Beaches, Mountains or Desert?

 (Don't Just Pick a Card Country, Any Card Country?)

I am down to the final three choices in deciding where I will go to teach next for this fall: 

Georgia (the Eurasian country!) Located between Turkey and Russia: Land of Mountains, Hills, Black Sea beaches

 

 

I wanted to go here before I went to Korea to teach. I was so exhilarated when I found out I had the opportunity to go here- partly because I was so excited that this was becoming a reality- being able to go on an overseas adventure to teach, I was thrilled, no matter where it was! I did research on the country and my enthusiasm remained and now that it's an option again, it has even increased! It sounds like it would be an amazing place to teach, it would only be 3 months and I'll be back home for Christmas and then off on my next adventure! It would be a unique experience, learning the language of Georgian and/or Russian, living with a host family and exploring the beautiful country that has a vibrant culture and interesting history.

Taiwan: Beautiful Island, Beaches nearby, Land of Tigers and Lions

 

 

I was originally going to teach here once I decided on Asia. Pause for a moment as I reflect on how different my experiences would have been in a completely different country with different people, different events, different opportunities, different doors and windows! I visited here on my New Year's break while I was teaching in Korea and it was a place I fell in love with - see my post here for more info on that! I knew I wanted to go back. I got the opportunity to visit the YWAM base in Taipei and knew I wanted to return to be in this amazingly awesome outreach missions training adventure program!

 Now I have the opportunity to go and teach in a missions school and then I could look at my options of being in YWAM afterward. The school year would be September to June and then I would be able to do YWAM the following September or March.


 It is an island, so there is the danger of flooding. I would not be right near the coast, but near enough that my area could still be at risk, though they do have a Flood Prevention Pumping station located nearby.




It sounds like a great community to be in and a great opportunity to develop more professionally as well as have great opportunities to reach out to the community here and learn more about the culture and language of Mandarin Chinese- which I would love to start learning!

 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Desert or Oasis?

 I did research on this country and learned that despite its challenges (wearing an abaya-learn more about it here from a Saudi girl's blog, strict rules and limited movement, no religious freedoms, etc.) It can be an amazing place as well to explore, you can go scuba diving, wind surfing and sailing and explore other countries as well. Getting experience as a university instructor (at an all female university) would be invaluable and would open up the door to other great opportunities as well. This would be a year contract and would allow me to pay off my loans, plus save some money, allowing me to pursue some of my other goals right after. It could be a dangerous location and would not have a lot of freedom, but would be excited for this opportunity and unique learning and teaching experience, as it is not a place traditionally open for tourists. It would also be a great time to write my book and devote time to that!

Got a bit of the travel bug yourself? Learn how you can work overseas too! 

Or See how you can teach and travel the world like I am doing!

I would love to hear about you, my dear readers, wherever in the world you are- tell me, where you are from and where you would want to travel- for vacation and where you would like to live and work for a year or so?

Which of the three countries above would you choose? Would you recommend your home country to travel to or work in? Where have you traveled or worked in- and would you recommend it? Please tell me in the comments below!

What is the next adventure?

Deck of Cards: Choose a Country

I am so excited as I think about what is ahead! It is really cool to be able to have this awesome opportunity to teach and travel. I never imagined that I would be able to choose virtually any country I'd like to teach in and spend a year or so there, very thankful to God for this awesomeness!

A close friend of mine recently told me that she had a vision of me choosing where I would go next and having so many options to choose from. She saw a deck of cards in front of me, each card being a different country. I hope to be used by God where ever I go, to learn all I can while I am there, to make new friends and broaden my perspective. I love learning about different cultures and want to leave a mark for the positive on those I come in contact with. 

Where to next? I have several choices now that I am seriously considering and am looking forward to the next year- I will be starting somewhere in the fall in a few short weeks and it is so cool to think that I could be in another new country shortly, even though I don't know where that is right now. 

How about you? If you had the choice to go anywhere for a year to live and work, where would it be?

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
C. S. Lewis

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/c_s_lewis_3.html#FL2Sb4PoCsSm0GK8.99

Don't let anything stop you-whatever your dream is, whatever your goal is, now is the time to start to make it happen! What do you really want? What do you want to accomplish? What is the dream you wish to pursue? You can make it happen!

"With the possible exception of the equator, everything begins somewhere." C.S. Lewis

More to come, this is just a short update- next posting will be more about the different countries I am considering- or maybe the one I have decided on! 

Countries in the running: (Which one would you vote for?)

South Korea

 Taiwan

Thailand

 Paraguay
Indonesia

Russia

Belize

Romania

China

Saudi Arabia

Belize 

Peru 

Turkey

Mexico

India

Nigeria

Greece
Georgia

Czech Republic

Japan

Italy

Israel

Brazil

The Journey continues- which boat to take? This is a photo I took of my travels in Thailand: on the beach where I stayed on Koh Phangan

Feel the Anticipation- my going to Thailand journal entry!

While I am off exploring Bangkok on my first full day here, I thought I would share with you my feelings (random musings included) with going to this oft-talked about city and country of Thailand. Here, for your viewing and reading pleasure is my journal entry (with slight editing and enhancements) written on the plane to Bangkok. I traveled from Seoul to Guangzhou, China and then to Bangkok. The total flight time was 6 hours 50 minutes. Ten hours, fifteen minutes if you count the layovers (I do) :

I am on my way to Thailand! I will be there in less than two hours if I have the time difference down right- it is 6:27pm according to my computer which is still in Korea time. (Thai time is 2 hours ahead of Korea, 11 hours ahead of New York.) Find out the time difference between Bangkok and your city here

I was having lunch with my friend before I left and was telling her how I don’t think it has kicked in yet that I am actually going to be going to Thailand- it’s like a dream, I don’t believe it yet. When we were getting ready for take off, though, I felt a burst of excitement. I then was amused with a foreign guy's antics (or lack thereof-foreign meaning non Asian. Since I had moved to Korea, I started using the term 'foreigner' to describe myself and other non natives of the country, sometimes this confuses/amuses my friends when I refer to myself as a foreigner. In Thailand, foreigners are called 'farangs' which is used mostly in the same way foreigner is and rarely used in a negative sense.) So anyway, this foreigner sat with the two Thai girls in front of me, only to shortly later get kicked out, because it was not his assigned seat. His smile in response to this was cheesy in my book, but to him I think it must have been an award winning cute, oh-look-you-caught-me smile, as he turned around and flashed his pearly whites to the girls who looked at each other and giggled (nervously?).  He cheerily explained to his bouncer, the Asian guy who owned the seat, that he thought the seat was empty. He then moved forward to his rightful throne seat in front of them.

New Experiences: free as a bird or learning why the caged bird sings?

As I sit watching this take place, more serious concerns fill my mind. I might not even be allowed in the country, as I don’t have what is apparently required: a return or outward ticket anywhere. So I thought I would go online at the airport or on the plane when I realized this and buy a cheap bus ticket or train ticket online to the nearest country. It’s not meant to be though. No internet. The airline attendant didn’t understand me at first when I asked about it. Some flights do have internet, so I thought it was a sure bet. It’s international from China, after all. I hope this doesn't mean I will end up in some type of tourist jail.

The attendant checking my bags in Seoul told me that China might give me some problems, so it would be up to me to solve it if they let me through. China didn’t give me any problems. (Did she mean the airline or the country?) The country didn't give me any problems anyway, Thank God!
But the Thailand entry cards they handed out hint to me that it’s a rather serious matter. They ask for your entry and return information- down to the flight (“or other vehicle: number).

A loudspeaker announces they are giving us the option to buy things while in the air. We can’t use internet to get a way out of the country, but sure we will let you shop in the sky. How do people get what they buy? I was wondering that on the first flight to China- and figured they wouldn’t keep everything on board. But my seat mate just ordered cigarettes. So maybe they do have some stuff available. I was thinking about the big and fancy items that you could buy from a plane. Now my seat mate is singing in quite a funny way, I must say, in a scratchy voice and a weird tune, as if he’s singing some mix of punk, and sad romance song. Not sure if I am into it. Followed by a phlegmy cough and a not so discreet spit into the airline barf bag. Maybe he shouldn’t have those cigarettes?

Okay, so I really can’t wait to get off the plan and into Thailand! Maybe I can make a run for it? Doubtful, as my luggage is way too heavy. Not to mention the heat. I really must pack lighter. Maybe some training would help too.

On the flight to China, we got off the plane and went down the stairs to go outside, which threw me off a little (along with no sleep the night before) as I don't think I had ever done that before in my limited flight experience (which consists of about ten planes to get to the jungles of Brazil and almost 30 hours total to get to Korea by 3 planes. Although on second thought, I may have. All those planes and switch overs in the Brazil jungles kind of blur together).

I don’t know if they had the cigarettes for my seatmate, I must be in luck. Not so for my seatmate? At least he will live longer?

I am scared about the heat, so I put shorts on underneath. It’s the hottest time of the year now in Thailand and it doesn’t get any cooler in the evenings. I booked a hostel for the first night in Bangkok.

I was thinking before how I felt a bit like the crew in Lost on the plane when they had to get rid of stuff to get the plane lighter as it was running out of fuel. I felt like that myself, having to take most of my stuff from my apartment with me, so it was very heavy and awkward to carry, which definitely will not bode well with the heat.

Here's to some trekking of my own- maybe a jungle trek?

So I was thinking of what I don’t need and was slowly trying to get rid of it. Left my umbrella at the airport bus stop- it was pouring out so someone will need it and I already got my use out of it- going straight to the airport so didn't need it anymore. Then I left my book that I was planning on giving away on BookCrossing- great site for readers/travelers on a bench in the airport- I know I know, that will not help me get into China if they suspect me of suspicious activity at the airport. But the fuel was running out and I had to drop things fast.

I changed the coins I had into bills since the banks apparently closed by 4pm  or so, which caused me to lug all the coins with my already packed luggage and carry-on. Not so good. Especially when it broke the paper bag it was in, sending all my stuff crashing to the floor of the bus as I was getting off. At least I was the last person on the bus. The bus driver was kind and tried to find a bag for me but only found a little plastic baggie type one. It worked for a few things, the rest I shoved into other bags.

 Now I am numbering off the items I will get rid of, looking forward to a lighter bag, even it if it a slow process- item by item , bit by bit, kind of like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. I had brought stuff I might take home, stuff I might use to volunteer and/or donate in Thailand as well as stuff I would need in Taiwan to teach and live there. But I must have the mindset of the Lost crew- if you are running out of fuel- what can go?

And believe me when I say carrying almost 20 pounds on each arm and on your back definitely makes you run out of fuel fast.

It makes me look at those massage chairs at the airport with a new sense of wonder and curiosity, that I might actually try one.

So looking forward to the beaches and the island and meeting the locals and learning the language and the full moon party and the Thai New Year (Songrakan) big water fight blow out!

I have been learning a little about the culture, and I'm ready to jump into the water with both feet. to dive into the water. to go deep sea diving. To get my diving instructor license!

But really, I would love to see if teaching here would definitely be something I want to do in the future! Right now, maybe not, because of finances. But definitely once I get those finances in order!  Imagine living and teaching on this beautiful country of islands and beaches and jungles? I can only imagine this and cannot wait! And I may just have to get that diving instructor certification while I'm at it!