What it's Like to Teach English in South Korea

I thought I'd drop a little knowledge about our school and teaching requirements.  I mean, we do a ton of fun stuff on the weekends, but we spend most of our time at work just like anyone else.  I think I wrote a bit about our daily grind in a previous post, so I'll go into our actual teaching this time.

Working with Co-Workers in Korea: ESL School Staff Dinner

Earlier tonight we had a staff dinner for all of the teachers and staff at our school.  Work dinners are nothing new, of course.  We've all been taken out to dinner by our bosses at one time or another.  The point is to improve morale among the troops and to show appreciation for their hard work.

The Daily Grind: Working as an English Teacher in South Korea

I thought I'd write a little about our job so that you can have some insight into what we do on a daily basis.  Obviously, we love to travel to new places and meet up with friends, but we have to work sometime, right?

It's Not ALL Sunshine and Smiles: Troubles While Living in South Korea

I realized that all of my posts, to date, have been really positive and may make it seem as though Steve and I are just on a wonderful vacation in South Korea. It may seem as though we live in a world where nothing ever goes wrong and that we are always skipping merrily around, holding hands, and smiling.

What's it Like to Move to South Korea to Teach English?

Before we left the states, we were asked many questions about our decision to pick up and move to South Korea. I could not answer most of the questions, because I did not know the answers. I mostly answered these questions by saying, "I don't know, I think everything will be just fine, I am very excited." Now that I am here,  I think that I am able to answer most of the questions.

Seoul is Good for the Soul: How to Experience Seoul, South Korea

At the Seoul KTX station I tried to remember every moment of our 3 day vacation and write it all down, every last detail. By the end of the trip Steve and I were exhausted, travel weary, brains overloaded, stomachs full, but overall happy to have explored a tiny bit of one of the coolest cities in the world. I will give you a quick recap with some photots.

Snowy Valentine's Day: A Day Off While Teaching English Overseas

Today there is no school! It has been snowing all day! I walked to Top Mart to get some ramen, tuna, and orange juice. I was excited to walk around in the snow and to get some alone time. I realized in Busan, this weekend, that I hadn't done anything/gone anywhere by myself since I have been in Korea.

Survival Techniques: Teaching English in South Korea

Today is Monday of our third week at work.  The first week we didn't do too much, mostly just observed the teachers who work here and learned our way around.  These past two weeks we've been spending working one-on-one with several students, giving English lessons more or less.  Work is going well, but it has taken some getting used to a new schedule and new responsibilities, just as with any new job.

What Food to Eat While Living in South Korea

 Our first couple weeks in Korea have opened up a whole new world to us and our taste buds! I am a less adventurous eater than Steve and was; therefore, concerned about trying many new foods.  I admit that a week or so prior to leaving and upon arrival I was very concerned about finding food that I would like to eat. In Korea, basically, all foods are new to us. 

Looking Back in Time: Exploring a Korean Village

On the way home from Sacheon, we stopped at a traditional korean folk village. It was amazing! At first, I didn't think that anyone lived there. How could that be possible? I thought that maybe it was just a replica village. However, after walking around and peeking behind fences, we were able to see people outside hanging clothes and doing other various daily living chores.

The Best Way to Experience Lunar New Year in South Korea

When asked to go to a Korean home for a traditional Korean meal and new year celebration, we were hesitant and nervous. After some thought, we graciously accepted the offer.

Visiting Dynamic Busan: What to See in Busan, South Korea

On the bus home from Busan. We arrived yesterday a little after 12 noon. Sitting here on the bus I feel like we were there for a whole week as I try to recall everything we have seen and done and sum it up into a blog post. Busan is amazing!

Daily Life: Living Overseas in South Korea

We are slowly developing a routine here and feeling more comfortable everyday. We awake in our motel. Our sleep schedule is getting better every night. We usually have some breakfast such as yogurt, bran type cereal, or even ramen(ramyan).

Getting Better Every Day: Traveling and Living in South Korea

I wanted to put up some pictures form our past few days.  Things have been going great so far, and slightly crazy as you could probably gather from Nikki's last post.  But we are slowly getting into a routine as our work has started.

Our First Morning in South Korea

Our first morning here. As we sit in our round bed, eating breakfast and watching television, I am trying to write and remember my first sights, sounds, smells, and feelings of Korea.

Preparing to Move Overseas in South Korea

Where is my phone charger? I can't find a sweatshirt. Where is my computer charger? All these questions have been asked aloud, by myself, within the past hour. I guess this is what happens when everything that you own is boxed, bagged, and divided between two basements.

Almost Ready to Move to South Korea: How to Prepare

Hey, Nikki here.  So the fridge countdown says 3 days to move (out of our current home) and 15 days until we board the plane to Korea. Our home is filled with stacks of boxes, open and overflowing suitcases, garbage bags, and random piles of clutter. It doesn't feel like home anymore.

The Big Apple: Preparing to Move to South Korea

Well we are back from our trip to NYC. We needed to go to the Korean consulate to go through a brief interview and then wait for our work visas.  We used the opportunity to visit our favorite city and do some touristing.

Christmas Week: Moving to South Korea to Teach English

The countdown on the fridge says 24 days until we leave for Korea.  It is hard to comprehend how fast time has moved since we first sat down and started looking at potential jobs in Korea and made the decision that this was something we were really going to do.

What it's Like to Move to South Korea

We are scheduled to leave for Korea on January 14, 2011.  We are currently going about the business of organizing our affairs and packing for our big move.  We've been through all of the necessary paperwork, and there was a fair amount of that.  We've been through the waiting and the annoying visa, apostille stamps, and criminal record check process.  Now we only need to go to the Korean consulate in New York City to get our official work visas.