I received another letter in the mail from the Peace Corps which informed me that my appeal was not approved. Perhaps it was a day or two ago. I was expecting to hear that, so I wasn’t terribly moved. I felt a little relieved, anyway. What with accepting (begging for?) this six-month contract at my school, shit would get complicated if I had to go through the Peace Corps’ extensive interview process. I’m glad that I know where I will be and can plan accordingly.
Archives for posts with tag: The Peace Corps
School started this Tuesday, but I don’t start teaching until next week. I’ll be teaching 1st and 3rd grade. What, no 2nd grade? Dear Briana, there is a God! (They are universally known to be the most difficult grade to teach.) First graders are the youngest, they are new to the school and to having to wear uniforms. They are scared and well-behaved. Third graders have a lot of daunting tests to pass to get into their high school of choice, so they have straightened up and act right.
I’m not teaching, so I’ve been looking at Peace Corps videos on youtube and watching Werner Herzog’s Encounters at the End of the World, about the folks (scientists and staff) who end up in Antarctica. Herzog is such a character. Obviously I have the Peace Corps back in my head. How I imagine it waivers between Avatar and Blood Diamond. (Yes, I’m being self-deprecating here.)
This is the start of my final semester teaching in Seoul. I feel like I’m in a lobby waiting to move on to a different part of my life. Just doing my time, finishing my contract. Of course, I’ve been on vacation for a long time, so hopefully I’ll feel some sort of immediacy back in my life, about my life here, instead of worrying about the next step. I must make sure I do what makes me happy and healthy here, and not put it off.
Speaking of not taking my own advice, the Peace Corps! It’s noble, though there are criticisms of the organization. That it’s an extended spring break for liberal arts majors is a thing I’ve often heard. That devalues a lot of individual’s work, and is probably inaccurate. I already have an idea of what it is like to live a foreign culture for a while. And what it is like when that foreign culture goes from adventure and intrigue at every turn to everyday life and pissing you off at times. I know the culture shock roller coaster. And the benefits when you come back seem pretty decent. There is a program called Peace Corps Fellows, and they help you out financially with masters and Phd programs. Also there is some nonsense about being more qualified for government jobs during your first year back in the states.
Joining the Peace Corps has dogged my imagination for a while, and if I’m going to be this interested it won’t kill me to complete my damned application.
Okay, taking my own advice. I’ve wanted to get my scuba diving license since I was eighteen, and there is a group about an hour or two out of Seoul in Suwon that offers classes. I’ve had a hell of a time finding them online though. My ankle is still healing, but I’d like to take a martial arts class again, but one much cooler than taekwondo. Hapkido, maybe? Something that kicks more ass. I liked working with my body, which was something I got out of those classes. I’ve never taken much interest in my body, which has been one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I probably would have kept with taekwondo longer if the instructor wasn’t the most emotionally abusive person I’ve ever met. I also had the misfortune of having one of my best friends here be ridiculously devoted to that man, which aided our falling out. C’est la vie.
Fuck it, I’ll even take dance. That’s how much I’ve changed!
