Sure, Why Not?

Andrea and I are a lot alike in our desire to become like Rick Steves.  If you don't know who he is then you probably don't want to be like him.  A lucky man, Rick has the best job in the world - travel through Europe and tell people about it.  Not to mention it's a paying position.  Andrea has been my "travel daydream friend" since planning our college trip to Europe.  Our solution to most problems life throws at us is to plan a trip somewhere.  In our dreams we've traveled all around the world... twice.  This time was no different.  

"Hey Andrea, want to quit your job and go somewhere with me?"  -me

"Sure!"  -Andrea

Perfect.

After days of planning our escape to "a Spanish-speaking country," I brought up the idea of South Korea.  Intrigued by the possibility, we decided to add it to the maybe list.  Praying through the list was definitely a good idea and as we soon saw - God works very quickly.  Two days after attending the university seminar, where I initially learned about the Korean opportunities, I was eating lunch in the teacher's lounge and talking with a co-worker.  "Blah, blah, blah... I don't know what to do with my life...blah, blah... South Korea."  Turns out, this teacher was stationed in South Korea for the military a few years back where he met his now wife who was teaching English outside of Seoul.  Korea soon jumped off the maybe list and floated right to the top of the next phase of my life list.  By Friday of that week, we were mentally packing our bags.  

Searching for a job in Korea is an interesting endeavor.  With so much opportunity right now (thanks to President Lee Myung-bak) schools are popping up all over the country.  There are a few routes one can take when applying for a position, but because this is not a how-to article I won't be getting into all that.  Andrea and I decided to go with an agency who could provide us with the most support during the process and ensure a reputable school.  Not all schools are created equal and we wanted to avoid blindly accepting a job with one on the Hagwon blacklist. A Hagwon is an English language school and a blacklist is not something you want to be on.

Following the advice of wise people everywhere, we decided not to put all of our eggs into one basket.  We sent out resumes and applications to three agencies and sent a prayer hoping for the best.  By the next day, we had received our first job detail.  

In the meantime, I met the teacher from school and his wife at a Korean restaurant here in Austin for some authentic Korean gossip.  I had tons of questions fluttering through my brain and nerves tying up my stomach.  I wasn't nervous about the company, but about the food.  I'm not too much of a picky eater anymore since eating three meals a day on a college campus for four years, but I have seen National Geographic.  I wasn't sure what to expect besides rice. Turns out, my first Korean food experience was delicious.  Dolsot bi bim bap.  A dolsot is a hot stone pot and bi bim bap is a mixture of white rice, vegetables, and beef or chicken.  The dish is topped with a fried or partially cooked egg which is then stirred in with the rest of the food. The dolsot continues the cooking process so salmonella conscious people need not panic.  Just like the food, the stories my friends told were flavorful.  

Hooker Hill.  The demilitarized zone.  Complete meals that are cheaper than a bottle of beer.  4 seasons (living in Texas doesn't allow for more than 2 - hot and less hot).  Natural hot springs turned baths.  A U.S. military base with thousands of other English speakers.  Lack of personal space.  Tiny apartments with bathroom configurations that would've cost any American designer his/her job.  A metropolitan population of 23 million.  Private karaoke rooms.    

Be careful what you ask for - in my case an adventure - you just might get it! 

Because I'm not destined for the real world

What should I do with my life?  

This question pops up every year and intensifies around May when whatever 1 year program I am in is ending.  First came college, which was actually 4 years, grinding to an abrupt halt in 2005.  I had a bachelors degree in interior design (something that I wasn't ready to pursue) so I thought to myself, "what should I do with my life?"  In an effort to avoid looking for the answer, I traveled. Seven countries, three weeks, and one backpack.  I was hooked....but then broke so I had to return home.

Joining AmeriCorps in St. Louis was a crazy idea that I came to after endless internet surfing.  I still do not remember how or where I came across it, but 1 year later I was leaving Turner Middle School in North St. Louis City for the last time.  I said good-bye to the 6th graders I had come to love so much and see you later to a culture I had become a part of.  My next adventure awaited me in Austin, Texas.

AmeriCorps part 2 was an entirely different experience with only a similar name. Kindergartners were my newest love and an old familiar culture was now intertwined with a new one.  I was semi-immersed in the Spanish language every day and loved it.  If only I remembered more from high school.   

Once again the year ended and I had maxed out my allowed AmeriCorps service time.  Can you believe they cap the number of years you are allowed to volunteer?  Now, what should I do with my life?  Move to Costa Rica, I thought.  Never happened.  I really wanted it to, but the position of a substitute teacher sounded much more... convenient.    

All I'm going to say about substitute teaching is that I survived.  Only one death threat.

Here I am again at the end of another school year - it's true that time moves faster the older you get.  Taking it one year at a time is a nice way to remain commitment-free.  The only draw back is that you have to continuously re-examine your job options.  I've updated my resume about 57 times.  The Costa Rica idea re-entered my mind some time around January and then mid-April I became increasingly serious about Mexico. Then there was Spain and possibly somewhere in South America.  (I really wanted to understand the kids at school when they transitioned between Spanish and English all the while smirking in my direction).  Pouring over information online, in books, and by word of mouth led me to a teaching abroad seminar at a local university.  

The seminar teacher was everything I aspire to be.  She has made traveling into a career and bypassed the 9-5 work day with sunrises in Thailand and sunsets in Africa.  I drooled over every story she fed me and listened intently to the picture she painted of each country.  My focus was on Spain or Mexico until she mentioned South Korea.  Of course- why hadn't I thought of that? Truth be told, I hadn't considered South Korea and probably never would have had I not attended the seminar.  

"23,000 English speakers are needed in South Korea between now and 2010. Cost of living is considerably less than in Japan while salaries are higher than China.  Safe and modern.  New experiences.  Exciting opportunities."  

Let me think about that and talk it over with Andrea...