The beginning...

I wasn't sure where to start this blog, and going into the whole story is tedious and unnecessary for most of the people that will probably read it, so I’ll just say that I’m very excited about moving to South Korea for a year to teach English and ignore the general reaction which seems to be “Korea… why?”
At this time: T minus 18 days. I am mostly overwhelmed by the immensity of all the things I have yet to do for my trip. I am currently still on the lookout for my motivation to get my apartment all packed up so I can go ahead and move out already. If anyone finds it please let me know. For right now I’ve taken to making lists (lists, lists, lists – I feel like Howard Hughes) and spending the bulk of my workday researching things about Korea, it’s culture and food and people, Daegu which will be my home for the next year, teaching ESL, Martial arts (the current obsession), Korean language or Hangul – I’ve got a few phrases so far - and pretty much anything else I can think of. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can before being there. My goal is to be fluent, or at least highly proficient, in Korean at the end of the year, and to have achieved confidence in my martial arts skills and my physical prowess. Basically I wanna be able to knock someone flat on their ass in 3.2 seconds if need be, but to harness my ki in order to live a harmony with the world around me (I’m a little full of shit but I love it).
For all intensive purposes, it seems that things are starting to fall into place. I’ve handed in my two weeks notice at work. I’ve set up all my bills to be paid from Korea. I’ve told all the people that need to be told. I don’t really think I’ve had that thing where it hits me that I’m actually going to be on the other side of the planet (Korea is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, btw) but I can imagine that that “Oh shit” moment will come when I see all my stuff all in suitcases. As my dad likes to say, “nosotros somos descendientes del Gitano Arrente” (not sure if that’s how its spelled) so this is it. I’m getting ready to be a gypsy again. I’m very excited to travel and see mountains and try new things. I’m scared about being all alone in a strange place. I’m sad that I’m going to be without my family and friends (hopefully someone will come visit me…come on Tati - new years in Tokyo). But more than anything I’m sooooo happy that my life once again has direction and purpose and achievement, and that – to me – is priceless. So this blog will hopefully serve to help me stay connected to everyone back in the US and so that anyone who cares can read about my crazy-interesting-different-new life in Korea.