Ready for Korea

Korea is becoming more definite, say Aug to end Nov.  I can feel it, even with additional opportunities, I am not that keen to explore.  What I do need to work out is some structure to how to manage the business when I am overseas.  I will need to introduce some more documentation on troubleshooting for things.  This is what I provide to people at the moment, and it's easy for them to call me and I will sort it out.  Especially the IT support component.  I will write up all the information, and then have a standby IT support person as required.

I am not sure how the people in my team feel about it.  It was funny, they were joking yesterday about when to visit that I should have a spare room for them to stay in.  So to a certain extent they have come to a realisation that it will happen and are adjusting.  Key would be making sure that Mary is sorted out, and that she is emotionally to take more ownership of the corporate team.  I think she is mature enough, and Jo definitely trusts her, so I think it will be ok.  I am very lucky to have a person like her around, who is committed to this company.

I will also keep away from the outlets a bit this month, to see how it is without me there and if it can still function.  To be honest, the outlets do function already, it is just a matter of how good or how bad.

With Jo, I am not sure how he feels about it.  I think he accepts it, but I am sure he is not super happy about it.  We still have not discussed the pay situation when I am away, although it is realistically only 3 months.  It will mean that I will be unable to help with any new outlet that we get this year.  But looking at our finances we are not in that good a position to expand another outlet, unless we get heavy external funding.

I believe this adventure is worth it.  Worth it just because I want to do it, and that's all the reason that is required.

The other part of this is to be realistic/clear on what I will end up with at the end of 4 months.  I think I will still be a very basic speaker.  But if I am able to get around Korea by myself I will be super super happy!  In that case then the key is to get useful information as quickly as possible so I have the confidence to keep talking.

Two paraphase some guy on a forum I was reading:

Do academic study for a year, then after attaining upper-intermediate proficiency, mainstream yourself. Sign up for hagwon classes in cooking, art, technology etc. alongside Koreans. Join clubs. Sign up for Korean online games. Rent an apartment with Koreans. Get a job that isn't teaching English, like at a restaurant or a 7-Eleven. Scheduling yourself with tons of immersion activities is probably more useful after the initial year of study than another year of dry study.