updates~

***DISCLAIMER: THERE IS A BIIIIIIIG RANT COMING, SO BE WARNED!***


WOw. So much has gone on in the last few days. I must say, Friday was one of the most stressful days I have had in a long time. First thing in the morning, I got an email about check-in/check-out times for my dorm at Sogang Univ., and I was told that I had to check in July 8th or July 9th from 9-5pm (although they would stay open til 11pm if I absolutely couldn't get in during those times), and if I absolutely could NOT come during those times, I could check in Sunday after 6pm. I had planned to help at rEVOLution camp the Tuesday (5th)-Thursday (7th) (the camp goes from July 5-8), drive to St. Louis Thursday night, and fly out to Korea Friday afternoon, arriving at Incheon Int'l Airport Sunday around 4am. Ok, so THAT was not going to work. ..So then I was stressing about what flight to take now (thankfully, I had not booked it yet), and whether I could go to camp, etc. On top of that, it was a big, busy day working at the Courthouse. Two things not going for me...THEN....I get an email from my Korean contact for my recruiters which was VERY confusing and vague that I just wasn't understanding. The gist of it was that all the positions were filled for Incheon (the city I was confirmed not once, but TWICE, that I would be teaching in), and if I still wanted to teach in a Metropolitan city, I needed to apply to SMOE (for Seoul) ASAP, OR I could change my application to reflect one of the other provinces (the three left) as my first choices instead. WHAT?!?!?!?!?!! It was re-iterated, again, that EPIK works on a first-come, first-serve basis, and if I don't get any of these, hopefully they will try to place me somewhere else in Korea. Ok, so now ALL this changing? You mean to say that now it's not even definite that I have a TEACHING JOB??? I am about to hop on a plane in TWO weeks to fly half-way across the world, and you're telling me I might not have a teaching position when I get out of language school??? Needless to say, I was a bit STRESSSSSED OUT!


So, of course, I race home after work to fill out the other forms for SMOE and send those, at the same time, frantically emailing my TESLK TR and responding back to that email I received. It didn't even tell me whether IIIII was one of the people that didn't get placed into Incheon or ANYTHING. I forwarded on the documents for SMOE JUST IN CASE I was one who hadn't got the position in Incheon. My contact said that she wasn't sure still whether I was in Incheon but that she would let me know when it was confirmed. Well, first of all, I don't want to wait to apply to SMOE now and it be too late by the time we find out about Incheon, and secondly, didn't you already confirm TWICE that I WAS in Incheon? She suggested, yes, I should go ahead and fill it out for SMOE. Ok, done. But, as I talked with a friend about Incheon, I was reminded of the form I signed allowing for money to be taken from my first few paychecks to pay for the housing deposit in Incheon. Doesn't that mean anything? Also, my friend said it was strange that I didn't know for sure still. Ok, after all this happening, I decided to take things into my own hands because it didn't look like I was getting the answers I should be. ...I decided to email EPIK directly (last night) about my position. Needless to say, when I woke up this morning, I got an email from my contact telling me not to email EPIK (I guess they told her I had emailed them) because they like to just work with the recruiting agencies since there are so many teachers. Ok, that makes sense, buuuuut at least I finally got an answer. In that same email she said, she told me that I was placed in Gyeongbuk, my third choice after Incheon and Busan. She also said that it would be hard to change to Seoul at this point. OK--SO why would you have me spend all that time rushing paperwork together when I didn't have a chance with SMOE anyways??? 


OH AND THE KICKER::::::::: Next sentence in the email reads: "They confirm the area at the point from when they get the docs."


SERIOUSLY????? I have had every single one of my documents since MARCH, including the FBI background check!!! I even ASKED multiple times if I should just go ahead and send the documents before my interview (late May) so they would be there as soon as I got the OK, or if I should wait. Oh, no, no, it will be FINE to wait, they say. AHHHHHH!!!! I just want to scream! 


::::::AND THEN I HAVE TO SIT BACK AND BREATH A SECOND. INHALE. EXHALE. :::::::


OK, even with all this going on and a real irritation currently with my recruiters and how they have handled all this, I have to remember that GOD is the one in control. GOD is. I AM WHO I AM. He is the one who created the universe and the stars and delicately places every petal on the beautiful lilies....so then, why would He NOT take even more care in me? He has known the plans for my life even before I was in the womb, and He CARES for me and for those plans to reach fruition. I may not know why God works the way He works, but what I do know is that He works. I had had everything sort of planned out for teaching and living in Korea, in Incheon...getting all excited at the plans, and so it would be a lie to say I am not disappointed that I did not get into Incheon. I feel like the psalmist as I write this post, lol. I am not going to hide my emotions or thoughts on what is going on--this is real, and for those people reading this, looking into teaching, know that problems CAN happen, but it is so true, the saying::::: 


"The greater part of our happiness depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances."~~Martha Washington


And as the great Ella Fitzgerald says it, "Just don't give up on trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."


Thanks, Ella. I really needed that reminder...I really needed that today. 


The truth is, I am coming here for the KIDS--NOT for myself. Sure, yes, this will be an adventure, but I mean, really? I'm flying half-way across the world to live and teach--how could it NOT be an adventure?....but really, I want to be here for the kids. As I wrote in part of my essay for EPIK, 


"Ultimately, I await the chance to encourage and foster a love and passion for learning in my Korean students. When it comes down to it, I want to teach for the benefit of others. My greatest love is in serving other people. Whether it be cooking a warm meal or extending a favor or teaching others or sharing a passion, my goal is putting others first, serving them, and meeting their needs in all ways. Like the plum blossom sprouting up the first buds of the year, I hope my service and teaching enables these students to have the determination and courage to come to flower above all others. "


I DO have so much to be thankful for, so do not be fooled by my little rant at the beginning of this post. I am SO thankful that I at least KNOW for sure I have been placed and have a teaching position. I am thankful for the opportunity to teach halfway across the world--that Korea is willing to allow foreigners to come in and teach their youth. I am thankful for EPIK for putting all this together and working so hard to place teachers all over South Korea. 


And even though all those roadblocks and momentary irritations occurred, I am thankful that first and foremost, I have a God who cares about me. I am not in control of this; my trust does not lie in TESLK or EPIK--it lies ultimately with God. Thanks God for the not-so-subtle reminder. ;) I needed that. I KNOW (even though at this moment, I may not feel the same joy over it), that God has a plan for me in Gyeongbuk and has already chosen some kids there for me to meet and influence and to touch their lives. Thank you, God, that you are in control. If it was me in control, I would be in Incheon, a place where you have not been preparing the crops, and I would not have as great an impact to which your perfect will looks forward. Thank you, God. Even through writing this blog, my heart and feelings are being softened to this new land. I may not know anything about the area, but I know that God knows and cares about the deepest desires of my heart. <3 <3 <3 


----->>>>Check out the links below for some information on Gyeongsangbuk (shortened to Gyeongbuk)------->>>>


:::Lonely Planet's Intro to Gyeongsangbuk:::


:::
View Larger Map


:::Gyeongbuk's Official Website



~~~Pictures to come~~~