From Plan 9 from Outer Space
Sitting in a Pohang coffee shop, blaring Foo Fighters, posting for the first time in forever.
I head home to visit family in about two weeks. Leaving on Dec. 17, returning on the 29th. I'm very eager to see how much my nephew (who turned 1 on Dec. 1) has grown and catch up with everyone.
When I come back, we'll be jumping into a month of 12-hour days with our winter school program. I'm actually supposed to be planning for it right now, but I figured I'd do this first. I do enjoy the long days, since they keep me busy and tend to go pretty fast. It also keeps me on a decent regular schedule too. I've got no idea of my specific teaching materials yet, but I know I'll have mostly higher-level older students for a "debate/dialogue/intensive writing" style course. At least that's how I'll put it on my resume.
I am looking forward to the end of this contract and going home in mid-May. I currently plan to end on May 15, then fly to PA to visit family, then to Boston to see some friends before heading to Michigan for a couple months.
I want to spend some time this summer relaxing (obviously), but I also hope to find my next job quickly. I still do not know if I will go after teacher certification or not (I would like to; money is the concern there). I may pursue other teaching possibilities for English, either overseas or perhaps in a city like Boston or Toronto or something.
I have not really looked in-depth at my options yet and probably will not do so until March at the earliest. But this 2 1/2 year trek has certainly expanded the possibilities.
I'm still considering long term goals. Of course, a family and home of my own would be fantastic. It still gets lonely over here sometimes and it's hard to see all the FB updates and what-not about friends who are getting married, having kids, buying houses, etc. But I'm mostly OK with all of it. I try hard to stay busy and focus on work, which helps. And of course, knowing that if I try hard enough, I can get all of the things I want. So I'm putting in time right now. Paying some dues, I guess you could call it? Playing catch-up?
I still often think of J. Nearly everytime I speak to a student with the same English name, she flashes through my mind. Teaching children the same age as her son also does that. I don't get bummed out. Regretful is perhaps a better word choice. Wistful at times too. I still do, for some reason, hang onto the possibility of another chance though. Maybe someday.
But overall, life is good. I am whittling down my debts still and I truly enjoy what I do for a living. Korea's been an easy adjustment overall and it's nice to be away from a lot of the little things about America that bother me (politics, reality TV, jingoism, etc). I work hard and have good friends back home that I can't wait to visit again. I have a good family that is uber-supportive and a kick-ass nephew too.
A few years ago (2004 I think) I asked for a world like this for myself. A life where I had a good job that I enjoyed, made enough money to pay my bills, and could more or less keep to myself, but still maintain the friendships I have. I have that existence right now. While it's not a world I want to live in forever, I do feel that right now, at this point in my life, at age 30, it works just fine.
I hope all (2) of you readers are doing well and you have a great Christmas season!
I head home to visit family in about two weeks. Leaving on Dec. 17, returning on the 29th. I'm very eager to see how much my nephew (who turned 1 on Dec. 1) has grown and catch up with everyone.
When I come back, we'll be jumping into a month of 12-hour days with our winter school program. I'm actually supposed to be planning for it right now, but I figured I'd do this first. I do enjoy the long days, since they keep me busy and tend to go pretty fast. It also keeps me on a decent regular schedule too. I've got no idea of my specific teaching materials yet, but I know I'll have mostly higher-level older students for a "debate/dialogue/intensive writing" style course. At least that's how I'll put it on my resume.
I am looking forward to the end of this contract and going home in mid-May. I currently plan to end on May 15, then fly to PA to visit family, then to Boston to see some friends before heading to Michigan for a couple months.
I want to spend some time this summer relaxing (obviously), but I also hope to find my next job quickly. I still do not know if I will go after teacher certification or not (I would like to; money is the concern there). I may pursue other teaching possibilities for English, either overseas or perhaps in a city like Boston or Toronto or something.
I have not really looked in-depth at my options yet and probably will not do so until March at the earliest. But this 2 1/2 year trek has certainly expanded the possibilities.
I'm still considering long term goals. Of course, a family and home of my own would be fantastic. It still gets lonely over here sometimes and it's hard to see all the FB updates and what-not about friends who are getting married, having kids, buying houses, etc. But I'm mostly OK with all of it. I try hard to stay busy and focus on work, which helps. And of course, knowing that if I try hard enough, I can get all of the things I want. So I'm putting in time right now. Paying some dues, I guess you could call it? Playing catch-up?
I still often think of J. Nearly everytime I speak to a student with the same English name, she flashes through my mind. Teaching children the same age as her son also does that. I don't get bummed out. Regretful is perhaps a better word choice. Wistful at times too. I still do, for some reason, hang onto the possibility of another chance though. Maybe someday.
But overall, life is good. I am whittling down my debts still and I truly enjoy what I do for a living. Korea's been an easy adjustment overall and it's nice to be away from a lot of the little things about America that bother me (politics, reality TV, jingoism, etc). I work hard and have good friends back home that I can't wait to visit again. I have a good family that is uber-supportive and a kick-ass nephew too.
A few years ago (2004 I think) I asked for a world like this for myself. A life where I had a good job that I enjoyed, made enough money to pay my bills, and could more or less keep to myself, but still maintain the friendships I have. I have that existence right now. While it's not a world I want to live in forever, I do feel that right now, at this point in my life, at age 30, it works just fine.
I hope all (2) of you readers are doing well and you have a great Christmas season!