Time is short

This week I have been spending most of my time on the internet searching for and applying for positions teaching English as a second language to students in Korea. Why Korea? It seems that they offer the best wages and benefits. Most of the jobs in Korea will pay for your round-trip airfare, provide good living accommodations, and a good salary with a one-year contract. Some of the best jobs offer 5 weeks of paid vacation. Unfortunately time is very short. Many of the positions for the next semester have already been filled, as the sessions begin in early to mid-February. There are still some available, but because of the time it takes to properly process background checks, credentials, visas, etc... some of the recruiting companies have already told me that I am too late for most schools this upcoming semester in Korea.

I haven't given up yet. There are still new jobs posted everyday and I am applying to as many as I can. In the meantime I am gathering up documents that seem to be necessary now to most of the schools. This includes a full FBI background check, as well as a notarized copy of my college degree. Ummm, I haven't seen that in years! I had to send a snail mail application to my University along with $20 to get it re-printed. Where or how to get it notarized is another question entirely.

There are some jobs in Japan that start a bit later... but most do not pay for travel and living accommodations which can be very expensive there. Taiwan also pays well but most positions require a teaching degree which I, obviously, do not posses.

One of the most intriguing positions I have seen is in Georgia. Not the state... but rather the former Soviet Republic. Situated along the black sea, its Mediterranean climate is not too much different from that of Southern California. I would be paid the equivalent of about $275 US dollars a month. Wow! My current unemployment checks are $450 a week! I would live in a home with locals. Apparently one can live rather comfortably on about $100 a month there. The government would pay for my airfare. THis one I am the most apprehensive about.