by Cathy Bates © 2000-2001 Cathy Bates All Rights Reserved

Netscape Users: Don't even think of using Netscape to view this site!! Using Internet Explorer will correct the formatting problems caused by  Netscape. Sorry, no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get the page to look the same in Netscape as it does in Explorer. UPDATE!  This page views perfectly if you're using Netscape 6.0!!  Download it! MAC USERS:  Take heed of the warning above for Netscape users other than version 6.x.

Introduction Updated!

June 6, 2001

HEY!! I was home recently!!  Stay tuned for an update about my reverse culture shock!! Canada Day 2001  in Seoul Info Below!!!

Welcome to my webpage with all the information about my new and exciting adventures living in Korea. I apologize for the lack of updates lately, but I have been very busy.  I recently went home on vacation and will write about that when I get a chance. I almost had a "reverse culture shock" going from something totally foreign and unfamiliar to everything familiar.   I recently hit my one year anniversary in Korea.  I can't believe I have been here for so long!  For any doubters, I was SUCCESSFUL in my squat pot challenge.  I'm still determined to last the ENTIRE time in Korea without using one as it looks like I  will be here at least one more year! It is now summer and getting very hot. The stifling heat and humidity of the Korean summer is well on it's way.  Thank goodness Nashville Club has a patio on those hot days!  Speaking of patios, my new apartment has a rooftop patio, so I'm sure there will be lots of BBQ's and social gatherings there during the summer.  I will take pics as I have a view of the Namsun tower from there. I'm still shocked I have lasted this long especially when it is so different from home.  There's still tons of things I miss but I don't find things as shocking anymore, although there's always something strange that pops up now and then.  The language barrier isn't so much of a frustration anymore because I have learned to speak some Korean.  I understand more than I can speak and I can now direct a taxi driver and usually know if he's heading in the right direction or taking me on the expensive scenic route.  I'm definitely becoming more familiar with Seoul and surrounding areas so I don't get lost anymore (well, unless I go to a new area!) and it's not nearly as intimidating as when I initially arrived. Sure, there's still some annoyances, but they've become more tolerable. Remember when I complained about the overpopulation, pushing, shoving, getting on and off buses and subways?  Well, Koreans still do that, but I finally asserted myself and started doing the same thing.  I used to move out of the way all the time since they weren't going to, but I found pushing through just as they do is perfectly acceptable (although I say "shilla humneedah" (excuse me)).  I will try to remember my manners when I get home!!  My mother will be proud that I still move to the side to let everyone out of the elevator and subway before I go in!  See!! I haven't become THAT Koreanized yet! :-) I have posted several new pages and pictures of Korea, friends and my trip to China. I updated my links page and have added a bit to my Canadian Content section.  There's so much on the net for other foreigners in Korea, so I see a real need to do something for my fellow Canucks.   Also new to my site are some hilights from Rike's "Adventures in Teaching English in South Korea".  She recently shut down her website when she grew tired of receiving hate mail.  Rike graciously agreed to allow me to post her useful advice for foreign women about working with and dating with Korean men.   I haven't had time to add much more than that to my website.  I have so many ideas and not enough time to implement them!   Yet to come is an update about my trip to Australia and Thailand over Christmas.  Hopefully, you'll get that before I come home for a visit this summer.  After all, it only took me 3 months to do my China update!!  I finally got around to writing about a tragic car accident in the Phillipines where 2 American teachers were killed (one of whom I knew) and another friend was seriously injured.  I'm not writing about it to depress anyone, but the situation and everything that happened shows the difference between the cultures of the Asian and North American Continents. I'm not homesick anymore, although I miss my family, friends and dogs.  Since I have developed a network of friends, we're all like a family.  We all understand what it's like to live and adjust here, so our comraderie is strong.  I will be posting pics of my antics at the local watering hole soon.  I sent my mother pictures and she wondered why I had a beer in my hand in every pic!!  I simply wrote back, "Like father, like daughter!!"  Dad will enjoy THAT answer!  I subsequently sent more pics to her ensuring I did NOT have a beer in my hand but lo and behold, she wondered why the pics were taken in front of the beer cooler!  Simple response.  Note above! :-) I have changed the look of the first couple pages of my website. I get tired of the same old thing and like to give it a fresh look every once in awhile.  Please stay tuned for some interesting updates coming in the next few weeks. As always, I'm craving Kokanee, although when I was home, I took a liking to Big Rock Traditional.  Rickards Red was mighty fine as well.  Neither Korean Red Rock nor American yellow water  cut it.  I had my fill of Aussie beer and enjoyed Thai beer as well.  But, nothing beats a Kokanee or Trad.To those of you who I saw while I was at home - it was great to see you!  Sorry if I didn't get a chance to see everyone.  The time went by so fast and it seemed like such a whirlwind!  There's always email, so please keep in touch!  Stay tuned for some updates really soon!  Don't forget to write!!

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Hits since day one

On march 10, I installed a hit counter on this page and received  over 325 hits beween then and March 30 - the most hits I have ever had in a 3 week period. Since I started my website, I have had 1620 hits.  I recently found a function that accurately reflects hits, which is now installed on this page.  Thanks to Rike for mentioning my website on her page informing of the closure of her site.  My site stats indicate a large portion of my hit increase originated from there as well as from my friends at FactsCanada.ca.! WOW!! My hits have almost doubled since the end of March! In fact, I've had more hits in two months than I did from July 2000 - March 2001.  Thanks for your support!