36th Birthday was a super event in SK!

Had a festive 36th birthday this year thanks to many of my ESL students and friends in South Korea. I've been marooned on this peninsula since November 2006, 26 months and rising, celebrating several birthdays, completing numerous work contracts, beginning to raise a family (with Matthew/Min Jae now 10 months old), and of course taking the chance to meet new friends and face new global challenges in 2009. We can never predict the world economy (accurately enough to protect our investments), so I choose to invest in people, students and friends and family. It seems like a safe investment and how rewarding is that!? I've enjoyed reconnecting with friends/family on Facebook.com ~ So, I will give Kudos to them here. I've completed my work at AU in Anyang City, South Korea. The next year will be spent locally in Ansan, working and preparing for ONE, Cycle, One Man, One Bike, One charity, Ride from the Arctic 2010 to support my work with Kiva. Time is passing us by isn't it? Time to catch up with time and make every moment count in large amounts (donations/pledge drive) will likely start up in early 2010. Hope the winter passes with safe passage back in Canada/US considering the record lows and snowfall this winter, missed all of it, and I miss you my friends!!! Signing off, Warmest Wishes & enjoy life!

36th Birthday was a super event in SK!

Had a festive 36th birthday this year thanks to many of my ESL students and friends in South Korea. I've been marooned on this peninsula since November 2006, 26 months and rising, celebrating several birthdays, completing numerous work contracts, beginning to raise a family (with Matthew/Min Jae now 10 months old), and of course taking the chance to meet new friends and face new global challenges in 2009. We can never predict the world economy (accurately enough to protect our investments), so I choose to invest in people, students and friends and family. It seems like a safe investment and how rewarding is that!? I've enjoyed reconnecting with friends/family on Facebook.com ~ So, I will give Kudos to them here. I've completed my work at AU in Anyang City, South Korea. The next year will be spent locally in Ansan, working and preparing for ONE, Cycle, One Man, One Bike, One charity, Ride from the Arctic 2010 to support my work with Kiva. Time is passing us by isn't it? Time to catch up with time and make every moment count in large amounts (donations/pledge drive) will likely start up in early 2010. Hope the winter passes with safe passage back in Canada/US considering the record lows and snowfall this winter, missed all of it, and I miss you my friends!!! Signing off, Warmest Wishes & enjoy life!

36th Birthday was a super event in SK!

Had a festive 36th birthday this year thanks to many of my ESL students and friends in South Korea. I've been marooned on this peninsula since November 2006, 26 months and rising, celebrating several birthdays, completing numerous work contracts, beginning to raise a family (with Matthew/Min Jae now 10 months old), and of course taking the chance to meet new friends and face new global challenges in 2009. We can never predict the world economy (accurately enough to protect our investments), so I choose to invest in people, students and friends and family. It seems like a safe investment and how rewarding is that!? I've enjoyed reconnecting with friends/family on Facebook.com ~ So, I will give Kudos to them here. I've completed my work at AU in Anyang City, South Korea. The next year will be spent locally in Ansan, working and preparing for ONE, Cycle, One Man, One Bike, One charity, Ride from the Arctic 2010 to support my work with Kiva. Time is passing us by isn't it? Time to catch up with time and make every moment count in large amounts (donations/pledge drive) will likely start up in early 2010. Hope the winter passes with safe passage back in Canada/US considering the record lows and snowfall this winter, missed all of it, and I miss you my friends!!! Signing off, Warmest Wishes & enjoy life!

36th Birthday was a super event in SK!

Had a festive 36th birthday this year thanks to many of my ESL students and friends in South Korea. I've been marooned on this peninsula since November 2006, 26 months and rising, celebrating several birthdays, completing numerous work contracts, beginning to raise a family (with Matthew/Min Jae now 10 months old), and of course taking the chance to meet new friends and face new global challenges in 2009. We can never predict the world economy (accurately enough to protect our investments), so I choose to invest in people, students and friends and family. It seems like a safe investment and how rewarding is that!? I've enjoyed reconnecting with friends/family on Facebook.com ~ So, I will give Kudos to them here. I've completed my work at AU in Anyang City, South Korea. The next year will be spent locally in Ansan, working and preparing for ONE, Cycle, One Man, One Bike, One charity, Ride from the Arctic 2010 to support my work with Kiva. Time is passing us by isn't it? Time to catch up with time and make every moment count in large amounts (donations/pledge drive) will likely start up in early 2010. Hope the winter passes with safe passage back in Canada/US considering the record lows and snowfall this winter, missed all of it, and I miss you my friends!!! Signing off, Warmest Wishes & enjoy life!

Memoires to a friend from S. Korea

Andrew,

Always good to hear from you, since being in asia...it's difficult to keep in touch with other esl teachers (since most quit and move home after a year). I met up with the 4 year Korea veterans (group that are cycling from China to Ireland in April 2009 (http://www.brakingboundaries.org ) or at least two of them (David..Canada, Tom..Ireland) and one's South African girlfriend (Katheryn). Their ride will support KIVA FOUNDATION, enriching business entrepreneurs in developing nations with small capital business loans. They are all really nice, we had a wonderful ski together [@Phoenix Park]. Tough part is the reality they all live in distant parts of greater Seoul, ILSAN and BUNDANG. Those are also the better parts to live in, cleaner air, good pt work and institutes. I can't move now, we did find a bigger Officetel with a bedroom...you can come see/stay this time without being in the same room with all of us (oops!!!). Pollution is depressing, having the quit cycling early at the end of the summer with all my respiratory infections wasn't good. Ansan/Osan/Incheon, etc...are some of the dirtiest parts of Kyunggi-do, of course it's everywhere, but we have it the worst. Mi Sung has her parents here...I have the current jobs, but change will come next year. It's too bad we can't live near the mountains in Kangwon-do (Province) out East...it's virtually pollution-free compared to Seoul. Very nice to ski there!

Keep me posted, Happy End of 2008!

Brian & Family

Memoires to a friend from S. Korea

Andrew,

Always good to hear from you, since being in asia...it's difficult to keep in touch with other esl teachers (since most quit and move home after a year). I met up with the 4 year Korea veterans (group that are cycling from China to Ireland in April 2009 (http://www.brakingboundaries.org ) or at least two of them (David..Canada, Tom..Ireland) and one's South African girlfriend (Katheryn). Their ride will support KIVA FOUNDATION, enriching business entrepreneurs in developing nations with small capital business loans. They are all really nice, we had a wonderful ski together [@Phoenix Park]. Tough part is the reality they all live in distant parts of greater Seoul, ILSAN and BUNDANG. Those are also the better parts to live in, cleaner air, good pt work and institutes. I can't move now, we did find a bigger Officetel with a bedroom...you can come see/stay this time without being in the same room with all of us (oops!!!). Pollution is depressing, having the quit cycling early at the end of the summer with all my respiratory infections wasn't good. Ansan/Osan/Incheon, etc...are some of the dirtiest parts of Kyunggi-do, of course it's everywhere, but we have it the worst. Mi Sung has her parents here...I have the current jobs, but change will come next year. It's too bad we can't live near the mountains in Kangwon-do (Province) out East...it's virtually pollution-free compared to Seoul. Very nice to ski there!

Keep me posted, Happy End of 2008!

Brian & Family

Memoires to a friend from S. Korea

Andrew,

Always good to hear from you, since being in asia...it's difficult to keep in touch with other esl teachers (since most quit and move home after a year). I met up with the 4 year Korea veterans (group that are cycling from China to Ireland in April 2009 (http://www.brakingboundaries.org ) or at least two of them (David..Canada, Tom..Ireland) and one's South African girlfriend (Katheryn). Their ride will support KIVA FOUNDATION, enriching business entrepreneurs in developing nations with small capital business loans. They are all really nice, we had a wonderful ski together [@Phoenix Park]. Tough part is the reality they all live in distant parts of greater Seoul, ILSAN and BUNDANG. Those are also the better parts to live in, cleaner air, good pt work and institutes. I can't move now, we did find a bigger Officetel with a bedroom...you can come see/stay this time without being in the same room with all of us (oops!!!). Pollution is depressing, having the quit cycling early at the end of the summer with all my respiratory infections wasn't good. Ansan/Osan/Incheon, etc...are some of the dirtiest parts of Kyunggi-do, of course it's everywhere, but we have it the worst. Mi Sung has her parents here...I have the current jobs, but change will come next year. It's too bad we can't live near the mountains in Kangwon-do (Province) out East...it's virtually pollution-free compared to Seoul. Very nice to ski there!

Keep me posted, Happy End of 2008!

Brian & Family