Light at the End of Purgatory

Life is all about balance. Too much of any one thing, and that will most likely have negative consequences. For me, I have had an imbalance of time spent in my house since I decided to try and break out of the teaching industry earlier this year. I have floated about, not accomplishing much by my own metric. In a little under two weeks, I will start a new teaching job that I am relatively excited for, which will hopefully break up my daily cycle and give me feelings of satisfaction once again.

As I wrote in an earlier post, I was immensely dissatisfied with teaching earlier this year. I felt like I wasn’t being fulfilled by it, and I decided to try my hand at video game testing and the games industry as a whole. I studied for and obtained a software testing certification, and despite my best efforts, I just simply couldn’t find my place. I do not speak enough Korean to be employable at a Korean-speaking company, and the handful of English-focused companies didn’t want me either. This was an immense blow to my self-confidence, and after a little under two months of unsuccessfully trawling job boards, I gave up and settled in for a little over a month of self-hatred and wallowing in my own incompetence. When asked about it, I would express chipperness and resolve, but inside I was broken.

I spent the next few months in this state, always hoping that something would magically come my way. I had a potential prospect that was continually being delayed and pushed back, and I kept waiting for it for far longer than I should have. I was so focused on the possibility of that position that I believed that I was unworthy of anything else. But, after the umpteenth delay, I resolved that I needed to find a job, to contribute to the household that Kris and I had built once again. Kris was remarkably understanding during this period and never gave up on me. I had to pay her back.

As it happened, the day that I found out about the delay that broke my resolve for the previous position, a friend of mine posted on Facebook looking for a replacement at his school. I had experience with the school and knew that it would be a job that would give me a combination of income, good working conditions, and enough time outside of work to pursue my passions on the side. The hours were short, there was a vast amount of vacation, and I knew that the kids were generally well-behaved. So, I messaged my friend and applied for the job. After a couple of interviews, I was told that the school wanted to hire me. I was ecstatic.

I am currently jumping through a couple of immigration-related hoops, but if it all goes smoothly, I should start there on the 8th of November. I am looking forward to having gainful employment again. I go into the position well aware of my previous disillusionment, but with a new resolve to make the most out of my time. Even if it is nothing more than the means to which I continue my time in Korea, that will be more than worth it. Here’s to living the expat life until November 2019 at least!

Featured image from kireiaoshinari00 on DeviantArt

So, I Have a New Job

After a week of unemployment, I managed to secure myself a job in Wonju. I count myself rather lucky indeed. Why? While I may still be teaching, I am doing so on much closer to my own terms than my last contract. My new job is far more suited to me for a number of reasons: it is a part-time job, I am generally teaching elementary students, and, unlike my previous contract, I will have the ability to take time off to go on holiday, cover Dota events, and generally be more flexible. Most importantly, the job will provide me with a visa to stay in Korea for another year. Having this job takes me one step closer to being able to write and create gaming content full-time. I hope that it is the next step down a road that I truly want to walk down. For now, it’s just another step.

I was put on to the job by a fellow South African who is now learning to play Ultimate in Wonju. Kris, ever concerned with my well-being and ability to be a funcitonal human being, managed to find out that the friend’s school was looking for a part-time employee to cover some classes that were currently being taught by Korean teachers. I later confirmed this with the friend, and messaged the head of the academy in hope.

I waited a few days. There was no reply. I spoke to the friend again, explaining that their boss had not got back to me. On the outside, I was playing it cool. On the inside, I was a molten, swirling mass of emotion. I really wanted the job. It sounded almost ideal for my needs. My friend politely explained that the boss was overwhelmed with the beginning of the school year, and that the boss was very keen to have me. Heartened by this news, my emotions cooled, and I began to wait once more.

A day or two later, the boss replied. She was sorry that she had not responded to me sooner, and arranged a meeting at a nearby coffee shop for the next day.

At this meeting, I was not sure who was more nervous – me or her. She seemed to be warm, kind, and thrilled at my interest to join her crew. We discussed details of the job. We drank our separate beverages. We shared a little bit of our respective life stories. After about half an hour, the meeting was done. I was to start work the next day! Whilst I was saddened that I could no longer spend my days entirely at a nearby PC room or in the house, I was happy to once again be earning an income. In my brief moment of unemployment, I felt deeply castrated by the fact that Kris would be working hard whilst I sat around in search of employment. Now, I will be able to work shorter hours without taking too much of a pay cut compared to my previous job. I am much more comfortable about the situation.

Kris and I are still in the early stages of our new start in Wonju. There are a number of significant events ahead. The Ultimate season starts soon. In about two months, the next Dota Major event will take place, which I am hoping to travel to and cover. Later today, I leave for Dubai to spend a weekend with my mother. All of these things are bright lights that we look to if we are having a mediocre, frustrating day. Around these events, we both need to work hard. And we will. We know the rewards that await us. We also know that there is one place in which we can find limitless energy – one another. Now, I must get off my lazy butt and pack. Thanks for listening. Chat again soon.