Hagwon Advice…

I’ve been around the (Korean) block a few times…

More specifically, I’ve been in the English as a Foreign Language (and as CDI or Chungdahm Learning likes to call it their patented ESL programs) industry for more than five years in Korea.  I get questions constantly about how to enter the industry, who to choose for work and honestly what to do if interested in this field if you want work.  Basically, I know most of the answers.  I know this sounds cocky, but I have about 7-8 pages of accolades I’ve collected over the years that proves it.

Well, I just got another question (or should I say set of questions) asked of me about work here in Korea as an English teacher.  Instead of just answering this gentleman directly and minimizing the impact, I thought I’d write it up here so a few more can read and hopefully benefit from my advice.  In addition to reading the following, you can also read my piece called “Advice for Teachers” (they titled it that way even though I didn’t) which should actually be named “Advice for ‘Prospective’ English Teachers (in Korea).”

The guy asks:

US Embassy information for Expats in the Republic of Korea July 2009

U.S. State Department, U.S. Embassy Seoul
Consular Section, American Citizen Services (ACS) Newsletter
July 2009

The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following monthly newsletter via its warden system as a public service to U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea.  Please feel free to disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your organizations or to other Americans you know.

In this issue:

1. Next Consular Services Visit to Busan, July 22-23
2. Influenza Outbreak Information
3. Korean Act on Treatment of Foreigners
4. A Message to American Communities and Organizations in Korea
5. Recent Travel Warnings and Alerts
6. Upcoming Embassy Holidays: Early Closing July 2; July 3
7. Embassy Contact Information

Fascinating article about targeting foreigners in Korea…

From my brief scanning of the article titled “How the Ugly American Ate the Ugly Duckling“, I thought I’d bookmark this for future reference because it has some interesting stats and observations of how foreigners are treated in South Korea.  While it’s a somewhat defensive opinion piece on Koreans targeting foreigners, I’d have to agree with many of the tenets of the piece and come back to this to reread what the author wrote.   I just wish they had more sources (a bit better citing) and who the author was.

A somewhat profound story from “Genghis Khan and His Falcon”

Genghis Khan & Falcon

I really like this short story/journal entry by Paulo Coelho in his book “Like the Flowing River.” Coelho is the author of “The Alchemist.” It really supports the two quotes at the end of the story. I think they are two ideals people should definitely consider in life when friends seem to be “funny” and “when we make decisions while we’re angry.”  (if you don’t have time to read the whole post, skip to the italics where the meat of this short story starts…)

“On a recent visit to Kazakhstan, in Central Asia, I had the chance to accompany some hunters who still use the falcon as a weapon. I don’t want to get into a discussion here about the word ‘hunt’, except to say that, in this case, Nature was simply following its course.

I had no interpreter with me, but what could have been a problem turned out to be a blessing. Unable to talk to them, I paid more attention to what they were doing. Our small party stopped, and the man with the falcon on his arm remained a little way apart from us and removed the small silver hood from the bird’s head. I don’t know why he decided to stop just there, and I had no way of asking.

I’m the hulk? Really?

Well, that’s what this website says: thesuperheroquiz.com

Don’t get it, but who am I to question such an accurate and official website like this? I answered as honestly as I could. It wasn’t easy…

Your results:
You are Hulk

Hulk 70% Spider-Man 65% Superman 65% Green Lantern 60% The Flash 60% Batman 50% Robin 47% Iron Man 45% Catwoman 40% Supergirl 40% Wonder Woman 35%

You are a wanderer with amazing strength.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

If you think you can’t do something, watch this…

Just in case you want to know how to find it, just search for “My Redeemer Lives – Team Hoyt.” It’s a tad religious, but just take the message to heart instead regardless of your standpoint on religion…

Another dose of sexy korean girls dressing up quite UN-modestly

OK, I’m definitely not one for “jumping on the bandwagon.”

I posted back in July of 2008 about Girl’s Generation (aka So Nyeo Shi Dae or in Hangul, 소녀시대).  It was nothing special, but for some reason the song was a bit catchy to my ears at the time, but…WOWser…what’s up with these outfits?  Makes me think “All starbowlines ahoy!!!”

All starbowlines ahoy!

I hate sexism more than most women, but like I’ve said numerous times (since 2007 & probably in my head since my college days), Korean women (or should I say ‘Korean girls’ here) are the sexiest dressers and continue to be so. You can’t ignore the obvious…

King of Pop dead? Charlie’s Angel’s Queen of the blond hair do dead too?

Micheal Jackson Dies?

UPDATE: Looks like multiple sources are now saying the King of Pop is dead.  CNN reports “Pop icon Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports” and the New York Times says “Michael Jackson, 50, Is Dead.”

Thanks to my best friend’s sister Shirley, I just saw her status saying that TMZ.com reported Micheal Jackson died.  I looked on ABCNews.com and it says he’s suffered from a cardiac arrest, but hasn’t confirmed he has passed.  CNN reports the same and so doese the NYTimes.com.  Micheal Jackson (actually spelled “Michael” Jackson, but mispelled here just fyi) passing would really rock the music industry despite his lack of success in recent years.   I think he was trying to do a tour or something to make up for all his losses and lack of funds, but of course, he’s not the same as he was at his height.

CNN though has confirmed or reported that Farah Fawcett (rather Farrah Fawcett) of Charlie’s Angels fame has died.  She was 12 years older than Jackson.  She died of anal cancer. She was also known for literally having the blond hair do that every woman wanted at the time (which I believe was in the 1970’s).  She was THE sex symbol at the time.  She probably helped continue if not start a new wave of people LOVING blonds in the United States.

Farah Fawcett Passes

Two HUGE icons passing really makes this an interesting & sad day for the entertainment industry.  Not sure what to think of these two passing…(if it’s true that Michael Jackson died…)

Happy B-day Jareb…

…you should consider letting us take care of you once!

“Live from Busan, South Korea, it’s…”

Some of you already know, but I’ve accepted a job as the Evening Host of Busan’s English Radio station eFM.   The station is at 90.5 on the FM dial and the website is http://befm.co.kr (where you can also listen off the Internet).

I’ll be starting on Monday, July 6th (2009). It’s definitely not something I had planned on doing for this juncture in life, but it’s a welcome change to the relatively stressful life that I was living the past 3 years with Chungdahm Learning (in the Busan region). I may blog about my time at Injoong Education (the parent company of the Busan+ branches of Chungdahm Learning & April English), but that will take a bit of time to write…

I’m looking incredibly forward to this experience and thus far, I’ve learned:

• I have some REALLY cool coworkers like my sweet & awesome Producer Hana Jo and stylish and kewl writer Ji-wook.  Other cool foreign coworkers like Matthew, Petra and Dennis also prove I’m simply lucky in finding quality coworkers.  Sohee & Haejin along with our cool Team Leader Mikyung also make the days extra special and of course our Executive Director Mr. Koo (General Manager) as well who seems very cool for Korean management.

Not the best week thus far…

The other morning, I fell down the stairs in my apartment for the first time.

It wasn’t a pleasant fall either…

I slid down the last three or so stairs landing face down on the floor. I looked up thinking “Jeez, I had better be careful next time.” I then look down to my arm which is throbbing to find the following “rug burn” (I guess the best term I can pin down for now). It didn’t help to add it to the recovering cigarette burn to my arm (no, I’m not joining the ranks of all the smokers here, but in an attempt to pat the back of one of our newer teachers who was smoking (out on the town), I caught the end of his cigarette instead).

Anyway, now writing this, all I can think of the phrase we may use when getting older “I’ve fallen and I can’t get back up!” I hope I never reach this point.

One of the best Groom & Bride speeches I’ve heard

…o.k. it’s the only Bride & Groom speech I’ve heard (I believe) like this, but I recommend everyone who’s as entertaining as my friends Derek and Bonnie to have one at their wedding. These guys rock!

More motorcycle issues (possibly resolved?)

This is honestly just for my own record keeping, but after visiting a local bike shop near Pusan National University, the shop owner told me that the regulator was the problem. He even said he’ll bet on it and will give it to me for free for now & if it helps start the engine consistently for more than the 2 weeks maximum the starter seemed to work without a battery recharge that I go and pay only and only if it works beyond 2 weeks. So far, so good…but it’s only been 2 or so days.

I love this movie…

I shared “A Moment to Remember” with a past coworker recently.  I remembered how much it made me tear up.

This morning, I woke up a bit early and it’s hard to get things done before 10a here in Korea.  So, I decided to rewatch it.  I’ve seen it a few times now, but it still lets me tear up quite easily.  The last clips in this Youtube playlist really make you want to grab some tissues.

It’s funny how direct translation of a title into English can be though.  The Korean title in English means, “In my head, there’s an eraser.”  The leads in the movie are both appealing characters.  You literally fall in love with both of them.  One quote in the movie I think is amazing to hear is “You’re a great husband.”  The male star really does epitomize what a husband should do in such a situation.  

Facebook down again…

If you liked the post, y not bookmark it by clicking any of the below icons:
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

It’s definitely not a life crisis or emergency and may be something secluded to us here in the Asian region (oh, did I ever mention Asia will represent MOST OF THE WORLD soon if not already?), but it’s annoying. I’ve been waking up a bit early and going to sleep later most days since getting back from a quick trip abroad. My body clock isn’t back to normal, but I also have a million things on my mind and feel like I need to do. Anyhoo, in the midst of all the stress, I have to admit facebook is a nice stress release. Did I say “stress release?”

Today it’s a STRESSOR instead of a stress relief.

I’ve tried to log in for the past hour and all I get is a page that hangs. You can see from these images that I have the hourglass icon because it’s hanging or the page displays improperly because I can’t get anything back from the Facebook servers.

 

 

 

 

 

I guess the post I wrote a few months ago is finally coming true…or at least more signs point to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(USUALLY this shows up on the right hand side, but resolved to the left and basically in a broken page)