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Adventures of a Global Wanderer
what a drama of anxiety and tension it took to get my passport and E22 work visa.
if they confirmed me JUNE 8 why do they have to drag everything out to the last minute sending my contract JULY 27??? positions are filled on a 'first come first serve basis' and they want us to 'get our documents in early' but when they send out contracts its totally random and no logic?? (i suspect they deal with larger recruiters first) when they should be sending out contracts based on your position in the queue of when you sent your documents in
only got my passport stamped aug 6 after 7 day wait.. i am one of the lucky ones, there are so many people in this program that still have not even got their contracts so will miss out on this weeks orientation as no time to wait for the consulates 7 day turnaround... do they want foreign teachers or not????
if they want to hire teachers from overseas the ministry of education, immigration, and consular affairs need to sit down together and make this less chaotic and tension free. how many times do they need to see my original diploma and sealed transcripts?? they should set JULY 1 as the deadline to get the NOAs out to give people time to get their visas and book flights. i realise its a different culture and they are not so much set on timelines and a more relaxed attitude but they should follow the same standards they set for us in following timelines and details of following procedures
packing is another drama.. korean air allows 2 x 23 kg checked bags, one 12 kg carry on, plus one personal item such as laptop or purse. i cant fit work clothes, one years wardrobe all seasons, shoes, coats, presents, books, in that allowance. i wore my business suit, put my winter coat on, stuffed the pockets with rolled up clothes and sandals. even then i paid for excess baggage
i've never travelled with two suitcases before, i always had one for a 2 week trip and was under the allowance. this is the first time i had two cases so no idea how the weight worked. i thought i could just pay for the excess baggage but they told me if the bag was over 32kg the baggage handlers will not lift it. so one i had to unpack at the check in counter down to 32kg. mostly travel books, texts, and extra sheets, sweaters i took out. even then, they charged me $60 per bag as one bag was 29kg, the other 32kg.
then i had two carry ons each 10kg. i let them weigh the bag with my laptop and hid my backpack and said i just had one bag. then at the boarding gate the same guy came to supervise and i didnt want to get caught again with two 10kg bags. luckily i just boarded in the crowd and went to the other line so he didnt see me. the attendents look like dolls with their ribbons and chopsticks in their hair
korean is part of skyteam with airfrance/klm so i used my existing airfrance/klm skyteam number to earn points. then they tell me after the baggage drama, i cant earn airfrance points in economy class so i had to argue with them to switch me back to korean air so i can earn points with them instead. the flight was ok, i managed to sleep off an on with my blindfolds on. entertainment selection was not too great. muslim meal was rice, chicken, carrots, which is what i had just left behind at my mums place the previous day!
when i arrived it was like an invasion force on my flight. there were so many teachers arriving for the orientation which starts today, at least 50 by rough count, just on my flight. and there are others flying from usa, uk, and other places. i flew in a day early to rest at a hotel but most of them are going straight into their orientatoins today. actually there was a recruiter from toronto bringing that large group. he was one of the first people i met with back in may and he turned me down. haha i was on the same flight and still got placed without him! :)
hotel is nice, not as good as the pictures made out, a bit more wear and tear. the bathroom is a two piece with a toilet and shower. the sink is in the room next to the bed. how odd? have a giant 42 inch flat screen. the airport shuttle driver also had a 6 inch flatscreen he was watching daytime tv while he was waiting around.
so this is literally next to the ocean on the coast but the area is not developed. it is natural beach with no development. you even see fishermen wading out waist high to catch fish and stalls on the side of the road where they sell their catches. you get a whiff of the sea. i darent not walk in the bushes, the roar of the crickets is so loud, you can tell this is somewhere tropical
i didnt feel any excitement during any of the build up. probably because there was so much to do with passport wait and packing. this was the easiest job i ever got with one phone interview, but the tedious adminstrative process was a nightmare. even up until the flight i didnt feel any excitement. i guess coz i am so used to travelling, and just went to china in feb of this year, some of the excitement was taken away
it finally hit when i landed and saw a convenience store at the airport all in korean! tomorrow i go back to the airport to meet my orientation group. buses leave all day to take us to the orientation site in jeonju which is about 3 hour drive. no idea who my roomate will be for the 9 days before i finally get my apartment in daegu once the training is over. i'm going to wander around a bit again and see if any of the seafood restaurants are any good.
if they confirmed me JUNE 8 why do they have to drag everything out to the last minute sending my contract JULY 27??? positions are filled on a 'first come first serve basis' and they want us to 'get our documents in early' but when they send out contracts its totally random and no logic?? (i suspect they deal with larger recruiters first) when they should be sending out contracts based on your position in the queue of when you sent your documents in
only got my passport stamped aug 6 after 7 day wait.. i am one of the lucky ones, there are so many people in this program that still have not even got their contracts so will miss out on this weeks orientation as no time to wait for the consulates 7 day turnaround... do they want foreign teachers or not????
if they want to hire teachers from overseas the ministry of education, immigration, and consular affairs need to sit down together and make this less chaotic and tension free. how many times do they need to see my original diploma and sealed transcripts?? they should set JULY 1 as the deadline to get the NOAs out to give people time to get their visas and book flights. i realise its a different culture and they are not so much set on timelines and a more relaxed attitude but they should follow the same standards they set for us in following timelines and details of following procedures
packing is another drama.. korean air allows 2 x 23 kg checked bags, one 12 kg carry on, plus one personal item such as laptop or purse. i cant fit work clothes, one years wardrobe all seasons, shoes, coats, presents, books, in that allowance. i wore my business suit, put my winter coat on, stuffed the pockets with rolled up clothes and sandals. even then i paid for excess baggage
i've never travelled with two suitcases before, i always had one for a 2 week trip and was under the allowance. this is the first time i had two cases so no idea how the weight worked. i thought i could just pay for the excess baggage but they told me if the bag was over 32kg the baggage handlers will not lift it. so one i had to unpack at the check in counter down to 32kg. mostly travel books, texts, and extra sheets, sweaters i took out. even then, they charged me $60 per bag as one bag was 29kg, the other 32kg.
then i had two carry ons each 10kg. i let them weigh the bag with my laptop and hid my backpack and said i just had one bag. then at the boarding gate the same guy came to supervise and i didnt want to get caught again with two 10kg bags. luckily i just boarded in the crowd and went to the other line so he didnt see me. the attendents look like dolls with their ribbons and chopsticks in their hair
korean is part of skyteam with airfrance/klm so i used my existing airfrance/klm skyteam number to earn points. then they tell me after the baggage drama, i cant earn airfrance points in economy class so i had to argue with them to switch me back to korean air so i can earn points with them instead. the flight was ok, i managed to sleep off an on with my blindfolds on. entertainment selection was not too great. muslim meal was rice, chicken, carrots, which is what i had just left behind at my mums place the previous day!
when i arrived it was like an invasion force on my flight. there were so many teachers arriving for the orientation which starts today, at least 50 by rough count, just on my flight. and there are others flying from usa, uk, and other places. i flew in a day early to rest at a hotel but most of them are going straight into their orientatoins today. actually there was a recruiter from toronto bringing that large group. he was one of the first people i met with back in may and he turned me down. haha i was on the same flight and still got placed without him! :)
hotel is nice, not as good as the pictures made out, a bit more wear and tear. the bathroom is a two piece with a toilet and shower. the sink is in the room next to the bed. how odd? have a giant 42 inch flat screen. the airport shuttle driver also had a 6 inch flatscreen he was watching daytime tv while he was waiting around.
so this is literally next to the ocean on the coast but the area is not developed. it is natural beach with no development. you even see fishermen wading out waist high to catch fish and stalls on the side of the road where they sell their catches. you get a whiff of the sea. i darent not walk in the bushes, the roar of the crickets is so loud, you can tell this is somewhere tropical
i didnt feel any excitement during any of the build up. probably because there was so much to do with passport wait and packing. this was the easiest job i ever got with one phone interview, but the tedious adminstrative process was a nightmare. even up until the flight i didnt feel any excitement. i guess coz i am so used to travelling, and just went to china in feb of this year, some of the excitement was taken away
it finally hit when i landed and saw a convenience store at the airport all in korean! tomorrow i go back to the airport to meet my orientation group. buses leave all day to take us to the orientation site in jeonju which is about 3 hour drive. no idea who my roomate will be for the 9 days before i finally get my apartment in daegu once the training is over. i'm going to wander around a bit again and see if any of the seafood restaurants are any good.
- comments
Amor B. Sefcik hi asif! so you have finally arrived safe and sound after all the trials/tribulations of packing, airport issues et al. i like your description of feeling like an "invasion force" coming upon you.i am sure when you get to your destination and you settle into a routine, you will have some sense of normalcy once more;i guess i didn't tell you that when my christina left - she left without a visa as it did not come on time from sweden. good thing one can stay in sweden for 3 months without a visa. she's ended up working from it in sweden itself;yeah, packing for 2 years is a chore - but she managed to stay within the 23 x 2 limit; we had to unload one while we were still at home but was 0.3 over which was ok. i think i will be mailing stuff from toronto a little later.this blog is a good idea. keep it up.all will be well - given the technology these days - the distance for you and your family & friends will not seem so far away. take care and enjoy!
lilian de ronov Hi Asif, So glad I got around to reading and replying to yor travelpod page. Thanks for setting it up for those of us whom don't use facebook. You have lots to look forward to and your journey has just begun. I laughted out loud with your comments on the baggage checking. I can just picture you with a suit on, winter coat and cloths stuffed in your pockets. What a sight that must have been especially in the middle of summer. Wow that's a lot of slipper changes, hope you brought enough. Good luck with the orientation program. Look forward to hearing from you again soon.Take care,Lilian
Noreen Hi Asif!Whew, it's a miracle that you actually made it to Korea, what, with all of your problems with your visa, points, baggage and your picture taking of the stewardesses, I mean "dolls"...! But it's great to hear that you arrived safely and it's exciting to hear about your adventure. The photos are amazing. (Keep up with the food photos! LOVE THEM!)Can't wait to read your next installement and no doubt it will be about your orientation and new roommate....lol! Sorry, just picturing both of you on your beds, discussing world politics with fluffy pink slippers on....:)Enjoy and relish every moment, and please keep up with your blogs as I look forward to reading them....Talk to you soon.N:)
Sue Yeter Hi Asif;Yesterday I was thinking about you and your trip. When I see your e-mail, I was happy to hear from you. This blog thing is excellent idea. We can hear all of your adventures in S. Korea.The important thing is that you arrived there safe and sound. Sorry to hear all the things happenned to you including your luggage issues etc. But you handled all very well.It is a new country, it is a new life. It may be hard to get used to at the beginning but everything will be fine later.I enjoy reading your stories and looking forward to receiving more in the future.Take care.
Marianne Hi Asif,Good to hear that you got there safely. The blog and all the drama surrounding your departure and arrival in Korea are very interesting to read, but I'm sure were a huge headache to go through. Now things can settle down and you can get to know your new surroundings.Make sure you make time to get out and live a little while your there. Life isn't all about work!!!!! Keep us all posted.Marianne
Refat Great to hear from you Asif and glad you arrived safe to Korea.Glad you were able to overcome all the problems to get there.keep us posted.Cheers,Refat
Sam interesting read, glad you arrived safely, love the red chillies pic!
Sam yum!