Blog

A few weeks ago I had an email from a producer from BBC Five Live. She was interested in my experiences with i-to-i because they were making a programme about profit making volunteering companies. It seems that it’s not only i-to-i’s paid work placements programme that is dodgy. Their volunteering … Read More

I’ve been wanting to write this post since February when I scored my first job freelancing for a national newspaper – The Korea Times. But I decided I couldn’t be officially claim to be a freelance journo until I was paid, cause without money its just work experience. I submitted … Read More

One thing I’ve learnt in my ten months as an English teacher is that, despite my misgivings before I came away, I actually like kids – well some of them! Last Friday was my last kindy trip and was a day of both joy and sorrow. I’m excited about leaving … Read More

Yesterday I finally got some sense out of i-to-i when I had a phone call from the Korea in country coordinator. However whilst trying to convince me my contract didn’t violate labour laws he inadvertently dropped i-to-i in the shit yet again by revealing another way in which my contract … Read More

It is said that after training in meditation for six years Siddhārtha Gautama sat meditating under a Bondi tree and vowed not to arise until he achieved full enlightenment. Just 24 hours later he achieved his goal thus becoming Buddha or the enlightened one, from that day forth he taught … Read More

Today I was going to begin writing about my relaxing weekend at the temple but instead I am going to devote my lunch hour to i-to-i bashing! Today I received another response from i-to-i regarding the ongoing saga of their incompetence and me asking for a refund. Once again the … Read More

Kids often bring random objects into school but today surpassed all expectations. I walked into my class to find three boys, one holding a leaf, crowded around the television tugging at something underneath it. When they finally loosed their prize they showed me a live snail! Nothing my look of … Read More

Tomorrow I head to the Lotus Lantern Meditation centre for an overnight temple stay, another thing I can tick off my list of things to do before I leave Korea. When I initially found the information it sounded like a fantastic way of getting a better understanding of Korean Buddhist … Read More

On a rainy Saturday in Korea I set off to see one of the last relics of the Cold War, Korea’s Demilitarized Zone or DMZ. I opted for an organised trip run by the USO (United Service Organisation Inc) because they’re linked to the American military and I’d heard this … Read More

I’m going back in time to a Saturday a few weeks ago when I was commandeered into going to Mr Kwak’s (my boss) son’s first birthday party. First birthday celebrations are big in Korea so all the teachers were invited. In the past, due to numerous childhood diseases and the … Read More

I can’t believe the last time I blogged about leaving Korea and i-to-i’s incompetence was the day after I handed in my resignation. So much has happened since. During first few days the director was saying he wasn’t going to hurry up finding a replacement, telling Katrina he would find … Read More

Koreans are big on their days to celebrate different groups of people; today was Teachers Day. As a reward for their efforts as teachers public school teachers across the country enjoyed a relaxing day off in the sun but us hakwon (private English school) teachers slaved away extra hard because … Read More