In over my head!

Thanks for all the supportive comments on the last post.

I'll blog more about my new job when I've got some down time.

In short, this week I'm drowning in thesis statements and topic sentences!

I've got a full class load (non-tenured) 1 semester position at the University of Regina.

I'm teaching: Academic Writing and Advanced Grammar (Academic writing - okay! Advanced grammar-YIKES!), Communication, Academic Vocabulary and Reel-life English (the class where we watch and interpret movies ;)

I've also made a connection in the Korean community since I've been back and I'm happy to report that I've got a KIMCHI ajumma! YAH FOR FREE KIMCHI!

My foot in the door!

Dear Tanya,

YOU ROCK!!!

My dear friend Tanya (a.k.a. life coach) has been a big help in transitioning me back to Canada. She has volunteered to plan my entire Canadian wedding which I'm so thankful for. She also has kept her eyes out for jobs/ positions for Sung Hyun and I. Overall, she's just an awesome person and I'm proud to call her my friend!

You may remember Tanya from some way back response to somewhat of a heated topic (too lazy to look for the link) where she replied to some anonymous person who commented about my inability to work at a university due to my lack of credentials.

About 2 months before I returned to Canada she sent me an email telling me I should apply for the University ESL Sessional Lecturer position starting the end of September. I was going back and forth about whether I should even apply, but I gave it a go anyways.

Last week I went for the interview. I wasn't nervous at all and I felt very comfortable talking with the ladies who were interviewing me. The interview lasted about an hour and they asked me all sorts of questions. After the interview I met up with my former university professor, now friend, for a lunch date.

The following day they called me to tell me I got the job!!!! I've been to the orientation and meet/greet with the students. And as of today, they've up'd my 2 classes a week to 4 which puts me into the full-time hours. YIKES!

Looks like I've got more than just my foot in the door.

And to be honest I'm a little scared!

I bought this shirt in Korea......

.....for like $4!

I wanted to leave the country with at least one Konglish shirt.

I think this does the trick!

BANFF BABY!

Banff is a cute little city tucked away in mountains and I love the vibe from this place.

Walking the streets with my 3 loves!

BestEST hotel ever! We didn't stay here though

We stayed here instead! More in our price range ;)

I had no problem dishing out $40 for our Korean lunch. It was YUM!!

Snack time! My dad, by the way, has just recently quit smoking -- GO DAD (after 40 years of 1 pack a day) so needless to say, he's packed on a few pounds -- specifically in his stomach! Looks like he's due any day now ;)

My little (okay big) treat!

The streets of Banff

Lake Louise + Canadian Ice Fields

Life doesn't get any sweeter than this:

MY FAVOURITE TRAVEL DAY BY FAR!

Top it off with some tasty Korean food and I couldn't have asked for a better end to an already awesome day!

Canada is COLD and PRETTY!

Living in a city full of concrete I often forget one of the most beautiful things about Canada. MOTHER NATURE!

The drive from Vancouver to Regina is extremely beautiful. You can't beat the sky high Rocky Mountains or the Land of the Living Skies sunsets that you'll experience in the prairies. But to see them BOTH within the span of a couple days makes the drive totally worth it.

This beautiful photo was taken in the back seat of our car as we were driving

Finally arrive in Alberta

First we check into our hotel

Then we go to one of my favourite spots on Earth -- LAKE LOUISE!

Sung Hyun wants to go swimming

Beauty! Too bad the skies weren't blue that day though ;)

This is how we needed to dress! NO JOKE!

The long drive home.......

After saying good-bye to the gang in Vancouver we started the next morning off bright and early and headed East. Then we drove and drove and drove some more.

We stopped for a quick bite to eat at Tim Horton's

Lunch was followed by a Tim Horton's coffee slushie thingy

A quick cuddle and rest then we stuffed ourselves back into the car

Stopped at a park to stretch our legs (and watch some random wedding)

Then drove to our hotel, ate dinner, and had an early night, so we could wake up early again the next day and do it all over again!

Sung Hyun

Sung Hyun has been loving Canada! He's doing really well (better than me actually). Yesterday he went with my dad to his Rotary meeting at lunch. My dad said 'Sung Hyun is very comfortable in his own skin'. He's been doing things on his own and spending time with my family by himself. Next week he'll start his Canadian workplace culture classes that are offered at the Regina Open Door Society (R.O.D.S). We've found him a part-time English tutor and shortly he'll start some free English classes at R.O.D.S. Today we fired off his cover letter and resume to 6 different companies who are looking for welders in our city. Tomorrow we'll drop by some of the bigger companies in person. Since we've been back, we have done something EVERYDAY.

Here are a few pictures of such adventures:

Sung Hyun driving for the first time

Vacuuming up the mess in the basement

Enjoying an afternoon nap, in the oddest of positions

Going to fundraise for the Breast Cancer Society

And by fundraise I mean pub crawl

Mowing the front lawn on a nice afternoon

Taking a sports car on a test drive

And finally, getting a free Ipod touch. YAH!