mama-cass

misleading username ^

Hi there, I apologize if this has been addressed -- kinda skimmed the comments. I recently got a CELTA, and possibly would like to find my second job in Korea, so I could bombard you w questions but i'll try not to:

1) What's your opinion on EPIK? (Or what have you heard positive/negative?)

2) I would imagine you know a few people who have also taught in Japan. Do you have any sense for what the difference would be between the two countries in terms of life as a foreign ESL teacher? If you were to choose again, would you go with SK or Japan?

3) Any advice regarding recruitment agencies, etc?

4) Do you know any teachers who weren't required to remove piercings? All I have is cartilage, nothing crazy, but that part of the EPIK app is a small bummer.

5) I don't know much of anything about Korea, so if you have any favorite cities or locations I'd love to hear about them!

Sorry that was a lot -- thanks a ton for any you can answer, I really appreciate it!

a few days late, but i'd really appreciate an answer, this is something i think about a lot. do you ever feel guilty or weird about possible sociological implications of being a peace corps volunteer? i am and always have been interested in joining someday, but i feel uncomfortable sometimes with the idea of being an upper middle-class american college grad coming in to a foreign environment to 'help the less fortunate'; i wonder about the efficacy of relatively transient volunteers (and how this impacts the staying power of their projects?), i worry that PC might inhibit the empowerment of community members to address affairs, etc.

i'd really love to hear if you've had any conflicting feelings on this stuff, discussed it with your fellow volunteers in Madagascar, had any relevant experiences, etc.

(thanks so much, i ask this question when i can on AMAs because i am sincerely interested - i really hope you don't feel attacked, because i have tremendous respect for the individual effort and experience!)