Citisen of the World: May 2011

I think I'm starting to understand a little bit better, this feeling I have.

This feeling of not belonging.

I am becoming more and more aware of the fact that I, as a foreigner, do not belong in Korea.

The people are of a different culture, language, understanding, mentality, upbringing.

Everything is different.

And no matter if I learn the language, the customs, the names of place, have Korean friends, I will never belong here. I was not born here and therefore I will never share that bond with the people who were born here.

Same thing goes for Canada.

I went there when I was 12. I left when I was 24.

I spent 12 years in Canada and I don't feel Canadian at all. Except for the fact that I got used to having the privileges that come with being Canadian and living there, and I don't think I would find it easy settling anywhere else.

Now, when I think of Romania... that's something different.

I can't wait to go back there this August.

I won't be a stranger there. I'll know the language, I'll know the customs, I'll know the people.

They'll also know me, and be able to understand me.

I was born there, they were born there, I grew up there, they grew up there.

That country and people are still in my heart and I long to be somewhere where I'm not a stranger.

This weekend, I went on another solo trip. It was with Adventure Korea and it seemed like a very promising trip. I was looking forward to meeting new people and taking part in some interesting activities.

Here are the pictures. Enjoy.

This is me at the Pumba (Korean Begger) Festival. I don't know why they have a festival like this. Anyways, we got to wear a rag shirt and get our face painted. Some had prettier designs than others. Apparently, there was also a Korean photo competition going on, so there were LOADS of Korean paparazzi around taking pictures of us foreigners.

Full outfit. Styling, eh? :)

Me and my new friend ManYi. I don't remember if she's from Canada or the US. Hm...

As I mentioned before, some of us got nicer face paint than others.

ManYi stylin' :).

Some weird beggar dance with Makali (Korean alcoholic rice drink).

Lady on stilts next to a beggar blimp. Hm... alright...

There was also a makeshift beggar village with all sorts of interesting things. Here was a clothes line, and since the paparazzi were following us, we thought we might as well give them a show. :)

The 4 of us (new friends). One of the paparazzi used my little camera. There were loads of them lined up. As soon as they saw us here, they swarmed. We had to move to loose the crowd.

Marcia, ManYi and Amy tending the hobo hut.

Oh wow! This is making me so hungry right now!! Some amazing ribs hanging out, waiting to be devoured.

Lady making delicious doughy snacks.

Making mats the old-fashioned way.

2 beggar mimes and a woman on stilts walked into a bar...

Super cute kids. Amy and me managed to escape the paparazzi, but then a woman saw us and sent her 2 kids our way to practice their English. Another day in Korea.

She had a really pretty butterfly painted on.

There were some drums there, so I decided to demonstrate my awesome drumming skills.

Moahahahaha! See?? I can do it!!

Paparazzi!

More paparazzi!

For real?? More paparazzi!

And this is the tour group photo. Not very well taken, but at least I made it in the picture.

After the festival, we headed out to the beach to our hotel and to relax for the evening. ManYi and me went to a sea food restaurant. Awesome stuff, and not too expensive either.

After that, we recruited some people and were planning to go to norebang (karaoke), but we ended up just standing in front of this random building and talking and drinking. I was first to stumble home. What a wonderful evening :).