The Beginning

It's the beginning of the end around here.  The more Ian and I research the Labor Board, the more it seems like it would be a full time job (before and after our actual dismissal) to bring any kind of consequences to Yoon's.  And, while I believe in fighting for one's rights, it's always important to weigh the cost and benefit and choose one's battles wisely.  We haven't given up, we're still looking for options.  But, if it comes down to it (and it likely will) we will choose moving on and traveling instead of bringing Yoon's to justice.

We packed up our winter clothes and some of the things that we don't need around here.  That's what is in the two big boxes.  The small box is full of textbooks and teaching materials that we need to give back to Yoon's.  It felt really good to get some things packed away.  Parts of our apartment look a little empty, but it brings us a lot of relief to be finally moving on, even if it is under unfortunate circumstances.

We fully planned our trip today.  The only thing we have left to do is actually book our flight home (either in to SEATAC or PDX).  Here is our basic itinerary:

• We fly out from Incheon Airport on July 24th at 2:15pm.  After a four hour layover in China, we'll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City at 9:55pm.  
• We will stay in Vietnam until the 27th, when we will head to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for two nights.
• Then, on the 30th of July, we'll head up the river to Siem Reap where we will spend five nights (including our one year anniversary)!
• On the 4th of August we'll fly from Siem Reap to Prague (Czech Republic) via Bangkok and then Moscow.  Our layover in Bangkok is 12 hours long.  It's at night, but we're going to see if there is a safe place to get something to eat so that we can get a little view of the city.  We'll spend 4 days and 3 nights in Prague.
• On the 9th of August we'll hop a night train for the 7 hour trip to Budapest, Hungary where we'll spend 3 nights.
• On the 13th of August we'll get on the earliest morning train (3 hours) to Vienna, Austria.  We're spending 3 days and 2 nights there.
• On the 15th we'll get another night train (7 hours, again) to Venice, Italy where we'll spend 3 days and 2 nights.
• On the 18th we're hopping on yet another night train for the whopping 11 hour trek to Paris.  We're hoping we don't have to change trains, but we might.  We'll be in Paris for 4 days and 3 nights.  Our original plan included spending my birthday in Paris, which can't happen, but (ironically) we'll be in the city during Mom's.  Hey Mama, what would you like?
• On the 22nd we'll get on our last night train (6 hours) to Munich, Germany where we will be until the 26th, when we plan to flight back home.  We haven't bought that last bit of airfare yet, we're still scanning for a good price.

For those of you keeping score at home, that's 10 cities (9 countries) in 33 days.  It'll be one hell of a whirlwind, but it's what we've been waiting for.

I don't want to go to work tomorrow.  It's tough to be motivated for a job from which you've already been fired.

Good night!