Hi All! Kate here!

If you’re a new follower, you’ve been hearing a lot from Krista, the lovely lady who just got back from Japan. She’s in Los Angeles right now, texting me pictures from the sunny pier. 

As her trip winds down, mine is right on the horizon. Six weeks from yesterday, I’ll be on my flight to Los Angeles and then on to Taiwan. I’ll be in Tainan working with World Passport until September 1st, and then I have two options. 

1. Stay in Taiwan and teach English 

or 

2. Move to Seoul, South Korea and teach English

A few factors will influence my decision. My boyfriend of two years is joining me on the trip. His family extended family lives in Korea, and he wants to perfect the language. So, initially he was set on moving to Korea. But teaching English is more competitive there. Can we find jobs in Korea? Will he like Taiwan? Can I survive another winter in Korea? Can he survive the humidity in Taiwan? We’ll have to see. 

So, how do you prep for a year abroad?

I’m not really sure. Which is why my face currently looks like this:

I made a list of things to do before I leave. it includes: get Taiwan visa, deal with a year’s worth of prescriptions, dye hair, get a haircut, figure out phone plan, order copies of college transcript, buy mom a birthday present, go to the bank, take visa pictures, and (the most horrifying) pack.

Despite having been to seventeen countries since I turned 16, the longest I’ve been away from home is four months. 

So, Two Tall Travelling followers, any advice? How long have you been away from home? Where did you go? Anything I shouldn’t forget to do before I leave?