Updates

image courtesy of wordboner.com

I think we are in need of an update. Since my father doesn't even know what I'm doing come September, I figure we need to post a wee status update. Can I use the word, "update" anymore? ;)

Alright, let's start with my getting out of here. There is question at this point about whether or not I should take medical leave for the 11 days of instructional time I have after utilizing all my sick days. After some careful research about what actually happened to me, and after talking to my own orthopedic surgeon friend back home, I have reason to think that this Korean doc isn't taking this serious enough. And since I'm such a youngster, it would behoove me to reconcile my health issues promptly to avoid the risk of re-injury. I'll see how I feel at the end of this (excruciatingly boring bed-rest-ridden) week.

The Mother Hen says running is out for life. I say, "not on your life." But that issue can be dealt with later.

My flight is officially booked for July 1. I will be home at 9 pm on Canada Day. How fitting. Actually, I leave at 9 pm on the first from Korea, and I arrive at almost exactly the same time 13 hours later. Freaky right? It's like I'm crossing the street instead of flying 10,000 kilometres home. Love that.

Picture of an actual Korean Air plane, courtesy of techtreak.com

I have a thousand and five plans for the summer. This will be one for the books, certainly. We are headed to several cottages, one road trip (NYC, baby!), and there will obviously be many a party for the bride-to-be, Leanne.

I'm sorry...it's just too cute.

And since I'm on a VERY reduced diet (since my physical activity has been reduced to walking to the ladies room), there will be a lot of eating. And may I say there are a lot of foods I've been without for the last year. It's time to revitalize my tastebuds!

image courtesy of Ryan Szulc for Toronto Life Magazine

I've made an extensive list of all the things I want to do while I'm home. Here are just a few...

• eat dinner at Terroni
• tour the CN tower (because it never gets old)

image courtesy of Leanne Pieroni and Mark Jackson

• eat far too much gnocchi at Nonna's
  
• see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls
• lake swimming and dock tanning here...

thanks again, Leanne!

• eat dinner at Frank's Kitchen (see reviews from Coco and Lowe and The Best Life Ever). Let's face it...I'll go for dinner anywhere. Bring it. Oh, I haven't forgotten the Lynn Crawfords' prix fixe at Ruby Watchco, either (review from Toronto Life Magazine).
  
• sit poolside for countless days (this might not seem that luxurious, but after a year in Asia, believe me, it's heaven)
• get my hands dirty in a garden (hopefully it's yours, Joelle!)
• visit as many relatives as I possibly can
• cook. Cook cook cook cook cook. And bake. I can't wait to get back into a full-sized kitchen!
  

After spending a languid, yet simultaneously exhilarating 2 months at home, I'm bound for England. I'm interviewing this week (the schools were on vacay last week...I hope this speaks for my endless weeks of vacation once I move there!) for two schools in London. I would be their high school math teacher. I will only go abroad now if I can teach any of my three subject areas: math, science, or biology. The advantage to being able to teach in England is they are giving me my own classroom in which to teach mathematics: a subject I have never taught before. I have the accreditation, but no experience. What a thrill to be able to put this opportunity of formal teaching on the old resume! I'm pumped!

And finally, I will tour Europe. I won't backpack and I won't stay in hostels unless I absolutely need to. I will see what there is to see in any of the countries that pique my interest during my tenure in the UK. It will be a thrill. I, of course, want to head back to Italy and France (who knows...they might just approve my application for citizenship so I can teach in the EU...miracles have been known to happen!), but I also want to see Austria, Switzerland, and Spain. If my grandfather has his wish, my cousins will join me at some point and we will tour together. Awesome!

So that's what's new in my life. I'm feeling remarkably better after only three days of therapy, but I'm taking this injury as serious as I should. I'm off this week (much to the chagrin of the school), and I intend to do as much reading an relaxing as I can.

I might need a holiday before my holiday, the way this summer is shaping up :)

How was your weekend?