Before you head abroad for the first time...

My first overseas teaching gig was an elementary - middle school ESL position at a school (hagwon/private English academy) called JEL in Suji, South Korea. I had just graduated from University with my Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2005 when my friend, Courta, planted the seed that we should go abroad and teach. My future intentions straight out of undergrad school involved me becoming a chiropractor after studying at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in the fall of 2006...so, I had a year to save up and work until then. I asked myself, "Why not do it in a foreign country?"...a completely foreign country that couldn't be any different from the small town of 3500 where I had grown up and spent most of my life - a town where everyone knew everyone. Now, I'd be relocating to a city on the outskirts of one of the most populous cities in the world.

The man who had recruited me for this 'once in a lifetime opportunity that I just couldn't pass up' was named was David and he worked for a company called Omega Consulting. He was a charmer and a complete scammer. He called my house, developed a relationship of trust with my mother and checked all the right boxes to sell me on this position and get me on a plane to Korea. I was by no means ready for this leap - it all happened in a 2 week span - but I felt like I'd be missing out if I didn't jump. So I did.

David fed me lies. He told me there'd be other foreigners at my school. He told me there'd be other expats in my building, and even some from Canada. He said the city was very close to Seoul and commuting was easy (to be fair, I guess it's not so far, but not so close when you consider traffic in this country!). He also said he'd be at the airport to greet me.

I boarded an airplane on June 10, 2005 for a marathon flight...stopping in New York, Anchorage and Taipei before finally arriving in Incheon, South Korea. It took about 32 hours and it was awful. Back then, there were no TVs in the backs of the seats and I can only read so much. Luckily, I did have several CDs burned by my friend Clare to help me pass the time...but then again, you can only listen to BSB, John Mayer and Jack Johnson for so long! When I finally touched down in Korea, I saw a man holding a sign (with my name spelled wrong) who I approached and who ushered me to his vehicle after helping me exchange my money at a currency desk (10,000 - 50,000 bills y'all?!). He was not David. He didn't speak ANY English. The car ride to Suji took about two hours and as we drove through this new country, with unfamiliar characters littering road signs and sights I'd never seen before, I wanted to ask questions. So many questions. But the taxi driver just shook his head to indicate he had no idea what I was asking/saying.

At about 8pm at night, I arrived at JEL - my new workplace. It seemed okay, I was given a tour and told some basic things about the school and then I was taken to my new apartment. All I wanted to do was sleep since I hadn't slept a wink on my flight(s). After fumbling with the door for 20 minutes, my new boss' wife (who spoke no English) left me in the hallway with all my bags to go and sort out this key problem. In the process, she had awoken a man next door who came out in his underwear and yelled at us (obviously in Korean). After sitting alone for 20 more minutes, I began to cry. What the f*** was I doing here?! I hadn't really thought this through! I was exhausted and my emotions got the best of me. Then, this lovely lady made her way upstairs to see me in the midst of my emotional break-down. She had kyphosis (I'd realize a lot of older women suffer from this in Asia) and though she couldn't speak any English, she invited me into her home for a glass of milk and a banana. As sweet as she was, being in her house only made me cry more. She had no table (we sat on the floor) and no bed (she slept on the floor). At this point, I thought I had signed myself up for work in a country that had no chairs or beds. I was also angry with my Korean friends at uni for not telling me this...I had no expectations arriving in a country I knew nothing about so I thought this was the new reality of my living situation. After a further 10-15 minutes, the boss' wife returned for me. It turns out, we were in the wrong building. We lugged all of my stuff back downstairs and up another couple flights of stairs in the building next door. The good news was that I had a bed. A very small apartment but there was a bed. I unpacked enough to get me through the night and just wanted to sleep. After all, I was expected at work the next morning at 10am.

The next day, I was woken up by a loud speaker a building behind me, announcing over and over again something in a language I didn't understand. Awesome. I got up, jumped in the shower and discovered there was no hot water. Why? No idea (but turns out I had to turn on a boiler switch that I didn't know about). All I wanted was a nice hot shower after looking like crap and feeling even grosser. That didn't happen. So, off I went to school, annoyed already, but still trying to be positive despite the situation(s). I had older Korean people stop what they were doing and stare at me. Not knowing what to do, or say in return, I began bowing to them. Yes, bowing. I was bowing to every person I met in the street. At least they loved it and it seemed to be the right response as they'd bow back to me. Finally, I've got something right...?!

Upon arrival at school, I was greeted by a grumpy boss who barely spoke any English. By now, it had been a solid 50 hours since I had a fluent English conversation. I asked if I could call my mom and when I did, I could barely talk. All I did was cry. I was experiencing culture shock to a degree I could never have anticipated and I just missed her...I felt I had made a mistake moving here and I was not in a good place. I was young. I'd never been abroad. I had no idea what to do or where to start. After hanging up the phone, I didn't even consider how I must have made my mom feel. The next several weeks/months would turn out to be an absolute hell for her as well, as she struggled to understand why she had let me go and now that I was in Korea, there was nothing she could do to help me...except offer to pay for my flight back home but I was so scarred from that flight, I couldn't bare to get on another airplane anytime soon. It was torture...I can't believe I've adapted so well to flying since 2005...because it was scary, uncomfortable and sickening. I could not handle another marathon flight home...even though it would mean I was back home again.

My first day involved my boss telling me what my jobs would be. It sounded awful. I'd be at school 9 hours a day/5 days a week and could be called in on weekends. I'd have a two hour break for lunch where I could go home, but I'd have to be back again. My hours were 9am - 12pm and then 2pm - 8pm; a long day. In reviewing my contract, that I had a lawyer from home go over, I can't believe I actually signed it. I just resent it to my mother last night, and we couldn't believe how naive I was to actually sign it. It's littered with mistakes...and it's ridiculous. Live and learn, I guess.

After my initial intro and an explanation of the materials I'd use to teach, I was asked to create a language test and give it to a kid. When that was done, it was time to go grocery shopping to get my home more looking like a home. My boss' wife drove me to the local E-Mart. And dropped me off. She didn't come in with me, she didn't offer to help or pick me up. My boss drew a map for me to get back to my apartment from the grocery store though - really helpful. I walked in the store and tried to get a cart. How the hell do I get a cart? A nice lady finally helped me by putting a coin into the handle bar and showing me how it worked; we don't pay for carts in Nova Scotia. So, off I went into the store. I had no idea what any of the prices meant or would be converted to. I just picked up things I needed, threw them into my cart and showed up at the cashier. Actually, it should have been that easy but I had a breakdown in the middle of the store. Everyone staring at me (they would have been anyways) as this tall, white, brunette girl with blue eyes was crying her eyes out in the cereal aisle. Again, thoughts rushed through my head - what was I doing here?! When the cashier lady told me how much I owed, I just held out my money and let her pick it out. I had no idea how much I had just spent and I trusted she'd only take what was required. Again, the Nova Scotian in me I guess.

On my way home, I realized I wanted to get flowers for the nice lady who had taken me into her home. I stopped at another shop and tried to mime out flowers. Finally, I drew a picture on paper and was handed a box of cigarettes with flowers on the front. Nope, that's not what I want/need. I guessed this place didn't have flowers and would go out and search for them later. I did find a flower shop and went back to the lady's place, but she wasn't there. I left the flowers outside of her door and would never lay eyes on this kind woman who I'll forever be indebted to! 감사합니다! 당신의 친절한 행동은 결코 잊지 않습니다!

Two more days had passed and I was still miserable. I still hadn't seen another non-Korean (well Asian to be sure), English speaker in my neighbourhood. I had yet to have a normal, somewhat fluent conversation in English with another human being. I still hadn't met David, who had promised to meet me at the airport, take me out for dinner and be my 'friend' as he quoted. At this point, my mom was rating high on the psychotic worry scale and she, fortunately, had an encounter with a girl from home who had just returned from Korea. She also had a Korean boyfriend who turned out to be a recruiter. All became right in the world when I had the chance to speak with him, I was able to give my phone to my neighbour so she could explain where I lived, and he could come and rescue me. And that's what he did. Four days after I had arrived in Korea, I did a midnight run. It wasn't the best solution, perhaps, but for my own well-being and for the health of my mom at home, it was the right decision.

Then, I heard from David. Actually, I had contacted him first to let him know I was leaving and that a friend of a friend was coming to get me. He was frantic! He promised to come and see me right away. He promised that he'd be there the following day...he fed me more lies to try and get me to stay in a place I've never been so unhappy. It didn't work though. I told him the deal had been done and I was leaving. Fortunately, my rescuer and his friend arrived to save me before David ever showed up. I was taken to a suburb of Seoul, called Bucheon, where I'd spend the next year and a month of my life...and where I'd meet some of the best friends I've ever had. I'd also come to find out that the school I was at, was a school where the girl from home's friend had worked and she'd been ripped off with rent each month, never received back her "damage deposit" (I've never seen that on a contract in Korea again) and never received her severance pay. I dodged a bullet. But David, wasn't letting me get off that easily.

He wanted his money back; he wanted to be reimbursed for my flight to Korea. Initially, I intended on giving it to him, but, I just upped and left with limited funds (because he told me I wouldn't need much to get started) so it wouldn't be immediate. I received email upon email asking for money. I sent him back the paper ticket so he could be reimbursed for the return sector of the flight and was told by my new boss that they'd reimburse him. Business in Korea is tricky. I'm sure a lot of people have horror stories about it, but the only thing my new school did to wrong me was lie and say they'd reimburse this man from Omega Consulting. However, when they had to pay for a round trip ticket for me to do a visa run to Japan (another flight - I was so scared no matter how short it was!) they decided they wouldn't pay out this man who forked out money for my flight from Canada. My new recruiter/saviour said not to worry about it, so I tried not to. But the emails kept pouring in. And my mom kept getting phone calls...calls that no doubt scared her half to death. I tried to reassure David he'd get his money, but eventually I decided that it was his fault I had left to begin with. He had wronged - if he hadn't lied to me, then I wouldn't have upped and left. Then, I got this final email from him:

I showed my colleagues and they were shocked. They also knew he was full of lies. I never replied and I never heard from again...a line was crossed and I think he knew he was in the wrong.

Everything worked out well for me in the end. In fact, I probably would have survived if I hadn't been taken away but that's just how things happened. This was one of those moments where I realized everything happens for a reason and we have to be optimistic that things will work out as they should. Since this happened, I read AWFUL reviews about this crook, David, online...I was just too naive to do my research and trust a complete stranger. If I had of done my research before leaving, I would have saved myself (and my family and friends) a lot of stress: Omega Consulting Forum

So, if you're planning on making a move overseas, be sure you consider the following first:

1. Do your research. If you're starting out with teaching ESL straight out of university, there are great sites like Dave's ESL Cafe that has a blacklist of schools, employers and recruiters with many forums to answer any and all questions you may have about making a move. Dave's ESL Cafe
2. Lonely Planet it - buy or borrow the Lonely Planet book for the country you intend on moving to. They may seem pricey but it'll get you excited about a good place to eat (if your situation does turn sour) and there are always helpful phrases in the back that can help you out in dire situations.
3. Ask to talk to people at the school. You need to be sure you'll be supported so get in touch with the person your replacing (why are they leaving?) or some of the other foreigners you'll be working with.
4. Review your contract with someone who has experience teaching overseas. By now, everyone has a connection to someone who has done this. Ask them to look at your contract and point out any loop holes...because there probably are some. Even better, get a second opinion as well, if you can! A lawyer from your hometown who will charge you money, will not have the experience or expertise that someone who's actually done it has.
5. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. You know that gut feeling that says, "Maybe I'm not ready for this.."? Well, it's probably true. Make sure you're truly ready to take the leap as it will be difficult...expect it to be the most difficult thing you've ever done. Also expect that it may well be the most rewarding thing you've ever done in the long-run!
6. Don't trust anyone. Be skeptical - it's okay! If something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. This goes hand-in-hand with #5. To this end, try to avoid recruiters that are working inside of the company and look to online forums and even recruiters that operate from inside of your home country. Also, you can go directly through a state/public school board or the principal him/herself. A lot of school owners and principals may not speak English...consider this...maybe you'd be better off looking and waiting for a school that does have an English speaking boss/owner!
7. Ask about the Visa process. I was told to lie upon entry into Korea and say that I was just visiting friends. Canadians have a 3 month tourist visa upon arrival so that was used to my recruiter's advantage. I also started working illegally...I should have had my visa sorted before I started working at JEL and this was definitely a red flag that I should have caught! There was no mention of when I would get a working visa for JEL or how, and I didn't question it. Make sure you do!
8. Have some back-up funds. Though you may be told it's okay to go with limited funds, it's best to have a back-up cash pile in case of an emergency...in case you need to get out of dodge...and fast! It's also wise to have a credit card in these situations.
9. Regardless of how bad the situation may be, once you arrive, give it a chance. Not saying I really gave JEL a fair chance, but I did give it a couple of days...until an option presented itself to free me of my nightmare. I also was too scared to go on a flight back to the other side of the world, and maybe if I had been a good flyer, I would have done this. I am SO glad I waited it out though and that I gave this amazing, first-outside-of-North-America culture a chance. :)
10. No regrets. It's important that we have no regrets and you want to go into this and come out of it without any. Remember this - every opportunity presents a chance to learn and grow. Though I wish things had happened differently, I still learned a lot from my negative situation!
11. Be excited! Your life is about to change and you're probably going on the biggest adventure of your life. Embrace that and cherish these anxious feelings you're having...it's a rush! :)

Good luck and happy travels! :)

And oh! I never did pursue the chiropractic medicine route...I fell in love with teaching and became a certified teacher...and I've been living and travelling abroad ever since!