Travel Baby I'm sure you guys could do travelling with a baby, I'd be really interested to hear about it. So many of my friends say "not now maybe when He/she is older". I just know that it will never happen, that it is just another of so many "not now" excuses that western lifestyle holds you down with. I think if you are all happy and healthy then whilst the baby is little is the best time to go. The only security he needs right now are you two, a baby is not accustomed to a place yet I don't think. Once he get's to around two or three though it may be harder he will proably want some more permanent friends his own age.... anyway what do I know I'm not a parent, but your experience of a drifter lifestyle with a family really give me hope.
Try to keep happy and healthy this winter.
Erika
Fantastic! What a blog! What a blog, indeed.
I read your husband's blog a year ago on Mindanao and Palawan when he was single. Now, he's a proud husband and father.
Congratulations on you both.
And don't retire that backpack just yet, you have Kiva to train and follow your lead. And I see that he's starting early.
Criminal Record? An informative article. You can find out more about pardons for criminal records and how they can allow you to teach, work, or volunteer overseas at Pardon Me, Canada
christina hi, just to let you know that i have lived here in boquete for 4 years now and frequently go to boca brava for a break. i know christina very well, she is a wonderful german woman who always is in her bikinis with a beer and a cigarette. she is one of the islands true characters!
Re: Jenna Yes you should be able to get paid more with a teacher's certification. Some jobs specifically request B. Ed. candidates and they do generally pay more. Off the job offers I have seen I would say you may be able to get 200,000 to 300,000 more per month. If you really want to pay down your debt faster though, don't just look at the monthly salary but how many hours you are working, because you can get some jobs making less money but working half the hours and then you can do privates and make a lot more!
What an awesome blog! Thank you so much for your wonderful, insightful blog! I have started my own blog and will definitely do what you have done once I have been in South Korea for a while. If all goes according to plan, I will be leaving for SK in Jan. Very excited and nervous too! Just wanted to ask you one quick question - I will be a qualified teacher when I come over - four yrs Bachelor of Education Degree and I have about a years practical teaching experience. Would this entitle me to a higher paid job and if so, have you any idea how much I should be looking at getting? I really don't want to get ripped off, and its not all about the money for me - but the quicker I get the massive student loan paid off - the better! Thanks again for the amazing blog. Really appreciate it! :) Jenna
re: kimmy Hi Kimmy, The school I worked at was Dong Kwang Elementary School, but they only hire 1 or 2 times per year and only employ 3 foreign teachers. However, any place you get work is really luck of the draw on whether they are good or not; I can't really stress enough the fact that bad bosses are bad to everyone working there, regardless of the color of your skin! Just try to get names and contact numbers or email addresses of former employees of any places you are interested in working at. If they are really hesitant to give that info out, I'd beware. And ask the contacts whether or not they would recommend that workplace to their best friend or if they would work there again. I suppose you could ask them too how they think the boss will treat someone who's not white, but most applications require a photo so if you've gotten that far in the hiring process to get contact numbers of former employees, the boss is apparently not that concerned with such matters anyway!
re:brittney Maybe you didn't read through the comments; immigration rules have changed and there are more hoops to jump through, therefore it is best NOT to just show up in korea without a job!
RE: diversity in korea First off , thank you for all the great info. i am an Afican-american female and I am current on active duty in the US Navy. When I am done (April of 2009) I would like to teach english in Korea. What is the name of the school you worked at that did not mistreat your African-American co-worker?
Former GI chick trying to find a way to go back! I am so thankful I ran across your blog! I am a little older than the "average" college student (I am 36 and since getting out of the Army am trying to find my nitche in life), but have been seriously looking into teaching in Korea. I LOVED IT THERE!!!! I am starting initially with my aa, but have every plan on getting my bachelors degree and then trying to get over there. As a soldier, I met so many teachers in the little villages that loved it there as well so that makes it even more intriging to me! I just wish there was a shorter route than having to get my full bachelors degree...!!
WOW. I love the sunset pics, especially the pink sky reflecting on the wet beach. Amazing. Another blog of yours was titled "who stole my thailand?" I haven't read that one yet but that title sums up how I felt during my time on Thai beaches. When I saw Ngapali, I realized that all along my Thailand could only be found in my Burma. May you have continued blessings on your travels!!
wow! the comments are great! i mean the blog was good too but the comments have had me laughing for a while.lol. your trip looks amazing, hope you're having a great time, i love the pictures.
re: peter It's especially easy if you have an F-4 visa. Just look on the websites for the ads and apply for them! Check worknplay.co.kr or www.okokokok.com
re: silver You can search on WorknPlay for non-teaching jobs or maybe use Monster search engine or something like that. They are much fewer and far between, of course, but you may luck out!
RE: Ternica I don't think you'll be treated unfairly if hired; unfortunately, I do think you may be passed up for some job offers because of racist school owners. However, my coworker at my present school was African-American and she spent 5 years here in Korea at different establishments, so rest assured that you will find work just fine. There are other African-Americans/Canadians/etc. as well as Africans here, particularly if you move to Seoul and live near Itaewon there are foreigners from all over the world here and you certainly shouldn't feel uncomfortable. But to be honest, you WILL probably feel uncomfortable here at times based on your ethnicity....but that goes the same for Caucasians, because if you're not Korean, you will get stared at and treated as an outsider a lot of the time. Many teachers are treated unfairly once hired, and many teachers are treated rudely and stared at....but if you come you need to remind yourself that this happens to blondes, brunettes, redheads, males, females, Filipinos, Latinos, South Asians, etc. etc. etc... and that it is not due to your specific ethnicity; just happens to be that xenophobia is as color blind as love is....
Great site - help appreciated Hi there, great info, thanks. I am moving to Seoul with my bfriend who will be teaching english. I will hopefully be doing an open uni degree and want to work part time, but do you know any non-teaching english speaking jobs I could go for? I have finance experience if you know of any banks/insurance cos there that are also in england, e.g. AXA/Legal and General,etc. Sorry, not strictly teaching orientated msg...thanks in advance.
diversity in korea Firstly, I thought your blog was very informative. I am currently signed on with Footprints recruiting and looking for a teaching job in Sept. One of the things i did notice is that in many of the pictures I have seen there hasnt been many african american people in them. After reading your blog I feel a little discourage. I would hate to go to an environment that i would feel uncomfortable in all the time based on my ethnicity. I was wondering though, that if given a contract should I be concerned of unfair treatment if hired.
Privates? Hi Jenni Jen,
First of all, you have the most informative and best website about teaching English in Korea that I have come across so far!
I have an F-4 visa, "gyopo", but I'm new in Seoul and I'm trying to get private students but don't know how to go about. Do you know how people get private students or do you have any ideas? Everyone says it's so easy, but I don't know they do it.
Thanks!!
Maderas We were in la Isla de Ometepe last month and I agree with you climbing that volcano is hard. We had a great time. We went to the falls did not make it up all the way like you guys did. I am it was beautiful. Best times to go is before May and after October if you want sunny weather. I am originally from Nicaragua and I loved it.
Morning Calm I was stationed in Korea during the late sixties and decide to look at some blogs about Korea. I came across yours and thought that it was quite beautiful with outstanding pictures. I always thought the children in Korea were very special and your pictures seem to support this. Thanks for showing the true beauty of South Korea and it's children.
More Questions Ok me again - I am looking at jobs. Most offer a max of 10 days paid vacation - even in the public schools. Some schools say a month or 6 weeks but then they require winter or summer camps.
Also payscales are in the range of 2.1 to 2.3. Am I looking in the wrong places - wrong recruiters? Also I am wanting to stay out of the mountainous snowy regions - dealt with that enough in midwest USA. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
You cant hop on a plane to look for work anymore From Dec 15th new immigration laws meant that any person going to Korea to teach English for the first time can no longer hop on a plane - go to Seoul and then look for a job - followed by doing a visa run to Japan from Korea . This is now illegal. Only people doing a second E2 visa can do a Japan run. All first timers have to do the paperwork in their home country and then have an interview at the Korean embassy nearest to their home [ in their home country] Also you now need to get a criminal record check from your own country valid within 6 months. This criminal check needs to be notarized and Apostilled officially in your home country before being sent to Korea for your visa . Also once you are in Korea with a visa you cannot change jobs before 9 months working. Now all hagwon teachers and public school teachers have to get a full medical exam in Korea before 90 days [ and pass] or you do not get alien registration and have to leave Korea. Even C4 visas for 3 months camp work require a criminal record check and process out of Korea. Because of these major changes it is vital no one hops on to a plane to look for work as it may be a very costly experience. Also 6-12 month jobs are getting extremely rare because of the new regulations and costs to employers . Also public schools are now becoming the biggest employers in the market with over 1000 jobs available in Sept 2008.
Re: Bee Hi Bee, I work at a private elementary school; they only employ 3 native teachers, but most public schools (not afterschool programs at public schools but proper public school jobs) will also offer long vacation periods during school holidays. I didn't use a recruiter; in general I find that if you find the school directly you will find a better fit than going through a recruiter. I've been meaning to update this, but there have been some immigration changes with the rules for getting an E2 visa lately, and a great deal of variety between what they are saying needs to be done and what they are actually implementing. Before you jump on the plane it might be best to check out the latest discussions on Dave's ESL Cafe to monitor what's going on.
"As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail.... If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." -- Henry David Thoreau (Walden)
So I did it, escaped the conformity of the corporate ratrace while I still had my youth and sanity, to see the world with my own two eyes and embrace all its beauty and ugliness. Central America to Europe to Southeast Asia in 2005; 2006 will find me ex... full info
Banchory to the Bosphorous by Bike
Erika Bird and Robin Searle
Travel Baby
I'm sure you guys could do travelling with a baby, I'd be really interested to hear about it. So many of my friends say "not now maybe when He/she is older". I just know that it will never happen, that it is just another of so many "not now" excuses that western lifestyle holds you down with. I think if you are all happy and healthy then whilst the baby is little is the best time to go. The only security he needs right now are you two, a baby is not accustomed to a place yet I don't think. Once he get's to around two or three though it may be harder he will proably want some more permanent friends his own age.... anyway what do I know I'm not a parent, but your experience of a drifter lifestyle with a family really give me hope. Try to keep happy and healthy this winter. Erika