I have decided to start a blog to document the incredible year that is ahead of me. I found out a few days ago that I have secured a teaching position in Seoul, South Korea beginning February 22 of this year. This has been an incredibly long process of collecting documents, becoming TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certified, deferring student loans, and generally just making some huge life changes and soul-changing decisions about the path my life was taking.
Mostly, I'm unbelievably excited. I can't wait to be in a foreign country, experiencing a new language, culture, food, and making new friends from all over the world. I would say that travel is my dearest passion in life, so the idea of getting paid to travel is pretty amazing. Well, strictly speaking I'm getting paid to teach, but, you get the idea ;-)
So you'll notice I said mostly excited. The small part of me that feels anything other than excited feels sad and apprehensive. I've been with my boyfriend, Nate, for over 4 years, and it's hard for me to imagine being away from him. He's been pretty awesome about the whole thing, but it's still hard. Yes, we will stay together, and no, I'm not worried about it. I also know from experience that there will be things I will miss that I won't even be expecting.
To back up a bit, this is my second extended period abroad. I spent an amazing year in Paris back in 2005, but looking back on it, I realize how poorly I spent my time there. I went as a student with zero money--which is difficult in a city like Paris that has cafes and fashion boutiques on every corner. What I regret is that I spent so much time dwelling on what and who I missed in the United States and my lack of funds. Yes, I had no money, but neither did any of the starving artists that lived in Paris back in the early 1900s. I lived in Montmartre which, in my opinion, is the most magical area of Paris. The only way to describe myself was lucky, but I didn't really feel that way at the time. Point being, by the time I got my head together about the experience, it was over, and I have spent the last several years feeling unfulfilled and angry with myself for not making the most out of such an incredible experience. No offense to my amazing friends and family back in the U.S... I missed them all terribly. But what I realized upon my return is that true friends and family will still be there when you get back. You can miss them, but that relationship won't really change. I know this is pretty basic, but it's a revelation I wish I had had while I was there.
So, I tucked the Paris experience away and tried very hard to make a fulfilling career for myself back in the U.S. Travel, though, for those that really love it, know that it's not that easy. A love for travel gets under your skin, and it's impossible to compartmentalize that. But I tried. I went down the sales track and stayed on it for almost 5 years. Eventually, however, I realized that I was deeply unhappy and had to make a pretty drastic change. At about this same time, I was contacted by a recruiter for EPIK (English Program In Korea) and the rest is history! That was about 6 months ago, and it is amazing how alive I have felt since I stopped doing what I was 'supposed to do' and started listening to my heart. (Yes, I realize how cliche that sounds). I have absolutely loved learning about Korean culture, and I am so grateful that I figured things out in time and will be given another chance to do what makes me happiest.
Anyway, that is the past, and now it's just a waiting game until I begin my training on February 22nd! My pledge to myself this time is that I will soak up every millisecond that I am in Seoul. I am allowed to miss my family and friends and my Nathan, but it will not monopolize my life nor will it prevent me from making the most of my experience. I will take lots of walks, keep my eyes wide open, and fully embrace the good, the bad, and the completely unforseen. I predict a very different gal will be blogging by the end of this year :-)
