Showing posts with label funtag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label funtag. Show all posts

Thursday, February 19, 2015

My last 24 hours in the States.



Greetings J I’ve touched base in South Korea and it feels amazingly good. I’m pretty sure it’s because my mind is still in denial and thinks I’m just on one of my normal vacations. But I’m not. I live here now. This is my “home” for the next 365 days. Anyway let’s talk about my the 24 hours leading up to my flight.

I didn’t sleep for 24 hours. My flight from Orlando to New York was set for 7am on Tuesday Feb 17th.  Then I would be taking a 14.5 hour flight to South Korea. The night before my flight I didn’t sleep. I hadn’t planned too. I wanted to tire myself out so that I would sleep on the plane at least for the first half to try to reduce my jetlag as much as possible!

So the day before, I woke up super stressed and overwhelmed. I felt like I was having mini anxiety attacks. I couldn’t breathe. It seemed like so much had to be done in such a small frame of time. So I set out to run the last of my errands and finished cleaning up my stuff and moving things to storage. 

As the day went on my brain calmed itself down but I still had to keep myself busy to possibly avoid a breakdown. Talk about getting cold feet. It was insane. 

That night I spent my last hours with my boyfriend which was great J.  We went with some friends to see 50 Shades of Grey and had dinner. After that we headed back home and I prepared for my final hours. By the time 4:30am rolled around, life was pretty hectic again. I was still packing my bags and finishing up the BF gift and then before we knew it is was almost 5:30am and that was when I was suppose to get to the airport by. So I was running late and stressing out.

I get to the airport and it’s more crowded than normal. Everyone wanted to go somewhere Tuesday morning apparently -_-. So then I get to the front of the check in counter and of course one of my bags is over 50lbs. 53.4 to be exact. And by some miracle of God I was able to take out my 'if I get homesick' candy and stuff them into my already overpacked carry on. This allowed me to get  my suitcase down to 51.5 and they didn’t charge me overage for that! By the time I finished checking in my bags, it was 5:55am. I ran back outside to say my final see you in a long time from now to my love and then it was off to TSA.

Going thru security took for freaking EVER. My flight was boarding at 6:25 and it was already 6am. The line for TSA was ridiculously long and then because I was having the best luck of my life that day, they of course needed to search my carry on because they lady thought I had things over 3oz. WHICH I DIDN’T…. she just didn’t know how to read the screen apparently. So I get past security and it’s 6:30.  Anywho against all odds, I made my first flight thank you Jesus.

Now onto NYC. Let’s just say as of now I hate JFK airport if you have to do connecting flights in different terminals. I flew into the Jetblue terminal which is terminal 5 and my international flight was in terminal 4 so I had to walk 10+ mins from the terminal with my heavy carry on luggage just to get to the train that would take me to terminal 4. Theeeennnn I had to go back through freaking security in that terminal. It was all so much fun. Luckily I had about 3 hours between flights.

After getting to my gate, I met up with some fellow EPIKers and we chilled out until it was time to board. Boarding was quite interesting to me. They didn't have boarding zones. Apparently people just get in line and board the plane in no specific order. We didn't realize that until the line was super long. #Foreignerproblems .  Anyway boarded the plane and was hoping for a row to myself but of course I would not be THAT lucky however I guess the plane Gods were looking down on me and there was no one in the middle seat. Before I knew it, we were backing out. I text my last see you laters/I love you/ Miss yous and settled in for my 14.5 hour flight...

Next stop, South Korea...

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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

2015.



Happy New Year! I expect great things from 2015. Great experiences. Great love. Great laughs. Great new friendships. A Great life in general. I hope to dedicate more time to growing my blog in the direction that I envision it to be. More fashion, some beauty, more life, and still my everyday struggles to reach my ultimate fitness goals. I'll get there one day. Before I'm 28 would be awesome but I'm not stressing THAT MUCH. By 30 though... I better have met said goal.



This year I pray many blessings to all of you. That you take 2015 by storm and don't like fear hold you back from reaching your goals. I envision great things for you so you must claim those great things. 

More on this later, but I have exactly 6 weeks before I will be on a plane heading to another continent. My life will be changing and I can't say I'm fully ready. I'm a little numb to it at the moment. So much to do. Not much time life to do it. But I am excited. Nervous. Scared. Happy. Sad. Just full of all emotions.

Anyway, I just wanted to check in. Wish you all a happy new year. Talk soon.


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Monday, November 17, 2014

My EPIK Adventure | Documents sent!

Well guys the true waiting begins.  I finally got my documents sent off.  On my first post about this adventure I was waiting for my Criminal Record Check (CRC) to get back to me. Well the one I sent directly to the FBI - I'm still waiting on it!! Luckily there is an option to go through a channeler. It's more money but much quicker. Took all of a week. Unfortunately I lost out of the $18 I sent directly to the FBI. But oh well. I've come to realize, one thing about getting to Korea (or any country I suppose to teach abroad) is that it is quite expensive! With my TEFL certificate, getting my CRC + apostilled (twice), getting my degree notarized + apostille, getting transcripts, getting fingerprints done, sending documents off to places .... sigh money has gone gone gone. I don't even want to try and add it up! However, I shall not complain because this is something I want. I just hope my next purchase is my plane ticket :) - though that will be reimbursed! 

Anyway I just wanted to give a quick update for those who do care to follow me on this journey! My EPIK coordinator told me to just be patient and she will let me know as soon as she hear's something but it probably won't be until mid to late December.



Oh yeah I have also begin working on my korean language learning. I even have a skype tutor that I skype with twice a week. It has been helpful but my difficulty lies with speaking. I plan to start recording myself and my progress. I just want to be able to speak enough to help myself get around and / or ask for help. Holding a simple conversation would be nice too. :)

Oh and I changed my placement request location from Daegu to Gwangju. But like I said before, I am flexible. I'm hoping for a city though but I know wherever I get placed, I will survive and find happiness there :).

Timeline.

August 6 | Submitted application
Oct 1 | Received email that I passed the first phase and would be schedule for an Interview
Oct 7 | Had interview
Oct 9 | Received email that I had passed the interview!
Oct 16 | Application for CRC received by channeler [nationalbackgroundcheck]
Oct 28 | Received CRC back from channeler
Oct 28 | Sent CRC to get apostilled through US Legalization
Oct 30 | US Legalization emailed that CRC had been received and would be return on Nov 5th.
Nov 7 | Received Apostilled CRC
Nov 12 | Sent documents off to EPIK office.
Nov 14 | Email that documents had been received {quicker than expected!)

Okay time for me to get my day started!
안녕히 계세요 [that's bye in Korean :)]


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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Welcome to November - Update :)

Just an update on life in general :) .

Fitness. If you read my blog religiously, well then you know I just completed a 6 week challenge where I lost 11.6 lbs total. This challenge was through OrangeTheory Fitness. You can check out this post to read more about what OTF is all about. I'm loving it so much and feel like this is going to take me to my next level of fitness. I am also on another challenge. It is a 60 day challenge and ends Nov 23rd. :)  


Health.  Last update I talked about self diagnosing myself with possibly having plantar fasciitis. I took off two weeks from running and since then haven't had any issues with my foot. However besides doing about 3 miles a day during my OTF workouts, I haven't hit the pavement for any distance running. I haven't even run outside since about August I think. So yeah hopefully the rest was all I needed because I plan on getting back to my distance running come January or late December. For now, my focus is on reaching my goal weight. I miss running though. 

Reading. Currently I'm reading Mockingjay and Gone Girl. I wanted to read Gone Girl before the movie came out but that didn't happen. But I didn't see the movie so no biggie - heard it was a really good movie though. Hunger Games: MockingJay I was been suppose to read. I finished the 1st two books in the series way back in like 2012 I think. Before the first movie came out but then I wasn't ready to finish the series so I took a break but now I must finish before the movie comes out in November. I even refuse to watch the commercial previews because I don't wanna know what is happening LOL! 


Fashion. I haven't been keep y'all updated with my latest fashion finds but I did do an adorable video about how to stay a plaid flannel shirt during fall. Make sure to check that out on Youtube

Beauty.  I need to slow down on my buy of make up products that is for sure. Currently I am loving my MAC Skin Finish powder in Deep. It is perfect powder foundation when I need something quick and perfect coverage for me. I'm getting better with eye make up and I love the new Urban Decay Vice 3 palette I brought. 

Life. School is driving me insane. I have so much to do and i feel like not enough time to do it. I have 2 research papers. 1 is 12 - 15 pages double spaced that I just turned in on Sunday - hence why I been MIA! -  and the other is 10 pages SINGLE SPACED. Yes you read that correctly. My teacher is evil. On a happier note, I'm on the road to Korea. If you didn't see my post from earlier this month, I'm applying to be an ESL teacher in Korea in the Spring so send me positive vibes that I get a good job placement!


Well that's the update! Hope all is well. Talk soon.


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Sunday, October 12, 2014

My EPIK Adventure | Teaching English Abroad Spring 2015


I can't recall if I've mentioned this on my blog before, but I am pursuing an opportunity to teach English abroad in South Korea. This entire year I have been preparing myself and though I wanted to go this Fall, things happened that made it unable to happen. But that is all good because everything happens for a reason. Anyway the next opportunity is in February and I have a feeling this is my time.

The decision to teach English abroad wasn't decided lightly but I know this is something that will change my life for the better and allow me to experience life outside of my comfort zone which will allow me to grow into a better person.

I chose Korea because I quickly fell in love with the culture and history and just felt this was the place for me. I also thought it was a good location that would allow me to travel around Asia and still save some money to help pay off those dreaded school loans of mine.

Anyway, after not being able to go this Fall I applied for the EPIK program as soon as the applications were released which was August 1. EPIK which stands for English Program in Korea is very competitive being that it is the most popular way to become an ESL teacher in a public school in South Korea. So I wanted to make sure I applied early.

The EPIK process is long and can be very tedious and involves a lot of waiting and for me anxiousness. This has been my timeline so far:

August 6 | Submitted application
Oct 1 | Received email that I passed the first phase and would be schedule for an Interview
Oct 7 | Had interview
Oct 9 | Received email that I had passed the interview!

They only started interviewing on Oct 1, and I was told I was apart of the 1st 100 applicants which is great. EPIK is all about first come first serve. So my next steps is to submit my documentation to the EPIK office in Korea. This is where things can get tedious and maybe even frustrating for some. Not that waiting to hear back if I had received an interview wasn't causing me to be a nervous wreck. Anyway, documents have to be perfect or you will have to resubmit them and I can only imagine that having to send documents to Korea multiple times is not financially fun.

Documents that have to be submitted are: EPIK application,  Passport photo, Copy of passport, 2 recommendation letters,  TEFL Certificate or Teaching License, Apostilled copy of your diploma, Apostilled CRC, Transcript,  and any additional documents like Tattoo declaration form. I have to sign that form to say I will kept my tattoos covered while at work or work related functions.

Of all those documents the CRC can be the most frustrating just because of how long it takes because for us Americans getting our FBI Criminal Record Check can take up to 12 weeks. So if you don't send off for it by mid August then you can really get anxiety about when it will get back and all that good stuff. Which is where I am at. I sent mind off 9/10 and it will still be another 6 to 7 weeks before I get it back. Ridiculous I know. & you can't send off for it too early because it is only valid for 6 months after the processing date.

Anyway this is where I stand. Waiting for my CRC so I can send my documents in. Right now I have everything else done and ready to go. Once I send the documents off to Korea, then there is only more waiting. The last of the waiting kind of. Once my EPIK coordinator receives my documents and makes sure they are perfect she will then submit them to the education office for where I want to work (which is Daegu) and then I have to wait until I get a placement. I might get a placement in Daegu or I might get it somewhere else. I just want to get a placement! So really I can't really breathe until I get a placement. Once that happens then it will be official that I am moving to Korea for at least a year.

So stay tune & send me your positive vibes.

I hope this post wasn't too confusing, long, or boring LOL!

I will keep you guys posted on this next chapter in my life.

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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Vegas. VEgas. VEGASSSS!!


Back from Las Vegas. Had a helluva time. Though I went through some stuff getting there - flight delayed then cancel had to leave the next morning instead of the night before - it didn't ruin my trip. I love my girls weekend getaways. Here are the pics. Enjoy.
































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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Missed me!?!

So this post was suppose to post a month ago and my app didn't post it -_- but I'm posting it again just so you know where i've been
...
Hey bombshells and gents. 

Just a heads up these next 5 weeks, post will be sporatic and probably short. 
Most will just be me checking in with you all.
I will be out of the country. 
I'm embarking on a trip of a lifetime. 
Going to Europe for 30 days! 
Visiting England, France, Belgium,  The Netherlands,  Germany,  Switzerland,  Italy & Spain!
I'm super excited and can't wait to leave the states for a bit.
I hope to blog more often then not even if it's just a quick hello and a beautiful picture.
I am also hoping to do daily vlogs that I will upload to my youtube channel so subscribe :).
I am asking that you pray for me and those I'm traveling with safety and traveling grace.
Talk soon.

....

Stupid App. Anyway, nothing went as planned as far as vlogging or blogging. It was hard to blog because my app sucked and I didn't always have the best wireless. I filmed some stuff but uploading to Youtube wasn't easy when wireless sucks. Anyway just know I have some great photo's to share and will still upload my snippets from my trip. My vacation isn't over yet. I just got back yesterday from Europe and leaving tomorrow for LA to celebrate my birthday with my boo! So give me a couple weeks to get back into things. I hope my loyal readers are still out there :)


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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Friday Favorites: NYC Bound!

Hey lovelies! It's Friday and I'm heading to NYC! So excited and ready to take on the city! Not to keen that it's still "Florida Winter" there. Meaning it'll be in the 50s and 60s. I was hoping for some nice 70 degree weather but I digress. Better then those 20 degree windy freezing temps!!

My friday favorites:


  1. Going to NYC! Of course this is top of the list! I'm really ready to get in some shopping, spend time with my girls and because it's Cinco de Mayo weekend, also drink up some magaritassssss!
  2. Passing my classes! Yayyy! I'm happy about that. I always have my moments because of my procrastination issues but I always manage to pull through! Take that grad school :)
  3. New Blog Layout coming soon! Super excited about this because I don't know about yall but I'm so over my current layout *yawn*.
  4. Off for the summer! Another thing that ties in with school. I'm taking off this summer because I will be traveling more but yeah so glad for the break!

So those are my favorites for today! Anyway about to board the plane. Before you leave check out my video about what I'm bring with me on my trip. Talk to you all soon!!



Have you subscribed to my Youtube Channel!? Please do!
What's on your agenda for the weekend?! Tell me!





xoxo, Preshii

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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

TMI Tag - too much information!!

I've been wanting to start a Youtube channel for the longest and finally got around to it. My youtube channel will be just as random - and awesome - as my blog. Subscribe for videos related to fitness, fashion, beauty, traveling and more! My first video is a TAG - the TMI tag - and boy do I tell all. Check it out. Subscribe, Like, & Comment please & thank you!





xoxo, Preshii

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Thursday, February 13, 2014

Hiking on the West Coast!


I went hiking for the first time ever!! 
This past weekend I went to Los Angelos - for the first time ever as well and I had such a blast. 
In 48 hours I swear I did a week worth of stuff. 

We went sightseeing, shopping, clubbing, hiking, to the beach, and even road tripped to VEGAS! & of course out to eat a few times!
So here's a quick photo recap of my extended weekend.

Best pancake EVER!!

The griddle


Sightseeing.
Marilyn Monroe stayed at this hotel <3




This is the hotel from Pretty Woman :))
A little clubbing




Hiking





 Santa Monica Pier!


LOVE this pic!

Hands down my best jump photo to date!

VEGAS!






Now back to the hiking. We went to Runyon Canyon park Sunday morning. Our intentions was to hiking by the Hollywood sign but our GPS led up to the other side opposite the sign. But we didn't complain because it was gorgeous and we had such an amazing time.
The mountains, the view -- ahhh I loved it all.
Hiking was so much fun and SCARY at times. 
There were areas that I was too chicken to try.
I really wasn't in the mood to fall to my death.
















But yes it was so much fun and it was such a beautiful morning.
A little cloudy but beautiful nonetheless.
This is when I truly fell in love with LA and then I fell deeper in love when we went to the Santa Monica Pier. Anyone who knows me knows my happy place is the beach so to be surrounded by the beach and mountains… that is true love in my heart.
So that's about it. I went legit hiking for the first time and had a blast.
I am so in love with SoCal and want to move there now.
I always said I wanted to move to Cali but now it's confirmed that it's a great fit for me!
.
.
.

Ever been hiking?
Are you a mountain lover or beach lover?



xoxo, Preshii

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