Many days and other numbers... To my friends both at home and abroad, I'll say that it has been too many days since my last post and so I thought I'd get this off to you all before it's many more. I will keep the theme as arithmetically consistent as I can to avoid mimicking past letters. Year 2 in Korea ... I'm approaching the end of a second year in Korea . It's strange to note how contrasting the two years have been. In year 1, I learned about Korea in a general way, made new friends and it seemed [View Full Entry]

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Indeed it's true! I enjoy work and life in Korea more than one should be allowed. Because of this, I forfeited a $26,000 Scholarship to Kenya to sign my second contract with the Chung Dahm Institute in Busan, South Korea. The decision didn't come easy. Months back it was no decision I cared to make quickly, and I did not. I had a month of deliberation to decide weather or not to forego my scholarship/service opportunity in Kenya or stay a subsequent year in Korea. In recent weeks, civil war has become the loud voice of Kenya's plight and I am [View Full Entry]

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As an English Teacher in Korea, one is obligated to make the trip to Thailand just as Muslims are to make the hajj to Mecca. Ok, so I may be exaggerating a bit, but it is a very cliché trip to make and one that I had to make. So the final week of June, I left Korea for the first time in 7 months and met up with my friend in Bangkok, Thailand. Although I did standard tourist stuff, I refused to turn my already short vacation into an extremely overpriced trip to the tanning bed as I could [View Full Entry]

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To semi-completely recap a new and enlightening three months of living in Korea dares me to be brief with my words. I’ve established a great life in Asia both living and working and in just that order! I’ve such an ideal life/work balance that some days I feel guilt for not having more complications in my life. To start, I am an English Instructor living in coastal Busan, South Korea. With a population of 4,000,000 the city is ideal in size and has a long history to offer my interests. I’ve visited horse races, markets, mountains, temples, museums, beaches, festivals, and [View Full Entry]

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Less than 24 hours after running 26.2 miles in the Chicago Marathon, I took my sore legs to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This economically diverse city has much to offer a curious traveler. Over 6 million people enjoy this mountainous coastal city which was colonized by the Portuguese over 500 years ago. Because South America is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite ours and thus the approaching Brazilian summer has contributed my sun burnt shoulders. Many know Rio for the ecstasy of its Carnival celebration that belittles our Mardi Gras and perhaps for the beautiful coconut palm lined beaches [View Full Entry]

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I’ve spent recent weeks working overseas with LeadAmerica and some brilliant students from across America. I started in St. Petersburg, Russia with an incredible group of select staff and a great group of students. We spent time getting to know the leadership, culture and history of Russia in our ever changing world. By good fortune, we were in Russia during the time of the famous white nights where the sun hardly sets, so it’s daylight a majority of the nights. From a boat cruise down the Neva River, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Hermitage, a meeting in Legislative Assembly, concerts, galleries to [View Full Entry]

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I write you to say I’ve chose a much different path than expected since my summer and fall chapters. Some of you may think I’m in the Middle East for this Christmas. Well, that was the plan all through the summer and some of fall. However, after selling my car, a lot of cloths and some furniture with intentions of leaving the country, I was introduced to a business opportunity, impossible for someone like me to turn down. I am now working for Reliv International, a science/nutrition company, building an international marketing and distribution system by helping people start their own [View Full Entry]

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Greetings!!! I write to my friends today with a new vision for the future. I mean that quite literally! I now have 20/20 vision after getting Lasik surgery in Chicago last week. It was some of the best money I believe I’ve ever spent. (and I’ve spent a little bit of money!) That said I’ve taken the opportunity to expose myself to important milestones in recent weeks. Last chapter of summer… I’ll unfold my life in chronological order to offer a vivid recount of what’s going on. Immediately upon my return from the east coast, I experienced the inopportune loss of [View Full Entry]

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I completed my undergrad at Loras with degrees in Business Management and Spanish. Studying abroad two semesters with a double major and finishing on time seems sort of congested in retrospect, but it all worked out, and now I can start to tackle that loan debt. However, I can no longer consider myself a poor college student anymore. For now, I am just plain old poor. As for a way to pay back my indebtedness... I'd love to travel the world. Unfortunately, due to past experiences, I have made very little money doing so. My next best option is to find [View Full Entry]

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Each of us should have had great holidays and an even better new year to look forward to. If not, my thoughts are with you. Good buy 2004! You are now a group of memories. I like to write a general update from time to time to fill the world in and keep y’all up to date. However, I also realize that I can go on and on in my e-mails and will try to be concise with my thoughts for 2004. SPAIN - A wonderful experience. I enjoyed my host family and the travels that I was blessed enough to [View Full Entry]

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