here is a great blog post about where to buy halloween costumes in seoul.

if you have Masters with focus in TESL/TEFL

i got this email from woman at georgetown u who ran across my blog. wanted to share the info. link and more info here: 

 http://elf.georgetown.edu/

I'd like to spread the word about this great opportunity for ESL teachers, especially those of color.  I work in recruitment and selection for this U.S. Department of State-sponsored program in the EL Fellow Program.

Eligibility requirements include:

• U.S. citizenship
• Master’s degree with focus in TESL/TEFL (TESOL Certificate with a related Master's degree)
• Fellows must have minimum two years professional TESL/TEFL experience; teacher training and curriculum/material development are helpful.
• Senior Fellows must have minimum four years teacher training/teacher development experience; overseas TEFL experience is helpful.

Benefits:

• Stipend: Fellows - $25,000; Senior Fellows - $35,000
• Living allowance covering the cost of reasonable, safe and comfortable housing (comparable to the standard of living in the country of assignment), food, utilities, and local transportation.
• International round trip transportation from the Fellow’s U.S. residence to the host country.
• Supplemental health benefit plan while abroad (not to replace any health insurance held by the Fellow).
• Miscellaneous allowances (shipping, educational materials, in-country program activities, and pre-departure expenses).

We are currently accepting applications for placements beginning fall 2011 and early 2012. 

Faith Jarmon 

Project Officer 

Georgetown University 

Center for Intercultural Education and Development 

Tel: 202-687-2608 

Fax. 202-687-2555

Email: elf@georgetown.edu 

http://elf.georgetown.edu

hair care

photo source here.
lots of sisters wonde what they're going to do with their hair when they come to south korea. my friend zakiyyah who is fabulously natural uses aloe gel for her twist outs. you can buy it and a huge variety of other products from iherb.com. they ship to korea for like $8 or so. for other hair advice, please click here for the bssk doc about hair places in soko. and click here for more useful bssk hair info. and unrelated, but i totally want to try this shealoe.  also please check the soko black hair group, "natural beauty in south korea" for advice or where to buy products and different stylists for however you wear your hair.

sn: if your looking for pure shae butter,  remember that pure shea butter should be thick and crumbly. anything smoother has already been cut with another product, so you shouldnt be paying "pure" price..

call home

call the united states from your cell phone and get charged local rates. ive been using this number for years and it's not failed me yet. thanks,eslcafe. i dont know how/if it works for other countries, but if you have a k-friend, check out their website
http://www.1688-5959.co.kr/2.htm


from your cell phone, dial 1688-4949. After you dial the number and hear the recording start, you want to dial like this:

1 - *** - *** - **** - #
e.g. 1 - 718 - 924 - 6583 - # 

Where I Come From

with thanks to steve for the links.

a story about a Korean man raised by a Black family in LA. http://iamkoream.com/where-i-come-from/

http://iamkoream.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/F-Emile-0211-PP-Dad.jpg

a new gig for supa fly

b/c of lots of luck (and mad thanks to a good friend who put in a good word for me), i got a job w/cdi april in sanbon. this is quite different than regular cdi curriculum and nothing like the middle school memory classes which are my favorite to teach, but who doesnt love working with the little ones?! they're smart and adorable and i cant wait to get into the classroom^^ And once again, here's the link to point to point subway directions in english:
http://www.smrt.co.kr/program/cyberStation/main2.jsp?lang=e

paperwork is done, son!

and now i wait for the right offer to come along...

how i got my criminal background check

as of dec 31, 2010, korea will only take an fbi background check.
it's easy, but takes about 3 months. do it here:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm

====================================================

this is how i did it while in my hometown of san diego in july 2010. Background checks are also referred to as: Criminal History Reports, Vulnerable Sector Screenings, CPIC Searches, Subject Access Forms, Letters of Good Conduct, Criminal Background Searches, & Criminal Clearance Letters.

7/14 today i went to the san diego sheriff's office License Division asked for a "Good Conduct Letter." They gave me the application, i filled it out, showed my id, and paid the fee. i couldve picked it up 3 days later, but i asked they just mail it to me. if youre in san diego, the adrs is:
San Diego Sheriff Lic. Division
9621 Ridgehaven Ct
San Diego, CA 92123
858-974-2020

7/20 got the good conduct letter in the mail.

7/21 Today, i sent the good conduct letter to the state dept to have it legalized with an apostille. it cost me $20. i sent the good conduct letter along with a SASE and my own letter saying i am applying for an e-2 visa for south korea...
if you are in cali like me:

California Office of the Secretary of State
Business Programs Division
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
916-653-3595

7/31 got the letter from the sheriff back today. i did not get the apostille b/c i didnt get the sheriff letter notarized, so i have to do that & re-send. dammit.

08/02 went back to the sheriff & got my letter notarized. mailed it off again for the apostille.

08/11 got the cbc with apostille today. horray!

E2 Visa Regulation Changes

this is info from the footprints website. more info here and here.
====================

new visa regulations regarding E2 visa effective August 31 & December .
Degree documentation (for All Nationalities):

Korean immigration will no longer accept original degrees after August 31, 2010. Instead, you will submit a copy of degree with Apostille (or Korean consular seal for Canadians). Alternatively you can get your academic record verified by the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE), however this is a very lengthy process.

Criminal Record Checks (Americans Only):

Korean immigration will no longer accept state level record checks after December 31st, 2010. Only FBI criminal record checks will be accepted. FBI checks typically take 3 months to process, and require fingerprinting to be done. click here for fbi website. If you did not submit an FBI check before the start of your last contract, and wish to renew or sign another contract elsewhere, you WILL have to get an FBI check to start that new job or even renew your current contract. You cans see full visa requirements for all nationalities here.

sample apostille

starting dec 31, 2010, your criminal background check has to be done via the fbi:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm

============ ========== ========== ==========

with thanks to asknow.ca, here is a sample apostille. send your letter of good conduct to the dept of state with a letter saying youre applying for an e2 visa for south korea. the apostille is supposed to have the following on it, or a separate piece of paper with the following on it:

1. Name of the country from which the document emanates;
2. Name of person signing the document;
3. The capacity in which the person signing the document has acted; in the case of unsigned documents, the name of the authority which has affixed the seal or the stamp;
4. Place of certification;
5. Date of certification;
6. The authority issuing the certificate;
7. Number of certificate;
8. Seal or stamp of authority issuing the certificate;
9. Signature of authority issuing certificate

print and send the sample with your request to make sure it looks right.