SEOUL - February 1, 2000
Its been a rather stressful week. I've been exploring all of my options, and its been the holiday season, so too much time on my hands. There really isn't much I could do about anything, but just wait as well.
If you read last week journal, then you know that I was exploring 3 different Korea options (sign teaching contract) or (work in office - doing graphic presentations) or (just teach privates). The other things I was considering were trying Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, California, or back to New York.
Realistically, California or New York were out of the question, because I'd actually just come from USA, and although the money is much better, I'd just be wanting to get back abroad again.
There was a possibility of Taiwan, Indonesia, or Vietnam. But to relocate again, when I really do like Korea alot, didn't seem to be that good of an idea. Plus the money is here, and when you have a little bit of debt, you can't pay it off in Vietnam or Indonesia. I am curious about Taiwan, but its mainly a curiosity thing, and to go down for two months, then come back to Korea, might just put me in further debt, even if I were to able to find some work there. Its just the idea of re-relocating twice, which just puts everything temporarily on hold.
Actually, now I have enough friends in Korea and such that it seemed best to remain where I was. So I narrowed it down to three options. I'm pretty happy here, I just don't have any money right now.
Each situation had its advantages and disadvantages. The most financially lucrative would be to just work private teaching jobs. Its also the easiest. Plus I could leave and go travelling without any contract commitments. The disadvantages to this are you often have to travel all over the city working. So you might be working less and getting paid more money, but you are also spending alot of time in transit. The other disadvantage to this would I would have continued living in my same housing situation - which was so tiny, I could hardly spend any time there. The third disadvantage is that I have to leave the country every three months, which means a hefty airline ticket and your other miscellaneous travel costs.
the other option was to work at Goldman Sachs. This ones main advantage is its solid work hours, go in at a certain time, and leave when everythings finished, like a normal job. Also, the work is much easier, graphic presentations, which is mindless to me, whereas teaching can be exhausting if you aren't up to it. The main disadvanatages to this option were the long hours.. they wanted me to be available and on call late at night and weekends. The other disadvantage is that it would offer me nothing socially, I'd just be in Korea, staring at a computer, and bored out of my mind inside and outside of work.
The last option was to sign a teaching contract at one of the language schools. Ultimately, this one was adding me the most stress this entire week. I met a few other teachers who taught at this one particular adult language institute. It is right in Shinchon, and has all the regular advantages and disadvantage of any language institute. I'll list them...
Advantages: They pay your key money, which is like a deposit on an apartment (ranges between $5,000-10,000), which is why I couldn't get my own apartment in the past - I didn't have the kind of money to make that deposit. Another advantage is they help you find the apartment, and you just pay the regular monthly rent. Actually, since I knew I'd be in Korea for awhile, I was really ready for this. I've been feeling a need for space and privacy and just relaxing that only your own apartment can provide.
Another advantage was I'd be legally employed. Which means I don't have to leave to make visa runs every three months. It also means I will have an extremely reliable income which I can count on each month. An additional advantage was the social life that schools provide. I have a decent social life now, but working with adult students and co-teachers was always socially fun in the past.
The main disadvantages were lower pay than privates, and a split working schedule - meaning, you work several hours in the morning combined with several hours in the evening. This can be exhausting. Plus they aren't always back-to-back, as they can also skip an hour here and there, so you just have to wait around at times or go home during that hour break.
Anyhow, with much stress and resistance, I signed a contract to teach at a language institute for one year. I enjoyed sitting in on the classes that I did, and I enjoy the company of the co-teachers and the environment. But I also know how exhausting teaching can be at times, plus the 7am start time might really get to me. But I'll just have to manage my time a little better, and take the plunge. I really don't have many other choices. I have to start working now and quickly, or else I would be back in an office in the USA trying to figure out what exactly went wrong.
Actually I signed the contract several days ago, and nearly every morning and at night, I woke up and kind of mentally freaked out thinking 'what have i done?' But everytime I go to the school, I enjoy the environment, so ultimately I'm hoping it will be a good experience, and not a nightmare situation. But maybe I'm just getting anxious about it because I've been really happy and just enjoying myself and my life since September when I got here, and I don't want to ruin it.
Next Journal Entry in Seoul, Korea:
February 10, 2001
You can email me at:
Wintermoon2@yahoo.com