I'm still pretty hype on my home town. If you know anything about Winnipeg you probably know that other than Regina is it the worst place to live in Canada. Climate's shit, transportation is bad and there is that prevalent social issue that litters the downtown core. Mind you it is getting better... but I am hype on Winnipeg for the people!
First and for most my Dad. haha always and forever.
So stoked
Then my family!
Nana and Grandpa!
+Aunts and Uncle
The cousins. FYI I love them all but Sarah is legit the closest thing I have to a sister. I imagine in some ways maybe better than, we don't have to be this close but we choose to be. Which says a lot because I haven't always been this stable.
I carry these old pictures around and cry every time I look at them.
Andi and this guy weren't born yet.
I'm glad he was though he taught me about Deadpool and we watched some superhero shows, decorated a cyber property and chat online on the regular. He had three birthday parties and I went to all of them.
Then all my ladies. You are the best and I love you. I can't wait to see you again.
Cindy! I can type all the really emotional and detailed reasons why we are friends and why she is so great but it would take too long. I love her. No one compares.
JULI! We have matching everything!!!!! but are still so different in our own way and definitely act more like sisters than anything else. We laugh really hard, cry, dance, act silly, give each other shit, I tease her, and hold hands. It's the nicest and honestly if she was staying in Winnipeg I would have thought twice about leaving.
Hi!!!! we're 16! just kidding!
Sara and I were united after over 10 years of pretending to not knowing each other because at some point one of us stop saying hi and it just snowballed from there. But fate brought us back to each other, egos be damned. Seriously 2001 at the latest.
We like denim! This was actually not the first time but this time someone took a picture. We also have matching friendship bracelets and navajo print fanny packs. Sara is yet to contribute the 3rd item.
We did everything together! Juli is taking some time to smell the dicks while Sara and I try to decide.
Tooooooo many!
I wanted to hang out with Sarah P every minute of every day! but I couldn't. When I could it was fun and nice.
There were lots of other friends too but no pictures. Sorry!! I love you too! If I made the effort to see you in the short amount of time I had in Winnipeg it's because I love you very much.
These two cats! Leaving them is never easy but come on. "I would have taken my dream job and gotten paid double what I am now but I mean I have cats." Get a grip, you would have done the same and I would have understood. It sucks but this is real life and sometimes it gets messy. I will fully admit that 7 years ago I should have had the foresight to know that I was a fucking mess and never should have taken on the responsibility in the first place. What's done is done and I tried to give them the best life that I could for as long as I could.
Here are some other Winnipeg animals that I like.
Jackson! so regal!
Obv I was eating a sausage.
This is my nephew Bowser! He's racist!
This is my step sister Ginger. She did not get any French toast that day.
And finally this is a special boy named Lester! He loves his stool! I love him and he didn't forget it!
I will be home for Spring next year! See you soon and miss you all already! Please skype! I am available from 5-9pm Sun-Thurs. Soon probably more because I will get WIFI sooon! Also if you don't already get Kakao! it's fun and I should be back online by July 4th at the latest. KISSES!
I went home. I wasn't stoked about it. My memory was not kind when I thought of Winnipeg but maybe it was because my only source of stress resided there.
It was cold, I had no job and no plan.
Things progressively got better.
For the first month I had resolved to go back to Korea so all I did was study and get my documents ready. I lived with Julianne and I applied for several jobs a day. I rarely left the house.
Then I found a job working for the province. Once I did I started considering staying in Winnipeg, I then became incredibly depressed and started applying for any teaching job in Korea I could find. Once shit started rolling I felt better. While I am reading this I realize how important a good job is. Winnipeg is lacking them at present. Also since I had a job I started having a little fun. I saw all of my friends at least once save for Darren but I tried. Then I started to love Winnipeg again. I feel like I can't win. When I am here I want to be there and vice versa. I'll be home for the summer and I can't wait. Plus since I know I am coming back and when I will hopefully set myself up quite a bit better. Hey Winnipeg can you all just move here? That would be ideal.
Anyway I feel really great that I got to see everyone and that in the short time I was there that I forged some new permanent best pals and reconnected with the old. I miss you all but we have kakao and skype so we will be alright.
Initially I decided to come back for a dude. Which is so dumb and I am aware especially since within the last 2 months I have had to admit to myself that the relationship was not ideal. I knew, but I still came here regardless because realistically the job is fun and the money is easy... I came last time to travel this time I am here to make bank. It's hard to get ahead back home but here I don't even have to try. I don't really feel like I am sacrificing since I am just as close with my friends as ever.
Mentally I am in a much better place... I will admit that I was a little bonkers last year and that being single and not having anyone constantly judging me was more than freeing and I definitely went a little too far.
I spent the next 2 months on my Auntie's couch in California. I didn't feel too comfortable spending any money because I didn't have any coming in. I thought about getting a job under the table but it seemed hard and sketchy. Plus mhen. I went on a lot of walks, shopped, worked out, ate in and out, ihop, went to San Fran and watched TV. Under normal circumstances I would deem this to be a total waste of time and as a result bummer. HOWEVER. I had just spent the last 2 months and a week running around the most interesting/historic metropolis' in the world with only a couple of days to explore them. I was exhausted and we are not even taking into account the culture shock. Though Europe kinda took the brunt of that.
So some background on Mountain View. It is midway between San Francisco and San Jose. It is home to google, Microsoft, Oracle, Facebook, Yahoo, (yeah they are still around?), and pretty much any major technology firm in the world. As a result the male to female ratio is 2:1, the rent is crazy expensive, there are many Asian and east Indian eateries.
I did a lot of stuff and saw a lot of things. More importantly I got to spent an inordinate amount of time with my Auntie who has lived far away from us for a very long time. I love her so that is nice.
I am lazy here are some pictures with little to no explanation.
OH also I finally saw Cold Cave, it was strange and I like that.
I went to New York in December? It wasnt too cold and it was almost Christmas which means a long time ago... Here’s what I remember.
I was really jet lagged but also lonely so I wanted to be around people but also sleeping. I couldnt really verbalize this and Kelly the beautiful soul she is just kept trying to cheer me up. Anyway we saw the window displays at bergdof and alice in the park.
we ate delicious sandwiches and lenny kravitz's daughter was there.
after a lovely meal at robertas and too many drinks and a double celeb ginger spotting i got my self home to kellys but left them behind? only to have them come back with so many treats followed but three passed out in the bed and a mistaken butt touch on bradfords part.
I went to see crazy spirit and some other bands... They are still great but the singer looks like a normal person now so thats boring. Double Negative played great but I still dont care about them.
Momofuku is nice. Duck and snackbar pie are tops.
Xi'an forever. Thanks Tyson.
Kelly and I got manis and pedis finally and then Bradford treated us to the nicest/biggest meal. Incredible. I would say. Despite being super stuffed we went to the Boston Strangler show. I was/am so in love with outcast very enjoyable live. Omegas played and I got to catch up with Sarde and we made breakfast plans.
I really love that two great ladies found great mates. Like when you see them together you get that feeling of like... Oh that's it... They found it. Complete pair. It's nice and I am happy for them.
thats all i can remember right now...
Ohhhh thanks to Sarde I saw Patti Smith at Moma which was really nice. Here's a peek
Did you know Ryanair is rush seating? Almost didn't have a space for my carry on. Whoops or perhaps Oopsies.
I got into London and had to take the bus or train in. I couldn't believe the price for this! Very high. About 50 dollars round trip. But then I found the bus and it was only 16 so that was better but then the guy was all platform blah at blah and I thought I understood and he pointed so I just headed that way and felt like using deductive reasoning I would figure it out. WRONG. I decided he meant platform 3 at 11:15. I wanted to confirm this with a human but no one was around and the only people I saw in an office had a blockade in front of it. Whatever.
I got on the train and then the guy came and checked my ticket but at the last minute he was all "wait this is a bus ticket" so I had to then spend the $50.00 anyway. Bummer.
I got to my destination which was the flat of one young Frenchman named Alex. He had a delicious lunch for me and many suggestions of activities. I decided to go to Primark which is a store that specializes in really trending but super cheap clothing. It is huge and you really really have to sift through to find things that do not look cheap. I found some alright things but was exhausted by the end of it and went back to Alex's and showed him my finds which included an adult onesie. We went to a place next door for thai food which included entertainment. A your man wearing fingerless gloves doing funky covers. My fav. Then we checked out this bar Alex was interested in and I ordered the most expensive/Canadian drink on the menu. I think I met Camelia. She is Alex's flatmate and my room mate for the time I was there. She was very nice but sleepy cause she had to work in the morning.
Next day Alex made a giant breakfast, which I very much appreciated. I dawdled quite a bit and got a late start to my day. I was still hell bent of getting the perfect shoes. So I spent the day looking for them in and around Shoreditch, Camden and then back to Oxford since I had to return a pair of shorts at Primark.
Shoreditch graffiti.
I had plans with Alex to meet in Brixton for a Vaccines show. However, I adjusted the time on my wireless device on top of it doing it itself so I was an hour late and I have no phone so I am dumb and I felt bad. So we just went to meet Jesica. OOOOOOh did I mention the beautiful and wonderful Jesica came to meet me for fun. Which is also why I was okay with staying with strangers again.
We got sandwiches and waited for her in the cold. Alex was especially worried but I assured him that she would text once she arrived and all would be well. Then then ran into each other just on the sidewalk. We all went home and chatted and then slept.
Friday we woke up and started sight seeing ASAP. We started at Borough Market then walked along the pier to Tower bridge.
After that we took the train a couple stops to St. Pauls catherdral which was being occupied. Then we were off to the Eye, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. By the time we got there it was late though. Dark as you can see.
From there we met up with Alex and Camelia at a hipster food market. There was a long line up but we got in and ate delicious foods. We had okonomiyaki, lamb gyro and pork buns. Camelia is a sommelier and knew the mulled wine girl so we got several drinks for a low price. I should mention that Camelia has a broken ankle? foot? I can't remember but anyway she used her crutches to get a seat and get through the crowd more easily. I would too. One the way home we met the shyest great dane. So cute. Also an altercation with a pregnant woman too.
We went home and I got a really terrible message. Jesica hugged me and I cried and then I proceeded to get stupid drunk. I had Red Bull and vodka. Anyone that knows me well knows that caffeine, alcohol, and me shouldn't mix. Caffeine makes me super impatient. I already am quite impatient. So at Fabric there was a huge line up cause it was a special evening. I had no issue queuing up, but then we had to use a washroom. We left Alex in line and ran around until we a sandwich shop that was open. We asked if we could go to the bathroom to which some dumb slut at the counter said "Why do you have to use it?" "Because we have to urinate." Just kidding she could be a lovely and celibate woman. The guy was all it's closed and we were real nice and asked if he knew anywhere around we could go and then he sneakily motioned with his eyes to just go upstairs. We did!
Back to the line up. Some dudes tried to cut us. Was not having it. I called them out and they backed up and Jesica took to calling the ginger "Weasley". Eventually I told her to stop cause it was actually too mean. Then we all became friends. Finally we got in to da club. Here's where Jesica fell victim to my impatience as I hustled her to put her coat in mine so we could just have one coat checked. She cried and the girl didn't allow it anyway. Sorry. Actually. I love you. I feel like we immediately lost Alex. We went to the washroom never to see him again until the end of the night. There were many rooms and we spent a lot of time in the DnB room cause Goldie was hosting. I pointed at him and we shook hands twice cause the first time he grabbed the wrong hand.
We left that room to try to find Alex and instead ran into our friends from the line. I don't really remember too much I know there was a black guy, the tall redheaded guy, and Alex M. In the hallway Alex M. and discussed weather since I was in the UK shoes were trainers or since the shoes in question were made in the US if they were sneakers. I was not this polite about it though.
We left the boys and tried to find Alex again no luck then found the boys again. Buraka Sound Sistema's Hangover came on and I lost my shit. Alex M. found me again but at this point was tripping sooooo hard and had to leave the crowd. Then came back and asked me "Please just touch my face" uhhhh, whatever, okay I guess. At this point I decided Jesica should also partake! He and Jesica exchanged numbers and we found Alex and left. Since then I have found out from Jesica that he told his friends that I was 22? and he is 19. No I isn't! Also he has texted her intermittently to offer us drugs.
Next Day we had a nice breakfast again with Camelia and Alex. Since Camelia was hurt we wanted to stay in and have fun but eventually went to Tate Modern. Did you know all Museums in London are free! We met her date and then went home to get ready and decide where to go out cause Annie Mac was sold out. Also Alex M. fell through cause he had to work.
We randomly decided on a club. Area. I feel like I thought I knew the name and it was well rated. Then we tried figuring out the bus which got very confusing. I once again got impatient and Camelia gave me shit which I definitely deserved. Finally all was well and we were on our way out. On the bus I think Jesica asked someone for directions and the the rest of the bus caught wind of our destination and were all "whoa" about it. Saying Fabric was tame in comparison. We arrived and apparently we wouldn't be able to get in until 4am because of some private event. They directed us next door. Then some big queen in a fur coat pounced on Jesica's uncertainty and told us not just anyone could go in. So we walked around a bit and found Factory behind it. We were kinda desperate and just went for it and the guy was all it's DnB are you sure. Once we got in I realized why. There were very few people of Caucasian decent. The DJ would play a song for a minute then change talk over it and change it. We adjusted and just danced, though after some time I realized the drag queens we saw earlier were also in the club and then I started noting the dancing of the males around us. OOOOooh. It's one of those kinda clubs. Finally the dj changed and things got grimey and fun. Eventually we went back to Area. We got in this time and asked a non-queen bouncer about us not getting in and he said that it made no sense that we didn't get in and asked who said that.
Inside area were several men with no shirts and no love for females. Everything is coming together now. We danced uninhibited for several hours and went home.
Next morning Jesica and I got treats for Camelia and Alex as a thank you for having us since it would be our last day with them. We booked a hostel since the other host Erkhan was too sketchy. Didn't give us an address or really anyway to reach him other than texting him. The hostel smelled so fierce. Oh well. We decided to go out and meet up with Erkhan he worked at a club in Shoreditch. We got to the club and this guy asked us if we we okay but really aggressively so we said yes and tried to avoid him. Finally Erkhan came out we hugged and since he worked at the club got in for free. Again lots of dancing. Same aggressive guy came up and was saying I don't know what to us. Eventually Erkhan explained it was his boss. Whoops. We said we were sorry we didn't understand him then he gave us beers. Eventually we left.
Next day we walked around London. On the way to oxford.
We went everywhere...We started at Primark again then had lunch at Yo! Sushi. It's one of those places where the sushi is on a conveyor belt and you just pick it up when it passes you. Also they had a cool washroom.
After that we went through Picadilly, China Town and ended up at Trafalgar Square. We tried to go to some galleries but they were all closed. We bought snacks and went back to the hostel to pack and relax.
Next morning we parted ways and it was sad. Then I couldn't find my bus stop because it was raining and in London there are usually several bus stops for one place which are then lettered. I finally got on the bus to the train and then on the plane to Dusseldorf where I made a bed in a corner. Then from there to NYC to see my beloved Kelly.
I leave you with this as it has Goldie and every other important figure in DnB scene since forever in it but I don't even like the song but it does make me feel a little nostalgic.
