First 48 hours in Korea

After more than 17 hours of travel, I finally made it to Korea about 5am yesterday.  I waited until 7am for the driver to show up.  After that, I waited another hour for a different driver because he was the only one who knew where I was supposed to go.  Then, I went straight to the Dangjin head office to wait for my co-teacher(s).  I met 2 teachers, one who was leaving, another who was replacing him.  They took me to my apartment, lunch, and school.  I wasn't prepared to meet the principle as I had just gotten off the plane and wasn't in my best form.  Nonetheless, there we went.  My teachers introduced me to various other teachers and office employees.  Each time, my co-teacher had to explain why I couldn't speak Korean.  They did not seem pleased.  So it goes.  Finally at the end of the day, my co-teacher, the replacement, took me to Lotte Market to buy some essentials: coffee marker, grinder (of sorts), and school slippers.  He seemed please at my fast shopping ability.  I explained that I actually hate shopping.  It had been a long day, so I unpacked, shower, looked at the lesson for the next day, and went to sleep.

In the morning, my principal picked me up and took me to my school.  My first school is about a 20 minute drive or 1 hour bus ride.  The first 4 periods are my 5th and 6th grade classes and the rest of the day is for lesson planning.  All I did today was observe the class.  The children were trying to speak to me in Korean and was disappointed that I couldn't reply.  Few are trying to teach me...and I thought I was the teacher!  After school, I met my co-teacher from my second school.  My first day there will be Wednesday.  This juggling two schools should be interesting.  On another note, I was asked whether I was married or single by teachers and students.  I know it's a common question and people are curious.  One thing I had trouble explaining was WHY (which my principal asked).  "Uh, I don't know.  I haven't met the right person yet."  Then he told me that maybe I will find someone in Korea.  I guess anything is possible.

My city, Dangjin: First, it is a lot bigger than what I imagined.  Because of Hyundai, the city has grown exponentially in the last ten years.  There are high rise apartments everywhere and the city limit is huge (hence the hour bus ride to my schools).  My apartment is near downtown Dangjin and close to the bus terminal.  Apparently, the downtown is not safe at night...they said something about the Chinese.  It is about an hour bus ride from Seoul and about 4 hours from Ulsan (Mysti).  Apparently, my apartment building has a lot of foreigners and I met three tonight.  I'm always up for meeting new people!

Until next time :-)

Come Full Circle (Almost): from Korea to Korea

With less than 24 hours before my flight to Korea, it hasn't quite hit me that I am actually leaving.  It also seems somewhat surreal because I have nothing left to do on my last day.  I feel as if I need to run around to make last minute purchases, eat my favorite food, or anything else I have forgotten to do.  But I have nothing left to do, except wait for my shuttle.  So here I sit, in front of my computer, awaiting my journey.  It won't really hit me until I board my first leg of the flight.  Perhaps, it won't even hit me until I board the second leg to Seoul.  

The thing that seems more strange than anything else, is my actual return to Korea.  It has been 23 years, 1 month, and 29 days since I left Korea.  At that time, I never imagine returning to my mother's homeland.  On top of my anxiety of becoming a first time teacher (because that's not enough), I am filled with both excitement and trepidation about my returned to the country I've spent almost ten years of my childhood.  I've lost most of my language skills and adopted a very Western behavior and ideology.  I fear I may not fit in with the other side of my heritage because of my long absence.  No matter how much research I do, there will certainly be customs I may not be aware.  I fear people will expect me to know more than I do.  They will demand certain behaviors from me, which I will find foreign.  During my nine months of research and Korean emergence, I wonder if I romanticized the friendly people, rice paddies in the countryside, fabulous food and street venders, ancient archaeological site, and beautiful landscape.

I'm sure there will be good times and bad.  No matter where anyone lives, it will never be perfect.  There will be different customs, rude people, and unsavory food, but that's everywhere.  Korea is a home of my childhood, although I wasn't born there.  But I feel as if I am coming full circle.  In some ways, it is a turn home.  I'm looking forward to sharing all my adventures and mishaps with all my friends.

Finally back on track: My Impending Journey to Korea

A week after sending out a gazillion resumes to China, Japan, and Taiwan, I am finally back on track to go to South Korea.  I was really trying to convince myself that I would be happy teaching anywhere in Asia, but something kept pulling me back to Korea.  I still haven't been rejected, wait-listed, nor confirmed for EPIK.  I didn't know if or when I would be placed with them.  After a slight melt down and a calm re-evaluation of my situation, I decided (with the help of Mysti) that I would wait for Korea.

As I stated in my previous post, the problem is that I don't have another FBI Criminal Background Check (CBC) and it takes three months to get it.  So I went and got another set of fingerprints and expressed mailed another request to the FBI.  Although it seemed like a long shot, I contacted another recruiter to look at my options.  To my surprise, I was told that I could use a copy of my FBI CBC as long as I got it notarized and Apostille!  Also, we looked at the possibility of getting my documents back from EPIK and have them sent to the new provincial office where I was applying.

I just want to explain how fast everything happened because I've been dealing with my EPIK application since April!  This all started Tuesday, just two days ago!

• I had an interview with the recruiting agency on Tuesday night and sent them a copy of my entire EPIK package.  
• Several hours later, I received a message, which had my interview time with the Chungnam Education Office (the actual employer).  I found out in the morning that Chungnam office had contacted EPIK to get my documents.  This prompted an immediate email from my first recruiter asking for an explanation.
• I had a slight panic attack because I didn't want both places to reject my application for using two recruiters.  Then Mysti calmed me down.  I had already explained my situation to my new recruiter and he was fine with it.
• Last night (Wednesday), I had a 20 minute interview and I explained the EPIK situation again.  She didn't have a problem with it (PHEW!).  Another 20 minutes later, I was offered the job.  
• My new recruiter is sending my Contract and Notice of Appointment tonight (tomorrow morning in Korea)!
• After the interview, I emailed my first recruiter to withdraw my EPIK application and get the contact information for the EPIK coordinator in charge of my file.
• I received the contact information (to my surprise).  I am grateful to them because they didn't have to help me after I withdrew my application.
• I emailed EPIK and asked for my documents to be sent to the Chungnam Education Office.  Now, I wait.
• I emailed my references for another original letter of recommendation and received confirmation from both.  Thank you, Gary Vogt and Dr. Peter Hunt.  You two are lifesavers!!!
• I just got the copy of my FBI CBC notarized!  And now I need to get it Apostille.

My big fear is that something else will go wrong and I will have to start this process all over again.  But if all goes well, I should be boarding a plane for Seoul in about a week (depending on how long it takes for me to get my visa).

Oh right, can't forget about my life lesson!  This is what I've learned (or re-learned) in the last couple of days.  Life doesn't happen the way you plan. But if you want something bad enough, never settle for anything less.  Eventually, it will all work out.  I may still run into road blocks ahead and I may not make it to Korea in the next couple of weeks.  Even if that happens, I will be patient and flexible.  I will eventually make it to Korea!