Arrival After a Lifetime of Travelling

I finally arrived in the Incheon/Seoul airport after, what seems like, a lifetime of travelling. You know with the 7 hours it took to drive down to Chicago so that I could pick up my visa and fly out from the Chicago O'hare international airport. I had a 3.5 hour layover in SanFransisco, plus the 12 hour flight to Incheon, South Korea.

After arriving at the airport in South Korea I went through customs, which wasn't bad at all. All they did was stamp me and I was in. Then I had to take a 4.5 hour bus ride to Gwangju, my city. But I had to make sure to tell the lady giving me the ticket that I wanted Gwangju City in Jeollanam Province. Otherwise I would end up in Gwangju on the other side of Korea. By some miracle I made it on the right bus by asking a lot of people, who couldn't understand me but I just thrust my ticket at them. Luckily a nice coulple pushed me onto the right bus! Whew!

The next problem was finding the people who were supposed to meet me at the bus station. Where was I supposed to meet them? No one told me that!! But fortunately they got there early and saw me as the only foreigner and came and grabbed me right away. By this time it was 11pm and I had been traveling for 28 hours! Me so sleepy!!

I however, didn't get to go to bed right away, they insisted on taking me on a tour around the area to show me everything. I feel sorry for them because I was so delerious with sleep that I didn't see a thing and my responses were very limited. They eventually showed me to my apartment, which I still don't know the address of.

The aparment reminds me of a dorm, with a tiny kitchenette and a little ity-bity bathroom. But it's my home and I like it, minus the mold and dirt!

Well, anyways, I'll write down some more adventures later until then I need to learn some hangul!!

Steps to teaching ESL in Korea!

So I was thinking that I would help some people out with the information that I've gained by going through this process. These are the steps I took and approximate times.

• STEP 1: I searched the net for a good recruiter with good reviews. I personally went through Teach ESL Korea. www.teacheslkorea.com

• STEP 2: I filled out the application for the recruiter and picked a good picture that showed I had a great smile and liked kids. They say that your picture basically gets you the job so be sure to pick a good one.

• STEP 3: Get your background check done at the state level. I should have started this earlier because it's a lengthy process. You also have to get it apostilled! So get this started ASAP! The form for WI criminal record check is at this website www.doj.state.wi.us/DLES/CIB/forms/cib/djle250.pdf
The form to get it apostilled in WI is at this website www.sos.state.wi.us/pdf/certificate_request_form.pdf
I recommend using the overnight shipping from the USPS to save on time because it's not that expensive.

• STEP 4: Interview with a school. The recruiter will find a school for you and you'll set up a phone interview. The questions they ask you vary greatly. I interviewed with a few schools. One interview they just chatted with me to see how well I spoke and asked why I wanted to go to Korea and if I had any questions. The other school asked me what I would do in certain situations, my experience teaching, and some other teacher specific questions. I went on line before the interviews and looked over some sample teacher interview questions that they use in schools in the US just to get me thinking in the mindset of a teacher. However, don't worry about it too much. If you get an interview that means that they think you're already qualified. They're just checking to see if they can understand you. You're already 99% sure to get the job if you can speak English clearly.

• STEP 5: Sign the contract that the school sends you via e-mail. Make sure to print out a couple of copies at least 3. One gets sent to your school, one you keep, and I recommend keeping a copy of all of your documents at home with your parents just in case. I also highly recommend you check over this contract very carefully because this could make or break your stay! You want to make sure your pay is on there and when they pay you. There should also be information on overtime if it's mandatory, optional, and how much you get paid. Also check over housing arrangements, firing policy, tickets over there and back, and vacation. If you have any questions e-mail them and ask them. They also might want you to scan and send them the page that you signed on the contract.

• STEP 6: Now you'll need to send your documents to Korea. They recommend FedEx or UPS. I used USPS Global Express because they partner with FedEx and I needed it sent out on a Saturday. It takes 3 days to get there and it cost about $48. Also don’t forget to e-mail your school the tracking information.

o The signed contract
o Your original degree (no photocopies will be accepted!)
o 1 set of Sealed university transcripts (unopened)
o Copy of the Info Page in your Passport
o 4 color passport photos (only original photos will be accepted)
o A Signed copy of your resume with correct address and contact information
o Criminal Record Check:
 Must be issued within last 6 months
 Must be notarized on the original criminal record check by Apostille
o Medical Statement Form www.teacheslkorea.com/_functions/downloads/medical_statement_form.pdf
 Complete the 'Health Statement' form and send it to Korea.
 Once you arrive in Korea, visit a general hospital or community health center to obtain medical exam certificate to apply for Alien Registration at a local immigration office within 90 days of arrival.

• STEP 7: Wait for your school to send you your E2#. It takes about 4-10 days. It takes longer in the peak season.

• STEP 8: Once you get your E2 number you need to call the Korean consulate. The Chicago Korean Consulate can be reached at (312) 822-9485. You’ll need to schedule an appointment for an interview. They also only do visa services on Wednesday and Fridays! If you live far away 8-10 hours or more you might be able to do it over a webcam but you’ll need to contact them and see. Otherwise, if you’re in a hurry or close you need to make the haul in there to sit for a 5 minute interview of pointless questions. Just for you idiots out there, if they ask you anything about drugs you don’t know anything and you’ve never done them!!! They are HUGE on drugs there!
o You’ll need to fill out a visa application with your E2# on the top www.teacheslkorea.com/_functions/downloads/visa_form.pdf
o Passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
o Passport photo
o $45 money order (for US). They don’t accept personal checks.
o Sealed university transcripts
o Filled out interview form www.teacheslkorea.com/_functions/downloads/interview_form.pdf
o Prepaid postage return envelope for them to return your passport. In WI it takes 2-3 days to get your visa plus mailing time.

Just in case you qualify to have a webcam interview this is some information you’ll need.
o Latest version of MSN messenger
o Provide your e-mail address to the consulate (hotmail.com or live.com only) and add lch2719@hotmail.com as your friend on MSN Messenger.
o You must submit all your paperwork before the interview

• STEP 9: Once you get your visa then you can be on a plane flying over to South Korea!! Yay! The paperwork hell is over and you can relax and pack!!

Swept Away

As the time draws near, I'm starting to prepare for my departure. I'm not only physically preparing, like packing, but I'm also getting mentally prepared for the culture change and they many hardships I'll likely face this coming year. While preparing I'm reminded of a quote by J.R. Tolkien..............

"It's dangerous business,..., going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."

I'm ready to be swept off my feet! I've always been a bit of a control freak and it's hard for me to let things go. However, I've already decided that this trip is my freedom! I'm graduated from college, I'm single, and I don't have a career tying me down. I'm out to explore, try new things, and to be a little reckless!

Soon I'll be enjoying Korean manhwas, norabong, and soju! I'm already feeling slightly sorry for the Korean population for having to hear me sing! Hahaha! Well, maybe with practice I'll sound mediocre. So for the future ......... to all Koreans, I'm very sorry for assaulting your ears with my horrible drunken bellering at the norabong! Please forgive me and teach me the ways of sweet melodies! ;-)

Well, back to packing and wrapping up loose ends back here in the US!

Situation Summation

So here is the gist of my situation, as of now.

I accepted a position of an ESL teacher at Eastern English School in South Korea. The city I chose was Gwangju, which has 1.5 million people! Coming from Cumberland, Wisconsin with a population of 2,280, it'll be a huge shock!!

Anyways, I just started this process just over 3 weeks ago and I'm leaving in another 2 weeks. I guess it only takes 5 weeks to revamp your life! I was just a single girl, living at home with mom and dad, waiting tables at a local bistro and slowly approaching my quarter life crisis. Now, I will be a single girl, living in my own apartment in Gwangju, teaching conversational English to impressionable young minds and I might be able to avoid having a quarter life crisis! See, much better!! ;-)

So now I have to finish getting my visa together by traveling the 7 hour trip down to Chicago to go to the Korean consulate for a 5 minute interview. I know, it's a total waste of time! 14 hours of driving for them to ask me why I'm going to South Korea, do I do drugs, and what I know about Korean culture. But, I just do as I'm told because I don't have time to piss and moan about how retarded governments can be.