Alright, so today started with me waking up at about 6:30am, how wonderful. I talked to Kallie for a while on skype and then talked to my mom for a bit, then got ready and went to the agency as my phone wasn't working. I discovered it wasn't working because there was no money on the prepaid card! So I went over to 7-11 and filled the sim card up and then surprise surprise, it actually worked! After that I just hung out at the agency for a bit, waited for my booker, Pluem, to arrive so I could find out if I had any castings today. She arrived and said I had no castings, but gave me a map to one, just in case the client decided they wanted to see me. So later on, she texted me and told me to go to the casting, then to go to the agency after to do a few castings there. The first casting was for chocolate, then the ones at the agency were for Polo clothing, one for skin care and one for hair. I'm hoping maybe this time around I will book a hair job, as my hair was to short last time! The first casting was down all of these smaller roads, not that close to a main road where I would need to get to, to catch a taxi. So after I finished, I started to walk the direction I thought was the right way to get back to the main road. As I am walking, I hit a road that only turns right, so walking straight ahead would be into a wall. But not just a wall was standing there, of course, my favorite, two stray dogs were hanging out there. As I got closer and closer I am trying not to get scared, as last years encounter wasn't so much fun.. The closer I get, the dogs both just stand there and stare at me, I stare back (probably not a good idea on my part), then suddenly they start to bark. Instantly I am thinking "OH SHIT" and slightly panic, but they are still stationary and not running toward me. So panicking, I look back and see a guy coming on a moped type motorcycle thing, so I wave him down to ask if I am going the right direction to a taxi. Eventually I get to where I need to, with no attacks from any dogs! After all of this, it was about 5:30, so I went over to one of my favorite cafes nearby and ate supper, then just went back to the apartment to chill for awhile. I went on my computer for a bit and messed around and then started to download one of the Harry Potter movies, but while it was downloading I fell asleep, which I was trying hard not to do because I want to sleep the whole night, which means not waking up at 6:30am! What can you do though? So I woke up at 8:50 and slightly got angry at myself for falling asleep, but nothing I can do about it now! I got up and waited for my mom to come on Skype, which was not to long after. Before I end this, just a few tid bits of info about Bangkok..

1. Most of the traffic lights have timers on them. Beside the light is a thing that shows you how much longer the red light will last or how much longer the green light will last. Sometimes its up to 200 seconds, which means 3 minutes and 20 seconds. I'm not a fan of this, because I feel when you watch the seconds go by, it takes way longer!

2. I bought some watermelon, papaya and pineapple today, they took the skin or whatever you wanna call the outer shell thing off and they also cut it up for me. Wanna know how much it cost? About 99 cents Canadian!

3. Last but not least, the taxi from my casting back to my apartment was about a 45 minute ride, but only cost me about $3.47. Don't think you could ever say that in Canada now could you?

Day 1. So far it's been good, I finally arrived in Bangkok Wednesday at about 12pm Bangkok time. When I arrived I dropped my stuff off and then went to the agency. There I got a sim card for my phone and my week money. After that I went to the Big C, which is kind of like the Superstore of Bangkok, but has a few more 'supers' in it. It is a 3 floor huge huge huge supercentre. The first floor has food, drinks and all the eating stuff. The second floor is women's clothing, bulk packed drinks, toiletries, toilet paper, detergent etc. Then the third floor is electronics, household items such as irons, kettles etc. and also outdoor stuff, mens clothing and exercise things. So basically this place has anything and everything and is just crazy big! Anyway, I went there, bought some food, water, a towel (which last time the apartment people gave me, but this time no dice), some detergent, and a small mattress pad (my bed is basically hard as rock, mine as well sleep on the tile floor, actually). So after going there, I came back to my apartment and unpacked, ooohhhh how I love unpacking...not. A nap was also in the cards, I had been travelling for basically two days and who knows what time zone my body is really on, so I was in desperate need of a nap. I woke up, talked to my mom on Skype for a bit and then went to bed at around 10pm. Lucky me and having the experience of getting used to what time zone I'm in, I woke up at 4:30, 5:30 and then 7:30, giving me a final waking time of about 8am... fun. I didn't have to go to the agency until 10:30, so I had a couple hours to laze around and get ready. 10:30 rolled around and I went to the agency, getting a map for my first casting which was for drinking water. Luckily I was the first one at the casting, yaay! They did my hair and makeup (normal casting for here), then I changed and went to do the casting. In this casting I had a few shots to take.. One of me telling my friends the reason why I was so beautiful was because I was drinking this water, another of me just holding the water, one of me in my office putting on my makeup, another in a change room looking at my clothes, almost done.. another of me wearing a face mask and last but not least the one where I am actually drinking the water. Oooh how I love castings in Bangkok.... So after all of that shenanigans, I went back to the agency, hung out for a bit and then took another trip to the Big C. This time I got a yoga mat, so I can exercise in my apartment (I have much much floor space, its great - and thats not sarcasm either!). I also got a kettle and some green tea, mmmmm. That's basically all I did today, after the Big C, I came back to the apartment and just chilled. I was trying to force myself to stay awake so I would maybe sleep the whole night, but that did not work at all, I fell asleep for about 45 minutes. Now I am here, waiting for my mom on Skype and then heading to bed once my eyelids won't stay open anymore. Before I forget though, I have a few random things to throw out there:

1. Entering the taipei airport, I had to go through security again, but didn't have to show my boarding pass.. odd.

2. As I went to board the plane in Taipei, no ID or passport was required.. also odd.

3. When I was boarding my plane in Vancouver which went to Taipei, after having your ticket scanned, you walked about a meter and there were two police officers/security guards checking everyones passports and asking quite a few people quite a few questions. When I went up they asked where I was going and then let me right through, others not so lucky! The lady before me was asked where she lived, who she lived with, why she was going to Taipei, if she ever had any trouble with the police etc. Quite a few people were having this happen to them, I was curious why, but obviously never found out.

4. The person that picked me up from the airport to take me to my apartment, the speedometer in the car stayed at 0 the whole time.. in other words did not work. I guess this also brings me to the fact that Bangkok has no speed limit, so goes hand in hand with the non working speedometer.

5. I got a pedicure for  6 dollars Canadian today.. when does that EVER happen?

6. I walked by a McDonalds, saw they had a few pie varieties. At home we have apple and cherry or something, but here they have apple, corn and ham and cheese? Weird.

As the days pass I know this blog is going to fill with weird things about Bangkok, by that I mean things that are way different from Canada. Everything I wrote today is all I remember for now, but I know there is a lot more that will come. Hope you enjoy!

Bangkok

Alright, so the time has come again where the blogging must continue, as I continue on my approximate year long journey. I left Grande Prairie today at 1:35 pm, and got into Edmonton sometime around 2:30 or so. My cousin Tyson picked me up from the airport and we hit up West Ed and then went to a sushi restaurant called Mikado, where we met my Aunty Donna. After that we went back to West Ed for a bit and then I went back to the airport to catch my 8:45 flight to Vancouver. As per usual, my flight was delayed, apparently I can't fly anywhere without that happening! At first it was only delayed 15 minutes, so was supposed to leave at 9pm. We boarded the plane and were ready to go at about 9:30 when the pilot comes on telling us that there is some frost on the wings so we must de-ice. No big deal, that happens in the winter all the time.. but when we get to the de-icing area, he comes on again telling us that the truck that is supposed to de-ice our plane is broken, greeeeeeeat. He tells us we must wait about 10-15 minutes before we know whats going, so we wait, I read, we wait, then he comes on again saying that it is for sure broken and won't be fixed so we need to wait another 15 minutes for another truck to come. Again, we wait, I read, we wait, the pilot comes on and does his apology thing blah blah blah and then tells us we need to wait ANOTHER 15 minutes. At this point its about 10pm, so the 15 minutes taking us to 10:15 and then after de-icing about 10:30. May I mention one more time the plane was supposed to leave at 8:45? WHAT THE HECK! Figure it out people!! Last time I checked, there were many de-icing trucks so this problem would not occur? Like coooooome on! So finally we are off and in the air, woohoo... I fell asleep and before you knew it we were landed in Vancouver at 10:51 vancouver time, which was 11:51 GP time. Of course, my next gate is basically on the other side of the flippin airport so I had to walk all the way, thinking my flight boarded at 11:30. Thankfully it didn't, it doesn't board until 11:50, hence me sitting here typing on my computer. Oh one last note before I have to put all this shinnanigans away and board my 12 hour flight.. I GOT A AISLE SEAT! WOOOOOO! Best day ever basically. So what that means is.. Courtney has to go to the bathroom... and she can go whenever she wants! Yaaaaay. I don't have to wake the person up next to me or wait for them to wake up, I can get up and go as I please! YES. Note to whoever is reading this... always get the aisle seat when travelling a long flight, otherwise you will thoroughly regret it when you have to pee really really bad and the person or two people next to you are sleeping... trust me, not fun! I will continue the blog when I get to Taipei if they allow me to use the internet there, if not, update you when I arrive in Bangkok!

Surprise, surprise!! I'm home!!!!! Home as in, Grande Prairie! Wooohoooo! I got home last night at about 11:30 pm. Nobody knew I was coming home except for my mom, so it was a surprise for everyone! I walked into the house and ran up the stairs to see my dad. For about a solid minute he just sat there staring at me, looking very shocked. After that he continued to hit his head and shake it, in confusion, figuring out if what he was seeing was real or a dream. It was quite hilarious! After that I had a solid 10 hour sleep, no jet leg for me yet!! Wooohoooo! Today I had to basically hide out in the house, because no one knew I was home, so I had to lay low. At 5 pm I went to the Ceinahs practice to surprise the girls and I got them all lucky fish hangy things, for good luck! After that me and my mom went to original joes. My mom had texted my friend Megan earlier to ask her to get my friends together and meet her at OJs tonight at 530 because she wanted to give them presents I had gotten them. So the ones that were in town came and SURPRISE!!! I was there! It was sooo good to see them again, I thoroughly enjoyed. And I got some good surprises and faces out of it too! haha. It was good times, I really enjoyed. Then after that, I went to Boston Pizza because it was my other friend Jenna's birthday, I showed up and she also basically had a heart attack! I had messaged her this morning to tell her Happy Birthday and sorry I couldn't make it to her birthday, but mwahaha I am evil and I knew I was going to be there! All in all it was a good day and I can't wait to actually go do things tomorrow, not have to sit in the house all day!

Alright, so Saturday and yesterday no castings, free days basically. On Saturday me and Caitlin had a super unsuccessful shopping adventure to an area where there are 4 malls right across from eachother. We were quite unhappy with what we discovered to say the least. Yesterday me and Caitilin went to Tianzifang aka Diagon Alley, where I purchased some christmas gifts and then to Huaihai Road to shop at H&M and Zara. Today we had 2 castings, then the rest of the day off, so me, Caitlin, Anya and Melody went to Qipu Lu, an place where there are "malls", super chinese ones, and everything there is really cheap. Qipu Lu is pronounced (Cheap-ulu). Its basically a building with endless "stores", more like stalls, filled with clothes. It's crazy in there. I didn't really buy anything to exciting, just some long tanktop dress things, a few long sleeve shirts and some tights. Tomorrow is going to be a long a full day though, we have to be ready at 8:40 am, so castings probably start around 9, and we are told there are lots, whoopee. Spending the day in the van isn't usually one of my favourite things to do, but I deal with it. Our shower is officially broken, good thing I took one before it broke. One of my roommates went to shower and somehow it broke, I didn't ask questions, just looked. The hose came out of the tap and the water now comes out of the side of the hose, not the shower head, greeeeat. Oh and last but definitely not least, I discovered someone has been going through my things, AWESOME. I went to take out my camera to upload some pictures onto my computer and facebook, when I opened the case, my camera was upside down. I usually put it screen facing down, lens facing up. But when I opened it BAM there was the screen staring at me, making the lens face down. WTF. Hi whoever went through my closet, how about don't? You could say I'm a little angry. Also, my camera is at the back of the closet, behind jeans and pants and hidden by clothes that are hanging above, so that means (unnamed person) would of had to actually look through my closet, move the clothes that were hanging and everything. Again, WTF. Not cool. I briefly looked through my stuff to make sure nothing was missing, but how the eff word am I going to remember what was and wasn't there? I'm sure by the time I leave I'll figure out things that are missing if they are. And if they are, HEADS WILL ROLL. I asked the girl that I share a room with if she had looked at my camera, she said no. I am going to throw out a crazy idea and say it was the maid, oh wait.. thats not such a crazy idea. Here are some things about the wonderful person of a cleaning lady we have:
1) She used to shower at our apartment, I don't know if she still does, but she used to and wasn't allowed to. I told the agency and they got mad at her, so that's why I'm thinking she doesn't anymore, but who knows, she does what she wants basically.
2) When she showered or showers, she uses our products, shampoo, conditioner, that stuff. Oh and sometimes razors. Sweet.
3) She didn't used to wash the floor, only sweep. Again, told the agency and they told her to wash the floors, so I saw her wash them once, but not sure if she still does it.
4) If you make your bed, she will remake it. Why? I don't know, things have to be done her way or no way I guess.
5) She rearranges our stuff on the desk and such. Again, I don't know why, but maybe she thinks rearranging the bottles of products we have, means she's cleaning?
Soo these all add to why I think it could of possibly been the maid going through my things. I mean, most of the time when she's here we aren't, so she can do whatever she feels. If I find out it was her, I will show my anger like never before. I don't think aka I know none of my roommates would of done it. First, I only share the room with one other girl, so why would the other 3 go in there at all? They wouldn't, so its not them, and I asked the girl I share the room with straight up if it was her and she said no. So the maid is the only option left. Currently many swear words are running through my mind, but clearly I won't post them on here. Thats all for today, have an early morning tomorrow. Goodnight.

Yesterday mom and I had to go back to the fabric market so she could try on one of her jackets and a pair of pants, just to make sure they fit. So we went back to Old Town and went to the Yuyuan Garden first, which we planned on going to last time, but it was closed by the time we found it. So we started our trip there, it was an old style Chinese garden I believe, and it was pretty cool. Lots of chinese styled buildings and rock architecture stuff, also many ponds with fish. After that we went to the fabric market where mom tried on her clothes. I have to go back next week to pick everything up, can't wait to see my blazer! After the market, we went to an area in The Bund that sells cheaper hair products and appliances. I needed to get a flat iron that worked over here, because the voltage on mine isn't high enough, so it heats up really fast and to a very very high temperature. So we went there and I got one, probably around 30 dollars canadian, so hopefully it will work alright! After that we went and found a place to eat, then headed back to the apartment. Last night was moms last night here so I stayed at her hotel with her. I showered there, which was way way way better than showering at the apartment! First off, the temperature stays consistent the whole time, no getting steaming hot then having to turn the tap down, having warm water for awhile then getting steaming hot again. At our apartment apparently there are only two temperatures, extremely hot or freezing cold. Second, it's not super dark in the shower, so you don't feel like your showering with no lights on. Our bathroom has black tiled walls and floors, soo slightly on the dark side.. and last, the shower head was just better and a better shower overall. Her bed was also way better than mine too, I slept the best I have since I have been away from home, which means including Hong Kong. It was great! This morning I had a job for a magazine, it was a makeup before and after and then application thing. After that finished we went to a casting which we didn't even end up doing because there were so many models and our booker didn't want to wait. So we came back to the apartment and have been hanging out since then. Oh can't forget this.. yesterday when mom and I were out, I almost got hit by a man on a motorcycle. GREAT. I was walking one way, and he was coming the way that would be perpendicular to me and I wasn't totally paying attention, but since he was coming towards humans he should of been and he almost hit me! If I wouldn't have noticed at the last second I would of been seriously injured or maybe an occurrence of death? NOT FUN. So obviously quite angry with him, I yelled and swore and did things any other angry person would do. It was ridiculous! The traffic, vehicles, pedal bikes and motorized bikes don't care about pedestrians what so ever! They don't move for you at all.. like who cares if you hit a human right? Also update on the roommates. So it was just me, Amanda and Anya for awhile, Amanda being from Toronto and Anya originally from Russia, but lives in Calgary. A few weeks ago Caitlin arrived, she is with the same agency as me back home, she lives in BC and she is also the same age as me. Then about a week ago another girl arrived, her name is Melody and thats who I now share a room with. So the apartment is back to being full, but everyone gets along pretty well. Mom left today at 6, her time here went by soo fast! Last but not least, my name is no longer Courtney, apparently it is Country or Kittney, one of the two options works. Here, they can't pronounce my name, ever, soo they say Country or Kittney and I just accept it. Well thats about all for now, I'll write again soon!

So I definitely totally forgot about this whole blog thing, just realized I haven't updated in a long time! Things are going alright over here in China, I'm still making friends here which is quite swell. Castings are keeping us busy, sometimes 7 a day and sometimes only 1 or 2. The other night was Halloween, so we all dressed up and went to celebrate. Me and Caitlin, one of my roommates, dressed up as nerds, so clearly we were the coolest ones there.. It was super crowded and busy, but we had fun! This morning I woke up at about 9:36 am, the phone rings at 9:40 am and it was our booker, saying that "oh you have casting at 10:20". Awesome right? Woohoo 40 minutes for us to get ready for a casting, how greeeeeat! So in other words this morning was just super. Also, I've been sick for the past few days, so I felt like a gem this morning, also looked like one too. My nose is slightly plugged, but runs 24/7 if that even makes sense? My glands in my throat are swollen and my voice is slightly boy sounding. I am in good shape clearly! I'm hoping that it'll go away soon. Weird thing here.. every place I've travelled to, a month into being there I have gotten sick. I've been here just over 3 weeks, almost a month and surprise surprise I got sick! Not fun. I talked to Kallie on skype today for many minutes, made me miss everyone so much more! Today was a shopping day after castings, we went back to the place called Tianzifang, the one that looks like Diagon Alley. I bought a purse, not like I need anymore, but atleast now I have a variety.. haha, I also bought a scarf, some earrings, presents for friends and family and I think thats about it. Good shopping trip to say the least. Ooh we also went to this place called Cafe Dan to eat, recommended by Juliet, my first roommate here. She told me to try to matcha udon noodles and matcha latte, so I did both and they were soooo good, definitely be going back there! Last but not least, yesterday me and mom went to Old Town, another part of Shanghai, it was a lot of little shops and bazaars or whatever. At the end of that we went to the fabric market, where Juliet also recommended a tailor there, so we went to see her. I am getting a blazer made and mom is getting 2 jackets and 3 pairs of pants. It's so cool because you basically just design your own stuff and pick out your own material. That's about all for now I think, I'll try to remember to keep this updated more often!