I decided I wanted to start my blog before I went to Korea so I could get some help. I've never done this before so when I'm not insanely busy or on an airplane seemed like a good time.
I should probably start at the beginning. In November I heard about a program for going to South Korea to teach English. I am studying to be an Elementary School teacher and was actually looking for a program like this before I saw the flyer. It seemed like fate. I have a friend who lives in Seoul and I love to travel and guess what?! I speak English! I met with Dr. Koh, the Eastern Michigan teacher in charge of this program.I finished my application a few days before the final due date. The other students interested in this program and myself met with the Korean Consulate for a interview and soon I was conditionally accepted. I had to get my fingerprints taken at the sheriff's office in Ypsilanti and sent them off for a criminal record check with the FBI. Of all the preparations I've done so far for Korea, waiting for my CRC to arrive took the longest and was the most stressful. It took about two months for it to arrive. When I got it I had to go to the Secretary of State Super! Center in Livonia to get an apostille on my CRC. For those of you, like me who had no idea what that is, it is a gold foil sticker that certifies that that document is authentic. I drove the 20 minutes to the super center and stood in line for 15 minutes, only to learn that I needed to get my CRC notarized. When I took it to my bank we found that there was no line on the document for the notarization signatures. The Notary and I drew our own lines and hoped that would be okay. The next day I returned to the supercenter and was relieved to finally get the apostille.
The next paperwork was the Visa application. The problem with that was I couldn't turn it in without the acceptance package from the Korean government that I couldn't receive til my CRC was in. It is very stressful to wait for the thing you waited for to get somewhere else (but not as bad as the original waiting). That paperwork was finally turned in a week ago and I should receive my Visa any day now.... Well, I would if everyone else going to Korea with me didn't have problems with their paperwork that I have to wait for. I don't blame them for delaying the Visas, I just want this preparation stuff to be over with.
I got my ISIC today, that is the International Student Identity Card. It should get me discounts at hostels, for train and air tickets and some European Museums are free. I guess for me it is useful for the train tickets if nothing else.
I have one class this semester which is for this Korean program with Dr. Koh. I have to create 20 lesson plans with worksheets or power-points due before we leave. I have successfully turned in 8, yippee!!!
Today I fixed up my luggage tags. There are places for pictures so I gave each one a picture of one of my dogs. One is Delaney (my dog) wearing a pirate eye patch. The other is Rory (the family dog) wearing my pink earmuffs. I figure that when I'm in Korea and moping about my apartment, these pictures will cheer me up.
The information I am giving on my time in Korea has been very garbled. I know I will be teaching in the Jeollabuk-do province. The first month I'm in Korea I will be in Seoul for orientation. I have hopes that I will see my Korean friend, Chigan, while I am there.
So that is my first ever blog post. I know my topics are all over the place, but that's what my whole experience of preparations has been like and I fear it is effecting my writing skills. I hope my students will understand the lessons I've been planning.
I guess I will leave with a final note: taste Korean Aloe drink, it is super yummy and makes you feel moisturized from the inside out.
~Lisa
