The First Annual Canadian Visit Mooching Guest Awards

And so... in only a few days, I will be coming back to Korea, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to start a new year of teaching. Or well, a few weeks of teaching until the first vacation time. (Most common question while I was here: So, uh, do you actually WORK in Korea?). As I've been doing a lot of visiting of friends while I've been here (ALL PHOTOS ARE NOW UPLOADED TO FLICKR, GO FIND THEM THERE), and given my penchant for awards shows, I've decided to offer my Canadian friends some real recognition on my blog.

Best Shopping Experience: Winners and the Pen Centre in St. Catharines with Kat; Avenue St-Denis with Katrina, Ellie and Ina. There's nothing quite like blowing so much money in so little time....

Stupidest Leave Behind: All of my Indian jewellery in Joanna's bathroom in Toronto. Got it back though...

Best Wake-up: A tie between a fluffy little tabby cat (Puddin' at Heather's) or a huge black-faced German shepherd (Maximus at Ellie's)

Worst Wake-up: My mother, at stupid o'clock in the morning, trying to tell me about her cruise across the Atlantic ocean when I had just gotten over jetlag and she was just getting onto it.

Best Disaster: My sister burning holes in my mom's kitchen floor (while my Mom was still on vacation).

Best Surprise: Going to La Pocatiere with Madeleine.... home pedicure with Meron.

Best Coffee: A one dollar espresso from a brulerie in Quebec City.

Best Bathroom Products Selection: Joanna wins for sheer amount and variety (ahhhh, if we ever live together again, we'll need three bathrooms and a closet to contain all our necessities), but Katrina offers all Aveda products with a consultation (Is your skin feeling dry today? Here, use this)... bah - a tie again.

Best Supper: Indian food in Toronto; Finger foods in Barb's backyard in Kitchener; Melted Brie in a pastry in Niagara Falls; Table d'hote at the Azimut in La Pocatiere; All the contents of my mother's fridge, Eggs Benedict at that place in Hudson, at least 10 meals at Strega in St. Catharines... basically anything that was not Korean food or eaten with chopsticks, but that included a healthy dose of cheese, and being surrounded by friends and/or family.

Hugest Fattest Fluffiest Cat that is not a Registered Purebred Maine Coon: Finalists include Sweet Jane (Quebec), Miche (Quebec) , Moby (Montreal) and Sebastien (St. Catharines).

Best Baby Bump: Kelly, closely followed by Isabelle.

The This-Visit-was-Too-Short Award: Meeting up with Tiffany, Charlene and Barb in Kitchener for only an afternoon.

The I'm-a-Tourist Award: Meron on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls.

The Classic Spring Day Wandering Award: Visiting the garden centre, then getting ice cream at the Avondale's on Stewart Road with Kelly.

Best Korean Gift Reaction: My nephews when faced with the prospect of eating ginseng candy (they brought it to school and threatened their friends with it); Anyone who got fun Korean socks; The ddok at Kelly's baby shower....

In just a few weeks, I have managed to squeeze in visits with my family and my friends, from Kitchener, Ontario to La Pocatiere, Quebec. Quite a distance - much further than going anywhere in Korea!! It's been a good trip home - thanks to all who went out of their way to pick me up or drop me off somewhere, or who sacrificed their credit card balance in order to join me in my shopping - it was really great to have this chance to see everyone.

Oh, and thanks to Jacques, Molly, Casino, Max, Luna, Sally, Gracie, Sudney, Amanda, Dolly, Junior, Roxie, Maximus, Spartacus, Misty, Ollie, Leo, Blinky (it's not Blinky, it's Binky!), Moby, Mr. Mittens, Puddin', Amber, Canasta, Cody (aka The Devil), Angel & the kittens, Emile, Miche, Maya, Austin, Corail and Sweet Jane for allowing me to visit their human slaves and/or sleep in their homes.