learning to think like a blogger, and blogging to think

"I'm not going to let it die this time." That's how I've started pretty much every journal that I've begun since 10th grade. You can guess what that says about my ability to maintain my thoughts in writing. Like pitiful creatures, they seem to shrivel without constant care and supervision, nourishment, and affection. When I began the serious pursuit of this teaching opportunity in Seoul, South Korea, I thought (for perhaps the fifth or sixth time in my life), Well, that's a great reason to start a blog! Another reason: I recently invested in a brand new Canon T2i, and I'm looking for an excuse to share my visual impulses with others.

I'm hoping that this will provide a space for me to 1) reflect on the journey that is about to consume the next year of my life, 2) stay in touch with everyone that will not be in Korea with me. Yeah, you know who you are and I like you, so there. If I've realized anything over the past 2 years during my master's program, it's that reflection, when genuine and self-inspired, can be authentically powerful and educative. Who knew? Hopefully, I can tickle all y'all teacher people, reach out to friends from afar, and stimulate my own thinking by virtue of forcing myself to write a little. We all win! And truly, I am Seoul-seeking in more ways than one. On the other side of six years, higher education has a different hue. I find myself full of wants, full of questions, and fiercely mystified. Where do I go from here, and how do I know where I'm going when I get there? I find myself faced with so many choices, and still feel somehow uneducated despite all my education. I was looking to be moved by something, so instead, I will move myself.

At this point, I have passed my interview with EPIK-SMOE (stands for English Program in Korea, Seoul Ministry of Education division) and I'm attempting to send in my paperwork to get myself all shiny and official. Let me tell you, if college required this much paperwork, I would be minus two degrees and probably still working at Applebee's (no offense, Apple-Buddies). Instead, I am up to my soon-to-be-removed-nose-ring in forms and lesson plans, and I'm reading everything I can get my hands on about Korean culture. So far, I'm really enjoying this book called Learning To Think Korean by L. Robert Kohls.

Kohls works with the Peace Corps specifically preparing people who want to live and work in Korea, so it's fabulously applicable to my plans (more details on those to come later...). Very informative read so far -- and I'm willing to trust a guy who has spent 50+ years of his life working in this part of the world. Unfortunately, everything I've learned about the Korean people thus far has confirmed that I am on a long hike up a steep steep learning curve. Of course this is to be expected, but I'm just hoping I'll be able to maintain my vocal outbursts and "exaggerated facial expressions," which are apparently a huge no-no, especially in professional settings. Note to self: learn to be more subtle.

More to come soon! There is a LOT to be done before I can escape E-town and move along in this journey. Thanks for coming along.