Day 112: Last Day

It was my last day of teaching today at my school here in Korea. I am now officially unemployed and living in a foreign country - crazy!!! It was a sad day at work, saying goodbye to all my students at the end of each class. I don't think the younger ones really get it that I'm going and not coming back...they'll definitely clue in though when they don't see my face around there for a while! My older kids were so sad to see me go! They all gave me big goodbye hugs and I had brought my camera so we took a bunch of photos. At the very end of the day, when I went to go leave, the kids didn't want me to go, so they were doing everything possible to keep me there. They stole my shoes, hid my books, and blocked the doorway so I couldn't exit! It was really cute and sweet to see how much they care about me. They're great kids and I'm really going to miss them. I wish them all the best in their lives. I told them I'd come back and visit sometime, which I do hope to do sometime once I get my new job worked out.

I have some news on the job-searching front - I have a job interview already! The one school in Seoul that I was interested in wants to have a phone interview, however, they want to have it on Saturday! I told my recruiter that I was going to be out of town until Wednesday night and apparently the school doesn't want to wait... I'm kind of annoyed that they gave me less than 24 hours notice for a job interview, and that they can't wait like only few more days, especially considering that the job doesn't start until July. Whatever. I booked the trip before I found out about the job interview, so if I lose this position I don't really care. There's plenty of others out there - if I don't get this position I know there'll be others I can apply for. Like I said earlier, I'm willing to be patient and hold out for a really good job. No more bullshit!

Brad also put in a good word for me at his school, and he says there's going to be some openings very soon at his campus. However, I don't really want to work way out in Ilsan. I know that it's a great school and an awesome company to work for, but I really REALLY want to get a job in the city. I hate commuting, I hate suburbia, I hate being so far from all the cool stuff in the city. If Brad, Andrea & Steve were going to be in Ilsan for a while longer I'd take it, but Brad and Andrea leave next week, and then Steve leaves in July, so what's the point if none of my friends are going to be around out there? Brad's gonna check and see if there's any openings at a Poly school in Seoul so I have my fingers crossed for that one.

Brad invited me to come check out his school tonight after I got off of work. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. It took me much longer to get out to Ilsan than I thought it would (2.5 hours from my house!) By the time I got out there it was too late to see the school and I was in SUCH A BAD MOOD. Between being frustrated over being unemployed and job-searching (I hate job-searching) to the heat and humidity to spending two and a half hours on the subways in rush hour and then getting to Ilsan too late, and being really hungry, I was feeling really *really* cranky. Fortunately the good company of my friends put me in a much better mood, and plus I was really excited about the weekend plans. We had a late night dinner at LaFesta, and then rented a movie (Cold Creek Manor - a bad movie - don't bother!) and then went to bed.