SeouLong

Now, I know I said that I would discuss the Korvia interview in the following blog post, but I need to talk about my experience with getting my FBI CBC, one of the hardest parts of the whole EPIK/teach-in-Korea process.

Let me tell you guys about my FBI CBC experience:

I was on Spring Break last week and decided to go to Chicago to visit. Chicago has a physical Accurate Biometrics location there (like 3 or 4, acutally). I went in about an hour after they opened on Tuesday, got fingerprinted there, paid $60, and left to go do some sightseeing. The entire process was less than 5 minutes. On Saturday when I was back at home, I checked the mail and my CBC was there! I also have a PDF of the CBC downloaded as well.

So if you’re ever in: Chicago or Illinois • there are 18 locations Nebraska •1 location New York •1 location California •1 in San Diego •1 in Sacramento

Easy, right?? Get it done in person! It will save you a lot of time and the loss of the waiting game! I’ve heard cases of it taking anywhere from 10-16 WEEKS. Now, to get it apostilled…

Stupid stupid stupid stupid. What’s wrong with me? I was so excited and prepared for this interview, or so I thought. It’s Sunday evening and I had my day all planned out: •Get eyebrows microbladed my by sister for her training class •Attend Texas Showdown staff meeting (TX Showdown is a fighting game tournament) •Go to Wild Cajun with Alex for some good ol’ crawfish •Go home and practice being interviewed As I’m saying my goodbyes to my sister after she made my eyebrows look FABULOUS, I received an email at 6:45 PM from my recruiter. It reads: “Dear Nastasha, We are scheduled to have an interview in 15 mins but I don’t see you on Skype. Have you added on ? If you would like to continue on job seeking with us, please do let me know. Regards,” HO-LY [BLEEPING] [BLEEP]! I converted 10am Korean Standard Time to 7PM US Central Time, but I didn’t convert it to the next day! I had post-it EVERYWHERE stating Monday at 7pm, when actuality it was SUNDAY @ 7. DAMMIT! I panicked! I almost cried! I asked my sister if she had a blouse or a nicer shirt–anything. I was dressed in Nike and Under Armour tank and compression pants with a Seahawks beanie on my head. The eff, Stasha. My sister handed me a sweater from the trunk of her car. I thanked her quickly and ran as fast I could back into the Westin Galleria where her training was being held. The time was 6:56pm. I ran back to the hallway of the 3rd floor. I had remembered seeing an empty table and some chairs. I pushed the table in front of this gigantic golden-framed mirror and pulled my Surface out of my purse (thank goodness that I always carry that thing with me). I plugged it into an outlet, turned it on and signed into Skype. “PASSWORD DOES NOT MATCH SKYPE ID” No. Not now. Don’t you do this to me, Skype! For the life of me, I had not remembered my Skype password. I email my interviewer and apologize. I tell her that I’m about to sign on and that I had miscalculated the time conversion. 7:01 comes around and I’m still messing around with verification and password changes to Skype. Finally. I fix it, get on, and add her. The time is 7:05pm. I’m late and completely mortified. My heart is racing as the Skype app dials her number. Her face appears. I greet her with a smile and “hello” and offer my apologies. NEXT BLOG POST: THE INTERVIEW…

JANUARY 31, 2017 - Applying to Korvia 

 I took the first step towards embarking on this new journey of becoming an ESL teacher in Korea. I have watched numerous videos and vlogs on YouTube. Many of them suggested going through a recruiter when trying to apply to the EPIK program. The recruiting company that popped up on several vlogs was Korvia. I watched just about every Korvia video the company had posted to their YouTube page. Traveling Nat was a recruit that applied to EPIK directly, but failed her interview. She then began a partnership with Korvia and was interviewed and accepted into the GEPIK program. She gives details as to how Korvia helped her through the process. I believe MigookSaram did a Korvia video as well (on Korvia’s YouTube page). 

 It’s been almost a year since I’ve viewed those videos, and finally, it was my turn to take the next big step. I edited my resume, making it look much better than the dumpster fire that it once was, and made a cover letter as well. They look much more professionial now. I first went to Korvia’s site and applied by answering the brief questions on their online application, and then I uploaded a photo of myself, my resume, and cover letter. Then, I played the waiting game. I was a nervous wreck. I know that I should have waited until February 1st to apply, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to submit that application!!

 A day passed and I could help but to think they didn’t like my application– but I have extensive experience of working with children! Why wouldn’t they like it? “Maybe they’re busy with Spring Intake applicants that are going there 2 weeks?” Surely it had to have been that, because on February 2nd, I received an email that offered me an initial interview/screening with Korvia! I wanted to cry, but I can’t. This is only the beginning of my biggest adventure yet. 

 Next blog: I MISCALCULATED MY INTERVIEW TIME

I wanted to keep this a secret for so long, but because I have a plan that I won't deter from, little by little, people are beginning to find out. "WHY ARE YOU BEING SO VAGUE?" 

 Welp, I guess I'll start explaining:

 I AM GOING [to attempt to] MOVE TO KOREA. 

 "Korea?? ...why?..." 

 For a while I've been seeking something new. New experiences. New environments. New friendships and relationships. I have sought this since my days in middle school. I wanted to study abroad, but guess what my parents said, and it's not "no"... They said "HELL TO THE NO!" I believe partially due to the costs, but mostly because they believed that a terrorist would kill me on a train or plane (9/11 was still fresh in their brains or something). My childhood friend and her family had invited me to go with them on an all expenses paid trip to Paris. My parents weren't having it. 

 As I grew older, I saw the JET program as my next big step in life. It was my opportunity to see the world and to experience a culture that I had grown to love dearly. People not familiar with Japanese culture might see me as a Weeb (weeaboo)-- I was the Chairman Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator for an Anime/Japanese Culture Convention for 4 years lol. I began doing research about teaching overseas, I learned of other countries that offered positions for people to teach English in foreign countries. The one that struck my eye the most was South Korea. My love for Korean food and music also steered me into researching about life in Korea.

 There are various things I found interesting about Korea, such as it amazing landscape. Where I live, it's as flat as can be. I'm talking paper flat. Have you ever seen a Pekingese dog's face?? THAT FLAT. NO hills. No mountains. Nothing. One would have to drive 2-3 hours out of the city for anything. Korea is beautiful. I'm stunned just by looking at photos. I love nature. 

The way that people have a high regard of respect towards their elders was also interesting to me. I have found myself going crazy when I hear the way my students talk to their parents. 

 I watched a lot of vlogs about life in Korea as a foreigner. The more I watched, the more I felt the NEED to go. I wasn't sure how serious I was about actually moving out of the US, but when I taught myself how to read and write hangul, I knew that I was backing down from this decision.

 "AGAIN, why Korea? You can teach in America."

 I've been teaching kindergartners and pre kindergartners for the past 6 years. It has its ups and downs, mostly positives, but I'm ready to work in and experience a different educational culture than what I'm used to. I love kids. I love teaching. I have a passion for it. Why not broaden my horizons? Why not take this big step towards learning more about other cultures, children, and educators? Also, **DO YOU KNOW WHO WAS JUST ELECTED AS THE US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION??! ** ...no, thanks. I will watch Devos' demise from afar. This is pretty long for a first blog post. I'll post more later. Thank you for reading. Let me know your thoughts and or questions. My next post will feature other questions I've been asked by friends and family. 

 See ya, and SeouLong.