9 Days of Mud!! Boryeong Mud Fest 2008!

"Escape your routine life with the experience of Mud!"

Time to get dirty. We mean REALLY REALLY dirty!!
Teachers, if you can make it out to this event, we're sure you'll be writing home about it! Boryeong is famed for its mud beauty products, but this event takes this to a whole other level!!
This festival is right up there with Spain's La Tomatina Festival!!
It IS that much fun!

It's the 11th annual Mud Fest!!!
in Boryeong City,
at Daecheon Beach,
July 12-20.
Boryeong is about 2hrs southwest of Seoul.

Sounds like soooo much fun!!
There's will be so many fun events taking place everyday!!
Check out this video of last year's festivities!

Last year's festival attracted about 32,000 foreigners. With various performances and events throughout the day and into the night along with free shuttle bus services going to and from famous tourist spots in Boryeong, everyone was guaranteed to have a fun time.

Canadian, eh? Well, Canada Day is coming!!

Hey all you Canadians!! As Canada Day approaches, your thoughts may be wandering back to the homeland... So, we thought we'd make sure everyone knows about the excellent Canada Day festivities taking place around Korea!

korea4expats.com reports that this year the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Korea is putting on yet another great event, with more than 1000 Canadians expected to turn out! They call it "the biggest outdoor event in the foreigner community." At the event, they say there will be "a tug of war, three-legged races and frisbee toss - all reminiscent of the festivities of Canada Day back home."

Korea4expats.com has also posted the following information about the upcoming Canada Day Fest 2008 in Seoul:

"The price of admission gets you through the gates and access to the games, door prizes, live music and the other afternoon festivities.

Tickets for the event can be purchased before Tuesday, June 24th through the CCCK website (http://www.ccck.org/). There are NO ticket sales at the door!

Sunday, June 29, 2008
12:00pm - 6:00pm
Nanji Campground (near Worldcup Stadium Subway Station - Line #6)
shuttle bus available from Exit #1

TIX: 25,000KRW (plus food & drinks)
*Buy 5 tix, get 1 free

MENU

Pita Time Beef/Chicken/Garden Pita (6,500won)
Outback Steakhouse Burger Meal (15,000won*)
Outback Steakhouse Rib-eye Steak (25,000won*)
*includes salad, fixings & dessert

For more information or to register, please visit http://www.ccck.org/."

Hey, there will even be a Canadian Idol Korea competition at Canada Fest!!
According to the Korea Times, "two bands [who have been] selected on May 31... will then perform live on a large outdoor stage in front of 1,000 roaring fans." Apparently, as quoted in the Korea Times, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Korea chairman, Simon Bureau, says that ``the CCCK felt it would be a good idea to have some local talent for our annual Canada Day Fest."

That sounds like fun to us!! We hope you'll check it out!!!

We've also heard that Club FF in the Hongdae area of Seoul is putting on "Summer Tribute Party" Saturday, June 28, and many Canadians will likely be there. It sounds like a good time.

Or, if you are in the Suwon area, there's festivities going on too... Check out this Facebook event, about the local pub activities this coming weekend!!

Near Incheon? Check out this Facebook event posting!

More of your questions answered

I'm debating whether to go to Japan (with JET) or Korea. What are your recommendations?

We are currently running a program with excellent terms. It's called the Pegasus Program, and if you want to know more info about it, check out this other blog post. In fact, it is a lot like the JET program in Japan, but WAY better.

Japan's JET program, according to its website, places teachers "with local government organisations throughout Japan in every imaginable locality, including large cities, small and medium-sized towns, and rural farming and fishing villages."

The Pegasus Program, on the other hand, ONLY places is major centers. Our Pegasus Program does not place teachers in small towns, rural farming or fishing villages.

Another difference is the application timeline. The Pegasus Program has TWO placements each year, as opposed to one: late August and late February. The application process is also much shorter. Applicants can start apply as late as 2 months prior to placement. That means, you can apply in June for August placement, or December for February placement. With the JET program, applications are taken up to year in advance and their application deadline ends 9 months before placement. For teachers, this means a lot of planning ahead. At Pegasus, we realize that graduating university students often cannot plan that far in advance. So, the Pegasus Program is uniquely geared towards the new graduate's needs.

Also, with JET, placements may vary. The Pegasus Program, however, only places you at a public school, and you get MANY paid prep hours. You will work no more than 22 hours teaching a week, and the other 18 hours are for prep and meetings within the school. There are no unpaid hours. Anything beyond the contract hours will be paid as overtime. There is no split shifts either... just the standard 8-4 Mon-Fri. Every single week. (This is a key difference between working for the public schools versus private hogwans in Korea too) Also, the career prospects are really good when you teach at public schools in Korea! You may even be able to use the experience on your teaching resume in your home country!

How much will I save when I am in Korea? Will I have enough to travel

As for costs, no matter where you work in Korea, you can save save save. As all your major costs are provided for, and the cost of living is really quite low (you can go out and have a GREAT time on well under $20 to give you an idea; $50 would be splashing right out!). And don't forget, the most expensive thing in Korea is accommodation, and that is provided free to you! Also, flights to many destination are much cheaper from Korea. I went somewhere every month while I was in Korea (on weekends and/or holidays) and still sent money home to my bank. I went to Thailand, China, Japan, and all around Korea while working in Korea! Not only that, but by the end of my contract, I had enough saved in Korea (not including money I sent home) to buy an around the world ticket and travel though Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa for a few months! So, the options for travel and saving are definitely all there for you when you choose to teach in Korea!

What can I expect being placed in Korea with Pegasus?

As for working with Pegasus. We are all past teachers. So, we have great relationships with our schools and only place teachers at schools where we would personally want to work... So, you can rest assured that you have chosen the right company to work with for placement in Korea. Not only that, but we pride ourselves in maintaining a great bond with, and support network for, our teachers throughout the year. So, you are never really on your own!

What's "the best" location to work in Korea?

As for choice of place in Korea, no matter where you work, you will have a great time. Every city/town is vibrant and thriving, and you will have a great cultural experience no matter what. We don't like to state where would be "the best" as each teacher has different ideas about what they would like in a place. Some people are better in smaller places, and some only feel comfortable with a big city. We have written another great FAQ section on our blog about the homogeneity of Korea, however, which may help you understand our point as well.

Dick and Jane Go to Korea

Another Pegasus Program extension!

We've had such a great response that we have extended the deadline to allow more teachers to get in on the excitement!!

New deadline: June 25, 2008

Korean Pastimes -- Installment 1

DANCING -- KOREANS DO KNOW HOW TO DANCE!!

The first way they get to hone their skills is DDR...
DDR -- DISCO DANCE REVOLUTION

DDR machines... they are everywhere in Korea -- really, EVERYWHERE -- and Koreans have developed amazing dance skills. DDR arcades are Korea's answer to North American video game arcades! [If Koreans want to play video games, they don't go to arcades. They go to PC-bongs (computer rooms) but that'll be the subject of another post later!]

Here's an amazing little boy who has already perfected DDR at home! We're not sure if he is Korean, but we wouldn't doubt that there are Korean children who are as good!



For those Koreans who like freestyling a bit more, the B-boy culture in Korea is huge! Korea has some of the world's best B-boy dancers!







Here's a great documentary on the development and advancement of Korean dance culture:

A word or two on Korea's level of advancement

In Korea, you will soon notice how INCREDIBLY BEHIND North America is when it comes to technology.



Back in 2000, when almost no one I knew back in Canada had a cell phone because they were way too large, cumbersome and expensive -- only those who worked in real estate, or had some other sort of mobile job thought they were worthwhile -- everyone, AND I DO MEAN EVERYONE in Korea had cell phones. Even small children! I saw them squatting on street corners chatting away on the phone to family and friends. And texting was truly the way to communicate. The phones were teensy too. I could slide mine in my back jeans pocket, much like the RAZR that came out about a year ago. But I had my Korean RAZR back in 2000! It is incredible how advanced Asian countries are when it comes to TVs, phones, and cameras!! Now... finally... about 8 years later, we seem to have caught up and everyone here seems to have a cell phone. We are texting, listening to music, and taking photos with our phone. But Koreans were doing all that more than 5 years ago! But our phones still do not compare!

To the left, look at this LG phone. That's about what my LG phone looked like, back in 2000...

Now, check out this YouTube video of a "low-end cell phone" from a few months ago. It is cheap and without a contract (pay as you go). In other words a real cheap-o phone, by their standards.



So, NEVER doubt how advanced Korea will be when you get there...

FAQs

How does Ulsan compare to Seoul?

While Ulsan is ultimately smaller than Seoul, Ulsan is still a major city by North American AND Korean standards. It has more than a million people, after all. Also, the thing to know about Korea is that no matter where you go in Korea, it truly feels like much of the same. It is not at all like Canada or the U.S., which can vary remarkably from city to city, and region to region. Korea is one of the most homogeneous countries you will ever experience. I, and my colleagues here, have traveled throughout the world and have truly never seen a country as consistent throughout as Korea is. While Seoul is Korea’s largest city, you will not experience any less of Korea in Ulsan. Like everywhere in Korea, it is close to monuments and fascinating historical sites. It will honestly have exactly the same people, cultural elements and food for you to experience. Another advantage is that it is on the coast and only 40 minutes from Busan, Korea’s second largest city. In fact, many teachers actually prefer being in or near Busan over living in Seoul. Part of the appeal is the milder coastal climate. Seoul can be much colder and drier in the winter, which can be a bit of an adjustment for many. However, should you want to, it is incredibly easy to visit Seoul for the weekend, as the bullet train can get you there incredibly fast.

What about Ulsan's transportation? Is it convenient?

While it does not have the extensive subway system Seoul boasts, it is also not nearly as big. So, it really does not require one. It is easy to get around Ulsan by more basic transportation means. In general, the bus system throughout Korea is very efficient, and would shame even the most connected North American city. As well, taxis are truly the way of life anywhere in Korea, from Seoul to the smallest towns. Taxis are convenient, fast and, most importantly, cheap everywhere in Korea. While here in North America one often thinks twice about taking a taxi, due to cost considerations, in Korea it is quite the opposite. In fact, Koreans always TAKE taxis due to cost considerations -- they are so darn cheap!! The "start" cost for many taxis is only 500won (about 50 cents) and even if you are in the taxi for a half hour ride, costs rarely exceed $10. A taxi to the airport from the city centre costs about $7 (20 minutes). Short rides average only a couple dollars. I know this may seem a bit strange. It did to me at first too. However, it really is what differentiates life in North America from life in Korea. You will find almost everything to be substantially cheaper, and often more convenient, than the same things at home. So, the bottom line is that transportation should be the least of your worries about life in Ulsan! Actually, I miss how easy it was to get around in Korea. And I have visited many smaller places in Korea -- much smaller than Ulsan -- without ever having a transportation issue. Ulsan is also serviced by a train station from Seoul, Daegu, Kyongju, and Busan. Ulsan's airport has hourly flights to Seoul's Gimpo airport.

And your taxi drivers often have great personality! Like this one who serenaded one of our teachers!


Also, taxis are much more COMFORTABLE THAN subways and buses in Korea. The Korean subway is especially crazy and BUSY. Just check out this video to see for yourself. :)



What's the difference between working at a private school and a public one?

Working in a private school, there are a few major points one needs to consider. First of all, private schools (also known as “hagwons”) are after-school institutions. In Korea, parents are very serious about their children’s education. Thus, most students attend hagwons after school to work on their subjects further. English teachers at these English hagwons usually start work after 2pm and teach until as late as 10pm. Sometimes, hogwans require the teachers to have split shifts as well, meaning that you will work for a few hours in the morning (usually for a preschool aged class) and then again later in the day. Some weekend days may also be required of hagwon teachers. So, teachers considering hagwons often need to be comfortable working varied hours. While Pegasus selectively chooses hagwons that do not require split shifts or Saturdays, they are the standard at most other hagwons. Another consideration is that at hagwons, the teacher is usually on one’s own. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about full responsibility and independence in the classroom.

Another issue with hagwons is that there is less consistency from one hagwon to another as there are no set standards. As success with English is what can truly provide international opportunities for students, the parents are especially keen for their children to master English. Hence, the massive explosion of English “hagwons” throughout Korea. Basically, anyone can open up a hagwon in Korea. And it is big business. While Pegasus does its best to screen all schools to which it sends teachers, private schools are still overall much less predictable than schools within the public system.

Public schools, on the other hand, offer a few advantages. At public schools, your hours are set, and are very standard – 8 to 4, as is generally the standard internationally. There are no weekend or split shifts. You also have the advantage of a Korean co-teacher, with whom you can split the classroom responsibilities. The co-teacher may also serve to help you overcome any communication obstacles. Also, the curriculum is provided so there is much less effort required on your part. The conditions at these schools are great too, as it is basically a government job. So, public schools are generally the best overall conditions in Korea.

Finally, if you choose a public school with the PEGASUS PROGRAM, you will be a part of an instant community of other teachers. The Pegasus Program provides its teachers with a community environment of transitioning teachers, all of whom are simultaneously adjusting to work and life abroad with the help of the Program’s support structure and activities. After all, all Pegasus Program positions are in the same city.

Deadline extension! Still a few positions remain!

Pegasus Teachers has 40 positions remaining for September 2008 with its amazing PEGASUS PROGRAM! The first positions filled up fast! These are lucrative positions! The application deadline HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2008 for the remaining positions. However, these additional positions will fill up fast!
In a nutshell, the Pegasus Program will assist the Korean government with its vision while also offering new teachers support at every stage of the teaching abroad experience. This incredible program is different than any other because of the sense of community and group belonging it can provide for its teachers who will be collectively transitioning into work and life abroad. All Pegasus Program positions are in the same city and there will be numerous extra-curricular opportunities.

Apply online today at: www.pegasusteachers.com, using the online application form. In "comments," specify your interest in the PEGASUS PROGRAM.

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