Last Updated on November 8, 2017 by Christine Kaaloa
Boo! Happy Halloween week is upon us and October has been a roller coaster of scares… Many EPIKers are feeling the heave of visa extensions and the pounce of contract renewals.
The fall leaves in Korea are turning a brilliant and golden-yellow, the wind carries a light nip and … where are all these damn mosquitoes in my apartment coming from?
Visa extensions and EPIK contract renewals
Table of Contents: Korean Love Motels in The Korea Times, Visa Extentions & EPIK Contract Renewals?
After receiving the relief of having our visa extension questions responded to, the next question is contract renewals.
• Renew?
• Take a travel break?
• Search for and re-apply for another job contract that relocates me to Seoul?
A shotgun answer is not easy. I love my students and have invested time in learning Korean (of which I’ve not made huge improvements, still…), but my vegetarian needs dying for more options; I’d like to go, sit on a mountain and meditate on this. Unfortunately, we’ve also just been told our schools need to submit our answer by November 5th. What will I do? I’m taking bets…
What do The Korea Times, F1 and Love Motels tainting Korea have in common?
Me.
Love Motels are a sensitive issue for Korea.
A quote from my article, Finding Love in a Korean Love Motel was mentioned in The Korea Times‘ article “Italian newspaper: ‘Love Motels taint Korea”s image as host to F1“.
The F1 is a Grand Prix currently touring in Korea. I learned about the F1/Love Motel incident from Brian in Jeollanam-do‘s candid bite, No Morons, a Love motel is not a Brothel ; when a friend posted a link on my Facebook profile with The Korea Times article and my name,… in it.
With the rumors I’ve heard about anti-foreigner groups stalking foreigners for anti-Korean sentiments or foreigners receiving bad press in the Korean media, I was not initially thrilled by this news. Call me paranoid. The last thing I want is Korean cyber-hate.
Sandwiched in a notion of shady love motels tainting Korean reputation, with my article quoted outside of its context, I was nervous. Brian assesses that Korea Times article nicely in his post F1 accommodation in the news. I’m feeling better now.
My Crazy Kimchi! hits growing pains of co-teaching.
My Korean classroom has been a great source of learning this year and recently.
I’ve just posted 3 sections (1 , 2, 3 ) on what I’ve learned from co-teaching (something I don’t think I’d be submitting for EPIK/DMOE‘s recent request for co-teaching essays and video contest).
Not everyone has these experiences to take some of my tips, but many also do.
• Finally, a warm GRRR! to my fellow EPIKers & Daegu-ites! Home stretch and I applaud all of you.