Early start

I have been up since 4am
Wednesday

• medical check
• fun lunch
• classes in lesson planning
• power point
• dinner
• the irishmen

Thursday ...

All day of teacher type classes...boring..No, really, they were interesting and I was happy to learn a couple new things!

Indoor "tent" time

I had a great time at Ammie's house.
Maui, Rika, Derrick, Jay R, Shane, Neleh , Michelle, Leo, Kudu and Geneveve came to hangout and plan for the camping trip.  I am a week away from leaving for Korea and I don't feel like going.  I have to get myself into this thing...nervous about the money situation, drug test, leaving friends, not learning the language...and Bla Bla Bla...
We made an indoor fort-tent, like we used to make as kids. We laughed, listened to good music and smoke the hooka.  We were nomads in our yurt. Michelle was head designer and.builder. I just sat scowling at connection points and materials.

I have been up for the past two hours.  Presently, it is 6am and I am in the bathroom with a headlamp sitting in an empty tub. This tub is huge! Why did I think they would have small tubs? Well, maybe, it is only in hotels.    I don't want to wake up my roommate.  It feels like any other day of checking email and texting friends but I'm a half day "ahead" and I'm in Korea.

I have to finish doing this pre-orientation online course.  I did it already but I didn't do it correctly.  So basically it is a couple hours of sitting in a tub.  Again, this tub is nice.  There is even a groove that makes a nice shelf for my phone! 
I hope my roommate got enough sleep.  She woke up with a really bad cramp in her leg and it kept her up a bit through the night.  I hope I wasn't snoring.  I didn't want to pull out my CPAP machine.  I wouldn't have been able to use it because I don't think the outlet was working.

I will be checking out the breakfast service in an hour or so.


Not the nicest hotel I've been in but not the worst - odd light options, two beds, big tube TV, a water cooler, sliding window, and complementary slippers.  Nice receptionists! I will check out our free breakfast. Oh and a free shuttle that came to pick me up ten minutes after I called. 

 I am Incheon at the moment.  And according to this site--> http://www.theage.com.au/news/travel/worlds-best-airport/2007/03/13/1173722423768.html it was named the world's best airport.  It was really clean and the information desk people were cool.  I didn't go into the bathroom and I didn't have issues with immigration or baggage. 
the airport is on an island about 30 miles west of Seoul.  There is this really cool bridge system that connects it to the mainland. 

above written Monday

below written Tuesday

Midnight but not in a tub this time.
Yesterday was great. Kelly wondering what i was doing hanging out in the bathroom.
We went for free breakfast in the hotel's basement-eggs, ham, hot dogs,
Then off in the shuttle to the airport and then a bus to orientation site in Daejeon!


I am writing again at midnight and this is technically Wednesday....Medical testing day!
I am so behind on my writing. I don't have the best wireless and I haven't been in the rooms that give me the best service.  I have to do a better job keeping up with my blog.
So I will jot this info down

• Dorm room
• roommate Kylie
• meals
• lack of sleep
• foot problem
• campus tour
• teachers
• presentations
• weight gain
• needed and upcoming weight loss plans

Ten more days

Leaving for Korea in ten days?!

This feeling of "excitement-anxiety-doom-intellectual curiosity-leaving the pond-I'm going to take over S. Korea" has grown ever stronger.

I have packed everything. Well, not everything I own but a little bit of everything that I have used for the past three years.  I have managed to pack ten pairs of shoes, undies, three suits, countless dresses and skirts and my favorite T-shirts. I have also thought to bring art supplies and school supplies.  I also wrapped my favorite kitchen utensils and handmade ceramic plates. Do I really need to bring a box of pens? I know I can get everything there or mailed to me with an order from the Internet. So why the need to over-pack? 

I am trying to spend every minute with friends.  Any reason for me to hang out and just be around them I have enjoyed and can't believe how lucky/blessed I am to have such awesome friends.  They all can't wait for me to leave but hate the idea of me not being home.  I have invited everyone to Korea and hope at least three of my friends can make it out for a quick visit.

Family time has been harder to manage- Dad and brother out to sea, other brother spending time with a girlfriend that goes to school overseas, and a mom with health issues, ready for a career change.  I did get some time to see my NYC family and I will eventually make it to see family in NC.  For as much as I can't stand being around my mom at times, I want her move in with me or at least visit me often staying for a couple weeks. 

My biggest worries 

• not being around my heart, friends and family
• not having enough money
• not passing the drug test in Korea
• not learning enough Korean
• not  having what I need to live in Korea
• not having my guy around

How I have managed to deal with these issues

• getting a Google number
• figuring out how to use my phone, Skype and other technologies
• asking money from family
• not taking any meds for the next two weeks (which then creates more anxiety in my life)
• overdosing on the amount of time a spend with friends
• knowing that if it meant to be, he will visit in Korea and/or be ready for open arms when I come back
• just praying that Korean will just pop in my brain and reveal to me that I am a genius or I lived knowing Korean in a past life
• packing and unpacking and repacking 
• YOGA

What I am so excited about living in Korea

• eating great food
• being in a beautiful country
• learning how to speak Korean
• learning about the education system(s)
• technology 
• saving up money
• being on my own
• meeting new people
• being close to the Philippines

What I'll be doing in the next ten days

• partying with friends on the beach and get-togethers at their houses
• learning Korean 
• finishing my on-line orientation class
• making a list