Epik Orientation September 2014

I couldn't find the photo of the building I took so thanks to google! 

I had Epik orientation in Seoul at Sungkyunkwan University for 6 day and 5 nights. It was kinda dreadful...TT There was a curfew at 12pm and the majority of us felt like we were in a prison. I understood why they had to set a curfew as I use to work as an resident assistant in college....tell me about crazy timess....Even though, I have been in South Korea for a couple of months. I was required to go to the Epik orientation. The purpose of the training was to enhance our understanding of teaching English as a foreign language in Korea, including various teaching method, Korean culture and history. It also helped us understand our teaching environment in Korean public schools, how Korean school systems work and life in Korea. It helped us share our ideas and insights about teaching as a whole, which I thought was great for exchanging ideas. 

Before heading to the university I actually meet up with a friend that I meet in NYC. The one I mentioned about from the TEFL course. Ironically enough we were going to the same Epik orientation and we had a lot of catching up to do since we haven't seen each other for awhile. 

After arriving at the university, we checked in and was assigned our rooms and given our name tags which was used as a meal voucher. When I arrived, my roommate was already settled in but she was not in the room so I didn't meet her until we went to bed. We instantly talked about our experiences and unique characteristics that Korea has to offer. From that day, we ended up chatting a storm every night from how are day went..? to how our lives were back at home until almost 1 or 2am in the morning. We talked about the most random shit....but it was great knowing someone that I related too in South Korea. 

In the orientation, we separated in 2 large different groups and within that group, we were split into 1-A, 1-B, 2-A and 2-B. Group 1 consisted of newcomers that literally just flew in a few days ago or a couple of weeks ago. My roommate was in group 1 she literally flew in from Texas a couple days ago. I was in group 2 also including my friend that I meet in NYC. Within the small groups we were assigned a partner or put into three. From there we had to make up a lesson plan together with the topic assigned to us. I was assigned in the same group with my friend from NYC...yayy!!! and we had another guy from the UK...I think..somewhere around there..close enough... 

Throughout the entire week, it was lectures...lectures..., survival Korean,...lesson planning,..and for the newbies..medical check ups and meeting their POE/MOE. Meeting many other foreigners in the orientation, which was great meeting people around the world: South Africa, USA, Europe, UK, Australia...I think I am missing a country but you get the point...haha. One of my favorite class was Taekwondo...we learned the basics about Taekwondo and broke a thick wood board...I have proof..BAM!!!!

At the end of the orientation, we went to see Korean Miso. It was very interesting...something I would not normally watch..

To wrap it all up, I was sleep deprived and exhausted and wanted to sleep in my bed at my apartment. The beds that were at the school were really uncomfortable and they had roaches in the lounge... ewwww....and I'm not a bug person but if it is near me.....things are going down..hahah The orientation was very informative and gave me many more insights and ideas for my future teaching endeavors. I would have liked it, even better if I was able to attend an earlier Epik orientation...since I was already a couple of months in S. Korea some of the information was repetitive. But, if that would have happened, I wouldn't be able to meet all these wonderful people, that I meet in this Epik orientation.

Toodles until next time- xoxo-chuiee  

Korean Horizon is the way to go!

I've been thinking and researching about teaching abroad since my senior year in College (2013). I knew about teaching abroad through Fulbright. There was an event held at my college called Fulbright Gateway Orientation. I really didn't know about Fulbright, so I was curious and did some homework.  I found out that my college was one of the 10 hosts across the United States by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. There is more information about it here: Centenary College. It's basically an event for Foreign Graduate students who were studying in the United States for there Masters or Ph.D. My college was welcoming them to the United States.

After doing some intense research I came across the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. I thought the program was great and decided to apply for it. I would have to say it is a very competitive program. I submitted my application and essays two months earlier before the due date. I had rewrote my essay three times because I was a geek and paranoid. There was also many other components to the application which I have also submitted. The submission due date was around October or November 2013 and the waiting process begins. I had to wait until March 2014 for a response if I was accepted or not. duh...duhh.... Unfortunately, I was not accepted. I did not take NO for an answer. 

I did some more research about teaching abroad and came across Korvia. I have read and heard great reviews about this company. I have applied through their website and receive a quick response. My recruiter was Sara. She was a great. She had told me about the requirements that was needed. I kept her updated with my progress, but never seem to get a response back until a month or 2 later. It happened over and over again. I was becoming very impatience. 

Here I go again, researching other recruiting companies. I came across Korean Horizon. There service was phenomenal! The response of the email took only a day. Alistair Wery was my recruiter. He was awesome! He went above and beyond. I have cancelled Korvia at this point. Switching to Korean Horizon was the best thing. I have updated my progress with Alistair and he responded the next day. I have felt relieved. I have interviewed for Seoul and Busan. They are highly competitive. I was denied for both position. I have no teaching experience and that was one of the main reasons. I was so discourage at this time and decided to give up. I sent a really long message to Alistair and told him that I was going to get some teaching experience in the States first. Alistair told me not to give up and he said I would get the next one. I went through an interview again and ironically enough I was hired. I was ECSTATIC at this time. I was so happy I finally got a job offer.

This was my crazy experience...Let me know how your experience went.. I would love to hear about it!