Tattoo Taboo's

I just recently had a phone interview with a prospective employer in South Korea for a teaching position. We spoke for nearly a half an hour, and I thought things were going great. I was prepared, I answered quickly and intelligently, and I ended up keeping her engaged with my own set of questions towards the end.

However, as the conversation ended something strange happened. She asked me if she could ask me a personal question, and I could chose to answer or not. I said yes of course, I mean why would I say no right? She then stated she was inclined to note on my application ( and I suppose for her own personal opinion) to ask whether or not I had any tattoos, if they were visible, and if any, what they were.

Ah dios mios. As soon as she asked I knew that this wasn't a job I was probably going to get. I do in fact have two tattoos. One in the middle of my back, and one on my right ankle. And you know the ironic thing here? I've been researching Tattoo Removal for the past few months, hoping to get the one on my ankle removed before heading to Korea. But since I have about two months before that happens, I can't really say that's actually going to happen.

My tattoos are not offensive, large, or even that intrusive. However, I do hate the one on my ankle and have wanted it removed for quite some time. It is such an internal battle for me because sometimes I go through periods of times that I feel like I could care less about my tattoos and I think they're kind of cool because they represent an experience in my life. I got them both on a trip to Thailand when I was 16. Wild right? Cool story right? Well wrong. I could care less about the one on my back merely because I never see it. The one on my ankle....eeek...I am ashamed to even say what it is out loud. A typical butterfly intertwined with a heart and blah blah blah. Typical right? Disgusting right? But hey, I was 16 and in Thailand. Although I wish I would have picked something else, and who knows what I was thinking at the time, it's there...and it ain't coming off any time soon.

So here's the dilemma. I've always had trouble in professional work environments with my ankle tattoo. Feeling that I always have to hide it, or cross my legs in a certain way so people cannot see it. Usually it's not even a problem, more of a problem for me really than an employer. However the fact that she asked, means she probably doesn't approve of them and won't hire someone with visible tattoos. Apparently she's had problems with Americans coming over having very offensive tattoos, and South Korean parents do not tend to like them. Well I don't think that they'd be offended of my silly little butterfly, but probably just the fact that its there. Since I believe the Korean culture appears to be a little more conservative than my Western American culture...I might be at a little disadvantage here. Which bottom line, sucks.

It's frustrating to me because all I want to do is be on my way to South Korea. Hopefully I'm being over-paranoid (Me?! No Way!). And hopefully my Thailand regrets (there were many other than the tattoos, haha) will not hinder my way of getting to South Korea.

I'm still counting down the days to South Korea, and counting down the days where I might have my tattoo removed, or even counting down the days where I don't care anymore. But as much as this hurts to say, you were right dad. Go ahead. Muck up my shame. :)

TEFL or not to TEFL?

This question has haunted me since the beginning of my college career, when the first little thoughts flickered into my brain about teaching English abroad. Oh the in-experience of Americans wanting to run away to frolic in foreign lands. (Yes I did just say frolic).

Despite the verdict heard 'round the world, and the fear the Amanda Knox trial might instill in some American travelers, I'm still puttin' on my hiking boots and headin' out East. East Asia that is.

I've been gathering all documents possible in order to live, work, and travel in South Korea and other parts of Asia for the past two months. But along the way I have been getting little snip-its here and there from people saying I should really obtain a TEFL Online Certificate before I go over to Korea. With a certificate it is said that I will be offered more positions, a higher pay and be better off prepared to teach English. The appeal to teach in Asia for Americans is extremely high, and that I believe is for one reason. You don't have to have experience to teach! But times are becoming harder, and things for Americans might not be as easy as they once were to jet-set over to Asia for a year or two.

However now I am faced with this challenge. Do I take the TEFL Online course before I go over, do I take it and complete it while I'm over, or do I just take my chances and hope to find a job without the certificate? My main problem with taking the 100 hour online course, is that it costs money. Money that I don't have right now as I am saving every penny to pay for the amazingness that will be Asia.

I'm also hoping that in a few years time I will return to my love affair with Spain, and hopefully find a teaching position in southern Spain. And alas, just my luck, teaching in Europe is a whole other ballpark than teaching in Asia. They are actually quite competitive, they require a course, a certificate, ample amounts of teaching experience, AND they're not too keen on hiring Americans. Getting a visa to work in Europe is like getting my mother to admit when she's wrong. It just ain't gonna happen.

So do I fork up the cash, sacrifice the time, complete the course and hope that it significantly helps my job opportunities in Korea? Or do I put another coin in the slot machine and risk it?

Thoughts?

Just For Today

Just for Today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for Today I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Just for Today I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires, I will take my "luck" as it comes, and fit myself to it.

Just for Today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for Today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do --just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt but today I will not show it.

Just for Today I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests : hurry and indecision.

Just for Today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.

Just for Today I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

Where I've Been & Where I'm Going

As I plan out the next adventure in my life, I've decided to re-count all the places I've been and all the places I hope to go. It is absurd how big the world is, and everyday is one day closer to my next big goal : Asia.

*Where I've Been:

• Cuidad Juarez - Mexico
• Sintra, Lisbon, & Setubal - Portugal
• Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz, Ronda, Nerja, Jerez - Spain
• Paris - France
• Florence - Italy
• Koln, Marburg, Frankfurt, Ingoldstadt, Munich - Germany
• Zurich - Switzerland
• Luxembourg City - Luxembourg
• Bangkok - Thailand
• The Bahamas

*Where I'm going (in Asia):

• Seoul - South Korea
• Hong Kong, Beijing - China
• Tokyo - Japan
• Philippines
• Indonesia
• India

I have been to most of the southern parts of Europe, but am hoping to get to so so so much more. I am absolutely in love with Europe. And I can't wait to go everywhere up North, and then over to the UK. (I'm dying to go to Scotland!). But as I plan all this traveling, I have to keep a little perspective going, and bring myself back down to reality too sometimes. I'm hoping to accomplish Asia in the next year. And from Asia it seems only plausible (and EXTREMELY exciting) to hit up Australia and New Zealand too.

So....South Korea is next and I'm working hard to get there. I can't even begin to think about Africa or South America, I want to go everywhere! In the next year I believe I can accomplish Asia and that's just what I'm planning on doing.

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Nachos Anyone?

So. Since the last time I posted (still trying to get used to keeping up with the actual writing of the blog), I have been brain-storming like crazy. A world tour?! By myself?! It's going to take a lot of preparation and planning on my part. BUT, I do have a solution and a first destination.

Korea.

Yep. If you know me you're probably wondering..."Kate, YOU are going to ASIA?" Yeah yeah yeah, we all know I lived on Oahu for quite some time and was a little..."confused" you could say with the Asian culture at times.

But Korea seems like the perfect place to start to see the world, not to mention a great place to earn a living as a foreigner to save up for the rest of my journey. I owe a lot of this spark of excitement to my good friend Nacho. Don't ask about the name, just accept it. Love it. Roll with it.

I will have to elaborate on this Mission Korea plan a lot in the next few postings. But for now I am so overwhelmed with the amount of paper work and documents I need to collect in order to obtain a Visa to even be allowed in Korea. I apparently need my college diploma (am I sure I graduated?!)...well I can't be too sure because I can't seem to find my actual diploma. You know, the real one. Not the fake piece of paper they give you while you walk across the stage. SO, if I can't find my real one I have to order a replacement. Which could take up to 10-14 weeks the girl told me at UH. And if I know Hawaiian Time....it just ain't gonna be anywhere near 10-14 weeks. So I'm a little worried about that.

My time frame is February and/or March of next year to actually be in Korea working. So yes, that does give me about 3-4 months. However, with the ordering of the diploma and the criminal background check that takes weeks as well, I just hope I can get it all done. And done right. If it's anything like the Visa I had to obtain to study in Spain...whew....I'm in for the long hall of frustrating phone calls, angry emails, and dis functional faxes.

Nacho and I went to high school together back in Eureka. He's been living in Korea now for over a year, and loves it. It's kind of cheating because he's half Korean, but hey, gotta take advantage of those roots. But he has successfully sold a great allusion to life in Korea. Count me in!

I have a plan. I have a first destination. I have a time frame. And I have Nacho. That's all I need to get this kick ass World Adventure started.

Thoughts?

~Constructive Thinking~

So I woke up this morning feeling really confused, angry, and....old. Yep. Old. I know what you're thinking. I am only 24, coming up fairly soon on 25 haha. But I'm old. Bottom line. I tried to lay in bed for awhile before getting up for coffee to figure out why it is I feel this way. The answer to feeling confused and angry are easy actually, and that in some way is comforting. I'm confused about why in the last month what I thought my life was going to be just suddenly came crashing down because of one person. And I'm angry because how dare I let all my dreams and hopes rely on one person who can so easily bring them down?

But the answer to feeling old took me a little while longer to figure out. Here is how I figure it, and hopefully how I propose to fix it (cross your fingers). I went to high school, and a few months later attended college. Although I did transfer colleges a few times, I graduated with a degree I was rather interested in. I travelled as much as I could in college, and even studied abroad. So I did everything right....right? In life it seems everything is laid out for us in some sort of a time-line. High school, college, career, marriage, kids...maybe. But what if, I don't want a career? What if this whole time I've been thinking I'll just float along in life, dreaming of new things, and hope that someday something (or someone) will just up and grab me and that'll be my answer? Well I think it's safe to say that whatever life I thought I had floated onto, has just informed me that I will no longer be continuing on that path....and will have to create a new one.

Me?! Create my OWN life...ewwww. That sounds really friggin' hard if you ask me. But I've been brainstorming, and even though I feel really old this morning, I gather I'll be feeling even older if I don't start makin' moves so to say. So I'm just going to say it. Hopefully saying it will lead to actually trying to do it.

I am going to travel the world! Really...I am. That's going to be my career. Yes I am aware it is expensive, dangerous, and a lot of work. But what if I do make traveling my career? Initially I figure I'll have to save a big chunk of change to get me started. But once I'm off, flying to another country, I hope to travel my way as long as I can. Either until my money runs out, or until I find whatever it is I'm looking for. I can elaborate on my plan later, but wanted to actually get it out on paper so I can come to the realization that this is something I'm working towards.

When I was living on Oahu, I lived right on the beach on the 18th floor of a building called the Trade Winds. My roommate and I used to stand by our balcony and watch the people below, or the sunrise or set. It used to be a running joke we had, but whenever I would come up to the balcony I would scream, " Hello World!" at the top of my lungs. Well now I think I'll take that quite literally.

Hello World. Goodbye desolation.

Please Don't Take These Memories From Me

During my last backpacking trip through Europe, I had an amazing time. I was happy in many of the moments I spent in Europe, until the end....So before I cover up my moments with anger, regret, resentment, or despair, I want to write down the memories that weren't these things. I will write the place, and a sentence to trigger the most memorable moments. But nothing more or nothing less, because at this time it's all I can do without breaking down.

1. Paris - The best dinner with the best company.

2. Madrid - Finding my way back around the city, proving to you I am a Spanish speaker.

3. Malaga - Absolute perfection. Meeting the Swedish King, Falafal City, Running to the Castle, each other.

4. Sevilla - The Longest Bike Ride Ever.

5. Ronda - Botz (Crazy Englishmen) The coolest hostel I've ever stayed at.

6. Switzerland - Non-existent.

7. Ingolsdat- Home for you, comfort for me. New friends, exciting endeavors.

8. Munich - Losing you.

Either way the end of the day will find me....

....and I can't quite figure out what is worse, the end of the day or the beginning. However in this rare moment of clarity, as I'm sure it will pass, I will be calm just for a minute. Maybe tomorrow I will be calm for a minute longer, an hour, maybe for today.

And just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, keep my voice low, be courteous, criticize not one bit. I won't find fault with anything, nor try to improve or regulate anybody but myself. But just for today.

Day One- of the rest of my life

So, I'm fairly new to all this blogging hoopla, but I'm hoping by jumping on the band wagon of blogging will help me rediscover how amazing the world is. I have moved back home for a little while to "find myself" if you will. The life I thought I was going to have, the person I thought it was going to be with....is no longer. Everyone has experienced this kind of bump in the road, this kind of complete and utter heart break, this kind of devastating loss. But my question is, how do we go on from this? How do we keep going when it seems there is nothing on the horizon?

It is easy to say, 'find yourself', 'find a passion', now it is time to find what makes you happy. But what if the answer to that question is I DON'T HAVE A CLUE! Is the rest of my life going to be a series of these wonderful moments that eventually come to an extreme halt, and have to rebuild time and time again? Is it worth it?

So I've decided today will be the first day of the rest of my life. I hope that with this blog I can revisit this time in my life where I thought that I could not go on. A month, 6 months, a year from now I can look back at where I was and appreciate where I'm going. I hope and dream that I can make it out of this hole, that my life can be recounted with the people I encounter on here, and the personal progress I've made by inviting the world to share our dreams.

The one thing I love about life is how there always seems to be a perfect song to represent exactly what you're going through. As raw and bitter as this song is, no matter how sad or hopeless it is, it's how I feel. And I will embrace it. I will accept it.

'Love Will Tear Us Apart'/Susanna and The Magical Orchestra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHhVydgvuAc