I cannot believe that it has been over a year since I last posted but it has been. I have been mainly updating the Natalie's World blog but when I made the decision to let John start the process of going to South Korea for two years, I figured at some point, I would need to get this blog up and running again so that I can update it with all of the happenings on that end rather than taking up room on the other blog which really is still the blog that is to be all about Natalie. So today, I have finally gotten that all done and now I can start updating everyone as to all of the going ons that are occurring as we prepare to leave the country.
If you are just tuning in now, I do have some entries about this in Natalie's World but for now, here are a few details. Back in late April, I made the decision to let John start preparations to teach over in South Korea which has been a lucrative field for John in the past. Okay, it's not INSANELY lucrative but considering the fact that John half the times doesn't even work full time, we're on food stamps, we're on state insurance, etc, it is DEFINITELY more lucrative for us. This was not a decision I came to lightly and it has been one that I have struggled with for the last four months mainly because it will be SUCH a change. But it has come to the point that something drastic must be done considering the current state of the economy in this country.
So now, we are getting VERY close to John having a job in Korea. He figures by this week sometime, he will know for sure. Currently, there are two that he is looking at. One is through the original recruiter that we went with for the first contract that he had to can because it was too far out into the boonies. The good news is this one is on the subway line and it's not far at all from one of the major cities and less than an hour from Seoul. This is good. What's not so good is that it starts October 11 (probably not until the 13th but the pay day is the 10th of each month). If we don't get the money together for the plane tickets for me and Natalie, we will not be together on our five year anniversary which is October 11th. That day is also my 28th birthday. If we do have the tickets to go, I'm just hoping that I don't end up spending that day on an airplane because that would kind of suck. We would have to leave here October 4th then spend the week somewhere until John flies out. Either that or it would be the 10th, we would have to pretty much go from here to the airport (which would be in Chicago anyway) and then Natalie and I would head back up to La Crosse with whoever ends up taking John down to the airport. So, just a couple of scenarios there.
The other position doesn't start until November 3rd. It is in Ilsan which John has lived before. He's shooting for that position since he's lived in the city before and liked it a lot. It would be a good fit for us but so far, he hasn't heard very much from this guy and the other recruiter has all of our stuff already and has even found us a two bedroom apartment (which hasn't been easy as a lot of these places are NOT set for families, most ESL teachers are single and right out of college).
There are still a TON of details to work out and time is quickly flying by. I hate that so much of this is done at the last minute, really it just drives me nuts and it is SO family un-friendly. But, in all honesty, this really is not meant to be a family deal, this is meant to be more for single people to do. Families tend to get in the way. It can be done, and there are recruiters who do just that but I think the problem there was getting the plane ticket for John. I'm hoping that somehow, it all works out for the best. There aren't really any other options otherwise.
In the meantime, I am trying to get ready for a rummage sale and start getting all the extra stuff we have out of the apartment. Ugh, you have NO idea how much stuff we have and most of it is mine with a bunch of it being Natalie's (how in the world did we accumulate SO much stuff for her in the last three years?!) Once I know more about the date, I can start making arrangements with my younger sister to pick up the big items that she wants including our couch and a few pieces of furniture including Natalie's crib. Yes, she's pregnant again, after two miscarriages and so far, so good, she's almost 11 weeks along and I think this one might actually stick, God willing. She's due March 24th so please everyone, keep her in your prayers for a healthy, LIVE baby. So once those details are hatched out and I get the two love seats out of here, that will help a lot as far as the space goes. But there is A LOT of stuff to get rid of and it is going to be an INSANE month/two months.
