Katie's Wandering Seoul

I think that sometimes we all tend to take things for granted.  I know that I have taken so much for granted throughout my life.  People will tend to focus on the negatives of their, lives when really we have so much around us to make us happy.  Sometimes we all just need to take a step back, slow down a little bit, and really appreciate everything that is around us. This past month or so I have really tried to do that.  Yes, I will bitch and complain about things in Korea, and I will tell you that I'm looking forward to leaving at the end of my contract.  BUT I've realized I have just over 3 months left in this country, and that's it.  I don't know if I will ever be back in Korea, so really, I need to make the most of what little time I have left here.   I think after living here for a year and a half we don't realize how beautiful this country really is.  It wasn't until lately that I decided to take in some of the beauty it has to offer....

Since starting the entire process of coming to Korea EPIK and my recruiter have done a pretty good job on helping me to prepare for this adventure.  From getting interviews set up, helping me with all my documents, lesson planning, teaching, and Korean culture they are all things they we were told about.  No, nothing could really prepare any of us for the adventure we were beginning but everyone involved tried really hard to help us along the way. Since coming to Korea I have found my little Korean family.  I have met so many people these past 9 months and I'm thankful that I have found a family in Korea.  We speak on a regular basis, we see each other daily or weekly, we have traveled around Korea together as well as to different countries.  Being away from your family and friends at home is scary and hard, but having this adventure with all these people has been and I'm sure will continue to be an amazing time together is something we all need to cherish a l...

Korea is still going pretty great! We haven't done much other than lectures all day everyday and working on our lesson plans that are due tomorrow, I just wish I could see the city more! We went on a field trip on Friday to Chansaem Farm Village. It really so nice to leave Daejeon and the campus and see a few things. We got to make scarves, the dye we used was all natural material. My Scarf Apparently cell phone charms are a huge deal here so we also got to make our own cell phone charm...not that I even have a phone right now, it was still a lot of fun! Back of my charm Front of my charm They take their cell phone charm making very serious!  We got to watch the process of making tofu, I've got to say I never knew it was such a long process! We have had a lot of cafeteria food since we have been here, I think they are trying to ease us into the change of food. It's been pretty good so far. The day of the field trip was by far the best...

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...