I have the day off for Korean Independence Day. This is a day dedicated to an independence movement started on March 1, 1919, in an ill-fated attempt to end Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula. The timing was not coincidental, as the main actors of the movement were strongly influenced by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and his “Fourteen Points” espoused at the Paris Peace Conference in January of that year.* These points came out strongly in favor of national self-determination. The U.S. presidency was, and continues to be, an amazing platform from which to deliver transformational ideas. Sadly, the movement was not supported by foreign powers, and died along with thousands of Koreans.**
And on that note, I guess I will talk about where I’ve been, and where I’m going.
September 1, 2010
I remember my first day being absolutely exhausting. Part of me wondered how I could do this for the next year, and the other part of me knew I had no other option. It was that stereotypical “first step in a journey of 1000 miles.”
Since then, the days have become easier, and I no longer worry about my abilities to finish the job I started. We’ve faced a lot of adversity: changing contracts, weekly assaults on our morale, and poor leadership. It has helped to have numerous co-workers with whom to commiserate, and Sydney always makes it difficult to truly have a bad day.
Now, even more mismanagement, insofar as any management is being done at all, seems to not have as much as an impact. Want to take away prep time? Cool. Want to charge me for the shuttle service? Fine, whatever. Want to not give us overtime when that shuttle drops us off early most days, and charge us for showing up late when the shuttle gets stuck in traffic on a few? OK.
I’m still left to wonder whether these decisions are malicious in nature, or just as a result of being oblivious to the situation. I’m sure it’s a little of both.
March 1, 2011
Now, I’m sitting at a coffee shop with a lot of work to do on this precious day off. I want to work on this website, complete a couple of applications for jobs next semester (in September), and write a few pages in my book.
I spent the majority of my first six months worrying about the past and present. I’ve paid down debts, traveled some around the country, and met a whole new group of friends. These past few weeks, I’ve begun to concentrate once again on the future. I know what I’ll be looking for in jobs next year, and now know much more about the country than I did. I have goals for my post-Korea life, and I’ve even started working towards accomplishing those goals.
I thought I would have more to say, but much of it has already been said. No need to re-hash most of the negative emotions from my first six months. Instead, it is time to work toward a better future. Six months from now, I see myself starting a new job in a new part of the country. With that future goal in mind, it is time to put my nose to the grindstone, and work every day toward self-improvement and achieving those goals.
*Wilson’s Fourteen Points were initially presented to Congress the previous year.
**The Japanese claim “only” about 500 deaths.