Thanks for the add.

Hey Ashley! Thanks for your comment, I'm really glad you're considering Brazil as an option for teaching! As for the tourist visa situation, I arrived here on a tourist visa and the school that I'm going to work with asked nothing about visas, only about qualifications and teaching experience. 

But FYI, there's about a 5% chance of you getting a work visa here to teach, mostly cos of the cost and all the craziness you have to go through. As of this month I'm illegal and noone cares, it just makes it a bit harder to come back if you decide to leave since the officials will know you've been illegal. It's not like you're gonna get arrested or anything so it's all good. :) If you're prepared to do that, then great! But Brazil isn't for everyone unfortunately. ;)

Hope you're having a super day!

Hi Ash

They sorted out my apartment and told me my age group literally the day before I arrived in Korea. They're pretty laid back out here so don't panic too much. I was the same but have since learnt not to get in a stress about it lol

So public school, that's great! You're hours will likely be 8.30-9am until 4.30-5pm! Are you with the UMOE!? If you are you're likely to have high school students. I'd prepare some lesson plans now for your first few weeks (you're likely to only see them once a week so one lesson plan per week should be enough) do the first one on yourself, family, hometown etc they like to know about you - and it's easy to do follow on lessons, like you could then do about them, their family, hobbies, like & dislikes etc. I try to get at LEAST one game/activity in too. Check out waygook.org if you need some advice/help/inspiration! You'll get to meet a load of teachers in orientation too so at least you'll know people :)

Hi Ash, what horror stories have you been hearing???? I found (sort-of) a group of teachers in Busan on FB that you can join for more info on the area (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=204071634945&v=wall) i'm not sure if there's a better one than this but it'll at least get you started on making some friends!

Don't listen to whatever stories you may have heard anyway, not all schools are bad, sme of them may be a little run down but you just have to make it your own! I'm lucky in that my school's only been ope for 3 years so everything is quite new but I havent heard any complaints from any other teachers about there's. Don't worry about it!

Do you know what age group you're teaching? Is it public or private school? 

Hi Ash, yeah the apartment is a lot nicer than I thought it was going to be. I've seen a few of the other teachers apartments in Ulsan and they're all pretty much the same. Some are slightly bigger than others due to layout but they all have the same rooms: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom/lounge and laundry room.

I was thinking I'd do a post on things to do before you get here actually because I would have had no idea what to expect once I landed if it hadn't been for my friend Mel who I met on here! I think it would help a lot of people's nerves! I'll try write something up tonight. What kind of things do you want to know?

Hi Jennifer just saw your videos and the apartment looks pretty good considering some of the horror stories i have heard :) I should be moving to Busan in February just waiting for NOA so ill be watching and reading your blogs with interest! Anyways hope alls going great and i would love to hear any suggestions for preparation i should do before i come over to Korea

Hmmm preparing...I would say eat as much cheese and as many roast dinners as you can. Sit on your sofa a lot (I really miss having a sofa) and enjoy your home fridge magically getting full once a week (if you live with your parents still). Completely and utterly soak up Christmas, as it is definately not big over here :( And lastly, eat as much dairy milk and haribo as you possibly can. Is it obvious what I miss??

So yeah, you've got a busy few weeks ahead of you!

Learning the language will definately be helpful, but really in terms of preparing I didn't do anything cos I came straight from China! When you get here things aren't too difficult to adjust to :)

hey mate it looks like i didn't get the job lol oh well back to the good old chalkboard again. damn, all that money i've spent doing up the documents and everything is a bit of a pisstake but i guess i've learnt my lesson...don't apply to korea hahahaha

good luck for the future mate, if you get to work in busan then you've got it made for ya!

just wondering if they e-mailed you or did you get a phone call from them?

WICKED MATE!!! whether i pass or not i'm glad for ya! did you get your first destination then mate?

mate i've just had my bloody interview. i think i messed it up. it doesn't help doing the interview when i've just woke up, damn man! have you heard from anyone since?