Boney M!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I said Boney M. Could it be any more random?

It all started just before I arrived. One of my fellow teachers, Hannah, was suddenly accosted in the hallway of our apartment building by an over-friendly Korean lady. The lady took Hannah to her apartment and fed her yogurt and sang for her. She also gave her a photo of herself and a plant, which I inherited when I arrived (and have since killed, sadly.)

Since that night, the lady, who we have affectionately dubbed "the Crazy Lady" has been a regular in our lives. We will often sit in front of the convenience store on the ground floor of our building having a drink or playing cards. And it's pretty much a guarantee that she'll come along at some point in the evening. She's a wedding singer at a nearby hotel and is always either on her way to or from a gig. She'll always sit with us and take sips of our beer, help herself to our snacks, and usually give us presents.

Here she is with our beloved friend, the horse head. Every time she sees him she uses her favourite expression, "wow!"

Here she is with some flowers, which she seems to have an endless supply of, for she is constantly carrying some, not always in the freshest of states. Various stages of wilting and dying is more the norm.

Anyway, what does this have to do with Boney M, you ask? Well here is a picture of her latest present to us.

Yes, that is a ticket to see Boney M in concert. Now you may be saying "I didn't know Shanda was a fan of Boney M...." And I can't deny that before now I really wouldn't have called myself one. But I challenge you to find someone who would say they are against Boney M. And I'm sure everyone likes at least one of their songs. You have to enjoy their Christmas album if nothing else. They are just one of those bands that are just kinda...in the collective unconscious if you will. And I never would have thought "gee, life would be a lot better if I could just see Boney M in concert." But after last night, let me assure you, it is.

It was such a great show. They've been together for like 30 years, but you'd never guess that they were old enough to have been doing anything for 30 years. The man of the group was so buff and didn't stop dancing the entire night. He must be at least 50, but was bustin' a move like a teenager. Though his moves were slightly outdated, and not necesarilly suited to the song, it was impossible to take your eyes off of him. He was like....a disco MC Hammer or something. Here is doing one of his many acrobatic flips. Very impressive!

At onepoint he stood at the front of the stage flexing his pecs in time to the music while the singers stood around him in a Barker's Beauties manner, showcasing this little show. Hilarious.

He would run into the audience once in a while too and there would be women trying to grab him and screaming their heads off. (I have to admit here that I did my fair share of screaming...and I challenge anyone to imagine themselves in the same situation being able to contain themselves.)

They kept pulling people up from the audience to dance with them on stage. Here's a chubby middle-aged white guy with no rythym to none-the-less bravely danced on.

And some little Korean girls who seemed totally unfazed by being led in a dance routine by a half-naked gyrating man.

I could go on and on about how much fun this show was. Crazy I know. And so random. Boney M in Korea...but the crown knew all the songs and were totally going crazy.

Speaking of going crazy...here's a picture of me when they sang Rasputin. That's always been one of my "feel good" songs. You know, a song you play to pump yourself up or cheer you up when you're blue. So seing it live was quite the exciting moment.

I think one of us has some video of that song. If I can get my hands on it I'll post it for all to see.

All in all this was one of the best nights I've had in ages. Since the Juno's in fact. Though nothing will ever compare to the excitement and joy of that occasion, Boney M is right up there. I don't know if it's just that I have less stimulation here, so everything seems more exciting, or if I'm just getting to be a happier person. But I can safely say that I feel my capacity for pure joy is ever-widening since I landed here. And my tendency to give in to depression is shrinking. I hope it's something that lasts after I leave here...

And on that happy note! Thank you Crazy Lady! I will never grudge you a sip of beer or handful of chips ever again!