A Spanner in the Works

Well, it was all going so well, there had to be a spanner in the works somewhere. I knew that I've have to leave Korea to apply for my visa. The only problem is that now I've discovered where my application has to be made from. Dublin.

The pic of the week is the pagoda in the lotus pond at Gyeongbuk Palace here in Seoul.

The Job Hunt
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I was talking to the recruiter who made contact with me before the last post. In the middle of the conversation, he asked me if I knew I had to go back to Ireland to get my E2 visa, the one for foreign language teachers. I nearly fell off my chair. I'd never heard it. I talked to a few people over the weekend, and they all assured me it couldn't be true. But I've checked it out, and it seems to be. So once I get a school I'll have to try to negotiate with them over the air fare. Most schools will pay for people to travel from their country to Korea, and then either fly them home at the end of a contract, or give them a round trip if they're staying. So I might see if I can get the round trip up front or go halves on the fare or something. I just wish I knew it a month ago!

They also told me I needed the original copy of my degree (which I have) and a police report to show that I have no convictions (which I have - the report, not the convictions) and the transcripts from my university (I didn't even know what they were). He explained that the transcripts are the details of your coursework and results during your degree. I have been on to Trinity about getting them, and they'll take a couple of weeks. They have to be in a sealed envelope, with a university seal over the actual envelope seal, and if they're opened before they get to immigration they're invalid. They're certainly taking no chances.

So, this has put a delay on getting a job for now. Once I know that the transcripts are in the post I'll start applying. In the meantime I'm checking the websites to see what's available.

Getting used to Korea
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There are a few things that I'm just getting used to. The first is that talking Spanish to Koreans doesn't achieve anything. Obviously my brain is wired with the assumption that if people don't speak English, the foreign language is Spanish. I've been saying si, no, and gracias since I got here.

Another cultural difference is that you take your shoes off everywhere. In anyone's house are apartment, old style restaurants, temples and palaces, off they come. I have a pair of laced trainers, and I'm going to have to get something that's easier to put on and take off, because I'm taking ages everywhere. I have to say I like that people take them off in a house or apartment, because when you think of it we're all bringing dirt in from the streets on our shoes.

Seoul Tower
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One of Clara's friends is a guy called Conor, from Belfast. His mother and sister were here on holidays, and just left on Sunday. On Saturday night we went with them to the revolving restaurant in Seoul Tower. It has a wonderful panoramic view of the city, and does a full 365 degrees over the three hours that the multiple course dinner is served. We arrived at 7pm, and left at 10, so we had seen the city change from daylight to the beautifully lit city at night. This is truly a night city, and the transformation is spectacular. I'd highly recommend it to everyone that visits the city. At 87,000 Won it's way more expensive than any meal I've had since I came here. But when I worked it back to euro it was less than €54, which given that we had lots of courses, a seabass main course and plenty of wine, is probably cheaper than you'd get in most restaurants in Dublin.
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Well, that's it for this week. I've just bought a fan to cope with heat and humidity. My computer says it's 28 degrees, but feels like 32.8. I wonder how it knows.

Until next week,

Annyong,

Éamon

Today's headline in The Korean Times: President Lee Replaces 3 Cabinet Ministers