Wow! It hasn't even been a month and I'm back on! Talk about awesomeness. Here is my new update, and I think I might try to set up how I do blog posts differently, just because posting one blog post with 5 points of interest is what makes me wait so long to do blog posts. I mean, I have to have something happen in order to update it. But, for this blog post, let's just continue the format.
My Job. Now going on 4 months(okay, so 3 1/2), and I it's still going amazing. Like I said before, I got my raise, which is awesome, although I still seem to find myself with no money. But that's also due to other things, such as rent for two apartments, my old college debt, and my trip back home. I am feeling really comfortable with my job, and I feel that I could definitely do this for the next 3 or 4 years of my life. How I will feel once school starts up, though, is another story. So, this may change.
My Apartment. Still living in the apartment I moved into from my last post. I've definitely gotten used to it, but it isn't as home-y as I want it. I'd still like to get some shelves and a desk, because it does get a little over-cluttered. It's not a mess, but I do find that if something isn't put back right away, it can find it's way to the floor and just stay there for a day or two. Or twelve. But my roommates are still there. They are amazing and wonderful, and kind of keep up on housework. I don't usually spend a whole lat of waking hours there, so I don't really cook or dirty up the common rooms(living and kitchen), but I do try to help out every now and again, especially if things start to look halfway bad. Right now, I probably spend about eight or nine hours sleeping, which I am blaming on being switched back and forth to nights, so hopefully soon I'll be able to get it down to six or seven hours a day.
My Education. I HAVE IT ALL PAID OFF. I paid the rest of my old debt off about 5 days ago, and instantly registered for my classes. Luckily, all of the classes I chose were still open, which was my biggest concern. I have to wait until August 1st to order my books through my school and with my financial aid, but I think I'm going to go the Amazon route for most of my books. With my 5 courses, one has a book that isn't on Amazon, two currently have no book listed(at least right now), and one I can rent from Amazon, and the last I can purchase on Amazon. I know one of my books also has a study guide that goes with it, so I think I'm going to look for study guides, or other resources, to complement each of my books. Either way, I am so very excited. I have to wait one more month and 5 days before term starts, but I just can't wait.
My Korean. Still is simmering on the back burner, but I hope to bring it up to a boil soon. I have also been looking around at different resources to teach English in Korea, and I found CIEE, which is a $2,000 program, but that includes TEFL certification, workshops, some sort of insurance thing, and whatever else. It seems a bit steep, but it's definitely a possibility, but they work with EPIK, which I could just apply for EPIK without CIEE. E(nglish)P(rogram)I(n)K(orea) is for anyone with a Bachelor's degree. You either have to major in English, Teaching, or if neither of those, you can get your TEFL certification, or you could even go through the TaLK Program. T(each)a(nd)L(earn)(in)K(orea) is for anyone with an Associate's degree, or anyone who has completed two years of a Bachelor's degree. I think my next blog post will be dedicated to my thoughts on how I should do these programs.
My Home. I did go back home at the beginning of July, and it was amazing! I got to see my family, my best friend, some really good friends, my coworkers, and my customers. It felt really good to be back in my hometown, but so very stressful trying to fit everything in. I actually had to cancel a few of my plans, but new plans came up, so it wasn't too bad. I spent the 4th of July with my family at my sister's new house she just bought. We grilled out and shot of fireworks. Of course we did have sparklers and smoke bombs, and those worms! Or are they snakes? Either way. It was a very fun night. My next time going back will actually be the same day that my school term starts, August 24th. So, only a month out.
That's it for now. It might be a couple of days before I post another blog post(the one about my thoughts on those teaching programs), but I'm taking a day off tomorrow to go to a friend's family get-together and won't have time or access.
Until then, guys!
