Things are working out for the best!

As most of you know, things have been pretty stressful with all of my hospital trips and misdiagnoses...as well as what went on at my school at the same time. I have been looking for another job and interviewing, while still working at my current school. It's been a long process but things are finally starting to turn around! Before I left the states, one of my grad school professors gave the contact information for one of his former students who is from South Korea, but came to the US and did my same Masters program. Now, him and his wife work at a university in Seoul, really close to Bundang. I have exchanged several emails with him while I've been here about life in Korea, and any questions I've had. When I first got here, he asked if I'd be interested in teaching with him at the university. However, I had already signed a contract with my school and was excited to work the with the kids.

In my job search, I didn't think it would hurt to email him and see if they needed teachers for the new semester beginning in January. Sure enough they were holding interviews last week, and as soon as I sent my resume to his boss, I was set up with an interview. I wasn't sure I wanted to move that far away...only about an hour by bus and subway, but still far from my friends here. However, after the interview I fell in love with the school. It is a beautiful campus, and I'd make the same amount of money, only working 18 hours a week as opposed to the 50+ I work now. I began to really want the job, at the same time worrying that I didn't have the necessary qualifications. Their website for employment says they prefer candidates with a teaching degree and certain certifications that I don't have.

However, my inside contact must have had a lot of pull because I got an email yesterday offering me the job. It couldn't have come at a better time! I will start in January and I can't wait. They offer two different types of housing. You can either live on campus...on a floor with about 15 foreign teachers, in a small flat that is still bigger than the one I have now, free of charge. Or, you can live in a bigger apartment about 15 minutes away and pay all of the electric bills etc. The teaching is mostly conversation classes with university students and adults, which will be very different but I think my experiences learning spanish will really help me relate to them. There are so many perks to the job, in addition to the reduced hours. We also have 9 paid vacation weeks a year, as compared to my 8 days I have with my current job. I'll let you all know more as soon as I find out more. Your prayers must be working because things are falling into place and i'm so happy!

Aside from the job, we are planning out trip to Thailand for Christmas. Staying on the beach in huts...sand and sun and everything is oh so cheap which means lots of shopping. My paradise! Haha. We'll also be there for the full moon party, which happens once a year where EVERYONE stays on the beach for two days partying and having a good time. Another adventure that I'm sure will be once in a lifetime!

Love you and miss you all!