Getting Recruited

Should I use a recruiter to find a job teaching English in South Korea? YES. But be smart. Never pay for this service! It can be found for free and anyone who asks for money upfront in a scammer. Try to talk to as many as possible because it is a teachers market and if you are qualified (B.A. or higher), you can have your pick of location and level of teaching.

Recruiters can easily be found on eslcafe.com, daves esl cafe is know as the best website for teaching English in Korea as well as other stuff. Very valuable site. Post your resume and you'll recieve emails in minutes.

The Dog Days of Tripping

I have noticed that South Korean teaching jobs are extremely easy to come by. I have been offered 7 different positions so far. Im not sure what they're going to look like once I get there but, hey, fuck it. I've heard so many horror stories, well some at least, like people getting fired in the 11th month, therefore losing all coming pay and benefits. Schools shutting down and leaving teachers stuck with no job. Ive heard of crappy apartments, hostile racist fanatical locals, theives... It sounds pretty cool. But i'm sure those are only stories of a vocal minority. I've been in contact with alums from the U and I've heard nothing but great things about teaching over there. Im planning on it being the time of a life time.

Korea and Cameras

Strangely enough, traveling half way around the world and taking up a profession that I have never contemplated is sounding more and more fun. The process involved in getting all the necessary documents, visas and paperwork is pretty easy.

In order to enter Korea, you need a visa. Usually an E-2 visa for English teachers. To get this you must have a valid passport, criminal background check with apostille something. An apostille is a notorization in French, the language of international diplomacy. University diploma and a letter from your employer. All that is sent to the Korean consulate and then you have a visa... I hope at least. This is what I have deduced from the vast amount of info on the net about the subject.

I didn't realize that learning English was such a big industry in South Korea. Over 5 billion dollars a year. English is actually mandatory from elementary school on up. Which is great because I have spoken English since like age 2.

So I've never been a camera man, but I got my first camera today. It made me look at the world an entirely new way. Angles, time and light all combine to form something truly unique. I hope to take many pictures that will adorn my house like tattoos of fond memories.

First of many...

All this happened, more or less...


Lets get one thing straight. I don't read blogs, I've never written a blog, but I am about to go on an incredible journey and thought it would be cool to share it with total strangers and friends... So I just got a call after writing the first two sentences and was offered a job in Korea teaching English to elementary school kids... I've recently been struck with an incredible urge to travel the world and live out of a backpack and all that stuff. Over the next year I hope to do and write about the following:: Travel to: China, Russia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, India and Tibet. I want to learn to speak Korean and take tae kwon do...In Korea. I want to learn how to play go. And finally I want to find out what to do with the rest of my life.


But for now I'm trying to have one last lazy summer in beautiful San Diego, living in the comfortable bubble of college, being hazy and soaking up sun before I start my new life on the road...