Weekend Runaway

Friday afternoon, had you been watching Deok Won Girls High School at 4pm on the dot, you would have seen a short girl in a bright red coat sneaking out of school. I had a flight to catch, and little time to get there. I was off to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for the scene's first ever swing exchange, along with my first ever international swing exchange. Let me say first, that I am my own worst enemy. I was so focused on the little time that I had that I got on the train heading in the wrong direction! >.< My flight was due to take off at 6:20, which meant I had no time to lose. I arrived at the airport at 5:20 to the sound of an announcer calling for those on flight KE 689 to Phnom Penh needing to board immediately. Though confused, I just assumed something strange had happened and they'd moved up the flight time or something. As you can imagine, I was freaking out! I hadn't gotten my ticket, gone through security, or walked across the rather massive airport that Incheon is! I ran to the counter and told the lady my destination trying to not yell in my panic. She laughed and explained that the call was only for those wanting to pick their seats, that's all. I still had plenty of time, as boarding didn't begin till 6, I just couldn't choose where I wanted to sit. I breathed a huge sigh of relief!!! After changing my money over and waiting to get through the ridiculous line, I make it to my plane while they are boarding. The doors close behind me after about 5 minutes, and I laugh in joy knowing that I made it! I was off to one of my two favorite countries in the whole world, to do one of my favorite things in the whole world- dance. What more could a girl ask for?!
I was the very last person to register for CLX (Cambodia Lindy Exchange), along with the last to show up. I walked into the Chinese House (a restaurant with a dance floor) at 10:30pm, threw off my jacket and dove right into what I knew was going to be the most amazing swing dancing event since moving to Korea! I danced my little heart out on that sticky crowded floor until 1am when the music had to end, sharing in laughs, awesome swing dances, and crazy modern dances with people from literally all over the world- Vietnam, Switzerland, England, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, China, Thailand, Mayalysia, Luxemburg, the US, Canada, France, Germany, and more. That night was better than almost every night I've had here. (the main reason is because they were foreigners who I could talk to and were creative! Korea, I love you, but stop trying to be perfect and get creative with your dances!)
Saturday morning I woke up after about 5 hours of sleep, walk to the pool side restaurant for breakfast, and take a look around at what was to be my home for the weekend. The Plantation Resort and Spa is beautiful, an intricate maze that seculdes its' guests from the outside world, providing comfort and beauty in one. I began chit-chatting with a really cool Canadian girl who was moving back home from Vietnam after a little while too. She invited me to join her at the pool, which I was more than happy to accept, as it was quickly getting warm out! Half of the CLX crew went sight-seeing, but the rest of us stayed to enjoy the glorious warm water, talk with folks from all over (or catch up as most of them knew each other already. The Asia swing scene is small for expats). We enjoyed the delicious free brunch, and simply took in the beautiful day. It was really nice sitting doing nothing, when for the past two weeks I had been non-stop going from 6:30am until usually 11:30pm. The rest was dearly welcomed! While the lindy bomb (a bunch of dancers who show up at a predecided location for a surprise dance attack in a city) was cancelled due to questionable weather, we didn't mind.
As time rolled close, we all got dressed and boarded our bus to the docks where we had a private boat waiting for us. With delicious Cambodian food provided by our hosts (who were amazing!), we launched onto the Mekong Delta and blues/lindy hopped to a live band. Talk about amazing! I got to meet and talk with even more folks from all over, learning about so many other countries and people, enjoying the live music and setting sun around us. As we turned around and began making our way back, the few buildings that Phnom Penh has began to light up. Oh yes, it was awesome! After grabbing a quick bite with some folks, I got changed and headed to the dance.

 *disclaimer* All photos taken by Tram Greenfirefly


I'm in this photo, I swear!  Can you spot me?

   For my non-dancer friends, Saturday night is always the night for dancing. Everyone dresses up, there are usually decorations (if there's a theme, then folks may dress according to that as well), a professional photographer for nice photos, along with a live band. CLX had all of this on their first event, and it was great!


I was unhappy with the group photo I took, so I decided to take a solo one.  I like it more.  :)



I got my picture taken as you can see, and despite the overly slippery floor, did my best to enjoy. (I loved my stockings!) Surprinsgly, this wasn't my favorite dance. The slippery floor changed my dancing and caused me to feel nervousness and hesitation. It happens sometimes sadly, and I think I was also becoming overwhelmed by all of the people constantly as well honestly. I spent a majority of time watching folks dance then I did dancing this time around, but did get asked to dance by my favorites which made me happy. (it's always nice when people seek you out, you know?) ;)


I'm in this too, but my back is to the camera.  :(

 After the dance, a few folks headed to late night. It started at a later time then folks are used to (2am instead of 1am), so not many were there. I went for about 2 hours though, talking with a nice Canadian guy and dancing barefoot in the penthouse to great blues songs I haven't heard in months. That night I really began to develop some friendships that I hope will last like some of my others have. :)
Sunday I woke up after 6 hours of sleep before heading to the brunch dance at the FCC. It was a great little restaurant that had a perfect space for eating and dancing. The live band was phenomenal, playing and singing live English and French songs to us for almost 4 hours. The covering provided the perfect relief from the sun and the river side breeze kept us cool (or me at least, since I'm used to the heat. Other folks found it hot, but I thought it was perfect! Lol!) Even on the last day, I was meeting people. This was the day I meet one of my favorite dancers from the weekend (shout out to Michel! Ladies, dance with this guy, he's A-mazing!) and enjoyed even more with my remaining favorites (Jerry, Eric, Fred, Martin, Jean, and Michael). Awesome awesome dance. I took tons of photos of this one too, as it was the one and only dance that took place in the daytime. Personally I hate the way photos look in the evening time when I take them, so I hadn't taken as many as I usually do. This is where I had my favorite conversation with a lead too. He wandered by my table, and since there were only 3 or us taking photos with more professional cameras, recognized me. He asked if he could look at my photos. I said sure, but warned that I hadn't taken many. After turning my camera on, he looked at me confused and said there were nearly 300 photos on my camera. I laughed and said yes, but I've taken way more before. It was funny. (After coming back, I felt like I hadn't taken nearly enough still by the way. Funny no?) When the dance ended almost an hour after it was supposed to (the band was so freakin' awesome to keep playing for us!), I went to an ice cream shop and enjoyed some delicious cool treats with a few other folks. Back at our hotel, I was convinced to change into my bathing suit and join the others in the pool. Soooo worth carrying wet clothes by the way! All of the CLX crew just chilled for the next hour or two, soaking in the sun and perfect combination of hot, humid evening air with warm pool water.
That night was the last night, and the small exchange had begun to dwindle with folks leaving for work, continuing their travels by going to Siem Reap, or whatnot. After grabbing some dinner with a few folks from the Vietnam scene, I hopped in a tuk-tuk and got my little butt dancing for 2 more hours before I had to leave. Man, I really didn't want to leave! The dancers, music, and country were all so amazing and wonderful. As I announced on facebook, I really was loath to say goodbye. After some fantastic dances with some of the best dancers I've meet (personality and skill wise), I said farewell far to quickly to not enough of them before running down to my cab. (There was confusion over my taxi, so I didn't get to say goodbye to a lot of folks actually, and I really regret not making the taxi wait instead.) :(
At the Phnom Penh airport, I saw that our flight was delayed by 20 minutes. That could very well mean we land 20 minutes late, which would put me in Seoul at 6:50am and not 6:30am. That was nearly my whole window I had given myself to make it through customs and the walk through the airport, on top of the hour I needed for the ride to school. Remarkably, after my intial concern, I felt calm and unconcerned about it. I somehow didn't feel fear. To my delight, the flight somehow landed at 6:15, earlier then if we had left on time! In my red-eye flight, swing dance weekend induced sleep coma, I mistakenly transfered trains going the wrong way halfway through though! Lol, I thought it was hilarious, and thanked God that my school always has a morning meeting that runs way late on Mondays. I just slipped in the back and no-one noticed, so yay! The weekend was all-around amazing honestly. There were a few stiff or frustrating parts with one individual who insisted on acting like an ass, but I choose to ignore him and enjoy myself. I was happy to see his back as he left early Sunday afternoon honestly, and enjoy the rest of the event all by myself. Thanks Robyn for allowing your first swing event to be mine too, I couldn't have asked for a greater place to make my appearance to the international scene!
Dancing to my own tune,
Rita

 P.S.- I'm pretty sure I was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, dancers there. I felt so proud of that silly little fact honestly. I'm doing so much, so young, and no one can take that away from me. It will always be mine. And no matter what other people may say to me, how they make try to make me feel, or the way they may act towards me, I know that I have the best friends a girl could ask for supporting me every step of the way.
 P.P.S.- I left Seoul with straight hair. After only 30 minutes of being in Cambodia, it turned curly. It was curly all weekend and when I landed Monday, because of sleeping on it and brushing it out, it turned wavy. And now, it's straight again. Pretty crazy if you ask me!