Today I hung out with Kelly, an ex-student of mine who moved to NZ 3 days before I arrived back. She's here for 3 months studying English and traveling. It's quite good that I've been out of Chch for so long because taking her around today, I was rediscovering Chch myself and seeing it through Korean eyes. For example, today at the Botanic Gardens, I really appreciated being able to walk on the grass! Our stroll through the Gardens coincided with Baroque in the Park, so we spent a good hour lying under the trees, chatting, and listening to the music.
Then we met up with my parents at the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival (so tiny and cute compared to the Seoul version!). It was great to see many of so many ethnicities enjoying a foreign culture together.

More things to add to my list of observations of good/bad/interesting things about being home
1) I refuse to pay $7.99 for a pair of exfoliating gloves. Daylight robbery! I should have bought a pair before I left Korea, they would have been so much cheaper.
2) as well as being really quiet here, it's also noticebly darker at night time. I guess that's because every square inch of building frontage isn't covered in neon signs... it's funny the things that you miss...
3) NZ teenagers make me fear for the future of this country
4) I am a pro at hearing Korean in large groups of peope speaking many languages, better than Kelly who is Korean!
5) So Good chocolate icecream is amazing. In fact, I may just have a little bowlful now. bowlful ... is that a real word?
6) I miss Korean tofu. Fresh every day and dirt cheap for the tofu man down the road.