Well, I've had to answer the same questions so many times I figured I would just answer them here. I realize people are very curious about it, but being asked 15 times the same question gets tiring.
Do I speak Korean?
Not yet, but I plan on studying very hard.
Do I like Korean food?
I don't know, never really had it.
Why Korea?
It wasn't about the country itself, it was more about teaching and traveling.
What is it about Korea that made you decide you wanted to go there?
In China the cost of living is very low, but so are the wages. Japan the cost of living is very high, so are the wages, but usually you have to pay for your own housing. Korea the wages are high, so is the cost of living, but you normally get a free furnished apartment.
Am I excited?
You bet, this is a life changing event. Think about it. I'm moving to a completely different country, that speaks a very different language, everything about it is different. So yeah I'm excited.
Am I worried about anything?
Not really, the school has a very good reputation. My new boss is really cool, and speaks good english. Crime is extremely low in South Korea. I've had my car broken into 3 times the past 2 years at my apartment building.
What are my future plans?
The short answer is that I will go wherever my dreams lead me. The long answer is this: I'm currently researching three different things. One, saving up enough money for graduate school once I get back to the states. Two, becoming a teacher here in north america. Or three, saving up enough money to backpack around the world for a few years on a shoe string budget.
Will I be posting any pictures of Korea here?
You bet. One of my hobbies is photography and this website will be plastered with photos as soon as I get there. I also plan on having some short videos once I get a nice video camera. Another idea I have is to start a podcast show about what it's like to live and teach in South Korea.
Where did I get the idea to do this?
Well unfortunately the person who gave me this idea decided his life wasn't worth living anymore, his blog has also been taken down. The link is over to the right where his blog used to be. I will have to take that link down sometime soon. Anyway, you can read my first post to learn a bit more about him and how I came across this idea.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Things are happening so fast
I remember months ago I warned my family and friends that when I finally did find a job, things were going to move extremely fast. I find it ironic that now that I have found a job, I'm shocked at how fast things are happening.
On Aug. 28 I applied with a well known and respected recruiting agency that helps place english teachers in schools world wide. On Aug. 29 they told me I had been accepted for a telephone interview. I don't recall what day I had the interview, but on September 5 they told me I was accepted and they would start looking for jobs for me. That same day the agency sent me my first job offer which I turned down figuring I could find something closer to Seoul. The next day I got another job offer but for less money and I did not agree to everything listed in the contract so I turned that down. I changed my mind on Sept 7 however, and accepted the first position offered. I was told my information was sent to the school and to wait for an interview. September 10 about 8pm the director of the school calls me for the "interview" which consisted of "I want to hire you". He then proceeded to ask me a bunch of weird questions that probably would have gotten him sued in america, how big was my family, how many siblings did I have. Thats not the typical american interview. I took it all in stride and we talked on yahoo messenger for a while after that. I found the conversation to be so odd and strangely cute I will post it here for you, with the names changed obviously.
My favorite line in the whole conversation is "Suwon city is a happy city" I mean who the heck talks like that? This is gonna be so cool!
David: this is David in South Korea.
David: hi, kevin
Me: Hey David, thanks for calling me
David: this is David in South Korea.
David: hi, kevin
David: nice to meet you
Me: Thanks, nice to meet you too
David: Here is at Suwon city in Korea.
David: Suwon city is a Happy city.
Me: I am excited and can't wait to come there
David: I sent our jobs descriptions to footprintrecruiting company a few minutew ago.
Me: Ok sounds good
David: If you want to our jobs descriptions, I can send you.
Me: Yes, I'd like that
David: Our academy is one of the largest academy in Korea.
You have received 1 file from david.
contract(original).doc
Open (Alt+Shift+O)
David: It is a conractment in Here.
David: So you had better read the documents carefully.
David: And then ask me any questions.
David: Let me introduce myself to you.
Me: Ok I will read them carefully
David: Our academy is "" Academy in Korea.
David: We have a lot of students over 1.000 in our academy now.
Me: That is a lot of students
David: And we have already prepared your housing in our building.
David: Our building is 3rd and 4th floor in here.
David: Your housing is on the 12th floor in here.
Me: Same building as the school?
David: Yes, same building.
David: very close.
Me: Ah, makes it easy to get to work then
David: that's right. And the room is single room.
Me: Is it furnished?
David: there is a basic furnished office buiding and we bought a few home appliance for you.
Me: Ok
David: If you want to come to Korea early, in advance you need to ready your documents.
David: we need three documents (original diploma. enveloping transcript. small size 2 photos)
David: And you should not open your transcript when you sent me.
Me: Alright, should not take me very long to get those things ready
David: Korea immigration office need enveloping transcript these days.
David: Okay. if you have any questions, send me from yahoo messenger.
Me: Ok, thank you
David: where do you live in now?
Me: I live in Tucson, Arizona
David: next to new mexico.
Me: Yes, it's very close to there
Me: It's very hot here, but a good place to live
David: okay. God bless you.
Me: You too
David: See you later.
Me: Bye
Lol this is going to be a blast...anyway
The next step was to send some documents to the school so they can have immigration process them and give me a visa number. Its not cheap to send 0.2 lbs of documents to South Korea, cost me $48, ouch.
So now I wait. Once I have the visa number, 7 to 10 days from when they start, I will then fill out a visa app and get my passport stamped with the visa, then I fly out to my new home. I'm estimating the rough time frame for me actually leaving is between 3 to 4 weeks, but could be as little as 2 weeks.
I have given my two week notice at work, and today sent out the goodbye email. I am such a sentimental person it was very hard writing that email. Trying not to be too emotional, trying to stay very professional but at the same time expressing my gratitude to the people I have worked so closely with.
I'm excited and will now try to switch to much more frequent blogging now that the time is near.
Today's movie quote comes from Blade Runner.
"A new life awaits you in the Off-World colonies. The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure..."
On Aug. 28 I applied with a well known and respected recruiting agency that helps place english teachers in schools world wide. On Aug. 29 they told me I had been accepted for a telephone interview. I don't recall what day I had the interview, but on September 5 they told me I was accepted and they would start looking for jobs for me. That same day the agency sent me my first job offer which I turned down figuring I could find something closer to Seoul. The next day I got another job offer but for less money and I did not agree to everything listed in the contract so I turned that down. I changed my mind on Sept 7 however, and accepted the first position offered. I was told my information was sent to the school and to wait for an interview. September 10 about 8pm the director of the school calls me for the "interview" which consisted of "I want to hire you". He then proceeded to ask me a bunch of weird questions that probably would have gotten him sued in america, how big was my family, how many siblings did I have. Thats not the typical american interview. I took it all in stride and we talked on yahoo messenger for a while after that. I found the conversation to be so odd and strangely cute I will post it here for you, with the names changed obviously.
My favorite line in the whole conversation is "Suwon city is a happy city" I mean who the heck talks like that? This is gonna be so cool!
David: this is David in South Korea.
David: hi, kevin
Me: Hey David, thanks for calling me
David: this is David in South Korea.
David: hi, kevin
David: nice to meet you
Me: Thanks, nice to meet you too
David: Here is at Suwon city in Korea.
David: Suwon city is a Happy city.
Me: I am excited and can't wait to come there
David: I sent our jobs descriptions to footprintrecruiting company a few minutew ago.
Me: Ok sounds good
David: If you want to our jobs descriptions, I can send you.
Me: Yes, I'd like that
David: Our academy is one of the largest academy in Korea.
You have received 1 file from david.
contract(original).doc
Open (Alt+Shift+O)
David: It is a conractment in Here.
David: So you had better read the documents carefully.
David: And then ask me any questions.
David: Let me introduce myself to you.
Me: Ok I will read them carefully
David: Our academy is "" Academy in Korea.
David: We have a lot of students over 1.000 in our academy now.
Me: That is a lot of students
David: And we have already prepared your housing in our building.
David: Our building is 3rd and 4th floor in here.
David: Your housing is on the 12th floor in here.
Me: Same building as the school?
David: Yes, same building.
David: very close.
Me: Ah, makes it easy to get to work then
David: that's right. And the room is single room.
Me: Is it furnished?
David: there is a basic furnished office buiding and we bought a few home appliance for you.
Me: Ok
David: If you want to come to Korea early, in advance you need to ready your documents.
David: we need three documents (original diploma. enveloping transcript. small size 2 photos)
David: And you should not open your transcript when you sent me.
Me: Alright, should not take me very long to get those things ready
David: Korea immigration office need enveloping transcript these days.
David: Okay. if you have any questions, send me from yahoo messenger.
Me: Ok, thank you
David: where do you live in now?
Me: I live in Tucson, Arizona
David: next to new mexico.
Me: Yes, it's very close to there
Me: It's very hot here, but a good place to live
David: okay. God bless you.
Me: You too
David: See you later.
Me: Bye
Lol this is going to be a blast...anyway
The next step was to send some documents to the school so they can have immigration process them and give me a visa number. Its not cheap to send 0.2 lbs of documents to South Korea, cost me $48, ouch.
So now I wait. Once I have the visa number, 7 to 10 days from when they start, I will then fill out a visa app and get my passport stamped with the visa, then I fly out to my new home. I'm estimating the rough time frame for me actually leaving is between 3 to 4 weeks, but could be as little as 2 weeks.
I have given my two week notice at work, and today sent out the goodbye email. I am such a sentimental person it was very hard writing that email. Trying not to be too emotional, trying to stay very professional but at the same time expressing my gratitude to the people I have worked so closely with.
I'm excited and will now try to switch to much more frequent blogging now that the time is near.
Today's movie quote comes from Blade Runner.
"A new life awaits you in the Off-World colonies. The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure..."
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