So- I forgot to post yesterday that my flight had been changed to Friday morning. Relief! I have been sluggishly packing- I can't tell you how difficult it is to get your life in 2 suitcases. I know that I can get anything I need there- but there is some comfort I derive in feeling prepared. It may come down to winter wardrobe only with summer to arrive later. Anyway- just wanted to update everyone that I am still in Charlotte until takeoff at 7:40 am Friday. (36 hours from now!!) I fly through Chicago which is notorious in my past experience for airline screw-ups. I am sure that God is going before me to prepare everything. Including the runways! Later-
m
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Final Countdown
I want to start by saying I was overwhelmed by the support and love shown to me at my Bon Voyage party by my friends. I had about 35 people show up and it just felt amazing to be wrapped in that love. I haven't read the messages written to me in the book yet- I am saving that for the plane or when I am a little less emotional!
Well- I thought I was leaving at the end of this week- but it now appears that I will be flying out Wednesday morning. YIKES! That gives me tomorrow to sell my car and pack! Fortunately, my visa came back from Atlanta today- so I at least have all of the paperwork I need. I called Sunday to make my flight arrangements and was disappointed to learn that I couldn't get from Charlotte to Seoul on Thursday or Friday because they were sold out! Weird right? Anyway- I booked Wednesday and if my employer pays for the ticket tomorrow- I am set to go.
Mom, Dad, Mark, Melanie, Julie, Austin and Lenox took me out tonight for my birthday (March 16) to my favorite restaurant (Outback). I recorded them singing Happy Birthday to me with my camera so that I will have it to play on my actual birthday. Sweet.
I have been researching online the things I need to pack and it is somewhat overwhelming. The comment I have read over and over is to bring a year's supply of deodorant as it is impossible to find over there. Strange. I am a notorious over packer- so 2- 50 lb. suitcases are going to be tough for me. A year's worth of clothes, sheets, towels, shoes, drugs, etc. I am dreading tomorrow. Mom did buy me some "space bags" so I am not worried about space so much as I am weight.
As soon as I have an address, I will post it here as well as requests for things I may need sent over. I have already have lots of offers of care packages and I fully intend to take advantage of the offer of kindness!!
So- I am emotionally fried today with the sadness and excitement and nervousness. Can't wait to actually get there and have some of my questions answered. The next time I blog- it will be from South Korea. Crazy. I will have my laptop- but have no idea what sort of connectivity I will have to begin with. May be at least a week. I am sure I will have PLENTY to write then. Thanks for the prayers- please keep my family in your prayers also.
Well- I thought I was leaving at the end of this week- but it now appears that I will be flying out Wednesday morning. YIKES! That gives me tomorrow to sell my car and pack! Fortunately, my visa came back from Atlanta today- so I at least have all of the paperwork I need. I called Sunday to make my flight arrangements and was disappointed to learn that I couldn't get from Charlotte to Seoul on Thursday or Friday because they were sold out! Weird right? Anyway- I booked Wednesday and if my employer pays for the ticket tomorrow- I am set to go.
Mom, Dad, Mark, Melanie, Julie, Austin and Lenox took me out tonight for my birthday (March 16) to my favorite restaurant (Outback). I recorded them singing Happy Birthday to me with my camera so that I will have it to play on my actual birthday. Sweet.
I have been researching online the things I need to pack and it is somewhat overwhelming. The comment I have read over and over is to bring a year's supply of deodorant as it is impossible to find over there. Strange. I am a notorious over packer- so 2- 50 lb. suitcases are going to be tough for me. A year's worth of clothes, sheets, towels, shoes, drugs, etc. I am dreading tomorrow. Mom did buy me some "space bags" so I am not worried about space so much as I am weight.
As soon as I have an address, I will post it here as well as requests for things I may need sent over. I have already have lots of offers of care packages and I fully intend to take advantage of the offer of kindness!!
So- I am emotionally fried today with the sadness and excitement and nervousness. Can't wait to actually get there and have some of my questions answered. The next time I blog- it will be from South Korea. Crazy. I will have my laptop- but have no idea what sort of connectivity I will have to begin with. May be at least a week. I am sure I will have PLENTY to write then. Thanks for the prayers- please keep my family in your prayers also.
Monday, February 11, 2008
How did I get here?
So a lot of you have asked how all of this came about. I know that Korea seems really out of the blue...it really kind of is. I had contacted this recruiting company back in October just to get some information. The company I am working with is http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/ and truth be told, I chose South Korea of the 4 countries they offered because they had the best pay rate. After things hadn't panned out for a job here in Charlotte after the holiday, I contacted them again to set up an interview. I spoke with them on Friday, January 18th. From there, I was immediately scheduled a phone interview with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. I spoke with them on Thursday, January 31 and had a contract offer the next day. The process moved very quickly as the school year in Korea is March to March. So- I really had to expidite my decision/documents to meet their deadlines.
To answer the question I get most frequently- no I do not have teaching experience. It is not required for this position. What normally happens is that I willbe "team teaching" with a Korean teacher. They will teach the grammar and I will teach the usability. I do have some adult learning experience through my training and development jobs, which will help, but I will be working with elementary school kids. So far what I know is I will be teaching at an "education center" that will be set up to recreate conversational situations. (i.e., airport, store, etc.) There will be 15 English-speaking teachers assigned to work there, so I will not be alone. (phew!) The housing is provided, but I am expecting it to be dorm-style shared living space. We will see....
They should be receiving my documents today, so I will be on my way with the visa application and will proceed with my flight arrangements. They way it looks now is, I will be lieaving Charlotte on 2/28 in the am to arrive 2/29 in the pm. It is a 17-hour flight- so that may be interesting. If you have any advice on flights that long....please post a comment. Or- any travel advice in general is good.
Thanks for checking in and I will post again in a few days.
molly g
To answer the question I get most frequently- no I do not have teaching experience. It is not required for this position. What normally happens is that I willbe "team teaching" with a Korean teacher. They will teach the grammar and I will teach the usability. I do have some adult learning experience through my training and development jobs, which will help, but I will be working with elementary school kids. So far what I know is I will be teaching at an "education center" that will be set up to recreate conversational situations. (i.e., airport, store, etc.) There will be 15 English-speaking teachers assigned to work there, so I will not be alone. (phew!) The housing is provided, but I am expecting it to be dorm-style shared living space. We will see....
They should be receiving my documents today, so I will be on my way with the visa application and will proceed with my flight arrangements. They way it looks now is, I will be lieaving Charlotte on 2/28 in the am to arrive 2/29 in the pm. It is a 17-hour flight- so that may be interesting. If you have any advice on flights that long....please post a comment. Or- any travel advice in general is good.
Thanks for checking in and I will post again in a few days.
molly g
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Scrambling already...
I have spent the day scrambling to get documents together to send to Korea by Monday. Thank goodness I live so close to my university! Between my transcript and my background check and my passport, etc. I think they may end up knowing a lot about me in Korea. Still hasn't hit me yet that I am going. Will post when I have flight information.
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