A New Beginning

For those of you that follow Seoul Searching on Facebook, you know that I have been traveling for the past month and a half in Spain and Morocco.  It was a phenomenal trip marked by friendly people, beautiful scenery, interesting culture, and lots and lots of good food.  I traveled without worry and without haste so I could fully enjoy my vacation, which was a new, refreshing way of traveling for me.  The end of my trip was bittersweet; I would have loved to have stayed longer and explored more, but I knew that getting back to Korea was a priority.

I’ve been back on the peninsula for just over a week now and have to admit it feels a bit strange, mostly because I am returning with completely different reasons for being here.  This time, there was no job recruiter to meet me at the airport with a name card, no school staff member to explain the appliances in my apartment, and no co-workers or students to greet me with open arms.  This time, I am not returning to Korea as an English teacher.   

Over the past few years, I struggled in figuring out the next step and have been racking my brain for a potential life plan only to be unsatisfied with my decisions.  As it turns out, I had been paving a career path for myself during this time without even knowing it.   

Since I started Seoul Searching, I have subconsciously come to realize what I enjoy most: sharing Korea with the rest of the world.  It was only recently that I realized I could use the skills and knowledge I gained through blogging as points on a resume for my just-realized dream job: tourism marketing.

Although the details are still somewhat fuzzy, I will be focusing my efforts over the next year or so to expand and improve my skills to market destinations (specifically those around Korea) to locate a job that will allow me to continue to do what I love doing.  One of these efforts includes learning the Korean language.  In June, I will begin my studies at Sogang University to improve my language skills so that I may better understand Korean culture, more easily find the hidden gems of the country, and fluently communicate with all those  influential folks in the tourism industry.

I also have a few business projects and potential partnerships that I am developing which I hope to be able to share with all of you sooner than later.  Fingers crossed for their coming to fruition.

Last but not least, I will be focusing on Seoul Searching.  I appreciate the continued support of you, the readers, in helping me to realize my goals and dreams and would have not been able to do it without you.  I know I’m not as consistent or as organized or as well-spoken as other bloggers out there, but you're still reading, and for that I'm forever grateful.  

Although unemployment has its cons, I plan on dedicating my free time to producing more articles about life, travel, and culture in Korea and I encourage suggestions and comments to make Seoul Searching the best it can be.

I don't expect the nervousness brought on by this risky jump to subside anytime soon.  Still, I'm optimistic about this upcoming year and I couldn't be happier to have you all with me as I make this transition.

Stay tuned!