Here I Go!

This is it! In a few short hours my family is leaving for Chicago, and in just a few more I’ll be on a direct flight for South Korea! Almost exactly eight months ago I signed up for an online TEFL course, and at each step along the way it was still hard to believe that I was really going to do this until I actually had a plane ticket with my name and tomorrow’s date on it. Between working several times a week and preparing for this move, the summer has really flown by…and I still can’t believe that I’m actually going to do this.

I’ve been learning to read and write the Korean alphabet, Hangul, with the help of this website: http://www.learnlangs.com/RWP/Korean/index.htm I still don’t know how to speak any of the language, but now at least I’ll be able to read menus and signs in the streets or subway stations. The alphabet was surprisingly easy to learn – the characters are very logical and everything is arranged by syllable, so it’s easy to sound out and pronounce words. Not to mention that Hangul actually is an alphabet, with only 20-something characters, rather than thousands like with the Chinese or Japanese scripts! We have two or three survival-Korean classes at orientation, and one I’m settled in Daegu I’d like to sign up for more – or maybe I can find someone who’s willing to exchange English lessons for Korean!

The whole last week, when I wasn’t working, was dedicated to packing and re-packing my two suitcases and carry-on, over and over. I’m pretty sure that I’ll have to pay airline fees for breaking both weight and size limits on both suitcases, but with only two of them to last a whole year I didn’t have much choice. I have to have one suitcase packed for our nine-day orientation, and then the rest of our luggage will be stowed away until all of use EPIK GETs (Guest English Teachers) are bused away to our various locations. I think this is because we’ll be staying in dorms for the orientation, so space will be limited. I’m pretty satisfied with how much I was able to cram into my two suitcases; I didn’t have to sacrifice too much. I would take more books if I could, and more knick-knacks or decorations for my apartment, but I’m sure I can find everything I could need or want in Daegu. I also couldn’t fit my heavy winter coat in, but I’ve heard that Korean winters are somewhat milder, so I’m counting on all the layers I’ve packed and my thick Wisconsin skin!

I’m really anxious to have all the airport/airplane stuff over with, and I’ll try to update as soon as possible after I arrive. Next time any of you hear from me I’ll be in another hemisphere! Don’t be afraid to contact me through Facebook or email, it might take me a little bit but I will get back to you!