Expedition Evan

This is the true story… of 20 Korean students… picked to travel to Canada for 2 weeks…study together and journal their experiences… to find out what happens… when students stop being polite… and write what they really think about Canada… this is… Dae Dong Taxation High School.

These are my favorite passages, completely unedited, from reviewing their journals.  My students are awesome:

“Initially when I entered the Laser tag bar, I think it was gangster’s agitation point. It looks like dumping ground. So, It was scared.”

“Tomorrow I’ll go to Capilano Suspension Bridge. My heart goes pit-a-pat.”

“The ice was bumpy so skating on the ice was hard, I fell with a thud. My knee hurted very much.”

“Also, before come to Canada, I lived like the frog in the well and beat the person.”

“Today’s lunch was noodle but is was just ramen with source. The ramen source!”

“Ah in TV advertising we can see some funny things. most advertising is about health tools and cooker. In the advertising they start the from ridiculous price. A dumbbell is $1000!!  like this. And they cut off the price lower and lower. At last the price is become to reasonable price. It looks stupid. Who fished by that advertising?”

“We lated for school for about ten minues. But, I was okay because I’m so cool. It’s kidding.”

“Mother was a very friendly. When we comes outside would lost home she write her phone numbers even though fun to play then she ride us.”

“I couldn’t believe the Canadian foods were not rich comparing with their fat body.”

“Gachllan teach while the moring class. She is very fun, highly humorous and a little fat.”

“And came home, for the first time, I touched Max who was cat. But Broudy was still wary me. But I was happy because I played Max.”

“However, changed teacher was some strange. Because she was like a pig that was ugly. She also really likde boys and showed it.”

“By the way, there was strange thing in the entrance. Someone was taking care of a baby. It is how she controlled that matters. She grab a string linked to the baby, like dog. It was very strange for me. I thought It was children abuse.”

God help me if I ever see what they write about me.

Last night started off promising at my new favorite little joint Da Bar, but quickly devolved into daydreams of extreme violence.

My buddy Tad and I enjoyed a couple White Russians in the bubble area of Da Bar (covered in plastic and looking over Hongdae) along with some good conversation, then headed to Zen Bar to meet up with some of his friends.  Here’s where the plot begins to thicken…

We threw both of our jackets onto a spare chair and set to enjoying ourselves.  Not 10 minutes later, I swing by to check on our jackets and they’ve vanished.  Poof.  Tad and I both scoured the bar looking for ‘em, but to no avail.  His jacket was a pretty large peacoat, and mine was an Arc’Teryx shell that’s been my go-to jacket for close to 3 years now.  Being that it was 40 degrees out and I was in a ratty old shirt, I was none too pleased.  Tad’s a big dude so no Korean would sport his jacket, and my jacket was too outdoorsy to be fashionable on the streets of Seoul.  There’s a chance someone mistook them for their own, but with both of them being so different I think it’s more likely they were stolen.

I spent the rest of the night playing out slow-motion “300″-style beat downs in my head, hoping to catch the thief.  The righteous fury that would fuel my anger when I saw him in the street would be suitably epic, and would end with me walking away victorious, jacket in hand.  The bartender said it was really rare for a jacket to be taken, so there’s a small chance someone will drop it back by the bar.  I’m not too hopeful though.  At least I’ve got a new one coming in the mail!

I try not to become too attached to material things, but I’ll miss that damn jacket!  So here’s to you Mr. Arc’Teryx shell, may you rest in peace.  And whoever took it better pray that I don’t catch ‘em, because vigilante justice will be carried out on the streets of Seoul…

I remember my time in high school fondly.  I can’t imagine my students will look back at high school with anything less than rage and fiery hatred.

The Korean SAT was last Thursday, and from what I can tell it’s complete madness.  The day after the exam I held a debate about Korean testing methods with my advanced after school class, and they all are deathly afraid of this test (rightly so!).  The test covers 7 subjects, 4 of which the students have a bit of autonomy in choosing.  My SAT covered two: math and a verbal section.  I only teach the 1st year students, but they are already studying for this test two years out.

The test can only be taken once for universities, and there is only ONE day a year that it is administered.  There are no make ups whatsoever.  If you check the article I linked above, you can see the photo of a student suspected of having swine flu taking the test all by his lonesome in an isolation room.  Hell, they even had students taking the exam IN THE HOSPITAL.  WTF mate?  I have to give props to the Korean education system in most aspects, but this is absurd.

When I held the debate the next day my students were all overwhelmingly against the SAT as it stands.  They study until 10pm most weekdays in order to do well on this exam.  I took social dance 5 times in high school.  They have school twice a month on Saturdays.  I played computer games and ate waffles.  Their college admission is a matter of family honor.  My parents just would have murdered me if I didn’t go.  Ok, maybe that last one is pretty similar, but parental intervention certainly isn’t as ubiquitous in the US.  They had police posted at every testing site to prevent parents from causing disturbances, and doctors on hand for swine flu problems and nervous breakdowns.

If you’re reading this from the US, be thankful you don’t have it like these kids!

One of the primary factors behind people coming to Seoul to teach is the money.  There is massive potential to save or pay down debt here.

All public schools jobs (in Seoul at least) offer free furnished housing, reimbursed airfare (I made $350 USD on my flight over here!), bonuses such as paid vacation and a final bonus at the completion of the 1-year contract of a full month’s pay.  Some special situations may differ, but for the most part this is what all SMOE (Seoul Ministry of Education) teachers can look forward to.  Most reputable hagwons offer similar benefits and pay, though they generally have different work hours (more late nights) and less vacation.

If your spending habits are on the frugal side, you can bank at least 60-65% of your monthly paycheck without feeling the pinch.  For most teachers with a basic TEFL certificate salaries start at 2.0 million won.  At current exchange rates, that’s approximately $1700 USD.  Saving $1000 USD a month isn’t difficult at all.  These wages don’t even factor in private lessons, which range from 40k-50k won an hour.  Again, the potential to save or pay down debt here is amazing.

For me, the only temptations I currently have are some new gadgets such as a nice DSLR and a new iPod touch.  Beyond those two items, my only personal expenses consist of food, drink, and my small utilities fee I pay on my building each month.  Pension out of each paycheck is returned to most countries upon the completion of the contract, and my health insurance only costs 50k won a month.  I also have an income tax exemption both here and at home as an American.

Realistically, I think I’ll come out of my time here with at least 15k USD in pure savings when taking into account other projects like my writing.  That’s some serious bank for one year.

If you’re staring down educational debt or wanted to save a large amount of cash in a short time, I would seriously consider teaching English here.