Amanda Takes Off...

From Master, left on my Cyworld page.

아만다 새해 복 많이 받아요~!~!~!!

2월에 국기원 심사 가능해요^^ 축하~~

태권도 열심히 하고 한국어 공부도 열심히

하는 2007년 되길 바랍니다

It was exciting when he called me on my handphone at work to tell me; it was even more exciting to read it when I got home. My translation, without any help, and thus probably not exactly correct...

Amanda, Happy New Year~!~!~!!

It is possible to take the Kukkiwon test in February ^^ Congratulations~~

Study both taekwondo and Korean hard

I wish you a good 2007

So. It's really going to happen. The countdown to black belt testing almost begins.*

That about sums up how I feel.

And with that—it's time to do my poomse per Master's training schedule. I start with the temporary studio Thursday.

만세!!

* It doesn't officially begin because I'm not sure of the exact date. I think it's the last Saturday or Sunday of February. If I understood correctly (hurdle one) and remember correctly (hurdle two), there are tests in Suwon the first Sunday of every month and there are tests in Gwangmyeong the last Saturday of every other month.

Because my studio is not in Seoul, I will not be testing at the Kukkiwon itself. Testing at my level is done at regional offices instead, although some of my studiomates tested at the Kukkiwon in November (for which dan rank I can't recall). Heck, testing at this level in Seoul may not be done at the Kukkiwon, either. I'm not sure, and as you can imagine, there's not a whole lot of info about it on English-language websites.

The Kukkiwon has regulations about foreigners testing outside of their home country; they must have six months residency before being allowed to test. Normally they go by your ARC (residency card) date, but mine was revoked and reissued when I changed jobs. Hence the worry that I wouldn't be able to test until June (when Master originally wanted me to test in November or December). Master used my passport info and called today, which is why the Cyworld message refers to the "Kukkiwon test." Thank Korea that some bureaucratic offices here have common sense!