Never Eat Shredded Wheat ... Clockwise.

That's how I always remembered the directions. Well, I have a new one.

I just mailed out 2 big packages of documents in order to change my direction in life here. I have applied for 2 university positions. First choice is Hongik University in Seoul (English website), and the other is Busan National University of Education (English website).
I've always wanted to work with adults since, as many of you know, I don't really like kids. The little ones have grown on me, but I need a change. At uni, I will work half the hours I'm working now for around the same pay! Depending on the school I work for, I may have to find my own housing and in most cases university professors pay for their apartment. But, for me, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. I'd be working daytime hours and freed up to do other things - like prepare for grad school. Finally.

What did it take to apply? *sigh* Bear with me...
A copy of my university degree
Official transcripts
Copy of my passport and Korean ID card
Resume
Cover letter
Philosophy of teaching statement
2 letters of recommendation
Proof of employment documentation
Completed online application (with 3 essays!)
And a printed copy of said online application.
Whheewwww.

Now, we'll just have to wait and see what they think of all of that.

My Bad Luck

Last week, I noticed my rabbit, Tokki, wasn't drinking any water. After 2 days, I started to really worry. The next day I took him to the vet, who said Tokki needed an ultrasound and an x-ray. It was Friday, so I had to go to work. My vet text messaged me that the rabbit needed surgery immediately as he had found some kidney stones - one quite large. Well, this vet is just the guy at Home Plus, not a rabbit specialist by any means, so I headed to Naver to find a better one. Saturday morning, I had to skip my Korean class to make my way to a new animal hospital, rabbit-in-box in hand.
3 hours, 565,000 won, and a couple cries later I knew my rabbit was overall pretty healthy and actually had only one stone, but was scheduled for a major surgery with anesthesia.

Luckily, he made it through with flying colours and even scratched the doctors up a bit, feisty little guy! He's meant to stay at the hospital one more day, so I'll bring him home tomorrow morning. I went in to visit him today and found he's in a really nice, quiet, private room like rich people get at the hospital. Good thing, because after all, I am paying 40,000 won per day for them to take care of him.

This all happened at the same time that the MK guys are working on getting me a new house (mine's all moldy - eew.) and my applications were due for a new university job. Some luck.

My Good Luck

Last Saturday, Nov.1, we headed down to Kyungbook University to see a non-verbal performance in the auditorium. It was the opening to a week of the Korea in Motion Festival. We arrived early for the requisite speeches, fireworks, and shivering outside the auditorium. After seeing the mayor of Daegu and the chancellor of the university speak, there came an unexpected musical performance... NO BRAIN!! See the previous post if you are lost.

So, it was just cool, because I've never seen anyone that famous by accident. -And surely not for free! Plus, all the people sitting in the chairs had been bored by the speeches, so we were able to run up near the stage and get close. The lead singer was only a few feet away from me at times! They played 3 songs, including my favorite, which was the video in my last post.

It was a nice surprise.

Foreshadowing

No Brain - "넌 내게 반했어" (You're Crazy For Me); English title "Stand By Me" <2005>


I have known about this band, No Brain, for over a year and have loved them from the start. They are well-known Korean punk rockers who first began performing in 1996 and put out an album every few years.

Click here for the original Stand By Me music video and here for the No Brain wikipedia page.