Days fly by!

Nat & I went for all you can eat Japanese at this new restaurant that just opened up near us. After shopping we thought "Let's get a boat" and it quickly turned into all you can eat lunch, which then sufficed our appetite for 3 straight days. These were the most delicious pan fried udon noodles i've ever had, thus far, in my entire life. We ordered 3 plates full. omg delish!


At the restaurant I spotted my friend George cooking! Then, I saw him walking downtown. I was tempted to call out his chinese name, which I will not divulge on this blog but did manage to take a 'random pic'. So George, here you go my friend! Two spottings in one week.

Today I met with Samantha. Of course did a ton of shopping - ughh. Wayy too much for my own good. Anyway, finally found some rainboots and picked up the essentials and a new Korean phrase book. Then we went for dinner at an Indian restaurant on Queen. It was amazing!

Finally, we walked to this little waffle place near Eaton Center and then sat and watched the Luminato festival... part of it I guess. We will be going to the finale of the festival on Saturday. There were some amazing art pieces there and of course, people 'dancing in the street'... literally - and no, this is not New York city.

I think that's all I really want to write about for now. Being downtown today made me, as always, remember that I live in a beautiful city where there is such diversity!

Toronto, I will miss you!

Eyecare, TMT & Sleepyness

Alright so today started off with going to my optometrist and picking up sunglasses. I must express my lack of enthusiasm (especially at 1:45am) toward sunglasses. It is completely justifiable for this reason only: I hate it that so many people can spend so little on sunglasses. Even if I wanted to buy a $12 pair of sunglasses I wouldn't be able to. I'm blind as a bat and if you need a prescription you automatically have to pay up. It is really such a shame, when a less than $100 glasses frame turns into nearly $500 because of the damn lens.

Anyway, now that I am over that and had my vent session I will tell you a little more about the events that occured in my life today. Got the sunglasses, found a new pair of glasses. The ones I have now broke during a soccer game. A player on the other team decided to kick the ball off the wall and it nailed me in the head, breaking my glasses in two and forcing me to use super glue to mend them as soon as I got home. That was 4 months ago. I am due for a new pair.

After the eye doctor I went to the Promenade... haven't been there literally in years. It was nice and I found some things. My cousin said to me the other day "sorry steph, but you really to replace those" pointing to my less than perfect flip flops. Yes, for those who have seen me wear them every day of my life for the past 2 yrs... they are the ones that I wore camping, the ones with the rhinestones.

While in the mall I got really excited when I saw TMT. I completely forgot that there was a Japanese food market in there. I love that place and am intrigued by all the different foods but always end up leaving with pocky sticks, seaweed for sushi, lychee green tea drink and noodles. I held off on the pocky sticks this time around. I wish that they had these ones: "Another variation of Pocky is the My Calorie Pocky (マイ カロリー ポッキー, mai karorī pokkī?), which has 1/4 the calories of regular chocolate Pocky." If they did I would buy them.

Kiwi pocky? I've seen it all. I wonder how this tastes.

Later we dropped off taxes. Yes, late... I know. The shame. Well better late than never. And now it's getting really late actually. Must wake up tomorrow and prepare for a BBQ with friends.

Excited to meet for coffee with all the girls tomorrow night. We might hit up a cafe on college or rely on good ol' starbucks. Wherever we go I know it will be fun. Cause' it just is :) hehe

Take care,

Steph

Busy days

The last 48 hrs have been so hectic. Where did I leave off? Ah yes, a visit to the Korean Consulate on Avenue Road. Samantha and I met really early, which disturbed my normal sleeping-in-till-noon nonchalant attitude, downtown. After preparing paper work and documents and reviewing them hmmm let's see... about 30 x we walked in and took a number. No. 2 and No. 3. As I mentioned, it was early. We're kinda keeners, what can I say? Anyway it was so non-exciting whatoever (not that I expected it to be). The most entertaining part of it all was the fees for just about everything!

Ima break it down:
Passport fee $55
Vulnerable Sector Check $35
waiting.... forever for it $insanity
police check notarization $20
diploma notarization and certified copy #30
police check stamped $2.50
diploma stamped $2.50
transcripts $50
4.5 x 5.5 photos $45
boy at blacks photography adding a written note to me stating "your hot have fun in korea!" $hilariousness
Fed Ex Overnight Courier package to Seoul $85
TOTAL $325
grrrr!!! & I am sure there is more to come... but it will all be "priceless" in the end I'm sure.




so after all of this we had a coffee & some lunch on a cute patio and found a small tech place where they sold the international plug adapter. Oh haha yaaa ummm you can add that another $30 to that total -- something we will definitely be needing though.

Later I met up with Nick at, of course, my favourite place Chapters/Starbucks. He was picking up a paper at UofT and dropped by. We decided to go to grab coffee on Queen (patio) where we would eventually discuss the concept of this blog. He bickered about how he thinks this could be a source for me to fuse my vanity and that I am basically an extrovert who longs for views and attention. He is only half right.

Couldn't stay for long so we headed down to the subway. I decided to get some gum from this variety store and as I was paying noticed Korean writing on a box asking for change. When my curiosity gets the best of me and my wonder won't let it out of my head I decide to ask what it says. The lady and I start talking about Korea bla bla bla - I kind of hate this about myself and Nick says I will one day embarass someone but I become so interested I can't help myself. I asked her if i was saying "goodbye - to someone staying" (because there are 2, yes 2, ways to say bye) and then proceeded to bow and leave. She was such a cute lady.

As I leave Nick is dying of laughter and says that I should relax. Why? "You bowed 7 times and look crazy." I must say, this is completely subconscious and totally non-preventative... it's just the way I react. I will definitely take note of my behaviours from now on though. Damn.

Later that night I bought my laptop at Best Buy... first time I've had one since I was younger (the old one was apparently defective and I never ended up getting it fixed, my fault) but when I was in Ottawa I used the desktop comp. Second cup called my name a few hours later. I went with Natalie and we caught up on things. She filled me in on all the events that happened on her cruise in Europe. I can't remember how much caffine I consumed yesterday. I guess my decaf commitment has become null due to my inability to move to something healthier ie. green tea? Ahhh I will be obsessed with tea for the next year I'm sure. I must admit though, I am sort of worried about the price of coffee in Korea. When Kristen went she said she was paying nearly $40 for a small bag of Starbucks. eek!!!

Today my aunt, mom, cousin and I went shopping in Niagara Falls for the day. As a graduation/going away gift my aunt and cousin Tanya got me a really beautiful leather coach bag and change purse that I heart so much! I also got 2 pairs of shoes - as if I need anymore? Yes, yes I did! We went for late lunch at Applebees and then a coffee & dessert at the Keg, which overlooks the Falls - so beautiful!! Also, it was the most amazing sundae ever. Mmmm.


Came home, watched Fun with Dick and Jane on tv, and just lounged around. Till now. And that's about all. And now I'm gonna pass out. Sleep tight.

Until next post,

Steph

Tomorrow's visit to the Korean Consulate

I feel like this Visa process is taking almost as long as forever. Finally received my police check and got it notarized. Brought my diploma back to the frame store so they could take it out of the frame for me. My family framed it and wrote a little message on the back, really nice of them. Anyway, that had to be ripped off (but we did keep the message).


Later I met up with Carla and Nivine and we went for Japanese but, whattdya know, there is Korean food on the menu. Let's do it - Kimchi, bulgogi, lots of sushi, miso soup of course and hmmmm... it's 2 in the afternoon, let's try some Soju. Thinking it would be a shot or something I ordered it. Mhm. No. It's the whole bottle.

Not a bill we are particularly proud of...

but it ended up being really yum.

Well, let's just say it was a fun lunch but the funny part of it all was that our bill came to a ridiculous amount thanks to the 7 dishes and bottle of soju. Nice, Steph. Ahh it was all in good fun and I can take advantage of this time with my amigas before I leave them for a long time :( Sadness overwhelms me my friends. What am I gonna do?

After lunch Neve and I went shopping for some stuff -- you know, not doing any damage at all (just looking?) haha I wish. I need something for grad. Excuses, excuses. Of course I found this fabulous skirt with very pretty red, black and white pattern. Two more tops and another very sweet dress to wear with tights. Cute cute!

For the last hour I've gone over all my documents to make sure everything is perfection. I think I called Samantha 4 times... and she is just as super paranoia as I am so it's all good. We'll meet tomorrow ridiculously early: a stark contrast to my afternoon wake up calls (not my alarm but the sun from outside). Hopefully afterward I'll meet with Nick for Starbucks.

No caffine for me, I'm cutting down... pinkie swear Nico.

Until next post,

Steph