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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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jillbean1217
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
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 Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:14 am Post subject: Hurry Up Already! |
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I just sent my documents off to CDI today to start the Visa process. They say it will take about three weeks before I can go to the consulate office in Chicago to apply for my actual Visa.
I'm really excited. I know that the trend around Dave's is to take newbie optimism and excitement and grind it into pieces with the pestal of REALITY, but let me have my moment, okay?
I'm excited for the new culture, I'm excited for the teaching experience (even if the word "teaching" is used loosely), I'm excited for a new atmosphere and to change my life. Whether for better or worse I don't believe you can spend a year in a place without it making you even a little bit different.
So, I just wanted to throw that out there. Keep your negative comments to yourself, please and thanks  |
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Hellsmk2
Joined: 04 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:16 am Post subject: |
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I have loved living in Korea. My time i nearly up, but it's been fun.
Enjoy your year :) |
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daemyann
Joined: 09 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:20 am Post subject: |
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Summary:
"I'm optimistic, so back off."
Anyway, it looks like you're ready for the changes that are coming (and by ready I mean that it seems like you've given the situation some critical thought and inspection), so good on you.
Best of luck.
Korea can be fantastic. |
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bobbyhanlon
Joined: 09 Nov 2003
Location: 서울
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:42 am Post subject: |
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CDI is probably the best of the big english school chains, in terms of professionalism and how much they pay you. so in that respect, you made a good choice. I spent the last 6 months of my time in Korea there, and had time for a good social life whilst saving plenty of dosh.
Korea will change you, if you like the place. I did, and I'd have to say it changed my outlook on the world, and life in general, for the better. Of course there's plenty that I hate about Korea as well, and in the end I left after 3 years because I'd hit a kind of crossroads and had gotten sick of the place. In the cold light of day now, looking back, I'd say it was a very good experience and something I don't regret in the slightest.
Just come over with an open mind, a willingness to meet people halfway, and a good tolerance for alcohol. The first two of the three a lot of westerners in Korea don't have.. don't be like them, and you'll probably enjoy yourself a lot. Good luck! |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Hurry Up Already! |
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| jillbean1217 wrote: |
I just sent my documents off to CDI today to start the Visa process. They say it will take about three weeks before I can go to the consulate office in Chicago to apply for my actual Visa.
I'm really excited. I know that the trend around Dave's is to take newbie optimism and excitement and grind it into pieces with the pestal of REALITY, but let me have my moment, okay?
I'm excited for the new culture, I'm excited for the teaching experience (even if the word "teaching" is used loosely), I'm excited for a new atmosphere and to change my life. Whether for better or worse I don't believe you can spend a year in a place without it making you even a little bit different.
So, I just wanted to throw that out there. Keep your negative comments to yourself, please and thanks |
Screw that. First year should always be fun. Just stay far away from this board unless it's a proper crisis and enjoy yourself. |
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BigMikeAbroad
Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Location: US, for now
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:53 am Post subject: To the OP |
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Hey OP, I am leaving for my first year on Friday and am trying to take a similar mental stance as you. My buddy Chris and I are going to be in the Jamsil area PM me if you�re going to be in Seoul and feel like hanging with other newbie�s.
BM |
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Lekker
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| bobbyhanlon wrote: |
| CDI is probably the best of the big english school chains, in terms of professionalism and how much they pay you. |
I don't know about all that, considering when I came here two years ago, made it through a week of training, they couldn't decide on where they were going to send me.
One minute it was "Okay, so we have a school for you down in Busan, get ready, you're going to love it." I sign a contract right there.
Two days later, "Uh, we're sorry, that school doesn't need you, so we're sending you to a school in Daejon, it's a nice place." They presented me with a new contract and I signed it.
Two days after that... 'Okay, so the school in Daejon doesn't need a teacher right now. We have a school for you in Daegu. Here, sign this contract."
Two days after signing a third contract, they came to me again. "Sorry, but the school in Daegu doesn't need a teacher right now. Here, sign this contract for a school in Anyang. Don't worry, it was originally set for the South African guy sitting right next to you, but we haven't informed him until right NOW. We didn't think he was a good teacher in training and his accent isn't very good. Even though he payed a lot of money to come here, we aren't hiring him. Here, sign his contract."
South African guy sitting right next to me was really shocked. In the end I pretty much said no thanks and walked back to their love motel where I had to start all over again in my search.
F CDI. My friend just finished his contract with one of their schools. No severance. No insurance. No pension. But, he did get work every day on the calendar, had pay withheld a few times, and he even got to work on Saturdays more than often. CDI is a great if your a Korean student wanting to improve your English. Sucks if you're an English teacher wanting to improve your experience.
With that said, good luck on your first year here. |
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jillbean1217
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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| F CDI. My friend just finished his contract with one of their schools. No severance. No insurance. No pension. But, he did get work every day on the calendar, had pay withheld a few times, and he even got to work on Saturdays more than often. CDI is a great if your a Korean student wanting to improve your English. Sucks if you're an English teacher wanting to improve your experience. |
I'm not really listening to any of that. Sorry, but every school has negative parts. It sucks for the South African guy, but I've been around and traveled enough to know that people have to be flexible, and having your contract changed isn't really a big deal, UNLESS you're already in the area they promised you. I've signed my contract already for Daegu, but if I don't end up there, I really don't mind.
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| good luck on your first year here. |
Focusing on that. Thanks! |
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Lekker
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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| jillbean1217 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| F CDI. My friend just finished his contract with one of their schools. No severance. No insurance. No pension. But, he did get work every day on the calendar, had pay withheld a few times, and he even got to work on Saturdays more than often. CDI is a great if your a Korean student wanting to improve your English. Sucks if you're an English teacher wanting to improve your experience. |
I'm not really listening to any of that. Sorry, but every school has negative parts. It sucks for the South African guy, but I've been around and traveled enough to know that people have to be flexible, and having your contract changed isn't really a big deal, UNLESS you're already in the area they promised you. I've signed my contract already for Daegu, but if I don't end up there, I really don't mind.
| Quote: |
| good luck on your first year here. |
Focusing on that. Thanks! |
Just remain optimistic and don't be afraid to put your foot down if and when they start to wrap that rope around your neck and try to get more out of you than you are supposed to give them. It's pretty much commonplace in any hagwon here. |
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Spartacus
Joined: 03 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Hey Jill, it's Andrew. Good to hear that you've got your degree and everything is on its way to Korea! I just got my visa number yesterday and on Friday I am driving to Chicago for my interview. They want me in Korea a few days after that! I will keep you updated on the process as I go along. |
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jillbean1217
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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Andrew,
Wow, that went really quickly. Hopefully all of my things check out as fast as yours did. You only sent your documents in about a week before me, right? Hopefully that means I will be able to comfortably get to Korea by the 20th/21st start date that they want for my orientation.
Thanks for the update! |
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Captain Marlow
Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Location: darkness
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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| jillbean1217 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| F CDI. My friend just finished his contract with one of their schools. No severance. No insurance. No pension. But, he did get work every day on the calendar, had pay withheld a few times, and he even got to work on Saturdays more than often. CDI is a great if your a Korean student wanting to improve your English. Sucks if you're an English teacher wanting to improve your experience. |
I'm not really listening to any of that. Sorry, but every school has negative parts. It sucks for the South African guy, but I've been around and traveled enough to know that people have to be flexible, and having your contract changed isn't really a big deal, UNLESS you're already in the area they promised you. I've signed my contract already for Daegu, but if I don't end up there, I really don't mind.
| Quote: |
| good luck on your first year here. |
Focusing on that. Thanks! |
you should pray that you DON'T end up there... busan or seoul is a much much better choice of local... daegu is thought of by most koreans as the most conservative city in korea, and by this they mean they have the "old way" of thinking... ie, you're gonna be hated on by a lot more koreans than you would've if you'd chosen seoul or busan...
not trying to discourage you, but i've lived in daegu for almost a year now, and you can literally feel the different vibe when you visit the other big 2... i've been in busan every weekend this summer... everyone i know travels away from daegu, and no one i know travels to daegu...
good luck with the job situation... i haven't heard too many horror stories around town... |
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jillbean1217
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:09 am Post subject: |
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| by this they mean they have the "old way" of thinking... ie, you're gonna be hated on by a lot more koreans than you would've if you'd chosen seoul or busan... |
To be 100% honest, I don't really care if the Koreans hate me. I'm a pretty friendly person, but I am also pretty much a loner. I want to work on a novel while I'm in Korea, and I don't really like doing things/activities all the time with other people....I tend to enjoy my own company much more, haha. Besides, I'm pretty sure they'll hate me anyway--I'm getting a dog for a PET as soon as I get settled into my apartment, and they're going to see the weird fat white gilr with her dinner on a leash. Whatev. I respect local culture, but I also know enough to realize I'll never fit in.
I probably won't be able to tell when they're being mean to me anyway--I don't know a word of Korean and always tend to think the best of people. I'll just smile and nod and get on with my life. Besides, the concrete jungle of Seoul doesn't really hold much appeal for me. |
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mekku
Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Location: daegu, korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:58 am Post subject: |
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there are so many different opinions about pretty much everything!!
i LOVE daegu, absolutely love it. granted, i was there for only 7 months and was attending uni, not teaching. but i'll be back in september to begin teaching there and am really looking forward to it. some people like daegu, some don't. there are too many different opinions- all valid to the people giving them- and you can't generalize one city that easily.
sure, any number of things can go wrong and many probably will. it is all about attitude though. since i haven't lived anywhere else in korea, i can't compare the koreans in daegu to those elsewhere, but i met a fair amount of nice and helpful people in daegu. i don't care what koreans in general think of me, i don't like a lot of them when i meet them so why would i care if they like me?
i signed my contract yesterday and should be sending my paperwork to korea tomorrow so with any amount of luck i will be there in late september as planned! |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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| I've been around and traveled enough to know that people have to be flexible, and having your contract changed isn't really a big deal |
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| To be 100% honest, I don't really care if the Koreans hate me |
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| they're going to see the weird fat white gilr with her dinner on a leash. Whatev. I respect local culture |
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| I probably won't be able to tell when they're being mean to me anyway |
I don't want to damper your excitement at all. Korea is great, just like anywhere can be if you treat it the right way. Coming here with the above attitude? I'd say that is not the right way to treat Korea. Just being realistic isn't being negative. Have a great time here, just take care of yourself first. Too many posters here think Korea is hell, but too many new people think it's utopia. It's still Earth, just the other side. Good luck. Korea can be lots of fun! |
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