3 weeks.....

26.01.2011Discovered that there is an online course that you need to complete for EPIK. I started the course today and have completed sections 1 - 6. The course is easy enough, but you have to watch videos, which are each around 20 minutes long.

28.01.2011Finished the Pre-orientation course! Yay! It wasn't too bad and a lot of it was very useful.

29.01.2011Booked my insurance :)

30.01.2011My Korean keyboard stickers have arrived! So cool!!

31.01.10My parents have just sold their house!! I think they are going to move while I am in Korea and not tell me their new address in order to get rid of me ;) haha.... I'm joking....I think.... :P. To be truthful it's going to be weird coming back to a new house. This is my home, so after I go to Korea will I have lost my home and just have a house to come back to??? Though the saying is 'Home is where the heart is' so wherever my family lives will be my home. To be fair this isn't the first time they tried to get rid of me...joke! They moved last time whilst I was on a school trip to Italy but I had been to the new house a few times before the move. My biggest worry is if they damage any of my precious snow globes (or PS3) during the move! I used to collect Disney snow globes and they are worth about £50+ each >-< Stress!! Now I don't just have a suitcase to pack, but my whole life!! Most of which is going to the bin or charity shops. It's lucky I'm not a hoarder like my mum.

02.02.2011I went to the doctors for some injections today. Only one more to go!! My visa arrived in the post. I think I scared the postman as I was so excited! Everything is ready now for Korea :) All I have to do now is wait....and wait some more......I want to go now!!!

03.02.11My arm where I had my injection has swollen up :(

06.02.11I saw my cousin Heidi today for the last time before I leave. She made some cupcakes, which were all eaten within a hour :P Yummy!! Thank you! It still doesn't feel real :( I don't think it will hit me until I arrive in Korea.

07.02.112 weeks!!

08.02.11
Spent the day packing my life away into boxes! Aaaarrrggghhh!!!! Maybe now it feels slightly real..

09.02.11
Last injection!! I had it in my right arm as it turned out my other arm, where I had the last injection, was infected and I should of seen a doctor. I also can't move my back and both legs, due to pulling them during the packing yesterday... not a good day :(

4 weeks....

Today, I received my contract from EPIK, after what feels like a lifetime of running around like a headless chicken. I practically ran to the post office before the day's last post collection (a whole extra day of waiting would feel like a lifetime!!). I had to spend even more money on this process for the special delivery envelopes...I'm going to be bankrupt after all the money I've spent on documents etc.

I came home and the first thing I did was book my flights, but not before my bank phoned to check I wasn't some dodgy person trying to steal my money....! My flights were quite cheap considering it's a good airline. It is costing me £363 with Qatar from Manchester to Seoul via Doha. I will only be in Doha for 1.5 hours, so the stopover is not that bad and I read they transfer your baggage all the way through so that will be one less thing to worry about.

On other news I had my final trip to the dentist for a checkup before my trip and my teeth are fine...thank goodness as I really can't afford the dentist at the moment!

Now to wait for my visa.....

5 Weeks to go....

I fnished my job today! I have never been so sad to leave somewhere before :(. I've worked with some great people before (Hayley, Laura, Kat, Katy etc) but I have never worked anywhere where I everyone was so nice and with whom I got on so well with!! I will 100% be keeping in contact with everyone!

We went out for lunch today and my manager made a speech and as I get embarrassed very easily, I went bright red! I actually very nearly cried  and I am not crying type of person at all. They presented me with a card and gifts, one of which was a pandora bracelet. The charm on the bracelet was a suitcase to remind me of everyone while I am travelling! It's the best present ever!! Thank you! I also got given a huge bag of chocolates and sweets, which I bet will be eaten by the end of the weekend :p

I just want to say thank you to everyone for the gifts and thank you for helping me in the last year!

I've now got 5 weeks off before I got to Korea. I don't know what to do in the next 5 weeks. I really should start learning Korean again as I only know the very basic greetings so far.... what to do...what to do......

Korea be scared! Laura is coming!!!!

Well you don't have to be scared but I would but a good pair of ear plugs haha!

Below is what my agency emailed me yesterday:-

"Arrival date - February 17th at Incheon International Airport (ICN) - Incheon, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan, Chungbuk, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeonbuk

Orientation will be held at Jeonju University

Arrival date - February 17th at Gimhae International Airport (PUS) in Busan

- Busan, Daegu, Jeju

Orientation will be held at Pukyong National University

Arrival date - February 22nd at Incheon International Airport (ICN)          

- Seoul

Orientation site to be determined

At both locations, EPIK will provide a free pick up service on February 17th from 7:30am-10:00pm on this day only.  You can arrive any time during these hours, and a shuttle will take you to the orientation site. 

They will also provide a free pick up service for SMOE teachers arriving on February 22nd from 7:30am-10:00pm on this day only.  You can arrive any time during these hours, and a shuttle will take you to the orientation site."

I'm so excited!! I can't wait for my NOA to come through my letter box so I can skip all the way to the Korean Embassy (well the post office at the end of my street who will send my papers to the embassy..) and send off for my visa!! Fingers crossed the visa process goes well!

Tomorrow is my last day at work. I'm half happy (no waking up in the dark!) and half sad as I love all the people I work with and will definitely be keeping in contact with them. In fact they are making me take a teddy from work around with me so I can send them pictures of it in various countries!

 

SCC bear!

I'm going to Seoul!!

Just had an email off my agency confirming that the Seoul MOE have accepted me for the February intake. Yay!! :) So excited and happy!! Now all I have to do is wait for my NOA, apply for my E-2 then book flights.....

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year! Hopefully 2011 will be a great year and I'll be working in Korea by March!

Last night, I went to a mates cocktail party for new years. We all had a laugh and enjoyed all the free displays of fireworks going off around her house. Thanks Lisa!!

Anyways I think it's time to think of New Year's resolutions!!

#1 - A simple one to start with! - Move to East Asia (Hopefully Korea!)

#2 - Links to #1 -Learn Korean (Though if I don't get accepted by EPIK, this is void!).

 

#3 - Don't plan every little detail! - I am a planner so I can't just randomly go on a trip. I have to plan the trip out for at least a few weeks - EVERY DETAIL! - So this year I am going to try and be more spontaneous!

#4 - Be more positive! - I will go to Korea, I will go to korea.....

#5 - Cut out the junk! - This year I ate more fruit and less junk food. My skin is more clear and I didn't get the flu this year, touch wood (first tme ever!). Though the Chinese tomorrow doesn't count as we planned it before 2011!!

#6 - Save Save Save - I need to stop going on oasis.com and spending money that I need to save for Korea. They have my size out there so I should be ok!

I think that's enough! Wish me luck that I don't fail at least two by lunch time

New Years Eve