Research, research and more research!

If the title of this makes it sound like a chore, it isn't! I have been looking into loads of stuff about TEFL for a few years now. I have wanted to go and teach abroad since my second year at uni (3 years ago now). I got a chance to go for 6 weeks during the summer of my third year, and it was amazing! I had such a good time. It made me realise that not only was TEFL for me, but so was teaching in general.

I am from Jersey, so it has always been clear to me that if I wanted to do anything postgrad, I would need to stick about in the UK for a little while and get it completed before heading off to a far flung place for any period of time. I therefore decided that I was going to do my teaching degree before going somewhere exciting. I am now half way through it, and the end is looming.

It is a bit of a shame really, as I think I would enjoy this year more if I wasn't so impatient for it to end so I could go out there and see some more of this planet. Don't get me wrong, I love being in school, but there is a lot of other stuff to do as well, and I'm finding it difficult to focus! I keep telling myself that it is okay, it is only a year! Only 5 months or so now!!

So the plan is this:

1. Finish and pass teaching degree
2. Go back to Hong Kong, teach again for 6 weeks over the summer
3. Go home for a month to do a 4 week tefl course (I have decided to go with CertTESOL as I know I want to be doing this for a little while!)
4. Go out to Korea and teach English in October.

All sounds very orderly doesn't it? I am, however, incredibly nervous about a lot of it. I mean, HK should be good! I know the company, and it was awesome last time. The main worry is, obviously, Korea. I have decided that I am going to go with www.teachkoreans.com as my agency of choice. I have been following their group on facebook for well over a year, and it seems like they tend to get people good placements and people are generally happy. This hasn't, however, stopped me looking at different job ads placed all over South Korea.

This is horribly counter productive for two reasons. Firstly, no one is advertising for people starting in October. All I am reading about is posts in February, March and April that I know I won't be taking. Secondly it has got me questioning where I want to go in Korea. I know that I am likely to find a job through these guys in Cheong Ju, which is fine! Seems central, and so it should hopefully be possible to see other places. The only problem is the distance from the sea! I love sea food, and obviously the only province without a coastline is not going to have the best. I then find myself tempted by coastal cities. I am not going to do anything about it though! I already have my application for Cheong Ju typed out and ready to send as soon as I get a minute to take my picture.

The other thing that is worrying me, strangely, is going back home for such a long time. I love my friends at home, and it will be awesome to get to spend some time with them! However, living in my parents house, with all of my stuff there, is something I won't have done for 5 years by the time I go back there. I love my family, and it upsets me to be so far away from them (even now, and I am only in Lancaster!!), but I value my freedom. It isn't like they impose on what I do at all, I just get grumpy at home. I don't want to leave on a bad note because I have spent 4-6 weeks at home and we've all trodden on each other's toes.

Anyways, all in all, I am really excited! I have a list of things I want to do in my 6 weeks in HK and a list of places I'd like to see during my year in Korea. I am looking forward to going out there, having adventures and maybe even saving a little money! Who knows, maybe I'll even get my bank balance in the black for the first time in 4 years while I'm out there!

• TEFL
• Korea
• Worries
• Plans