clocked out.

Today was my last day of work at Gyeonggi English Village, South Korea where I have been for the past three and a half years. Not only is three and a half years a really long time to meet amazing people and form incredible friendships, but when you live and work in a place so foreign, the people and work around you really do become your home and family. I clocked out for the final time today at 6pm. 

The clock-out machine is a fingerprint scanner. My fingerprints are always very difficult to read. (I could totally rob a bank. {and as of now I am also unemployed... mmm... accomplice....anyone?}) Here is a random (pretty dark) vid of my final clock-out of South Korea. The machine fails me a few times "WARNING WARNING" and then.... "Goodbye".

i sobbed.

it's just one of those things.

i will miss you SoKo

farewell

I am leaving Korea soon and have been pretty busy with the packing/sorting out my life/making travel plans/ organising flights/bank accounts etc. Today is actually my last day teaching in Korea. (yip, as of 6pm Korean time today - I will be unemployed. {someone hire me} SOBS). Anyway, last Saturday I was sitting on my couch watching TV packing up my room like I should be and in bursts Nicole with the following emergency:

CHE! COME QUICKLY! MY WASHING MACHINE IS FLOODING MY APARTMENT! THERE IS WATER EVERYWHERE!! PLEASE HELP ME!! HURRY!!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!?!?

Now, Nicole lives upstairs in the same apartment building as I do and I have experienced this EPIC WASHING MACHINE CATASTROPHE previously. It is NOT fun.



Think FLOODING. Think MONSOON-TIDAL-WAVE-FLOODING. Now, of course, since i know the epic damage a jerky-washing-machine causes, i am READY. I will TAKE DOWN that washing machine for my friend Colie. You, washing machine, YOU messed with the WRONG lady.

yip. Colie's apartment. 

filled with all my most lovely friends.

ALL of them.

All come to say farewell to me on my next adventure.

yes.

i realise this is not the most ideal reaction for a surprise party (and it was certainly a HUGE surprise - i had NO idea and kudos to Nicole {and everyone} for keeping it that way), but sometimes when so many wonderful people make such an effort to do something so lovely for you, It's all just a bit overwhelming.

I spent the next hour and a half simultaneously laughing and crying.

Which, might I add, is an incredible talent:

It was an amazing evening spent with all the wonderful people I have met in my three and a half years teaching in South Korea. Thank you Nicole for organising such a special send-off. I appreciate it more than you know.

Below you can see a few pics of me looking the most beautiful with snot and tears coming out my puffy-red-face. SOBS.

Thank you so much my lovely chingus

You humble me with your kindness.

I will miss you all incredibly.

distractions

This should be me.

Found via The Daybook  - one of my favourite blogs to read :)

packing

I'm currently in the packing phase of my life - getting ready to ship myself back to South Africa. Now winding down your life from the past three and a half years is not an easy task and involves many horrid things that absolutely make me want to vom. For example: dealing with bank accounts, taxes, phone contracts, remittance, severance, airfare reimbursements, housing deposits not to mention just the actual packing up of the room. (puke). Life has been busy (and sorry to little indieBerries for taking a backseat. sobs). Anyway, anyone who is familiar with my "hoarding"  talent will realise that over the past three and a half years i have accumulated a large amount of crap 'precious gems'. I cannot possibly take all the clothes, jewels, papers, stationery, books, shoes, bags and other treasures i have scavenged on my travels, back to South Africa with me. Luggage space and weight is limited and therefore I need to sort out everything, part with about 70% of my treasures and only take those things that are of vital importance to my soul being. 

Let's begin with one of the clothing cupboards.

good idea.

so simple.

Sometimes you do really forget.

beaded, floral, puffy, white, tutu-esque, ballerina dress. 

it really is.

you should keep it. 

ha. voice of reason. HA.

NO! You don't throw away your souvenirs!

You hold onto those memories.

If you are me this process will continue and you will think of every possible angle to beat-down the voice of reason.

Voice of Reason: That shirt has a hole in it.

You: It's vintage. and i like it like that.

Voice of Reason: You're gonna look stupid if you wear that with the hole in it.

You: No, i will start a new trend. i will make holes cool.

Voice of Reason: I don't think you've worn that in 2 years

You: Well one day i might. and Im going to be freaking depressed when i don't have it.

VoR: That style really makes you look like a small elephant.

You: Shut your face.

VoR: it's really not that flattering.

You: I need new gym motivation anyway. keep.

VoR: Those shoes give you blisters every time you wear them

You: I will buy some band-aids and toilet-paper and make. it. work.

VoR: You said that last time. and you ended up taking the shoes off and walking around Seoul barefoot.

You: well perfect, now i need to keep that pretty bag to put my shoes in.

VoR: You have five black shirts and they are all the same

You: They are not the same. are you stupid? This one is newer. I need them.

VoR: all five?

You: yes. then i have backup. 

VoR: that dress is ugly.

You: no it's not. it will look great with that jacket. im keeping both.

VoR: you need to loose the jacket - it's old.

You: No i need it for the ugly dress i'm keeping. 

VoR: Those pants have a huge rip in them.

You: I'm gonna stitch them up! I was thinking of investing in a sewing machine when i get back home anyway.

VoR: You've never sewed. And the only thing you ever knitted turned into a giant blanket-scarf-tent. 

You: Well it's the perfect time to start. and by the way, blanket-scarf-tent is coming with me too.

* * * *

I've decided i should probably be doing some fashion/style related posts because all my clothes really are QUITE wonderful. I once read on a blog (somewhere i can't remember) "the sole success of a great fashion blog is the dedication and patience of a boyfriend who is willing to take pictures" haha. im working on it.