The problem is that my would-be travelling companion refuses to give much inclination of where or when he wants to go. I have e-mailed him repeatedly, asking for reassurances—which I have gotten in the form of “yeah, man I’m totally stoked to go”, and the like, but the replies come several days after I send the e-mails, and they always come back without specifics. This is putting me in a really awkward place, and it is staring to get annoying, because it would make my decision a lot easier if the Ross variable was out of the equation.
So, the question arises, should I backpack south-east Asia anyway? It would be a little bit scarier, and potentially not as much fun…but it could also be a lot more rewarding. Jared has expressed interest in possibly taking a trip out this way when my contract ends, and my Japanese friend, Yuki may be travelling in the same are at that time as well. So—it’s getting complicated already.
I should have about ten grand to play with at the end of my contract, so the other option that was bouncing around the inside of my skull was to come straight home, get a motorcycle license, buy a bike, and take it across the country. I’ve always wanted a motorcycle and never had one. Also, I’m reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which has made me anxious to buy one.
So this weekend, I asked for input from my friend. Unfortunately, it has only made the decision harder! Arthur suggested that I do both things. Instead of doing a long and drawn out tour of Asia, I should do a short one, and then go back to Canada and do the motorcycle thing. Not a bad idea, but I would have to save a bit more money to be comfortable with it, and that would mean my last couple months here would be potentially less fun than they might otherwise be.
I was pondering the implications of Arthurs’ plan, when Evan asked when I was leaving. I told her and she commented that Luke was leaving her school, Uniworld at the same time, along with the new teacher, whose parents had just won the lottery, and that I could probably get a job with them if I wanted. I asked if they would be okay with a 6 month contract, and she indicated they probably would.
Now, I told myself I wouldn’t renew in Tongyong, but I can think of several good reasons for teaching at Uniworld for 6 months: the directors are awesome, the apartments are awesome, the pay is awesome (500,000 won more per month than what I am currently making), the job is EASY it would allow me to stay for the summer, the kids aren’t as bratty, it would allow me to save a shitload of cash, avoid the tedium of looking for a new contract, and allow me to get my black belt in Kyeok, Too Ki (Thai boxing/ jiu-jitsu) and hapkido.
Every choice has its benefits and deficits. Going home and buying a bike would allow me to see my family and friends across the country, while fulfilling a childhood dream. Wandering around south-east Asia would allow me to so see a sizable chunk of the world and walk down my path to self-discovery a little further. Compromising would be great, but I would have to like a pauper until then. Staying an extra six months has all over the benefits listed above and more, but Tongyeong will seem even smaller in six months, and I would have to wait that much longer to see everyone back home.
I’m really not sure what I am going to do, but I have a break coming up at the beginning of February and I will use it for some serious soul-searching. Hopefully I will have an answer by the end!
