December 2010***

So here I am, trying to regurgitate all of my recent actions. As of December 2010, I put in my notice I was quiting my job as a Financial Advisor, am selling my Jeep and all of my belongings, freezing my community involvement with United Way, dropping out of being on the Sports Bistro Triathlon Team and Board of Directors for the SST, taking a break from the countless hours of running, biking, and swimming to compete 3 months out of the year in triathlons because I decided to move out of the country to South Korea to teach English abroad. The past 2 weeks have been completely surreal, as I am just now realizing what I had done, and what I need to prepare for.



The decision took my all but 13 days to decide-you can think of that as a negative as that I make (sometimes) irrational decisions without thinking of the consequences, or you can see this as a positive as I like to think I am pretty free spirited and think optimistically about the final results of my decisions.



The reasoning behind my actions...you have one life. This is my pursuit to determining who I am, why I am here, making the world a billion times smaller. I could continue my life here in Tacoma, as a young Financial Advisor and solid triathlete. I have an amazing group of friends who I love and enjoy to laugh, drink, and train with. I live relatively close to my family and have always. But this is what I know, and how can I short myself of the chances to travel and explore other countries unfamiliar. As for all, I make this world my own world.

I originally wanted to join the army as an officer, and quickly was turned down at that I do have braces (who would have known you cant join with metal mouth!). So after much research, I thought what fit best in "my world" was teaching abroad. Now I had to choose...where!? I researched Japan, China, Turkey, Thailand, Taiwan, Europe...and decided South Korea was my best bet. Ultimately what I want out of this, is the ability to travel, save money if possible, experience a new unfamiliar culture, as well as a new type of potential career. I figured if I went to another country, the ability to travel extensivally to other countries would be quickly limited as the positions dont pay as good and dont offer the time off. Teaching in South Korea allows me to save around $1000 a month, and offers me 5 weeks paid vacation PLUS Korean national holidays. With that, I can travel to tropical Thailand in the Summer maybe even Japan and Hong Kong, and then China in the winter, and will still have money in the bank.

While researching positions abroad, I stumbled accross a short term 3 week Spring Camp in Taiwan that starts Jan 20th and last until about Feb 10th. I will arrive back in the states and be shipped back out (from the plan) to Souel in South Korea, to train for a position in Daegu. A few details are gray, but it sounds like this plan is pretty solid as of now. I may come back to the states and start a position in Busan in March...but I think the Daegu position (hopefully) is a go. I will be working with the EPIK program.

I will write more in the next couple days...as this post is getting long!!