Well I discussed a little about what sparked my interest to come to Korea. Now I'll talk about the process prior to coming. After undergrad (May 11'), I applied for more jobs overseas than in the U.S. That's how serious I was about teaching overseas. I searched tirelessly on the internet for job openings. I filled out application after application. (I remember my sister, Monique telling me to, "apply for jobs like it's a full time job)." I wasn't even down and out when I had interviews for positions in America and didn't get the jobs. It simply wasn't where my heart was at the time. I believe around May my mother told me she had been watching the news and hearing about a lot of American teachers going overseas (specifically the Middle East). However, the Middle East didn't sound very appealing. One day, I found the website, http://teachaway.com. I sent in a general application (for all countries---top choices in Asia) and received a call from a recruiter in June. Most 'foreigners' use recruiters to get a job overseas.
I had a screening interview and afterwards I never received a call back. I received great feedback from my interviewer so I was a little shocked when I didn't get a call back. She told me about the EPIK (English Program in Korea- www.EPIK.go.kr. ) and thought it would be perfect for me. So why didn't I get a second interview? It was the timing. She emailed me ( to let me know that the EPIK intake was in August and it was too late to apply). She told me she would email me the EPIK application in September for the next intake in March. Crazy, right? The process is so taxing and long. Anyway, I got discouraged about not receiving a call back that it clouded my logic. It wasn't that the answer was 'no' it was simply to 'wait.' I wasn't even anticipating September because I was upset I didn't get a call back. lol I know it sounds silly but that's how I felt at the time. That's when I applied for Lead America (end of June-August 2011). All summer, I didn't apply for any jobs. I took it as a loss and was focused on Lead America and my students. Like I said in my first blog my Chinese students that summer really inspired me.
Lo and behold, Lead America ends and I get an email in September from the recruiter. She emails me the appltn and a list of needed documentation to possibly go overseas. I needed to prepare a lot of documents in advance. Also, EPIK works on a first come, first served basis so one must send in all required documentation upon having a successful interview asap! The sooner the better. I was so excited to start the process!!! However, I kept quiet about it for the most part. I didn't want to get too excited. The process wasn't fun to say the least. I won't even get into it right now. It was a fight, but I was completely determined and wasn't going to let any setbacks stop me. Period. I really wanted to go! :)
My recruiter had so much faith in me (more than I had in myself---going overseas still seemed so far-fetched and well almost impossible to me) and she constantly told me to apply for my FBI criminal record check because it takes 3-4 months to arrive. I turned in my application on October 1. I had an interview on November 1. All the documents were due December 31. I was offered the job on November 2. But guess what? I lacked so much faith that I didn't apply for my FBI check until I was offered the job. Long story short, I missed an opportunity of a lifetime! There was NO way my FBI check would arrive and be sent to Korea by Dec. 31. There were no more openings left. Even though I had a successful interview that was not the final step. The documents secured my position. I was crushed but I did it to myself! So, I gave myself 24 hrs to sulk and then I was back on it! lol Some may read this and think, "Michelle, what's wrong with you? Why did you wait?" and you should. Looking back, how I operated was ridiculous but it just goes to show how we hinder ourselves when we lack faith in God's power. YOU HINDER YOURSELF. I didn't need anyone's help to do it. Anyway, God was still in control! I hadn't been doing all that work and praying for nothing!!!
I'll never forget on Jan 28, I saw an opening for Chinju National University-School Based Enterprise in Jinju, Korea. I worked with a new recruiter from 'I love ESL.' He's legit by the way. I had an interview with him and he figured if I was a certified teacher, got into the EPIK program (a highly sought after position) and already had all my docs (by that time I had my FBI check) then there was no reason I shouldn't be hired. I sent an application in Jan. 28, received a call back on Feb 14. I flew out on March 8. I arrived in Korea on March 9 (a 4 hour flight from Houston to Cali and a 12 hour flight from Cali to Seoul, Korea, the capital). Isn't God good? The answer is an unequivocal, YES!!!
