Here we go. The final months of my time in Korea. I am officially leaving my job on August 31st, and my mom and I will return to the US on September 26th. This is later than I had expected, and I suppose hoped for, but it is good to have a definitive date. My plans for after I return to the US are still slightly muddled. However I am very excited to see all my family and friends back home, and to meet my new nephew Levi!
When I came home from the hospital, I slept in a drawer. Levi has a crib though, don't worry, it was all for show!
I received an e-mail the other day from the State Department, alerting interested applicants that the language bonuses and process has changed again. However, this time it's at least somewhat in my favor. They have reduced the knowledge requirements for Arabic, and have increased the bonus for if you do well. You are able to take the language assessment after you pass your interview.
I still don't know if I can get to the interview this time. I hope my year in Korea will help distinguish me from other candidates my age who have only spent their lives in school. But I definitely will need to do something to get my speaking up to par. In DC I'm sure there would be a tutor or a class somewhere. However, I have also always thought about returning to Cairo or even Beirut for an intensive summer course. So do I do it this summer, or wait until next? Or self study? I'm not sure at this point, but hey that's why I have 3 more months in Korea plus a month traveling with my mom to forget that I actually have to make choices about my life.
The last month I have visited Gyeokpo Beach, which is about an hour west (as the crow flies, but not as the bus drives) from Jeonju. We also later in the month for Buddha's birthday visited Busan (my second time). We went to the aquarium and hung out on the beach. The weather was very warm and nice--much better than my first trip to Busan--but the water was still cold.
There were many interesting rocks and cliffs on the beach.
And of course great views!
Another great view!
When I came home from the hospital, I slept in a drawer. Levi has a crib though, don't worry, it was all for show!
I received an e-mail the other day from the State Department, alerting interested applicants that the language bonuses and process has changed again. However, this time it's at least somewhat in my favor. They have reduced the knowledge requirements for Arabic, and have increased the bonus for if you do well. You are able to take the language assessment after you pass your interview.
I still don't know if I can get to the interview this time. I hope my year in Korea will help distinguish me from other candidates my age who have only spent their lives in school. But I definitely will need to do something to get my speaking up to par. In DC I'm sure there would be a tutor or a class somewhere. However, I have also always thought about returning to Cairo or even Beirut for an intensive summer course. So do I do it this summer, or wait until next? Or self study? I'm not sure at this point, but hey that's why I have 3 more months in Korea plus a month traveling with my mom to forget that I actually have to make choices about my life.
The last month I have visited Gyeokpo Beach, which is about an hour west (as the crow flies, but not as the bus drives) from Jeonju. We also later in the month for Buddha's birthday visited Busan (my second time). We went to the aquarium and hung out on the beach. The weather was very warm and nice--much better than my first trip to Busan--but the water was still cold.
Gyeokpo Beach
If you want to check out the entire "Gyeokpo Beach" album, click here!
It was a cool and cloudy day, but the outing was just what we needed!
There were many interesting rocks and cliffs on the beach.
And of course great views!
Another great view!
Busan
If you want to check out the entire "Busan" album, click here!
The water at the beach was still very cold!
You could actually see horizon!
Of course, there were many pigeons to be found.
We went to the aquarium in Busan on our second day. I was really impressed with it! I got to see penguins!
A worker was transporting a baby penguin. It's very blurry, I luckily had my camera on at the right time and it took my brain a minute to process what was happening. The guy was running so he wouldn't get mobbed by the crowd screaming "baby penguin" I suppose.
What a massive fish.
Sea anemones!
Dun dun..dun dun...
My favorite part of the whole aquarium visit however would have to be the two baby beluga whales they had. I took a video of them for two minutes on my camera, I'm quite impressed how well it turned out. Don't worry about the shark you see occasionally, they were separated by a transparent wall.
Best, Karin
