestle my luggage to the AREX (airport express) platform and then on to the train departing Seoul station at 1130.

Arriving at Incheon International Platform at 1212 I wrestled my luggage to the elevator and then to an electric car which delivered me to the terminal building.

I proceeded directly to check in.  I was able to go straight to the counter - it took 45 minutes to check in my 60kg (limit of 25kg checked and 5kg carry on) of checked baggage (carry on baggage was happily 'over looked').  Thankfully the check in clerk only charged me for 10 kg and the rest sailed by (1 bag was 15kg, the other was 42kg).  There were concerns about my entry permit versus a visa in the passport which meant signing papers to the effect that if I was refused entry in Dubai it was not the airlines fault of expense....

Through security quickly and easily... to find out flight was delayed.  Departed Incheon 1 hour late, cutting my transit time in China in half.

Processing through Chinese transit immigration was an issue as my passport is old and well used (heavily wrinkled and full of stamps/visa) which made it SUSPICIOUS! Clearance took long enough that I raced to get to my gate.

The flight was delayed by 30 minutes with no explanation.  Then as we were to start boarding the buses to to take us to the plane it started to rain - and rain heavily.  The rain meant we could not be bused out to the plane AND that we might NOT take off at all.

EVENTUALLY, we were loaded on the plane (after walking 100ft through the deluge to the single set of stairs leading up to the aircraft).  We sat at the 'gate' for 3 hours before being given clearance to line up for the run way at which point the rain picked up again.  We sat in this purgatory for 40 minutes before being given clearance to take off - finally leaving china on to my final destination.

Arrival in Dubai was fairly smooth - an electric car to whisk my through the airport, a guide who whisked me through immigration (in the flight crew line!). Well, he was whisking me through until the official said "You can not enter."

Me, "Why not?"

Guide said something in Arabic to Immigration agent who had my Entry Permit, Passport and Boarding Card.  Immigration agent typed some more on the computer and voila! I was in.

Baggage claim, pick up by my school sponsor.  It is at this point I find out that the bed I order in April so I would have something in my empty apartment  to sleep on had not been delivered.  Correction, it had been delivered, but not to my apartment and no one knew where it was.

My school sponsor was pet sitting so I was graciously offered her apartment to sleep in and in the morning the hunt for the wayward furniture would begin.

Slept for a few hours and then Hooligan arrived....

Stage 1 of this new adventure has begun.

Less than 72 hours...

Today is my last Saturday in Ulsan, South Korea.  I am spending  it playing the ' I CAN make this all fit within my baggage allowance' game.  Hooligan is spending it getting a bit more freaked out as more of the apartment is empty...

Hooligan and I will not be traveling together.  My employer booked me on a 1 stopover flight on China Southern Airlines; Hooligan will fly direct with Emirates.  We both have long travel days coming up:

August 21, 2012

Hooligan:

Ulsan to Seoul 0600KST (2100 Aug 20 GMT) departure

Seoul to Dubai via Emirates EK323 departing 2305KST Aug 21 (1405GMT)

arrives 0425GST Aug 22 (0025GMT)

 travel time = 27 hours

Then several hours of customs and agriculture clearances....

Corleen:

Depart HFC Apartment 0700 (2200 Aug 20 GMT) by Car

Ulsan to Seoul KTX (Bullet Train) #114 departs 0822KST (2322 Aug 20 GMT)

arrives 1045KST (0145 Aug 21 GMT)

Seoul Staion to Incheon Airport AREX (airport express train) #2823 departs 1130KST (0230 GMT) arrives 1215KST (0315GMT)

Incheon Airport (Seoul) to Guanzhou CZ0338 departs 1415KST (0515GMT)

arrives 1710CT (0910GMT)

Guanzhou to Dubai CZ0383 departs 1940CT (1140GMT)

ARRIVES DUBAI 0005GST August 22 (2005 Aug 21GMT)

travel time = 22 hours

KST = Korean Standard Time

GMT = Greenwich Mean time = UST Universal Standard Time

GST = Gulf Standard Time

CT = China Time

Thankfully Hooligan has a travel agency in Dubai that will take care of his clearances and deliver him to my accommodations.

On my behalf the school has book a welcoming service to meet me just inside my arrivals gate and assist me through the airport, customs, immigration, and baggage.

I have also learned where I will be living.  I have attached a web sourced photo of the outside of the building.

Friday the 13th

So, this past Friday (July 13 2012) wasn't a great day.  Girl cat (aka Koshka) lost her battle with kidney disease.  She had a good last week but then ...

Boy cat (aka Hooligan) and I miss her.  The house is a bit odd without her around; Hooligan looks around for her, but realizes she isn't here after a few minutes looking (the joys of a 50m square apartment).

She was a wonderful girl and a clever kitty.  As a kitten she was "Koshka the brave" exploring any and every place she could find a way to / in to.

I know she is better now - where ever she is, but  it will take awhile to stop the instinctual call to her when she isn't beside H when I open the door....


Time heals...

Roller Coaster Month of June

June has definitely been a roller coaster month.

• last month of academic year for my current school which means:
• Scholastic Achievement Tests for Yr 5 - 9
• Marking the above tests
• Report card writing
• end of term for my university course
• writing and submitting final paper for the course
• waiting for marks
• final month of specialist AQ part 1 to my teaching certification
• start of specialist AQ part 2
• visa and movement issues / planning for August move

AND to top it all off the female cat (CRF/CKD cat) crashes and spends 2 weeks in hospital.  Roller Coaster is an appropriate description.  It wasn't one of those kiddie coasters either - rather it was one of the most intense, old style wooden track coasters you can imagine.  Thankfully June is coming to a close in a few days and things should get a bit better / easier.

• Tests have been administered and marked
• reports have been written and sent home
• paper has been submitted - still waiting on final confirmation of marks :-S
• AQ part 1 completed with A+ mark :-)
• AQ part 2 started and all resources have arrived :-)
• Visa and movement issues are ticking along all in the hands of my new employer
• Cat back from the hospital, blood levels as normal as they get for her, she is eating and drinking without a feeding tube. :-D

Now, off to a nice dinner out at a new spot with some friends. :-)))

Gender Neutrality and Equality - Yay Right, not here!

There are rumors that ALL individuals that work for this company and live in company housing will be moved to a standard size apartment.  YAY!  If I was staying I would have finally been moved to an appropriate sized apartment for a professional.  (Some members of staff are a bit upset as they see it as a downgrade.)

When I was chatting the the manager in charge of the school I said this is a positive development for those of us in the "ghetto" apartments.

The manager paled, looked uncomfortable and told me that those of us in the "ghetto" will stay in the "ghetto" as that is all we are entitled to because of our martial status.

I replied to the gentle man well, how come, if we have to be in the "ghetto" we don't all get moved to the "ghetto 2"?  The "ghetto2" is also slated for this particular marital status and there is currently a member of staff, with the same marital status as those of us in "the ghetto", living there AND said member has had the "ghetto 2" written in to their contract.

Well, it seems that the "ghetto 2" is more expensive as it has no washing machines and there is an included housekeeping service.  Females PREFER to do their own laundry and housework that is why the females are in the "ghetto", not "ghetto 2".

I told the gentleman that I was NEVER asked what I preferred.

He looked further pained and made an excuse to leave.

Just a bit of Gender discrimination going on.

In the same vein, a single female teacher who is also a local national has a 3 bedroom family sized apartment.  I was told this is because she has children.  To which I replied, yes GROWN children who do not live with her. Again, that pained express of "oh, oh I have been caught in my own deception, best pretend I don't understand what is being said to me."

disbelief

So as most of you know I am off on a new adventure this summer.  I plan on leaving directly from Korea as it will be easier with cats, luggage and books etc.  AND under my current contract I have my apartment until the end of my contract which is the end of August.  Sound plan.

2 weeks ago I  was in the school office and the school secretary blurted out, "When are you leaving?"

I was understandably taken aback.  I replied, " At the moment I don't have firm dates for travel/visa but I think it will be around mid August.  Say the 15th or 18th."

"Oh, that won't work.  The new teacher coming in is to get your apartment and she wants to come mid August, around the 15th and we need a week for the cleaners between the two of you."

"Well, I can't leave any sooner than I have my dates.  When I know the dates, I will let you know."  I turn to leave, stop at the door and sweetly say, " The cats and I will GLADLY move to a bigger apartment now if that will be of any help."

I received a blank, I am in pain grin in reply.

This week I was in the office picking up some supplies for the class and the self same secretary says,"Have you got your flights yet?"

I am less taken aback this time.  I smile sweetly and say, "The dates have still not been confirmed." I take a few items out of the supply cabinet and turn back to the secretary and ask, very politely, "Have you found out how much I will be given for my flight?  I can't book a ticket until I know how much, as per my contract, I will be given."

The secretary seemed to be put on the back foot by this.  She hastily said, " I haven't looked yet, I am busy."

And so the latest round in the "Bum's rush shuffle" ends.  Stay tuned for more - you know there will be more.

May 2

Well,

Today was my birthday.  All in all an enjoyable day.  A half day of contact time at work, and afternoon of easy, if time consuming, paperwork, pizza for dinner, and a bit of web surfing.

I decided that in honour of my B-day and because I worked my backside off yesterday (labour day holiday) on intellectual work I am in the middle of I would have a 'non-academic work' evening.  Caught up on some emails, checked all the discussion boards for my studies, and updating my blog.

Waiting on my visa and apartment information for my new job.  My current job seems to be 'rushing me out the door' or at least that is how it felt today when I was asked when I would be vacating my apartment.  My contract runs to the end of August and I had planned on moving sometime in mid August.  Seems my replacement wants to move in mid August and as there needs to be a 'semi professional clean' done between occupants it is looking like there many be a bit of a conflict.  I did offer to move to better accommodations for the last few months of my contract  - if it would be helpful.    My offer was greeted with a blank, empty grin that sort of said " Yay, right, ain't gonna happen."

Updates

Well,

All my documents are back from the lawyers/governments/embassies, arranging to have them scanned (most are larger than a standard, personal use flatbed scanner).

Was at the vets today with Hooligan -- his liver enzymes are all back within the normal range!!  YEAH!!!!!  BUT, his bilirubin levels are still four times higher than they should be!?!  He had an ultrasound - yeah, lots of fun trying to hold him still while he had his liver/gallbladder region scanned.  Good news - the scan did not show any abnormalities (I'll take the vet's word on that as I couldn't make ANYTHING out on the scan).   Hooligan is free from visits to the vet to draw blood for 4 more weeks (we had been going every two weeks) but, he is on powdered meds until the next visit.

Koshka will head off to the vet in a week's time to check her kidney functions but, will not have to have a complete blood work up this time as her anemia is under control (her haemoglobin levels were low, so I added B12 to her meds) although,  her reticulocytes are still low.

I am trying to enjoy my two week break from teaching...

Changes

Well,  life has been a tad busy.  Every Monday to the vet with one of the cats for blood tests; sorting documents for Canadian notary, authentication, legalization; sorting documents for Australian notary, apostille, legalization....

Good news is that the Australian documents are in the final stages in Australia.

Koshka's blood tests are showing that the medicine for her CRF is having a positive effect.

Hooligan is not fighting his 'huge, horse sized' caplet to help his liver function.

Both cats are so full of energy that they seem to making up for all the mischief that they didn't get up to before their health issues were diagnosed and treatment was started. :-D

It is test week at work - so, tons of marking to try and stay on top of; feeling ZERO motivation to complete my MEd tasks - the motivation vampires certainly did a good job!

quite looking forward to the Easter break - a necessary battery recharge and butt kicked into high gear to catch up and (possibly) get ahead with my MEd tasks.

Is the cyber world out to drive me insane today??

Trying to organize an email to request that my university transcripts be sent directly to an embassy (visa requirement) from the university.  Email request keeps bouncing from the university's address - the BCC to myself works fine!

Time critical on this SO NOW, I am having to courier the request in!!

Then I tried to sign in to another site and the internet kept bouncing me out -- took 25 minutes to actually get in to the site!!!!

ALL this mucking about has taken 2 HOURS!!!  all just to 1) download a form 2) fill in the form 3)scan the form 4) attach and email the form!!!!!  somehow I thought, albeit foolishly, that this whole process should have taken a maximum of 30 minutes!!

In cyberspace no one can hear you scream!

Paperwork Dragons redux

SO, I have spent a small fortune but my Australian documents are well and truly in the process of dragon's fire!  I hope they will be back to me in a few weeks (the sooner the better) but everything is out  of my control so not worth thinking about for at least 2 weeks! ;-)

I am waiting on some documents from Canada - they were sent out through Canadapost International priority mail which meant, according to tracking information, they sat in the drop off post office for 24 hours; then left the country - no further information on the tracking site - BECAUSE they left the country  (funny how international mail LEAVES the country).  I am hoping that they will arrive in  no more than 3 days, then I can verify that they meet all the government requirements and add a few documents I have here to send them all  to the lawyer back in Canada!  I should get those documents back in a approximately 5 weeks from now.

Nothing is ever easy! :-S

Lord Buddha was a wise man

'The evils of the body are murder, theft, and adultery; of the tongue, lying, slander, abuse, and idle talk; of the mind, covetousness, hatred, and error.'  Buddha

An apropos quote to start this musing off.

Recently I had overheard a few 'colleagues' speaking less than kindly about me (the ringleader of this group is one who frequently needs my assistance with various things - guess who just shot themselves in the foot.)... the comments I overheard ranged from patent lies  'she spends all day surfing on the internet, even when the students are in the class' to unflattering personal opinions 'last year we had a good teacher in that position, now we have  her.'  I was even so lucky as to hear that I have said I am a better teacher than the previous one.  (NEVER crossed these lips!  I did say that based on testing the students are weak in certain areas - but I NEVER attributed to someone else's not teaching them these items.)

Basically, all evils of the tongue were employed in the overheard conversation.  Now I understand how evil of the mind and envy could lead some people to commit evils of the tongue as these same evils of the tongue are making me commit an evil of the mind - hatred - and fantasizing about torture and the first evil of the body!

I am angry.  I am annoyed.

I mean really these are supposedly colleagues and professionals.  FINE, you have an opinion of me.  Fine you discuss your opinion with like minded people, BUT I draw the line at outright lying and false statements!

I DO NOT internet while my students are in class.  I teach my backside off.  I spend my breaks and lunch hours marking and or editing student work.  I plan entire terms out BEFORE they start.  IF testing shows a deficiency in previous learning or student recall - I REWORK the rest of the term to address this!!

I wonder why people are so small minded and petty.  If you have an issue / problem with me wouldn't talking to me about it be the grown up thing to do?

Frustrations

Illness, legal services, visas, university classes..... I feel a bit (ok more than a bit) overwhelmed at the moment.  I thought I was dealing with all this... but a COMPLETELY sleepless night has indicated I am not.

I think the biggest stressor is trying to organize notary, apostille/authentication, embassy legalization services on 2 continents while I am on a third.  I am waiting on final quotes and payment forms - although one place wants me to set up an escrow account (how do you do that from a different continent??).

Very stressful!

Girl cat has CRF and has to take medicines twice daily - she doesn't like the meds at all BUT I can see improvements in her activity and body conditions.  I wonder how much help the meds are relevant to her displeasure and stress at having to take them.  Are there alternate methods of delivery, alternative meds, alternative food???

Sometimes I wonder why no mater what destination I choose (literal or metaphorical) the journey - which is out of my control - is so complicated?

Paperwork Dragons out of hibernation

Received the news today that the visa issue has been verbally resolved and approved - written resolution and approval will be forthcoming once the dragons have been relocated to the offices responsible for my visa.

Lawyers are back on the clock!

Soul destroying stress...

Well, the paperwork dragons have been forced in to hibernation.  I have managed to source lawyers in Australia and Canada to complete all the necessary steps the paperwork must go through BUT there is now a possible issue with my VISA!! So, until that is sorted out I don't feel it is wise to spend significant sums to meet a SPECIFIC countries visa requirements when there may be no visa forthcoming.... stay tuned for this update.

So I decide I can put the above on a 'backburner' and let happen whatever is suppose to happen... not an easy thing to do as those who know me will attest! And just as I come to terms with this situation I get metaphorically punched in the stomach.

I get my TAX BILL!!! Yes, you read that correctly - BILL.  I owe the government here approximately $400USD which will ALL come off my upcoming pay check!!  Now, before you think 'well, that's not too bad' let me enlighten you to some MIND BOGGLING facts.  1) my ONLY income is from my current job; 2) I work for a multi BILLION dollar company with several 10s of thousands of employees.  NOW, if I can go online and find, in my native language, information on my tax rate, pension rate and national health plan deduction rates you WOULD THINK that the accounting department could do the same.  I am at a complete loss as to how the accounting department could have missed $400 worth of deductions over the year when I am able to find all this information.   This is, after all, the JOB of the payroll department - isn't it?

Now, before you think, - she's just whinging about basically nothing read on.

So now, metaphorically I am rolling around on the ground from this sneaky stomach punch when BLAM!! I get kicked in the head (again, metaphorically).

My female puss cat hasn't been herself so off to the vet we trot...

After an hour and $200 dollars we, puss cat and I , find out that she has Chronic Renal Failure.  Fabulous - my little girlie is ill, it is a non reversible disease.  Best we can hope for is to "get it under control" and she will have 2-3 good years left.  OK.. so another hole in my soul, another hole in my wallet.

All this is happening while the first mentioned paperwork is on hold because of the visa issue which has meant that the paperwork required for the cats is also on hold - but there are specific windows where certain requirements for the cats to travel must be met.... STRESS...

OH YES! All this just 1 week before I start the final course for my MEd.

Anyone out there want to change places with me for the next few months???  Anyone?

Paperwork MONSTER

So, my Australian papers need to be notarized and apostille stamped in Australia -- no, the Embassy can not notarize and apostille is only done by foreign affairs in Australia.  SEARCHING for a notary who will notarize my documents without me being in Australia.

Canadian documents need to be notarized and authenticated in Canada (including HIGH SCHOOL diploma and transcripts!).  Searching for a notary in Canada who will proceed without my being there.  AND yes, NO the Embassy can not notarize nor authenticate.  Authentication can only happen in Ottawa at DFAIT

Both of the above processes are difficult when you are sitting in Korea and there are no FREE FLIGHTS in order to accomplish the above.  I am seriously doubting the global / international nature of information and society at the moment.

Documents in Korea must be notarized and apostille stamped in Korea.  This process will be easier - BUT the added step of English translation must occur BEFORE notarization and apostille.

I am starting to feel like Don Quixote, only it isn't a windmill rather a PAPERWORK MONSTER that  I am jousting.

On a plus side - the cats requirements have been sorted out and it seems fairly straight forward.  PLUS, the regulations in Korea and UAE require me to use agents in both places - basically I just do what I am told.  I pay $$$ but, things will be done correctly.

In the past the cats have been the most difficult part!  :-D

New school for the upcoming academic year.

As I mentioned in a previous post I will be moving to Dubai for the new academic year.  So, now I am working through 1) the visa process for me, and 2) the relocation process for the cats.

So far the cats process is fairly straight forward and by far the easier of the two.  UAE does not permit animals to enter: as cabin baggage - not an option as there are 2 cats and only 1 person in my case; nor as excess baggage  - the way they have travelled to date.  The only way they are permitted to enter is as LIVE CARGO.  Korea does not permit individuals to process live cargo so I need to have a pet transportation agency in Korea.  I seem to have found a helpful and invested company.

In Dubai there are numerous permits and process that need to be completed prior to arrival and more after arrival.  Final clearance in Dubai can take more than 5 hours, so again using an agency is an essential.  Again, I seem to have found a very helpful and invested agency.

Now, all I need to do is all the pre-depature veterinary processes.  Which I am working on.  There are a few stressful areas which if not completed properly can result in refusal of entry or confiscation and potential 'destruction'.

My VISA is another issue altogether.  The required paperwork is extensive and frankly a bit difficult to accomplish from my current location - but nothing worth doing is ever easy, right?  

I will be couriering many documents to various parts of the globe to have them authenticated or apostille stamped, then couriering the documents back to me to organize and send on to the school in Dubai so that the visa process can actually start.

I know I can enter the UAE for 30 days on a tourist visa and then do a visa run to Oman if the process is not completed before my travel dates (still to be determined), BUT can the cats enter the UAE while I am only on a tourist visa or will I have to board them for an undetermined amount of time in Korea prior to my successful visa run?  This is causing stress.

I am concerned on several fronts all of equal importance - the costs of relocating the cats is not inexpensive and the idea of adding an undetermined kennel stay is becoming daunting; Koshka - the small 6 lb soaking wet female - does not do well when separated from her momma.  She loses weight.  Hooligan - the beefy 12.5 lb male -  also doesn't like to be without human contact, on his terms, and can become quite depressed; kennels are great places to pick up all sorts of viruses regardless of vaccinations.

keep your fingers crossed for us. :-)

Valentine's Day / white day / black day in Korea

The 'day for lovers' in Korea is not at all like the same day in North America.

In Korea, on February 14, females give gifts to males; the males just sit back and relax.  Sounds lovely and stress free for your average male - but they don't get off that easily.

On March 14 White Day is celebrated.  On this day, males provide gifts to females.  These gifts MUST , by custom, be much better than the gift the male received in February.

But wait!  This 'day for lovers' is not yet over  - even though it has covered 2 days over 2 months.  No, There must be a third day - this day is to 'celebrate' or commiserate singledom.

Enter April 14 a.k.a. Black day.  On this day single individuals get together and eat jajangmyeon - noodles with black bean sauce.  The idea is if you did not give or receive gifts on February 14 or March 14 you celebrate singledom.

So in Korea, the 'day for lovers' covers 3 days over 3 months.  

January travel to Canada

The end of January saw me traveling to Canada to attend the Teaching Overseas Recruitment Fair (TORF) in order to secure a new teaching location for the upcoming academic year.

I left my apartment at 8AM for a 1 hour taxi journey to the high speed train to Seoul.  After  a comfortable 2.5hr journey I arrived at Seoul Central Train Station.  I timed it just right and was able to comfortably walk to the rapid link to the airport.  It was so well timed that I walked up to the ticket counter, purchased my ticket, walked to the elevator and on to the train with enough time to comfortably arrange my self and belongings before the train left on the 45 minute journey to Incheon International Airport.

I arrived at the airport a full hour before flight checkin opened - the land side of Incheon is not the most interesting  place to spend time, but an hour early was better than arriving a bit later and being rushed and stressed about catching the flight.  I checked in - ONLY to find that the airline now allows just one 23kg piece of luggage in economy from Asia to North America.  Luckily I only had my backpack and my standard two pieces of cabin luggage - my handbag and my camera bag.  This new restriction put a serious crimp in my return journey plans!  The check in agent also insisted on weighing my cabin luggage to ensure neither piece was over 10kg.

My flight to Vancouver was the usual sardine tin in economy.  When I arrived at Vancouver International I used the automated border kiosk for the first time - a fairly painless experience.  i picked up my backpack to be dropped at the domestic flights baggage conveyor belt - only to find out that my flight to Ottawa was delayed.  Not Great!

I decided that I would enjoy a manicure in one of the airport spas - pricey, but a pleasant way to stay conscious while I waited for my new gate assignment.

The gate assignment was currently being used for an international flight so it was behind a layer of security that I could not get past just yet.  When the international flight left I headed down to the gate - i could let part of my consciousness drift to an almost sleep like state while i listened for the boarding call.

The boarding call did not come at the expected time - after much consternation - we were able to board more than 2 hours later! (This was concerning as I was certain that we would have exceeded the flight crews allowable hours - but luckily it was a new crew boarding in Vancouver AND the airport we were designated to land at usually did not allow flights between midnight and six AM.  We were now going to land at 1:50AM)

I spent 4 days in Ottawa doing many errands that  needed to be completed.  Then I was off to Prescott to see my nieces - I managed to surprise them with my visit, unfortunately we didn't get to do many 'fun things' as the youngest manifested stomach flu the first night; the middle one the next night - amazingly I didn't contract the virus!!

I left for Kingston and TORF on on Friday morning (1 week after leaving Korea) with limited signs of jet lag :-) .

TORF is always a busy and hectic time but all went well.  This year seemed to be the year of the Middle East for me (the last time I attended TORF I was sought after by schools in Korea and China - I went to Turkmenistan from this fair.).  I signed on with a school in Dubai - the next stage of the adventure will start in August / September.

I spent a few days visiting my friends T & T in Kingston and relaxing.  Tuesday it was back on a train to Prescott and Wednesday's oldest niece's birthday dinner.  After dinner I drove Granma's car back to Ottawa - normally a 1 hour drive.

The drive took a bit longer as Granma is a bit of a nervous passenger, it had never driven her car before, and the weather through EVERY type of winter weather it had at us - cold and clear (black ice any one?), blowing snow, freezing rain, falling slush.... you name it I drove through it for the first time in year that night!  We took an hour and 40 minutes to get back to Ottawa but no one was stressed out and the car was in one piece.

I had a day in Ottawa to finish errands AND make everything fit in to my backpack - recall the new one piece of luggage rule mentioned above.

My flight from Ottawa to Toronto was late leaving and after push back we had to be de-iced.  Arrived in Toronto with just enough time to catch my scheduled flight to Tokyo - but this flight was late.

I boarded the plane and found that I had the window seat in a row of 3 with no one else sitting there and the armrests lifted up - I could lay down during the 13.5 hours and sleep. SCORE!!  NOT SO FAST MISSY, said the universe because I endured 13 hours of a screaming baby 3 rows back - my noise cancelling earphones couldn't drown the child out.

I had to recheck in at Narita International Airport for my flight to Seoul - other than having difficulties finding the check in counter all went smoothly.  I had an exit row window seat for the 3 hour flight and was able to sleep a little.

Arriving at Incheon International went smoothly until baggage and customs.  My bag was the last off the conveyor and I picked the wrong customs line, ending up behind some individuals who needed to be extensively questioned.

I misse the Rapid link from Incheon to Seoul Station and as a result I missed the last train home.

I ended up spending a small fortune on a 4.5 hour stay at the Millennium Hilton Hotel  - the closest hotel to the station.  I was on the first train the next morning to Ulsan.  I arrived at my apartment EXACTLY 36 hours after I left my accommodations in Ottawa.

shopping....

Shopping in Korea is a bit of an adventure on any given day.  The country is just a bit smaller than the island of Newfoundland or just a bit larger than the state of Maine.

 Now, picture this area with a population of 49,000,000 (that's right, forty-nine million!).

 NOW, reduce the habitable area to approximately one third - that is roughly one half of the land area of Nova Scotia or the entire land mass of Hawaii.  This new area holds ALL the people, agriculture and industry! (Statistically, Korea is at 98% of it's habitable capacity; the US is at 5% and the UK is at 20%)  Have you got a good picture of how crowded Korea is yet?

Well, you can imagine that shopping can be a bit of an adventure on any given day.  To give you a better picture - shopping in Korea on an average day makes me think of the start of the December Christmas shopping season.  Now imagine this same time period at a Price Club / Costco.

Today was a trip to the Costco in the next city over.  This was complicated by the fact that next week is Lunar New Year.  A HUGELY important holiday here.  So, shopping at Costco was CRAZY.  Think Black Friday sales + last minute Christmas shoppers + parents at the christmas release of the latest 'must have' toy craze and now you have a picture of what it was like!

Last night, after I took my friend to the dentist, we tried to stop at THE shop to pick up a few things.  seemed reasonable as the shop closed at 9.  BUT, as of 830 the shop stops people from entering!

Living in another country (even for the second time) is never dull...

at the dentist....

I am lucky I have a good dentist here in Korea, and his English is really good so I feel very comfortable having work done.  I also feel comfortable because he did all his training in North America so the treatments are familiar to me.  I FINALLY, after 5+ years, had a dental implant installed - and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, nor painful in anyway!

But that is a completely different discussion.  I like this dentist so much I introduced a friend to him and my friend is having a significant amount of work done (at a reasonable price).  My friend isn't comfortable driving to these appointments - not knowing exactly what will be happening at each and how they might make her feel, so I accompany her and drive her car.  While she is in having her procedure I sit in the VERY public waiting room and read.  I am quite content as it forces me to take a bit of 'down time'.

Today was a particularly busy day for the dentist and I used the time to surreptitiously people watch.  A young woman was waiting for her friend to complete her treatment and it was the most interesting bit of people watching I have done in awhile.

After the treatment was complete they sat in the waiting room for more than 30 minutes.  The young woman who had undergone the treatment spent roughly 20 minutes reapplying her make up - from foundation up - right there in the waiting room - not the public restrooms 20 feet from the dentist office. The next 10 minutes were spent with this young lady applying makeup to her friend - again in the waiting room.  AFTER the make up they both needed to apply spray perfume and then they left.

I was stunned.  Lipstick maybe, an entirely new 'face'... isn't that more appropriate for a slightly less public venue?   I wished I had my camera with me.... oh well, maybe next time.

Footwear frustrations

I have this super comfortable pair of shoes that I wear everyday I can't wear my sandals to work (I also need to replace my sandals, but that is another problem that can wait until the weather warms up).  These amazing shoes are Birkenstock Footprints Annapolis ladies "business" shoes.  Super comfortable and nice looking.  They are also 2+ years old.  The footbeds have finally worn down to the point that they need to be replaced. Sounds like a simple thing - right, RIGHT?  WRONG!

I know the 'part number' and I can find the item online! (yeah!)   Can I ship it to my current address? - NO, my current location is not Birkenstock friendly (nor is it MAC friendly but that is a whole other ball of wax).  I will be travelling in the near future so I have spend 2+ hours looking for locations in the country and area I will be travelling to or through where I can pre order, pre pay and pick up my new footbeds - so far no joy.  The shoe itself is in fabulous shape... all I need are new footbeds.. I don't want to be contributing to landfills or spending $$ for no reason, but it seems that the universe (or some malevolent force) is thwarting me. AH, the circuitous route of my life continues...

2012

Well, the New Year is here and I have decided to try blogging.  I know many people say that blogging is now 'over' but, those who know me know I am not a slave to the fashion of the moment.

I actually decided to try this out because several people have been awed by my experiences (these experiences seem rather mundane to me) and have suggested I write a book (!!!).  Other individuals are in awe of the circuitous routes my life seems to naturally take and have suggested I blog about my experiences....so I thought heck, why not!