Weekend Update

Good afternoon to everyone in my time zone! I'm sure the rest of you are sleeping, about to sleep, or somewhere around there :)

Yesterday I went out to Seoul with the Bucheon girls for the Korvia welcoming party, which was in Itaewon. Before heading over to Itaewon, we swung into Hongdae for a little shopping and walking. The number of shoes I was tempted to buy was absurd! I walked away with two rings- a Vivienne Westwood (yesyesyes!) knock-off and a simple vine-like one. I'm quite pleased! Not to mention that the total for both was W8000 (a little over $7).

There was also a puppy store we went into after grabbing a bite at Dos Tacos (I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat, but the others gave it rave reviews! I'll have to eat next time!). I seriously thought my heart was going to make its way out of its place because of how adorable the puppies were! One little guy kept pressing its face into the corner of the glass and trying to eat my finger! They were so precious.

We went over to Itaewon a little early to hit a cellphone store, Olleh (Yeah, it's 'Hello' backwards!). I had originally just wanted to look at the phones and plans, but after watching a girl not from our group get a phone, and Sio get a phone, I got a phone. Haha it was really nice being at that store in Itaewon because the woman spoke wonderful English. That's one of the reasons I wanted to go to a store while we were there, but after hearing all the details I figured I should just purchase one now. I ended up going with a black iPhone 4S.

The way it works here is that the cost of the phone is divided up between each month of your contract (a 2 year contract is mandatory), and added to the bill. Unlimited data, 300 minutes, and 300 texts is the iValue Plan and costs W54000/month. Insurance is optional, but costs W4700/month. Here, the iPhone 4S is worth W814000, so insurance is definitely worth it! You do get a discount on the phone with the contract, though. I know I'm only paying about W600000 for the phone (which is still terribly expensive compared to the States!) But with the cost split up between each month, it's not that bad at all. My phone bill will end up being about W70000/month ($70ish) and that I know is cheaper than others with smart phones in the States on their own plans. So you could say that the phone is more expensive, but the service is cheaper.

My phone will be activated on Monday (tomorrow), so I've just been putting all of my contacts into it and customizing it. I did buy a case because, really, this is my first smart phone and I'm terrified of anything happening to it. I don't know if I have to talk to the woman tomorrow via my other phone, or if it's something she can do without being in contact with me... I hope it's the latter, because I will definitely be teaching during the time frame she gave me for the activation.

After getting our phones we went to the Korvia party and got to meet our recruiters! Jessie Kim (my recruiter) is probably one of the nicest and most adorable people I have ever seen. I'm so glad I got to meet her in person! We also met a few other people from Bucheon and other locations in Seoul. It was a good night!


Please feel free to comment, email, or message me if you have any further questions about cellphones, recruiters, or anything!

Till next time~

Fate and a Bank Account

Hello all!

I know I promised that it wouldn't be so long in between updates, but here we are! I have a lot to say, too! So put those reading glasses on ;)

One thing I wanted to say before getting into my current happenings, is to comment on the play of Fate in my life. I have never felt more sure of something than I am of my moving to Korea. I wrote about it on an earlier post, so new readers may not know, but I was originally an EPIK applicant who managed to fail the interview. I read all over about how hard it was to fail the interviews, but I'm a girl that did it. Ha, I can't blame my interviewer for it though- I forgot how to describe even myself. And don't even get me started on what happened when he asked me about what I knew about Korea. I don't think I formed a full sentence once. Ahh, it's really sad... I was so nervous! But. These days I have come to realize that I was abnormally nervous so that I could fail the interview. I wasn't supposed to be there, but here. The people I've met, how I've met them, even the perfect timing of the buses, subway, and buses again on my way to apply for my ARC, have all been absurdly wonderful by chance. I absolutely (still) adore my co-workers and my students, too! We (other teachers and I, not students) get together outside of school, and have plans to keep doing so. I feel so blessed to be so welcomed.

Funny fact- when getting passport photos taken in South Korea, they will airbrush and remove all flaws within 5 minutes. I went to a small place just off the subway in Incheon where I had to apply for my ARC. He was super fast, and my face has never looked so good- which is awesome, because that's the picture they put on my ARC.

(There are several of documents you need for your ARC. Two of them are filled out there while waiting, one of them is provided by your school, and the others are your passport with valid Visa, medical exam results, and two passport photos.)

My co-teacher is on an extended field trip with the 6th graders and their homeroom teachers, so I have been teaching with the 4th/5th grade English teacher. She is close with my co-teacher, so we've talked quite a bit before this. She is another lovely person! I'm really glad that I get to meet the other grades. Ahaha, they're so cute! And their love of hangman is admirable. I want to take the amount of passion they put toward hangman into every aspect of my life...

So that's what I'm doing for the rest of this week. I left school early today to open a bank account. With my co-teacher gone, I had to do it alone! It was kind of nervous-making, but the teller I worked with was nice. Really, you just pull a number like any building with a row of help desks, and wait for a teller/secretary to display your number (the hospital I went to was the same). Then, he asked me if I wanted a Check Card and had me sign a few different papers and my bankbook. It was super painless! But I still feel proud of myself. I have heard that KEB is the most foreigner-friendly bank, but I decided to go with Woori because of the perks on their Expat Check Card, which I can get once I have an account with them. They are also a major bank and so I can find them anywhere I need. As far as documents go, you only need your ARC (Alien Registration Card) to open a bank account. When you go to apply for a credit card, you need your ARC, passport, proof of work/salary, and a valid Visa.

Now I can get paid!!! Wahoo!


I do realize that not posting may cause some worry, and for that I apologize. From now on I will try to write at least once a week, even if it's about the NEW FUZZY BLACK SWEATER I BOUGHT YESTERDAY. It's wonderful, but vintage enough to warrant a 'do they still sell that?' from my co-worker.


Take care, everyone, everywhere.
All is well :)

In Korea

Well, hello there! It's been a while! Especially since I've been in Korea for the past 5 days without a single update.

I think I've been waiting until I feel settled. I really need hangers. I have a lot of sweaters (which become not so many sweaters after all of the necessary layering I pull off) and light jackets sitting on my desk. I went to Homeplus, which basically has everything, and bought a few groceries, some indoor shoes to wear at school, and the softest dish towel ever... But I totally forgot the hangers! I'm blaming it on the store being packed and my decision to not push my way through groups of Koreans who actually knew what they were looking for, as well as my cowardice and inability to speak at appropriate times. Haha, it's not as bad as it may seem, really. I just totally blanked on the one sentence I wanted to remember. I wrote all of my items in Korean so I could find them more easily, but that didn't help very much because I completely underestimated the massive size of this multi-floor shopping center.

Aside from my brief shopping stint that had me traveling to the third floor in order to look at cute clothing so I could feel better about my experience, everything has been lovely. My taxi driver from the airport was incredibly nice, and my absolutely wonderful co-teacher was waiting for me at my apartment. She explained the electronics and heating system to me, and then took me out for my first meal, followed by coffee. <3 Wonderful. She is also very helpful in class, and we share the time we teach. I didn't know if it would just be me and the students or not, so having her there is a godsend. We teach third and sixth graders, 4 classes each, and there is another Korean woman who teaches English to fourth and fifth graders. This Friday, all of the teachers will be staying behind to share a meal and welcome the new teachers. I'm excited! I have been enjoying the meals at school... I'm pretty sure it was octopus the other day. It's good!

One thing I'm not so excited about is the medical exam I need to do tomorrow. I'm not allowed to eat anything after 9pm tonight, or to drink anything after 6am tomorrow morning. No coffee for Kaitlin! Oh boy... And we're teaching sixth graders tomorrow, haha! I'll be okay, though. My co-teacher will be there with me, and it's probably about time I got over my obvious dislike for hospitals.

As for my apartment, it has a little loft where my bed is and some storage up with it. The kitchen is narrow, but I really like it's layout. The main room is a perfect size, too! I'll be taking a video tour of it once I get those hangers... Then everyone will be able to see for themselves! :) It's well-equipped and I am quite pleased with it.

I met a few other girls who are teaching English here, as well, and they are wonderful! I'm glad I was able to get in-touch with them, as I can only imagine how difficult it would be to not have any English-speaking contacts at first.

Speaking of friendship, I have also fallen in love. The heated blanket I found in one of the cabinets is nothing short of a modern miracle and is one of my favorite things right now. I recommend them. Strongly.


Well, I am going to sign-off. I'll try to have less time in-between posts. I think it's easier to read when I'm not typing off short novels.


a bientot~

YESSS

This post is more for people who I am not friends with on Facebook, but who do follow this blog.

Today my passport came back, Korean Visa and all! :D And under 'Entries' I have a beautiful 'M'. You can either have a S or a M, with S standing for Single and M standing for Multiple. This means that on breaks I can leave Korea and visit Japan, Thailand, wherever, and still get back into the country. If I had a single entry visa, I would not be able to leave if I wanted to come back without applying for a whole new visa.

What's really great is that I thought I would need to apply for a multiple entry visa once I got into Korea, and pay an additional amount. I didn't request a multiple entry visa, but since I wanted one, I am really glad I have one!

And so here I am, less than a week away from leaving the States for South Korea. I am packed, going to sleep at seven in the morning (next week it will be eight!), and as prepared as I think I can be right now. All I am waiting on is my Form 8802 response, which just exempts me from paying Korean taxes because I will be paying taxes on my earnings in the States. They sent me a letter stating they received my request early January and that within 30 days from February 21 I would get the letter that I actually need to bring to Korea. I hope it gets here before I leave. If it doesn't, I will have to have it sent to my address in Korea. Thankfully I just need to bring it to my school within the first month. I don't understand why it is taking so long, though, because the maximum time they said it should take for a response is 45 days. Ah, oh well...

I'm really excited, and in a really good place, mentally. I absolutely cannot wait for this new chapter in my life :) Things are looking good!

I'm about to have my dad weigh my suitcase. It's wider than our scale, and I don't want to try to lift it while standing on the scale. So here we go. Wish me luck!


**UPDATE** We believe the suitcase weighs 49.5 lbs. Also, this is the most helpful website I have come across in a long time: WAYGOOK.ORG has forums with people who sincerely know what they are talking about, and offer help and answers on topics ranging from life in Korea to vacation time at your school.

Oh Boy

With 13 days left until my departure date I am no longer able to avoid thinking about packing... :(

Yesterday I went out with my momma and got a suitcase. It's purple! And is right at the 62 linear inches mark, so I hope that they don't come up with some larger number if they measure it by hand. It's a hardcover suitcase, so it's completely open and free to fill on both sides. Which is awesome for all of my clothes and shoes, but totally terrible for my weight limit! ..I am also a professional clothes-roller. I have managed to fit almost everything that I would like to take with me, and after some swapping between my carry-on I think I've worked it out so that I'm just within the weight limit.

Going through my shoes was so difficult! I felt like a real girl last night as I was picking through them all, weeping. (Not really. But almost.) I have too many pairs! I kept thinking, "Man, Kyleigh and I really are sisters."

But before packing I researched what others who've made the same trip had brought, and combed through lists my recruiter was kind enough to give me. It's really interesting what they tell you to bring and what they tell you to leave behind. Deodorant, for example, is somewhat difficult to find in South Korea and terribly expensive compared to what we're used to paying. I've heard that half the size is twice the price. Woah! And for all of you ladies, if you will ever want to wear tampons you should bring them. Also, if you wear a size C or larger, bring enough bras to last you, because you won't be able to find any. (So I've heard. If I find it to be otherwise, I'll try to inconspicuously mention it in a future post.)


Here is a list of what I recommend bringing:
1. Reese's. -for eating, sharing, and saving for later.
2. Deodorant!! -shampoo/conditioner/razors are readily found, so don't worry about it unless you want to pack a little in your carry-on (minus the razor) like I'm doing :)
3. Towel(s) -towels in Korea aren't as large as what we're accustomed to. So if having a smaller towel won't bother you, then you won't have to waste luggage space :)
4. Sheet set(s) -Korea uses a slightly different type of bedding.
5. Coats for winter and monsoon season.
6. Comfy shoes, dressy shoes, and monsoon shoes. -I don't know what the largest size available is, but I'm fairly certain that if you wear larger than an 8 (women, I don't know about men), you will not have much luck in purchasing any.
7. Enough sweaters to not need to heat your house into oblivion in colder months.
8a. Clothes for your body type -having never been there, I don't know the largest/smallest sizes available, or what their average inseams are.
8b. Clothing for teaching, going out with friends/co-teachers, exercising, sleeping, and bumming around the house.
9. Your favorite vitamins, pain killers, and any medication you need.
10. Mac n' cheese, taco seasoning, any sauce packets or snacks you may miss. -this is one I've seen on a lot of lists!
11. Multiple things to do on the airplane.
12. Photographs -for your living space and your students.
13. A little gift for the director of your school and the co-teacher -it lets them know that you appreciate the opportunity to work with and for them, and is a simple and polite gesture that will help set you off on the right foot :)

**A side note, I would recommend arriving at least with the ability to read the Korean alphabet, Hangul, with an open and adventurous spirit, and with enough of certain articles so that the fact that you do not have access to a dryer for your clothes doesn't affect you.


It feels kind of strange, though, to be packing for a year in advance. It puts all of this into perspective. I know it's going to be tough at times to be so far from my friends and family. Your support means so much to me, and I am incredibly thankful for everyone who has been a part of this journey with me, even though it hasn't really begun yet. I'll make sure to keep everything updated!

As always, feel free to leave any questions or comments. If there is anything you would add to the list, let me know!

:)

A Way To Learn

I've been bumming around on Dave's ESL trying to learn information about Bucheon-si and my school (no luck on my school!). It's a helpful site where you can get honest opinions on really any ESL topic- not just those related to Korea! Forums for each location are further broken down into sub-forums about jobs, living, general, etc. One post I was reading was about how many new vocabulary words people found that they could successfully learn per day. Amidst all of the numbers and explanations that were posted in response, I found a beautiful link. It was to a project called Mnemosyne. It's a flash card-based learning software that allows you to imput/import Q&A information. It even allows you to do image and title cards! (This would have been helpful for all of those art history courses, yeah?) The coolest part about this project, though, is that it allows you to rank the ease at which you remembered the question/image/phrase (0-5). Using the ranking that you provide, it then judges how frequently it needs to bring the card back in front of you so that you remember it well. If you rank it a 0 or 1, the card will resurface very soon. If you rank it between 2 and 5, the card will appear less often and sort of on a sliding scale with 5 being the least often.

Please go to their site and read all about it if you're curious. It's so interesting! They even have "cards" on the site that you can download and import into the program. The "cards" they have available span far beyond languages and each category is further broken down. I downloaded this 3000-words-in-Korean package. Intense! But I want to build my vocabulary, so it's perfect.

This image is their logo, and the caption is a link to their site. I've been having a pretty nice time with this software. :)

mnemosyne

Thanks for reading! May you enjoy this gem as much as I am.

Oops!

A friend pointed out that my comment settings prohibited anyone without a user ID from leaving me any feedback. I'm sorry! I didn't know.

But I changed it! So now anyone can comment, user or not.


:) Thanks!