And Off I Go Again

So, I had orginally planned to write something when I got back from Chile... But, as you may have noticed, I never got around to it. This is due in part to being busy trying to figure everything out for the next step in my adventures, but was mostly due to me being too lazy to actually get around to it. It's been a couple months now since I got back so I will start this blog off with a breif recap of what's been going on.

After 25 hours of travel I got back to the US on December 10th. When I left Valdivia it was about 85 degrees outside. When I landed in Seattle a day later it was 15 degrees. My system experienced a bit of a shock to say the least. That combined with being stuck on an airplane for a number of hours combined nicely and made me sick for the first four days I was home. Despite the weather, though, I did find a few moments enjoyment in my first warm/hot shower in over a month. The next weeks were filled with visiting family and friends, celebrating the holidays an catching up on all the football I'd been missing so much. Spent a lot of time in Vancouver, WA and Portland, as well as some time in Bellingham. I also spent a lot of time reflecting on my time in Chile. The conclusions I came to are as follows:

Things I loved and miss about Chile
1. The incredible people
2. The amazing scenery
3. The food!!! Especially fresh empanadas mariscos
4. Speaking Spanish
5. Being in the classroom

Why I'm happy to be back
1. Friends and Family
2. HOT SHOWERS
3. Reliable and accessible Internet
4. Driving
5. Being able to speak without thinking or making mistakes
6. Football (even though the season is over now)

All in all I am very greatfull for the time I had in Chile. And, if I ever get the opportunity I will go back in a heartbeat. But now it's time for me to go off on my next adventure.

I spent the first few days resting and relaxing and then got started trying to find a job. Fortunately for me I was able to get connected with a recruiting company based out of Vancouver, BC called Footprints. Their job is to act as the go between for people wanting to teach abroad and the people hiring them. After interviewing with the company I was told that there wer several openings in Ulsan, South Korea. Provided they accepted my application I would be working in an after school program. So I sent my application to them as fast I could. A week later I heard back that I was accepted. Thus started my attempt to get all of my documentation put together. Criminal background check and a copy of my college degree, both notarized and Apostilled; TESOL certification; application; passport; passport pictures; official college transcripts; letters of recomendation; copy of the contract... etc. Took me about a month to put everything together and then send it to South Korea. Fortunately they got everything, and sent me back a Notice of Appointment. This allowed me to apply for an E-2 work visa at the South Korean consulate in Seattle. Last week I got my visa. This week I am buying my plane tickets. Next week I'm off to South Korea to start my new job.

For the second time in five months I will be flying into a new country, in a part of the world I have never been to, with no idea where to go, no idea where I'm staying or living, all alone. I am extremely excited. I don't know much about Korea... or anything really. I don't know where I'll end up. I don't know what the next step will be. All I know is that I signed a year long contract to teach english. I wanted to teach and I wanted to see the world. This is my chance and I am going to embrace it. The next blog I write will be in a couple of weeks. This time I'll b writing from Ulsan, South Korea.

Chao