As the story has it, one day I headed to the opposite side of the globe – the Flipside. I arrived in Korea February 16th, 2005 and thought I’d do a year, then leave. I was wrong. I stayed, launched my first company, Flipside Fitness, and then opened Korea's largest boxing club, Hulk's Boxing (now called Hulk's Club).

After 11.5yrs in Korea, I then picked up one day and returned to Toronto, Canada. But then I left again.

Now I live in the Philippines where I am the CEO and head coach of Empowered Clubhouse, the Philippines' first and only boxing clubhouse exclusively just for women. I also am the founder of the Lil' Sistas Project, CEO and designer of Slay Gear and Baa Baa Black Sheep .Ph.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Highlights of my Day... Friday, December 22

1. Woke up with enough energy to light South Korea. I was so hyper. Today was the day of my big interview at Dankook University and I was super pumped and giggly. It’s funny cause when I’m really nervous about something I tend to giggle a lot… I was so giggly today!
2. 9:30am rolled around and so Kim Tae and I headed off to Dankook University. I waited in the teachers’ lounge for about 20 minutes talking to two Korean cuties. They’re teacher assistants at the school. Can’t say the same for the foreign teachers working there though. Met three foreign teachers. They were all men and they were all much older than me. I definitely was the cutest too…ㅋㅋㅋ
3. Walked into the interview room bursting with energy and wearing the biggest grin on my face. I was ready. Turns out only two professors were interviewing me as oppose to the four they had mentioned to me on the phone. Bedazzled them with my lesson on New Year’s Eve traditions and shocked them with the fact that we kiss in public...ㅋㅋㅋ. They totally ate it up too. I had them laughing and so it was probably the best interview I’ve ever had. They loved the fact that my minor in university was Korean culture and so that was the selling point I think.
4. Walked out of the university, taxied it back home and then screamed and jumped around in my apartment. I knew I kicked butt at the interview. That job’s mine!
5. I was so excited… all day! I called up my parents and was bursting to tell them the news. They, of course, were so happy for me and wished me congrats.
6. Was pleasantly surprised by Jung Hyoi (Koosy). His sister was getting eye surgery in Cheonan and so he had ventured to Cheonan with her. They both live in Seoul.
7. Went for sushi with Jung Hyoi and then later his sister met up with us. It was so sweet to spend time with Jung Hyoi and it was super cool to meet his sister. Good times and lots of laughs.
8. Now I’m faced with the million dollar question of the week… Who will I pick, the university or my middle school? I figure regardless of who I pick, there are going to be people disappointed in me. I feel a sense of loyalty and obligation towards my middle school. I am a part of the Eumbong family and so I don’t want to upset them and leave them. But, if I refuse the university position, I feel like I’m letting down all my friends and family who have been supporting me and who’ve been encouraging me to go for the position. I know that the job is like magic on a resume and that I really should consider the benefits it’ll bring me in the future… but… I love Eumbong.
9. Yes, Kim Tae… you have high IQ…ㅋㅋㅋ. Kim Tae helped me figure out how to link my computer to my TV. His idea saved me about $200…. Sweet! Thanks!
10. Ordered in pizza and watched a movie with Kim Tae… well, that’s not exactly true. About 30 minutes into the movie I was out like a light. I was asleep by 11:30pm…ㅋㅋㅋ. I guess my youthful loud, long nights are a thing of the past…ㅋㅋㅋ.


QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What's your answer?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right.
-- Henry Ford

2 comments:

Why am I here??? said...

That's awesome Amy,

Getting a university job is one of a kind and yes it will look excellent on your resume. One day I will be there too, one day. I hope you choose the job firstly because it is good to step out of your comfort zone that you have created at your middle school. Sure they will miss you and you most definately will miss the rountine that you had at the school but how about trying something new. Either way, you are an excellent teacher full of energy, so no matter where you go you will surround yourself with friends and become part of a family. Hey, now that you have officially kicked Ryan out, there are more than a dozen cute Korea boys at that university who would die just to say 'hi' to you...............I think that is another good reason, yah most definately.

Good work Amy,

Beloved said...

Ha ha! Just read the comment above and have to say that I agree that your social life will definitely get a boost if you work on the university level.

On the other hand (and I'm assuming here that the job is for a language education center within the university and not a professorship), I'm not sure how much good the job will do you on your resume. It would be helpful in Korea but in Canada (or elsewhere), probably not so much. I worked at the language education center of Chonbuk National University for 4 years and when I returned to the States, I had to take a job as an ESL tutor. Even though I had a teaching degree, I couldn't teach ESL until I'd gotten an additional 18 credits on the graduate level. I'm not trying to discourage you at all; I just wanted to share that because you seem to be so torn and you have mentioned your resume as a reason to take it. It really depends on what you're planning to do after/if leaving Korea.

I'm sure whatever decision you make will work out fine--afterall, you have two GREAT options!
Good luck. . .