Eh, the working conditions seem whatever (They have clauses allowing them to fire me without notice for a selection of flimsy excuses, but I gather that's par for the course when you apply at a hagwon (apparently that they call independent language schools over there). Hagwons have a reputation for being pretty hit-and-miss. but this one was part of a chain with a fairly solid rep for nice things like paying on time, paying at all, and generally only screwing their teachers over in ways that are actually legally defensible (by the way, if anyone you know does go out there, here's a link detailing what to watch out for.

In this case it's none of that, but they do demand that I attend their training course before the contract comes into effect. So I won't actually have a concrete offer at the time of travel. They also didn't include stuff that had been mentioned regarding health insurance, but they said they were dealing with a mix of part-time and full-time contracts so I guess that was a mistake. That's one of the things they're apparently now putting in. So I mean... I could do the job; it looks like tough work, but that's fine. But regardless of how easy the training is (apparently pass rates vary between branches), I have no interest in travelling across the world without a guaranteed offer. It's a shame because the lady who interviewed me sounded terribly nice, but I really don't see why someone would accept those terms. Apparently people do.

Oh, and also there's no mention of flights being paid. It's a pretty typical thing in Korea (and a lot of ESL jobs as far as I can see), but it's not here. So my flight over for my not-guaranteed job may turn out to be on my own dime. And if I get them to add a clause about reimbursing payments, that'll probably be written to be dependent on them actually offering the job, which still isn't a certainty. Worst-case scenario, they pass me over for some blonde girl and I'm lumbered with paying to fly myself to Korea for a week of unpaid work. I don't think that would happen (tbh my impression is that the place is pretty legit), but I want to be protected against it. It's seeming like I maybe ought to look at jobs closer to home to accrue a year or two's experience, then I can pick and choose a bit more. Spain seems nice (not too well-paid though), and UAE offers good money and benefits. I have some applications on the go, so we'll see how it goes.

I have a buddy from university who's in his 4th or 5th year teaching in the UAE, I think on a permanent job. We're currently only in touch through FB, but if you're considering it I can ask him fairly easily if there's anything you'd like to know

Well I'm sort of interested in what the lifestyle would be like. I guess if he's been there that long, he would probably recommend it?

I have asked him if he has any advice, and will let you know if he gets back to me

jvcc wrote:How's that lecturing gig goin'?

In my own happy news, I submitted a draft article to an academic journal and got asked to revise and resubmit. The managing editor wrote, "Typically, a 'revise and resubmit' does not guarantee publication, but the editors do believe that the piece has a great deal of promise."

So, I am super stoked.

Reasonably well! It's kind of scary how it all seems to be coming so quickly. I've got all sorts of different teaching things going on and they seem to be going reasonably well, to my eternal surprise. I've had students come up to me and tell me how they've done much better since I started tutoring them, which always gives me a lift for the day.

MysticalDescent wrote:

jvcc wrote:How's that lecturing gig goin'?

Reasonably well! It's kind of scary how it all seems to be coming so quickly. I've got all sorts of different teaching things going on and they seem to be going reasonably well, to my eternal surprise. I've had students come up to me and tell me how they've done much better since I started tutoring them, which always gives me a lift for the day.

That's good news! In my limited experience I have also found teaching to be equal parts terrifying and rewarding.

Ehhh, I got an article accepted for publication in the Journal of Modern Literature.

Wooooo! Yeah! Congrats, jvcc.

That's wonderful.

Huzzrah!

Hooray

well done!

Thank you. It won't be published until 2017, probably, but I can still list it as "forthcoming" on my CV.

The Supreme Court's ruling happened to coincide with an important first for me yesterday.

Highest five. Wish I could say I also had a personal milestone yesterday, but the extent of my bravery was to walk into an unfamiliar bar on my own and order some drinks. Almost as if I were a fully functioning adult. HA! Joke's on them.

EsBe wrote:Highest five.

Thanx, bro.

EsBe wrote:Wish I could say I also had a personal milestone yesterday, but the extent of my bravery was to walk into an unfamiliar bar on my own and order some drinks. Almost as if I were a fully functioning adult. HA! Joke's on them.

I'll give a high five for that. Going to a bar alone is terrifying.

jvcc wrote:The Supreme Court's ruling happened to coincide with an important first for me yesterday.

Good for youse!
Also good for going to strange bar!

I just went on a date (with a person (who was totally real)). This is new and exciting and terrifying--go me.

EsBe wrote:I just went on a date (with a person (who was totally real)). This is new and exciting and terrifying--go me.

YES! Go you!

So I'm in Japan being woken up by all the hostelfolk waking up around me. I'm in Fukuoka to meet with one of the regional managers from my future workplace, then I'll be heading to Chiba to meet with another. Whoops, I have an email offering me a job in Tokyo to start in November! The work situation and leaving Korea has dovetailed quite nicely, then. I should just have time for a month or so in the Phillipines. Shame about my vague ambition to ever get home though. I'm also somewhat concerned about A) Rushing into a new job unexpectedly, which did not work with the last one, and B) The cost of living in Tokyo. Concerns. Still, how fortuitous!

You could try to room in that hotel that is just beds in tube chambers... unless that's an expensive novelty, maybe it's cheap? lol.

Anyway, great news!

ntw3001 wrote:So I'm in Japan being woken up by all the hostelfolk waking up around me. I'm in Fukuoka to meet with one of the regional managers from my future workplace, then I'll be heading to Chiba to meet with another. Whoops, I have an email offering me a job in Tokyo to start in November! The work situation and leaving Korea has dovetailed quite nicely, then. I should just have time for a month or so in the Phillipines. Shame about my vague ambition to ever get home though. I'm also somewhat concerned about A) Rushing into a new job unexpectedly, which did not work with the last one, and B) The cost of living in Tokyo. Concerns. Still, how fortuitous!

Sounds like you have a lot to decide and figure out, but, still, exciting news! Whatever job opportunity you pick, I'm sure you'll be able to make it work.

Due to completing my telepictionary drawing, I had my tablet out. I got it last boxing day, and was really hoping to do some more drawing. My job and family are both very busy, and I love spending my time and energy on them. But, since I was provided with some external pressure to do a drawing, I caught the bug after I was done and I went and found a line from my own spam folder, and one from the suggestions section here and made two new comics as well for the first time in ages. I was just talking to someone on here the other day about how much I like this place, and all of that wrapped up together makes me feel pretty good right now.

Aw, I didn't see your post until now. We should definitely do regular collaborative games like Telephone Pictionary. I mean, we're a nice bunch of creative and humorous individuals. I like just talking to people on here, but I think it's also a lot of fun to make new things together.

I really loved the three word at a time stories we used to do, but I don't know how much other people are into them.

Was the three word at a time game one where we drew a picture that advanced the story with three words, or was that something out? I think there was something else along the lines of Spamusement: the game: the game?