Day 318 in Korea: My Birthday and an ode to my co-teachers

I've noticed that for the last few years my birthdays have been slightly depressing and unremarkable. And I'm okay with that, believe me. But this week has been so much fun (for the most part.) It's weeks like this one that help me to realize that I've won the teaching-English-in-Korea jackpot.

Day 295 in South Korea: It's the little things

Soo much has been going on lately. It's been a roller coaster of emotions, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. The Korean test is looming ever closer and my motivation is slipping away slowly but surely. But as of today, things are SO MUCH BETTER.

Day 259 in South Korea: Noraebang and a few other tidbits.

First, the bad news. I found out a little over a month ago that my school has lost the funding it receives from the government to pay me. It's very frustrating because I've been really happy at my school: the teachers are amazing and friendly, the location is absolutely fantastic, and I've really enjoyed the students. However, I have to keep telling myself that God does everything for a reason. I don't understand the reasoning behind this right now, but I know that I will eventually find where I'm supposed to be. Right now, I'm working with my recruiter again and talking to a lot of different friends, trying to find out what jobs they know about. I have several leads, so hopefully something works out!

6 months in Korea-A wedding (not mine) and Namsan Tower

Wow...6 months. I can't believe it. In some ways, it seems like I've been here forever but in others it feels like I just landed. These have been 6 of the most difficult yet joyous months of my life. I've learned so much about myself-mostly that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned who I can lean on no matter what (my family) and who I couldn't trust after all. I've learned that despite feelings otherwise, I'm an incredibly blessed person. The last four years have been difficult. But they've led me to where I am now. My co-teacher and I were talking about fate, destiny, and karma today...I truly believe that I've been led to Korea for a reason. Right now that reason is healing. I've got a lot of scars on my heart from difficult work situations and people that have betrayed me but I'm working so hard on getting rid of that scar tissue.

Day 169 of Living in Korea: Car elevator!

A few weeks ago, I went a wedding. One of my co-teachers was getting married, so a couple of us hopped in the car, drove down to Apgujeong, and tried to find a place to park. Unfortunately, the area of Apgujeong that the wedding hall is in is a very confusing, maze-like place. My poor co-teacher (not the one getting married) drove around and around, before we finally found the parking garage for the wedding hall/convention center. Here, I got to experience something for the first time-a car elevator! Korea doesn't have wide open spaces like we do in the States, at least not in Seoul. To get around this, they've dug basements below a large percentage of buildings to park cars in. Usually there's a ramp to take down, but there wasn't even room to build a ramp. So they installed an elevator!

Day 168 (WOW) of living in Korea: Sports Festival

So I'm still not the best about keeping current on blogging...whoops. To be fair, things have been a little bit crazy lately. But when are they not...

Anyway, I decided that today was finally the day to write about our sports festival!

Day 147 of Living in Korea-General updates

Wow, it's been a long long LONG time since I blogged...I really need to do better about keeping this updated. I do have a good excuse though-I've been really busy!! I have a Korean class once a week, I meet one-on-one with a Korean teacher once and a week, and the rest of my time is filled out by hanging out with friends or seeing the sights of Seoul. Or going to Costco...but it's always for a good reason!