Torn

I'm feeling particularly thoughtful about my future right now. I have the opportunity to return to England in March 2011, work for the Summer and then go to University for a year in September to gain a Master's Degree in English Literature. Having already attained a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in English Literature, plus achieving an internationally recognised qualification to teach English anywhere in the world (TEFL, TESOL), and a years worth of teaching abroad, this Master's Degree will increase my professional standing a thousand fold. Once complete, I will have obtained the necessary academic prerequisites to hopefully land the big jobs were I to pursue teaching as a full time career. In the meantime, I would continue training and fighting as an amateur. However, I have developed quite an affection for Korea. That being said, I am beginning to despise the working conditions in a hagwon and also some Korean business practices. So if I stayed, it would only be if I managed to get another job elsewhere more sorted to my spare time needs. A University post would be ideal. That way I get paid more, with less teaching hours and more time to train. If I want to push to get as far with Boxing here as possible, then that is the option to take. I could always take the Master's in England in 2012 instead of 2011. I am immensely grateful to the folks that have employed me here in Seonghwan. The fella in Cheonan city at his "World Prep School" I don't give a flying fuck about. The guys in Seonghwan are gracious and kind, which is a blessing, yet they see business and work vastly different to myself and I do not appreciate becoming nothing but a commodity. My spirit is fiercely independent and as such I get incredibly frustrated when I am brushed to the side. I understand that my presence here is for one purpose only, which is to teach, but I can't help wanting to get involved in how it all goes down. That is of course the part of me that thinks I should get involved as teaching would be a good career road to walk down. I do not particularly want to, I mean no-one wants to work for a living, but I do seem to have a knack for the English language, so it kind of figures. Also, I am as described in earlier posts quite a large, muscular and confident bloke, displaying leadership qualities in everything from the way I speak to how I walk (I passed every physical and mental test and examination to become an Officer in the Royal Marine Commandos back in 2008. This career path ended only after I tore my cruciate ligaments during a game of 5 a side. Rehab took a year and I am now too old to be an Officer!). This seems to have an effect on people. It is totally unintentional, but the folks at my school, and nobface in Cheonan, don't quite know how to take it. They themselves are quite meek and quaint personalities and as previously mentioned, the English teachers to precede me were bookworm ubergeeks. The fire inside me is great and if it gets stuck in a place it's not meant to be for an extended period, it gets smothered. So I have to decide: stay in Korea, get new job and Box to my hearts content? Or Literature MA 2011? The deciding factor in this I think will be how much I miss my family. I have, however, begun to make some solid friendships and a path for myself here. I'm giving myself a headache!

Source: http://shiftyworldview.blogspot.com/2010/08/torn.html