Showing posts with label Application Process. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Application Process. Show all posts
Aug 5, 2012
T-Minus 2 Weeks
Packing is really stressful. It doesn't help that in the next week I'm taking a trip within a trip right before The Big Trip. It's like Inception.
Jul 15, 2012
Have Ticket, Will Travel
Most common reaction when I told people I was moving to Korea…
(via kickinitinkorea)
So... big news. As you may have gathered from the title of this post, I have, indeed, purchased a one way ticket to Seoul. Buying a one way ticket is an odd experience.
I'll try to post a map (I'm looking at you, Google) of my flight path soon. It's long. Trust me.
Wheels up August 19th. So much to do, so little time.
Edit-- Here's my flight path: Boston-Charlotte-San Francisco-Seoul
View Boston-Seoul in a larger map
Jul 9, 2012
Jul 7, 2012
Signin' Paper
OH HEY, Notice of Appointment. Nice to finally meet you.
It arrived yesterday with my contract. Check out how legit that is. Shit just got real up in here, folks. Next stop: Korean Consulate. Visa time.
Jun 5, 2012
The Dog Days Are Over
Well, it's here. I got my confirmation from EPIK that I have a position in Seoul! I can't believe it. I'm sitting at work right now, trying to keep it under control.
Be cool, Meg. Be cool.
I can't believe this is happening. For the last few weeks, I've been battling secret (or not so secret) fears of being placed in a tiny town where nobody speaks English, or worse.... getting rejected all together. Along with those fears came the feelings of "Gee, Meg, if you're so afraid of really experiencing a small town in another country, maybe you're not cut out for this in the first place." It was a fun little spiral of self-doubt and (some) shame.
But that's all over now! Don't you worry no more. Gonna go west... to the sea...
Ahem. Sorry. Sometimes I burst into Elton John lyrics when I'm anxious.
Anyway, now I have a teeny bit more waiting. I'll get my contract in the mail some time in the next few weeks. From there, I can go to the Korean consulate and get a visa, and then I can get my plane ticket.
In the meantime, I get to break the news to my boss.
Meg out.
Be cool, Meg. Be cool.
I can't believe this is happening. For the last few weeks, I've been battling secret (or not so secret) fears of being placed in a tiny town where nobody speaks English, or worse.... getting rejected all together. Along with those fears came the feelings of "Gee, Meg, if you're so afraid of really experiencing a small town in another country, maybe you're not cut out for this in the first place." It was a fun little spiral of self-doubt and (some) shame.
But that's all over now! Don't you worry no more. Gonna go west... to the sea...
Ahem. Sorry. Sometimes I burst into Elton John lyrics when I'm anxious.
Anyway, now I have a teeny bit more waiting. I'll get my contract in the mail some time in the next few weeks. From there, I can go to the Korean consulate and get a visa, and then I can get my plane ticket.
In the meantime, I get to break the news to my boss.
Meg out.
May 9, 2012
Still waiting...
Ho hum.
*twiddles thumbs*
Still waiting to hear from EPIK about my city placement. Fedex said my parcel (containing my identity, soul, and the rights to my firstborn) was safely delivered to my recruiter's office in Daegu. I'm guessing it'll be another few weeks before I actually hear anything. I guess they usually send out contracts around the beginning of June.
Until then, I'll just keep finding ways to distract myself... like this:
*twiddles thumbs*
Still waiting to hear from EPIK about my city placement. Fedex said my parcel (containing my identity, soul, and the rights to my firstborn) was safely delivered to my recruiter's office in Daegu. I'm guessing it'll be another few weeks before I actually hear anything. I guess they usually send out contracts around the beginning of June.
Until then, I'll just keep finding ways to distract myself... like this:
May 4, 2012
D-Day: The Sequel
THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
Ok. Deep breaths. This is it. D-Day: The Sequel. I have spent the last three months gathering all of these documents. Some of even cost me hundreds of hours to obtain. (I'm looking at you, TEFL certificate).
Today, I put the whole pile in a FedEx envelope, paid an arm and a leg, gave it a kiss for luck, and sent it on its merry way to Korea.
As you may have gathered from that hefty stack, it cost a pretty penny to mail. Now, all there is to do is wait. Wait, and pray that my compulsive organizational skills did not choose this moment to fail me. Wait, and hope that there weren't 400 would-be teachers who are even more compulsively organized than I am and got their sh*t together first, thereby filling all the available teaching positions and leaving me out in the dust. Wait, and try to keep myself from flying to pieces for JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
Here's to waiting.
Apr 28, 2012
D-Day (or: Man, Immigration is Hard Work!)
Note: At the time of writing, it is approximately 7:30 in the morning, I have been at work for 4.5 hours, and am delirious from lack of sleep. Ah, the joys of working in the news. So when you find me waxing poetic: grain of salt, please.
I would like to take this moment to give props to anyone who has ever up and moved countries (ie the ancestors of the vast majority of Americans). This stuff is HARD.
Yesterday was what I lovingly dubbed “D-day”-- the “D” being for “documents.” I spent the whole day running around making photocopies, going to the Public Records office for an Apostille stamp, being rejected for the Apostille because my degree photocopy wasn’t notarized correctly, going to the UPS store where it was notarized originally and firmly (but kindly) demanding the guy do it correctly for free, going BACK to the Public Records office, and finally getting my Apostille stamp. I also went for a run, but that’s neither here nor there.
I had an interesting conversation with the man at the Public Records office. He said they’ve been getting more and more young people heading over to Korea to teach English. Then he pointed out something that I recently realized myself: in a way, this phenomenon is the opposite of the American Dream. Young, smart, highly educated Americans are being forced to leave the country to find decent employment. Mr. Public Records remarked that this brain drain is a rather sad state of affairs. I can’t say I disagree. In 50 years, I’ll be very interested to see how history treats this recession and how it affected my generation.
On a more upbeat note, I got my FBI background check back the other day. Woo! I'm officially NOT a criminal (and there was much rejoicing). Shipped it off to DC yesterday for the Apostille. Once I get that back, I get to send the whole packet to Korea. After that, I’ll get my contract and notice of appointment, and FINALLY find out what city I’ll be living in(!!). Aside from the obvious reasons for why that’s exciting, it also means that I’ll finally be able to let my coworkers in on my plans. It’s hard to keep a secret like this for 6 months.
To my coworkers reading this: I'm planning a whole post on this, but I'm sorry for being a lying creeper for the last six months. Please forgive, I meant no harm.
I would like to take this moment to give props to anyone who has ever up and moved countries (ie the ancestors of the vast majority of Americans). This stuff is HARD.
Yesterday was what I lovingly dubbed “D-day”-- the “D” being for “documents.” I spent the whole day running around making photocopies, going to the Public Records office for an Apostille stamp, being rejected for the Apostille because my degree photocopy wasn’t notarized correctly, going to the UPS store where it was notarized originally and firmly (but kindly) demanding the guy do it correctly for free, going BACK to the Public Records office, and finally getting my Apostille stamp. I also went for a run, but that’s neither here nor there.
I had an interesting conversation with the man at the Public Records office. He said they’ve been getting more and more young people heading over to Korea to teach English. Then he pointed out something that I recently realized myself: in a way, this phenomenon is the opposite of the American Dream. Young, smart, highly educated Americans are being forced to leave the country to find decent employment. Mr. Public Records remarked that this brain drain is a rather sad state of affairs. I can’t say I disagree. In 50 years, I’ll be very interested to see how history treats this recession and how it affected my generation.
On a more upbeat note, I got my FBI background check back the other day. Woo! I'm officially NOT a criminal (and there was much rejoicing). Shipped it off to DC yesterday for the Apostille. Once I get that back, I get to send the whole packet to Korea. After that, I’ll get my contract and notice of appointment, and FINALLY find out what city I’ll be living in(!!). Aside from the obvious reasons for why that’s exciting, it also means that I’ll finally be able to let my coworkers in on my plans. It’s hard to keep a secret like this for 6 months.
To my coworkers reading this: I'm planning a whole post on this, but I'm sorry for being a lying creeper for the last six months. Please forgive, I meant no harm.
Apr 22, 2012
Public vs Private
Note: I do not claim to be any kind of expert on this subject. This is just a very, very simplified overview of teaching in public vs. private schools in Korea, based purely on internet research and talking to people with experience.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the process of getting a job as an English teacher in Korea, here's the rundown:
When looking to teach in Korea, you can go one of two ways: public or private school. Each has its own set of benefits and detriments.
Private school (also called Hagwons)
Pros:
Jobs are arguably easier to get, pay is generally higher, usually working with several other native English speakers, schools are always hiring--so you could start any time of the year
Cons:
Odd work hours (often the equivalent of America's "second shift"--aka 3pm-10pm ish), fewer days off, less job security (in extreme cases--you could end up working for a sketchy company that may or may not actually exist), teaching is profit-driven (the goal is to please the customer, aka the parents), not education-driven.
Public school (EPIK--English Program in Korea)
Pros:
Better job security (you're working for the government), more vacation time, normal work hours, teaching goals are education, not profit
Cons:
More competitive application process, slightly lower pay, likely will be the only native English speaker in your school, program only hires for two start times a year: Fall and Spring.
The moral of the story: if you're looking to head to Korea, do your research when deciding which route to go. Decide your priorities (money, start date, vacation time, etc), and pick which works best for you.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the process of getting a job as an English teacher in Korea, here's the rundown:
When looking to teach in Korea, you can go one of two ways: public or private school. Each has its own set of benefits and detriments.
Private school (also called Hagwons)
Pros:
Jobs are arguably easier to get, pay is generally higher, usually working with several other native English speakers, schools are always hiring--so you could start any time of the year
Cons:
Odd work hours (often the equivalent of America's "second shift"--aka 3pm-10pm ish), fewer days off, less job security (in extreme cases--you could end up working for a sketchy company that may or may not actually exist), teaching is profit-driven (the goal is to please the customer, aka the parents), not education-driven.
Public school (EPIK--English Program in Korea)
Pros:
Better job security (you're working for the government), more vacation time, normal work hours, teaching goals are education, not profit
Cons:
More competitive application process, slightly lower pay, likely will be the only native English speaker in your school, program only hires for two start times a year: Fall and Spring.
The moral of the story: if you're looking to head to Korea, do your research when deciding which route to go. Decide your priorities (money, start date, vacation time, etc), and pick which works best for you.
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