I’ve never felt any need to have a diary before this. I despise the term Blog, but I’m sure I’ll start using it eventually. Anyway, the reason I’m making this now is because I finally have a reason to publicly detail a long, drawn out process in my life. I’m going to Korea.
When first researching going to Korea, some of my best information was from other people who had written blogs (sigh, using it already) about their trips to teach English in South Korea. I feel I should do my part and provide fuel for the next round of travelers.
Why Korea? Because I feel drawn there by God. I really didn’t know anything about Korea a year ago. But as I felt lead there, I did research, and I’ve come to love the country from afar. In some ways, it really seems like my kind of place. I guess I’ll see how true that really is. As I studied more, I got to meet many great Korean people. I hope I can meet others as friendly and outgoing when I’m actually in Korea.
On another level, the drive to go to Korea has become a mission. It has galvanized me into doing things. I started college again. I went to a church with services in a language I didn’t understand, where I didn’t know anyone, in a town I didn’t particularly like. I started studying another language, something I hadn’t done since High School. I got out and did things. In a lot of ways, just the act of preparing to go to Korea has changed me.
So what’s the plan? Right now, the hope is to go to Sunlin University in Pohang, South Korea. Maybe as early as July. Possibly until the end of the Fall Semester. We’ll see. I’ve already had one trip canceled and one I couldn’t go on because I didn’t get my passport soon enough. But it may have all been for the best. I’ll try to update things as they become more solid. But even if these trips don’t work out, I’m still going to push forward towards Korea.
So that’s my purpose. I’ll try to cover some of the planning stages, and I’ll do my best to cover my failures so that others can learn from them. I go to the health office tomorrow to find out if I really need any vaccinations. I’ll do without any I can get away with.
Here is my first piece of collected information: Bring lots of deodorant. It’s supposed to be hard to find, and expensive. I didn’t start using any until after high school, so maybe I’ll go back to that. Probably not.
