"It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday"

First off, I'd like to thank everyone over the past few weeks for taking the time to get together with me one more time before I leave. It has been an exhausting few days full of good times with plenty of family, friends, and food (not to mention way too much alcohol for me!)

I've gotten very good at saying my goodbyes to my friends from Bristol, Providence, Boston, and throughout the region - trust me, I will miss you guys sooo much! Last night I had to see Patrick and Anne for the last time in a year, that was tough, but with the Internet, we'll be staying close! (If you two are reading this, this is your reminder to download Skype and get a microphone!)

In my exhausted state last night, I had managed to check my e-mail and saw that my recruiter had answered some of my nagging questions about my first few days in Korea. Turns out that because SK has now confirmed cases of the Swine Flu...er...I mean H1N1 virus (you're welcome all you Brown Public Health-ites.) Because Americans in SK have contracted the virus,

"all the foreign teachers who arrive in Korea after May 11th can't start work until 7 days pass.

(There have been new 14 foreign teachers from the States found to be influenced by S.I. (Swine Influenza) and they already got in touch with some students."

I was told I should still arrive in SK as planned and follow the new regulation. Oh darn, a week vacation when I arrive to sight see, get settled, and meet other Americans....it's a rough life, but someone needs to do it.

Also, I found out where I will be living. Apparently it is "very good and clean". If you would like the address of the apartment or school, please e-mail me, as I don't want to actually post the address. Who knows what sort of people might read this. Instead, here's a map of the area to help give you an idea of where I will be living compared to my surroundings:


View Gunpo in a larger map

Note: If you click on more in the upper-right-hand corner you can select pictures, and view some of the surroundings as well.

Also, I found out that when I arrive, I'll be picked up by a driver at the airport (hopefully he'll be holding the sign written in English). I then will go to the school to meet my teacher. Her name is Gyeong sook Kim (aka "Ms. Kim"). I'm willing to bet about half the teachers at the school are named "Kim". I am planning on bringing a couple of small, luggage-friendly gifts for my co-teacher and principal. If you have any suggestions on something that you think is considered uniquely American, please let me know!

"Aeroplane"

Today I booked my ticket to Seoul, (ICN) for all you airport savvy people out there. It's actually in Inchon, a large city immediately west of Seoul, but still is listed as Seoul. I suppose this makes sense as Providence airport (PVD) isn't actually in Providence but in Warwick.

I was lucky enough that my recruiter and co-teacher agreed that I should NOT arrive in Seoul on June 1st (which my contract states). I was told that the contract date could simply be changed - something you don't really expect in the States as we're sticklers when it comes to written contract.

Thanks to some sleuthing and a little bit of advice from my good friend Nick E (aka Nick #1) I found out what to expect on my Korean Air flight. I'll be aboard a Boeing 747-400, and thanks to SeatGuru.com found out what seat would be best to book.

For those who care to know, I'll be departing on June 2nd from (JFK), expecting to arrive on June 3rd (Seoul time) around 5:30pm. Don't worry, I won't call you all at 4am EST to let you know I've arrived!

"This Land is Your Land"

When I walked into the Korean Consulate in Newton, MA today, I believe I got a very small dose of what it will be like to be in their country. The sign on the door had huge Hangul writing on the door. The second I opened the door, I was hit with a wave of the unknown. Every document and sign was written in Hangul, but thankfully was also repeated in English immediately beside it. I almost picked up a Korean newspaper to see if I could decipher even one word of it besides today's date. A 60"+ Plasma TV was in the corner showing some sort of funky variety show from back home'. (Most likely a Samsung or LG by the way).

I truly felt like a foreigner, as the only white person in the room and the only one speaking English, it was an interesting experience (one I better get used to!)

For those who are interested this is a list of what is necessary for an E-2 Visa (Foreign Language Teacher) - at least for the one in Newton, MA:

1. Your Passport
2. Your original contract/copy of the contract
3. An extra set of passport pictures
4. $45 for a multiple entry visa (I paid and extra $17 to expedite it and have it mailed to me).
5. A completed visa application with the appropriate information. (You might want to make sure you have contact information for your school or recruiter as you need to list a reference or guarantor that resides in Korea.

I also read that you might need to meet other requirements, in my case, I was already accepted at the school and they had processed my paperwork so I did not need an interview, or to provide transcripts. More info here.

"Call and Answer"

I set up a Skype account today for those who want/need to talk to me when I'm abroad. Let me just say -- Skype rules! (consider that product placement)

Simply install the freeware and use my username. (e-mail me if you need it). You can set it up to call computer-to-computer, computer-to-landline/mobile, instant message, text-t0-mobile, video chat, and more.

Also, if you want to e-mail me your phone number if I don't already have it, please do, as I you can also make telephone calls using it as well for a relatively low fare. (about 4-5¢ per minute). Not bad considering I can talk for one hour and it'll only cost $3!

Coming soon: E-2 Visa Requirements (oh joy!)

"Funny The Way It Is"

It's official!! My start date is June 1st. This means I will need to be in Korea that day! This only gives me a little over 2 weeks left in the States, and not a lot of time to pack up my old apartment and life from the past 3+ years. (insert deep, yet nervous breath here). The most pressing issue is to get my E-2 Visa application in at the SK Consulate in Newton, MA. This can take some time to process as well, but if I don't have it when I arrive in SK, the school system has to send me to Japan on a visa run until the paperwork comes through (on their dime of course). Hopefully this will not be the case.

I'm going to try and use as many vacation days as possible to get the time to shop, pack, visit family and friends, etc. I don't know if or when I'll have a going-away party, but hopefully I can throw something together on their Saturday, May 30th. It's a hard time for people to get together because of other commitments with family gatherings, graduations, etc. (I totally understand, and apologize for the short notice). I'll send out an e-mail as soon as I make plans.

"Make Your Own Kind of Music"

First of all, welcome to my blog!

As you may or may not know, I've decided to teach English in South Korea, and am going to be posting stories, pictures and videos up on the great World Wide Web in order to share my experiences with you. Technology sure can make the world feel just a little bit smaller!

So to get things started, I think I will just give you a brief oversight into why I decided to travel halfway across the world. Maybe a Q&A section is in need...

Q. Why do you want to do this?
A. When I was in college, I was envious of those students who got to travel during the summer instead of work jobs, or those who could take a semester abroad to study. I didn't have that luxury financially, and I was taking full course loads so I could graduate on time (no thanks to losing transfer credits from Eastern CT State University). After graduating from Sacred Heart University and later gaining my teacher certification, I still had that urge to go abroad and even looked into teaching at American Schools with the Dept. of Defense (you needed to have at least 3 years of full-time teaching experience though). I've always had that urge to see the world and experience a new culture, and at this point in my life, it seems like an excellent opportunity that I might not have in the future when I have more responsibilities.

Q. How did you find out about this opportunity?
A. I did a lot of research, talked to a lot of strangers online (I don't recommend this for you kids out there), and discussed it with people who I knew who have lived or taught in Korea and elsewhere. I also went through a recommend recruiter at WorknPlay Consulting

Q. Why South Korea?
A. Frankly, it comes down to economic reasons. East Asia in general has the most jobs. Granted, I would love to be spending my time in Europe but I most likely wouldn't be making any money. South Korea is a fairly westernized country with a huge want and need for native English speakers who have graduated from a higher ed. institution and are willing to move across the world to teach their children. Lucky for them I have those qualifications! (plus more, as most people who take these jobs tend to do so right out of college with no teaching experience).

Q. Wait, what about that crazy NORTH Korea and their nuclear aims? Aren't you scared something could happen or war could break out again?
A. To be honest, it'll always be in the back of my mind, but it's not something to fixate on. There has been relative peace between the countries since the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953 - yes back when my Mom was born (sorry Mom if that makes you feel old). I doubt that anything is going to happen in the year I'm there. North Korea is like Bill O'Reilly, it does a lot of screaming, threatening, and gets all moody, but it's basically full of it. It's not something to dwell on, but I will be keeping up with the news. Also, there is a large US military presence in the area. Americans with guns in other countries make me feel safe. It's the Americans with guns in the States that makes me uneasy!

Q. Ok, you're making sense, and I agree you should do it! How long are you going for?
A. Generally, the contracts are for a year.

Q. How will you live out there?
A. No, I won't be living in a hut in a village. This is a country with the 8th largest economy in the world. The program I'm going to be working through (GEPIK- Gyeonggi English Program In Korea which is part of the Center for Global Education) sets you up with an apartment near the school rent free. (one of the many perks)

Q. Ok cool, so don't you need to know Korean to teach these kids?
A. Not really. In fact, they don't want you to really be bi-lingual with the kids because they want you to provide an immersion experience into American language and life. Once my students set foot in the classroom it is English only (for the most part - I still think there will be issues). Also, in the GEPIK program, you teach with a Korean co-teacher who supposedly can speak English as well (at least a little). It's not an easy language to learn, but I'm going to try to learn as much as I can in order to get by without having to play charades with every street vendor and waitress.

Q. Sweet! Do they pay you?
A. Yes, and the pay varies depending on your qualifications. (usually between 1.8-2.7 million won a month. (roughly $1,400-$2,100) They also reimburse your airfare, pay for your return trip upon completion of your contract, and you get about 2 weeks off throughout the year plus major Korean holidays.

Q. Do you have Benefits?
A. The public school system partakes in the National Health Insurance plan of which I would pay 50%. I will also be partaking in the National Pension Plan (which I get refunded) and do not have to pay income tax. A 'benefit' is also that the cost of living is relatively low (not having to pay rent helps) but also the cost of food and utilities is relatively cheap in comparison to the States. I believe the tax rate is only 3%.

Q. Won't you miss your friends and family? Holidays?
A. Of course I will! But think of it this way - some of you I haven't even seen in over a year anyways, but thanks to the internet we still keep in touch. A year goes by fairly fast! I don't think I'll be home for any holidays at this point, but who knows.

Q. So how will you get around?
A. Since I will be right outside of Seoul, most of the major areas are accessible by a rather intricate subway/rail system. Also there are many bus lines (which I'm used to after riding RIPTA for years). Korea is known to have one of the better, cleaner, and safer public transportation systems in the world.

Q. What are you going to do about money, I hear the exchange rate isn't that great?
A. True, the exchange rate fluctuates daily, but keep in mind I will be getting paid in Korean Won and will be spending my hard earned cash in Korea. I will have a Korean Bank Account. If you want to know how to send me money once I'm there, I'm all for it!

Q. Will you be bringing home a Korean bride?
A. I don't understand why 50% of the time people ask this! But I feel as though I need to address it. Yes, I am. In fact, I was looking into mail-order brides, but decided to skip the shipping and handling charges and go right to the factory instead so I could customize what I want her to look like. (if you didn't get my sarcasm please disregard that last part) NO, that's not my reason for going! Then again....... just kidding!

This is about experiencing a new culture. It's about self-growth. As someone who was a student of history and culture, I would be a fool not to experience the world for what it has to offer. I'm looking forward to this as an adventure and a life changing experience, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!