I SIGNED MY CONTRACT!!

Hello everyone! Its official, I signed my contract! I decided to go with the first school I interviewed with, ILS. It is in Yongin (picture to the left is the neighborhood I will be staying in), but I feel like it is going to be awesome! It is only 40 minutes outside of Seoul! The big deciding factor for me was talking to the English teacher there.

She loved it and for hagwons that is hard to come by. Search hagwon on Google and you will hear TONS of horror stories. I was very terrified that I would be stuck at a school that delayed paychecks, didn't follow through with contracts ect...

Lauren described everything for me though, and so I jumped at the chance to work for a respectable, GOOD hagwon. The only bad part is that they do not pay pension, which is technically illegal, but very common for hagwons in Korea. I decided that this was ok though, because I am tired of looking and applying and contacting schools and recruiters. The amount I will earn at this school is average and I know it is a good hagwon, and that is what matters. I want a good experience.

So what did Lauren say? Well, she said that the Korean staff working at the school were especially kind and helped her get settled in, even though it was not their job. She said also that the school was in Dongbaek, which is very small, but next to big cities like Bundang and Seoul. She said because it was small it was easier to get settled in. There are also FREE Korean classes (yup, I am definitely going to be fluent!) Also, she said Seoul is REALLY close and she spends at least one day a week there! Also, my work will be in walking distance! I will be living in a one-room apartment with the regular amenities, except dryer (they don't have them in Korea...)

Anyways, I am super excited!! Here are some pictures of my school!














Now, I am just awaiting for my FBI background check to come back and to graduate so I can get my diploma, let the countdown begin...

"Can you do this..."

So, let's start from the beginning....

Last month I was like HOLY EFF I am GRADUATING!!! and like any normal human being I thought to myself "how can I support my rent, food and shopping (as some of you know, I like to shop...)". Well after much craiglist-ing and applying for jobs that I am appalled to admit I applied to (fast-food..) I gave up. And since I just went to Korea last month (won a free trip through CIEE, if you are in H.S. or College you should apply for next year: here ) and LOVED IT!!! I thought "what the hell, I'll just apply there". So I applied to three teaching recruiters AND after a week (I spent an EFFING MONTH applying to U.S. jobs...) I GOT A JOB!!

So how did I pick MY recruiter?? Well, good question! I contacted three recruiters: Park English, Footprints Recruiting and Korean Connections. I eliminated Park English because of some negative reviews (booo). Footprints was cold and very business-like. I never felt that nice warm fuzzyness with anyone there, so I eliminated them too. Korea Connections was the first one contact me personally and Anna, the recruiter I worked with was super friendly and help and super duper efficient!!l!

Even before I decided to go with Korean Connections, the FIRST TIME Anna contacted me she had sent me TWO job opportunities meeting my criteria (criteria from my original online application). I quickly was like "oh my gosh, jobs! YES!' I e-mailed her back and said I like both jobs, but commented on my preference (the job with younger children, I love little kids!), She then immediately set up an interview for me with the owner of one of the schools for the the very NEXT day (yesterday) I did my interview with the school owner of a hagwon (private school) in Yongin City (40 minutes outside of Seoul by express bus). So basically to sum up, with Korean Connections in the span of THREE days, I got two job offers, did two interviews and now have a contract.. WOW! I love Korea!!

But everyone is probably like, wait you interviews with someone in KOREA?? WELL.....my interview was held on Skype and it was at 9pm, (with the time difference, this made it the middle of the day for the school owner) I wore my BEST boxers...and a dress shirt and sat on my couch haha.

Beforehand I went over questions with my friend Courtney. During which Courtney looked at me and asked "can you do this?" And honestly I think so... I have no teaching experience, BUT I love kids and want to be a stay-at-home mom, and have experience with kids (one tutoring job, and one university education course). So, can I do this? YES I CAN!! I am super positive, outgoing and fun! What else do you need?

That is how I went into the interview though, with Courtney's doubts... thanks Courtney, you're the best. But, the interview turned out super awesome!! The owner was a relatively young women sitting in her office (IN KOREA! How freakin' awesome is that?) She only asked me one teaching question, the rest were just about myself and the school and the job. Afterwards, she said that I had "no weaknesses" (total self-esteem lifter!!) and would love to hire me. So, I guess teaching experience really isn't required!

Afterwards, Anna Skype chatted me (such an awesome recruiter!!) and answered any other questions, like if my documents would be ready for a mid-July departure (she said they will, or I will just leave a little late, no biggie). About an hour later the contract was e-mailed to me.

So in the span of seven days I already had a job! Let me describe this specific position now:
It pays 2.1 million won (a little over 23,000 dollars) + health + Korean tax
It does not have pension, but does pay compensation, 1/12 of your pay
It is a year long, M-F
It pays upfront for airplane ticket there and gives air back upon completion of contract
It gives apartment with rent, but does not include utilities
It gives all public holidays paid and 10 days paid vacation
It gives 3 sick days, which can be used as vacation days if not needed

Here is the school's website:

And Anna also e-mailed me the contact information for another one of the foreign teachers at the school (there is three, one who will have been there a year and two new ones; I will be one of them)

The job is from 9:50-7pm MWF and 9:50-6pm T and Th. I teach regular kindergarden in the morning in English and in the afternoon I will teach English to elementary school students.

And so now I am looking at the contract. I would really rather be in Seoul (the heart of Korea and the most amazing city EVER!) BUT, Yongin is known for being home to Everland, the 4th largest amusement park in the world, and has over 800,000 people. so it wouldn't be sooo bad! I would still love to be in Seoul though. I told that to Anna and she is going to schedule anther interview with another owner and then I can compare later. Therefore, I have a couple more days before I make a decision.

No matter where I am I hope to save between 12,000 and 18,000 (hm hm Aunt Alison... productive budgeting!! :) )to use on student loans. That will pay off over half of my loans in a year!! Anyways, that's it for today. If you have any questions put them in the comments!!

I am excited and you should be too! Have a super great, totally terrific day!! :)

An Explanation

Hi! My name is Marilyn (if you're reading this you probably know me). AND exciting (like EXCITING) news!! I am GOING TO KOREA (again)! And unlike when I studied abroad in Slovakia (as an exchange student in H.S.... another story) this time I am going to document it! EVERYTHING!! This blog is starting from the beginning (I just got my job, I leave in July) and am writing all the way through the year. I will upload pictures, videos, and document my totally awesome, totally b.a. Korean life!! So, look out you are about to be SHOCKED at how awesome this blog is! :)

That's it for now. I am uploading another blog today that covers how I decided to get a job in Korea and the logistically nerdy stuff!! But, I will try and keep it super duper interesting as well!! So, yup, don't forget to be awesome, LOVE YA!