I haven’t written in a little while. I got paid Monday so that’s let me get out a bit more. It was such a relief. I was getting down to the wire with the money I’d brought over. I’m not sure how they figured the amount I’d get paid. I think it was pro rata, but still was more than I thought it would be. I thought it included my airfare reimbursement, but I won’t get that til early next week (a little later than stated in the contract, but they’ve done everything else on time and by the contract, so I won’t worry). Anyway, no complaints here. Once I get the ticket money, I’ll be starting out pretty good here.
To celebrate, I went out for Korean barbecue and watched a movie. I wanted to watch Public Enemy, but I’d missed the 8 o’ clock and the next showing wasn’t til 11:30. So I went to this DVD lounge.
(About a week earlier, I’d mistaken this lounge for a DVD rental store. But when I noted the price and the guy asked “smoking or non-smoking” it occurred to me that I wouldn’t be taking the DVD home. That night I watched The Wrestler. But this time, since I’d missed Public Enemy, I went for another Michael Mann film that I hadn’t seen in a while, Miami Vice.)
Anyway, this lounge. You go in, pick out a DVD, then, instead of taking it home, you go to your own personal room to watch the film on a small home theater system. A cool idea. I was tickled by it when I first went to it. But, like, the speaker system isn’t that great, and it looks like it’s intended for couples. It’s still nicer (and more comfortable) than watching a movie on my computer, but since the price is about the same is a cinema, I think I’d rather do the rental or go to the theater.
Let’s see, also went out to Seoul to see Gyeongbok Palace. I’m sorry I don’t have pictures, it was a spontaneous trip. But I may go back again sometime with my camera.
Yesterday, I finally did see Public Enemy (didn’t like it) and last night, I bought a book on how to write Korean because...well, I gotta learn this language. They don’t use the Chinese characters here so I can’t get by the way I did in Japan or Taiwan. I’ve been using Google translator to write down words of things I was looking for at the stores. But I knew I was writing the characters wrong so I didn’t want to start bad habits.
It was frustrating not knowing the language in Taiwan and since I think I’ll be here a while, I want to get on this. Besides, Korean is an easier language than Chinese to study on your own.
I’ve been using an online site to study the sounds and reading the characters, but I want to know the stroke order for the characters. So I got a good beginners book at the Hyundai Mall and it’s been very helpful. Suddenly I can read some of the gibberish on subway station signs. So I’ll just keep at it.
I studied for a few hours last night, but I doubt I’ll be able to keep that pace once the semester begins. Typing it on my computer has been difficult to figure out. Once I get that figured out, maybe I’ll write more about the writing used here.
Anyway, so that was like my update and whatnot. I didn’t get my bank card in the 3-4 days like I’d been told. Bank is closed now, so I’ll be stopping in there Monday to see what the deal is with that.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
A little visitor
I’d noticed a falcon occasionally flying around my building during the week. Today I heard it calling and thought it must be perched nearby. I just didn’t realize how nearby.
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Bank account and cell phone
Today I opened a bank account and got a cell phone with the help of two of my teachers. I’ll tell you a bit how that worked out.
I’ll start with the bank account. I chose Shinhan Bank after comparing it with KEB, KB, and Woori. I know there are more banks out there. But even between these banks, there didn’t seem to be too much difference between them. The main two advantages Shinhan had over the others was that it was the closest to my apartment, and it has a crapload of branches and ATMs throughout Korea.
As I suspected might happen, I was told that I couldn’t have an ATM card for three months. But since this was with regard to ATM cards with a VISA logo, I persisted and asked for just a regular bank card without the VISA logo. That way I could at least use the ATM machines and not have to go into the branch every time I need money. I don’t mind waiting three months to get a debit card, but not being able to use an ATM when the banks close at 4:00 and I don’t finish work until 4:40...that could be a problem (especially since I’ll get paid by direct deposit…and all my bills will be paid by direct withdrawal. So like, everyone would have access to my money except me).
So the teller called someone higher up and found that that was possible. I’ll get a bank card in about four days. Then in three months, I’ll apply for the VISA debit card.
I was a little concerned how much remittance would cost using my bank here. In Japan, I used third-party service from Llyods TSB, since they offered a flat rate to send money back to my bank in the States. But it looks like it only costs 5,000 won (less than US$5.00) to wire money home, and I can do it online. (It sounds like most banks in Korea have online banking, so that’s pretty cool.)
Not sure I’ll be sending money home anyway since the banks there aren’t getting good interest rates, and because I’m not sure I’ll be going back to the States this time. If in three months I can get my international debit card anyway, it’s just as well I leave my money here (unless saving my money in the form of other currencies becomes advantageous).
Ok, the cell phones here. Really cool, I think. I guess I never got much more than I needed in Japan or Taiwan (or America) as far as service was concerned. This will be the first time I have a phone that I can use in other countries. To avoid startup costs or paying for a phone, I signed up in my teacher’s name (I did this in Taiwan, too). Otherwise, I would have paid about 90,000 won (about US$70.00) for the phone. I liked free better. And it’s a sweet looking phone, too. I’ll take a picture of it sometime after I buy a power converter for my camera battery charger.
Anyway, between a phone I can use here and overseas and (eventually) a VISA debit card, it seems I might be able to anchor myself in Korea a bit.
I also got my ARC and my multiple re-entry permit for my passport. I get paid next week (and get my plane ticket reimbursed). The semester doesn’t start until the 27th... Wonder if I couldn’t make a quick trip over to Japan... Hmmm... Tempting. We’ll see...
I’ll start with the bank account. I chose Shinhan Bank after comparing it with KEB, KB, and Woori. I know there are more banks out there. But even between these banks, there didn’t seem to be too much difference between them. The main two advantages Shinhan had over the others was that it was the closest to my apartment, and it has a crapload of branches and ATMs throughout Korea.
As I suspected might happen, I was told that I couldn’t have an ATM card for three months. But since this was with regard to ATM cards with a VISA logo, I persisted and asked for just a regular bank card without the VISA logo. That way I could at least use the ATM machines and not have to go into the branch every time I need money. I don’t mind waiting three months to get a debit card, but not being able to use an ATM when the banks close at 4:00 and I don’t finish work until 4:40...that could be a problem (especially since I’ll get paid by direct deposit…and all my bills will be paid by direct withdrawal. So like, everyone would have access to my money except me).
So the teller called someone higher up and found that that was possible. I’ll get a bank card in about four days. Then in three months, I’ll apply for the VISA debit card.
I was a little concerned how much remittance would cost using my bank here. In Japan, I used third-party service from Llyods TSB, since they offered a flat rate to send money back to my bank in the States. But it looks like it only costs 5,000 won (less than US$5.00) to wire money home, and I can do it online. (It sounds like most banks in Korea have online banking, so that’s pretty cool.)
Not sure I’ll be sending money home anyway since the banks there aren’t getting good interest rates, and because I’m not sure I’ll be going back to the States this time. If in three months I can get my international debit card anyway, it’s just as well I leave my money here (unless saving my money in the form of other currencies becomes advantageous).
Ok, the cell phones here. Really cool, I think. I guess I never got much more than I needed in Japan or Taiwan (or America) as far as service was concerned. This will be the first time I have a phone that I can use in other countries. To avoid startup costs or paying for a phone, I signed up in my teacher’s name (I did this in Taiwan, too). Otherwise, I would have paid about 90,000 won (about US$70.00) for the phone. I liked free better. And it’s a sweet looking phone, too. I’ll take a picture of it sometime after I buy a power converter for my camera battery charger.
Anyway, between a phone I can use here and overseas and (eventually) a VISA debit card, it seems I might be able to anchor myself in Korea a bit.
I also got my ARC and my multiple re-entry permit for my passport. I get paid next week (and get my plane ticket reimbursed). The semester doesn’t start until the 27th... Wonder if I couldn’t make a quick trip over to Japan... Hmmm... Tempting. We’ll see...
Monday, August 10, 2009
A few comparisons between GEPIK and JET (short list)
Since my post yesterday was a bit long winded, I’ll just put a short list of why GEPIK has a bit of an edge over JET.
1. Rent is completely subsidized (my rent with JET was 90% subsidized),
2. Pay raises (JET had no pay raises),
3. Upwards to five weeks vacation: 20 days + 2 weeks at the end of each contract which…
4. …the school reimburses your plane ticket for, and…
5. …severance pay of one month’s salary at the end of each completed contract.
6. You have the option to use “research leave” during the summer (in JET, other teachers have this option, but you don’t. You have to use your paid vacation if you don’t want to be at the school during the summer).
7. Cost of living is way less than Japan.
1. Rent is completely subsidized (my rent with JET was 90% subsidized),
2. Pay raises (JET had no pay raises),
3. Upwards to five weeks vacation: 20 days + 2 weeks at the end of each contract which…
4. …the school reimburses your plane ticket for, and…
5. …severance pay of one month’s salary at the end of each completed contract.
6. You have the option to use “research leave” during the summer (in JET, other teachers have this option, but you don’t. You have to use your paid vacation if you don’t want to be at the school during the summer).
7. Cost of living is way less than Japan.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
A few comparisons between GEPIK and JET
I was just looking back through my blog to see if I hadn’t already compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages between GEPIK and JET. But I guess I’d just mentioned them to friends via email or in person.
I should probably put up some disclaimer or at least qualify the statements that follow by telling my situation in Japan with JET (since every situation is different) and my situation here with GEPIK. In Japan, I taught at a high school (I’ll explain what this entails as I make the JET/GEPIK comparisons), and here (in Korea) I’m starting out as a level 1 GEPIK teacher (a more comfortable salary than entry level – 3). I think that’s the main disclaimer I need to start with.
For me, comparing JET with GEPIK, the scales tip heavily towards GEPIK (even if I were starting out as a Level 3 teacher).
I’ll start with the perk that made me want to write this post. So like, it’s summer vacation now and I have no classes. When I was teaching my first year in Japan, I assumed that I would have summers off (I mean that’s supposed to be one of the perks of being a teacher, right?). But this was not the case. While the Japanese teachers had the option of using a certain type of leave, that got translated as “research”, JETs only had the option of coming to school or using their paid vacation (nenkyu) to take time off.
Well, that pretty much sucked because you only had 20 days of paid vacation and summer was two months long. And the summer at the end of my first year of teaching, I had no more paid vacation days left. So I had to go to school all summer and twiddle my thumbs while all the other teachers stayed home and did “research” (this meant they planned lessons or studied the subject they taught. I’m doubtful they actually did those things, but, whatever.).
(My understanding is that this was only the case for JETs who taught in high schools. If you taught at a junior high or elementary school, you usually did get the summers off. But anyway, that was not my situation.)
Anyway, here in Korea, I do get the option for “research” days. And while I do need to use these days to plan for the upcoming semester and coordinate with my co-teachers, I don’t need to go to school and, more important, I don’t need to use my paid vacation. When I found this out last Friday, I was quite happy, to say the least.
The rest of the benefits of GEPIK over JET, I’ll just put in a list:
1. Rent is completely subsidized (my rent with JET was 90% subsidized),
2. Pay raises (JET had no pay raises),
3. Upwards to five weeks vacation: 20 days + 2 weeks at the end of each contract which…
4. …the school reimburses your plane ticket for, and…
5. …severance pay of one month’s salary at the end of each completed contract.
These are in addition to the perks that were also available in JET (health insurance and pension).
JET does pay more, but when you figure in the cost of living in Japan, it’s not really much of an advantage. (We’ll see if I still feel that way in a few months after I’ve received a few paychecks, each of which will be about US$400 less than what I made in JET.)
Does this mean JET was not a great experience or that I’d recommend GEPIK over JET? Well, those aren’t fair questions. It depends on…well, a lot of things. When I went into the JET Program, I had studied Japanese in high school, I was interested in the culture, had some background knowledge on the place, and it was my first time to travel overseas.
Plus, the social network and support you get in JET was great. You have orientations before leaving for Japan, where you meet other JETs you’ll be flying over with, and have two more orientations in Japan before you arrive at your school. So you meet lots of people right off the bat. Really, I think the JET Program was, is, and probably always will be the best experience I’ve ever had.
Here in Korea, I was placed by a recruiter, haven’t met a single GEPIK teacher, and am not due to attend an orientation until October. Not sure I’ll want or need to go by then, as I’ve already taught for three years and I didn’t like the dorms and schedules of some of the orientations in JET. Though, it would be nice to meet some of the other teachers here.
But as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m still happy to be here, and things are going well so far (better than they were in Seattle). So for me to compare JET with GEPIK maybe apples and oranges, but maybe for someone who hasn’t done either program, they might consider what I’ve mentioned. But I’d say first thing’s always first: What country are you interested in living in?
I should probably put up some disclaimer or at least qualify the statements that follow by telling my situation in Japan with JET (since every situation is different) and my situation here with GEPIK. In Japan, I taught at a high school (I’ll explain what this entails as I make the JET/GEPIK comparisons), and here (in Korea) I’m starting out as a level 1 GEPIK teacher (a more comfortable salary than entry level – 3). I think that’s the main disclaimer I need to start with.
For me, comparing JET with GEPIK, the scales tip heavily towards GEPIK (even if I were starting out as a Level 3 teacher).
I’ll start with the perk that made me want to write this post. So like, it’s summer vacation now and I have no classes. When I was teaching my first year in Japan, I assumed that I would have summers off (I mean that’s supposed to be one of the perks of being a teacher, right?). But this was not the case. While the Japanese teachers had the option of using a certain type of leave, that got translated as “research”, JETs only had the option of coming to school or using their paid vacation (nenkyu) to take time off.
Well, that pretty much sucked because you only had 20 days of paid vacation and summer was two months long. And the summer at the end of my first year of teaching, I had no more paid vacation days left. So I had to go to school all summer and twiddle my thumbs while all the other teachers stayed home and did “research” (this meant they planned lessons or studied the subject they taught. I’m doubtful they actually did those things, but, whatever.).
(My understanding is that this was only the case for JETs who taught in high schools. If you taught at a junior high or elementary school, you usually did get the summers off. But anyway, that was not my situation.)
Anyway, here in Korea, I do get the option for “research” days. And while I do need to use these days to plan for the upcoming semester and coordinate with my co-teachers, I don’t need to go to school and, more important, I don’t need to use my paid vacation. When I found this out last Friday, I was quite happy, to say the least.
The rest of the benefits of GEPIK over JET, I’ll just put in a list:
1. Rent is completely subsidized (my rent with JET was 90% subsidized),
2. Pay raises (JET had no pay raises),
3. Upwards to five weeks vacation: 20 days + 2 weeks at the end of each contract which…
4. …the school reimburses your plane ticket for, and…
5. …severance pay of one month’s salary at the end of each completed contract.
These are in addition to the perks that were also available in JET (health insurance and pension).
JET does pay more, but when you figure in the cost of living in Japan, it’s not really much of an advantage. (We’ll see if I still feel that way in a few months after I’ve received a few paychecks, each of which will be about US$400 less than what I made in JET.)
Does this mean JET was not a great experience or that I’d recommend GEPIK over JET? Well, those aren’t fair questions. It depends on…well, a lot of things. When I went into the JET Program, I had studied Japanese in high school, I was interested in the culture, had some background knowledge on the place, and it was my first time to travel overseas.
Plus, the social network and support you get in JET was great. You have orientations before leaving for Japan, where you meet other JETs you’ll be flying over with, and have two more orientations in Japan before you arrive at your school. So you meet lots of people right off the bat. Really, I think the JET Program was, is, and probably always will be the best experience I’ve ever had.
Here in Korea, I was placed by a recruiter, haven’t met a single GEPIK teacher, and am not due to attend an orientation until October. Not sure I’ll want or need to go by then, as I’ve already taught for three years and I didn’t like the dorms and schedules of some of the orientations in JET. Though, it would be nice to meet some of the other teachers here.
But as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m still happy to be here, and things are going well so far (better than they were in Seattle). So for me to compare JET with GEPIK maybe apples and oranges, but maybe for someone who hasn’t done either program, they might consider what I’ve mentioned. But I’d say first thing’s always first: What country are you interested in living in?
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
First (very nearly) three weeks
I guess I should update this blog thing at some point. Just been busy planning for and doing English Camp.
So, um, yeah. I’ve been here almost three weeks. The first week I pretty much already talked about. The two weeks after (currently in that second week after), I’ve been doing English Camp. Last week was 5th grade, this week is 6th grade.
What is English Camp? Well, looking at some people’s blogs, it actually is something of a summer camp. But for me (both in Japan and here in Korea), it’s just intensive (four-hour) English classes that take place in the summer. It’s not really worth describing in detail. And the meeting four hours a day thing isn’t that bad, if you just choose a theme for the day and designate each hour for different activities on that theme. Plus, the classes are really 40 minutes with 10 minute breaks.
But the thing that is worth noting is that last week was one of the best teaching experiences I’ve ever had (which, after having taught EFL for three years is saying something). First of all, my co-teacher was (or is) really great. We are quite like-minded and flexible in our teaching approach. With all the teachers I worked with in Japan (JET Program) and Taiwan, my co-teacher her in Korea has been the best.
Actually, to be honest, English Camp would have been a lot more difficult if it was left completely up to me to organize and teach it. I’m just not one of those people who can think of ideas from scratch. Maybe that’s not a good trait for someone who is a teacher, but then, that’s why I’ve gone back into co-teaching. Because I am good at expanding on other people’s ideas.
Second, the students have been great. Now, I always like my students regardless of their ability or motivation. But this 5th grade class was a really good bunch. Very motivated, they helped each other, and when they didn’t know how to say something in English, they asked me (something that never happened in Japan or Taiwan).
Anyway, the English Camp has been good, I’ve really enjoyed the students, and it’s great to be teaching again.
After this week, I’ll get a couple weeks off before the regular school year starts. If I had the money, I’d take a trip somewhere. But I don’t get paid until the 17th and my ARC won’t be ready until the 10th. I guess that second week I can do something. But like, when I do get paid, it won’t be for a full month (since quarantine was unpaid), and I need to make payments for my key money (rent/damage deposit) for the first three months.
But I’ll see what I can do when I get paid. Normally with two weeks free, I’d leave the country (it would be Japan, if I had the means), but things being what they are (mentioned above, but also the fact I’ve only been here a few weeks), I’ll probably just check things out in Korea. Once I start building my resources and have been here a while, I’ll be able to visit other countries again.
Well, that’s all for now. I’ll leave you with a couple pictures (apartment view and my 5th graders at English Camp).
So, um, yeah. I’ve been here almost three weeks. The first week I pretty much already talked about. The two weeks after (currently in that second week after), I’ve been doing English Camp. Last week was 5th grade, this week is 6th grade.
What is English Camp? Well, looking at some people’s blogs, it actually is something of a summer camp. But for me (both in Japan and here in Korea), it’s just intensive (four-hour) English classes that take place in the summer. It’s not really worth describing in detail. And the meeting four hours a day thing isn’t that bad, if you just choose a theme for the day and designate each hour for different activities on that theme. Plus, the classes are really 40 minutes with 10 minute breaks.
But the thing that is worth noting is that last week was one of the best teaching experiences I’ve ever had (which, after having taught EFL for three years is saying something). First of all, my co-teacher was (or is) really great. We are quite like-minded and flexible in our teaching approach. With all the teachers I worked with in Japan (JET Program) and Taiwan, my co-teacher her in Korea has been the best.
Actually, to be honest, English Camp would have been a lot more difficult if it was left completely up to me to organize and teach it. I’m just not one of those people who can think of ideas from scratch. Maybe that’s not a good trait for someone who is a teacher, but then, that’s why I’ve gone back into co-teaching. Because I am good at expanding on other people’s ideas.
Second, the students have been great. Now, I always like my students regardless of their ability or motivation. But this 5th grade class was a really good bunch. Very motivated, they helped each other, and when they didn’t know how to say something in English, they asked me (something that never happened in Japan or Taiwan).
Anyway, the English Camp has been good, I’ve really enjoyed the students, and it’s great to be teaching again.
After this week, I’ll get a couple weeks off before the regular school year starts. If I had the money, I’d take a trip somewhere. But I don’t get paid until the 17th and my ARC won’t be ready until the 10th. I guess that second week I can do something. But like, when I do get paid, it won’t be for a full month (since quarantine was unpaid), and I need to make payments for my key money (rent/damage deposit) for the first three months.
But I’ll see what I can do when I get paid. Normally with two weeks free, I’d leave the country (it would be Japan, if I had the means), but things being what they are (mentioned above, but also the fact I’ve only been here a few weeks), I’ll probably just check things out in Korea. Once I start building my resources and have been here a while, I’ll be able to visit other countries again.
Well, that’s all for now. I’ll leave you with a couple pictures (apartment view and my 5th graders at English Camp).
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