Sunday, February 16, 2014
Church Ramblings
So day at church we had a few things that just cracked us up (not because of anyone else, but just us! We are so funny!--serious someone needs to invent the sarcastic font!)
First, all the song books are in Korea, except one. Sometimes the Korean's make sure we have it and sometimes they don't. During the first song Lucas looked over and saw the one page in the Korean book that is in English (the page that tells you what page the songs are found in the English book compared to the Korean book). He turns to the correct song and hands it to me. I look at him and just say "thanks" but in the are you an idiot?' kind of voice. He looked shocked and hurt for a second then looked at the book, He figured out what he did and started laughing. It is hard in the middle of church to not laugh---so of course that never helps, but lucky for us we were able to stop our shoulder shaking silent laughing by the time the last verse hit, which was good cause Lucas had the opening prayer.
In our religion when we take the sacrament we pick up the bread with our right hands, and use our right hand to lift the cup to take the water-- So after church a man came up to Lucas and asked if our kids where left handed because they were taking the sacrament with their left hands. It is not a RULE anywhere, but more symbolic and most people are aware of this, but our kids are still small and since they are not old enough to be baptized (except Sedona), they technically don't even HAVE to take the sacrament, which is a point of disagreement between Lucas and I --when should kids start taking the sacrament. I say from the time they can do it themselves, Lucas says when they are baptized---so we have agreed when they can recognize a picture of Jesus and say his name (normally around 2) they can take the sacrament. ANYWAY--so on the way home Lucas was telling me things he WANTED to say to the man, but thankfully didn't. One of which I thought was brilliant! He wanted to say "We make our children take it with their left hand until they are baptized, then they are allowed to use their right". I actually thought that was really interesting!!
So during the sacrament, Lucas was holding Wheeler. He pointed at a picture of Christ and said, "who is this?" Wheeler got all excited and said "Daddy!" Oh man--again silent shoulder shaking laughter!
Well now that I have typed all of that I am not thinking it is as funny anymore--but it is a memory I want to keep so I guess it will stay!
A year ago & new friends
Almost a year ago Lucas and I were driving home from Denver about this time. We had spent Christmas with my mom and stayed for a funeral of a close friend of the family.
Of course with the new year we were talking about resolutions. Lucas had made a few and Amy had made a few. Amy's were pretty unrealistic and detailed, while Lucas was very vague and real.
Lucas wanted to develop more talents and take a chance and mix things up. Two specific goals for him were to read the Book of Mormon and to reach his goal weight of 185.
I wanted to pack up the house and start over fresh and to become more focused on what is important--not be so spread out. I am sure there were more, but those were the biggest one. I think I had said something about working and helping us pay off my school loans-which is the only debt we have-beside house.
Then I (Amy) said: "We should go to Korea."
Lucas: "Well, it is the only place I know you could get a job where YOU could support us with your education."
Amy: "Ok, lets go."
Lucas: "Ok, but this is all on you. You have to make it happen."
Amy: "Ok. I want to do it."
That is NOT the exact conversation, but I am sure close enough. Both Lucas and I remember him saying exactly: "this is all on you."
So that is how it happened. The next day I was home and started looking into what I needed to do. I knew for sure we would need a passport so I started there.
The whole process took us about 5 months and we were pushing hard. We were overnight-ing stuff, we were cutting things CLOSE. I suggest planning on AT LEAST 6 months if not 8 to get paperwork done. Of course if you are more organized then I am then it would take LESS time, but I will not get to that now!
In fact I think I did post recently a blog on what we did to get here, but all my blog posts are not in order and some were written a lot time ago, but not published till now....
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We had a cookie decorating party at a lovely woman's house named Sonia. We met a really need family, David and Monica and their two children, Mickey and Lena.
Mickey and Lena have changed their names to John and Sharon.
We have been to their house a few times and always really enjoyed ourselves.
They have a TON of English children books and their house is HUGE!
This is David, I don't even know his Korean name. He is a very quiet and thoughtful person. He teaches English at his home.
Wheeler loves the space, the boy toys, and a friend to play with--But Wheeler has a hard time sharing with John! But whenever we tell Wheeler we are going to Johns he gets VERY excited and says "MY John, My John!!"
Monica is showing the kids some cool magic tricks. John is the little boy in the red plaid shirt, but Sharon wasn't in this picture.
Sharon is about 20 years old, but the girls love her!
I will try to get a good picture of Monica and David next time we go.
I have taught them house to make Pancakes and Cookies (both from a premade mix, so it wasn't hard), but they were impressed with the results. Sharon loves to cool, but I haven't been able to cook cause both times we were suppose to meet with them we have been REALLY late so Sharon had to go to work, or church.
Yeerah!!
Saturday Jan. 25th Yeerah and her brother, sister, and dad, all came down and visited us for a few hours. We met at Home Plus and walked to a restaurant that I really liked, only to find it closed!
We walked further down the road to another place we had eaten and really liked. On the way Yeerahs dad almost got hit by a car that was backing out. She drove around the block and came back to apologize to him. Even Yeerah's family said that the drivers in Suncheon were kind of wild. I don't know Yeerahs dad or brothers name. Her sisters name is Ara. Yeerah sounds like E-rah and her name sounds like like Ah-rah. There mom was ill and couldn't come.
Her dad is a really fun and friendly guy. He really like Wheeler and towards the end he was pushing Wheeler in the stroller saying (in Korea to the other Koreans) "I'm a big boy, look at what a big boy I am!"
I really liked him. a
Our first attempt at a group picture---the log I tried to us wasn't level--ask you can tell.
Someone volunteered to take this for us --so it is better.
We had a GREAT time visiting with them. Yeerah is off to University soon so maybe we can see her in Seoul one more time before we go home. We want her brother to come and live with us for a school year!
They taught us how to play a tradition Korean game--I totally beat Yeerah (but it is all luck, no skill needed)
You have four sticks (these are huge compared to normal imagine over-sized chopsticks) and one side is painted black. During your turn you throw them up in the air and however many land with the black side up is how many spaces you move on a game board. If all land white side up you move five spaces. First one around the board wins.
This is a guard protecting the government buildings.
An old lady (fake) in a house -- she didn't like the garlic I had--I don't blame her it stunk!
Beautiful detail.
Yeerah and siblings. I can't remember her brothers name, but her sister is Ah-rah.
They are really a cute family!
We got small gifts for them and they got us Strawberries!!
So wonderful! They left at about 4:30 so they could go visit a neighboring town and see the sites there, but we had a great time with them.
Hiking the Mountain
Behind our apartment is a 'mountain' with a ton of trails on it. They are adding new trails everywhere and updating (landscaping) many of the trails they had before. The first Saturday in February we went for a hike, I thought it would take about 3 hours total, but after 7 hours we final made it home! Our kids are amazing!
I was the ornery one.
They have most of the trails nicely marked, in both Korea and English.
This little area use to be natural, but Lucas said they brought in a bulldozer and redid that whole area--notice the newly planted trees. But it does have a cute little pond behind us and a small stream of water trickles down those rocks. Very pretty.
Pepper gathering stuff to make a nest---We had to tell her three times to stop picking everything up cause she couldn't walk and hold everything at the same time!
Sedona likes to walk with Dad, because he is more adventurous than Mom. Lucas is also amazing because he carried Wheeler for about 5 hours of this hike.
Looking down on our half of Suncheon. All those tall buildings are apartments--each building holds at least 800 people.
You can't see our apartment here, they are covered by the hill to the left of the picture.
That park is the Lake Park that we have talked about often in our other post.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Step by Step to Korea - Kind of
http://pegasusteachers.com/gettinge2visa.html
All the pictures are really random pictures--but a post with pictures is MUCH easier to read--so enjoy!
The above link is to the page for the information below--this actually was pretty helpful to me.
I will go into more detail about each step we had to take to get there.
This was our experience as a poor American Family---every experience will differ, I should say that this whole process was for a family of five coming from the United States in 2013. SO...
Before we start reading below --- here are some terms I didn't know before this process--
Apostille: There are two kinds of Apostille stamps: A stamp that you have to get on your documents that show the United States
(or your state) recognizes this piece of paper as legal--and so that other countries will recognize it.
FBI background check vs. Background check: There are 'background checks' that only check you out in that state and than there is the FBI background check--which checks you out in every state in the US, to make sure you didn't just jump to another state to get a clear background check.
Certified Copy: To get your diploma notarized you would have to have the people who signed your diploma (School president and others) there with you, and since that ISN'T going to happen...you have to get a certified copy (I went to my local bank)--THEY make a certified copy and then have a certified stamp or 2nd page they print with it---I will try to go into more detail later.
The whole process can take about 6 months:
FBI background Check= 6 weeks to 6 month
Apostatized Background check=1-2 months
Diploma = (if you have to order a new one = 4 weeks)
Apostatized Diploma =about 3 working days
Passort =Pictures-about 10 minutes, passport papers-about 20 minutes, passport 2-6 weeks.
You will need some money set aside for paperwork, because over night-ing stuff cost us at least $300! BUT we did have to send some stuff twice--I will get into later!
When you are in Korea you have a Visa, which is proof that you are legally working in Korea, which also gets you your health care, and your foreigner card, which gets you the ability to get a phone, open a bank account and pretty much live normally among the Koreans. The visa type of Visa you will receive is a E-2--IF you bring a non-working hubby or kids they will have a F-3 visa (I think it is an F-3).
Like I said before: THE RED PARTS ARE THIS are WORD FOR WORD from the other site, but with my experience is writen in BLACK!
So this is how it worked for me
January: decided to go to Korea. Started to get information.
February: Got Passports set out
March: Got background Check sent out
April: set for Diploma (since I couldn't find mine)--NOT transcripts (though I did get a copy of those (just in case)).
May: Turned in EVERYTHING and seriously LAST MINUTE get everything done and get on a plane to KOREA!!
June: Start working!
The sad thing is--I started typing this the first week we were in Korea and I am just now finished--It is January! I have forgotten a lot of stuff, and hope that this has been a good overview for you. Seriously--I mostly you-tubed video's and read blogs. If I got stuck I would watch another you-tube video on that specific step.
Wish I could have been a little more helpful--but Good luck and if you read this and do end up in Korea--tell me when and where!
Thanks.
All the pictures are really random pictures--but a post with pictures is MUCH easier to read--so enjoy!
The above link is to the page for the information below--this actually was pretty helpful to me.
I will go into more detail about each step we had to take to get there.
This was our experience as a poor American Family---every experience will differ, I should say that this whole process was for a family of five coming from the United States in 2013. SO...
Before we start reading below --- here are some terms I didn't know before this process--
Apostille: There are two kinds of Apostille stamps: A stamp that you have to get on your documents that show the United States
(or your state) recognizes this piece of paper as legal--and so that other countries will recognize it.
FBI background check vs. Background check: There are 'background checks' that only check you out in that state and than there is the FBI background check--which checks you out in every state in the US, to make sure you didn't just jump to another state to get a clear background check.
Certified Copy: To get your diploma notarized you would have to have the people who signed your diploma (School president and others) there with you, and since that ISN'T going to happen...you have to get a certified copy (I went to my local bank)--THEY make a certified copy and then have a certified stamp or 2nd page they print with it---I will try to go into more detail later.
The whole process can take about 6 months:
FBI background Check= 6 weeks to 6 month
Apostatized Background check=1-2 months
Diploma = (if you have to order a new one = 4 weeks)
Apostatized Diploma =about 3 working days
Passort =Pictures-about 10 minutes, passport papers-about 20 minutes, passport 2-6 weeks.
You will need some money set aside for paperwork, because over night-ing stuff cost us at least $300! BUT we did have to send some stuff twice--I will get into later!
When you are in Korea you have a Visa, which is proof that you are legally working in Korea, which also gets you your health care, and your foreigner card, which gets you the ability to get a phone, open a bank account and pretty much live normally among the Koreans. The visa type of Visa you will receive is a E-2--IF you bring a non-working hubby or kids they will have a F-3 visa (I think it is an F-3).
Like I said before: THE RED PARTS ARE THIS are WORD FOR WORD from the other site, but with my experience is writen in BLACK!
All English Teachers preparing to work in South Korea in ESL teaching jobs have to apply for an E-2 visa. The entire process takes 6-10 weeks.
We started the Paperwork process in January and we arrived on May 28th....plan on taking a while. But we did have some problems.
(Canadians must get their documents notarized then verified by the Korean Consulate in their jurisdiction. Everyone else must get their documents notarized and apostilled.) Once you have accepted the position to teach English in Korea, the teacher will be asked to mail the following documents via FedEx or DHL to the school in application for your VISA for teaching in Korean schools.
I SUGGEST you do all the paper work before applying to a school, because it will make life a LOT less stressful if you are not waiting for a Visa, and already have a flight!
SO If you can't find your ORIGINAL COPY Of your DIPLOMA (like me!) you have to send for one. Lucky for me I live 25 miles from my college and i just popped in and asked for a copy. I think it was 17 dollars? Maybe 25? After that they had to send in the request (my full name, and the year and semester I graduated) Anyway--it was frustrating cause it cost money and took extra time--4 weeks extra time! Find your diploma!! I found it while I was packing up the house to move! Also they don't want a copy of your transcripts (which is all the classes you took and the grade that you got in each class), all they want is an apostatized copy of your official diploma. (If you haven't noticed, I have no idea how to use the word Apostilled...apostatized...apostatize....ugg! Anyway it is a pain in the butt!)
No idea where this is---These are all from my husband Camera cause I have posted most of all my good pictures already.
UGG...finally I called a number at the bottom of the sheet they had used when they returned my diploma and asked THEM how to do it. The first person didn't know so I hung up and got someone else and THEY knew how to do it and even told me what page it was on in the notary handbook so the notary could look it up. SO I took that information in to the bank and had to walk through the process with them. Come to find out the bank can make a CERTIFIED COPY of the diploma and NOTARIZE their signature. There is a form they fill out and staple it all together. THAT is what you send to get apostatized. AFTER you send that in you get paper work back. A copy of your diploma stapled in three places to another piece of paper-- WARNING...WARNING...WARNING -- DO NOT UNDO THOSE STAPLES! I wanted a copy, so the the bank lady took them apart and made copies of each page and then I stapled them together again and mailed it off to Korea. It came back -- SERIOUSLY!! I got a letter that said 'the staples have been messed with and that makes us suspicious--please resend everything!' SO back to the bank--to get another certified copy--mail THAT back to DC to get apostatized, get it back, mail it BACK to Korea--and THEN move on to the next step. I wish I could express how much stress and pressure this caused me. I have caused my back and head to hurt just typing about the experience! So after I had all that paper work in the works--I asked a guy I knew who was living in Korea how he had gotten his job--he told me about www.ESLCAFE.com or google daves ESL cafe. It was SO helpful!
A Friend from America came to visit and brought his daughter!
The kids loved having her visit!
MOVING ON... After getting our passports and the school to teach at I had to send my passport to the Korean consultant in order to get my Visa. IF I would have waited and got my Visa in Korea, I would have had to flown to Japan, because you can not get a Visa issued in the country you are working in. I am not sure why--BUT I know you can't. So we stressed over sending my Passport to California and have it returned to my moms house the DAY BEFORE we would fly to Korea! Let me tell you about STRESS! I had the phone number to FED-EX memorized I called them SO much to check exactly where my envelope was to that I could get it in time. I really think the driver in my area was THRILLED to get ride of the at package because the company would contact him everytime I called to see if he had received my envelope or where he was on route! My paper work all came in on Saturday morning about 9:00 AM---I flew out of Denver Sunday night at 6:00 pm-ish.
I
An empty street in P(b)usan
FBI Criminal Record Check (RCMP Search for Canadians) - Notarized and Consulate Verified (Appostiled)
For me this was pretty easy--I called the local police station and asked where the closest fingerprint place was---it was the Jail---So I called the jail and found out they do fingerprints on Mondays from 11am-3pm ONLY if they are not super busy. I was able to pay with a check, but then had to take everything back to my car since no cell phones, purses or anything, is allowed in the jailed. I was let in (through about 3 big and locked doors) and they had a computer that was telling them if my fingerprint was clear enough--either I move a lot or the person doing the fingerprints was really bad cause it took about 1/2 hour to do the prints. Then they printed them out and I was on my way. I did get two copies, but only needed one--I have heard that other people needed two copies...
My husbands first batch of homemade Kimchee Chegea. SO YUMMY!
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Copy of Resume
Make sure you have someone else look it over for mistakes.
Make sure you add ANY experience you have had with children or teaching.
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Again--no idea where they are, but pretty.
So this is how it worked for me
January: decided to go to Korea. Started to get information.
February: Got Passports set out
March: Got background Check sent out
April: set for Diploma (since I couldn't find mine)--NOT transcripts (though I did get a copy of those (just in case)).
May: Turned in EVERYTHING and seriously LAST MINUTE get everything done and get on a plane to KOREA!!
June: Start working!
The sad thing is--I started typing this the first week we were in Korea and I am just now finished--It is January! I have forgotten a lot of stuff, and hope that this has been a good overview for you. Seriously--I mostly you-tubed video's and read blogs. If I got stuck I would watch another you-tube video on that specific step.
Wish I could have been a little more helpful--but Good luck and if you read this and do end up in Korea--tell me when and where!
Thanks.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Korean Bucket List --
(UPDATE 1/1/2014--All the things that are in ( ) are things that I have updated today!)
So I had a few things on my LIFE bucket list before coming to Korea that I knew I could accomplish in Korea... (I wrote this at the end of November)
like
1. Ride on a subway
And then after reading blogs about Korea I started to add other things to my Bucket List that were specific to Korea...
like
7.
10. Find at least one KPop song I really like
11.
16. See the Cherry Blossom festival
17.
18.
20. Be really good with homeschooling (Started this on Dec 30th--so far so good)
21
Since being here I have added even more
22.
23. See the lantern festival
24. Be helpful to any foreigner who needs help
25.
26. Go to a Bath House
28. Leave with the same amount of suitcases we came with
2
Lucas Bucket List:
1.
2. Enjoy it while I am here so I can look back on it fondly.
3. Reach my goal weight (he is within 3 pounds)
4.
Peppers:
1.
Sedona
So our new Bucket List looks like this
1. Find at least one Kpop song I really like
2. Go to a Bathhouse
3. See the lantern festival
4. See the Cherry Blossoms
5. Be helpful to any foreigner that needs help
6. Leave with the same amount of Suitcases we came with
Lucas:
1. Reach my goal weight
2. Enjoy it while I am here so I can look back on it fondly.
Christmas Activities
Christmas Cookie Decorating
A friend named Sonia Knapp that we met a few months ago has been inviting us to do things, but we have always had sometime going on--so we were very happy when we were able to go to her Cookie decorating!! She had invited some other kids, and we invited our Korean friends, and we all had a great time.
Wheeler loved the cookies and was a horrible mess the rest of the day--sugar doesn't agree with this kid!
But he looks so cute doing it!
This is our friend Edwin. When we ask him "how are you?"
he answers "handsome!"
Our friend Amanda---she and Edwin are siblings and they speak the best English of the kids who go to school with our girls.
We really like them.
Sedona cracks me up!
They seemed to have a great time.
These two kids and there parents were really great. The dad went to College in USA and then taught at a college there, the little boy is the best English speaker his age I have ever seen. The girl didn't talk so I don't know if she spoke English well or not.
More cookies--Sonia did an amazing job! 100 cookies, tons of fun decorations, and lots of frosting!
Making new friends
The only picture I got of Sonia! She has a great place
I think the sugar crash is happening in this picture!
The following pictures are of the cookies we decorated.
These are Amy's--and I think Wheeler ate the ones he decorated
We had a great time and were so glad we went.
After this we went to the Chruch
This is brother Kim and his son. This family is really amazing. They have three sons, two are totally talented, and the third some is handicapped. He is about Wheelers age mentally, but is actually about 14.
One of Brother Kims sons playing the piano. The decorations for Christmas were really fun.
This is Brother Kim and another ward member doing exercise. They were both really flexible and I was totally impressed. Wheeler was having a breakdown from all the sugar so Lucas was dealing with him and my camera kept dying and my phone was dead so I have a few videos from the event I will try to post later.
It was a talent show and our family sang a song. Overall the night was fun. They gave our family big boxes of junk food and a santa hat.
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