It has been exactly one month and three days since I last updated my blog. Ridiculous. I guess I've just been so busy, and life hasn't been very exciting...I do have a few updates to offer.
My one-year contract for teaching in Korea ends June 30, and I'm going back home...as in back to the USA!!! Originally, I was planning on re-signing a second contract with the same academy. However, some significant changes have taken place over the past two months, and the academy has taken a turn for the worse. Therefore, I've decided that I need to look elsewhere for another teaching job. I still feel called to be in Korea, which is awesome, so I know that my Korea experience will be extended at least for another year. As far as what that looks like, I'm not entirely sure.
I've notified my academy that I won't be re-signing with them, so they will begin the process of looking for a new foreign teacher to replace me. I have begun the search for a new job. I would like to teach in a specific area, called Bundang, so I'm looking at my options. I've been talking to a recruiter, and I have a phone interview with him sometime this week for a position in Bundang, beginning at the end of July. I have also contacted two other companies, and submitted applications to them for jobs in Bundang. I don't anticipate running into any problems actually getting a job. Now that I've already worked in Korea for one year, that opens up a lot of doors for me. The problems I'm anticipating are related to my work visa and documents. It was quite a chore to complete that whole process before coming here to first time, and I would rather not have to go through that again. Hopefully, I'll be able to just get my work visa extended for another year and avoid any complications. I'm looking forward to talking to the recruiter this week so I can figure out exactly what my options are.
There are obviously negatives and positives about this big change in my life. The negatives are: I will miss my kids so much. I've grown attached to quite a few of them, and will miss talking to them and teaching them. We have shared many experiences and memories together, and that will be difficult to walk away from. Also, my boss, Darren, is truly one-of-a-kind. I have been extremely blessed to work for someone as kind and generous as him. My friends here would also agree with me. It's rare to have a boss who is so helpful and accommodating to a foreigner. That's one thing I don't anticipate finding elsewhere. However, the positives to this situation far outweigh the negatives: I will be able to be home for longer than a week in July!! I will be home for at least two weeks now, depending on when I'll have to head back to Korea to start my new job. Also, I'll get to experience a new part of Korea, and be closer to my friends. Many of my friends live in Bundang, so that will be wonderful to be able to invest more time in those relationships. Also, working with new students and new age levels will give me even more experience than I have now.
I'm really excited for what God's doing in my life right now. A lot of things are really up in the air right now, but I'm hopeful for what He has in store for me! Everything will work out, and I'll end up exactly where I'm supposed to be. I would appreciate your prayers as I continue to make decisions. I'll do my best to keep this updated and not let another MONTH go by without writing. :)
