Apartment Photos
As promised, here are some photos of the apartment. There’s an entire room I don’t show, because it’s currently empty (except for recycling). As soon as we find a use for it, I’ll take a picture.
Enjoy!
Teaching in Korea — a Typical Day
This is a typical day of teaching in Korea:
- 8:20am: Arrive at school.
- 8:30-9:55am: Free time. First period is 9:00-9:45, but I only teach that on Tuesdays. Usually I’m preparing a lesson in the mornings (printing worksheets, etc).
- 9:55-10:40am: Second period. Teach second grade (8th grade in US) for 45 minutes.
- 10:50-11:35am: Third period. Teach first grade (7th) for 45 minutes.
- 11:35am-1:35pm: Free time. Work on lesson plans, write blog posts, eat lunch, etc.
- 1:35-2:20pm: Fifth period. Teach first grade for 45 minutes.
- 2:20-3:45pm: Free time. The internet is a good time-waster.
- 3:45-4:30pm: Seventh period. Teach “English Club”. Today we’re watching an episode of the Simpsons, because I can’t think of a better lesson plan.
- 4:40-5:25pm: Eighth period. Teach the “Teacher’s Class”. This is a conversation class with 7 or 8 Korean teachers. I find this quite stressful, but I only do it on Thursdays.
I’ll be home and drinking a beer by 5:40pm. Actually, this is one of my longer/busier days; most days I’m actually home by 4:40. Unfortunately, Korean beer is officially The Worst Beer in the World®. I’m working on a brewing operation, but it will take time.
A word about drug testing
I was just told by my co-teacher that today was exam training, so I don’t have to teach. A decent time to relate a recent experience that Erin and I had.
Our contract here required us to take a drug test, specifically a urine-sample based test. We were driven to the hospital last Wednesday, pissed in cups, and had blood drawn for HIV/AIDS. We weren’t concerned about passing either test.
Last Friday, a nurse came to school to get another urine sample from us. There was some problem with the previous test, but we were told not to worry. Maybe it was too diluted, I don’t know. We gave them another sample and didn’t think twice about it.
On Monday, our co-teacher pulled us aside and told us that we had failed the drug test, specifically the heroin/methadone test. She was shocked, and believed us when we said it must be a false positive.
Erin and I have both been taking a few different over-the-counter and prescription drugs. I’ve been using pepto-bismal for stomach problems, ibuprofen and acetaminophen for headaches, and diphenhydramine (benadryl, Sominex) for trouble sleeping. Erin has also been taking Sominex occasionally, and both of us had taken it Thursday night (before giving the second sample) We knew of another EPIK teacher that also failed his drug test after taking Tylenol PM (also diphenhydramine).
I decided it was time for some research. After an hour of searching medical journals, I had a few articles that mentioned false positives on the EMIT immunoassay test from diphenhydramine. I printed them out, showed them to our co-teacher, and arranged to take another test.
Our test is tomorrow (Friday) morning. I last took Sominex on Sunday night, so I should be in the clear. But needless to say, this entire escapade has been embarrassing. So here is some advice for anyone taking a drug test for employment:
- Do your homework! Find out what type of test they will be using, and study potential cross-reacting compounds (substances that could cause false-positives)
- Find out the next step after a positive test. For federal jobs in the US, the law mandates that positive EMIT tests be followed by a gas chromatography test, to rule out false-positives. This is obviously not the case in Korea, and could have caused serious problems for us. Insist on follow-up testing, if possible.
- Prepare your personal information. Make a list of everything you’ve taken in the past month. This should include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and any vitamins or supplements. Google-search for potential cross-reacting compounds. Bring the medications and prescriptions to the test with you. Print and bring any information relating to false-positives.
- Consider speaking to an attorney. I don’t have one and can’t afford one, so this was out of the question. Thankfully, our employer is willing to work with us. This won’t be the case everywhere, and a false-positive can cause serious professional and financial damage. It never hurts to know the law.
I didn’t have a strong opinion about workplace drug testing before this, but that has changed. I grant that it is necessary in certain situations, but policy needs to be crafted carefully. The real problem is that accurate tests like gas chromatography are expensive. Businesses are much more likely to spend a few dollars on something like EMIT than a couple hundred on a GC test. More likely than not, it will be on YOU to protect yourself.
A final note, watch for faulty information. A Google-search on these topics turns up thousands of shady pages written by stoners looking to pass a test. Most of the info is either hopeful or paranoid. Look for scholarly sources.
I’ll let you know how the next test turns out.
Quick Updates
No time to write a long post, so here are a few brief updates:
- EPIK is going to bat for us about the settlement allowance and hotel payment. The coordinator for our city said not to worry about it. It was completely up to the school to cover the bill, and he would take care of it on Monday. Hooray for EPIK!
- The field trip was a success. It was a surprisingly tough climb for 7th graders, but I enjoyed it. Pictures at the end of this post.
- The apartment is looking great. Erin and I did more cleaning today. Look for pictures later.
- The first week of teaching is over. Thank God. I think I can handle it, though. There will be a bit of a learning curve, but when a lesson works out, it’s surprisingly rewarding.
- We’re going hiking with another teacher and his girlfriend tomorrow. We met them briefly when we moved into the apartment. Don’t really know anything about them, but I’m looking forward to the hike.
Enjoy some hiking pictures: (The pictures of tree species are mostly for my parents.)
A Change of Plans
The national EPIK orientation ended last Friday, and we boarded a bus for Gangwon province. When we got there, we learned that our city placement had changed. Instead of Donghae, we were placed in Gangneung, a larger city 30-40 minutes north (but still on the coast). We sat through another graduation ceremony, and were immediately whisked away by our Korean co-teachers, Mr. Kim and Mrs. Lee. We learned that we will both be teaching at Gangneung middle school, an all-boys school.
We spent two nights in a hotel while the current EPIK teacher vacated the apartment. We moved in on Sunday, and the place was still trashed. The former teacher, Paul, was gross. We managed to get things cleaned up a bit, and we got (mostly) moved in. The apartment is pretty nice. 3 bedrooms, with a screened-in balcony. More than enough space for us.
We started teaching on Monday. We were supposed to observe for a day, but both Erin and I just got thrown into the mix. I’ll write more about teaching later. It’s going to be a challenge, but I think I can manage.
The immigration requirements are still a hassle. We went to the hospital for HIV and drug testing today. They’ll be ready on Friday, but we’re supposed to leave early Friday morning and go to the immigration office in another city. Except the immigration office needs the medical test results. Pain in the ass. Once we get to the immigration office, we’ll have to apply for an Alien Registration Card (ARC), which will tie up our passports for 1-2 weeks. We can’t open a bank account until will the get the ARC. And we can’t get paid until we open a bank account.
Also frustrating: We learned today that the cost of the hotel will be deducted from the $300 settlement allowance coming to each of us. Hopefully it won’t be too expensive. They asked if we wanted to stay by the beach or in the city. I sure wouldn’t have said by the beach if I knew I was paying for it.
On a more positive note, we’re going on a class hiking trip tomorrow. I would have done it for nothing, but we actually get paid extra for it. I’m also getting paid extra for teaching at the elementary school once a week, and for an extra credit class that I’m teaching by myself.
Heading Out
Today we wrap up the EPIK orientation and head out to our province, Gangwon-do. I’m glad to be done with training, but there was a lot of useful info presented. Still a bit nervous about the placement. Evidently the placements we were told on Monday are not set in stone. The coordinator with whom we interviewed is not really the boss, and nothing is certain. We were told that couples would “almost certainly” get placed where they were told, as there are not many couples placements in Gangwon-do.
I won’t breathe easy until Erin and I arrive at the same apartment, however. Some couples (in other provinces) have been finding out that they are housed separately. That one would be a deal-breaker for me.
Anyways, I won’t have internet atmy apartment until I can obtain my Alien Registration Card (ARC), which will take a week or two. I’ll be checking in from school or internet cafes, but there may be fewer updates in the next couple weeks.
Wish us luck!
Got my city placement!
Erin and I interviewed for our city placement last night, and it went perfectly! Prior to the interview I had jotted down the name of a few places that looked good, mostly decent-sized cities on the coast. The regional director was a great guy, and happy to work with us, but he only had a few locations available for couples. Most people were interested in the largest cities, Chuncheon and Gangneung. He had placements available in Gangneung and Donghae, and assumed we wanted Gangneung. However, Donghae was actually at the top of my list going in. He seemed really excited when we told him that, and was happy to place us there.
Erin will be teaching at an all-girls middle school. I have another middle school, maybe all-boys. We’ll probably be teaching at several schools, but these will be our primary locations, where we’ll have co-teachers to assist us with anything we need.
The location looks fantastic! About 90,000 people, which is small by Korean standards but decent-sized for this province. We’ll have access to all of the stores, restaurants, and recreation we need. It’s right on the coast, with gorgeous white-sand beaches. It’s mountainous, and close to Olympic-class skiing. (Evidently the nearby Yeonpyeong ski resort only missed out on hosting the 2010 games by only 3 votes.)
Here are some photos to make you jealous: (pictures borrowed from the excellent Donghae City website)
A Post About Money
It might be rather rude to write about my finances in Korea, but I’m sure people are curious. I know I would have liked to have more information when planning.
Keep in mind that I’m still at orientation and haven’t actually received or spent any real money. I have learned a few things from talking to returning teachers, however.
The lowest level salary for provincial EPIK teachers is 2.0 million won/month, or about $2000. Doesn’t sound like much, but included with the contract is airfare both ways and housing. Depending on where you live and how frugally you spend, I’ve heard that you can spend all of that, or save half of it. Maybe even more if you’re really tight. Erin and I are housed as a couple, and one of the EPIK coordinators said that should save us a lot of money.
Also, in rural provinces, you may end up teaching at multiple schools, in which case you are paid slightly more.
US citizens get a better deal than most. All teachers are exempt from Korean taxes for the first 2 years of their employment. Most other teachers have to pay taxes in their home country (or may opt to pay Korean taxes). US citizens, provided they make less than some large figure (I think 75K/year) are also exempt from US taxes.
Total annual payment (including severance pay, settlement allowance, and rural bonuses) should be between $26,000 and $28,000. Doesn’t sound like much, but with the tax benefits, provided housing, and a (seemingly) lower cost of living than the US, this isn’t a bad financial move for me.
This ends my discussion of money. Enjoy some photos:
Jet Lag sucks
Well, it’s 3:45 in the morning, and I’m wide awake. I managed to get a fair bit of sleep, but I expect I’ll be tired tomorrow. Probably shouldn’t have started reading. Finished Ender’s Game, which was a lot of fun. I should know better than to pick up a tacky sci-fi novel in the middle of the night.
Yesterday Erin and I (and a couple other friends) met a Korean businessman in the hall at the University. He was finishing some business course here, and asked about our pink t-shirts. He was really friendly. He spent 6 months in Texas on business, and drove around half the country. Gave us his card and said we could contact him if we were ever in Busan. Erin e-mailed him, and he responded. He seems like a good guy. People have been really friendly, which makes things easier.
We picked the right province when we chose Gangwon. Not only is the vacation time amazing, but we also get to interview with the regional office of education to express preferences for our placement. Other locations get placed more or less at random. The other teachers going to Gangwon seem like a good bunch as well.
I’ve met a few returning teachers, who have been helpful. I’ve been able to get some questions answered about paperwork and money. All-in-all, things are going well.
First day, and some photos
Had the first day of orientation in Seoul. We submitted our flight receipts for reimbursement. The actual training starts tomorrow. Not sure how much they can teach us about teaching in a few days, but I’m thankful for all the help I can get. We wandered around before lunch; here are a few pictures of Seoul near the university:
Edit: I should probably add some details. We flew into Incheon International Airport in Seoul. I’m not sure how long the bus ride to the university was, but pretty long. At least 1.5 hours. We’re staying at Konkuk Univesity. Accommodations are pretty nice for a dorm. Everything seems brand-new. As I mentioned in my last twitter update, my stomach is still adjusting to the food, but things are going well.
My Twitter- hunter186: So far, twitter has proved useless and annoying. I'm going dark.
- hunter186: Hell yeah! observing a demo class today! no morning classes.
- hunter186: No teaching today! Hooray for standardized tests! (when I don't have to take them)
- hunter186: The Wire is f-ing sweet. Hooray for our Korean fiber-to-the-door internet!
