December 29, 2009

The in between time

So it just occured to me that in less than 2 months I should already be in Korea.

Wow. Yikes. I'm trying to get a feel for how long that is, and it's roughly how long I've been working as a secretary which doesn't feel very long at all. I bet those 2 months are going to fly right by.

Meanwhile, there's the waiting. Right now the ball's not in my court. I sent all my documents to Korea a while back. Now I am just waiting to get a visa issuance number so I can apply for my E2-visa at the Korean embassy. After an interview at the embassy, assuming I get my visa, all that will be left to do is buying a plane ticket. Important things remain to be done, yes, but it seems much simpler and straight forward than when I first started this process, staring up from the bottom of the mountain. Now I feel like I've gone over the top and am sliding back done to the finish line.

But really, just getting to Korea will only be the beginning. There is so much more to come. It's been so long since I was in the classroom teaching that I worry I've forgotten all that I picked up. I really hope that I can hit the ground running. I've never really been a teacher before. I will have very real and steady responsibilities. 8 to 9 hours of work each day, 5 days a week. I can't help but wonder if I'm truly up for the task. Well I aim to give it all I've got. I suppose that's the best a person can do anyhow.

For now I'm just doing my thing, working part-time, helping here and there. I plan on going through all of my belongings and downsizing as much as possible. I don't like the idea of hanging on to possessions that really aren't necessary and I'd hate to leave a bunch of useless things behind to have to deal with a year from now. But then there's things like the dolls I want to save for my children one day. Childhood keepsakes, shells from Venezuela, things that are worthless to others but have such intrinsic meaning for me. I will be keeping some things that's for sure!

Well that's enough for now. Just thinking about how things are going to change before too long. Big time. I'd better be ready!

December 24, 2009

Being sick on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve. It is indeed a special time.

Unfortunately I am full-out, full-blown sick. Cold together with the works. I am so miserable. At night I have a hard time sleeping because it's all I can do to keep breathing and keep swallowing. I can't believe I'm getting my toosh kicked so bad with just a darn cold.

I wish I had energy to do anything. At least I made it to work everyday this week and managed to drive my granddad's truck up to Northern Virginia to spend Christmas with my immediate family. Yes, I worked from 9-noon today. First time in my life to work on Christmas Eve. But that's not the point. I don't think I started this post with a point in mind either.

I guess basically what I want to say is that in spite of being sick as a dog, I am still so thankful for this time of year where I am reminded of the wonder of my Savior's birth. How the Father lavished his love on me and called me to be His own. So much reason to rejoice! I will be rejoicing in my heart this season even though I'm slowed down, slightly incoherent and blowing my nose  and coughing every other second (Sorry for the tmi).

Jesus, I love you. Thank you so much for your sacrifice.

Now I will lay me down to rest and hope to find a couple, scattered hours of sleep. And a Merry Christmas Eve to all!

December 23, 2009

A Few of My Favorite Things

Just for fun. The Boundless Show definitely tops my list right now; the others are in no particular order.

1. The Boundless Show
2. Earl Grey Tea
3. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
4. Flickr
5. My trusty old Canon 20D
6. Peppermint Bark
7. Turner Classic Movies
8. Writing in notebooks
9. 22 inches of snow
10. Libraries full of books

December 19, 2009

Snowed In

I traveled up to Burke, VA for the weekend to see my good friend, Liz. It just so happened that my visit coincided with a huge snowstorm in the East Coast - possibly the most  snow I've ever seen in my life! So I have been happily snowed in with my parents and sister, playing games, watching movies, and drinking hot chocolate and eggnog. I did go out in the snow for a while today to "play" but finally got too cold and worn out because  my jeans got soaked and the snow was really deep. I have the same tired feeling I used to get after a day of swimming at the beach in Venezuela. So far we have 18 inches I think, and there are 6 more hours of snowfall left! I wonder if I'll be able to get out on the roads tomorrow to drive back home. Sure hope so because I have to get a week's worth of work done in 3 days in time for Christmas.

Here are a couple pictures from today:





















December 05, 2009

Family History on my Mother's Side

My great aunt, Wilma Talent, and her husband have been visiting here at my grandparents for the weekend. I decided to snatch up the opportunity to ask some questions about my heritage and those that came before me. My great aunt was happy to oblige and it was a lot of fun filling a bunch of links in my family tree.

I was most fascinated to learn about my great-great-grandmother Mary Knakel (pronounced Ke-Nackel). I may have discovered where I get my love of languages from! Apparently she could speak and write at least 8 languages. Terrific! There's a polyglot in my family tree and I couldn't be prouder to have her blood. I think she led quite a romantic life, in both senses of the word. At one time she was living in a convent in Czechoslovakia where she grew up and almost took her vows to be a nun and belong forever to the church, but for some reason she decided not to. My guess is it had something to do with my great-great-grandfather, Karl Knakel. He left for America and told her that once he could provide for her he would send for her to come be with him. Eventually he found work as a shoemaker so Mary traveled to the U.S. to join him. They got married in Chicago and lived there for a while. Karl also did some carpentry and cabinet making. In 1901, my great-grandmother Pauline was born, the third of 5 children from that marriage.

Pauline was very fond of her father, but sadly he died of cancer when she was only 8. Soon after that, her mother remarried a man by the name of Charles Kus who was also a shoemaker. This was only the beginning of hard times for her. Not only did she resent his taking her father's place, but her stepfather brought his own brood of children to join the already crowded home of 6 making it a family of 13. From that point on, Pauline felt that they had invaded her home and were taking away what was hers. She used to talk about how she remembered her Mama staying up late to sew clothes but they were usually given to her stepbrothers and stepsisters. When she was 13, Pauline's stepfather took her out of school and forced her to work at one of the many cigarette factories located between Richmond and Petersburg (They had moved down from Chicago at some point). Apparently, in those times you could smell tobacco just by driving in to Richmond. Pauline never went back to school but she did love to read quite a bit, as my grandfather told me.

My great-grandmother Pauline's life took a seemingly turn for the better in 1919, when on December 20th, at the age of 18, she married my great-grandfather Raymond Good Sr. in Hollands Springs, Virginia. I'm sure she was thankful to get away from her crowded home. Raymond worked for a time in the coal mines of West Virginia, but then took his wife and two kids (my great aunt Wilma and her brother Grover) back to the Richmond area. Soon after my grandfather, Raymond Wayne Jr. was born.

December 03, 2009

Sending off documents for my VISA

FINALLY, I have all of my documents ready to send for my E2-VISA. The last things I was waiting on were the authentications/apostilles for my diploma and my criminal background check. I thought these things were going to go through much quicker. I'm glad now that I picked a start date at the end of February so that I have sufficient time to get everything ready. Let's see, after I send my documents to Korea, I think I have to do an interview at the Korean Consulate to actually get the VISA. Maybe there's an in between step that I'm forgetting. Well it will all work out I'm sure. I just keep praying and asking God to smooth the process along and help everything to come in on time!

Lately I've been doing a lot of thinking but have been having a hard time disciplining myself to write any of it down. I do plan to do a lot of reading in the near future however. I finished Going Rogue a couple days ago (yes, I enjoyed it but I'm not going to be going all fanatical). Now I'm reading The Good Life by Chuck Colson and some Andrew Murray Books I have lying around. I am really enjoying Colson's book. It is extremely well written and reads like a dream. It's not an action-packed, thriller/pageturner, but it does have a way of drawing you in and sweeping you along. The book aims to discuss the purpose of life and how to live a life that matters. Really interesting stuff. I'm glad my aunt lent it to me.

Also, I've been helping out with the Pioneer Clubs at church. I am finally getting to know the girls in my group a bit better and this week I had the opportunity to lead their lesson by myself. It's been quite a while since the last time I taught a PG lesson. I think it was sometime in May before I left for Venezuela. In any case, I'm really thankful for a chance to help out even if it's just for a little while, but I have to admit it makes me miss my beautiful girls from last year. (I had the opportunity to help lead 7th-9th grade girls at my church in Blacksburg last year).

This weekend some guests are coming to stay at my grandparents so we have all been busy getting things cleaned up and orderly around here. I am realizing more everyday how much I love being busy and what a joy it is to have work to do. I hope to continue relishing the jobs I am given and work at them with all my might! Now I'm off to read about the "good life" before I drift off until another day.

*peace*