A Communication Space for Jaeteuk and bestVase7265 only. (Please do not reply or respond, thank you)

Today will be a good 4-hour shift. Got to the parking lot, got out of my car, looked up in the sky and saw my favorite constellation bright and clear. The Orion.

Just like how yesterday, when I got in my car, heading out to meet a previous colleague for lunch, looked up in the sky and saw my favorite birds circling above me, 6 bald eagles. Then, our lunch went well, not much of a wait with reservations and we did a lot of catching up.

Hello!

I've been busy with work lately. Haven't spent much time on my computer to take part in discussions in 7 Cups. Been using my phone for most posts and replies. I finally have some days off for the next two weeks though. Only working on the Mondays and having Tuesday to Friday off.. got a colleague who took all Mondays off for the rest of the year. So another colleague and I are taking turns working that shift.

Yesterday, I finally made some dental appointments. Need to get a couple of urgent fillings done. So, I have 2 appointments next week. Tuesday for a filling and Wednesday for some cleaning. It's been a couple years.. had been avoiding the need to spend money on something I'm not insured. A few days ago, I had some bleeding of the gums when I brushed my teeth.. and saw that 2 fillings should be done urgently. It bled for a couple of days, now it's okay. But, those fillings should still get done. I made the appointment request online, and they returned with a phone call within 30 minutes. The secretary mentioned that therir system shows I had some unused insurance, but I said that was when I was taking courses and the school provided dental coverage. Now, I'm no longer taking courses, so I don't think I'm covered.

I got a letter in the mail recently though. Saying that Health Insurance automatically enrolled in my some sort of medical insurance. They provided an account number, but I can't find any information about it. So, I'm thinking of bringing my account number on Tuesday and let them check to see if it covers any dental work.

The reason for suddenly making these appointments is because I might have changes in work in the next two years.. need to start making myself look more presentable. For my current work, in the next 2 years, 3 colleagues will be retiring, with the first one by next July, will be gone.

I've picked up on working on achieving my dream career again. So I had gone to the library for about a week or so, taking notes on how to write Cover Letters and Resumé. So, for the past week, I have been writing up different drafts of each. Then, over the weekend, I'll type it out on the computer and tweak it to perfection.

I'm not sure if you have been reading the Depression Prompts that Obs makes.. but, I have been stressing with work. Working on this Cover Letter and Resumé is basically all that is keeping me feel balanced and happy. As I plan to send it out to the company in mind early next year. I have another plan if they don't hire me. My cousin suggested something called Workaway. Basically you choose the country/city, the type of work you want to do, and look for hosts that is looking for people who wants to work or stay for cultural exchange purposes. I found one for South Korea, and they indicated they might need help at their café next August and September.. so, if it doesn't work out with that company, I'm thinking of trying that out instead. Fulfills my dream of living in South Korea and working there, even if it's not a Teaching English job, at least I won't have regrets of not even trying.

Yes, I'm using this weekend to tweak my cover letter and resume. I wrote a couple of drafts of each, with different content. I've read over both a few times, and decided to create a third draft, taking parts from both to make a new one. Now, it's time to make it less wordy, but still get the point across.

I have to resist in eating candy.. They had kept like a fishbowl of candy at the front desk.. sometimes, it's hard to resist walking past yummy tasting ones.. and my mouth gets dry, feels better when there's something in my mouth.. 

So, I had planned to go on a coffee date with my mum sometime during my days off, either this week or next week. When she was still on vacation, I mentioned it briefly that we should go on a coffee date when she returns. To have a heartfelt conversation about life. Basically, my life, and any plans I have for the future.

The company I want to apply to, is in China. Chances are low, but I feel that if I don't even try, I'll regret it. It's actually an Entertainment Company, and although there are no job posting, I still want to try and offer to be an English Teacher. The company is founded by an idol/artist in Oct. 2020. I have been thinking about it since 2021. 

So, back to the planned coffee date with my mum. I'm now wondering if I should tell her about it. My mum always has a way with words, that kind that puts me down, and say negative things about my decisions, or her thoughts on the matter somehow ends up hinting that what I do will fail. Now, I don't know if I should mention it to her. But it would explain why I had been going the library before, and what I had been working on at work before my shift the past week. (Although I start my shift at 12pm, I've been heading to work before 7am, because I want a parking spot. So, I had been going to work earlier, park in my stall - specific stall number I choose to park every time, then go to the cafeteria by 8am and work on my Cover Letter and Resume drafts). It also explains what I have been working on at home and over the weekends on my days off. Or, should I mention it to her, only if they hire me?

But if I tell her about the changes at work, with the 3 colleagues that will take turns retiring in the next 2 years, she'll definitely ask me about my future career plans. Especially if I tell her who may be taking over their positions (my ex-colleagues that don't get along with me). I would definitely either need to change career, work at another site or department, or stay and put my mental health at risk.  

At first, I thought about being successful in my own business, but with only one published book since June, I haven't had any sales yet and had been busy with work that I don't have the energy to work on another one.

So, now I'm stressing out in whether or not to tell my mum about that company I want to apply to in China or not. I don't want to give up my dream career, even if I can't teach in South Korea, China is okay too. But my parents are really against their political perspectives, so they'll probably disagree with it. 

Oh, my cousin also suggested something called at Workaway. I thought about trying that out, if that company doesn't hire me. The only difficult part of that is, I'll have to pay for my own plane ticket. I looked at it briefly, that it's basically a host will provide accommodation, and if you choose a category where you want to be working, they pay you minimum wage that that country's standard. It's like a cultural exchange with pay. A good experience in a country of your choice. 

If neither works, the Entertainment Company or this Workaway, once all 3 colleagues have retired, I'll need a discussion with my Manager. I don't want to put my mental health at risk while working with people who's been holding a grudge against me since the summer of 2021. The most ideal, would be to schedule me only to cover that person's vacation and sick days, that way, I don't have any overlapping hours working with her if I were to cover other people's vacation days. Who holds a grudge for more than 2 years??? It had been resolved. When she was the one who didn't follow procedures and got me in trouble. While the cause of the complaint about me was on my actions, as they may have interpreted my intention that as being bossy or arrogant, it had been resolved and I've apologized afterwards. I can't work with someone who doesn't even want to look at me or talk to me and always giving me this angry look when I walk past her in the hallways or see her in the change rooms from time to time.

Purpose of this post, is whether or not to tell my mum about my future plans. I had planned to send out my Cover Letter and Resume early next year. Then wait for a month or two to see if I get a reply, then take a look more closely at the Workaway option. The place that caught my eye, is of course South Korea. Their need of workers at a cafe, says may need extra help in August and September 2024. So, I'm not sure how long it'll take for me to prepare the needed work visas for me to work there, if it'll be enough time to prepare if I don't hear back from the Company in China.

As the first colleague to retire is next summer. She'll be taking all her vacation before her final day, so she's basically not going to be working from May and onwards. She took all of May off, first 3 weeks of June, and according to the vacation book, I don't see her name after June.. So, I think her final day is either the last week of June or beginning of July.

I hope that the flood stuff is more understandable and manageable today.

I am not sure anything posted. It looks a little weird. I know that floods are traumatic. I hope that you didn't lose too much stuff. 

I am so sorry. It sounds like quite the rough spot. I hope that you feel better soon. 

Remember how I usually feel depressed when I know my birthday is around the corner? For once in a long time, I think it will be different, as I have plans and goals that I will be making in January. In regards to making the move for a potential career change. Now, even thinking about it, puts a smile on my face. So, I think I can use these thoughts to divert the negative feelings I usually get around my birthday this time around.

Even if it's daydreaming about the possible changes if this career change succeeds. It's enough for me to feel good about myself and my future. I also met a good Listener here in 7 Cups, I think that will help me get through the loneliness I feel during weeks prior and post birthday.

The past couple of nights, sleep has become a problem again. I'm already recovering from my cold, but I'm still waking up 1 to 2 times a night. The first wake up time is always around 3am. If I slept early, I'll wake up more than 2 times a night. It's quite annoying, as whenever I wake up, it always felt like I've been asleep for a long time. Then, when I check the clock, or look at the side where my window is, it's still the middle of the night or it's still dark out. Then I know I just woke up and had my sleep disturbed.

Luckily, this week is a 3-day work week, and slow-down. With only 3 or 4 Operating Rooms running. And I'll be off for the first 2 weeks of January. Before working from Jan. 17th to Mar. 13th. Got a colleague being on leave after a surgical procedure. That's good. In the previous years, the first few months, I usually don't have many shifts. But looking at the vacation book for 2024, it looks like that only in April, September and November doesn't have many people retaking their vacations. So, it's going to be a busy year ahead.

Of course, I'm also making the first big step for my career change next week too. Going to send out that Cover Letter and Resumé January 1st. As the place I want to work for us in China, I'll send it out at a certain time, that way it will be the morning hours of January 2nd in China. So, I'm really hoping that would work out and I can start sometime in 2024! I'm kinda putting all my hopes on that, as I've been actively working on the Cover Letter and Resumé since the past October. I even have everything laid out in my email, all I need to do is click on Send!