south korea maps

I was talking to my mom yesterday and realized that yes, many people may not even know where South Korea is exactly (*tisk tisk!*), so I want to give you all a map of South Korea where I will be, as well as a couple photos I found online of beautiful Incheon beaches! Enjoy!

 Korean flag

A Beach at Incheon

View Larger Map

There's me at point A! Incheon is just west of Seoul. It is also where the International Airport is located. 


Speaking of the Incheon International Airport, check out these photos of it below!

But this is what I am reallllllly looking forward to!!!!---->

Check out Incheon's official website here---> Incheon

I can't wait to post some photos of my own! <3 

the perfect thursday night.

If I were to describe the perfect Thursday night, it is my Thursdays with Destiny and Jenn. It is such a time of renewal, rewinding, and refreshment. I will always cherish our Thursday dinners trying out our cooking skills at something new and catching up on Law and Order! ^-' I can't quite put into words the simplicity and beauty of a time spent together with friends with no reserves or expectations except just sharing life together. And truthfully, this is so peaceful and has such richness because it is how God created us to be! From the beginning, He created us to be in communion with Himself and with one another. We were not given spiritual gifts for our own benefit but for the benefit of others. Isn't He so creative like that? 

                                                        Yummy Samgyupsal! ^^

I feel I need to pause a moment and share with you all an excerpt from a daily devotional I read. It has really touched my heart, and I want to meditate on this for awhile. There is so much truth in this--did you know???--You are wonderfully and fearfully made, designed and cherished by the Creator who knows every part of your innermost being. 

ON MOZART AND MARTHA STEWART

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

"Somehow," notes Os Guinness, "we human beings are never happier than when we are expressing the deepest gifts that are truly us." Now, some children are gifted toward science, and others are born athletes. But whatever their specialty, all children are inherently creative. Give them a barrel of Legos and a free afternoon and my boys will produce an endless variety of spaceships and fortresses and who knows what. It comes naturally to children; it's in their nature, their design as little image bearers. A pack of boys let loose in a wood soon becomes a major Civil War reenactment. A chorus of girls, upon discovering a trunk of skirts and dresses, will burst into the Nutcracker Suite. The right opportunity reveals the creative nature.

This is precisely what happens when God shares with mankind his own artistic capacity and then sets us down in a paradise of unlimited potential. It is an act of creative invitation, like providing Monet with a studio for the summer, stocked full of brushes and oils and empty canvases. Or like setting Martha Stewart loose in a gourmet kitchen on a snowy winter weekend, just before the holidays. You needn't provide instructions or motivation; all you have to do is release them to be who they are, and remarkable things will result. As the poet Hopkins wrote, "What I do is me: for that I came."

Oh, how we long for this-for a great endeavor that draws upon our every faculty, a great "life's work" that we could throw ourselves into. "God has created us and our gifts for a place of his choosing," says Guinness, "and we will only be ourselves when we are finally there." Our creative nature is essential to who we are as human beings-as image bearers-and it brings us great joy to live it out with freedom and skill. Even if it's a simple act like working on your photo albums or puttering in the garden-these, too, are how we have a taste of what was meant to rule over a small part of God's great kingdom. 




Read and be blessed.. <3 

time for a new look

Ok, so for those of you who know me well, I am always changing my hair. I get bored too easily! So anyway, long story short, after a really bad experience at a salon last summer where they basically fried my hair, I have been slowly working toward getting it back to normal again. Lots of conditioner and TLC for sure! lol Anyways, I keep having to cut it to keep it healthy, and I really just want to grow it out long again. Buuuuut, I finally decided today that I was tired of the dead ends and would just cut it off in order to really give it a fresh, new start. I love my friends at Attractives! (For those if you in the Springfield area, it's off Battlefield and National in front of the bowling alley.) They ALWAYS do such a MARVELOUS job--I ALWAYS leave happy....and I am very picky. I don't think I can say that except for two other people who have done my hair in my entire life (all the rest--you're oUT!) Anyway, this is the result: 

See you in Incheon!

That is right, guys! I found out yesterday that I passed the EPIK interview and will be teaching in Incheon this August! I am so excited, I was (and still am!) jumping up and down and (since I found out while at work) was trying to stifle my squeals of joy! I sent off all my documents yesterday via FedEx. I was a little nervous (as I have been every time I have sent off my different documents in the mail to be apostilled or to FBI checked). After all the work in getting the documents (especially those two months while waiting to get my FBI criminal check back), I could not bare them to get lost in the mail. I know, I know, there is a tracking number (thank goodness) but that still does nothing if it gets lost! I opted for it to arrive in Seoul this Thursday, and we will see if it arrives on time. Like I said, I was a little nervous--the lady who helped me did not seem like she knew exactly what to do for it, and I hope she had me fill in everything that was necessary. I guess I just have to wait and see. 


Oh, I am so excited!!! It is finally official! Now I can REALLY start preparing--like getting rid of things/selling things. I feel this travel will really be liberating from material things. I have to fit everything into two suitcases (including all the gifts I want to bring!). If I don't need the rest of the stuff for a whole year, do I really need it in the first place? I'll see. Some things I will keep that are keepsakes or books that I will keep for later. As for the rest???---G2G GOT TO GO!! :D I love getting rid of things (haha, yes, not really something most people would say), but if I'm in a mood or bored, it always makes me feel better. :)


It was so perfect too, to receive the news yesterday, because we had been planning since last week's dinner to have a "Thanksgiving" dinner for our weekly Monday dinner gathering (because I had a coupon for a free Butterball Turkey). God had this planned for us all along--He knew we really WOULD be giving THANKs! ^ ^

fingers crossed

And now, after having the interview Tuesday night, I am anxiously awaiting the response. I should find out by Monday at the latest. ...and yet, as I was stopping to read a fellow expat's blog, God gave me a little reminder in this verse he had on his blog, so I want to include it here. Thanks, God, for that little reminder just for me tonight.

EPIK interview tomorrow!

Hello all! It has regretfully been a week since my last post. Since that time, so much has happened! I found out last week that my EPIK interview was scheduled for May 18th 1:40pm KRT...which means 11:40 pm here in the Midwest! For those of you who know me, I have sort of turned into a granny since graduation last year. I go to bed early (like 10?). So, having to stay awake, alert, and looking half-way conscience is going to take some serious tea drinking (haha, no coffee because I will be WAY too alert and may talk to fast...as if I already don't get excited and do that!). Anyways, I am so excited to have this opportunity to talk with EPIK! I can't wait! I bet staying up won't be too much of a problem if I will be so excited for it. It's like the night before a big trip--who can sleep even though you need it the most?? There is just too much to look forward to the next day!


For those of you who are looking to teach with EPIK, here are some possible interview questions I have prepared before-hand:


 -         Why are you interested in teaching? -         There are several other countries that offer this type of program, why are you interested in Korea? -         What are your short term and long term goals? -         What do you know about Korean culture? -         What is your biggest strength? -         Why did you choose your major? -         What do you think the biggest obstacle will be for you when you come to Korea? -         If you have a student that is a troublemaker, how will you handle that situation? -         If you have a student or group of students that you see are not interested in learning English, what will you do? -         You will have a co-teacher in the classroom with you; if your co-teacher does not allow you the opportunity to teach the way you want and only asks you to repeat certain words, how will you handle that situation? -         Describe your current job responsibilities: -         What is the best skill you think a teacher should have? -         Have you had any experience traveling or living abroad?


 I will continue with more about my past weekend and EPIK, but I am short on time, so I'll have to run for now!

speaking of music...

While I am on the topic of latin music, let me tune into another great band. For all of you who have no idea what KPop is, I will stop and hold a moment of silence for you because you are missing out. For today, let me introduce you to one of my favorite (ok, current TOP favorite band) KPop artists, Beast (prev. known as B2ST). I could listen to them everyday and be one happy girl. :) And I'm telling you, if there is a concert while I am there, I WILL be there! Check them out on youtube. Here I've attached some of their videos. 

Beast: Shock M/V

Beast: Beautiful M/V

~~More videos to come. I'll introduce you all to some more artists later, but seriously, I just can't get enough of them! (Oh, or Lee Gi Kwang...사 랑 해 <3)

i love latin dancing.

Ok, so it has been awhile since my last post, but I have been busy and not really had too much about EPIK going on lately. The last thing I have heard was how last week I had to redo my entire application because the tables apparently did not transfer well from my macbook to .doc (although that is the form I saved it under). I spent one of my lunch breaks last week redoing the whole thing, and they resubmitted it again last Tuesday. I talked with Jane this weekend to see what news there was, and she said that EPIK was conducting interviews from the previously submitted applications, so I would be in the next round. I sure hope this doesn't lessen my chances (since I was waiting on the GEPIK position), but either way, I am looking forward to the interview, which should be in about a week or so, as far as I know. I can't wait to bless those children! ^^


And so, in light of Cinco de Mayo and Latin dancing Fridays at Rincon Latino, I am putting some pictures up here of one of the loves of my life: Latin dancing. <3 I am so glad to know that there will be Latin dancing in SoKO!! Although, looking at some of the videos from KISS and on youtube, I'm a bit intimidated! I haven't done ballroom style salsa dancing in awhile! I've been more along social salsa/latin, so I'd better dust off my ballroom shoes and get used to 'em again before heading over! >.< Anyone in SoKO that likes Latin Dancing? Let's meet up when I'm over there and get out on the dance floor!


Here are some photos (more photos to come) from Cinco de Mayo at the Powerhouse in Fayetteville with my dear friends in Neta Band providing the amazing tunes! I am going to miss you guys so much! International tour, anyone???? ;)

         (Cinco de Mayo @ Powerhouse's Party on the Patio--it was packed!)


Here's a great video of theM....check them out! NETA BAND voted NWA's best Latin Band for the NAMA awards! Way to go!!


NETA BAND plays La Rebelion 

onto EPIK...

Well, friends....unfortunately I did not get the position in Hanam-si with GEPIK. The teacher really wanted me, but unfortunately, the principal declined due to my lack of teaching experience. I could be sad about it, and it would be a lie if I said I was not a little disappointed when I read the email, but then I had to stop and say a little prayer of gratitude. Thank you, Lord, that you are in control of everything! Thank you that you would not allow me to be anywhere but where YOU WANT me to be! Thank you that I did not get into a school where I would not be the MOST beneficial. God, I am so excited that you have given me this heart for Korea, and I am so thankful that you already have a group of wonderful children being prepared for me. I can't wait to see all their smiling faces and be able to help them learn English in a fun and innovative way! I look forward to teaching in a classroom where the students can feel open and in a safe place to make mistakes and learn. God, you are just so good that you care about every single detail of my life. Who can say they have a "god" like that? 


Thank you, God, for a great recruiter! With so many organizations out there, I have to say I got one of the best! My goodness, when I found out about Dave's ESL Cafe and looked at the job board, I felt like I was reading through a Craigslist for Teaching in Korea lol. I'm not hating on Dave's ESL, so please don't get that idea. It has a lot of great resources. I'm simply praising how great my recruiters and teaching reps (TRs) have been. I would not have liked to try this on my own. They have helped me and been with me every step of the way. Gamsahamnida! (Thank you in Korean) Even today when I woke up and got the email about GEPIK, when I talked to Scott Jung (my TR in Korea), he was so encouraging and kind about it all and went over every line of the EPIK application (all 13 pages of 12pt font) to make sure there were no mistakes and that everything would be perfect for it. I couldn't get a picture to be placed in the right box due to the conversion differences on my MacBook, and he said if I sent him a picture, he would do it for me. What a great TR I have! I don't know about other recruiting organizations, but as for mine, they have been so personal, ALWAYS get back to your emails within a day (or sometimes less), and are so kind and generous. If anyone is looking to teach English in South Korea, this organization comes recommended with my highest regards! Check them out here at Teach ESL Korea! Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. 


~~"¹¹ 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,' declares the LORD" Jeremiah 29:11-14~~