Korean Job Discussion Forums

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

Just got back from my wedding and summer holiday in Alberta. A few reflections, for those really bored posters who want to read them.

1. Air Canada. It still blows major goats. Last year, when I complained about rude service, they decided to make it up to me with a wedding surprise-- which turns out to be a tiny, stale cake which we throw out after three bites. On the way back, you have to use a computer to check in and it still can't seat us together. And, another small gripe-- are there NO attractive Air Canada stewardesses? I don't expect it to be Singapore Air, but shouldn't the law of averages at least bring one person who bothers to look good once in a while?

2. Banff. It's pricey-- the rip-off gondola ride at $25 for a short ride up the mountains-- but the scenery is still there. I got dragged into a Korean restaurant but it was actually very good. Lots of Japanese in Banff but not many Koreans really.

3. Edmonton. It's going nuts. More subdivisions, malls, overpasses, houses, everything, than last year. As usual, when I lived there I couldn't buy a job, and now it's raining help wanted signs. Every store and gas station is looking for people. And I get the worst of both ends, because now I get the bad side of full employment: no one gives a sheeit about their job because there's plenty more. A lot of my favorite restaurants and places-- Chili's, even Tim Horton's-- aren't very good anymore because the staff is either unskilled immigrants who move like tree sloths or teenagers who don't know and don't care. Blah. The city needs a good, long recession, by Gadfrey. Ironically, West Ed Mall is starting to look really dingy; it seems fifty years old.

The roads seem quiet, partly because I'm comparing them to Korean traffic, but also because $1.03 a litre gas is starting to cut down on frivolous driving, I think. Some of my parents' elderly friends are driving much less.

4. Technology. Korea's still ahead. Going back to Canada is stepping back in time for cell phones and computers. Future Shop turns out to be a yawn. In Korea I can go anywhere and print out pictures from a USB key. London Drugs can't do it, the clerk is an idiot, and even at a very respectable specialty store like McBain Camera there's two teenaged girls who don't even know what a USB key is and are too lazy to interrupt their makeup session to plug one into their computers.

5. People. Yes, they continue to get fatter. And no one respects speed limits anymore. I drive into town at 120 km/h and get passed like I'm standing still.

This is the fate of the ESL teacher. The longer I stay here, the more things back home p-ss me off-- but the things that irritate me in Korea still don't go away. Back to the stares and you-can-have-anything-you-want-to-eat-as-long-it's-Korean.

Signed, the old grouch.
Ken:>

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

pegpig · Joined: 10 May 2005

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

Not a problem.. if it was a makeout session I would have included pictures. Cool

Ken:>

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

My Hometown. I liked it there except my alergies were really bad, now I live on the Island and I love it. (Well now I am in Korea)

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

Great post on Alta. Moldy! It sounds so much like when I went back to Cow-town last summer.

There's no place like home... too bad there's now way to really go back.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Awww... and I always wanted to go to Banff... should I not bother then?

mithridates · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:11 pm Post subject:

You should still bother but personally I like Canmore a lot better. Same feel but not within the park so it's free and there are a lot more new-agey stores and whatnot that makes it more interesting culturally than the touristy and skiing/snowboarding town of Banff.
If you feel like going further in though you should cross the BC border and go see Takakkaw Falls, a 309 metre waterfall that looks like this:

If I ever had to go back to Canada (God forbid) I don'y know where I'd live. I'm from Calgary but it's cold. Vancouver's okay but I have a lot of weird memories from there. I've never once managed to live a normal life there and last time I lived there I was close to becoming insane.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

why people prefer canmore to banff is strange to me...it's ALMOST the same thing. But instead of the tourists, there are the rich snobs who prefer to live in the "artsy" communities because there is "So much going on" without ever contributing...YARG!

If you want relative peace and quiet, go up to Jasper....it's a mix of busy town, and pleasant times.
I don't understand why everyone overlooks jasper...it's great!
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