First Thoughts

Whenever I have something on my mind, I seem to see it everywhere - signs, book titles, quotes, you name it.

On my mind for the past few weeks has been teaching English in South Korea. Not only would it be a wonderful experience of travel and adventure that I've never experienced before in my life, but as a writer I could document the entire process. I would learn more about myself than ever. And I would have a more appreciation for cultures different from my own.

I went to the bookstore today and browsed the self-improvement section hoping to find something on happiness, travel and experiencing new things. I didn't say in that section long because it was right next to the Starbucks cafe and I didn't want to hear this guy tell his friend who, apparently WAS just born yesterday, all about his worldly views. But a few titles did catch my eye: I saw something like "Teaching to Happiness", "Lessons in Teaching" and "Happiness: Found Anywhere." It's not that I'm not happy, but that I could also be happy teaching and exploring a foreign country.

What I haven't found yet, though, is a book on first time travelers traveling to a country for an entire year. I've never been anywhere. I was born and raised in the town I currently live in, went to college less than an hour away, I've never been any farther north than Washington DC, never been any farther west than Pensacola, and never been any farther east than Daytona Beach. Unless you count those two 3-day cruises on the Disney boat when I was 7 and 8, which went to Nassau and Disney's own island. Aside from that, I've wanted to go places, but I've either never had the money or the time. And I've never had both at the same time. But teaching in South Korea would allow me the opportunity for both. I would leave the states with a job already lined up where I would get $1,500-$2,100 USD/month. I would be given an apartment to live in rent-free (roughly 500 sq ft for a single person), where all I'd have to pay is the monthly utilities. That salary would give me money to send back home every month for my car payment, storage unit and credit card bills, and still keep $800-$1300 in my pocket every month to save and spend in South Korea as I wish.

Still thinking about it, I wonder what another person would do with this opportunity knocking at their door? There is always the chance that I will apply and not be chosen, but what if I am? I will need to be prepared to go. And that eliminates the desire to apply blindly "just to see."

Also, contrary to what some people here may think, I wouldn't be doing it to 'run away.' I don't have anything to run away from. I'm single, and although I would terribly miss the very few real friends that I have here, I would make new friends and have new experiences. Apparently South Koreans are some of the nicest people on the planet. And I may never, ever again have a chance to experience something like this. Although, I may love it so much that I may choose to spend the rest of my life traveling, or the next few years teaching in Korea, writing about my experiences and living my life as a foreigner.

It is definitely something to think about, and every time I have a bad day at work, I think about it even harder. The fact that it is Sunday night, I've had a calm weekend and a great western dinner (slow cooked pork with potatoes and a Caesar salad) may say something in itself.

Good night 잘 자 (Jal ja)