On August 23, I will leave my family, friends and city I love for at least one year. I will exchange the comforting familiarity of the Atlanta skyline for the unknown world of Daegu, South Korea. Instead of the cultural melting pot that is Atlanta, I’m going to a place where I will more than likely be stared for sticking out because I’m perhaps a good 8-10 inches taller than most people.
I am I out of my mind?
I’ve asked myself that question a few times now. I could tell you my answer, but it wouldn’t matter as it’s different for each person. Still, it’s fun to think about as I sit here and contemplate how I got here.
The road to Korea starts with the loss of my job back in June. For about 8 months I was the assistant manager for a label brand store in downtown Atlanta. I can’t say I loved the job, but it got the bills paid and it wasn’t hard. Still, I wasn’t happy with the job in the first place and had I listened to my heart I could have avoided the messy situation of me getting called into an office and being released.
Frustrated with a bad situation and upset with the direction things were going, I looked for a change. I took stock of my life and realized I didn’t want to work retail again. I looked into trying to get certified for a teaching position but that would be at least a year away. So what’s a guy to do while he waits on life to hit him? Well, I started to finally put in some time getting healthier and exercising. But I also started looking for life. I had recently turned 29 and knew I wasn’t living up to my potential. Hell, I wasn’t even trying.
So it was during my job search that I noticed a few recruitment sites were actively looking for ESL teachers. I had a friend who was currently working in Seoul doing the very same job and truth be told, I was envious of her experience. I had gotten a taste of living abroad back in college when I worked in England for 6 months and I never got it out of my system. I always wanted another chance to leave. For whatever reason, I applied to see to one of the recruiting companies, Aclipse . All they required was that applicants have at least a BA degree and preferred English ones. That fit me perfectly, but I didn’t honestly believe I would here back.
Imagine my surprise when I got a questionnaire back. I filled it out and I was sent an info packet via email. I went over the info and it seemed on the up and up so I continued down the road. Things snowballed after that; I did a phone screening with the recruiting company then they recommended me to a school district in South Korea. I send in the paperwork and application (many adventures with that I might add) and before I knew it, I was having a phone interview at 8 p.m. with a women speaking solid but broken English.
It was around this point that I realized this whole “Korea thing” might happen.
After the phone interview, I awaited word if they wanted me. Low and behold, I received official word that I was hired providing I finished the final set of paperwork. I was shocked, elated, scared and amazed all at the same time.
I worked on the last paperwork packet and started doing research on the country I might end up in. I started telling my family where I was going to end up.
And so it’s now Aug. 14 and I am no waiting for my work visa. If it arrives, then there is nothing stopping me. Nothing will be left for me to do but to pack my bags and prepare to go. I will be on a plane for roughly 15 hours heading to a new place to work as a teacher; something I have NEVER done.
Am I nervous? Hell yes
Scared? Eh, sort of.
Happy? Without a doubt.
This is my turning point, at least that’s how I see it. This is literally my last dance before everything completely changes. When my contract is over, I’ll be 30 years old. I’ll be looking to start actually looking for an opportunity to have a career and start a family. Settling down will seem to be a possibility. It’s time to better myself and become good person. I believe this journey is my bridge to the next phase of my life. I don’t know what waits for me on the other side of this year, but I hope it’s a good thing.
My goal here is to record my thoughts, feelings and other musings as I take myself out of my comfort zone and enter a new place. For me, this is totally new. I don’t Know Korean, I have very little knowledge of life in this country. I have very little in the way of preconceived notions of what to expect. So instead of being shying way, I’m going to embrace it and learn as much as I can. I’m sure there is a lot I will like, but also a like I will not like. I can only see things through my eyes.
I realize others will read this, but in the end, it’s just my thoughts and my feelings on the world around me. I invite you to see things through my eyes and take this journey with me.
Reguardless, Keep your fingers crossed. Things are not completely done yet!
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