---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Jon,

Thanks for your interest.  I wouldnt mind if you put my write up on your
website. 


Shannnon

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 My Experience in Korea so Far     

                   Wow there has been a lot of submissions since I last
posted. Everyone so far has a valuable opinion that is true and real. My
biggest suggestion is talk to teachers here before you do it. I have an
extensive email I have saved in my mailbox describing good and bad and what
to ask for in your contract. 

                   I am about to sign for year two because I need the money
to pay my student loan and for the most part I'm comfortable here. Anything,
your sceptical about ASK before you step on the plane because your word goes
a million times further than a piece of paper that is shreadable and make it
stick. 

                   They have just invested a money in you and want you to
stay. I waited for a job that would pay my airfare from my country that way
he had to spend the money and try to make me comfortable so I wouldnt leave.
I made him pay round trip despite what the contract said. People NEED
teachers here and I think the money investment on their side from a foreign
country to them makes it just as scary to them and good because there are
too many people getting the shaft.

                   My school is wonderful and I can give some insight and
reccomendations. Im still in the Hakwon and I like it. Yes it is a business
first but your teaching makes the job for you and your experience wil go
down on paper for your resume later at home. One good thing as I see it is
these directors are quick to sign anything and that can be to your advantage
in terms of a recommendation or reference letter.

                   I have lately been keeping a picture and writing
portfolio to prove all of the things that I have done here. It will look
good I hope for something when I go home. Bring me down to earth if anyone
thinks I have been away from Kansas too long.

                   So im riding on the train to Pusan and a little "ajuma" 
or gramma comes to me and speaks Korean like Im fluent. She slaps me on the
back and tells me and my friends that she has an American son in Law. And
how her grandson speaks with an accent.

                   Sometimes gramma's like to comment about my weight (which
I have become surprizingly more confident about my physique since comming
here though im not Professor clump or anything). This gramma was differnt
and at the risk of sounding romantic I want to tell you what happened.
hahaha

                   On the way back from Pusan I see her again. Who knew?! it
is a city of 2.5 million. She had been berry picking and she filled my hands
with so many berries I couldnt move them. She smiled and hugged me and
laughed because we met again. Then left for a nap on the train. So maybe
this sounds small but it made my week.

                   I feel like there is good and bad in every
culture...people call me fat, others say I'm beautiful and appearance is
pretty important here. Some laugh at me and others come and talk. All in all
I'm used to it and will do another year.