Visas

Last Wednesday my dad and I went to Chicago for the day to do my visa paperwork. To teach in South Korea you have to have an interview, it takes about 5 minutes and they ask you what you know about Korea and make sure you aren't a criminal. It was pretty easy. Getting to and from Chicago was easy too, we took a train from Kenosha and it was way cheaper and less of a hassle than driving. I made sure to get an envelope with overnight postage because I wasn't sure how long it would take to process my visa (I knew it would be 2-3 days). Well, I got the visa on Saturday so I will for sure be leaving on July 5th. I started packing today! More later, my computer is about to die.

18 days

I leave for Korea in 18 days! I can't believe it. I called and made my visa appointment yesterday and I go next Wednesday. My dad and I are taking the train to Chicago to avoid traffic and high gas costs, it should be pretty fun. I have also opted to make a return trip the following week, probably Monday or Tuesday to pick it up. I can have it mailed, but being a worry wort, I want to make sure I have it in my possession because the week I'd get it in the mail/pick it up, is the week I leave. I still feel really unprepared because I haven't thought about it much. Work takes a lot of my time and when I come home I have other things to do (workout, help my mom with housework, etc) that I don't think about packing or trying to learn Korean. However, I have been reading various books about culture and history so I can feel a bit more prepared. I have a 14 hour plane ride, plus about 8 more hours of waiting/transport to and from the airport so I have time to read and learn Korean. I got a Nintendo DS for my birthday and it will be very nice to occupy some time on the plane. One can only watch so many movies.

We are having a garage sale next weekend because I have so much crap to get rid of and making a little cash would be nice. Whatever I don't sell will be donated to Goodwill because I don't need it and someone else might. I have to work on getting all of that together too and, ahhhh so much to do before I leave! I have more to write, but it will have to wait, I'm exhausted.