we're off! started our 9 day trek back to ontario and have spent it so far driving at a leisurely pace, seeing the sights, and soaking in all things canadian. it goes without saying, but this time around shit is a whole lot better. no grueling 10-hour driving days. no relying on the breeze to keep us cool (a/c is the most) and just a whole lot of other pluses.
update again in a couple of days and i will be sure to post some pics.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
getting ready to go
been awhile again since i've updated, but the decision has been made to return to taiwan. we've both finished up work and are getting our stuff ready to go.
it's hard to believe that it's come up so fast. it seemed like we had all of this time on our hands. we just put some stuff up for sale last week and pretty much everything has sold. we'vetaken all of our treasures off the wall, stuffed the holes and packed up the goods. it just feels like it's happened all so quickly, but I think that's ok. there is so much that we already know about going there it seems fine that everything is accelerated.
so, we've got a bit to go before we leave. thinking of leaving nanaimo on wednesday, but maybe tuesday if we get everything accomplished that we want to. there are a few things around the island that i wouldn't mind doing before we leave. a trip to gabriola on tuesday might be awesome, but we will see.
also considering meeting up with a few friends along the way, but have yet to pin down plans. hopefully will iron that out over the next few days.
other than that, this officially marks my first entry from my new notebook...not that exciting, but nice to have something a little more suited to my needs at the moment. pretty much the same as before, a little slower in the memory department, but nothing that can't be upgraded.
alright,gott go but will update along the way.
it's hard to believe that it's come up so fast. it seemed like we had all of this time on our hands. we just put some stuff up for sale last week and pretty much everything has sold. we'vetaken all of our treasures off the wall, stuffed the holes and packed up the goods. it just feels like it's happened all so quickly, but I think that's ok. there is so much that we already know about going there it seems fine that everything is accelerated.
so, we've got a bit to go before we leave. thinking of leaving nanaimo on wednesday, but maybe tuesday if we get everything accomplished that we want to. there are a few things around the island that i wouldn't mind doing before we leave. a trip to gabriola on tuesday might be awesome, but we will see.
also considering meeting up with a few friends along the way, but have yet to pin down plans. hopefully will iron that out over the next few days.
other than that, this officially marks my first entry from my new notebook...not that exciting, but nice to have something a little more suited to my needs at the moment. pretty much the same as before, a little slower in the memory department, but nothing that can't be upgraded.
alright,gott go but will update along the way.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
sunday updates.
god how i hate working sundays. there's just something about the calibre of the sunday shopper that gets under my skin. maybe it's the bargain-hunter with multiple coupons and teased hair who checks the receipt. or possibly it's the 'dumb dad' who rarely shops on sunday but has decided that todays the day he's going to shop. dumb dad has just waited in line, with his kids for about 5-7 minutes which to a non-shopper like him is agony unless he's at c0stco and knows how much he'll save. the kids, of course, jump at the cashe 'impulse table' which is at the same height of an 6 year-old child. they have been asking him questions about this and can they please have that, to which he replies with "What?" and "Put that down." as dumb dad gets his turned and is asked how he is, he smartly replies "Great now that it's my turn." This implies slow service. Silly, you wanted to shop on sunday so you've got to expect lineups. there are all kinds of shoppers just like you. it's ok tho, you look like you've had too much sun because you have flaky forehead skin from where you've gone bald. have a nice day and have fun entertaining you shithead kids.
work is over for another two days! hurrah! hmmm. i have a questionable story of morality to share with you. i was at the supermarket tonight and i wanted to get some yogurt-covered raisins as my 'car snack'. while these are fine and dandy, there are also yogurt-covered cranberries which are shockingly more expensive. so, i sneak some into my bag of y.c.raisins which is then rung in at the much cheaper, raisin price. it's twice as nice when you dip you hand into the bag and pull out a cranberry later, it's a nice surprise.
work is over for another two days! hurrah! hmmm. i have a questionable story of morality to share with you. i was at the supermarket tonight and i wanted to get some yogurt-covered raisins as my 'car snack'. while these are fine and dandy, there are also yogurt-covered cranberries which are shockingly more expensive. so, i sneak some into my bag of y.c.raisins which is then rung in at the much cheaper, raisin price. it's twice as nice when you dip you hand into the bag and pull out a cranberry later, it's a nice surprise.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
for sale: a slightly-used life, but still got some miles to go yet! friendly, outgoing personality, sense of humour, polite - someone you'd introduce to your parents...bit of a talker with tendency to sidebar without segue....body a 'fixer-upper' for anyone interested putting in the work. life also includes mediocre job complete with low wage and crap hours. $1000 o.b.o. will also consider interesting trades.
i've decided that i need to go back to taiwan. the reasons are largely financial, with some of the blame being shifted onto professional growth and making just a tiiiiiiny bit of room for adventure. as soon as i came to this realization i really did feel a giant weight lifting off of my shoulders (as cliched as that sounds) now as i write i guess i've really never stopped thinking about how good life was while we were there, why we left, why we weren't going to go back, blah, blah, blah but i really should have just come to the conclusion of going back sooner rather than later.
the plan is to save, save, save...that also happened to be the plan before, but we opted for fun more than saving last time. this time i know that it will be different as i know awaits me here at home and it ain't pretty. it's not that i can't take life here....settling down actually sounds alright but i just can't see that happening on my current wage of $1300/month. back at our old salaries, we would be able to survive, pay all bills back home, and still save a a third of what we'd make.
overall, the improvements to life would be significant, if not downright vast....we'd be back in a city we love (albeit noisy & dirty at times) we'd be able to shop for things again (yah stuff!) we could eat excellent, cheap food and take excellent, cheap holidays as well. while there are arguments on the other side of the pro's (aren't there always?) lest we forget the retraining and improvement of chinese language skills, with the possibility of attending university to study graphic art? who knows. elisha has also considered doing her masters in education which would definitely help when she gets home.
more money, cheaper, improved lifestyle, more travel, cultural experiences around every corner, the promise of a brighter tomorrow....what can't this change do for us? considering this is the first blog i've written in this haphazardly-updated blog in a while that contains any enthusiasm whatsoever, i'd also have to say it would improve the quality of writing and pique my creativity.
the one and only thing that could darken our decision is the way we are going to finance our new life abroad. the family is planning our reception for this summer, so we expect to receive some wedding money. not really expecting anything, but it would definitely give us our start-up capital and allow us to advance these plans to this summer. the question then is how you look at the situation. the money will be given to us to spend as a couple in order to start our lives together. the traditional way of thinking assumes that the monies will be spent on household items, not international travel. some might think it rude to claim the money under the pretense of starting a life, only to abandon said "life" a few short weeks later. some may even think of asking for a refund.
then again, some may have a different outlook. the positive way of thinking about it is to remain neutral. once the money is given, the couple should be able to do whatever they want with it, irregardless of what that want is.
the last stance on the issue is also favourable but will take into consideration initial shock at hearing of how the wedding money was spent. after that first bit of surprise, understanding will take place as the person will realize that the cash was an extremely helpful tool to invest in our future (plane tickets) which we will then be able to increase that money. after that, we'll come back with the means to realize some dreams.
i've decided that i need to go back to taiwan. the reasons are largely financial, with some of the blame being shifted onto professional growth and making just a tiiiiiiny bit of room for adventure. as soon as i came to this realization i really did feel a giant weight lifting off of my shoulders (as cliched as that sounds) now as i write i guess i've really never stopped thinking about how good life was while we were there, why we left, why we weren't going to go back, blah, blah, blah but i really should have just come to the conclusion of going back sooner rather than later.
the plan is to save, save, save...that also happened to be the plan before, but we opted for fun more than saving last time. this time i know that it will be different as i know awaits me here at home and it ain't pretty. it's not that i can't take life here....settling down actually sounds alright but i just can't see that happening on my current wage of $1300/month. back at our old salaries, we would be able to survive, pay all bills back home, and still save a a third of what we'd make.
overall, the improvements to life would be significant, if not downright vast....we'd be back in a city we love (albeit noisy & dirty at times) we'd be able to shop for things again (yah stuff!) we could eat excellent, cheap food and take excellent, cheap holidays as well. while there are arguments on the other side of the pro's (aren't there always?) lest we forget the retraining and improvement of chinese language skills, with the possibility of attending university to study graphic art? who knows. elisha has also considered doing her masters in education which would definitely help when she gets home.
more money, cheaper, improved lifestyle, more travel, cultural experiences around every corner, the promise of a brighter tomorrow....what can't this change do for us? considering this is the first blog i've written in this haphazardly-updated blog in a while that contains any enthusiasm whatsoever, i'd also have to say it would improve the quality of writing and pique my creativity.
the one and only thing that could darken our decision is the way we are going to finance our new life abroad. the family is planning our reception for this summer, so we expect to receive some wedding money. not really expecting anything, but it would definitely give us our start-up capital and allow us to advance these plans to this summer. the question then is how you look at the situation. the money will be given to us to spend as a couple in order to start our lives together. the traditional way of thinking assumes that the monies will be spent on household items, not international travel. some might think it rude to claim the money under the pretense of starting a life, only to abandon said "life" a few short weeks later. some may even think of asking for a refund.
then again, some may have a different outlook. the positive way of thinking about it is to remain neutral. once the money is given, the couple should be able to do whatever they want with it, irregardless of what that want is.
the last stance on the issue is also favourable but will take into consideration initial shock at hearing of how the wedding money was spent. after that first bit of surprise, understanding will take place as the person will realize that the cash was an extremely helpful tool to invest in our future (plane tickets) which we will then be able to increase that money. after that, we'll come back with the means to realize some dreams.
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