The last step...

I've taken the last step... applying for my visa... it feels so nice to have all of my paperwork finished (well, at least out of MY hands, I'm still waiting for my visa to return)...

Originally, I was going to personally drive the application to Atlanta, which is about 7 hours from me, to be sure that I got it in a timely manner. After talking to a few people though, they pretty much guarantee that it will only take about 3-5 business days. So I decided to mail it out via USPS expedited mail. Seeing as I have 18 days left (but not all business days), I think I'll be OK. I'm really hoping that I have it back by Friday.

It was really interesting to try to figure out what I needed to apply. A lot of the people on the FB group have been saying that all they took to the consulate was their passport, their NOA and their contract. So that's what I was going to send. I'm glad that I looked a little further into it though, because I would've been sending a lot more paperwork in and wasting a lot of time. I checked on the Atlanta consulate's website, and they have an entire list of stuff you need to send with your application. I even called to make sure the list wasn't outdated, but it definitely wasn't and they definitely expect to have all this paperwork with your application. To apply at the Atlanta consulate, you'll need:

• Visa application
• Recent passport photo
• Passport (yes you have to mail in your actual passport)
• Contract (must be signed by you, but not signed by your employer)
• NOA
• Sealed transcripts OR notarized copy of your diploma (not a copy of your notarized diploma) (I chose to send my sealed transcript because I didn't know if getting my diploma notarized in a different state than it was issued would be OK)
• Consul checklist (you have to email for this form)
• Health statement (you have to email for this form as well) 
• Resume (including any and all teaching experience as well as any past visits to Korea) (I was pretty dumbfounded by this, I don't know the relevance, but I just printed out my regular resume)
• Money order for $45 (payable to Korean Consulate)
• Prepaid return envelope (with tracking number)

So the moral of the story is check with the individual consulate you are applying through. They may ask for different paperwork than the other consulates, so you can't go by what others have done.

Things to do before leaving

When moving to another country, there are a lot of things you have to do. Some are time consuming (paperwork, visas, etc), some are quick and simple (putting a travel advisory on your credit cards). Things may differ from each person, you may not need to do everything I need to do, you probably have other things that you need to do that I don't, and a lot of the details may vary depending on which country you are coming from.

To begin, you definitely have to decide what country you want to move to, then how you are going to get there. In my case, and what this entire post is based on, I'm moving to Daegu, South Korea with the EPIK program. I preface my post with this because a lot of the paperwork that I will mention may be unique to EPIK (or not, but this is all I know)..... So here is my list, with some explanations....

• Get fingerprints for background check
• Request 2 letters of recommendation
• Send in application to EPIK
• Send background check request- do this the second you decide to move abroad. I waited until I had an interview with EPIK, and that put me way behind. It took forever, I ended up paying a lot of money for over-night services and expediting services. If you are adamant about moving abroad, you will need this. No matter what. Don't put it off.
• Once you have your background check, send it off to get apostilled
• Notarize or apostille copy of diploma
• Complete TESOL/TEFL certification (I used ITTT, I highly recommend their Online 120 hour with tutor support class, though some cities may require a certain amount of time in class)
• Request sealed transcripts
• Get passport photos

Once you have all of these things completed, have had your interview with EPIK and have successfully passed and been accepted, you have to gather everything and send it to EPIK. 

Once all of the EPIK paperwork is finished, or in the works, you can begin on the less-pressing but still important items (in no particular order):

• Get bank account information (for transfers)
• Get safe deposit box
• Put parents on bank account as co-signers- leave check book with them for emergencies
• Plan any lunches, dinners, nights out or parties with family and friends
• Doctor appointment- prescription information and quick check up
• Fill any prescriptions (for as many months as you can- if you have an insurance where you must meet a deductible before you get 100% coverage, plan ahead. If leaving in February, get your prescriptions in December!)
• Dentist appointment- fit in that last cleaning
• Eye appointment- checkup and prescription
• Email/write everyone letting them know about your upcoming adventure- who would want to find out their friend is moving out of the country via Facebook or the grapevine 
• Begin blog- email everyone asking if they would like to be included in the mailing list
• Order Korean Won (KRW) from bank/mall (I'm taking about $500 in KRW and $500 in USD to exchange later)
• Put travel advisory on all credit/debit cards
• Teach family and friends how to use SKYPE and Whatsapp/KakoTalk
• International Driver's License
• Tax exempt forms (for US, you have to fill out the 8802 to get yet another form- I'm still working on this)
• Unlock phone (I called Verizon and had them do it for me, for free, legally, however I may not be able to use it)
• Begin learning the Korean alphabet/Korean language
• Purchase gifts for Principal, Vice Principal and co-teachers (there is some debate here on whether or not this is necessary or advised. Some people may get people that don't drink, or more than one co-teacher or principal. This is something you have to decide on your own.)
• File taxes (for me, I'll file for 2012)
• Leave contact information with family (for EPIK coordinator or a friend that already has a cell phone set up)
• Get new dress pants hemmed
• Take inventory of electronics that will need adapters and converters
• Create packing list, being going through belongings and start a packing assembly line 
• Do a little reasearch and decide on things that you need to bring in bulk (deodorant, tampons, spices, etc)
• Download iSpeak Korean mp3s to iPod
• Buy plane ticket (I did this after I had my contract in my hand, but before I had my visa back- you never know what can go wrong)
• Pre-orientation courses from EPIK
• Cancel all subscriptions (insurances, cell phone, etc)
• Sign up with State Department (I used the EPIK office's address to begin with (then was promptly told I wasn't supposed to do this by the EPIK coordinator- they suggest you wait until you get to Korea and have your personal address), and will change it once I know I address in Daegu)
• Fit in your favorite foods, drinks, places to go, etc- if you are like me, you will need to schedule these things, otherwise they will be lost in the shuffle 

I'm sure there is quite a bit more, however this is what I have for now...

Bali Bali!

In Korea, they have a saying... "Bali, Bali"... it means "quick, quick"... and man they aren't kidding! I spent so much time waiting around for everything, then the next thing you know... BAM.

I have a placement.
I have a contract.
I have an NOA.
I have a plane ticket.
And I've started packing.

I received my placement three days ago, and my contract and NOA were delivered this morning. I called the consulate, made sure what all I need for the visa application, and I'll be sending that off today or tomorrow. Then I decided to go ahead and book my flight, February 14th is the big day! I also began packing, and realized that I was delusional in the thought that I might actually fit all of the clothes and shoes I want to take in those 2 suitcases... o well, a girl can try... So anyway, a good past few days....

I HAVE MY PLACEMENT!

DRUMROLL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! I'M GOING TO.....

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DAEGU!!!

I can't explain how excited I am that I got my first choice of placement... I had given up all hope... a few weeks ago the EPIK Coordinator posted on the Facebook page that all of the MOE (Metropolitan Offices of Education, which include Daegu) were full, so I had begun to come to terms with being placed somewhere else. 

A week ago, I got an email from my coordinator checking in on me. I didn't want to jinx anything, so I only told a select few people about the email, and made sure NOT to say anything on FB about my small ray of hope.  The title of the email was "Checking in (no placement yet)". In the body of the email, he said he had noticed that I seemed anxious in the FB group (through my questions and responses). He also said that my documents had just been received by the DAEGU (this is when I really started getting excited) MOE and that I wouldn't hear back until this week (this is when my excitement dropped, just a tad). He went on to tell me his success in placing teachers, etc. etc. The best quote from the email, the only thing I've had to cling onto, was 

"I am 100% confident that you will be placed in Daegu, it’s honestly just a matter of time."

First of all, I think it is great that my coordinator noticed me and took the time to check in on me. Secondly, this gave me the hope I needed. I was extremely worried that I may not even make it to SK this semester, but much less the chance of being placed where I really wanted to be? So I just sat back. I had to be patient.  I'm glad that I've had other things to do to keep me busy, but I am definitely glad that I'll be in Daegu. Not that I wouldn't have been happy anywhere else, but the fact that I'm going to be placed in the city where some of the friends I've already made are going to be is awesome. 

So now I'm excited. It is official. I'm going to Daegu. Now I get to wait just a few more days (yes, more waiting) for my NOA (Notice of Appointment) and my contract before I book my plane ticket and get my visa. But for now.... I'll let the count down begin... and continue with the Daegu research!

No updates really...

I realize that I haven't updated in a while... but thats pretty much because there isn't really anything to update about... I'm still waiting for a placement, meaning I have no flight, no visa, and no contract.

I have, however, been on vacation for about a week and a half now, up in Kentucky, visiting friends and family. My first week was spent with my Mom's side of the family... playing cards, ping pong and darts and eating really good southern style food (OMG macaroni and cheese!). I've now said goodbye to that side of the family and am spending some time with my best friend, Jen. With us, we can just pick up where we left off... We have a type of friendship that we don't have to talk every day, we might not tell each other every little detail of our lives, but when we do talk, or are together, we are like sisters. She is someone that I consider family, and will miss just as much as any other family member while I'm gone. We have watched some TV, eaten out, and shopped a little. This weekend we are going to a winery and do a few other things, but we really just hang out when we get the chance. Right now, she is still in school, so during the day I have pretty much been laying in bed with her cat, Smokey (the only cat in the world that I like), and catching up on Facebook and all things internet....

This is where Eat Your Kimchi comes in... EYK is a blog that a couple from Canada started several years ago about their lives in Korea. They are now so popular, they have bought a studio and have become full-time bloggers. I kept hearing about them, but never really watched anything of theirs (I'm not really sure why though), but the last few days I've been watching their videos NON-STOP! First of all, they are hilarious. And secondly, they are quite informative... I've only gotten through a fraction of their past videos, which are pretty much the ones about life in Korea, but they also are super big into all things KPOP. Seeing as KPOP is another subject of Korea that I need to get into, I'm sure that I'll be watching several of their videos on music as well....

So until I have more to say or another update, I'll see you later...

** On a side note, I did receive an encouraging email from my EPIK Coordinator the other day. I don't want to talk about it because I don't want to jinx anything, but keep your fingers crossed that things work out the way he thinks they will!! **

Why English is so hard to learn...

The waiting game continues...

While others are getting their placements, booking flights and have moved on to waiting for their contracts and NOAs, I'm lucky enough to still be waiting for a placement.

I have to admit, every time someone announces on the FB group that they have been placed in Daegu, I cringe a little. Every time someone else is placed there, there is one less spot available for me... I've started to try to come to grips that I probably won't be placed in Daegu.

But while I wait, I have begun to learn Hangul (the Korean alphabet), started packing, continued to shop for items I will be taking, and have become a pro at twiddling my thumbs.

Until later....