Friends, the forever type.
In July I will be traveling around the world to start a temporary life in Inch’ on, South Korea. I am going with nothing to my name but two suitcases, a backpack and my best friend, Alexandrea. I have no knowledge of the Korean lingo or even much about the country’s history (although I am studying!), but it is one of those opportunities that was just to great to pass up. So I took it!
You could say that I am an avid blog-reader, and in reading blogs of people who have moved to South Korea to teach English, as I am, I was always interested in what they felt in the days leading UP to their departure. So I will try my best to document my fears, the frustrating systematic processes that you have to go through to get your E2Visa and all the little things that I know future “South-Korea-go-getters” may want to read.
I was scheduled to depart for Inch’ on on May the 25th of this year, but that changed the day I quit my job. (Yes, you could say the timing was “perfect” -sarcasm) I got an email letting me know that the school had to delay my time to the end of July, WHICH actually came as good news. A SUMMER VACATION that I didn’t expect to receive came flooding my way. Days of kayaking, hiking and dates in downtown Chattanooga with my boyfriend, Blake. I picked up some random summer jobs to keep me financially afloat until I leave. The greatest thing about the delay is that my best friend Ally, who has been contemplating teaching in Korea as well, decided that the offer to travel together was just TOO GOOD TO PASS UP, so we are meeting up in Atlanta (She lives in Los Angeles, I live in Tennessee) and boarding a plane together. We will be sharing an apartment together, and yes, even the bed is both of ours.
We have had plenty of experience living together over the years. We travelled with a small vocal ensemble 40 weekends a year for our years in college, which was comprised of many hotels and non-solitary bedding. (Including sharing bunks on a tour bus… think coffin…. now, think sharing that coffin. There were many claustrophobic moments to say the least)
Over all- I am absolutely elated, ridiculously excited to leave. Many think we (me and Al) are crazy because we are both in serious relationships, on the road to forever… and we are 22 and 23, the age when most are starting out their careers… but that is the great, adventurous, unpredictability of the God we serve… sometimes it doesn’t line up with the books… but it is about following what you feel is the call of God for your life.
But what about the war threats?
Here’s the deal, how me and Ally see it… we would much rather be in the will of God and be in the most dangerous place in the world, than to be out of the will of God in the comfort and security of our home. Sick. Boring. No thanks. Life is too short to waste it away in business suits and Lexus cages. Give me thrill, give me a ticket, and get me out of here. At least for now.
I mean, we have our whole lives ahead of us for domestic normalcy, why start now?
This is the singing group me and Ally performed with for years, she is the third brunette in the front, purple coat... I am right beside her, tall blonde. 
Count down time.
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