Finally made it!

Well I finally made it to South Korea! I can't believe I'm actually here! I'm so excited to have finally of made it and excited for the plane rides to be over.  It was quite the adventure getting from Pittsburgh to Seoul. Having to be at the airport at 5 a.m. allows no time for sleep between packing, having to say my goodbyes, and the nerves kicking in. Needless to say, I was tired by the time I got on the first plane. Packing is never easy for anyone when going away for such a long period of time. One year, 2 suitcases under 50 lbs. each, and my closet of shoes?? Not going to happen. After a long night of debate and annoying everyone around me, I finally was able to pack enough to make the weight limit. (Only to find out my scales were wrong and I could've packed more!) The morning arrived that it was time to pack up the car and hit the road. I've gone away before for lengthy periods of time, but this was more than before, making the goodbyes a little tougher. Knowing you'll be able to talk to my loved ones through skype is comforting, but it's not the same as seeing them in person and being able to physically give them hugs. One year with out seeing my family is the longest I have ever had to go. But the idea of what I was doing made me believe I was still making the right decision to move. It's giving me a chance to see new things and to embrace a new culture by living and not just reading about it. After making it through the baggage check, we came to security. This was the point were my parents and my boyfriend and I were forced to say our final goodbyes for sometime.  I was more put together than I thought I would be. I think I mentally prepared myself for sometime so I would be able to keep myself together. I made it through security and to my terminal with a short while until boarding time. I used my time to reassure myself that this was what I had wanted for some time and that it was something I felt I needed to do or I would later regret my decisions of not going.

 7:30 approached and the plane took off. Next thing I Knew I was in Chicago. An hour went by and I was back on the plane headed for Los Angeles.  After 4 and a half hours, we reached our destination. I had roughly two hours until my next flight took off. I had to take a bus at LAX to a different building where international flights took off. I got on the bus with the directions I was given, only to get lost. Luckily I found a guy my age moving to Australia in the same boat. With the two of us working together we finally found our stop and the departures area. At that point, we parted ways to our different airlines. My thinking was, make it through security, then find food. I had a long trip ahead of me. That was a bad plan. Once you make through security, food is hard to find.  I sat in the terminal as the plane approached. It was a two story plane that I had heard about but never been on. Lucky for me, there was a baby in front of me and a dog behind me that did not like flying! I also had a girl in the same position on the other side of the aisle. It was comforting to talk to someone else in the same position. We were both heading to the same country for the same job, (reading the same book). After a grueling 12 and a half hour flight. I reached the sign that said, "Welcome to Korea!".  I couldn't of been happier for that flight to be over, but my travels weren't over yet.  After 22 hours of waiting in airports in flying in planes, I had two more hours of driving through rush hour to get to my school's home office. Followed by one more short cab ride to my temporary apartment.

I have been here for four days now. So far, I have made the right decision.  I have sat in on many classes the last few days, both elementary and middle school ages, and even taught a few classes. It is nerve wrecking to teach since it is something I have never done before, but at the same time, I feel like it is something I am going to love.  I got my schedule and books today and have begun making my first lessons plans for my classes that begin on Tuesday evening. (Yes, I work 4:50 p.m. to 10:50 p.m.!) All in all, the long trip has proved worth it. (Minus getting lost a few times on the subway already!) Can't wait to tell you about my first week of teaching!! Stay tuned...

Peace & Love,
Elissa Rae