AND, all signs are telling me not to return to Korea. In a world where all goes according to plan, I would already be back in Seoul, and I'm sure my kimchi jjigae cravings would be considerably less and my delicious cheese cravings would be through the roof. However, obviously things didn't work out that way. I haven't had kimchi jjigae in about 6 months, and I ate a delicious piece of cheese with my breakfast this morning. It all revolves around the food.
So, Monday I encountered yet another roadblock. I was preparing my documents to mail to Korea. The last thing I needed was an apostille from the secretary of state's office on my notarized diploma. I had ordered the diploma 6 weeks earlier. I had driven down to ISU. In person, I had talked to the good folks at the registrar's office. I had exchanged emails with two higher ups in the office. I had spoken with one of them on the phone, and we talked about making sure it was notarized. I had faxed my request to the office, in addition to sending her a scanned copy of the application. On it, I had clearly written "please send notarized copy" I had paid extra to have it all expedited. So a few weeks later, my diploma arrived in the mail. It was in a thick cardboard envelope. Thinking this would be a safe place to keep the diploma until I got the apostille, I left it in the envelope. I kept it closed. "Maybe checking it would be a good idea" never crossed my mind. I had been so careful asking for what I needed from this office, them making a mistake didn't occur to me. Not possible, right?
My recruiter wanted me to mail my documents so she could start working on my new visa. Since many schools were still closed on Monday and I wasn't subbing, I decided it would be a good morning to run down to Springfield for the apostille. I got ready to go, printed my application from Jesse White's website, filled it out, got my shoes on, etc. I ran down to my room and grabbed the cardboard envelope. I tore it open. Laying inside was a reprint of my diploma. It was not a photocopy with a notary's signature attached to it. It was a legit reprint of my diploma, on fancy thick paper and everything. I stared at it for a second. I double checked the envelope. No notarized anything came out. What? Seriously? I got my computer out, and pulled up the application that I'd scanned, at first thinking maybe I'd made some mistake. Nope. It very clearly said "Please send notarized copy" So I called the office of the registrar. I explained the situation to the lady that answered the phone. She said I needed to speak to Mary and offered to transfer me. Last time I spoke to Mary in the registrar's office, it took her about 4 days and and 3 voice mails before she called me back. I didn't have the time for that nonsense again, and I wanted this fixed today. So I asked that she please check to see if Mary was in her office before she transferred me.
Hold please. Mary was available and expecting my call. I explained the situation to her, and she told me I needed to speak to Jackie, and offered to transfer me. Again, I asked her to check to see if Jackie was in fact available before she transferred me.
Hold please. Jackie was available and expecting my call. For the third time, I explained my situation. Jackie said she remembered speaking to me before, and she pulled up the email I'd sent. Oops, I DID "ask for a notarized copy! What had happened?"
I explained that I needed to get this diploma to Springfield today, so how could they fix this for me? She asked if I could drive to ISU today. I wanted to say no, but I would be willing to stay home long enough for the ISU notary public to drive to Princeton to notarize my diploma. Dream on, Laura. Dream on.
Now, in reality driving to Springfield via Normal is not THAT big of a deal. It's slightly out of the way, but only 20 minutes or so. However, I had to drive into Normal, park my car, which of course there is nowhere around the registrar's office to park, wait for them to do their thing which I paid them to do 6 weeks ago, then get back on the interstate and head on down to Springfield. Ok, again, not such a big deal, but still just grrrrrr! inducing.
Out of principle, I sighed, and said I guess I had no other choice. Jackie paused, and said she needed to make sure the notaries would be available to sign this, because maybe they would be in meetings.
Now it was my turn to pause...I processed what she said and didn't know whether to laugh or yell. Be calm, Laura. I explained to Jackie that since this was not my mistake, I should be accommodated when I arrived, and I did not have time to wait for them to finish up whatever they were doing. Jackie apologized for their screw up, and asked if I would please hold while she checked with the notaries.
More holding. She came back and told me they were in meetings today, but one of them would leave the meeting when I arrived to notarize my diploma.
HEADACHE! but to be fair, when I arrived at ISU and met with Jackie, she was extremely apologetic and kept offering me a diet Coke for the rest of my drive. I told her it was okay, just a mistake, and politely declined her diet Coke, as I think diet soda of any kind of an unsatisfying excuse for a beverage...beurk.
So I finally arrived in Springfield and got my apostille. This entire visa renewal process has been roadblock after roadblock. Why? It's a sign that I should not be going to Korea.
Howeverrrrrrrr, we are in a recession. I don't have the luxury to listen to the universe during a recession. My bank account numbers are getting dangerously close to red, and I'm getting dangerously close to celebrating my 30th birthday while living in my parents' basement. So, I gathered up all my documents and sent them off to Korea yesterday afternoon. Then, I woke up this morning and saw on the news that there was a bomb threat on a Korean Air flight heading from Vancouver to Seoul, AND North Korea is gassing up their rocket. Perfreakingect.
I'm not sure heading back to Korea is ideal. The problem is that I don't know what is ideal. So for the 4th time I'm saying maybe this will be the year I figure things out. :P Years fly by.
Plus I am desperate to travel more in Asia, and sing Eternal Flame with my noraebang partner in crime, Meagan.
I've exchanged a few emails with the teacher I will be replacing. The school seems pretty okay. The hours are less than most private schools and the pay is slightly more. I asked him what the negatives of the job were. He replied that I would be the only foreign teacher at the school, and asked if that would be a problem for me. My thoughts went to SLP, wildebeest, and the minions. My response to him was "Nope. Sounds perfect!"
In addition to being the only foreigner at this school, another (hopefully!!) plus is that it is in Bundang, not Seoul. I love love love Seoul. However, for some reason in Seoul there is high population of people who suck. Hard core suck. Seriously personality flaws. I've heard that the farther one gets from Seoul, the less people suck. Bundang is right outside of Seoul, and connected via subway. So maybe it's not that different, but it can't be any worse.
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