Around this time last year, I was planning a trip to Europe to take place in fall of 2013. I had been feeling the itch that a lot of 20-somethings get -that urge to travel. To discover something new. Although I was in a place that I LOVED (still do) and a job that I loved (still do), I couldn't shake the need to be somewhere else. Somewhere new and different. To EXPLORE!
I had a friend who had talked about backpacking around Europe, so I called her up, and that was it. I (perhaps somewhat naively) threw myself headfirst into planning a great adventure across Europe. I imagined staying at hostels and taking overnight trains to places unknown; visiting French cafes and Swiss mountains, and running through Austria singing "the hills are alive WITH THE SOUND OF MUUUSIC".
Then one day -the day before I was supposed to buy a plane ticket- I got news from my friend. She had just been offered her dream job and would be unable to take the trip. After about 3 seconds of selfish heartbreak, I was super excited for her. In the end, I decided not to make the trip on my own -it wasn't meant to be. I realized that it was for the best. I mean, how was I gonna afford a trip through Europe when I could barely pay my student loans? Even with all of this mature realization going on, I could not get rid of the need travel. I was pretty bummed.
One day, while relaying my story of melancholic wanderlust-filled woe (no dramatics here, folks), a friend suggested teaching in Korea. She had recently returned from a year teaching in Seoul, and had loved it. My first thought was "Korea?! I can't do that -its so different!". However, as she filled me in on some of the finer points (teaching cute kids, new and beautiful cultures, inexpensive travel, a chance to save some $, etc) I thought "wow, that could be really awesome!". I mean, they pay you to travel to a new country and teach adorable children! And anyway, hadn't I been looking for something totally different? Sign me up!
There began the journey of getting to Korea. The first thing I did was contact the recruiter my friend had recommended. Recruiters help you find a school and help you to navigate the paperwork process. I also did a whole lot of Google and YouTube searching. I've seen a lot of people say it was somewhat of a whirlwind process -that once they got started, they were leaving before they knew it. That's not how my journey was. I started my paperwork at the end of August with the hopes of leaving in November. I got my fingerprints done and then sent off my paperwork to get my FBI criminal background check. Things seemed to be going smoothly until one day in early October I woke up in the middle of the woods (don't worry folks, it was totally legit -I was leading a backpacking trip) to an email informing me that the government had shut down and my paperwork was on hold. UGH. That government shut down was the worst, THE WORST -but I digress.
Anyway, I had nothing to do but wait. And wait. And wait. And pass up two jobs because I was waiting. And then one day, it arrived! Yay! Cue happy dance! Once I had my FBI CRC I was able to accept a job and apply for my visa. The next part was a bit of a whirlwind, I suppose. I received my visa -which is the MOST exciting piece of mail I've ever gotten. I hadn't had any stamps in my passport before! A few days after that, I received my flight information. Now all that's left to do is finish packing and go, right?
I've got just under a week left in North Carolina, and it should be pretty busy. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to be a camp counselor for winter camp until the 1st. That evening , I'll fly to St. Louis for 2 full days of family fun. Then, on the morning of the 4th, I'll be flying to South Korea to begin my big adventure!
My Visa!!
