What's next.

Congratulations, your file has been transferred to the Placement Department at Footprints Recruiting for potential placement in Korea.
(HUZZAH!) 

To do list:

• Master Korean vowels (I got the 14 consonants already.)
• Scan original degree and get it notarized with an Apostille  (yeah, I still don't know what that is...)
• Get a state level criminal background check with Apostille
• Get fingerprints done at the local jail
• Request (and pay for) an authenticated FBI background check
• Obtain two signed reference letters
• Scan passport photo page
• Fax the Footprints waiver form
• Call Footprints to get a voice sample (My broadcasting skills are shivering in expectancy.)
• Review and learn TESL techniques and stuffs
• Learn how Korean syllables are written (Consonant(s) +  vowel always?)
• Continue to work spicier foods into my diet (Least favorite task for sure)

I hope you're not getting sick of Korea yet...

My interview went fabulously!  I felt comfortable and spoke clearly and articulately (and intelligently!).  By the end of the interview, Joseph, the interviewer, was saying things like "when you're traveling in Korea" and "when you arrive in Korea."  Gah, I was so excited!

When I hung up from the twenty-five minute conversation, I immediately hopped onto the Footprints site and checked out what their forums are saying about Korea and such.  I've learned about the weather, the the language, the living costs, the bathrooms, and on and on.  Now I'm reading about what to bring, and it's just all so exciting.

This part listed under "what food things to bring"was anything but exciting, though:
Cheeses - Korean stores are started to offer more than just processed cheese- the equivalent of Velveeta, cheese in any form is expensive and hard to find. In the import sections of some department stores you may come across the occasional lonely block of cheddar, but it will cost the same as a mid-sized sedan.
:'(  I love cheese.

Image: Shankws

If, like me, you're interested in what the Korean fashion scene is like, I recommend checking out this Korean Fashion blog.  There's also a Korean branch of Vogue.  And, I love this spread of sweet, pretty, girly clothes.

Korea is a very image focused culture.  My friend told me of just how vain they are: around 80% of Koreans 20-30 (including guys) have already had plastic surgery.  I've heard foreign teachers have a better chance of getting positions if they're attractive.  And the students aren't shy about what they think of your appearance.  Is it bad that I really, really want to lose some weight before I go over there?  Treadmill, here I come!  I'm also working on strengthening my tolerance for spicy foods.  I only hang out with mild salsa now, and I'm a little frightened of kimchi right now.

I have an interview! In Korea!

Eep!

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.  We have your interview scheduled for Today, January 25^th at 5:00pm Eastern.

Pinterest and Korea

Ok, guys, I have begun something with South Korea.  I recently made a friend (crazy story, I should tell you sometime) who just left to teach ESL in Korea for the second time.  She highly recommended this recruiting agency, Footprints, and I registered with them and we started talking.  My plan was, from the beginning, to be placed in a private school (I've heard good things about them vs. not hearing much about public schools), and I was kinda bummed when they told me how few open private school positions there would be for next term.  They suggested checking into public school positions or private school positions in Georgia or Japan.  (The Georgia option was quickly ruled  out by a friend concerned with my safety.)  I emailed Footprints today telling them that I'd liek to go ahead with the process of getting with a public shcool in Korea, and there's always the possibility that a private school job will open up later.  (I also might be able to get a position at a Korean school where one of my other friends works now, but that's not certain yet.)  Their reply came minutes later:

"That sounds good.  When are you free for a telephone interview?"

AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

I all of a sudden got really nervous and really excited, and I'm on the edge of my seat thinking that my cell phone's going to ring any second!  Isn't this awesome?!  Things are going to start rolling, friend!  Like, I'm FOR REAL going to go teach ESL!  For a year!  In Asia!  Aw, this is awesome.

So there you have it.  :)

I'm kinda happy.

Another Vietnam War story from Gene

Mr. Gene and I met at his place to edit this stories 5 times or so.  Just this Sunday, we got everything finished up, bound, and ready to pass along to a friend of a publisher.  I've heard Mr. Gene say so many times, "You don't know how much I appreciate this."  It's been so good to become friends with him; we've both endeared ourselves to the other so much.  He cares about me like a granddaughter, and I think of him as a granddad.  He'll tell me to be careful over the weekend and on dates and such and tells me that he's had daughters and granddaughters going through life like I am.  He tells me to tell my dad to call him anytime, 24/7, because they both enjoy golfing.  He tells me that it's wonderful how I want to go to Korea, and this is the time to do such things, and we'll have to go get coffee and talk about it when things start settling into place.

It was a sad thing to say good bye on Sunday.  I know I'll see him again, and he told me to be sure to call every once in a while, but, now that we won't be working on his stories, I don't know when I'll see him next.  He blew me a kiss right before we parted.

This story took place at the very end of Mr. Gene's second tour in Vietnam.  I believe this is in the first half of 1969 now.  And, for the record, I think it's much more fun to listen to Mr. Gene tell the story himself than to read it.

The Purple Heart?

Suddenly, Sam’s tour was half past.  LTC Schnibben called Sam and informed him that he was to go on R&R in Hawaii and that Sam should transition his battery to Jim Hinton, who had replaced Jim Spears as Sam’s XO.  Sam and Jim worked themselves through a 100% inventory of all the battery’s supplies and equipment in just two days!  Now, it was only three days before Sam was to go on R&R.  On the first day he moved from Kon Kon Tum down to Phouc Vinh.  Then Ed Balda and he transitioned the S3 position.  Sam was tired, and he turned in early.  He had wonderful dreams of his wife Barbara, and couldn't wait for that last day to start.  Suddenly, enemy rockets were falling in the middle the compound.  Sam leapt from his bed, grabbed his boots and sprinted toward the TOC TOC.  He made it halfway and encountered a row of unforgiving pallets that were being used to bridge across the temporary lake that had formed during the last monsoonal shower.  Sam, in full sprint mode, connected with the pallets and fell ass over teacups into the muddy lake.  Sam arose and limped slowly into the TOC.  There he was greeted by his soon to be Operations Sergeant, Wilson. “What happened to you?”

“I tripped over those damn pallets.  I think I broke my big toe,” said Sam through gritted teeth.  A medic appeared, almost mysteriously, and examined the now swollen metatarsal.

“It’s for sure broken,” pronounced the medic.  “I’ve got to fill out this form so they can award you a Purple Heart.”

“I don’t want a medal for tripping over a ##@#$ pallet. Now go out there and find someone who’s really hurt.  Sarge, how about sending someone over to my hooch and fetch me a clean set of fatigues?”

The rockets had ceased falling and the new day was being gloriously revealed by its artist.  Sam had a big day planned and it all pointed to 3 PM when his plane would leave Vietnam for Hawaii.  His first task would be to secure a chopper and fly to Vung Tau to visit the PX there.  He hoped to find a pair of sneakers that he could cut out the top and rest his mangled toe.  It only took of 30 minutes to find a shoe that would suffice.  He also picked up a present for his wife, a beautiful diamond ring.  She would fuss but, in all honesty, love it.

Work and exciting plans

I have all but hated working at my job lately. Yes, I said it, and yes, I mean it. Poor management does a lot to hurt the store and its employees. Let me say that working with Bryan College's SGA for two years spoiled me with excellent leadership.

Last week's snow and ice craziness which put my sister out of school for a whole week put me into a predicament of confusion which had no defined hub of communication. Time was disrespected and wasted, animosity was born, and resentment festered. The hard part is, I know that the manager in question won't be changing many of his actions or thoughts, but at least his actions and thought won't be called forth like they were during the ice storm. He will stay the same, but the conditions are going to get better.

My awesome manager returned from vacation today.

And the angels sang.

My coworker, J, asked if I was okay. "Yeah, I'm fine, why?"
"You just look something something's bothering you."
"Oh. No, nothing's bothering me, but, you know what? Since of all that crap that happened last week, I know that I haven't enjoyed working here, like, at all. I don't smile like I used to. I don't care about the customers like I used to. And, I don't like it."
"Well, awesome manager's back, now."
"Yes. I'm smiling now."

I have had to goad myself into what used to be the normal customer service attitude lately. I did this today when I asked a grumpy old man if I could help him find anything. He'd been looking for monthly tabbed dividers for his binder. I came and showed him where they were and helped him get the right ones. He very matter-f-factly said thank you and told me, "You've been very helpful." Guys, that did it. That one comment reminded me of how I like being helpful.  I love hearing those words.  I love the feeling I get from making something work or finding something that's perfect for the customer.  Who knows if this man really cared about his tabbed dividers or not, but I suddenly did, and, for a burst of 3 minutes, I cared about everyone in the store.  It was a pretty remarkable shift in perspective.  I liked it.

Shortly after this episode, a friend's father who frequently finds me in the store came in.  I called to him, and we chatted for a good while.  He began by telling me that I need to get promoted to a manager's position.  Believe it or not, he doesn't think that my poor manager does a good job, either.  He monologued for 4 minutes on the importance and the techniques of customer service.  (He's knows what he's talking about.)  When he finished, he asked about my family and such, and then, near the end, I reminded him that, you know Mr. Luis, I won't be in retail forever.  In fact, I'm planning on getting a new job in August.  I'm planning on moving to South Korea to teach English as a Second Language for a year in a private Korean school.  Yes.  Yes, I am.

This is the first time I've mentioned it to the "public."  I've been keeping it a secret because a) I wasn't sure if it was plausible; b) I don't want to say I'm going to do something then not follow through; and c) it's so early in the game, how do you know, Lindsay, if this is really going to happen or not?  Well, I'm telling you anyway!  I'm going to go for this for as long as I can, as long as doors stay open, and hopefully I'll be in Korea by the end of it!

I've been interested in teaching ESL since my senior year of high school (2005-2006).  In fact, I decided to major in communication studies at Bryan College because I thought it would be best in preparing me for my then-dream-job: ESL teacher and missionary and possibly a translator on the side.  I'd originally wanted to go to Russia or Mexico because I've been there before, but, really, I'm excited to learn about and to explore any country and culture.  I'd lost sight of this dream during college when life's changed told me I would be getting married and wouldn't be able to just leave the country and, later, that I had to get a real job.  Well, take that, society, self-defeating thoughts, and ex-dreams!  I'm leaving the country!

Besides my resolve, nothing's in stone yet.  I plan to keep you updated, and I believe that doing so will help keep me accountable to this plan.  If I tell you about my dream, I'll be much more prone to follow up on the dream.  So there you have it!  I'm going to South Korea!  For a year!  I hope!

Via Crwflags

Newspaper nails

Using this tutorial, I finally tried the newspaper nail thing!  I loved it.  The whole project took about a half hour for me to do.  I just used clear polish as a base, then stuck on the small strips of paper, layering as desired, then put two coats of the clear polish on top to even out the bumps and valleys on the surface.  The newspaper came away from my nails quite a bit, and I had to keep sticking them back to the nail with the polish.  After two or three days, that got annoying, so I took the whole thing off.  It was sure was ballin' while it lasted, though.