It's official, this girl is making the move to South Korea in less than four weeks (give or take with visa processing) to teach English. My recruiting company, Adventure Teaching, wasn't kidding when they say their famous motto is "hurry up and wait."
My life has been one big "hurry up and wait" process this summer. I hurried up and quit my job (with great sadness I might add) and then I waited for Adventure Teaching to lead me through the application process. I hurried and sent in all documentation needed for future visa processing and job applications while I waited to hear from schools in South Korea. I hurried up and interviewed with one of the most prestigious English academies out there, nonetheless was offered a 'hurried' contract to which I waited one day before signing and then I hurried up and made the leap/commitment. Now, my documents have been rushed to Korean immigration and as you can guess.... I am now waiting for my VIN so that I can hurry up and arrange an interview with the Korean Consulate here in the U.S. Once I've been cleared with the U.S. and my passport is back in hand--my school will then hurry up, purchase a flight, and I am out of here!
Up, down, all around--it has been one big erratic pattern of living this summer. While many would crumble under this pressure, I actually thrived on the excitement of the unknown. I love the thrills of not knowing what is about to come next, however, I am not enjoying the purge and pack process that comes with any sort of move--whether it be domestic and foreign.
My room is one big "hot mess." I have things [junk] that I have foolishly clung to since my college days, journals stacked high to the ceiling, books with an abundance of dust bunnies, and not to mention, more than enough clothes that could clothe an entire third-world nation (yes, I am ashamed). In response to my American ways of hoarding; I have begun to "purge" the unnecessary and share my bounty with those in need. I've bagged up at least four bags of clothes which are waiting to go to Goodwill (or friends), donated furniture, and I have sorted through my embarrassing collection of knick-knacks that I've accumulated due to nearly a dozen White Elephant gift exchanges throughout the years. Now comes the hard[er] part: packing...
I would rather be poked in the eye.
So, what does one do in lieu of packing? LOTS of distraction/or procrastination, such as.... creating this blog, or visiting random friends at work, or driving around the city during sunset with the radio on full blast and dancing crazily to Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift (don't judge). Why? Because these are my comforts when I enter distress...
I am an avoider, folks. Through and through, I hate looking conflict dead in the eye and overcoming my tasks with tenacity. Call it being unmotivated, lazy, irresponsible, free-spirited, lack of boundaries, unorganized, etc. Sometimes, it just kills me to finish a task. With my fresh start in a new country, I am not only hoping to purge the physical clutter in my life, but I also hope to purge my weaknesses and bad habits so that I can make some serious changes.
So, with my chance to begin again, I am hoping to carry beautiful things with me as I journey out into the world with a suitcase of beauty. I want to pack my kindness, my humility, my love for adventure, my social spirit, my sense of wonder and curiosity, my thirst for knowledge, my love for others, my compassion, my determination and strong will, my free spirit, and an open mind. With these attributes, I hope to discover and absorb everything this world has to offer, and bring back with me an experience that I will never forget.
Join me in my odyssey across the seas to a land hungry for knowledge and growth. Join me as I adventurously trek through new sights, sounds, and smells. Join me as I learn to love on new people. Join me as I break into new culture. Join me in my ups and my downs. Write. Encourage. Love.
Adventure is out there.... join me.
