Today I wrote a letter to the Hambak staff, and Ridia corrected my mistakes for me. It's basically just thanking them for making my time at Hambak so enjoyable. Here it is:
12/27/11
선생님들께,
이제까지 저는 2년동안 함박에서 일했습니다. 계약이 끝나니까 여기서 끝이네요.
이번 시간은 완전 좋았어요. 학생을 가르치면서 재미있었어요. 동료들도 진짜 좋았어요. 함박선생님들은 한국에서 제일 좋은 선생님이었어요.
저는 함박에서 많은것을 배웠습니다. 한국 문화와 미국 문화는 교육 스타일이 다릅니다. 처음에는 힘들었어요. 하지만 부인이랑 동료들때문에 저는 더 쉽게 지낼 수 있어요.
이제 함박에서 끝나지만 한국에서 계속 살거예요. 그래서 이거는 영원히 안녕은 아니에요. 나중에 또 봐요.
고맙습니다,
애런에게서
P.S - 앞으로 같이 놀아요! 010-3305-8367. www.liquorburger.com
Showing posts with label Visa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Visa. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Half Korean! (Sort Of)
Jeong Mi and I do have some huge news. As of Dec. 26, my F2 Visa status will be official! Getting closer to my dual citizenship. For now, we're very happy!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Getting Laid Off: Doesn't Feel Great
I've been quite busy lately, and with good reason. It turns out that the Hambak English Center will lose its funding from the district office at the end of the budgetary year in December.
The last we heard is that we'd be funded for one more year, so this was a surprise. It was also a bit of a wake-up call. As stable as I thought this job was, it just goes to show that nothing is set in stone. I was expecting to sign up for one more year at Hambak, and then look to other options.
But timing is pushing me in another direction.
While I am upset about this, I don't blame the school. They want to keep us. My contract ends in October, but they're offering me the option to stay on until the end at the end of December. So I'll be the last native speaker to have worked at Hambak English Center.
It's a nice gesture by the school for a few reasons. One is that I don't have to scramble to find a new place to live. Two is that it gives me two more months of paychecks and pension contributions before I'm cut off.
So really, as losing a job goes, this really isn't the end of the world.
To add on to the relief pile is that we'll finalize our marriage license on Tuesday, and then go about changing my visa to an F-2-1 from my current E2. As far as I can tell, an F-2-1 (spouse visa) gives me the opportunity to really do anything I want as a job over here.
And it turns out, Jeong Mi and I already have a plan. We are going to open a bar. It sounds like a strange idea considering there are endless drinking establishments here. But the options aren't endless in this neighborhood for places where teachers and other non-Koreans can go and feel welcome. Now, there are places we can go, but welcome is not always there.
I've been lucky to find a good hangout and friend in Radio and Woo Min. But he is trying to sell. He has been for awhile. We actually talked about buying his, but one of the required deposits is far out of our range.
But what we did find is a bar on the second floor of a building on the main drag. While that is sometimes seen as not good for business, this bar has an outdoor patio, which really boosts its appeal. It also used to be a foreigner hangout three years ago. Some of my current friends had gone to the old place, but turnover here is so high that most people don't remember it.
And while I was stressing about making sure we'd do enough business to make a decent living, I came to the realization today that with an F-2-1 visa, I'm not limited to one job. So I can teach English part-time with any company or do private lessons to supplement the bar. I could easily make enough teaching a few hours a day, three days a week to completely pay for the rent for the bar in any given month.
We also have some ideas to draw in enough teachers and other foreigners that are unique to the area specifically, and Korea in general. Jeong Mi will make these awesome mini-burgers as our specialty food item, and we'll have a variety of event nights throughout the week to try to turn our place into a good hangout. Of course, we're not forgetting our Korean brothers and sister, as we'll have soju and a few popular bar side dishes from which to choose.
So I haven't updated in awhile, but I think you guys can understand why. I'll have a more uplifting post in a week or so. Jeong Mi and I leave for Vietnam for our honeymoon from the 14th through the 18th. We're very excited.
So think good thoughts for us as we take our trip and come back to embark on a new career opportunity as a small business owner!!!
The last we heard is that we'd be funded for one more year, so this was a surprise. It was also a bit of a wake-up call. As stable as I thought this job was, it just goes to show that nothing is set in stone. I was expecting to sign up for one more year at Hambak, and then look to other options.
But timing is pushing me in another direction.
While I am upset about this, I don't blame the school. They want to keep us. My contract ends in October, but they're offering me the option to stay on until the end at the end of December. So I'll be the last native speaker to have worked at Hambak English Center.
It's a nice gesture by the school for a few reasons. One is that I don't have to scramble to find a new place to live. Two is that it gives me two more months of paychecks and pension contributions before I'm cut off.
So really, as losing a job goes, this really isn't the end of the world.
To add on to the relief pile is that we'll finalize our marriage license on Tuesday, and then go about changing my visa to an F-2-1 from my current E2. As far as I can tell, an F-2-1 (spouse visa) gives me the opportunity to really do anything I want as a job over here.
And it turns out, Jeong Mi and I already have a plan. We are going to open a bar. It sounds like a strange idea considering there are endless drinking establishments here. But the options aren't endless in this neighborhood for places where teachers and other non-Koreans can go and feel welcome. Now, there are places we can go, but welcome is not always there.
I've been lucky to find a good hangout and friend in Radio and Woo Min. But he is trying to sell. He has been for awhile. We actually talked about buying his, but one of the required deposits is far out of our range.
But what we did find is a bar on the second floor of a building on the main drag. While that is sometimes seen as not good for business, this bar has an outdoor patio, which really boosts its appeal. It also used to be a foreigner hangout three years ago. Some of my current friends had gone to the old place, but turnover here is so high that most people don't remember it.
And while I was stressing about making sure we'd do enough business to make a decent living, I came to the realization today that with an F-2-1 visa, I'm not limited to one job. So I can teach English part-time with any company or do private lessons to supplement the bar. I could easily make enough teaching a few hours a day, three days a week to completely pay for the rent for the bar in any given month.
We also have some ideas to draw in enough teachers and other foreigners that are unique to the area specifically, and Korea in general. Jeong Mi will make these awesome mini-burgers as our specialty food item, and we'll have a variety of event nights throughout the week to try to turn our place into a good hangout. Of course, we're not forgetting our Korean brothers and sister, as we'll have soju and a few popular bar side dishes from which to choose.
So I haven't updated in awhile, but I think you guys can understand why. I'll have a more uplifting post in a week or so. Jeong Mi and I leave for Vietnam for our honeymoon from the 14th through the 18th. We're very excited.
So think good thoughts for us as we take our trip and come back to embark on a new career opportunity as a small business owner!!!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Never Ending Summer
So much has been going on in the weeks since my parents left, that I've once again neglected my blog. I've taken a ton of pictures and had a bunch of new and old (but still fun) experiences. Because of that, I just have been putting my pics on my computer and not getting around to the whole uploading part. So finally, here is a little update on my life in South Korea.
Wolmido
We've made quite a habit out of going to Wolmido, and that is not sad at all. Pel, Popper and I went a few weeks ago and made t-shirts with our pictures on them to give to our girlfriends. On another occasion, a few of the couples went to hang out. Jong, Popper, Jeong Mi and I went on the boat ride, as well. I never get tired of the boardwalk.
So check out more Wolmido pics here.
Exercise Time
If I didn't exercise in Korea, I'd be a downright unhealthy mess. Thankfully, Jeong Mi started joining me once the weather for nice. We've been hiking the mountain by our house in Yeonsudong. It's really great. We hike up three days a week. On two of those days, we use the free weightlifting equipment that is up near the top. The fresh air and exercise feel great.
Check out our exercise pics here.
First Birthday
First birthdays are big here in South Korea. Jeong Mi said they're so important because not many babies used to make it to one year old. So there that is. It's actually quite terrible, if you don't like kids. Because that's all it is. There's a DJ, and a buffet and tons of screaming, smelly babies. Yikes.
Anyway, check out the pics here.
Teachers Trip
All the Hambak teachers went on a great trip to Songchu. It's a valley by North Mountain. It's just incredible nature. We went hiking, saw a waterfall, ate, drank and played sports. We ended up the night with me and six of our head teachers at a noraebang. It was a pretty great day.
A lot of pics are here!!!
Pitching a Tent
Yep, you read that right. Jeong Mi and I got a tent. We have a camping trip planned with Kim and Pel. But first, we used it at Sunrise Park in New Songdo to kick back and relax.
Here are the pics.
That pretty much catches us up on what I've been doing in the past couple weeks. It's been busy and it's been fun. The summer is a huge stress reliever from the jerky winter.
My last day of a mini-vacation is tomorrow, and then we have three weeks of summer English camp. After that, Jeong Mi and are going to Vietnam!!! That's the right. For our honeymoon, we're going to the one country I've always wanted to visit. It's going to be awesome!
Tomorrow, we're all going to Songdo Park to have a little cookout, as long as there is no rain. So pray to the storm gods to stay away (at least until night time. They can come after that).
Back to the fun!
Wolmido
We've made quite a habit out of going to Wolmido, and that is not sad at all. Pel, Popper and I went a few weeks ago and made t-shirts with our pictures on them to give to our girlfriends. On another occasion, a few of the couples went to hang out. Jong, Popper, Jeong Mi and I went on the boat ride, as well. I never get tired of the boardwalk.
So check out more Wolmido pics here.
Exercise Time
If I didn't exercise in Korea, I'd be a downright unhealthy mess. Thankfully, Jeong Mi started joining me once the weather for nice. We've been hiking the mountain by our house in Yeonsudong. It's really great. We hike up three days a week. On two of those days, we use the free weightlifting equipment that is up near the top. The fresh air and exercise feel great.
Check out our exercise pics here.
First Birthday
First birthdays are big here in South Korea. Jeong Mi said they're so important because not many babies used to make it to one year old. So there that is. It's actually quite terrible, if you don't like kids. Because that's all it is. There's a DJ, and a buffet and tons of screaming, smelly babies. Yikes.
Anyway, check out the pics here.
Teachers Trip
All the Hambak teachers went on a great trip to Songchu. It's a valley by North Mountain. It's just incredible nature. We went hiking, saw a waterfall, ate, drank and played sports. We ended up the night with me and six of our head teachers at a noraebang. It was a pretty great day.
A lot of pics are here!!!
Pitching a Tent
Yep, you read that right. Jeong Mi and I got a tent. We have a camping trip planned with Kim and Pel. But first, we used it at Sunrise Park in New Songdo to kick back and relax.
Here are the pics.
That pretty much catches us up on what I've been doing in the past couple weeks. It's been busy and it's been fun. The summer is a huge stress reliever from the jerky winter.
My last day of a mini-vacation is tomorrow, and then we have three weeks of summer English camp. After that, Jeong Mi and are going to Vietnam!!! That's the right. For our honeymoon, we're going to the one country I've always wanted to visit. It's going to be awesome!
Tomorrow, we're all going to Songdo Park to have a little cookout, as long as there is no rain. So pray to the storm gods to stay away (at least until night time. They can come after that).
Back to the fun!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Melissa's Wedding and The Whole Trip
Well, I've taken plenty of time to recuperate and I've also been pounded with a heavy work schedule since one of our teachers is on vacation. But it's time to document my time back in America.
Overall, it was really great to go home and hang out. It was a super-short time, and we really had to rush around, but seeing my family and friends, giving Jeong Mi the tour, meeting her sister and having a little break were all very nice. The one major problem was the traveling itself, which is still haunting me as I type.
I'll break this up into three parts. So let's start with the first leg of our trip.
Heading back to America
The trip started off a bit ominously, but I knew it would be stressful, so I just tried to go with it. Jeong Mi's dad was going to pick me up at 1:30 p.m. on that Wednesday and we'd go to the airport, say goodbye and be on our way.
Well, as is the case in Korea, a plan is never actually set. Jeong Mi called me at 11 a.m. that day asking me to meet them at her house, instead of him coming to get me. Well, that would've been nice to know the night before, but I got all my stuff together, took a cab to the subway, and lugged my gear to her place.
I had a tiny breakfast with her family and we all hopped in the car and got on our way.
We got to the airport in plenty of time, checked in smoothly and headed to our plane. All was going well. I was even feeling saucy enough to upgrade our seats to get some extra leg room. Yep. All looked good.
We even got to use the Asiana lounge, which had a salad bar and drinks -- including beer. Totally worth the upgrade price.
Well, we got on the plane to find our first disappointment: The plane had no individual screens on the backs of seats. Now, we were close enough to the big screen at the front, but when you get used to having a personal screen and a ton of options, it sucks to suddenly not have one on a 10-hour flight.
Another problem on our United airplane was that even though we were on a trip leaving South Korea, there was only one Korean-speaking flight attendant. Only one! This was a plane with 200 Koreans and there was one Korean speaker. The attendant we had working our row subscribed to the theory of speaking louder if someone doesn't understand English. So when she came around and asked Jeong Mi how she wanted her coffee, and Jeong Mi didn't respond, she just practically yelled it. It came off as very rude.
After being in a country that caters to English-speakers, it was a little reverse culture shock to see how little an American company (flying out of South Korea) cared about speaking Korean.
Well, to add onto our already subpar experience, our flight arrived late in San Francisco. Then, we went through immigration. She had to wait a longer time in her line, because American immigration employees insist on interviewing people who don't speak any English. So I waited in order to translate for Jeong Mi, and had four different people try to make me leave the area.
The final person told me to leave and I got a bit testy and said, "I'm going to do you a favor and translate." The guy said, "Does she speak some kind of strange language we wouldn't know?" I said, "I don't know, buddy. Do you speak Korean?" And what a surprise, after that, they stopped bugging me.
Even after spending 20 minutes at the immigration area, we still had to wait for almost 25 minutes for our luggage to finally roll around. At that point, we had missed our next flight. We were supposed to fly to Denver next, and then to Pittsburgh. We got re-booked on a direct flight to Pittsburgh that would get us in one hour later than before. How stupid is that? Why didn't they just book us on that flight in the first place?
Either way, we got on that plane (with excellent flight attendants) and got to Pittsburgh, where mom and dad picked us up, and took us through Sheetz for a snack. It was awesome.
Franklin, Pittsburgh and Erie
We got up the next day, and I took her through our quaint little downtown area, where we got some coffee and checked out some of the shops and the park. It was really nice, and she loved our town. A 6,000-person American town is obviously different from EVERYWHERE in South Korea.
After that, we headed down to Pittsburgh so I could show her where I spent the last 6 years of my life before coming to Korea.
We checked out Piper's Pub in the South Side for lunch, rode the incline and then headed to Lawrenceville where we hit the Blue Moon and Belvedere's for 80s Night. It was awesome. The bartenders and DJs remembered. It was strange to see how little had changed. It's like time stood still while I was gone.
She and I both loved every minute of it.
The best part was seeing Joe, Amanda, Matt and Joe's wife. It was so great to see my best friends again. We went right back to our old routine, and it just felt so good.
The next day, we woke up, grabbed our stuff, and headed up to Erie, where the wedding was taking place. We stayed at the Sheraton Bayfront Hotel. It was in a really nice location on the lake.
After we arrived, we headed to the church for the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner. The food was great, and Jeong Mi started meeting everyone. She was pretty tired, so she took a bit of a nap, but we had a nice dinner.
After that, it was back to the hotel where we got in the hot tub for a bit before winding down. Her sister, Limmy, came at about 3 a.m., so she went to meet with her for a bit.
We were both awake by about 7 a.m., so we went for breakfast with dad. We also headed over to the beach to check it out. She was pretty impressed by a lake that was so big it actually has waves.
Then, she went to hang with her sister while I was headed to the church at the terribly early hour of 10 a.m. for pictures. Our groomsmen pics took about 15 minutes, followed by roughly 3 hours of just standing around bored out of our minds. Totally unnecessary.
The wedding went by just fine, everyone was happy and whatnot. And then, it was onto the good part of the night.
Jeong Mi had already started meeting everyone, but it was at the reception where she really had to be on her toes. Of course, right after dinner, the travel had caught up with her again, and she had to take a little nap. She missed the Chicken Dance, but was back soon for more dancing and fun.
We even did a salsa dance in front of everyone. She was a bit nervous and wasn't wearing great dancing shoes. We also didn't have a salsa song. But it was a Latin tune, and we pulled out some moves and had a lot off fun. Everyone really enjoyed it.
Then, my night got even better as Lynn and I sand 'Dream Lover' on karaoke. It was my special day and everyone knew it. Haha.
We were fast asleep soon after that, and up early to head to Pittsburgh for our return flights. And that's where the stress really happened.
Heading Back To Korea
Here's a little tip for any of you traveling to South Korea. Don't go through China. Our tickets took us to Beijing to transfer, and it was a nightmare. First, in Pittsburgh, they weren't confident about letting me get on the plane, because they were convinced I'd need a visa just to transfer in Beijing. After about 30 minutes of phone calls and searching, they found out that people staying less than 24 hours and not leaving the airport don't need a visa.
But I already knew the day would be nuts.
Our flight to to Newark went fine, and the transfer in Newark was a piece of cake. It was in Beijing where things were a mess.
First, we got sent to about 10 different places, some of them twice, just trying to get through to pick up our bags and check back in. While all the employees spoke English well, none of them knew the process we needed to go through. So it was back and forth between various lines and counters, getting information and misinformation along the way.
As our time was getting exceedingly close to missing our flight, we finally got through, only to find out that we had to ride the tram to a different building, get our bags, re-check in and then come back to the building we were currently in.
While, we were stressed and it was insane, but after running around everywhere, we made it to our plane as it was boarding.
And here's the sweetest part: We flew Asiana from Beijing to Incheon. So we were coddled the whole way back. And that is a great way to end a trip.
Back to Work and Normal Life
And that was pretty much that. I went back to work the next day and one more before hitting the weekend. And last week, Geoff left for a little time off because his contract is finished, and he's re-signing. He's taking little trip at home. Unfortunately, that means we're getting pounded at work.
But fortunately, we only have one more week and a Monday before Chuseok, the Korean harvest and family holiday. So we'll get four work days off, and the following weekend. Jeong Mi and I are planning to hit Jejudo with Popper and his girlfriend. After that, I'll have hit pretty much every major thing in South Korea. So I'll be ready to start checking other countries.
It's going to be a busy week or so, but it's nice to get back to the familiar routine.
The only real problem is my eye is still bothering me. I've gone to the doctor a few times, and have at least one more trip next week. Also, I can't wear my contacts for a month, which is terrible. I'll have to wear my glasses in Jejudo. That's not cool. But oh well.
So, except for the glasses, it's back to normal. Enjoy all the pictures. I posted a few different sets in the previous blog posts. So check them out and see our time in America. Enjoy!
Overall, it was really great to go home and hang out. It was a super-short time, and we really had to rush around, but seeing my family and friends, giving Jeong Mi the tour, meeting her sister and having a little break were all very nice. The one major problem was the traveling itself, which is still haunting me as I type.
I'll break this up into three parts. So let's start with the first leg of our trip.
Heading back to America
The trip started off a bit ominously, but I knew it would be stressful, so I just tried to go with it. Jeong Mi's dad was going to pick me up at 1:30 p.m. on that Wednesday and we'd go to the airport, say goodbye and be on our way.
Well, as is the case in Korea, a plan is never actually set. Jeong Mi called me at 11 a.m. that day asking me to meet them at her house, instead of him coming to get me. Well, that would've been nice to know the night before, but I got all my stuff together, took a cab to the subway, and lugged my gear to her place.
I had a tiny breakfast with her family and we all hopped in the car and got on our way.
We got to the airport in plenty of time, checked in smoothly and headed to our plane. All was going well. I was even feeling saucy enough to upgrade our seats to get some extra leg room. Yep. All looked good.
We even got to use the Asiana lounge, which had a salad bar and drinks -- including beer. Totally worth the upgrade price.
Well, we got on the plane to find our first disappointment: The plane had no individual screens on the backs of seats. Now, we were close enough to the big screen at the front, but when you get used to having a personal screen and a ton of options, it sucks to suddenly not have one on a 10-hour flight.
Another problem on our United airplane was that even though we were on a trip leaving South Korea, there was only one Korean-speaking flight attendant. Only one! This was a plane with 200 Koreans and there was one Korean speaker. The attendant we had working our row subscribed to the theory of speaking louder if someone doesn't understand English. So when she came around and asked Jeong Mi how she wanted her coffee, and Jeong Mi didn't respond, she just practically yelled it. It came off as very rude.
After being in a country that caters to English-speakers, it was a little reverse culture shock to see how little an American company (flying out of South Korea) cared about speaking Korean.
Well, to add onto our already subpar experience, our flight arrived late in San Francisco. Then, we went through immigration. She had to wait a longer time in her line, because American immigration employees insist on interviewing people who don't speak any English. So I waited in order to translate for Jeong Mi, and had four different people try to make me leave the area.
The final person told me to leave and I got a bit testy and said, "I'm going to do you a favor and translate." The guy said, "Does she speak some kind of strange language we wouldn't know?" I said, "I don't know, buddy. Do you speak Korean?" And what a surprise, after that, they stopped bugging me.
Even after spending 20 minutes at the immigration area, we still had to wait for almost 25 minutes for our luggage to finally roll around. At that point, we had missed our next flight. We were supposed to fly to Denver next, and then to Pittsburgh. We got re-booked on a direct flight to Pittsburgh that would get us in one hour later than before. How stupid is that? Why didn't they just book us on that flight in the first place?
Either way, we got on that plane (with excellent flight attendants) and got to Pittsburgh, where mom and dad picked us up, and took us through Sheetz for a snack. It was awesome.
Franklin, Pittsburgh and Erie
We got up the next day, and I took her through our quaint little downtown area, where we got some coffee and checked out some of the shops and the park. It was really nice, and she loved our town. A 6,000-person American town is obviously different from EVERYWHERE in South Korea.
After that, we headed down to Pittsburgh so I could show her where I spent the last 6 years of my life before coming to Korea.
We checked out Piper's Pub in the South Side for lunch, rode the incline and then headed to Lawrenceville where we hit the Blue Moon and Belvedere's for 80s Night. It was awesome. The bartenders and DJs remembered. It was strange to see how little had changed. It's like time stood still while I was gone.
She and I both loved every minute of it.
The best part was seeing Joe, Amanda, Matt and Joe's wife. It was so great to see my best friends again. We went right back to our old routine, and it just felt so good.
The next day, we woke up, grabbed our stuff, and headed up to Erie, where the wedding was taking place. We stayed at the Sheraton Bayfront Hotel. It was in a really nice location on the lake.
After we arrived, we headed to the church for the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner. The food was great, and Jeong Mi started meeting everyone. She was pretty tired, so she took a bit of a nap, but we had a nice dinner.
After that, it was back to the hotel where we got in the hot tub for a bit before winding down. Her sister, Limmy, came at about 3 a.m., so she went to meet with her for a bit.
We were both awake by about 7 a.m., so we went for breakfast with dad. We also headed over to the beach to check it out. She was pretty impressed by a lake that was so big it actually has waves.
Then, she went to hang with her sister while I was headed to the church at the terribly early hour of 10 a.m. for pictures. Our groomsmen pics took about 15 minutes, followed by roughly 3 hours of just standing around bored out of our minds. Totally unnecessary.
The wedding went by just fine, everyone was happy and whatnot. And then, it was onto the good part of the night.
Jeong Mi had already started meeting everyone, but it was at the reception where she really had to be on her toes. Of course, right after dinner, the travel had caught up with her again, and she had to take a little nap. She missed the Chicken Dance, but was back soon for more dancing and fun.
We even did a salsa dance in front of everyone. She was a bit nervous and wasn't wearing great dancing shoes. We also didn't have a salsa song. But it was a Latin tune, and we pulled out some moves and had a lot off fun. Everyone really enjoyed it.
Then, my night got even better as Lynn and I sand 'Dream Lover' on karaoke. It was my special day and everyone knew it. Haha.
We wrapped up the night by hanging out in Paul and Pauline's room with some of mom's side of the family, and then hanging in Limmy's room for a bit. It was a really nice way to close down the night.
Sunday in Erie and Franklin
I woke up the next day with a pretty big problem. My eye was swollen shut and I was in serious pain. I always have some issues with sensitive eyes because of the airplane and hotel air. It's really dry, and it makes wearing contacts a bit tough sometimes.
Well, we had dinner with the family in the morning to say goodbye to everyone, then headed to a clinic, where I got the wonderful news that I cut my eye. Most likely, it was when I was taking my contacts out. My eye was probably really sensitive at the time, and I probably didn't go easy enough.
Well, we headed over to the beach for one last quick visit, then back to Franklin.
At home, we did a Bruckart family tradition and had a campfire in the backyard complete with hot dogs, beans, mac 'n cheese and , yes, DILL pickles. It was all so good and it was nice to show Jeong Mi how nice life was back home.
We were fast asleep soon after that, and up early to head to Pittsburgh for our return flights. And that's where the stress really happened.
Heading Back To Korea
Here's a little tip for any of you traveling to South Korea. Don't go through China. Our tickets took us to Beijing to transfer, and it was a nightmare. First, in Pittsburgh, they weren't confident about letting me get on the plane, because they were convinced I'd need a visa just to transfer in Beijing. After about 30 minutes of phone calls and searching, they found out that people staying less than 24 hours and not leaving the airport don't need a visa.
But I already knew the day would be nuts.
Our flight to to Newark went fine, and the transfer in Newark was a piece of cake. It was in Beijing where things were a mess.
First, we got sent to about 10 different places, some of them twice, just trying to get through to pick up our bags and check back in. While all the employees spoke English well, none of them knew the process we needed to go through. So it was back and forth between various lines and counters, getting information and misinformation along the way.
As our time was getting exceedingly close to missing our flight, we finally got through, only to find out that we had to ride the tram to a different building, get our bags, re-check in and then come back to the building we were currently in.
While, we were stressed and it was insane, but after running around everywhere, we made it to our plane as it was boarding.
And here's the sweetest part: We flew Asiana from Beijing to Incheon. So we were coddled the whole way back. And that is a great way to end a trip.
Back to Work and Normal Life
And that was pretty much that. I went back to work the next day and one more before hitting the weekend. And last week, Geoff left for a little time off because his contract is finished, and he's re-signing. He's taking little trip at home. Unfortunately, that means we're getting pounded at work.
But fortunately, we only have one more week and a Monday before Chuseok, the Korean harvest and family holiday. So we'll get four work days off, and the following weekend. Jeong Mi and I are planning to hit Jejudo with Popper and his girlfriend. After that, I'll have hit pretty much every major thing in South Korea. So I'll be ready to start checking other countries.
It's going to be a busy week or so, but it's nice to get back to the familiar routine.
The only real problem is my eye is still bothering me. I've gone to the doctor a few times, and have at least one more trip next week. Also, I can't wear my contacts for a month, which is terrible. I'll have to wear my glasses in Jejudo. That's not cool. But oh well.
So, except for the glasses, it's back to normal. Enjoy all the pictures. I posted a few different sets in the previous blog posts. So check them out and see our time in America. Enjoy!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Private English Lessons
Here's another story from crack Korea Times "reporter" Kang Shin-who. It's about native speakers giving illegal private English lessons outside of their private or public school job.
From the story:
Now, this clearly is an issue here. It is against the law, yet a lot of native speakers do it to make extra cash. Regardless of how the people in this story feel like it's not a big deal, it is illegal under Korea's visa regulations.
This might be a legitimate story, as well. I find it hard to believe that this guy found three people willing to potentially incriminte themselves by agreeing to an interview for this story. Even though they use fake names, how hard would it by for Kang to go ahead and turn them in. He's made his dislike for foreigners fairly clear with his body of work thus far.
Of course, many native speakers who come here to teach are giant idiots. Last year, a poker game got busted in a native speaker's house. Gambling is illegal here. One of the accused poker players said Korean police should respect HER culture of gambling. Yes, that makes sense (sarcasm).
Yes, it sucks that giving private lessons is illegal, especially when people so clearly want them and are willing to pay a premium to get quality extra lessons. If you do it, you run the risk of being deported.
The chances of you being found out are slim, though I've hd two friends already who were reprimanded for their extracurricular lessons. One of those friends was threatened with deportation. He was forced to quit the extra job and pay the money back.
If you decide to give private lessons, good luck to you. I'm in the camp that sees no problem with it, yet I still recognize that we're breaking the law by doing it.
From the story:
'Asked whether he knows that such tutoring is against immigration regulations, he said, "I don't understand why it could be a problem. Most of my friends are doing part-time jobs like me."
Many foreigners are unaware that private tutoring is illegal. Under the Immigration Law, E-2 visa holders and foreigners on tourist visas are banned from making money through giving private lessons'
Now, this clearly is an issue here. It is against the law, yet a lot of native speakers do it to make extra cash. Regardless of how the people in this story feel like it's not a big deal, it is illegal under Korea's visa regulations.
This might be a legitimate story, as well. I find it hard to believe that this guy found three people willing to potentially incriminte themselves by agreeing to an interview for this story. Even though they use fake names, how hard would it by for Kang to go ahead and turn them in. He's made his dislike for foreigners fairly clear with his body of work thus far.
Of course, many native speakers who come here to teach are giant idiots. Last year, a poker game got busted in a native speaker's house. Gambling is illegal here. One of the accused poker players said Korean police should respect HER culture of gambling. Yes, that makes sense (sarcasm).
Yes, it sucks that giving private lessons is illegal, especially when people so clearly want them and are willing to pay a premium to get quality extra lessons. If you do it, you run the risk of being deported.
The chances of you being found out are slim, though I've hd two friends already who were reprimanded for their extracurricular lessons. One of those friends was threatened with deportation. He was forced to quit the extra job and pay the money back.
If you decide to give private lessons, good luck to you. I'm in the camp that sees no problem with it, yet I still recognize that we're breaking the law by doing it.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Lately in Korea ...
I've spent the last week in New York City visiting my brother, visiting friends and family in my hometown the week before that and seeing my sister in Virginia the week before that.
I've been rather busy during my time at home. It's coming to an end in the next couple days, however. I received my visa on Thursday and let my recruiter know. That means I'll be getting on a plane sometime in the next couple of days to head to my new school in Incheon.
During my busy time at home, the world of South Korea has still been spinning, so quite a few interesting things have been happening. A few things have caught my eye, for sure. So I made note of them.
Here they are:
In September, Korean families on the North and South were reunited as part of a program that has been running since 2000. Here is a story on BBC of one specific family. It's really incredible to see their responses.
Check it here.
As the South Korean government brags about their fast recovery from the global recession, a reporter from the Korea Times made note of 10 things that still haunt the country.
Check them out here.
The Korean government is setting up 150 Korean language schools around the world in an effort to globalize Hangeul. Good luck! Haha.
Read about it here.
Here's an account by a BBC reporter of his time spent on North Korea. Getting to see his reaction is fascinating.
Learn about North Korea here.
Those are just a few of the news stories I've been following. I'm going to make some more in-depth observations and cover events a little closer when I return to the country. As of now, my days are winding down in America.
It's been great to see my family and friends and travel around the east coast, but I'm excited to get to my new school and see all my friends -- Korean and Western -- back over in South Korea.
I've been rather busy during my time at home. It's coming to an end in the next couple days, however. I received my visa on Thursday and let my recruiter know. That means I'll be getting on a plane sometime in the next couple of days to head to my new school in Incheon.
During my busy time at home, the world of South Korea has still been spinning, so quite a few interesting things have been happening. A few things have caught my eye, for sure. So I made note of them.
Here they are:
In September, Korean families on the North and South were reunited as part of a program that has been running since 2000. Here is a story on BBC of one specific family. It's really incredible to see their responses.
Check it here.
As the South Korean government brags about their fast recovery from the global recession, a reporter from the Korea Times made note of 10 things that still haunt the country.
Check them out here.
The Korean government is setting up 150 Korean language schools around the world in an effort to globalize Hangeul. Good luck! Haha.
Read about it here.
Here's an account by a BBC reporter of his time spent on North Korea. Getting to see his reaction is fascinating.
Learn about North Korea here.
Those are just a few of the news stories I've been following. I'm going to make some more in-depth observations and cover events a little closer when I return to the country. As of now, my days are winding down in America.
It's been great to see my family and friends and travel around the east coast, but I'm excited to get to my new school and see all my friends -- Korean and Western -- back over in South Korea.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Job Offer Accepted!
I got good news in the form of an email from my recruiter. First, the background story.
I was concerned about where I would end up next time around, because my recruiter informed me that the government was suspending bringing in new teachers until the new year because of the H1N1 flu that is spreading around. It seems to be Korea's idea to combat the spread is to isolate everyone and everything. In the last month, a bunch of high-profile provincial festivals and events have been canceled.
The good news email came last night, with a job offer from the principal of Hambak Elementary School in Yeonsu-dong. The latest I can arrive is Oct. 19. My assumption is that is the day they want me to start teaching. That means I'll most likely be leaving America on Oct. 16 or 17 in order to get back in time (remember, they're 13 hours ahead).
There are a lot of good things about this new move. The money is the same, but the hours are better. It's a standard work day, rather than afternoon and evening hours. There's more vacation time, more sick days and even days listed for "special leave."
Also, Yeonsu-dong is where all my friends live. That's not something to be overlooked. This past year, I found myself forced to take cabs home because the bus to this neighborhood stopped by about 10:30 p.m. If I got out at 9 p.m. and got on a bus to ride right over there for dinner, we still wouldn't be sitting down to eat until 9:30 p.m. at the earliest. We'd have to rush through dinner if I wanted to catch the bus home. So most times, instead of riding a bus home for 900 won, I had to pay 4,500 won for a cab. Just a hassle.
Now, I'll be on a different schedule from my friends since they're all still at academies. But being in the same areas makes splitting cabs and hanging out easier. It should be easier to relieve some stress.
Also, don't forget that this is my second time around. Much of the first half of my first year was simply adjusting to the culture, job and anything else. even the process of getting their was frustrating at times, not knowing exactly what to do.
This time, I'm practically all set with my documents already. I mailed away my American criminal background check to the Apostille today. I'll get my transcripts and second recommendation letter tomorrow. By early next week, I will most likely have my visa number. That means my plane ticket can be schedule soon, as well. Last time, everything really happened last minute and it was a real whirlwind. I don't even have to go to New York City for an interview this time.
All in all, this elementary school job is looking like a great opportunity. It's a little less time than I expected to be home, but that's okay. I'll have enough time to see family and friends, eat some wonderful American food and then head back to start my new year.
It seems like a quick turn-around, but things are looking.
Here is the website for the school. It's all in Korean.
I was concerned about where I would end up next time around, because my recruiter informed me that the government was suspending bringing in new teachers until the new year because of the H1N1 flu that is spreading around. It seems to be Korea's idea to combat the spread is to isolate everyone and everything. In the last month, a bunch of high-profile provincial festivals and events have been canceled.
The good news email came last night, with a job offer from the principal of Hambak Elementary School in Yeonsu-dong. The latest I can arrive is Oct. 19. My assumption is that is the day they want me to start teaching. That means I'll most likely be leaving America on Oct. 16 or 17 in order to get back in time (remember, they're 13 hours ahead).
There are a lot of good things about this new move. The money is the same, but the hours are better. It's a standard work day, rather than afternoon and evening hours. There's more vacation time, more sick days and even days listed for "special leave."
Also, Yeonsu-dong is where all my friends live. That's not something to be overlooked. This past year, I found myself forced to take cabs home because the bus to this neighborhood stopped by about 10:30 p.m. If I got out at 9 p.m. and got on a bus to ride right over there for dinner, we still wouldn't be sitting down to eat until 9:30 p.m. at the earliest. We'd have to rush through dinner if I wanted to catch the bus home. So most times, instead of riding a bus home for 900 won, I had to pay 4,500 won for a cab. Just a hassle.
Now, I'll be on a different schedule from my friends since they're all still at academies. But being in the same areas makes splitting cabs and hanging out easier. It should be easier to relieve some stress.
Also, don't forget that this is my second time around. Much of the first half of my first year was simply adjusting to the culture, job and anything else. even the process of getting their was frustrating at times, not knowing exactly what to do.
This time, I'm practically all set with my documents already. I mailed away my American criminal background check to the Apostille today. I'll get my transcripts and second recommendation letter tomorrow. By early next week, I will most likely have my visa number. That means my plane ticket can be schedule soon, as well. Last time, everything really happened last minute and it was a real whirlwind. I don't even have to go to New York City for an interview this time.
All in all, this elementary school job is looking like a great opportunity. It's a little less time than I expected to be home, but that's okay. I'll have enough time to see family and friends, eat some wonderful American food and then head back to start my new year.
It seems like a quick turn-around, but things are looking.
Here is the website for the school. It's all in Korean.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
My Last Day at Jungchul
Let's start with my second-to-last day. Because of the plane ticket flub that has me going home five days past my visa expiration date, I needed a sojourn extension. My bosses told me that it was done. At the urging of my parents, and just to make sure, I called the immigration office to make sure everything was alright.
Well here's a giant surprise: It wasn't!!!
That's right, they did NOT extend my visa as they had informed me. So I would've gotten to the airport and had to pay a huge fine or possibly been held and interviewed about my alleged plot.
So my head teacher, Kathy, and I went to the immigration office yesterday and sorted it out. All the bosses had to do was tell me. They can't even handle that.
That brings me to today. It's my last day at Jungchul and I couldn't be happier. I've decided that all the hard times and issues I've faced in Korea have been because of Jungchul and the bosses. Any other thing that I got frustrated about was a direct result of my mind-boggling emotional abuse from work.
So today, I'll go in, say goodbye to my favorite classes and fellow teachers and then be faced with my final meeting with my bosses. This is all about money owed for my time spent here. I am very much worried that something will go wrong. My best course of action, I think, is to just accept it now. That way, I won't be super mad about it later. I'll still be a little mad, but I won't fly off the handle at them.
So this is it. It's one last day of class and then six more days in Korea that are just free time. Goodbye Jungchul. I'm confident when I say, "See ya never!"
Well here's a giant surprise: It wasn't!!!
That's right, they did NOT extend my visa as they had informed me. So I would've gotten to the airport and had to pay a huge fine or possibly been held and interviewed about my alleged plot.
So my head teacher, Kathy, and I went to the immigration office yesterday and sorted it out. All the bosses had to do was tell me. They can't even handle that.
That brings me to today. It's my last day at Jungchul and I couldn't be happier. I've decided that all the hard times and issues I've faced in Korea have been because of Jungchul and the bosses. Any other thing that I got frustrated about was a direct result of my mind-boggling emotional abuse from work.
So today, I'll go in, say goodbye to my favorite classes and fellow teachers and then be faced with my final meeting with my bosses. This is all about money owed for my time spent here. I am very much worried that something will go wrong. My best course of action, I think, is to just accept it now. That way, I won't be super mad about it later. I'll still be a little mad, but I won't fly off the handle at them.
So this is it. It's one last day of class and then six more days in Korea that are just free time. Goodbye Jungchul. I'm confident when I say, "See ya never!"
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Visa Approved!!!
The interview yesterday went very well and I was approved as a "very qualified candidate," according to Jong Heon Lee at the Korean Consulate.
I sat with Lee for about 20 minutes in which he asked me about why I wanted to go and why I felt qualified. He also told me some of the differences between Korean and American styles of teaching.
Apparently, in Korea, the teach or professor traditionally is there to simply lecture. But Lee wants the American style of discussion and dialogue to be applied. He said the times are changing slowly, and he hopes I use the American way to teach.
That certainly makes sense to me, considering they are English classes. I think conversation and dialogue are keys to learning the language.
One interesting thing Lee said is that he interviews a lot of people, but not all are as qualified as he would want. But because people pay money for the background check, Visa application and others things, he feels an obligation to approve them regardless. He said he has to make a note that those people would need a little more training when they get over there to make sure they're suitable teachers.
Fortunately for me, through my English writing degree and conversation with Lee, I was called "very qualified." Hopefully that means I'll be in the classroom right away, ready to teach the kids.
I pick up my passport with my Visa stamp today after 3 p.m. That's the last of my obstacles. Next up is a few days to tie up any loose ends here, and then I hop on a plane on Sept. 4.
I sat with Lee for about 20 minutes in which he asked me about why I wanted to go and why I felt qualified. He also told me some of the differences between Korean and American styles of teaching.
Apparently, in Korea, the teach or professor traditionally is there to simply lecture. But Lee wants the American style of discussion and dialogue to be applied. He said the times are changing slowly, and he hopes I use the American way to teach.
That certainly makes sense to me, considering they are English classes. I think conversation and dialogue are keys to learning the language.
One interesting thing Lee said is that he interviews a lot of people, but not all are as qualified as he would want. But because people pay money for the background check, Visa application and others things, he feels an obligation to approve them regardless. He said he has to make a note that those people would need a little more training when they get over there to make sure they're suitable teachers.
Fortunately for me, through my English writing degree and conversation with Lee, I was called "very qualified." Hopefully that means I'll be in the classroom right away, ready to teach the kids.
I pick up my passport with my Visa stamp today after 3 p.m. That's the last of my obstacles. Next up is a few days to tie up any loose ends here, and then I hop on a plane on Sept. 4.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Heading to the Big Stinky Apple
It's been awhile since I've posted, and with good reason: Nothing has been happening.
As I said before, I was simply waiting for things to move through the process. Well, they did, and I am on my way to the Korean Consulate in New York City tomorrow to take part in a Visa interview.
From what I've heard, it's roughly 15 minutes long and they just want to make sure I'm not insane or have some bad intentions for my time there. Fortunately for them and me, I pass both of those tests.
So I'm jumping on a plane in the morning, getting interviewed in the early afternoon, then picking up my passport on Wednesday with my E2 Visa stamp in it.
I also found out that I'll be getting on a plane for Incheon, South Korea on Thursday, Sept. 4. I asked for a few more days in town since I knew I had to make this NYC trip. It gives me the chance to tie up the last couple of stories for the newspaper and see family and friends one last time before I take the big plunge.
I have been studying my Korean phrase books and work books for the last two weeks now and am very happy about my progress. I can already recognize their alphabet and the sounds the letters make, as well as word construction. So I'll be able to read all the signs and whatnot, even though I won't know what it means yet. I think it's a good start anyway.
I'll update this after the interview and let everyone know what that's like.
So it goes ...
As I said before, I was simply waiting for things to move through the process. Well, they did, and I am on my way to the Korean Consulate in New York City tomorrow to take part in a Visa interview.
From what I've heard, it's roughly 15 minutes long and they just want to make sure I'm not insane or have some bad intentions for my time there. Fortunately for them and me, I pass both of those tests.
So I'm jumping on a plane in the morning, getting interviewed in the early afternoon, then picking up my passport on Wednesday with my E2 Visa stamp in it.
I also found out that I'll be getting on a plane for Incheon, South Korea on Thursday, Sept. 4. I asked for a few more days in town since I knew I had to make this NYC trip. It gives me the chance to tie up the last couple of stories for the newspaper and see family and friends one last time before I take the big plunge.
I have been studying my Korean phrase books and work books for the last two weeks now and am very happy about my progress. I can already recognize their alphabet and the sounds the letters make, as well as word construction. So I'll be able to read all the signs and whatnot, even though I won't know what it means yet. I think it's a good start anyway.
I'll update this after the interview and let everyone know what that's like.
So it goes ...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Playing the waiting game
The one thing I've learned throughout the process so far is that, while things happen fairly quickly, much of it ends up as waiting.
It took me only one day to put together all my necessary paperwork, except to get my criminal check authenticated by the state Apostille. Thanks to a mistake by the notary, I got that back and found out it needed notarized in a certain way.
My notary didn't know that and, I think, was still uncomfortable when I took it to her a second time. I lost about five days in the process sending the criminal check out once and getting it back with a note telling me about the mistake.
I can take some solace knowing that most notaries would have made the same mistake. I met someone else who will be in Seoul starting in November. She told me that her notary said the same thing. Fortunately, I went through it already, so she didn't have to lose any time like I did.
Here is the address of my school. Obviously this won't be my apartment's address as well. But I will be in this general location if you're trying to find it on a map.
Okryun-dong 194-42, Yeonsu-gu
Incheon, Korea
Jungchul School
zip code: 406-050
Of course, that is a different story altogether. No online maps are detailed enough for South Korea to show all the neighborhoods and wards. You will find Incheon on there, and that's my city.
My parents and I spent a whirlwind weekend dropping Melissa off at seminary in Virginia, then swinging up to New York to see Jeremy. The trip paid off for me because I got to see Jeremy and Melissa before I disappear for a year, and I also finally found a book store with Korean materials.
I got a beginner's workbook with cd, a phrase and culture book, a pocket dictionary and a book called "Making Out In Korean." There's no doubt I'll be doing the last one the most. Realistically, there is a lot of stuff in the last book that will be useful when I'm out. It has less formal phrases and more that are meant for getting to know people when you're out.
The good news is that my school got my paperwork over the weekend. That means they're reviewing it right now to make sure I'm a suitable candidate. They'll then send me a visa insurance number.
From they're I might have a couple of options. I'll either have to go to New York again to the Korean consulate to get interviewed for my visa, or I'll go on a visitor's visa to South Korea. From there, they'll send me up to Japan to get my visa paperwork completed.
Obviously I'm hoping for the second. If that happens, I'll get to check out Japan and NOT have to pay for it. The New York trip would come out of my own pocket.
That's it for now. Na-jung-e. (That's how it sounds to say "later." I don't have the capabilities yet to type in the Korean characters.)
It took me only one day to put together all my necessary paperwork, except to get my criminal check authenticated by the state Apostille. Thanks to a mistake by the notary, I got that back and found out it needed notarized in a certain way.
My notary didn't know that and, I think, was still uncomfortable when I took it to her a second time. I lost about five days in the process sending the criminal check out once and getting it back with a note telling me about the mistake.
I can take some solace knowing that most notaries would have made the same mistake. I met someone else who will be in Seoul starting in November. She told me that her notary said the same thing. Fortunately, I went through it already, so she didn't have to lose any time like I did.
Here is the address of my school. Obviously this won't be my apartment's address as well. But I will be in this general location if you're trying to find it on a map.
Okryun-dong 194-42, Yeonsu-gu
Incheon, Korea
Jungchul School
zip code: 406-050
Of course, that is a different story altogether. No online maps are detailed enough for South Korea to show all the neighborhoods and wards. You will find Incheon on there, and that's my city.
My parents and I spent a whirlwind weekend dropping Melissa off at seminary in Virginia, then swinging up to New York to see Jeremy. The trip paid off for me because I got to see Jeremy and Melissa before I disappear for a year, and I also finally found a book store with Korean materials.
I got a beginner's workbook with cd, a phrase and culture book, a pocket dictionary and a book called "Making Out In Korean." There's no doubt I'll be doing the last one the most. Realistically, there is a lot of stuff in the last book that will be useful when I'm out. It has less formal phrases and more that are meant for getting to know people when you're out.
The good news is that my school got my paperwork over the weekend. That means they're reviewing it right now to make sure I'm a suitable candidate. They'll then send me a visa insurance number.
From they're I might have a couple of options. I'll either have to go to New York again to the Korean consulate to get interviewed for my visa, or I'll go on a visitor's visa to South Korea. From there, they'll send me up to Japan to get my visa paperwork completed.
Obviously I'm hoping for the second. If that happens, I'll get to check out Japan and NOT have to pay for it. The New York trip would come out of my own pocket.
That's it for now. Na-jung-e. (That's how it sounds to say "later." I don't have the capabilities yet to type in the Korean characters.)
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Jungchul English School
Here is a little bit of extra info about where I'll be teaching.
As I already said, the city is Incheon, South Korea, which is about 60 miles southwest of Seoul. In Incheon, I'll be in the ward of Yeonsu-gu and the neighborhood of Ongyeon-dong. The school I'll be teaching at is the Jungchul English School.
Here is a video of the school taken by one of the teachers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO9trdGlaV8 This is a chain of schools in the country, but I am almost 100 percent sure this is the one where I'll be. Either way, it's an interesting tour. (Ed. Note - Not the same school.)
My plan is to get on a plane on Friday, Aug.29. That will give me a day or so to adjust before starting work on the following Monday.
I will be making 2,100,000 won per month over there, which equals $2,100. Not only is that more than I'll make here, but I will be living in a single apartment rent-free, which will stretch my money even further.
There are three other foreign teachers at this school giving English lessons. We work anywhere from 2 to 9 p.m. between 27 and 29 hours each week. So the hours aren't that long or demanding. I will be required to do some student-related activities outside of school hours, but I'm not sure what or how many yet.
We get two one-week vacations. One is in the summer and one is in the winter. Other than that, it's just a year of teaching. At the end, we get a one month's pay bonus and the ability to take a month break if I decide to sign up again.
My friend, Dan, has been giving me a lot of advice, and has absolutely no regrets except that he recently bought a car before making up his mind to head overseas. Fortunately for me, I will be able to pay off the CR-V before heading over. That will help me with paying off my student loans, my only debt left.
I'll be about a 10-minute bus ride from Dan, but he thinks it's about four or five miles. That means I'll be well within walking distance. They also have a great subway system over there, which Dan said they use to go into Seoul on the weekends to party.
I'll be speaking with one of the recruiters tomorrow morning at about 8 a.m., which is 9 p.m. his time. He'll be getting off work and I'll be waking up. Go figure. During that time, I'll find out where I need to send my packet of information in order to get my visa number.
Once I have that, I'll be able to get my visa through an interview at the Korean Consulate in New York City. Fortunately, we're making that trip this weekend after Mom and Dad drop Melissa off at school in Virginia. If timing works right, I'll be able to get that done up there, and be on my way home in the middle of next week with my work visa. All that remains after that is saying goodbye.
If anyone has any questions for me, feel free to let me know. If it's okay, I'll answer them on here just in case anyone else is wondering the same things.
Thank you so much everyone for your kind words and encouragement so far. It's certainly fueling my excitement. Twenty-seven days and counting!
As I already said, the city is Incheon, South Korea, which is about 60 miles southwest of Seoul. In Incheon, I'll be in the ward of Yeonsu-gu and the neighborhood of Ongyeon-dong. The school I'll be teaching at is the Jungchul English School.
Here is a video of the school taken by one of the teachers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO9trdGlaV8 This is a chain of schools in the country, but I am almost 100 percent sure this is the one where I'll be. Either way, it's an interesting tour. (Ed. Note - Not the same school.)
My plan is to get on a plane on Friday, Aug.29. That will give me a day or so to adjust before starting work on the following Monday.
I will be making 2,100,000 won per month over there, which equals $2,100. Not only is that more than I'll make here, but I will be living in a single apartment rent-free, which will stretch my money even further.
There are three other foreign teachers at this school giving English lessons. We work anywhere from 2 to 9 p.m. between 27 and 29 hours each week. So the hours aren't that long or demanding. I will be required to do some student-related activities outside of school hours, but I'm not sure what or how many yet.
We get two one-week vacations. One is in the summer and one is in the winter. Other than that, it's just a year of teaching. At the end, we get a one month's pay bonus and the ability to take a month break if I decide to sign up again.
My friend, Dan, has been giving me a lot of advice, and has absolutely no regrets except that he recently bought a car before making up his mind to head overseas. Fortunately for me, I will be able to pay off the CR-V before heading over. That will help me with paying off my student loans, my only debt left.
I'll be about a 10-minute bus ride from Dan, but he thinks it's about four or five miles. That means I'll be well within walking distance. They also have a great subway system over there, which Dan said they use to go into Seoul on the weekends to party.
I'll be speaking with one of the recruiters tomorrow morning at about 8 a.m., which is 9 p.m. his time. He'll be getting off work and I'll be waking up. Go figure. During that time, I'll find out where I need to send my packet of information in order to get my visa number.
Once I have that, I'll be able to get my visa through an interview at the Korean Consulate in New York City. Fortunately, we're making that trip this weekend after Mom and Dad drop Melissa off at school in Virginia. If timing works right, I'll be able to get that done up there, and be on my way home in the middle of next week with my work visa. All that remains after that is saying goodbye.
If anyone has any questions for me, feel free to let me know. If it's okay, I'll answer them on here just in case anyone else is wondering the same things.
Thank you so much everyone for your kind words and encouragement so far. It's certainly fueling my excitement. Twenty-seven days and counting!
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