Katie's Wandering Seoul

Orphanage fundraiser MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Well Christmas came and went pretty quickly here in Korea.  It's not quite like at home, and it didn't really feel much like Christmas until Christmas day.  Korea isn't a place that really has a lot of Christmas decorations, trees, or lights.  In fact only about 1/3 of my students actually celebrated Christmas, and even the ones that did did not celebrate quite like we do back home.   Singing Christmas songs Snowball fights I tried to bring the Christmas feeling into the classroom as much as I could.  I had Christmas lessons, sang Christmas songs, and made snowflakes to hang in the room.  The students did seem to enjoy talking about Christmas and how it is different here in Korea.   Presents! This Christmas was my first Christmas away from my family, and it was a bit strange and sad.  I'm used to being around my family all day long and cooking and eating and playing with my ...

As I wrote in my last post Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Although, it was a depressing time because it is my favorite holiday, I still had a good Thanksgiving. It was nothing like any other Thanksgiving I have ever had before.  There was no big family meal, no little kids running around me, and no turkey.  I did however spend Thanksgiving and the entire weekend with some really great friends, which is what the holiday season is all about really.  Spending time with your friends and family, and here in Korea my friends have become my family. I also got to Skype with my family at home, so I got a little bit of the things that are the most important. Now it is the Christmas season and I'm very excited for it.  I do think that I will be a little depressed being away from the family, but we are already planning our Christmas day.  Many Koreans have Christmas yes, however it is not as big of a holiday here as it is at home.  I will only get Christm...

Well...the contract arrived in the mail last week, my flight was booked on Tuesday, and my application was sent out for my Visa on Wednesday.  Guess this adventure really is going to happen.  Although I'm really excited and I think it is going to be an experience of a life time, I'm really starting to freak out now.  Hearing that I got offered a position was exciting but, I don't think I realized that it was actually happening, that I would actually be moving to the other side of the world in February.  I am having all kinds of different feelings, and I'm starting to stress out a little bit.  I know I will be fine and I will enjoy my time in Korea however, it is still very scary!   Now the stress is...how am I going to pack all my stuff to go there?  How do you pack a years worth of stuff in basically 2 bags?  What if I miss my connecting flight (since I don't have very much time between any of my flights)? Is my Visa going to make it ba...