The year is coming to an end!! AGAIN! I swear it was just New Years Day a few weeks ago.
When I think about this year, I realise that I have actually done a lot, but the time seems like it has gone so fast!
So, here is a recap of my year!
January
I actually don’t remember much about last January. The main thing I remember was, I forgot my sisters birthday and I was sad about that for about 2 weeks. Oh! And I had the chance to work with my best friend, known to you guys as Johnny Bravo. Now that I think about it, this month was pretty important. My boss who I adored, left the school and was replaced by another amazing person, but it was only for a few weeks. So when my old boss came back, he fired one of the staff members in late December. In January, my boss asked if I knew anybody who needed a job. I brang in my best friend and he started working on the same day! Even though I only worked with him for a month, it was great!
February
My company was bought by new owners at the end of January. Since the school semester starts in February in Korea, most of the teachers at my school were let go or decided it was time for them to leave. I was nervous as I was the only foreign teacher left as unfortunately, Johnny Bravo couldn’t work any longer.
I watched my first kindergarten class graduate and I was able to pick which class I wanted to teach next.
I moved apartments, to the best apartment I have had yet.
When the new teachers came, I made a great friend who I am sure I will stay in contact with even when she leaves Korea. I also met a teacher who I hated.
And then, I was promoted to Head Teacher!
March
In March, I finally went back to London for one week! It was amazing to see family and friends again but it was obviously far too short.
When I got back to Korea, I was working and my work load kept increasing. I didn’t mind since I love responsibility.
One of my best friends, Wizard of Oz, followed the yellow brick road back home. =( Sorry that I am not sorry for that horrible line.
April
In April, I got my kitten Aurora! A co-worker of mine told me about a pet store where she got her kitten and she also told me about a kitten that was in the pet store. I went along out of curiosity and also because I needed a pet. After seeing my baby Roari again when I went back to London, I realized I needed a fur baby with me. I went to the pet shop, I fell in love with her, I asked the vet to keep her for me, I went back the next day and got her. The best decision I have ever made in Korea!
My birthday! Johnny Bravo gave me the best birthday party ever! But I knew that I would be saying goodbye to him very soon.
May
Johnny Bravo had to leave Korea and I was heart broken. After just saying goodbye to The Wizard of Oz in March, my baby brother Johnny Bravo had to leave too. I cried like a baby on many occasions. But even though he is back in England, I think of him everyday and we speak to each other as much as possible. I love you Johnny Bravo!
June – August
I don’t remember much about these months. Summer in Korea is always a blur because the heat. I remember being heart broken by the infamous Model.
I also remember that my boss resigned and this is when my year started to go bad. As you guys have read in my previous blog post ‘Goodbye.’ I had a terrible time at work after my boss left.
September – October
From September to the 15th of October, I went through hell. I couldn’t decide if I was going to continue on in my job or if I was going to find a new job. I ended up leaving on the 15th of October after arguing with my director about my severance pay. When I got my pay, I left. The following week, I had an interview in an amazing place. English Village. And I got the job on the day that I went to the interview. I started working the following week. But with a new job, I had to move houses. While I was moving back to Seoul, I knew my apartment wasn’t going to be as nice as my old apartment but I had no choice. So I moved and you can read about it here.
November – December
In November, I settled into my job and actually started teaching. I also met an amazing guy. I knew him for a while before, since I was living in Bucheon, but things only got serious in November. The problem is, he lives in Gimpo, but we are making it work by taking turns to go to each others houses over the weekend or sometimes during the week.
Even though our relationship is new, it has been a little bit stressful at times. He speaks the tiniest bit of English, so I have to rack my brains for all my Korean. And then sometimes we have miscommunication problems because of culture. But most of the time, I am so happy to be with him and this seems to be the first proper relationship since Prince Charming.
I don’t want to jinx anything though!
And now, it is exactly one week until Christmas! I was hoping to be able to spend this Christmas at home with my family, but since I had to change jobs, I can’t take a holiday and the downside of working at an English village is that we have a winter camp that starts the week after Christmas. So no break. On the plus side, I have someone who I am in a relationship with to spend Christmas with this year! Considering Christmas is a couple holiday in Korea. How many times am I going to say Christmas? Christmas.
I am looking forward to what the new year will bring. I am thinking about what my new years resolution should be. Even though I usually don’t keep them!
I hope you all had a great year and I will try to update again before Christmas! If not, Merry Christmas and my next post will be about what I did, if I do anything interesting.
Dina Daily 