Thursday, December 2, 2010

A Bucketful of Lists

In the following week to come before I depart for my year journey to the Hermit Kingdom (South Korea/Republic of Korea/ROK), I'm preparing myself from the future homesickness I will endure. I still have many tasks to accomplish before I can comfortably leave Minnesota. I have yet to tell my Grandparents. Fortunately, my Grandmother on my Mom's side, knew before she had passed away yesterday evening (my Grandfather passed away in 1995). This unexpectedness has my mind boggling that anything can happen in the following year.

I don't know the exact way to translate my message in Hmong to my paternal Grandparents that I am leaving in a few weeks, although I have the feeling that possibly one of my Aunts have already told them. How would I say it? Casually? Enthusiastically? Sadly? The Hmong language really can't be expressed with emotions, I have realized, unless it's about love and hate, both consisting of many tears and lots of yelling. Why does this matter anyway? Due to my family circumstances that have happened in 2010, I want them to know that I am not running away from the situation or neglecting my obligations as a daughter, whatever that may mean. I'm simply living out my life in the world as an educator.

I am on a time crunch. I have to make a quick run to the bank to copy and notorize my diploma (again) and drive across the street to the MN Secretary of State office to apostille the notorized diploma copy. Then, head to wash the family's laundry (I can't help being so available to my family). Hit 2PM (no pun intended), my eldest sister, Mom, and I are headed to Chicago for my 10AM interview with the Korean Consulate.

My packing list is all over the place. I absolutely am packing a bottle of Smirnoff, cans of Dr. Pepper, and couple of Saigon-wiches. Something has to relieve my stress that I will endure the minute I land on Incheon's landing strip.
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Monday, November 15, 2010

Status Update: Waiting Hurts My Ass

Last Monday, I sent all of my documents that I have acquired throughout the month of October to my recruiter's office in Seoul. FedEx's tracking system reported that my recruiter, Scott, received the package. Scott is usually responsive, so I had assumed he would e-mail that he had gotten everything.

Thus far, I haven't done shit for the past week, other than go to work and the chiropractor to make the days go by faster.

Status update from Scottie:

your case no rpoblem

we are waiting your visa issue number

it takes 10-14days

i will le tyou know as soon as I get

thank hyou


Actually, I am lying when I say that I haven't done "shit" the past week. I've been visiting bookstores to find any book on travelling or English grammar. Out of all books, I did picked up Eat, Shoots & Leaves. Reading the book made me irritated because the author's tone itself sounded irritated toward people who just don't know or understand the English grammar (I even heard her British accent while reading), so I've decided to stop reading it and exchanging it for a reference book. I point this out, because obviously from Scott's e-mail, he needs a little help too. But I'm not going to be the one to point his errors out, not until my ass is in my apartment in Yeoju come this December.