부 산 (Busan)

Three lines on Skype five minutes ago have put my mind a little more at ease:


[10:08:31 PM] rowaneslplanet: NOA arrived
[10:08:35 PM] rowaneslplanet: sending it today
[10:08:38 PM] rowaneslplanet: Busan

There had been a hiccup a couple weeks ago when Rowan was informed by EPIK head office that 75 of the 200 assignments to Busan would not be filled because teachers were coming back, leaving those that had selected Busan as first choice wondering whether they would make the cut. He assured me I would because I had gotten my paperwork in so early. October. Damn, has it been that long?

Soon, as long as it takes for a FedEx'd document to move from South Korea to New Jersey, I will be holding my contract in my hands, finally. Until then, I can still worry. When we were told we would likely get our contracts in early December, maybe earlier for those of us that got our paperwork in sooner, I worried when early December gave way to mid-December. When we were told we would have our contracts before Christmas, I worried when Christmas came and went, and all Rowan could do was let me know that everything was fine, and he was waiting just like the rest of us. Governmental inefficiency. When New Year's came with no contract, I worried. And until I am holding the contract, I'll worry, still. I have reason to; I've been burned before.

It's Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is an Australian expat with a recruiting business in Seoul. I can worry and worry and remember that, five long months ago, I was less than a week from take off when another recruiter pulled the next year out from under me. But, that did not stop me, it only slowed me down, which might have been the best thing that could have happened in this process.

And when Christmas is over, when I have packed my bags, said my goodbyes, dealt with airport security and am looking out my window as Newark Liberty International Airport gets smaller and smaller and smaller, I'll think about how it all comes and goes so fast.