Korea Life Blog 1 -- Jeongja, Korea!

Until now my blogs have been about the processes involved in becoming a teacher in Korea. When I have a blog about something specific to Korea I will title it accordingly. However, I also wish to have more personalized blogs on this site. I will label them as "Korea Life Blog #". So, if you don't want to hear about my boring life, you can avoid these posts ;)


I am sorry it took so long to write something more interesting to my friends and family who are reading this. It has been a loooooooong three days. So this post may be a little long.

Day 1/2: I did manage maybe an hour or two of sleep on the flight over--it didn't help that I slept only 3-4

hours before my 21 hour flight. Oops. It also didn't help when I got to the airport and couldn't find my friend. Though I had my phone preset for international use, it doesn't work. Apparently Korea uses only one... signal? In the USA we use two or three? I obviously have the wrong one. So after buying an unusable calling card I spent 30 minutes freaking out before my friend found me. Luckily, I wasn't alone. I met another American named Emily who arrived on my flight, so we were working together to try and decipher the card when Stefanie found me and helped both of us in getting bus tickets and let us use her phone. The secretary and VP met me at the bus stop and showed me to my hotel room. I cleaned up and met the other teachers. Stefanie went to see a friend while we went and talked at a coffee shop. Afterwards I returned to the room and Stefanie came back to visit a little and answer any more questions before going home.

Day 1: I was picked up from my room by one of the teachers and we went to the coffee shop meet the other two teachers and eat breakfast before work. They are all really nice (even though they are all around 6 feet with natural modeling figures~ haha). I will be taking the place of the one American. The other two teachers are Canadians. I shadowed my classes for the day, learning the basic class set-up and observing the teaching. I also met with the director and had a short "post-interview" type thing.

I went on a nice 2-3 hour walk around Bundang, East of my hotel. It is so beautiful here!!! It seems like
anywhere there is five feet of space, they put a tree and anywhere they could they placed a park! For my friends and family you can check out my pictures on Facebook. I also got slightly lost (I was going the right way, but I wasn't completely sure at the time) and it was after dark. Luckily I found another foreigner out for a jog and asked him. I noticed there are a LOT of foreigners in Bundang, so I can't imagine in Seoul. haha

Day 2: I shadowed classes some more and was told more about where everything I will need for teaching and homework is. He also typed up the general information for me as a reference. After school, another teacher took me to buy a T-pass (for the train) which was a fun time. She was having trouble asking the clerk and he kept pointing to the cigarettes! But a hot guy behind us spoke some English and helped out. haha
Then she showed me how to put money on it... but I hadn't changed my traveler's checks yet, so it was only 1,000 won (~$1).

After that we returned to the school where we met with the other foreign teachers and a few Korean teachers. We all went out to eat a welcome/goodbye meal. We went to a Korean restaurant and had fried pork and beef, with an amazing collection of side dishes and soups. It was free for me and Paul since it was apparently for both of us. (Though the Korean teachers had to make the suggestion to the VP...)

Day 3: I left early and without breakfast to meet the secretary to go in for my health check. He drove. The health check was in Suwon, which took about 30 minutes each way. I was apparently pretty nervous (and maybe stressed) because my blood pressure was actually too high! (P.S. Normally my blood pressure is so low that they make fun of me for being dead... I'm not used to people telling me it's high.)
Then again, who can blame me when I had to sit in the back seat of the car of a person who claims to speak no English and therefore just doesn't speak!!! Also, the back seat thing... It seems normal in Korea to get in the backseat simply because they can't be seen with a white person in the front seat of their car (at least it makes sense to them). I feel like, in America, if I had the person get in the back and didn't let them sit in front it would be rude. Is that just me? -_-
Anyways, the blood pressure thing was an issue. They took it another 4-5 times before they accepted the last one which was 142/70.
Then came the pee test... For the first time in my life and I can only hope the last, I had to pee in a cup!!! OMG. I didn't think I would be able to do it. I was sitting in the bathroom while three other people came through and used the stall next to me before I could finally pee!!! I was really embarrassed about it too; I put the cup in the shirt pocket to hide it (my cup had a lid, but apparently when the other two girls went theirs didn't).
After that we went back to school. I felt like crap since I hadn't been able to eat because of the tests. I was really angry when I had to go into work without any food. Luckily, there was still 15 minutes before next period so I asked the VP and went to the corner shop to buy a rice ball. So I was able to cheer up and get through the day.
After our classes finished Eric let us leave early so a teacher could take me to the bank to cash my traveler’s checks. So I have money now. But the bank teller had no idea what he was doing and it took more than 30 minutes to finish.
I will be leaving in the next 20 min. to meet the foreign teachers for Indian food.

Other points of interest would be:

My co-workers are all really nice, not just the foreign teachers but the Koreans as well. The staff is altogether friendly and helpful, so it's very nice.
Also, the kids are great. I was told I would be teaching 4-15 year olds, but actually mine are all between the ages of 5 and 9. It's mostly a kindergarten with a few after school program classes. On Tuesday/Thursday, I finish just after my everyday classes at 3pm, but need to stay at work until 4:30, which is no problem. On Monday/Wednesday/Friday, I have another 3 classes which end the day around 5:30pm.
Everyday lunch is served at the school for free, but if I want I can go to the convenience store that is just one block away and get something to eat (I usually buy my breakfast there).
During lunch they play a movie in the "kid's room" for the students who finish eating and need to be occupied. I usually go in there and join them once I finish eating. The kids seem to find it amusing. Many of them will come over to sit next to me or on me. Several of them will also take any chance outside of class to try and teach me Korean! ahaha. They get really excited when I say anything in Korean, so it's always fun. We just have to keep it limited to free time. However, whenever they teach me something I always make them tell me in English, that way I know what I am saying and they get English practice at the same time.^^

So far so good, but tomorrow is my first day of real teaching!!!! Wish me luck!!!

Health Check

When you arrive at your job they should tell you within the first two weeks when you will have your health check. They should take you, but it may vary, to a hospital. When you arrive, there will be a form to fill out, if they go with you they may do it for you. Then you will be given a set of pajama-like clothes to change into and a cabinet key to store your things. The cabinet will have a pair of slippers for your to put on also. Girls, you DO need to remove your bra as well (luckily the shirt is thick). When you are ready you will go back out and be given a clipboard with a sheet of paper that has room numbers listed.

In my case, there was one large waiting area with smaller rooms in it that were numbered, these are the stations. You will go from one station to another, each designed to check something.

They will take your blood pressure; check your height, weight, vision, and hearing; a urine test where you will need to pee in a cup--they may or may not give you one with a cover (the worst part in my opinion); they will draw blood for testing; a chest x-ray; check your teeth; and finally they will ask about any diseases or surgeries you have had.

After you have finished all the stations you will return your sheet with the information collected to the counter and leave.

It should take about 2 weeks for processing to hear back. Afterwards, you can take the health cerificate to the embassy and receive your alien registration card.

Only after you have your alien registration card can you get a cell phone plan.

Arrival in Korea

Hello again. I arrived in Incheon airport last night after a horribly long 21 hour flight, only to have been left mostly to my own devices. Luckily I had a friend who could come meet me and help me get there, but I met another girl who didn't and my friend helped her out as well.

When you arrive in Korea, it is normal for someone from your school to pick you up... however, sometimes this doesn't happen for one reason or other. In my case they were still in classes when I arrived and my school was an hour and a half drive from the airport, so they couldn't pick me up. Even if this is the case, don't worry too much.

When you arrive, you will follow the general masses through the airport until you see the sign saying "Immigration". Then you will need to look at the signs near front of the lines and find the lines marked for "Foreign Passport". Wait in line with your passport and yellow arrival card (given to you on the plane) out and ready. Since you will already have your visa, it will take all of a minute.
Then you will pass through and go right or left to the escalators going down to baggage claim. There are big digital sign boards next to the top of the escalators telling you which luggage rail to go to, check it first! Then go down and grab your luggage. There are free luggage carts that you can get to put your luggage on if you have too much to carry. Once you have it, make sure you have out your cards for 'items to declare'. You will pass through the declarations/none area and out into the main area. If someone has come to pick you up, they will be in that area.

If no one is picking you up, there is an exchange counter on the outside wall, go there first. If you wait to exchange your money in Korea, you won't have to pay extra fees. If you exchange cash, you will only need about $30-$50 dollars for bus fare. Taxis are expensive and the buses are nice, so don't be afraid to take one. If you take a taxi, you will need more money. If you use a debit or credit card at the exchange counter, the minimum you can change is $100. If you don't want to change that much (you will get better rates at a bank) you can use the ATM's next to the counter. They have an English button on them.

To take the bus you will need to go to a ticket counter that will be outside the airport doors, next to the pick-up area. FYI, when you walk out the doors there will be people asking if you want a taxi, if you do, ok. If not, just say no. Once we exited there was an airport working who asked us "where you want to go", we said Bundang (because that's where I am), but apparently if you say Seoul they will often try and take you to a taxi. My vote is to just say bus. He will tell you which way to the ticket counter.

When buying the bus ticket, you will need to know the name of your stop. Tell the person and they will tell you the departure times for that bus. Make sure you have at least 15 minutes to find/get to the stop because they are not neccessarily in order. Also, sometimes you will be on the same side as the counter, and sometimes you will need to go across the road. Ask them where the stop is located so you don't have to waste time. You can pay in cash or credit for the ticket.
Note: The buses are mostly set up by prefecture. Some prefectures have more than one stop, so make sure to check each sign to see that your stop is on that bus line.

When the bus comes they will place your luggage under the bus, at this time they often ask you which stop you will want. Tell them, then just get on and enjoy the ride. Make sure to pay attention to the stops though so you don't miss yours!!!

If no one met you at the airport, they will often meet you at the bus stop. They will usually put you up in a hotel room if your apartment is still occupied. If it's not, you can take your bags to your new apartment.

Also, don't be surprised if they want to take you to meet the other teachers right away if it is a weekday and not too late. I was asked to join them, but luckily given a little time to refresh myself with a quick wipe down and a new shirt. Which was good since I felt like a sweaty, smelly pig after the trip.

Other notes:
Don't bother get an international plan or cell phone. Most of them don't work anyway.
If you need to call your school after you buy the ticket to tell them when you'll arrive... ask at the information counter, what is the best way to make a local call. Also, have some change ready for the phones, it's easier than trying to decifer the phone cards.

What to bring

After talking with friends and other teachers in Korea, I've learned that there are some essentials that you may want to take with you along with and besides the basics.

Though it is obvious you will need to take some shoes and clothing, many people may not realize that in places like Korea and Japan the shoe and clothing sizes tend to run on the smaller end of the scale, especially for women. As far as clothing goes, if you are a woman and wear sizes bigger than large, over size 12 pants (US), or wear shoes bigger than size 9 (US) then you will want to pack all the clothes you will need for a year. Also, it is good to have at least two pairs of sneakers and dress shoes, and some sandals. For women again, don't forget to pack extra bras!

Some items you may decide to buy when you arrive; however, there are some items, that I have been instructed, that you may want to buy and stock up on before going to Korea. Such things as: deodorant, tampons (apparently Korean ones are  no good), perfume/cologne, chap stick, toothpaste (this is a necessity), sunscreen, and make-up items like face cleansers you like (the brands at home will be much more there), mascara, and eyeliner. The items in bold are ones you will definitely want to take with you in bulk. Deodorant seems to be the biggest one that I've heard though; I even have been requested to bring some extra over for my friends there. As far as make-up, the mascara and eyeliners in Korea aren't quite as good as what you can get at home. However, as far as other make-up, Korean make-up products are quite good and a lot of things that are popular now, like BB Cream, originated there. So, unless you need special products for your skin, you can leave that off the list.

Most things you need you will be able to find in Korea, but if you like certain brands (especially of items listed above) you will want to think ahead. You can't always find what you want abroad.

Prices in Korea are lower than the US and taxes are already built into the price, so shopping and eating in Korea is fine. However, if you want American brands be prepared to pay the same or more as you would at home.

Some other things you may need for your living are pillows, sheets, and blankets. These are not often provided and may cost up to $100 if you buy in Korea. However, since you may not want to clog your luggage with sheets, just be prepared with money to buy them.

These are all the items I was told about from 4 sources living in Korea. When I arrive I may be able to find more, or even less :P

If you get a job in Seoul, it is possible to find places like Forever 21 and such. Therefore, it is possible to find larger sizes. However, outside of Seoul, be prepared to only find small sized clothes and shoes.

Getting a feel for your new life

There are always things you need to think about before going abroad. Getting in touch with at least one of the foreign teachers at your new school is a must. There are many questions you may have and they often have answers. Some good things to talk to them about would be local entertainment and dining places. What they often do in their free time, how they make lesson plans, and so on.

However, there are also the important things you may want to know to help you settle in faster. Asking the other teachers for pictures of the apartment and surrounding area is a great way get a feel for the area. You can look at the space and start figuring out how to use it. You may also notice places you want to visit or familiar restaurants or fast food chains nearby. My school is apparently in the same building as Pizza Hut, for example.

Also, the airport. If you've ever traveled abroad, you may know that some airports have lots of twists and turns, and even shuttles or small trains to transport you to the 'main' terminals. You may want to be aware of that.

Another thing you may want to start preparing for is your new budget! Ask the teachers, that if it isn't too personal, if they could tell you how much they were being paid AND how much was actually going into their account. Sometimes it is hard to know how much taxes and other expenses will be deducted from your paycheck, especially when you are starting work in another country. Use a currency converter to see how much your salary is, then deduct a couple 1,000 Won. This should help you get a good feel of what you will be getting.
Also, asking the teacher's about how much they spend on utilities (which you normally pay), cell phone, cable, and other expenses a month. Your new school may take out some extra money in the beginning, a kind of 'insurance policy' in case you take off for whatever reason. The teacher's will likely warn you about this so you can plan for it.

Planning out a budget for your new life, in a new country, can really help you settle in more comfortably knowing what you can spend how you can spend it. :)

Visa Documents

If you get a contract and go to Korea to teach, you will need to get an E-2 Visa.

There are many stages to this process, and several documents involved. First you will need to collect the following documents:

• 4-6 passport sized photos (so one sheet--you need to keep one or two)
  
• passport (if you haven't got one--this will take the most time)
  
• two photocopies of your passport (keep one)
  
• original degree (they will give it back to you in Korea, but if you don't want to send your original degree, you can get a notarized photocopy to send for the apostille and send it)
• 2 sets of official college transcripts
• criminal background check (needs apostille)
• self-health statement
• original contract (signed)

It takes about 2-4 weeks to get your background check and another 2-4 to get the apostille, so plan ahead.
You will send most of these documents to the contracting school (except the ones noted to keep). The school will then take them to the Korean government and they will give you a visa issuance number which the school or recruiter should send you.
You then need to call your nearest Korean consulate or embassy and set up an interview for your visa. You will need to give them the visa issuance number, your name, and your contact information (phone number). They check out the information and call back to set up an appointment time/date.

For the interview, you will need to go to their site and print out the Visa application form and the consulate checklist and fill them out to take. You will also need:

• 2-3 passport sized photos (the ones you kept)
  
• copy of passport (the one you kept)
• passport (they will keep it and send it back to you with the visa inside)
• Cash or money order of $45 (paid to Korean Consulate General--cash accepted in person)
• self-addressed pre-paid envelope

Don't forget to have the application and checklist filled out when you go.

In my case, I went in, handed over the documents, waited, and was shown into an office. The interviews seem to last about 15-30 minutes. He asked the same questions from the recruiter and school interviews. Then we just talked about our travel experience and Korean food (not necessary, just something we had in common).

It's not anything scary, but look nice. I wore a suit and so did another guy. The people interviewing you will be in business attire, so you should be too. Just look professional and be prepared for the same questions.

Good luck~

Interviewing with the school

Since my friend kept asking me about the interview and what they asked, I thought I would post something to give you an idea of what to expect.

Mind you, the school knows what the recruiters tell them and what's on the resume and information you send. Which is why I recommend sending a cover letter with your resume.

To be honest, my interviews were rather simple. Since they already had my information, they asked about certain jobs, the experience, what I did, what I learned. Mostly it was just the principle telling me about the school and the job and what I needed to do, but...

What did you study for your degree? Where/when did you receive it from?
How long have you been considering teaching in Korea?
Why are you interested in Korea?
What do you know about Korea?
Have you previously traveled to Asia (Korea)? Where? When?
Do you have teaching experience? When? What age?
Do you have certification? What kind?
How soon can you have the Visa documents ready? Do you have them already?

Basically, all you need to do is be calm. Talk slowly, but not too slowly. Don't make it sound like you're talking to a three year old, but don't talk like they are your friends either. Speak clearly and use simple sentences (don't go on and on about nothing "like this... like that"). Normally you will be talking to a Korean whose English is limited.

Make sure you have a list of questions you want to ask them prepared before your interview.
How many (if any) sick days you get? Paid or not?
When/how often do you get paid?
Do they buy the ticket or reimburse you?

ALSO, be sure to ask if you can speak to one of the current ESL teachers! This is some good advice I got from my recruiter. The teachers will give you an honest account of the school, apartment, and city. Should you decide to take the job and keep their contact information, they can also be a big help in preparing for your trip.

Important questions for teachers could be:

What do they think of the school/principle/other teachers?
Location of housing in comparison to the school? If far, the cost of commute.
What is the state of the living conditions?
What furnishings were supplied?
Have they heard of any other ESL teacher's having had issues with the school or payment?
What is the dress code? Is there one?
How hard was it to open a bank account? Get a phone? Did the school help?
Can they e-mail you any pictures of the school/apartment?
What is the teaching style? Do you write lesson plans from scratch/work from books/etc?

Recruiters

Choosing a recruiter(s) is something you'll need to be careful about. Some people who contact you may not be real recruiters.

Things to keep in mind:
Recruiters are paid by the school to find YOU. If they ask you for money, find someone else.
You can always search them online to find other people who worked with them and what they said about them.
You don't have to choose one! They have different opportunities, if you tie yourself to one recruiter you may miss the job you want.

They normally send you something like this:

If you would like to learn more, please send us your resume, a recent picture and the following information:
Nationality:
DOB:
Available Start Date/End Date of Current Contract:
Current Location and Contact Number:
Level of Students:

Desired Location:
Visa status or status of necessary visa documents:
Time available for interview (Korean standard time):

The picture should be professional looking. Often Asian resumes have a small 2x2 photo on upper right/left hand corner in line with your basic information. You don't have to do this, but it can be easier sometimes than sending so many pieces.

They may ask you for some more informal photos later. Since the school can't meet you in person, these are usually so they can try and get a feel of your personality.

Also, it is good to create a short cover letter with an introduction of yourself and your motivation, even if they don't ask for it. This helps the recruiter and the school learn more about you.

Finding work in Korea

For people who want more information on getting a job in Korea, I am putting together what I know.

I got help from my friends when it came to finding working in Korea. Originally, all I knew about were the main programs: EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE. However, I met a friend who had worked/lived in Korea and she told me that the best jobs are at Hagwons (private schools), and they hire year round.
If you are looking to teach in Korea, and you don't have any connections there, the first step is to get a recruiter--or several! The best way to do this is to go to somewhere like Dave's ESL Cafe. You can post your resume and contact information and the recruiters will find you. Don't be surprised when they contact you without having read any of your information but your name, but do be prepared to be bombarded from then on with e-mails.
If you don't want that to happen, you can always search around the site and read about recruiters other people have worked with. You can also go to the recruiting sites and work directly through them, just giving your information to them alone.

You'll always hear people say things like "don't take the first job offer you get". This is often true. It is also true with recruiters.
However, when you get a job offer, consider it. If it is not what you want--hours, location, age group--you can always wait for another. However, sometimes you need to be willing to negotiate a little in your job criteria.

Important things to know about the jobs:
You'll usually receive information about the school from recruiters like:

LocationType: Elem, Middle, High, Adults
Hours: Mon,Wed,Fri 13:00-21:00; Tue,Thurs 14:00-21:00
Salary: 2.1 - 2.5
Start Date: May 1

American/Canadian ONLY
Prefer reputable University graduate

You can tell the recruiter if you are interested and they will send your information to the school. If the school is interested in you, you will often get more information like:

Name of school (distance from train stop)

Type: 4-15years old

Hours: 9:30-18.00

Start Date: Arrive in Korea May 23rd

Salary: 2.1~2.2

American/Canadian/British Female

no pension

Studio housing one minute from the school

Over time is 15,000won per class

Round Trip airfare

Severance and Medical Insurance

10 days vacation

Classes are 40 minutes long

There are 3 foreign teachers currently working at the school.

Type:
This will be the age group you teach, though it may vary. The classes are usually seperated by age.

Hours:
There are different time schedules available for teaching. Some will be all morning (9am-2pm), or morning to evening (9am-6pm), or even afternoon to night (1pm-10pm). Don't be difficult. Many people complain about working such late hours, especially on the 9am-5/6pm. Just think, if you stay home and work, you'll most likely be working 9-5 schedules but you won't be able to guarantee weekends off, nor will you get free rent. It's not bad, it's normal.

Start Date:
Obviously what it says. However, this may or may not include a few extra days for your initial "training".

Salary:
These range from about 1.8 to 2.5 million won per month. If you are looking to teach in Seoul and have no teaching certification or a BA (not in Education) then you will probably be at the lower end. The more you have (i.e. teaching certification, BA in English/Education, TEFL/TESOL certification) the more you'll get paid. Also, if you chose to work outside of the major cities you can also get a higher salary. And no matter what others say, it is not Seoul or nothing. Korea has a great public transport system. If you chose to work in a city just outside of Seoul, you can get the best of both.

No pension is pretty normal since you will only be there a short time. But if you want this job forever you'll want to look into a job that has it.

Rent/apartment:
Most jobs will provide housing for you. These range from furnished to unfurnished, studio to 2-3 bedroom, single or shared apartments. If you are looking for a job in Seoul, don't be surprised if you live in a closet (literally). However, there are may other foreigners and always things to do on your time off. If you live in the more rural areas, you are more likely to get a larger space; however, there may not be any other foreign teachers around, or much to do.
Apartments are usually paid for by the school. You are in charge of utilities and any personal needs (like food).

Overtime:
Usually overtime rates are between 13-15,000 won per class/hour.

Airfare:
In my opinion, if they don't offer to pay for it, or reimburse you for it, you can always find one that will. Since flights are expensive and most schools will reimburse you, you shouldn't take one that won't.

Medical:
Is a given. Korea has a national health care system, so your as long as the doctor is ok-ed by the school, your visits will usually only be the $20 copay.

Severance:
This is a bonus you get, one months pay, for FINISHING the contract. VERY IMPORTANT! Most contracts will be for one year, that is 12 months, twelve FULL months. Keep this in mind. Many people try to coax their way out of the contract early to get back sooner. If you want your severance, do your job.
I have read many stories about stupid people who thought they should get their last months pay in full and their bonus pay, but leave 3 weeks early. I don't know what they are thinking, because I have never in my life met an employer or anyone else who would even consider paying them. Don't be stupid, it's annoying.

Vacation:
10 days, not normal more like the least. All jobs give you national holidays, and may have breaks off. If you work at a hagwon though, you may be getting less. It's just something you need to consider.

**** A little update four years later:

For finding a job, there are a lot of places you can look. I definitely recommend being picky though. There are a lot of recruiters who are just in it for the money (in fact nearly all of them, if not all). For them, they only get paid once you sign on and arrive. They will tell you anything to get you to come.

There are also a lot of places to look these days though. You can even join one of the many job board groups on Facebook. Just make sure to look around.

On another note, when signing a contract, make sure any details you've discussed with the school/manager are written in the contract. This doesn't mean it will happen 100%, but there is a much better chance of whatever it is happening.

And So It Begins!

I will be leaving in less than three weeks to head off to Korea. I will start my first teaching job at Wonderland, Bundang.

May people have asked/told me to keep a blog of the experience, so I decided to set one up before I go. Also, this way I can post information on getting ready, such as lists of things people may want or need before going to Korea for a year. I have several friends in Korea and they've given me a list of things that are hard to find, or just "need to bring", items which I will talk about here.

Thanks for visiting and I hope I can make this site useful to people who are interested in teaching in Korea.