Obsessed...

When I get something in my head, I become obsessed! Since the day I applied to the recruiting company (www.footprintsrecruiting.com) all I have been studying and thinking about is how it would be to live in Korea. I wonder what will be different, the same, scary, embarassing, inappropriate, rude, completely strange but acceptable... I have stalked my school, random expats, video bloggers, plain old bloggers, bought Korea books, been gifted Korea books, and had a panic attack or two. Overall, I feel like I am ready to tackle the adventure that awaits me. I would like to share some of the things I know about Korea that I didn't know before with you all... just in case you want to visit. Hopefully I will follow these rules and not look even more like a fool when I arrive.

Things not to do in Korea:
1. Blow my nose in public
2. Wear my shoes inside (including some restaurants and all homes/schools, etc...)
3. Expect a closed shower in my 250 square foot apartment
4. Introduce myself
5. Pour myself a drink
6. Eat my noodles first
7. Pass food, accept drinks, or offer gifts with one hand
8. Spear my food with my chopsticks
9. Lay my chopsticks across my plate or bowl
10. Hug, pat someone on the back, or physically touch people

It's going to be weird. I LOVE blowing my nose. It is such a great feeling. And shoes.... I have shoes I have been saving for years so I could show them off when I got my first teaching job. Too bad the students won't get to enjoy them and the other teachers won't see them in order to compliment me on their awesomeness. As for not introducing myself, that is like my most favorite thing to do. What if the person who does introduce me does a really lame job?!?! What a tragedy that would be! Someone told me that if you eat your noodles first the Koreans will joke about you getting fat. I don't need any of that nonsense. Using two hands is always a good thing in my book, so I am down with the not using one hand rule. Also, I have a pretty good handle on chopsticks and we get to use spoons for rice, so there shouldn't be any spearing issues. The worst rule of all though - the no hugging or other physical contact. Anyone who knows me even a little knows that I am a crier and a hugger. That will be tough, but once I make some nice expat friends I should be able to get a hug or two. I am sure after a little while I will NEED one.

No update yet on the visa situation. Hoping it is soon. First teaching/training day is hypothetically in 1 week!!! More to come when I know more.