Received my Korean visa in the mail today, so as you can guess, I'm really excited. I've got one more week left in Melbourne, so, it will feel good not to stress about things ;)

Not much else to say, other than I had a weird dream last night. I've been having weird dreams lately, and i think it has something to do with getting too warm in bed... lol... What I mean is, whenever I've woken up from one of these weird dreams, I've been sweating, felt really hot, and very thirsty... anyway, it's just a bit weird... lol

Went to Chadstone shopping centre today, with the main purporse of buying books for working in South Korea. Found some good ones for teaching grammar and other concepts. I bought seven books, but one is a Korean phrase book ;) I got a discount at Boders as well, because I'm a teacher... About time that being a teacher came in handy when shopping ;) Also went to Kmart, to buy some cheap basic clothes before I get to Korea...

For some reason, for the past few weeks, every time I walk through the security things, like the have at the supermarkets, Borders, Target, Kmart... etc... they always beep at me! I didn't steal anything! Especially when you walk into the store, and it beeps! It's really starting to piss me off!

Last days in Melbourne

Looks like I'll be leaving Melbourne in a week and a bit, about the 9th or 10th of October will be my last day in Melbourne. Will spend a week with my family and a few friends before I leave for Korea on the 17th. I'm really starting to get excited about it now. Last time I went to Korea, I wasn't really exited until the night before. To get to Korea this time, has taken alot more planning and effort as well, so, I've been excited for a while now.

Spent some time with a good friend today. She'll miss me... and I'll miss her too. She's really helped me out, especially after being in a job that I didn't like, that made me think about myh chosen profession... It's not good when you start doubting yourself, and your ability. Sure, sometimes you need a bit of a shake to see if you've chosen the right thing, but, I know that I enjoy what I do, and that I'm good at it.

Hopefully, I will get my Korean visa soon - in a few days. At the end of this week would be nice, but realistically, it will be early next week. Its the mailing things to various places that's taken most of the time to get this visa. But, I have a tendency to stress about things, especially when I have no control over them. But, for some unknown reason, things seem to be going weill with everything at the moment ;)

I've been thinking about what I'm gonna do when I get to Korea, other than work. Working will take up most of my time, but after that first pay cheque arrives, I would like to start travelling. I'll get two weeks paid holiday when I am there - but, I dont plan that far ahead. At the moment, I've only planned up to the 18th of October... which is when I arrive in Korea.

21 days to go

My visa letter thing arrived by courier today ;) Now, I can process my korean visa. I will send it off today ;) Just one step closer to coming to Korea now ;)

I watched the movies that I bought yesterday. Was really nice to watch Sphere in a dark room, with the 5.1 surround system turned up nice and loud ;)

>Will send off the Visa stuff to the Korean embassy later, and pick up my plane tickets and get travel insurance sorted out.

21 days to go... ^^

Spent some time G today, a friend I met at uni 2 years ago. She moved to Melbourne just before I did 8 months ago, and we always keep in touch. We went to the Melbourne show, and went on a ride. We felt a little sick after one, so we had to go home... hehe. We met up in the city a few hours later, did a bit of shopping and had an early dinner in a chinese restraunt in China Town. We saw a movie poster of a new Andy Lau movie... and she was so surprised that I knew who he was... haha ;)

I bought some things to take with me to Korea, as gifts for the people I will be working with ;) I also found my way into the Morning Glory shop on Swanston St... I bought some more things in there too... I love Korean stationary ;)

I talked to SJ on the phone today as well. Its always good to talk to her. She is a good friend, caring and kind... and I have never met a korean who was not friendly, not caring and not kind... Maybe I am very lucky. I got a surprise call from D as well - another friend I will miss when I leave Melbourne T_T

Bought some discount DVD's from Big W... having some kind of sale. I bought "Sphere" and "Cypher". Sphere is nice to watch in 5.1 surround ;) I might watch Cypher tonight. Watched it once a while ago. It was a good movie, from what I remember... and not just because it had Lucy Liu in it ;)

I bought lunch from the shopping centre I went to... Had to get Subway... here is my ultimate subway sandwich: Chicken Fillet (bacon, optional) on wheat, with lettuce, tomato, heaps of capsicum, heaps of onion, heaps of pickles, with pepper (no salt), with honey mustard dressing (barbeque, an optional extra with the bacon). So nice ;)

When I got home, talked to my housemate about when I'm moving out. I've got about two more weeks in Melbourne, before I visit family and friends back in my hometown. I'll be at home for about a week, before I start my jeorney to Korea. This time, my trip to Korea is more serious - moving there for a year is a bit more hardcore than a 3 week vacation.

Reflection

I was thinking about my vaction to Korea today. I remember having such a great time there - experiencing new things, and meeting new people. I wouldn't have met Steve, Tony or any of the other people I met though them, if I didn't go to Korea. It's funny how good things can just happen... If I didn't get on that last plane from Melbourne to Mildura, I wouldn't have met Steve. If I wouldn't have met Steve, I wouldn't have met Tony and Mie. I also woulnd't have met Daisuke... or any other friends though them. I wouldn't have gone down the Great Ocean Road...

Anyway, fate (if you believe in any of that stuff) always has interesting things ready for you to take on, or deal with... or whatever. In 3 and a half weeks, I will be flying to Korea, to start a new chapter in my life. Some people think it's pretty cool. Others think it's pretty extreme. But, I'm the one going to Korea, not them. As much advice as people have, it's up to you to listen to it, or act on it. Obviously, depending on how well you know them, or trust them, you will take not, or tell them to shut up 'coz they have no idea what they're on about.

I really apprectiate what SuJeong and her family did for me when I was in Korea. They gave me a good impression of Korea. They did so much of a good job, that I am now going back there, for at least a year. Things will be different though. I will be living by myself. I wont be depending on anyone to instantly translate for me. I'll be working. It's gonna be a bit struggle. Also, like every society, and after living there for a while, I will start to see the bad things along with the good things - which is to be expected.

It is a big jeourny, a big change... a big risk. If you cant take a risk, where is the excitment in your life?

Booked my tickets to Korea today. Will have a stopover in Singapore for about 2 hours, but thats okay. Got a few things to organise before hand. The idea is just starting to sink in. With my last holiday to Korea, it didn't really sink in until the day before, so that will probably happen with me again ;)

Not really much else to say... It's school holidays, so haven't really been up to much. Just waiting for my package from Korea to arrive, so I can process the rest of my visa.

My korean visa was approved yesterday, so that was good. Will book tickets next week. Also finished work yesterday. The thought of working in Korea, finally sunk in after leaving that place. Feels good not to have to go back there.

Just gotta focus on getting to Korea now... really looking forward to it ;)

Also, the ATB Greatest Hits album "Seven Years" was released in Australia this week. It includes the single versions of all his singles, a rework of "Let U Go", and a few new songs. It also includes the single versions of songs that weren't released in Australia. If you like dance music, it's worth getting! Afterall, he is one of my most favourite artists.

Spent about $1000 on getting a suit and various other parts of the formal wear thing. Was kinda surprised by the price of stuff... I guess if you wanna look good, you gotta fork out the money. Speaking of forking out money, $1700 is the cheapest open return ticket to Korea. Anyway, thats just another speed-hump on the drive-thru of the jeorney to korea... lol

Got ATB's Beleive in Me EP in the mail earlier this week... it's not bad... been playing it alot...

Things happen pretty quick. I've been offered a job in Korea, and I decided to take this one. It is in a hagwon, in a small place called SaChangRi, 30 minutes from GwangJu, in the South-West of South Korea. Just gotta get al the paperwork ready, and send it off. So, it is very likely that I will be in Korea in October ^^

They dont mess around in Korea... Pretty quick over there. I put my resume online tursday night, it's approved by friday lunch time. I check my email after work, and I have 3 job offers already! One for an English Village, one in a Hagwon about 30 minutes from Gwangju, and another in a public (middle or high school) in Gyeonggi-do. The Gyonggi-do job interests me the most. Been doing research into Korean public schools all weekend, seems very interesting.

2 weeks of work to go. Things have been okay there. Some people are being nice to me, since they know I'm leaving. Anyway, at the moment, I am concentrating on working in Korea... so, that is my main priority now.

Will be good to be in Korea again ;)