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General Chat 2009
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 booksalot |
General Chat 2009 |
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Posts: 1412 01/01/09 06:30 AM |
Anne in Austin
At one time most of my friends could hear the bell,
but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them.... Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe. The Polar Express |
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Kail84 |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 553 01/29/09 01:50 AM |
Okay, you guys probably think I sound like a broken record, but... I think going to Korea is back on! I am determined to not let anything stop me this time,
so cross your fingers for me... Tomorrow is paperwork, Friday is getting my passport straightened out, and then, well, see what happens! I lost my job, so I
am sort of trying to go sooner rather than later so I don't run out of money and get stuck here again... I really hope that for once my luck will hold! I
am rather nervous about it because what if I get over there and don't like it, but I have to try. The economy is in shambles, so I have really no other
options at the moment.... Wish me luck!
I'm sorry about my discussion. My head is just elsewhere. Just bad timing... :( Make books your companions; let your
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trublujay |
Kelly | #2 | ||
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Posts: 310 01/29/09 02:28 AM |
I am wishing you luck. I am sorry to hear about your job, but I think you are wise to try to consider it as an opportunity to do something else you have
wanted to do. I like to believe that everything happens for a reason. How will you be going to Korea, if everything works out as you hope? Is it with a
teaching program or ? Will you know or be affiliated with any other Canadians while you are there? I think that people who experience living in countires
other than there home country come away from that experience having learned things that you can't get any other way. How much do you know about where you
may be going?
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Kail84 |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 553 01/29/09 01:09 PM |
Hi Trudy!
Well, I only decided that I was going for sure this week, so I am not totally positive on all the details. I am going to try and go to Seoul, which is the largest city in South Korea. My friend is there and she loves it, so she is planning on staying after her year is up. My other friend was there and she was in a rural area. She said it made things really hard, so she is strongly pushing for me to try and get into the city. If I have all my paperwork together, I can be over there in like a month. I am not sure if that is what is going to happen or not, all I know is that the longer I wait the less money I am going to have! My mother wants me to take my time, and I understand that, but I just don't want to get so poor I can't go. I feel like this is my time to go and I really have let too many other things stop me before. There is nothing for me in my province right now and I can't afford to move anywhere else in Canada at this time... Not that there are many opportunities that way either! I have debated going back to school, but I don't know what I would do if I did go back, so I think this way I can have at least another year to think about the future and make money at the same time! I will keep you posted! Make books your companions; let your
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trublujay |
Kelly | #4 | ||
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Posts: 310 01/30/09 12:05 AM |
I would love to hear all about it as you find out more, if you want to share the information and have time.
I am excited for you. I hope the more you learn the more you will begin to look forward to the adventure. I am sure somethings will be difficult but I am sure there will probably also be rewards. I think it is really fortunate that you know of other who have already been there and are there! Good luck in sorting it all out. I will keep you and your endeavors in my thoughts. Trudy |
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ozdiamondlil |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 999 01/30/09 12:49 AM |
I've been a bit AWOL myself, mainly because my computer is in the hottest room in the house, and it has been HOT here!
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LeeLee333 |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 1326 01/30/09 09:03 AM |
marg, I can only imagine the temps where you are. Ugh!!!
Kail, best of luck and YOU CAN DO IT! It's just a year of your WHOLE life. What an adventure, good or bad!!!
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ozdiamondlil |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 999 02/07/09 03:34 PM |
Yesterday was the hottest day ever recorded in an Australian capital city. It was horrible!
There are also fires around Melbourne, and so far the death toll is at 25 and rising. There are no fires near me, but I do know a lot of people who provide support to firefighters, and because I pay people right across the country, I do know of people who live in the affected areas. |
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booksalot |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 1412 02/07/09 05:58 PM |
oh Marg, that sounds horrible. I'm so sorry for the losses. Seems I remember fires is past years too. Is it common during your summer to have fires?
Anne in Austin
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write."--John Adams |
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ozdiamondlil |
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Posts: 999 02/07/09 06:44 PM |
Fires are pretty common here. it's probably the only natural phenomenon (sp) that we need to worry about on a regular basis.
We have been watching the news this morning and there are whole towns that have been destroyed. Since I posted above, I have had a phone call to say that the mother of one of the victims works with one of my family members. His fiancee and best friend have also died in the blaze. |
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LeeLee333 |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 1326 02/08/09 08:57 AM |
Marg, it's been in the news here too. I always feel so helpless when I hear of such horrific tragedies. It's like, you feel so impassioned and want to
help but then it's on another continent! I pray that the fires will be manageable soon.
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ozdiamondlil |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 999 02/08/09 02:35 PM |
I live in the same state as these fires and I feel helpless. I am dreading going to work. One of the men I work with comes from the affected areas and I am
just hoping that his friends and family are safe.
The death toll is now over 100. It is just so shocking. |
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jnol74 |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 669 02/10/09 05:16 PM |
ozdiamondlil wrote:It is definitely shocking, that's for sure. I didn't see anything in the news about whether or not they were caused by some kind of self-combustion occurrence from the heat, or were they accidentally started? (I did read that in some areas, they suspect arsonists!) I read a fictional book a long time ago that was set in Australia, and part of the plot was about the horrid self-combustion fires in the Outback that are next to impossible to extinguish since they pop up out of nowhere. But this being in the more populated cities with 60 mph winds to cope with on top of everything makes it even worse. But I don't have to tell you that! I just read online they expect the death toll to exceed 200 before it's over. I can only equate the situation in Australia somewhat to the wildfires that crop up every year in parts of California here in the U.S., but those seem to more "self contained" than the ones you're experiencing and are usually started by careless campers. I sincerely hope the situation ends soon. The descriptions of people being caught in the blazes driving in their cars trying to flee sounds like something out of a gastly movie! |
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ozdiamondlil |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 999 02/11/09 03:58 AM |
It's going to be a while now beforeit is over. They are expecting the death toll to go up to maybe 300. The stories are horrendous. I have posted some
things at my blog.
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booksalot |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 1412 02/11/09 05:58 PM |
I certainly don't want to make light of the loss of life but we had the coolest photo in this morning's newspaper. It was a firefighter giving a drink
of water to a koala. Apparently he saw the koala limping and went to lend aid. Nice that after all the efforts being put forth the fireman had time and energy
for the wee koala. It was priceless!
Anne in Austin
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write."--John Adams |
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ozdiamondlil |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 999 02/12/09 04:01 AM |
There was a follow up story on the news where he went back to see how she was. I couldn't find that video but I did find this.
Here's a link to the video and an interview with the fire fighter. |
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booksalot |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 1412 02/12/09 09:45 AM |
Thanks for posting the link, Marg. It is such a heartwarming story in the midst of all the horror. Is the situation over there getting any better?
Anne in Austin
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write."--John Adams |
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ozdiamondlil |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 999 02/13/09 05:09 PM |
Kind of. The weather is better, but there are still fires burning (and there are still arsonists trying to light more. GRrrr). Having said that, there are
still towns under threat, and for the first time since the fires started we can smell smoke and it is hazy outside. There hasn't been enough rain to make a
significant difference so unless they can get the fires completely under control there is a chance that they could flare up again next week when it gets warmer
again.
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ozdiamondlil |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 999 03/14/09 05:20 PM |
The best thing yesterday...the whole day! I spent all day yesterday at an event called Sound Relief which was a musical extravaganza staged to raise funds for
the bushfire victims here.
Among the highlights were performances by Kings of Leon, Jet, Jack Johnson, Hunters and Collectors, Midnight Oil and Kylie Minogue led an unaccompanied version of "I still call Australia home" which was awesome. The only bad thing was the weather. Just as I would start to get dry, it would start raining again, but its hard to complain when we need the rain so badly! I was basically wet or damp for 14 hours but I had the best time! |
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booksalot |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 1412 03/14/09 05:28 PM |
Marg, that sounds like a great event and for a such a worthy cause. I guess the rains will help to insure that all the fires are out completely. Sorry you
spent the day wet but at least you were having a good time and hearing some GREAT music. I'm jealous because I'm particularly fond of Jack Johnson.
Anne in Austin
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write."--John Adams |
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trublujay |
Marg | #20 | ||
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Posts: 310 03/15/09 12:49 AM |
ozdiamondlil wrote:That sounds great and that sort of celebration of giving just makes you feel good to the very core. Trudy |
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