Travel to the Great White North

We are back from the Great White North and are just getting over Jet Lag. Oh, gotta love Jet Lag. Our trip was great. We got to visit with Elisha’s sister and husband, Elisha’s parents, and her relatives in Okotoks. I got a chance to go for a cross country ski in Canmore, which was a big treat for me. It’s been over 3 years since I’ve had a chance to ski, and getting back on the planks was a good feeling…for the first hour. The last hour was quite a grind, as I’m hardly in skiing shape anymore.

We also did some shopping for baby supplies. Sheesh, it’s amazing how much stuff a baby needs! I started to get the feeling that this is just the beginning when it comes to spending money on the little tyke – do you think he’ll appreciate it? Elisha, Pam, Jonathan and I also got a chance to go to Banff and Lake Louise. I always find a trip to the mountains invigorating, and it’s easy to see why.

This is actually Canmore Nordic Centre.

Lake Louise in the Clouds

Here’s a sign I found in the changing room of the Billabong store. My American friends may not get the “lingo”, but I’m sure they can figure it out!

Only in Canada!

Ahhh, the great Canadian pastime. I wonder if I’ll get to do this with my boy someday…

 

Well, that’s all. We’d love to hear from you, so if you want to leave us a message, just click on comments, or email us if you prefer.

 

Cowtown, Here We Come!

Elisha and I are thrilled to be heading to Calgary, Alberta for our Lunar New Year’s vacation. Although the time will be short, it’s a great chance for Elisha to visit her sister. Of course, Elisha’s parents are going to drive on out and we’ll have a great time reconnecting and allowing mom and Pam a chance to see Elisha during her pregnancy. I think it’s going to be a rich time of hanging out with family. I am also really looking forward to seeing the Canadian Rockies as well. I’ve been a lot of places, and I’d say that the Canadian Rockies rank as some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen. In order to fullyexperience and enjoy the clean, cool air and beautiful vistas, I hope to get out and do some nordic skiing. I had also hoped to take in a Calgary Flames game, but it’s sold out. Nuts. Maybe we’ll just have to get some tickets from the friendly men outside the arena…

 

 

Krispy Kreme Korean Invasion: Part II

As previously promised, Elisha and I went with a couple of friends to the newest Krispy Kreme outlet here in our fair city of Daejeon. I used the excursion to practice using my new video camera and if you are interested in seeing the AMAZING footage, go right ahead. Be forewarned though, it turns out that the donut run video is more like “the Laura Jo Show!” Ahhh, fun times.

Krispy Kreme Invasion

 

Well, it’s happened. For better or for worse, Krispy Kreme is opening a donut shop filled with sweet, melt in your mouth goodness right here in Daejeon. If you’ve never had a Krispy Kreme donut, you must live under a rock. Or in Canada. Yes, for some reason Krispy Kreme has not targeted Canada yet in their bid for world donut domination. At least they haven’t opened any shops out in Western Canada, as far as I know. I think they might have some outlets in Southern Ontario, y’know, near Toronto. Like I was saying before, they haven’t opened one yet in Canada… Perhaps Krispy Kreme is afraid of going toe to toe and dropping the gloves with good ol’ Tim Hortons, and understandably so. Somehow Tim Hortons has become a cult, of sorts, in Canada, as it seems to capture the very essence of what it means to be Canadian. But, I hate to break it to you, their donuts are akin to bison patties drying under the prairie sun when compared to Krispy Kreme donuts. In any case, the foreigner contingent living and working here in Daejeon are quite excited to have the latest great American franchise hit the Hermit Kingdom.

But, should we be? Or, should we be saddened that the steady march of globalization has staked out one more front in it’s battle to swallow up every unique culture on earth. Sadly, it seems that for all it’s economic benefits, globalization is very effective at diluting and eventually reducing cultures around the globe into pale imitations of what exists in the West. Yes, it’s convenient to be able to find Western products in every corner of the globe, be it Starbuck’s coffee or Pringle’s potato chips, but is it really in our best interest in the long run? The slow, steady march of globalization and the loss of cultural uniqueness is unstoppable. Not only that, but why is it that the most common “gifts” the Western world foists on unsuspecting countries are the type that are truly horrible for your health? I can almost picture company execs sitting around a table, looking at a world map and saying, “Hmmm, that country over there seems to have a disproportionate number of people who are slim. What can we do to make them more obese? Hey, how about opening a McDonalds, or Pizza Hut, or Krispy Kreme, or Burger King, or…..”

Ahhh, why should I get myself all riled up over it? Globalization has been going on for millenia. Where would we be without all the great things Asia has contributed to our way of life? I mean, just take gunpowder for instance…

Whatever, I’m going to go to Krispy Kreme tomorrow to get myself some delightful little rings of delicious, doughy love, coated in a delightful, sugary frosting.

In other, more interesting news. Elisha is doing great at 29 weeks along. Here’s a picture to prove it!