Getting ready for Thailand

I have begun to read about Thailand. I have so many feelings going on right now. I am so happy about my decision but of course I am scared. I can't wait to go on this adventure, try new food, meet new people, and just live somewhere completely different. But what if I revert into my shy home buddy self and stay inside where its safe. I am scared I won't experience everything. Of course my judging preference worries about where am I going to work? Am I going to make enough money to find somewhere to live? Where am I going to live? I hope I can find a room mate. I hope I make friends fast. All of these unknowns scare me but also excite me at the same time. I know I am going to miss my friends. I am going to miss being close to them and being able to easily communicate with them is going to be a big void to fill. I am going to miss my family and of course the Love of my Life, PATCHES, but I know I can't stay home forever. I am so happy with my decision and I have so much to do before I leave: plane ticket, shots, copy of diploma, transcripts, passport photos, etc...Let's see how stressed out I am going to get trying to get ready for all of this :)

Why I am doing what I am doing

A couple of months ago a friend of mine said she was going to Spain to teach English. I thought it was such a cool idea and I was kind of jealous. I asked her if she spoke Spanish and her answer was no. She said all you need was a college degree and be a native English speaker so I started to do some research. I searched for programs on teaching English abroad and found Language Corps. I felt that the website offered great information I did some more searching about Language Corp and could find nothing to deter me from using them. As I started looking into places to go for some odd reason Thailand kept calling my name. I know very little about the Asian culture and didn't want to do an assignment in Europe because I would have just gone to one of my comfort zones. I wanted to shake up my life I wanted to be able to learn about a new culture while doing something worth while. Even though I have enjoyed bartending I keep feeling like I should be doing something worthwhile with my life. I have a college degree and I am bartending granted I am making more money than I was managing a movie theater and I am happy with my life. All I know is I want to do something for people especially young people I was shocked with the way the teenagers in Key West were educated it was sad to see that some of these kids could not write a complete sentences and were not striving for anything in their life. I wanted to do something for children if not education I am very passionate about the obesity problem in the United States especially with children. I was a former fat kid and I wish that I was constantly pushed to be more active and I am blame myself for the state I was in, but what if I had been educated very early on would I have turned out the same. I want to help in the United States but I do not feel I have adequate amount of experiences I think that going overseas and learning from others will help me when I do come back to the United States. I am going to try my best to describe my experiences before going to Thailand and document my time while in Thailand. This blog will probably be the best way to keep in touch with all my friends and will be tool for others thinking about going overseas to teach English.