Yay for my new shiny passport...

So after only about 2 weeks I have received my shiny, crisp new passport. Thank goodness for nice postal workers who told me not to bother paying to have it expedited. I also went to the police station today(after fighting with a few random one way streets) and got my background check. I had been told by some that it would take 1-5days to have it completed. I don't know if this was because of possible records people may have had because it only took me about 15minutes to get mine. 15 minutes and $13.00 just to have a NO RECORD stamp on a piece of paper. Craziness. So now I need to go to my State Clerk and get it apostilled. The only problem is that there are massive renovations going on downtown so the office has been moved...somewhere. -sigh- But I will find it.

I finally received my contract and date of departure. I fly out from the U.S. July 14 and training starts July 16. Now that I finally have a date I have a set goal and schedule for myself. I am still considering getting a second part time job if the hours at my current one don't increase.

I have realized that I haven't included too much about the technical procedures and whatnot that I have been having to do so I figured I would include some of those now for anyone who happens across here and is considering teaching in Korea or anywhere else abroad.

My search for teaching English abroad actually began in Japan. I've studied Japanese for 5years so I figured that logically that would be where I would head first. I had planned to study Korean in university but I was tricked and found out when I got here that it wasn't offered. So after two of my friends went to Korea to teach English for CDI I decided I would turn my attentions there after not getting into the JET Program.

Through them I got in touch with a recruiter for CDI and sent my resume and photo. After that I had an initial phone interview and then one with a coordinator for CDI. I suppose they heard something in me that they liked because I was offered employment and got an initial contract stating my hourly pay that I opted for, everything I would be reimbursed for including my flight and apartment deposit and my guaranteed minimum weekly hours. After signing that and emailing it back I received my complete contract complete with stipulations about tardies, dress code and consequences for any violations. I also received a list of what I need to send to them to get the code for my visa:

1) Original University Diploma
2) 2 Sealed transcripts
3) 4 Passport sized photos
4) Copy of my passport
5) Background check with the seal of Apostille

I also have two more forms to print off, sign, scan and email back to the coordinator so I can receive my visa pin. Unfortunately(or maybe fortunately???) the closest Korean Embassy to me is in Atlanta, GA. So whenever I receive that then I will be taking a minor roadtrip to get a cute little stamp in my passport. After that I will begin the massive task of packing my entire life into 2-3 suitcases to be shipped to Korea.

11 days and counting...

I had a great weekend full of relaxing and hilarious quotes by friends. There are so many people I will miss when we graduate and everyone goes their separate ways. Thankfully two of my girl friends are planning to come visit me in Korea. But I will miss our margarita nights. Not to mention the guy friend I met through my boyfriend. I'd have to say senior year of college has been my best year as far as my ENTIRE school career is concerned. I've met so many wonderful new people who have made it a blast.









Only 11 days to go before I am officially a college alum. I have been feeling a bit anxious about it lately. Becoming a "real" adult. So strange. There are so many things I still need to do. The background check continues to elude me but I believe tomorrow will be the day. All I have to do is study for a bit, separate clothing, clean out my desk and get the background check. For the next few days my motto is "REST WHEN YOU DIE!!!"

I am 1/4 finished with the last exams of my undergrad career. THANK GAHD!!! I have my Chinese exam at 3pm today and then my Theater exam tomorrow afternoon. After that my last one for Japanese is next Thursday. I'm so happy to almost be done with everything. Now I just need to begin the packing process in earnest. I'll be moving back in with my mom before I leave for Korea so I can save money. Especially with the hour cuts that just happened at my job. In the next two weeks I'm only getting about 10hrs work time. There is no way that I can manage to pay for everything with so little working hours so I am considering getting a second part time job. I would really rather spend most of my time with my young nieces and nephews and my parents and friends but I might just have to forfeit that to finance everything.

I finally figured out where the nearest precinct to me is so I can finally get my background check done. Is it bad that I had no idea where the police station was?

Headless Chicken...

Getting a background check is proving very difficult. I've been getting the runaround from a few places and unfortunately my state bureau of investigations has a non-existent website. I'll finally know when I'll be sent and have the rest of my contract by the end of next week, classes officially end next Tuesday and I finally get paid tomorrow so I can pay off things and keep the hounds of hell that is my school off my back. I do feel weird though. I feel like I should be so stressed out and yet I'm not. I have a paper due in about 10hours, two more papers due tomorrow and a play to perform next week that isn't even close to being finished and yet I can't find the will to freak out...interesting.

Senioritis is hitting me quite hard. I remember at one point in time I used to get up hours before my class to go to the gym and get all dressed since you never know who you might meet in class. Well of course you knew who was there but maybe someone would wake up a great deal cuter than they were the day before and would find you the most interesting creature in that small stuffy room. That rarely ever happened. But I suppose that is the mentality of many of the girls here. I mean, what is the point in having a full face of makeup at 8am? I doubt many guys are really paying that much attention. They're the ones still half asleep.

I'm so tired now I can barely muster the will to go to class. But I only have about...6 days left of actual classes. I can make it I think. It's not like I really have a choice if I want to graduate. Meh, bump worrying about class, it's time for a nap...

Yay for passports, a tornado and hydroplaning into a ditch...

The past weekend was an eventful one for me. I finally put in the paperwork for my passport. The staff said it should only take about 3weeks to get it back so I'm banking on it taking about a month. But at least the paperwork is in. So now I am on the hunt for a background check. I ordered my transcripts, I'll receive my diploma in a little less than 4weeks(YIKES!) and then I can fedex that mess to Korea.

But the best story is how I almost died trying to turn in my passport paperwork while tornado sirens were blaring. Imagine this: a back country road, an 18-wheeler, limited sight ability and sheets of rain. To make a long story short since I am exhausted and need sleep, I swerved, hydroplaned and slid into a shallow ditch where I sat and waited to be towed out for 20mins. But then the sun came out like someone up there was trying to apologize...all's well that ends well and all that I suppose.

The weekend was a fairly decent one although my boyfriend and I got into an argument over drama that wasn't even my own. I hate arguing and confrontation and such. I am one of the least confrontational people you could ever meet. It doesn't mean that I'm overly submissive. In fact many of my friends call me stubborn as all hell. I just don't see the point in confronting people for every little thing. Though when someone does provoke my temper...I remember the last time it happened...perhaps a few years ago. Not fun but I wasn't in a very good place then either so who knows.

It's getting down to the wire now. 25days until I am officially a university graduate. I can't believe this moment is finally here. It hasn't quite hit me yet that I won't be attending class after that day. Perhaps when I stop having class and begin packing up my dorm it will finally sink in. Because after that I'll only have about a month and a half before i leave the country...WOW!!!

The Blues...

Today is not a good day at all. My roommate came back unfortunately. She and I do not talk what so ever. And I like it that way. I would prefer for her to be leaving but since I have 1 month and 2 days until graduation I figure I can deal with her presence. I spent almost all of my time yesterday with my wonderful boyfriend. I went to work which actually started off amazing. I was in a great mood but then my stomach literally DIED. I have no idea why it happened. I had barely eaten anything that morning. All of a sudden everything I had eaten in the past month decided to make an appearance. So I left after about 2 hours which sucked because I need the damn money. I feel like crap today too. Headache, slight fever, sore throat leftover from throwing up for a good part of yesterday. And the chain to the necklace my boyfriend gave me somehow broke in my damn sleep. So I woke up feeling like crap and that pushed my mood even farther south. I just feel so useless and upset. Perhaps it is just me having misplaced anxiety about graduating in May. Maybe I am just too stressed out about getting all of these forms done and leaving behind everything I have ever known. Maybe I am afraid that leaving the States means the end of a relationship with someone I can see myself with far into my future. Or maybe I just caught a bug that has been going around campus. Perhaps I just need a day off for today...

I want a kitty...

So as usual I have been spending endless amounts of time looking over forums that talk about living and working in Korea. While going through I happened to stumble on a discussion about adopting cats. Just so you know, I LOVE CATS!!! Not having one in college is so annoying. I love hearing that purring noise. I love dogs too. Don't get me wrong. I like just about any animal except for birds. I really like flying squirrels too, but I digress.
So I've been looking at apartments and things, and it seems that many of them claim to allow pets. Now if this is really true or not I'm not sure. But I do plan on hopefully moving in somewhere that allows me to get a small pet. Especially after leaving my boyfriend who I am either with or talk to every day, I can't see myself living completely alone for too long. I never have. I've always either lived with a parent and sisters or one roommate. I don't know what to do with myself when I am alone too long. I wouldn't get a pet as soon as I move of course. After i see what my first paycheck is like in relation to my living expenses then I'll start looking at adopting a pet in need. From the homeless pet situation I have been reading about in Korea it shouldn't be too terribly difficult. I'd love to get kittens and puppies but I think that would be more work than I could honestly give them, so I think I would give a needy cat or small dog a chance at a good home.
The feeling of walking into your home and having your best friend greet you lovingly is a feeling everyone should have everyday. And i intend to.

Misadventures with Forms...

I always knew teaching abroad would mean many forms and frustrations, but even so this is...gah. I guess it is made worse by being in school and working a part time job. Things are compounded by the monetary issue. I already owe my mom money so I don't want to ask her and my dad has yet to email me back as to whether or not he can help me financially. My boyfriend has started saying how I should just ask him but I am my mother's child. I want to be an equal and not dependent on someone. But even so I should accept help graciously when I need to. I think I am getting close to needing to.
I turned in my signed Memorandum of Understanding finally this morning. I am so glad to have finally sent it off. I know my mom is freaking but I believe CDI is one of the better places in Korea I can go to teach English right off the bat. Having two friends who are there also helps the matter. Even if we are at different branches just being nearer than we are now will be great.
So part one of turning in my memorandum is done. I need to put in the paperwork for my passport this Friday. Hopefully I will have the cash to. If not...I can't ask my mom, she doesn't want me to go to Korea as it is. My dad...we'll see. I might have to ask help from anh...
After I get things squared away for my passport I need to get to business paying back enough on my credit. I hate not paying things on time, but I want this job and I know after I get it and begin I can pay things back. I don't tend to live above my means and I want to pay off my student loans before thinking of going back to school for my master's. So many things I want to do. Oh well, best get crackin...