Last month, I posted about the (sometimes) grueling process of getting packed up to move home after your time in Korea. The stress of my move was greatly compounded by an additional factor: moving a Korean cat to the U.S. In the end, it went quite smoothly, with a lot of the stress stemming from the unknowns that come with flying with an animal. Since I'm sure some of you have gotten pets in Korea or are considering it, here's an overview of how to take your Korean cat home with you.
Tags: Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, a year in Korea, pets in Korea, pet, going home, pets, moving, moving home
Celebrating your birthday abroad can be a daunting thought if you are used to partying with your family and friends. It is a time when you feel very homesick, especially when your birthday is in the heart of the Korean winter time. In South Africa this time of year it is sunny and my birthday is usually outdoors at a beach or in a sunny warm spot. Coming to Korea I have had to become used to a cold and often snowy birthday. So, to tackle the blues I have come up with alternative ways to enjoy birthdays in Korea. All you need is a group of good friends who love adventure and don't mind venturing into the freezing cold.
Tags: Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, a year in Korea, things to do in Korea, seoul, Korea, applying to teach English, Activities to do in Korea, birthday
Moving to the other side of the world is no easy feat. In getting to Korea, a lot of the process is assisted by Aclipse, especially when it comes to all of your paperwork. Packing for Korea is somewhat daunting, but thanks to packing guides from my fellow bloggers, I think you're pretty well set with advice. Recently, I made the big move from Korea back to the U.S., after three years of accumulating way more stuff that I'd realized. Here are my dos and don'ts for packing up to leave Korea at the end of your contract...
Tags: packing, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, Korea, Activities to do in Korea, moving to the United States, going home, moving
One of the greatest things about living abroad is the connections and lifelong bonds you make with people and places you became familiar with. During my first three years in Korea I had the wonderful opportunity of living in the countryside. I will never forget my first day in the countryside. I stood at a bus stop, with way too many bags, in the middle of nowhere, just waiting. The immersion into a culture unknown, is one of the greatest life changing moments a human can experience. When I look back now, living in a big city like Seoul, I am humbled that I got to experience Korea in another way. A way that changed me for the better in so many ways.
Tags: Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, things to do in Korea, Activities to do in Korea, countryside, sudoksa temple, yongbongsan mountain, bonds
One thing that really stood out for me when choosing to teach English in South Korea was location. Traveling around Asia is so easy, mainly because many of the airlines have budget friendly fares, meaning you can have an amazing week long vacation for less than a few hundred dollars. Since moving to South Korea, I have already visited China, Japan and Thailand, and soon I will visit Bali during our Christmas vacation. Friends of mine, who are also English teachers in South Korea, have visited Vietnam, The Philippians, and even Australia.
Tags: Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, advice, applying to teach English, abroad, Activities to do in Korea, benefits of living in Korea
As it was the ending of my third year working in Seoul and for ChungDahm, it was time for me to make my dreaded one hour trek to the Seoul Immigration Office. For many first timers going to any immigration is a daunting task. Trying to get the right information prepared before going in itself is an event. So here is some advice that can help make this process as smooth as possible.
Tags: Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, English teachers in Korea, teaching at Chungdahm, immigration, Alien Registration Card
Many people ask me why I chose to teach English in South Korea or what is my favorite thing, about living and teaching English in this country. It is a question I always find hard to answer, because there are many, many things I love about being here in South Korea; this blog will take a look at the top three.
Tags: chemeck, ctivities in Korea, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, abroad, Activities to do in Korea, chicken, nights out in Korea, Nightlife in Korea
ChungDahm calendars are divided into 4 semesters. There are Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall semesters that generally consist of 13 weeks. During these semesters plenty of things are going on, such as Winter and Summer Intensive schedules. Semesters come and go pretty quickly, and before you know it the end of the term has arrived and you should be mentally preparing yourself for the next semester. Unlike most school terms, ChungDahm does not have breaks in-between semesters, so for any ChungDahm teacher the beginning of each new semester is stressful and fast-paced. You have to adjust to a winding down environment and then to a brand new starting environment. It takes a lot of mental preparation and classroom prepping to become accustomed to this environment.
Tags: student management, semester, teach, schedule, prep, Students, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, abroad, Activities to do in Korea, teaching at Chungdahm, teacher
Korea has very distinct seasons. There are cherry blossoms in the Spring, snowy icicles and the Siberian wind in Winter, and hot muggy Summers. Personally, Fall is possibly my favorite season in Korea. Coming from South Africa I don’t have much of an opportunity to experience the beautiful foliage and changing colors of leaves. In the Southern Hemisphere we don’t experience Fall as much as the Northern Hemisphere. Korea was my first experience of a ‘real’ Fall and I have taken every opportunity to get outside as much as possible. The weather is perfect with clear blue skies and sunny afternoons. Simple activities like walking or riding a bicycle outdoors can really be enjoyable. Some of the top things to do in Korea during the Fall season is hiking, exploring your city, outdoor cafes, or traveling the countryside and visiting historical-sights and cities.
Tags: fall, fall foliage, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, things to do in Korea, hiking, outdoors, Activities to do in Korea, Cafes, sightseeing
Many people wonder what it is like to teach English in South Korea, they want to know how many hours you work each week and what the children are like. Even in South Korea, my friends ask me what it is like working for ChungDahm Institute, which is one of Korea's best known Private English Academies. This blog will explain a typical 13 week term at ChungDahm. Each year there are four terms; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each term lasts 13 weeks and there are no mid-term breaks between each term.
Tags: chemeck, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, japan, abroad, Activities to do in Korea, chicken, nights out in Korea, bibimbap, Nightlife in Korea