Alright For Now

How do you know when it's time to jump ship on a good situation? The time is fast approaching when I will have to choose whether or not to sign a contract to teach here in Korea for another year. Before I came here, I had a goal of staying two years,and unless I did something stupid to get myself fired, I would also have the choice to stay longer. I more or less assumed that that would be an easy decision to make when the time came - either I would enjoy my time here and sign on, or I wouldn't and then I would go home. Unfortunately, I don't think the decision will actually be that easy when the time comes. Things are still pretty good here, but I know that teaching English in Korea isn't something I want to do for the rest of my life. Frankly, I'd be ashamed if that's as far as my aspirations in life took me. I also don't want to stay around until I have to say to myself "Okay, the party's over, I'm tired, this isn't fun anymore. It's time to go home." The day is coming when I have to call it quits here, and it might as well be on a high note, right? There are two problems with this though. First, is this the right time to bail on a sure job? In this economy, who knows how long it would take me to find something legitimate. The other, and much larger problem is I have no idea what I want to be doing.

A long time ago in college I was faced with a similar problem when I was choosing a major. One of my friends was a design major and his classes seemed fun, and I had always been interested in art, so I decided that I would study design to someday become a graphic designer. Looking back, this seems like a strange and probably poor way to choose a career. But choose it I did; I enjoyed it, and still do.The problem is I never really had a passion for it. I was always told to choose a career doing something I enjoyed, but the older I get the more I realize there is a difference between enjoying and being passionate about something, between happiness and satisfaction. So potentially, Yes, I could go back home and try to get a job in my trained field. But aside from all the work needed to put together a better portfolio and brush up my web-design skills, I don't know if I would really enjoy it. After the better part of two years away from the subject, I don't really see myself as a 'designer' anymore.

So I've got to find something else. Maybe I could go back to school and go into counseling. Maybe I could get my SEC license and work for my mom as a financial adviser. Maybe I could start a business - a coffee shop by day, craft brewery by night, with a sidewalk patio and a huge record collection. Maybe I could put my two years' teaching experience to good use and go teach in another country. Who the hell knows.


Now Listening To:
"Three Coins In A Fountain"
Frank Sinatra