Last Post from the US!!!

Well, here it is. My last full day in Wichita. And I'm still not packed :)

I feel like I should have something profound and meaningful to say here about how much I'll miss Kansas or USA... but mostly I'm just pumped to get on that airplane tomorrow and get this adventure started!!!

I will miss everyone here GREATLY... I know it still hasn't hit me yet that I won't be seeing anyone for a year. (Except my mom... that one's hit me...I miss her already). So keep checking the blog and posting comments. Maybe rude comments so I don't miss you as much :)

Love you all, and be sure to look up in the sky around 9:05 tomorrow morning and wave goodbye!!!

PS -I totally taught myself the Korean alphabet on Friday.. The first word I read in Korean was "Pakistan." IT WAS AWESOME!!

Going away gatherings...

I'm gonna just post some pics from various celebrations here... And let them speak for themselves!

And thennnnnnnn?

Ok, so I recieved my passport back in the mail with my little E-2 Visa stuck like a sticker to one of the pages... SUPER EXCITING!!!

A word about the visa process: I had my interview with the Korean Consulate in Chicago last Friday... I was ready, full-interview mode... I was gonna sell myself and convince these guys that I DESERVE AN E-2 VISA!!! Well, after all four questions and all six minutes of the webcam interview, we were done. Yep. That was it, and he told me they'd mail my passport back on Tuesday. The end.

So now I have to go buy a Korean Language book (I'm gonna try to pick up a few words on the plane), some used paperbacks for English Language Entertainment while I'm there, and dig through my storage unit for my sweaters and winter coat (which i will be shipping via slowboat to Korea).

I can't believe in exactly a week from now I'll be on the flight across the Pacific... Everyone's saving up to come visit, right?!?!?! :)

It's all been done!!!

WOO HOO!!!! I have a ticket to flyyyyyy!!!! I will be leaving Wichita at 9:00 am on Thursday the 31st, flying through Detroit, then through Tokyo (13 hours from Detroit to Tokyo), then into Seoul, landing at 9:35 pm on August 1.

So I guess it's really real now! Time to get busy packing!!!

Visa Process Update

For Uncle Audie, who's a little pushy... :)

We have now entered the longest part of the visa process - the school has reviewed all of my documents and has forwarded them to the Immigration Office in Korea with an application for a Visa Issuance Number. Once the Immigration Office gives the go-ahead, the school will give me that number and a form to fill out. I will then send that info, plus my passport, to the Korean Consulate in Chicago. They will review the docs and then stamp my passport with an E-2 Visa (that means I can teach English at the school I signed a contract with, but can do NOTHING ELSE to earn income, or I can be deported and blacklisted!).

The recruiter I'm working with tells me the Visa Issuance Number should be in my inbox next week. Once I have the Visa they will purchase my plane ticket. So assuming all goes well and according to plan, I will be leaving for Korea on August 1. Woo Hoo!!!

Not About Korea

So I realize this is off-topic for this blog, but I just had to share my awesome experience in NYC!! Breea and I had an absolutely amazing time, and I wanted to share the pictures here!

First things first, landing at the airport!


Then, partying like rock stars in Times Square:




Getting cultured at the Met: (and yes, that is my shock and awe at standing right in front of a PICASSO!)








Taking in a Yankee's game (Which Madonna herself also decided to enjoy that day!)






And finally, seeing my absolute most favorite Broadway musical, Avenue Q!!!




There are way more pictures, but I felt like this was already overkill... if you ever get the chance, GO TO NEW YORK CITY. It's an incredible place with an abundance of experiences just waiting to be had...