3 in 1

I know it's a little late for writing about the past year, but it's my blog so I'll be late if I want to.

2009 was amazing. I don't know if I could say that it was my best year yet, but it sure was a lot of fun.

I started it off in the ROK. The last few months there were a blast. I think I was just busy soaking up every last delicious meal, night out with friends, Korean guy that walked past, coffee with friends and every ridiculous "only-in-Korea" moment. Most of the people that made parts of Korea hell were long gone and the ones that were still around weren't that important. It, like any other departure, was bitter-sweet. I knew it was time to leave and start something new.

I spent the next 6 months in Canada. The first month was in BC visiting friends and family all over the province. Then I basically just hung out for the rest of my time at home. I deserved to relax and enjoy the company of my loved ones. Looking back, I realize that it wasn't the most intelligent thing I've ever done. I saved so much money in Korea that I didn't think I needed to work while I was home. There was nothing I felt like getting a job doing so I decided not to work. In hind sight it would have been good for me to work even just a little bit to keep from making the huge dent in my savings especially when moving to Europe in the fall. Oh well, the summer was the best ever. I spent a lot of quality time with quality people and I don't regret that for a second.

My second home finally convinced me to come back. France was calling and I decided pick up yet again mid September. I was given a working visa for a year and I took off to find a job more on my own than ever before. To a lot of people this might just seem like another year putting off going back to school or getting a "real" job, but I can't imagine being anywhere else. Being in Paris is more difficult and challenging than my experiences in Korea and Canada combined. I'm trying to learn the language, but it's so difficult. It's hard to be doing a job that I don't love but forced to do it simply because it's so ridiculously expensive here. I try not to think about all the other things that I could/should be doing while I'm at work. I try to think about the fact that even though I'm supposed to be teaching them English I'm actually learning a lot of French through them. Kids are so challenging. These girls exhaust me, but for some reason they found me. There has to be a reason for the whole situation. I'm challenged working in an environment where I don't really agree with the rules (whether they are followed or not) of the house. Perhaps this is another chance for me to see things that I do or don't want to be a part of my life/future family...who knows.