Well it's been a strange 24 hours. Last night I received a delayed message from a teacher who just recently left the school I accepted a position with. The teacher told me the school was a difficult work environment and that I shouldn't take the job. I asked the teacher to elaborate on specifics so I could be prepared, and am waiting on a response...
BUT
In the meantime, I received a call from my recruiter that the school had low enrollment and couldn't hire new faculty, so I'm off the hook for the "difficult" work environment! I love when issues work themselves out without me doing anything!
Now it's back to the drawing board, though it seems very likely that I'll be overseas very soon regardless. I'm looking at other schools across Korea, and this evening I applied to Ukraine and Ghana, and I'll keep looking. I wanted to be in Eastern Europe from the beginning, so if Ukraine works out, I may have wasted money on my online Korean language program!! Oh well, Russian is spoken in more countries, so it could pay off in the long run. Whatever happens, I'm still excited about the whole thing, and the job hunting is coming more easily now after a month of reading forums and blogs, and going back and forth with recruiters.
I'm sure things will work out in the end, and I'll wait as patiently as I can to find the right fit!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Preparations
With each day I get more excited about this decision. I went clothes shopping yesterday (an activity I generally despise) and actually enjoyed picking out a wardrobe with Korea in mind. I spent more than I meant to, but it was fun nonetheless, and, knowing me, I'll probably return a few things.
I also got my documents back from the Secretary of State, where they authenticate them for international visa processing. Now I'm just waiting on my transcripts and I'll send all my paperwork to Korea to get rolling on my visa. They want me to start in mid-August, but I'm hoping that I'll be here at least until August 22nd, for various reasons. I guess it will depend on how long the paperwork takes once they receive it.
I've signed up for an online Korean language course, but sadly I've not taken real advantage of it because I tend to forget during the day at work, and by the time I think of it at night I'm too tired to learn a new language! Work ends on Friday, though, so after that I'll probably download the audio lessons, print the others, and take them in the car with me for my solo camping trip across the state. I plan to visit my foster sister's family, my brother and his fiancee, two or three friends, and my sister and her family. I don't know when I'll see them all again, especially if I have to leave earlier in August than I'm expecting. None of them know about the trip, but I'm sure they'll understand : )
I wish I could say goodbye to so many other people as well. I feel as if graduation went by so quickly, I barely had time to say hello to everyone that day, let alone say goodbye, before leaving for WI. I really miss people from Ithaca, and it's unnerving and saddening to think I may not see some of those people for a very long time, if ever. I miss them already, so I guess in that sense being in Korea won't change much.
I also got my documents back from the Secretary of State, where they authenticate them for international visa processing. Now I'm just waiting on my transcripts and I'll send all my paperwork to Korea to get rolling on my visa. They want me to start in mid-August, but I'm hoping that I'll be here at least until August 22nd, for various reasons. I guess it will depend on how long the paperwork takes once they receive it.
I've signed up for an online Korean language course, but sadly I've not taken real advantage of it because I tend to forget during the day at work, and by the time I think of it at night I'm too tired to learn a new language! Work ends on Friday, though, so after that I'll probably download the audio lessons, print the others, and take them in the car with me for my solo camping trip across the state. I plan to visit my foster sister's family, my brother and his fiancee, two or three friends, and my sister and her family. I don't know when I'll see them all again, especially if I have to leave earlier in August than I'm expecting. None of them know about the trip, but I'm sure they'll understand : )
I wish I could say goodbye to so many other people as well. I feel as if graduation went by so quickly, I barely had time to say hello to everyone that day, let alone say goodbye, before leaving for WI. I really miss people from Ithaca, and it's unnerving and saddening to think I may not see some of those people for a very long time, if ever. I miss them already, so I guess in that sense being in Korea won't change much.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Decision Made
Today marks day 1 of what I hope will be a year of learning (more than teaching) in Korea. I accepted a contract with a Hagwon on the West Coast of Korea, about 2 hours from Seoul. I'm excited to be in a smaller city, near the coast of the West Sea (or the Yellow Sea, as it is known outside of Korea). I've heard the area is beautiful, and there are nearby National Parks to explore. I considered a job closer to Seoul, in Suwon, but decided to take my chances on the coast. I've added a link to the city's website (in English) for anyone interested in knowing more about the area.
Now that I've signed the contract, it's visa time. I have tons of paperwork to get processed and sent before I can make the move. Still, everything goes very quickly with the process of applying to and accepting positions, so I'm sure this will fly by as well.
While I wait on all of my paperwork, I'll be packing my life up again. I'm still not nearly finished unpacking from my move back to Wisconsin from New York, and now I have to rush through unpacking and repacking as quickly as possible. Even a month early seems like I'm cutting it close - though I'm trying to remind myself that I packed up my life in Ithaca in just under 72 hours, so I'm sure I'll manage. Besides, I have a couple of great lists I came across to help prioritze my packing, so that will make life easier.
All in all, I'm looking forward to the coming year overseas. I have had moments, just in the last 24 hours, of anxiety and fear, but those moments always pass and are replaced with anticipation and excitement. I'll try to keep this updated as often as possible, for myself as much as for all of my friends, family and the complete strangers who happen upon it. Here goes!
Now that I've signed the contract, it's visa time. I have tons of paperwork to get processed and sent before I can make the move. Still, everything goes very quickly with the process of applying to and accepting positions, so I'm sure this will fly by as well.
While I wait on all of my paperwork, I'll be packing my life up again. I'm still not nearly finished unpacking from my move back to Wisconsin from New York, and now I have to rush through unpacking and repacking as quickly as possible. Even a month early seems like I'm cutting it close - though I'm trying to remind myself that I packed up my life in Ithaca in just under 72 hours, so I'm sure I'll manage. Besides, I have a couple of great lists I came across to help prioritze my packing, so that will make life easier.
All in all, I'm looking forward to the coming year overseas. I have had moments, just in the last 24 hours, of anxiety and fear, but those moments always pass and are replaced with anticipation and excitement. I'll try to keep this updated as often as possible, for myself as much as for all of my friends, family and the complete strangers who happen upon it. Here goes!
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