Having just finished up my Korea: The good, the bad, and the ugly posts, I wanted to just make sure that you all knew I really did have a good time in Korea. I loved living there. Here are a few tips to make sure that you get a good contract, and have a great time living there too! 

1. Use a recruiter – I used the same one for both my contracts. They probably have a higher standard for clients and you have a better risk of getting a reputable place
2. Ask to speak to a current foreign teacher before signing a contract
3. Ask to see pictures of your living space
4. Take pictures of your apartment when you arrive, before setting anything up
5. Join Facebook groups – they can connect you with other foreigners to make friends, it’s so nice to have native English speaking friends.
6. Learn a little bit of Korean – if you’re ever in a jam, it will help. Google Translate is great for specific words but not always correct
7. Make sure you understand your contract and are getting what was promised
8. Get a pay stub to keep track of money – You should be deducted around 200,000-300,000 each month
9. Get a correct translation of your address – so people can send you mail! Who doesn’t love mail?!
10. Go out and be a tourist!
11. Don’t always act like a tourist – sometimes it’s just really nice to have normal things in life. A regular manicurist, coffee shop, gym, days to just chill at home to be lazy. Treat it like life at home.

But most importantly, enjoy the experience of a new country and a new culture! If you have any questions about the process of going to Korea to teach or my experiences there, please don’t hesitate to ask!