faculy orientation guide

Nurturing Future Leaders of the New Pacific Century at the Hub of East Asia

Overseas Direct Hire Faculty Orientation Guide 2011-2012

Overseas Direct Hire Faculty

Orientation Guide 2011-2012

Nurturing Future Leaders of the New Pacific Century at the Hub of East Asia

Welcome to Asia Pacific International School The number one reason faculty members join APIS begins with our unique mission and vision. Our mission of educating the future leaders of the New Pacific Century commits all of us here at APIS to truly global education that sets us apart from other typical international schools.

Asia Pacific International School prides itself in providing a distinctive model of international education in the context of East Asia. By emphasizing East Asian studies and languages in its curriculum, APIS is committed to making the educational experience in Korea an opportunity to achieve a greater

either Chinese or Japanese). By acquiring these sorts of “East Asian Competencies,” our students will be able to distinguish themselves from others and to gain the competitive edge necessary to succeed in this era of globalization.

In delivering on our mission and vision, the most important element however is the quality of our teaching staff. I am a firm believer of the saying that “the quality of an educational institution cannot exceed the quality of its teachers.” Despite its short history, APIS has achieved enormous success because we have attracted first-rate educators who are skilled in their craft and, more importantly, passionate about their profession. And, for this reason, APIS is committed in providing our teachers with competitive benefits and ample resources so that they are able to do what they do best:TEACH AND INSPIRE OUR CHILDREN! Lastly, I would like to emphasize that you will be joining a school that practices mutual respect and showing appreciation for others. Firmly found in Christian Faith, APIS strives to provide a loving and caring Christian environment where all members, both Christians and non-Christians, belong together, supported and encouraged.

Again, welcome to APIS!

Euysung Kim, Ph.D. Director Asia Pacific International School

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opportunity to graduate being fluent in English and at least two East Asian languages (Korean and

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understanding and empathy for this part of the world. In particular, every APIS student will have the

Table of Contents 1. About APIS a. Mission b. Core Emphases of APIS Education c. Christianity and APIS

2. Background Information on Korea a. Geography b. Population c. Economy d. History e. Religion f. Climate

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3.Visa Procedures 4.Your Contract 5. Packing and Shipping a. General b. Shipping c. How to select what to ship

6.Travel to Seoul a. Tickets b. Travel Arrangements

7. Arrival 8. First Week Expectations at APIS 9. Housing a. APIS Housing Policy b. Your Apartment on Arrival c. Temporary Soft Furnishings d. Utilities

10. Cars and Driving a. APIS Vehicles b. Driver’s License

11. Computers a. Laptop PCs b. Email c. Internet Service

12. Health a. Staying Healthy b. Being Safe in Seoul c. Medicines d. Immunizations e. Children’s Health

14. Tips for Living in Seoul a. Entertainment and Recreation b. Language c. Food d. Transportation and Travel e. Shopping f. Television and News g. Mail h. Cell Phones i. Time Zone j. Money Matters k. Telephone l. Worship Services m. Embassies

15. Appendices a. Map of Korea b. Map of Seoul c. The Seoul Subway System

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a. Faculty Work Days b. Teacher Work Times Additional c. Responsibilities

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13. Teaching Responsibilities

1. About APIS a.The Mission Statement and Vision THE MISSION STATEMENT APIS strives to educate its students, in a loving and caring Christian environment, to become globally enlightened citizens, who are able to bridge the gap between the East and the West and are ready to welcome the exciting challenges of the new Pacific Century.

APIS VISION The APIS vision is motivated by the following core values derived from the acronym of our school name:

Aspire.

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All of us at APIS are pioneers with the highest expectations for ourselves as well as for each other. Our aspirations are ultimately driven to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

PHILIPPIANS 3:14, NIV

Persevere.

We press on in patience. To persevere is not simply to endure hardships and obstacles. It is to put us on the path to success! We firmly believe that if we put our patience to work and press on, God’s promise will be revealed and fulfilled in our lives.

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

HEBREWS 10:35-36, NIV

Integrity.

We strive for honesty and truthfulness guided by our relationship with the unchanging God. The measure of one’s integrity is in fact shown when he or she does something wrong: repent and step back into God’s grace.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word. Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.”

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APIS strives to be a community that nurtures each other in the unity of our faith. We nurture each other by serving each other and by learning to take correction from the Holy Spirit and from His people. Spiritual growth does not occur in isolation but does so when we are joined together as a body of Christ.

“[By] speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

EPHESIANS 4: 15-16, NIV

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SpiritualGrowth.

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PSALMS 119: 105-112, NIV

b. Core-Emphases of APIS Education • Area Emphasis on building “East Asian Competencies” APIS offers a rigorous, US-style Pre-K-12 curriculum with an added emphasis on the East Asian culture and civilization to help our students gain the competitive edge necessary to take on the challenges of the new Pacific Century. Hence, at APIS, our foreign language emphasis is currently on three major East Asian languages: Chinese, Japanese and Korean. As part of the Enrichment Program, our students will also be immersed in Korean literature, history, and culture. We encourage our students to go beyond English which is our language of instruction and acquire proficiencies in at least two East Asian languages.

• Curricular Emphasis on Science, Math and IT Education Technology is a main driver of economic as well as social changes in this era of globalization. In our state-of-the-art classrooms and science labs, we take advantage of our superb IT-infrastructure in every possible aspect of the learning experience to provide an innovative and up-to-date education in science, math and computers.The ultimate aim of our curricular emphasis is to develop our students’ potential to become future leaders in a world where keeping up with the latest changes in science and technology is of the utmost importance.

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• Co-Curricular Emphasis on Performing Arts Program The APIS education philosophy is anchored in our commitment to help our students nurture their unique talents and aid in their own personal growth. APIS is committed to establishing an extensive Honors Performing Arts Program (with a particular emphasis on music). We offer instruction in a wide rage of musical instruments taught by a truly exceptional group of faculty members and to purpose built music rooms and practice studios, to help our students further develop and explore their talents.

• Spiritual Emphasis: A Loving and Caring Educational Environment Rooted in the Christian Faith With its foundation deeply rooted in the Christian faith, APIS strives to provide a truly loving and caring Christian environment where students of Christian faith and students from all religious and cultural backgrounds can be nurtured together to achieve the highest possible level of intellectual and personal development.

c. Christianity and APIS Firmly founded on the Christian faith, APIS seeks to foster the spiritual growth of its members in a loving and caring Christian environment where both Christians and non-Christians can work and learn together.

We believe that an environment where both Christians and non-Christians are working and learning together is highly advantageous for all. Such an environment can, we believe, lead to a kind of spiritual growth that is more robust and enduring than would otherwise be possible in more traditional settings.

For the non-Christian student, it amounts to being afforded a unique opportunity to understand the Christian faith, a movement which has been incalculably important in the shaping of world history and culture. We believe that this alone is of tremendous educational value. Lastly, for all students, this model helps equip them to successfully live and work in a very diverse and increasingly close global community..

Christian education at APIS is departmentalized, as opposed to being infused into every part of our curriculum. The Chaplain and the Spiritual Life and Education department at APIS administers to spiritual guidance and Christian education of our students.Any course offerings not led by the Spiritual

Life and Education department are, by design, identical to those offered in a standard, non-religious context. In other words, the availability and opportunity to access Christian education specialists and programs set APIS apart from other secular schools..

While a plurality of worldviews is acknowledged at the school, APIS does not espouse other religious traditions. Neither have we designed the Spiritual Life & Education department to incorporate them in our spiritual life and practice. We do encourage all students and staff to pursue spiritual life and knowledge, but to this end, the school does not endorse or offer as part of our program practices rooted in religious traditions other than Christianity. This we see as essential to maintaining clarity in the theological position of the school.

Our Philosophy As a Christ-centered school, we espouse the following beliefs:

1. A PIS is an educational institution focused on academic excellence, intended to serve students of all faith.

• APIS aims to maintain an atmosphere where all members respect the personal convictions of others. Each student is ensured of the right to make his or her own decision about faith. At the same time, by choosing to matriculate in a committed Christian school, non-Christian students are expected to respect APIS’ Christian norms and practices.

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2. APIS will provide each student the opportunity to consider and accept the Christian faith in an atmosphere without pressure or the fear of disadvantage.

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• APIS is committed to providing a truly loving and caring educational environment where all children, regardless of their race, religion, gender, or nationality, can be nurtured together to achieve their fullest intellectual and personal development.

2. Background Information on Korea a. Geography Area Area comparative Coastline Climate Terrain Natural resources Land use Irrigated land

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Natural hazards

total: 98,480 sq km land: 98,190 sq km water: 290 sq km slightly larger than Indiana 2,413 km temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential arable land: 17.18% permanent crops: 1.95% other: 80.87% (2001) 11,590 sq km (1998 est.) occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest

b. Population Population Population growth rate Life expectancy at birth Ethnic groups Religions Languages Literacy (% of age 15 and over who can read and write)

48,422,644 (July 2005 est.)

0.38% (2005 est.) total population: 76.85 years male: 73.42 years female: 80.57 years (2005 est.) homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%, other 1% Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school total population: 97.9% male: 99.2% female: 96.6% (2002)

c. Economy Prior to the economic crisis of 1997, Korea's impressive growth performance was part of what has been described as the East Asian miracle.The three decades of extraordinary growth that transformed Korea from one of the poorest agrarian economies to the 11th largest economy and exporting country in the world, culminated in its accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on December 12, 1996. Korea's rapid development was driven by very high rates of savings and investment and a strong emphasis on education, which boosted the number of young people enrolled in universities to among the highest levels in the world.

d. History The history of Korea stretches from Lower Paleolithic times to the present. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BCE, and the Neolithic period began before 6000 BCE, followed by the Bronze Age around 2500 BCE. According to legend, the Gojoseon(Old Joseon) kingdom was founded in 2333 BCE, eventually stretching from the peninsula to much of Manchuria. By 3rd Century BCE, it disintegrated into many successor states.

In the early Common Era, the Three Kingdoms (Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje) conquered other successor states of Gojoseon and came to dominate the peninsula and much of Manchuria. During this period, Koreans played an important role as a transmitter of cultural advances, aiding the formation of early Japanese culture and politics. Census records from early Japan show that most Japanese aristocratic clans traced their lineage to the Korean peninsula. The current Japanese Emperor stated that "it is recorded in the Chronicles of Japan that the mother of Emperor Kammu was of the line of King Muryeong of Baekje," and "I believe it was fortunate to see such culture and skills transmitted from Korea to Japan."

The Korean kingdoms competed with each other both economically and militarily. While Goguryeo and Baekje were more powerful for much of the era, defeating Chinese invasions several times, Silla's power gradually extended across Korea and it eventually established the first unified state to cover most of Korean peninsula by 676.

This period is often called Unified Silla. Soon after the fall of Goguryeo however, former Goguryeo general Dae Joyeong led a group of Koreans to eastern Manchuria and founded Balhae (698 AD - 926 AD) as the successor to Goguryeo. After Balhae was defeated in 926, much of its people led by the Crown Prince was absorbed into Goryeo.

Beginning in the 1870s, Japan began to force Korea out of China's sphere of influence into its own. In 1895, Empress Myeongseong of Korea was assassinated by Japanese agents. In 1905, Japan forced Korea to sign the Eulsa Treaty making Korea a protectorate, and in 1910 annexed Korea, although neither is considered to be legally valid. Korean resistance to the Japanese occupation was manifested in the massive nonviolent March 1st Movement of 1919. Thereafter the Korean independence movement, coordinated by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in exile, was largely active in neighboring Manchuria, China and Siberia.

With the defeat of Japan in 1945, the United Nations developed plans for a trusteeship administration by the Soviet Union and the United States, but the plan was soon abandoned. In 1948, new governments were established, the democratic South Korea and Communist North Korea divided at the 38th parallel. The unresolved tensions of the division surfaced in the Korean war of 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea.

e. Religion Unlike some cultures where a single religion is dominant, Korean culture includes a wide variety of religious elements that have shaped the people's way of thinking and behavior. In the early stages of history in Korea, religious and political functions were combined but later became distinct.

Historically, Koreans lived under the influences of Shamanism, Buddhism, Taoism or Confucianism, and in modern times, the Christian faith has made strong inroads into the country, bringing forth yet another important factor that may change the spiritual landscape of the people. The rapid pace of industrialization which occurred within a couple of decades compared to a couple of centuries in the West, has brought about considerable anxiety and alienation while disrupting the peace of mind of Koreans, encouraging their pursuit of solace in religious activities. As a result, the population of

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In 1392, the general Yi Seong-gye established the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) after a coup. King Sejong the Great (1418-1450) promulgated Hangul, the Korean alphabet, as an alternative to Chinese characters which were previously the only system of writing. This period saw various other cultural and technological advances. Between 1592 and 1598, Japan invaded Korea, but was eventually repelled with the efforts by the Navy led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin, resistance armies, and Chinese aid. In the 1620s and 1630s, Joseon suffered invasions by the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

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Unified Silla itself fell apart in the late 9th century, giving way to the tumultuous Later Three Kingdoms period (892-936), which ended with the establishment of the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Goryeo period, laws were codified, a civil service system was introduced, and Buddhism flourished. In 1238, the Mongolian Empire invaded and after nearly thirty years of war, the two sides signed a peace treaty.

religious believers has expanded markedly with religious institutions emerging as influential social organizations.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitution in Korea. According to a 1995 social statistics survey, 50.7 percent of Koreans follow a specific religious faith. Buddhists account for some 46 percent followed by Protestants at 39 percent and Catholics at 13 percent of the religious population.

f. Climate The nature of Korea's climate is defined by its mid-latitudinal location and peninsular configuration, as well as its position as an appendage to the world's largest continent,Asia, and is influenced more by the continent than the ocean. Korea has a humid, East Asian monsoonal climate. The mean temperature during winter is generally below freezing. However, summer in Korea is quite hot. In most of the country, the mean temperature of hottest month is above 25 degrees C, except in the northern interior.

The summer monsoon season brings abundant moisture from the ocean, and produces heavy rainfall.

About 70 percent of the annual rainfall comes during June through September. Korea also experiences some typhoons during the summer months. The southern coast generally gets one or two mild typhoons a year, and a strong one every two or three years.

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Spring Spring on the Korean Peninsula comes with the arrival of the swallow, a migratory bird from the south, and the blooming of cherry blossoms in the last part of March or early April along the southern coast and nearby islands. It begins in the middle of April in the central part of the country, and in the last part of April in the north. By April, a thaw sets in, and streams swell as ice breaks up, and spring rain comes in drizzles. Rainfall increases gradually during March, April and May.This rainfall is slight, but it is adequate for preparing seedbeds for rice, sowing spring vegetables, and planting summer crops such as barley and soybeans. Spring winds are characterized by varied direction. The early spring has more gusty and dusty winds from the northwest, and as summer approaches, moist airstreams start blowing from the south. Spring is rather short, usually little more than two months, April and May, especially in the northern part of Korea.

Summer Summer in Korea is hot and rainy. The season usually begins in June, when the temperature rises above 20 degrees C, in most of Korea except the northern interior, and lasts about four months. The monthly rainfall is generally more than 100 millimeters. Summer is the season of cyclonic storms and monsoonal rains. Especially in July there are many rainy days mingled with short clear spells and less cloudy days. Summer rainfall is characterized by heavy showers, often exceeding 200 millimeters of rainfall in a day, or sometimes more than 300 millimeters. This heavy concentration of rainfall occurs frequently in inland basins where airflows converge. During the summer rainy season, rivers and streams throughout Korea are filled with runoff water from the upper reaches which often causes floods. Abundant rainfall and hot summers are necessary for growing rice. Inadequate rainfall or the late arrival of the rainy season is liable to cause failure of rice crops. There is very little difference between north and south in summer temperature. Temperature differences are greater between the coast and the inland areas than between north and south.The highest temperature, 40 degrees C, was recorded at Taegu and the inland basin on August 1, 1942.

Autumn Autumn is rather short, lasting about two months from October to November. This is the season of transition from the hot and wet summer monsoon to the cold and dry winter monsoon. October

brings a decided shift in air mass movements with a dry, continental airstream resulting in clear days.

Nights are cool, particularly in the north, where frost normally occurs at this time. The clear autumn days are the most pleasant of the year. Dry and sunny weather is indispensable for rice to ripen and for farmers to reap it. In the central and southern parts of Korea, this is the season for planting winter crops such as barley and wheat.

Winter

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During the winter the climate contrast between the northern and southern regions is most apparent.

A January isothermal map shows that the minus 20 degrees C. line passes the northern inland region while the 4 degrees C. line passes the southern coast. Junggangjin, North Korea, the coldest place on the Korean Peninsula, has a mean temperature of minus 20.8 degrees C. and Jejudo Island has one of 5.2 degrees C. during January, the coldest month. Thus, the north-south difference in January temperatures is about 26 degree C. In the winter of 1933, Junggangjin had the lowest temperature ever recorded in Korea, minus 43.6 degrees C. Winter is characterized as cold and dry with the cold spell generally caused by the influence of the Siberian high pressure cell, a cold and dry air mass. However, due to fluctuations in the high-pressure cell, the northwest winter monsoon is not continuous, allowing calm periods when the weather is milder. Winter in Korea is long, lasting four months in the central and southern regions. Most rivers in North Korea are frozen over for several months. The winter temperature has an important bearing on agriculture. Where the cold is not overly severe, two crops, usually rice and barley, may be grown.

3.Visa Procedures: E-7 Working Visa In order to reside and to be employed in the Republic of Korea, all Foreigners or expatriates must have valid passports and working visas. E-7 visas are for teachers working in international schools.

Procedures for obtaining E-7 visas are as follows: 1. Prepare yourself with a valid passport.

2. After you have signed two copies of the employment contract, send both copies to APIS (one will be returned back to you) along with the following required documents for visa. a. Photocopy of the first two pages of your passport b. Your resume/cv (signed and dated) c. Photocopy of all undergraduate and graduate diploma(s) (notarized and/or apostilled)

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d. An original copy (not a photocopy) of Teaching certificates (if any, including ESL/ ESOL teaching certificates) e. Five recent colored photographs (size: 3cm x 4cm for the official immigration office document) f. Criminal background check (notarized and/or apostilled) g. Self health statement (signed) 3. Once all the required documents listed above are collected, it will be submitted to the Korean Immigration office for visa issuance approval number. You can obtain visa on your passport with this number from Korean embassy or consulate before you come to Korea. ( It is important to submit the visa application to the related consulate because each Korean Consulate is responsible for only a specific area of a host nation.) • Please make sure that you’ve obtained the correct visa. If there’s some mistake, please contact Korean Consulate as soon as possible.

4.Your Contract • Salaries are paid monthly (11 payments with the first payment at the end of August and the last payment at the end of June). Payment is 70%USD and 30% Korean won (at the exchange rate fixed in your contract).The salary is tax free if the employee qualifies for tax exemption under the Korea’s tax treaty with the employee’s home country.

• Severance Pay: A full-time employee, who is employed for a year or more, is eligible for a severance pay equal to 1/12 of the annual salary for each year of employment (and a prorated amount for a period of employment less than a full year). The accumulated severance pay is paid out, at the school’s discretion, either in KRW or USD upon separation from APIS employment. The exchange rate used for these calculations will be the exchange rate set in your employment contract. No adjustments are made during the contract years for exchange rate changes.

• Work Hours: 8 hours per day, Monday to Friday. There will be 3-5 nights/weekend days per year that teachers are expected to work (i.e. Open House, Back to School Night, Winter Concert, etc).

• Employment and salary are conditional on verification of credentials, degrees, experience, placement files (or letters of recommendation), personal resume, and all post high school transcripts, evidence of which will be submitted to APIS within seven days of reporting for duty.

• Teachers shall not engage in any other employment nor engage in any activity that might be construed as a conflict of interest during the term of this contract without the prior written approval of the Director.

• If for reasons beyond the control of APIS, a teacher elect to terminate his/her employment with the school before the expiration date of this contract or you are terminated for cause before the expiration date of the contract, this contract shall become null and void in accordance with the current personnel regulations. Teachers hired through recruiting agencies who elect to terminate their contracts before the expiration date are responsible for all fess as described in their contract with said agency.

• Any change in your marital or legal status, your spouse’s employment status, number and location of dependents, or any other significant changes from the conditions under which you were originally hired shall necessitate a review of current and/or subsequent contract status.

• APIS salary and benefits are not based on an open pay scale. By signing your employment contract, the employee agrees not to discuss his or her salary and benefits package with other APIS employees.

Any questions or issues with regard to the salary and benefits package should be addressed to the Director.

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• Teachers will work during the term of this contract under the direction and supervision of the assigned Administrator and/or the Director. A teacher’s primary teaching responsibility shall be determined prior to his/her first assigned duty day and may be further adjusted during the school year, if necessary, to meet the school’s needs. Each teacher will also be asked to assume one professional duty per semester. (e.g., an after school extra-curricular activity of about 2 hours per week commitment).

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• During the term of this contract, teachers shall abide by all Korean laws and regulations and the policies and regulations of APIS which are currently in force.

5. Packing and Shipping a. General It is recommended that you use your own discretion in bringing to Korea the things that might be needed to help make you feel at home as well as make your adjustment easier. You should pay particular attention to those goods which are expensive locally or hard to find. Check with your airline for details of your baggage allowance.

b. Shipping A reputable company in Korea should handle all shipments. Contact one or more and request their nearest agent in your home country. All their prices are competitive, and all of those listed below are recommended. However, the school bears no responsibility for your shipment whatsoever. You may also wish to contact companies in your own area.

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If you choose an agency other than one listed below, ensure that, your home country agency makes a connection with the Korean branch office and arranges for an agent to receive and deliver your goods. Remember to ship “Door to door.”

• Hyundai Shipping : http://www.cyhds.com/eng/index.html • Excess Baggage Company : http://www.excess-baggage.com/ • Maersk Line : http://www.maerskline.com

c. How to select what to ship Think carefully before packing and bringing valuables, antiques, or anything you cannot afford to lose.

More and more articles are becoming available, but imported goods are somewhat expensive.

Do Bring From Home • Large sizes of clothes, underwear, swimming suits, and shoes are sometimes difficult to find.

• Medications you are accustomed to.

• Your favorite “Western” brands of shampoo, soap, toiletries, etc. (especially deodorant can be hard to come by in Korea).

• In Korea, cheap items are indeed inexpensive but expensive items are really expensive. If you have any affinity for top brand items (Gucci, Prada, and etc.), buy them at your home town outlet store.

Even if they are not top brand items, anything you can pack away from an outlet mall is cheaper than buying in Korea.

• If you like sports, bring your sports equipment. It is very expensive to buy top quality sports equipment in Korea (especially for bicycles, golf clubs, ski equipments and etc.) Somehow everyone in Korea uses top brand equipment.

• BUY SLINGBOX and install it in your parent’s or your friend’s house back home. If you bring it to Korea, then it is of no value. It is the best way to watch your favorite tv programs back home in Korea. (see www.slingmedia.com) To make it work, you have to get an additional cable/or satellite box in your parent’s place (additional box is very cheap to rent) and hookup your slingbox to that unit. Otherwise, you (in Korea) will have to watch the same channel as your folks back home.

• Even some everyday household items are usually cheaper in the U.S. and Canada. Actually, almost anything you can buy in a major discount store in the U.S. will be cheaper. The only consideration is the cost of transportation. If you are shipping a container and have left over spaces, by all means stuff them all you can with your favorite items. But, for a minor move where every inch of the volume will cost you, it is not usually worth to bring bulky everyday use items.

It is Better to buy in Korea • 220-volt electronics and appliances (many of your electrical appliances from home will not work in Korea, due to differing plug sizes and voltages) • Regular household items – simply because it cost more to bring them.

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6.Travel to Seoul a.Tickets • APIS administrative office will send you a ticket for your trip to Seoul.

• You must arrive in Seoul by August, 1st, 2010. If you arrive earlier than this date, the school may not be able to assist you.

b.Travel Arrangements • Mrs. Josephine Kim, APIS Registrar, will contact you to verify your point of departure. Her email is jokim@apis.seoul.kr.

• She will then arrange with our travel agent to send you the airline ticket.

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7. Arrival On arrival in Seoul, a school representative will meet you at Incheon International Airport, immediately after you have cleared customs and exited the airport. The person meeting you at the airport will take you to your apartment.

Staff Contacts: (to dial the number from outside Korea dial 82 then drop the zero; to dial inside Korea drop the 82 and include the zero).

APIS

Cell Phone

E-mail

Director

Euysung Kim

82-(0)10-6286-8465

ekim@apis.seoul.kr

Director of Development and Public Relations

Chung Min Ko

82-(0)10-4907-5102

cmko@apis.seoul.kr

School Office Manager

Jade Shim

82-(0)11-9778-2069

jshim@apis.seoul.kr

Julie Jung

82-(0)10-6369-7870

juliejung@apis.seoul.kr

Program Officer

Grace Sin

82-(0)10-4853-5438

gracesin@apis.seoul.kr

* Once you arrive in Korea, if you have any problems, please contact Jade Shim, Julie Jung, or Grace Sin. They will be able to help you with any problems you may have upon arrival.

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8. First Week Expectations at APIS

The first week at a new school is a time when many different feelings come forth and flourish: excitement, nervousness, uncertainty, accomplishment, etc. Here at APIS, we are all committed and dedicated in helping new teachers with a smooth transition into a new country, culture and school community. Here is a list of what new teachers can expect during their first week at APIS. • Welcoming: Not only will new teachers be welcomed upon arrival at the airport, but there will be a number of informal gatherings and meetings as an opportunity to get to know other new teachers and the administration.

• School Facilities Tour:Within the first couple of days at APIS, new teachers will be given a tour of the school facilities (classrooms, gymnasium, music rooms, cafeteria, playground areas, etc.)

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• Transportation: Arriving into a new country can be intimidating, especially when it comes to transportation. New teachers will be picked up in the morning from their apartment in an APIS van and will be transported to and from the school. After the first few days, and with some guidance from returning teachers, the commute in the morning and afternoon using local transportation is easy, safe, quick and clean.

• Mentor/Mentee Meetings: There will be many opportunities during the first week (both formal and informal) for new teachers to be introduced to and to exchange ideas with their mentor teacher.

• Administrative Meetings: There are a number of administrative requirements that need to be discussed during the first week. During this time new teachers will not only be introduced to the mission, philosophy and teacher handbook of APIS, but will also have an opportunity to set up their bank account and to discuss a number of other pressing issues: cell phones, Internet access, bills, trash, AC, etc.

• Computer Software Meetings: Here at APIS we use a number of applications that new teachers need to become familiar with in order to effectively communicate with students, parents and other staff.

Some of the applications teachers use on a daily basis includes: Grade Quick, Rubicon Atlas, Edline and SMART board. (Training sessions for these programs and equipments will be provided during the orientation week)..

• Classroom Set-up Time: Having an ample amount of time to set up the classroom is one concern on the mind of new teachers. Among meetings, workshops and informal gatherings, new teachers will also be given a considerable amount of time to set up their classroom environment.

• Entire Staff Retreat: New teachers will arrive back to school a few days prior to returning teachers.

When the entire staff is together, the administration will set-up a retreat so all teachers have the opportunity to get to know one another better, to discuss important school policies or goals, to visit a new part of Korea, and/or to build collaboration among the staff.

• Health Check: Due to Visa requirements, overseas hires will need to get a health check in Korea prior to the completion of their Visa. Within the first few days, all new teachers will go to the clinic together with a member of the administration. It is an easy process and the school administration will help with all the paperwork.

• Staff Shopping Trip: There are a number of large super-markets in Seoul that are within a short taxi ride from all new teacher apartments. At some time during the first week in Korea, new teachers will take a trip to one of the local super markets (E-Mart, Home Plus, Costco, etc.) as a group in order to do some shopping for their apartments. This market will give new teachers an opportunity to buy not only food, but also items for their kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, etc.

• Neighborhood Walk: It always takes a few days or weeks to become familiar with a new neighborhood.

During the first week, a returning teacher will lead a group of new teachers on a neighborhood walk to help them get acquainted. During this time the returning teacher will assist with: the buying of a T-Money card (used on the subway and local buses), showing how to get to and from school, locating near-by subway stops, the pointing out of pharmacies and markets, etc.

• Local Trips: Occasionally a returning teacher will act as a guide and lead a group of teachers to local places within Seoul for the day. These trips in the past have included museums, palaces, markets, etc.

• Survival Korean Classes:An introductory “Survival Korean Class,” given by one of the Korean language teachers, will begin during the first week at APIS. This class gives new teachers the opportunity to learn useful Korean words/phrases.

• First Week Evaluation: Following the first week at APIS, new teachers will be asked to fill out an evaluation form in order to give feedback and to improve upon the orientation program.

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9. Housing a. APIS Housing Policy Apartment houses are leased by the school and assigned by the administrative office to the faculty based on factors such as family size, age of children, and special needs. All apartments meet western living standards. Single teachers usually share an apartment with their own private rooms.

b.Your Apartment on Arrival Every attempt will be made to have your apartment ready for you when you arrive. The apartment will have basic furniture and major appliances. In a few cases, new teachers are placed in leased housing in which the apartment owner furnishes the apartment and you may not have exactly the items listed below. Of course, it is up to the teacher to spend the money to provide the “extras� that make the difference between a house and a home. Your apartment will be equipped with the following: 1 queen bed (or 1 single bed) , wardrobes, couch, coffee table, chests of drawers, one desk per teacher, a dining table with 4 chairs, an air conditioner, refrigerator, gas stove, washing machine, bookcase, microwave oven, and basic cupboard items (pots and pans, etc).

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c.Temporary Soft Furnishings If needed, new overseas-hire faculty will be provided with a starter kit of household items. These are provided for your temporary use until you either purchase your own locally or your shipment arrives.

You will be accountable for returning these items by the end of October.

d. Utilities Korea uses 220volt electricity. Transformers will be available locally to use your favorite 110v appliances but it is cumbersome to use transformers all the time. If the appliances (like most laptops and shavers) have free voltages, all you need then is an adaptor (available locally) to fit the local socket.

10. Cars and Driving a. APIS Vehicles A limited number of school owned sedans and mini-vans are available after school hours at a per kilometer charge.

b. Driver’s License If you have a foreign driver’s license, it is much easier to get Korean driver’s license because you do not have to take a road test. Korean road test is very difficult to pass so if you intend to drive in Korea, it is suggested that you get your license from your home country first. Our local staff members will help you get a license in Korea.

Even if you are applying for a permanent license in Korea, we recommend you to get international driver's license issued from your home country.You can drive with your international driver's license for 1 year, from the date of entry to Korea. The Korean government does not issue International Driver Licenses for foreigners; these licenses must be obtained outside of Korea. There are many reasons you might want to drive with international license, rather than with domestic license.

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• Phone : (02) 330-5644 Fax : (02) 374-0080 E-mail : helpdesk@npa.go.kr

Orientation Guide 2011-2012

• www.dla.go.kr/eng/main.jsp

Overseas Direct Hire Faculty

For additional information and requirements, please see the following website:

11. Computers a. Laptop PCs Do bring your laptops to Korea or you might consider purchasing one in your home country before coming. Computers are no cheaper in Korea than in most other countries. For those who do not own a computer, there are APIS owned laptops/tablet PCs that can be made temporarily available to our faculty members. Any loss or damages due to negligence or misuse while the computers are in the possession of the teacher will result in charges. The cost of repairs due to misuse will be the responsibility of the user. The kind of laptops used at APIS can be purchased at a reduced price through the school.

b. Email

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You will be issued a school e-mail address shortly after your arrival (or if you would like it sooner just contact Julie Jung at Juliejung@apis.seoul.kr. APIS email portal is found at mail.apis.seoul.kr. If you choose to bring a laptop computer equipped with a LAN card, you may connect to the school network and enjoy full network services such as email, library access, internet/ intranet and print service from your teacher work area.

c. Internet Service High speed internet service provider is available in Korea at a cost of about $20~$40 per month.You may choose to explore this option if you would like to have email and internet access at home. Our staff will be able to provide you with information in this regard when you arrive.

12. Health a. Staying Healthy Health care in Seoul is very cheap and available to everyone. The doctors are qualified, the clinics are clean, and the staff is professional. Most doctors speak some English. After receiving a prescription from a doctor, you may have it filled at a pharmacy (yak guk).This should not be difficult as pharmacies are everywhere and there is always at least one located close to hospitals and clinics.You can purchase OTC drugs at very reasonable prices and you can you can usually find things like hair care products, birth control, pregnancy tests, and traditional medicines.

The following is a list of medical centers which include an international clinic: • Samsung Medical Center 82-2-3410-0200 • Sinchon Severance Hospital 82-2-361-6540 • Asan Medical Center 82-2-2224-3114 • Kang Buk Samsung Medical Center 82-2-723-2911 • Hannam-dong International Medical Center 82-2-790-0857 • Seoul Foreign Medical Center 82-2796-1871

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• Gangnam Catholic Medical Center 82-2-590-1114 • CHA General Hospital 82-2558-1112 • Soonchunhyang Hospital 82-2-709-9881 • Seoul National University Hospital 82-2-760-2890

b. Being Safe in Seoul Most foreigners feel very safe in Korea, even more so than in their home countries. In most neighborhoods it is not dangerous to be outside even very late at night. However, as a city with over 10 million people, crime does exist and one should always be careful despite the apparent lack of danger. Seoul can be a somewhat dangerous city with respect to civil unrest. Large scale protests are a common occurrence and sometimes you will see buses packed full of riot police near where the protests are taking place. These protests usually do not turn violent but it is best to steer clear of an area where one is being held.

One important tip is to register with your embassy when you arrive in Korea. Registration ensures that your whereabouts will be known in the event of a major disaster or war. You will also receive periodic updates regarding what to do in the event of such a major catastrophe. For a list of embassy websites see the list in the “Tips for Living in Seoul” section.

c. Medicines If you require prescription medicines, you should bring a sufficient supply with you. Find out the generic name of the drugs in your medicine. Korea has a modern pharmaceutical industry, and most likely your prescription is available here, although it may have a different brand name. All prescription drugs and medical records should be carried with you and not trusted to a freight shipment. Prescription drugs arriving by mail will be assessed a heavy duty.

Orientation Guide 2011-2012

• Yeouido Catholic Medical Center 82-2-789-1114

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• Samsung First Medical Center 82-2-2262-7071

d. Immunizations Medical opinion varies as to which immunizations are advisable when living in Korea. Check with your doctor for all immunizations required, and carry a complete set of records of all immunizations you have had with the dates. Most people receive the typhoid series and the Hepatitis A and B vaccinations.

e. Children’s Health Again, check with your doctor for all immunization required and carry a complete record of what immunizations your children have received with the dates. This should be documented on an International Health Certificate and brought with you to Korea.

• Minimum requirements are: full series of DPT, Polio, and MMR. • Many doctors recommend the typhoid series for children.

• BCG, the vaccine against tuberculosis, may be given to children and babies. However, you are advised to discuss this with your physician first.

• Measles and rubella immunization are also recommended.

• Smallpox, cholera, or yellow fever vaccinations are not required.

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13. Teaching Responsibilities a. Faculty Work Days New faculty members are required to report to the school in August 2010 (see “Arrival” section in this guide). Returning faculty must begin work one week before school begins. Faculty will be required to remain one day following the close of school in order to bring the school year to a close.

b.Teacher Work Times The teacher workday is from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Various sporting and cultural activities take place after school hours and at weekends. All teachers are expected to contribute to the extra-curricular activities program.

All teachers are teachers of our ESL students within the classroom. Hence, it is possible to have a wide range of abilities in each class and teachers are expected to differentiate student learning as they develop their units.

c. Additional Responsibilities

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• Participate in off-site student field trips • Attend meetings such as staff and departmental meetings • Carry out supervisory duties at break times and/or at the beginning or end of the school day • Participate in parent-teacher conferences • Attend special events and support student functions outside of the regular school day • Serve on committees • Lead at least two extra-curricular activities for students • Participate in the community and service program

Orientation Guide 2011-2012

• Assume primary responsibility for student development by serving as a homeroom teacher with responsibility for the day to day pastoral care of students.

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In addition to his or her teaching responsibilities, we expect our teachers to:

14. Tips for Living in Korea a. Entertainment and Recreation Seoul is a dynamic and vibrant city that has just about everything you could possibly need. It has all the entertainment options that you would expect to find in a big city such as theaters, restaurants, and bars. But Seoul also has a lot of parks and mountains located in and around the city in which you can enjoy a wide range of sports including soccer, baseball, cycling, or one of the Korean people’s favorite activities – hiking. Last but not least, there are many amazing cultural sites to visit like palaces, temples, and museums. Another great cultural experience is to see some traditional Korean performances such as Talchum (mask dance) and Samulnori (Korean percussion and dance).

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You may also decide that you would like to learn something new or continue to pursue one of your current hobbies or interests while you are living in Korea.There is no shortage of opportunity to learn new skills or join one of the countless activity-based clubs. Korea has many institutes and academies in which you can learn things like martial arts, yoga, dance, cooking, and musical instruments.You can also search the Internet or look in magazines and newspapers to find clubs to join for a variety of activities such as travel, photography, and sports. Koreans tend to be very group-oriented and the average person often belongs to a number of different clubs or classes, so joining these kinds of groups is also an excellent way to make new friends in Korea.

General Information Websites: • www.koreainfogate.com - Korea Infogate • www.korea.net - Korea Net • www.tour2korea.com - Tour 2 Korea Popular Expat Websites: • www.seoulscene.com - Seoul Scene • koreabridge.com -– Koreabridge • www.korea4expats.com

b. Language The Korean language is classified as a member of the Ural-Altaic family (other members of this family include the Mongolian, Finnish, and Hungarian languages.) Until the 15th century, most documents were written in classical Chinese characters. In 1443, King Sejong, the 4th ruler of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), created a new writing system specifically suited to the Korean language. This script is known as Hangeul and it is considered by many prominent linguists to be the simplest and most logical writing system in the world.

Hangeul, is made up of 14 basic consonants, 6 regular vowels, plus a few more complex consonants and vowels. It is a phonetic alphabet and surprisingly easy to learn. If you study hard, learning how to read Korean takes just a couple of days.

Basic Korean consonants:

Basic Korean vowels:

Although there is a lot of English used in Korea and you can get by without learning much Korean, studying the language will make your time in Korea much more comfortable, not to mention rewarding.

Korean people are very appreciative of foreigners who put some effort towards learning the language, and you will find that people will often compliment you on your Korean ability even if you are just using basic phrases. There are many institutions that offer Korean language programs, especially in Seoul. Every major university has a Korean language program and there are also a number of private academies that offer classes. Finally, many Koreans who are learning English are interested in doing language exchange sessions, which is a great way to learn Korean for free and meet people at the same time.

Korean language study websites: • http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/. - Sogang University Korean Language Program: the best free website for learning Korean.

• http://www.interedu.go.kr/indexe.html - Kosnet : Korean government website for studying Korean.

c. Food

Eating out and ordering food in is also very common and cheap in Korea. In your basic Korean restaurant you can get a full meal for about 3 or 4 dollars. Of course there are many restaurants which are much more expensive; in fact, some of the most expensive are the Western style so-called “family restaurants.” A number of chains such as TGI Fridays and Outback Steakhouse have been very successful in Korea. Also, if you don’t feel like leaving the house almost any food you want can also be delivered with no extra charge for delivery. You can order in Korean food, Chinese food, pizza, chicken, etc. The only hitch is if you don’t have a Korean speaker helping you, you will have to master ordering and saying your address in Korean first.

Vegetarians will quickly find that very few Korean people are strict vegetarians and at first it may be a bit challenging to find foods that do not contain any meat at all. Many dishes in Korea contain very little meat but the idea of making strictly vegetarian food is not widespread. However, there are many very delicious Korean foods that are made without meat and once you have found them you will be pleasantly surprised. Probably the most common Korean vegetarian dish is Bibimbap. It is made with rice and various vegetables and mixed with red pepper paste for extra taste. If you are a strict vegetarian make a habit of asking every time you order whether or not the food contains any meat even if it looks like there is none.

Orientation Guide 2011-2012

When you attempt to go shopping for food in Korea you cannot expect to find everything you are used to eating back home. However, if you search around a little you will be surprised how many foreign products can be found in Seoul. There are a few Walmart locations in Seoul and even a Costco which carry a large selection of Western products. Additionally, some of the larger Korean department stores, such as Hyundai and Lotte, invariably have a rather large grocery store in the basement levels. These are also a good bet for finding foreign foods. Moving down in size there are the Mom and Pop supermarkets in every neighborhood that carry all the essentials, but don’t expect to find any Kraft Dinner there. One suggestion is to go shopping with a Korean friend when you first arrive to help you find what you are looking for.

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Much of Korean food is made from what can be found in the surrounding oceans, plains, and mountains of Korea. The most distinguishing feature of Korean food is its spicy flavor which comes from one of the prime ingredients – the red pepper. Korean meals are served with a large number of side dishes which can include various vegetables, fried fish, eggs, and of course Kimchi. Kimchi is considered the Korean national food and is served with virtually every meal. It is made by fermenting cabbage and then adding red pepper and other spices. Koreans also enjoy many different varieties of meat dishes including Bulgogi, marinated beef or pork which is then barbequed. There is also a wide variety of different soups available in Korea and they tend to be quite spicy and very rich in flavor. These days, food from many different countries around the world can be found in Korea including all the usual Western fast food restaurants.

d.Transportation / Travel Korea's public transportation system is extensive and cheap, accessing almost every place imaginable.

For quickly getting around the city and avoiding the increasingly heavy road traffic, taking the subway can be the best way to go. Subway lines go to most of the popular areas, with stops near the major train stations and bus terminals. One trip costs between 900 and 1200 won depending on the distance. Station signs are written in English and Korean, as well as Chinese characters at some stops.

Announcements about the upcoming stop are made in Korean and English.

You can also use the well-developed bus system to get around. Buses go to every part of the city but figuring out which one to get on can be a bit of a challenge. Stops near a subway station or major landmark are announced and displayed in English but otherwise all the stops are in Korean.The drivers often go pretty fast and make very sudden stops and starts. Also, some buses can be very crowded and you will be unable to find a seat. However, like the subway, the bus fares are very reasonable. It costs between 500 and 1300 won to take the bus and you can also make transfers between buses or to the subway if you get yourself a transportation card.These cards are available at all subway stations and many convenience stores.You can put money on the card and then you don’t have to worry about having change for the bus or the subway.

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In Korea there are always taxis available at any time day or night. Just stand on the side of almost any street for a few minutes and one will come by. Of course taxis are more expensive than the bus or the subway, but relative to Western standards they are quite inexpensive. However, there are two different kinds of taxis in major cities in Korea. There are the standard ones and then there are the deluxe taxis which are much more expensive. The deluxe taxis are usually black nice looking cars, whereas the standard ones are silver or white and a little more plain-looking. Many areas also have call-taxis or vans that will come and pick you up when you call them, for an added charge.

Traveling around the country is also quite easy and there are a number of different options for doing so. A couple of years ago Korea introduced its first bullet train called the KTX. On this train you can get from Seoul to the port city of Busan on the southern tip of the peninsula in just over 3 hours at a cost of about 50,000 won. The equivalent trip by bus takes about 5 1/2 to 6 hours depending on traffic and costs about 30,000 won.The buses are very spacious and actually quite comfortable. If you are not concerned about getting where you are going quickly then you can also choose to take the original slower trains for about the same price as the bus.

To reserve tickets for trains, including the KTX, visit this website: http://english.barota.com/index_eng.jsp. Reservations for buses are not normally necessary as they leave the bus terminal (located at the subway stop called “Express Bus Terminal” at the intersection of lines 3 and 7) at regular intervals throughout the day and you never have to wait very long. http://english.tour2korea.com/01TripPlanner/Transportation/air_main.asp?konum=1&kosm=m1_4this is the transportation section of the Tour 2 Korea website listed earlier. There is a lot of great information and some interactive maps on this site you can use to plan trips inside and outside the city.

e. Shopping Seoul has no shortage of shopping districts and some of them are so enormous that you would have no hope of seeing the whole place in an entire afternoon. The two largest markets in Seoul are called Namdaemun Market (near Seoul Station, subway line #1) and Dongdaemun Market (Dongdaemun Station line #4 or Dongdaemun Stadium line #2). Namdaemun is known for having everything you could possibly need; the challenge, however, is to find what you are looking for in this huge maze of shops above and underground. Shopping is an adventure in Namdaemun. Dongdaemun Market is mostly clothing and there are a number of large department stores in the area along with smaller shops clustered around them.

If you are looking for items that you miss from home or clothing that is more Western style then you might want to check out Itaewon (Itaewon Station, line #6).This area is located near the US army base in Yongsan, so when you arrive in Itaewon it almost feels as if you have left Korea.The streets are filled with clothing shops, tailors, and souvenir shops. Many of the “brand name” goods you see in Itaewon are knock-offs, but if you don’t mind that you can get some pretty good deals here. Itaewon also has great restaurants, pubs, and bars. The population of the area is very diverse and as such you can find great food from all over the world. Some of the most popular restaurants in the area serve food from countries such as India,Thailand, and Vietnam.The pubs and bars in Itaewon range from the somewhat classy to the very seedy, but some of the nicer ones actually have quite a pleasant atmosphere.

There are many other shopping districts in Seoul which are more specialized. Some of the more trendy shopping districts include place like Myeongdong, the Ehwa Women’s University area, and the poshest of them all Apgujeong. If you are looking for traditional Korean souvenirs, teahouses, and restaurants then check out Insadong (Anguk Station line #3). For electronics go to the Yongsan Electronics Market (Sinyongsan Station line #4). There are simply too many shopping districts to list here, so for more information see the general information websites listed above.

f.Television and News

• http://english.chosun.com/ - The Chosun Ilbo • http://english.yna.co.kr/ - Yonhap News

g. Mail Sending and receiving letters and packages in Korea is no problem. When sending something home, simply take your package to the post office and based on where you are sending it they will work out the postage for you. The one problem you may run into is receiving larger packages from home. For letters and small packages you can have them sent to your home address. However, because you only have a small mailbox, you cannot receive large packages at your home address. If a package to large to fit in the mailbox is delivered to your home and you are not there when the postman comes, it gets taken to the nearest post office.Then it might be a little difficult to retrieve it if you cannot speak Korean. The best thing to do is to have larger packages sent to the school’s address. That way you can just pick them up at the school, rather than having to get it through the post office. The school’s mailing address is: Asia Pacific International School 820 Wolgae 2-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-724, Korea

h. Cell Phones Having a cell phone is pretty much an indispensable part of life in Korea. Phones are sold in shops throughout the city and you can buy cheap used phones for about 40,000 won. A standard new camera phone costs about 100,000 to 200,000 won and they get more expensive as you add options like video recording, mp3 player, movie player, etc.

Orientation Guide 2011-2012

• www.koreaherald.co.kr - The Korea Herald

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In Korea there is actually a fair amount of TV programming and news available in English. Basic cable TV has a fair number of channels in English such as CNN, BBC, movie channels, sitcom/drama channels, and there is always AFN (the American Forces Network). On these channels you will likely be able to find many of your favorite shows, but if you want to get all the shows you get at home, you will probably have to look into some sort of internet TV system. For news in English, there are a number of English daily newspapers which you can sometimes find on newsstands, but the best way to get the latest Korean news in English is online. All the major newspapers have websites in English.

For foreigners, paying for your phone usage is a bit more complicated than it is for Koreans. There are a few different options. First, is to use prepaid minutes.You simply take your phone to the nearest shop which is run by your service provider and buy minutes. However, this option is quite expensive and inconvenient. The other option is to pay by monthly phone bill. The option however requires that you have a valid alien registration number –which you would have once your visa process is completed.

i.Time Zone Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +9 hours No daylight savings time

j. Money Matters Denominations Bills

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10,000 won

5,000 won

1,000 won

Coins

500 won

100 won

50 won

10 won

Credit Cards Most restaurants, hotels and shops accept credit cards.You may not be able use credit cards at small businesses and in rural areas.You may also want to check whether your credit card is accepted or not by looking at door signs.Visa and Master Card are generally accepted.

Tipping Tipping is not customary in Korea. However, sometimes, expensive restaurants and luxury hotels may add a service charge of 10%. Thus, you do not necessarily have to prepare for extra charges since it will be included in the bill.

Bank Cards Foreign cards with the Plus and Cirrus logos are the easiest to use and most widely accepted in Korea. ATMs are everywhere in Korea and you can make withdrawals, deposits, and fund transfers.

However, not all ATMs accept foreign cards and even if they do the service can be unreliable. Some ATM machines operate 24 hours a day, while others are opened from 8am to 12am. It is easy to get a Korean bank account and bank card, and it is recommended for you to do so as soon as possible upon arriving in Korea. The school will assist you during the orientation week to help you open up a bank account.

k.Telephone Calling Korea from overseas When you make a phone call to Korea from abroad, first dial 82 (Country Code for Korea), then Area Code (except for the first number 0), finally, dial the Phone Number you desire to call.

For example: Calling Seoul (Area Code 02) with 777-7777 as the phone number, dial +82-2-777-7777.

Calling overseas from Korea

* These days many foreigners are also using Skype internet phone to make free international calls. www.skype.com

Orientation Guide 2011-2012

*Pre-paid phone cards are available at convenience stores and newsstands and make calling home a lot cheaper. The number of minutes available on each card is different so ask how many minutes you get for calls to a particular country before buying.

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Dial 001 or 002 and then the country code, area code and finally the number you are calling.

I. Worship Services Churches with English services

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Christian

Roman Catholic

Yoido Full Gospel Church 11, Yeouido-Dong, Yeongdeungpo-Gu Seoul, Korea 150-868 Phone: 02-783-4851 http://english.fgtv.com/

Catholic International Parish of Seoul Celebrates Mass in the Franciscan Chapel at Hannamdong across from Hannam Village Apts. Pastor Vipporio Di Nardo and the entire parish community welcome you to attend our weekly celebrations. English Mass

by Father Paolo Sundays at 9 and 11 a.m.; French Mass

by Father Durand Saturdays at 6 p.m.; German Mass by Father Wilhelm Schulte Sundays at 10 a.m.; and Italian/ Spanish Mass Sundays at noon. Please confirm schedules at (02)793-2070.

Seoul Union Church 144 Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu Seoul, South Korea 121-885 Phone: 02-333-7393 http://www.seoulunionchurch.org/ Myung Sung Presbyterian Church EWS Office: 3rd Floor, Room 301, Jerusalem Building 330-5 Myungil-Dong, KangDong-Ku, Seoul 134-830 Phone: 02-440-9080 http://www.msews.com/ Onnuri English Ministry at Seobinggo 241-96, Seobinggo-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea 140-240 http://www.onnuri.or.kr/sub.asp?gubun=2202 Onnuri English Ministry at Yangjae 55, Yangae-dong, Seochu-gu Seoul, Korea 137-130 http://www.onnuri.or.kr/sub.asp?gubun=2202 Youngnak Church 2-69 Jeo-dong, Jung-gu Seoul, South Korea 100-032 Phone: 02- 2280-0228 http://myiwe.com/

Seodaemun Catholic Church English Mass at 11 a.m. Sundays. Everyone welcomed.

For information, call 019-645 1409. The church is located close to Exit 2, Seodaemun Subway Station, line 5.

Myongdong Cathedral Weekday Mass in Korean at 6:30, 7 a.m. and 6, 6:30 p.m., Sunday Mass at 7, 9, 10 and 11 a.m., preceeded by confession in English. ((02) 774-3890)

Jewish Jewish Services of EUSA On the South Post of the Eighth U.S. Army base in Yongsan, in the Jewish Activities Center Building 4100, Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Call Larry Rosenberg at (02) 7913-3728

m. Embassies • US Embassy: http://seoul.usembassy.gov/ • Australian Embassy: http://www.australia.or.kr/ • Canadian Embassy: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/ korea/menu-en.asp • Britsh Embassy : http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/

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15. Appendices a. Map of Korea

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b. Map of Seoul

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C.The Seoul Subway System

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Nurturing Future Leaders of the New Pacific Century at the Hub of East Asia

www.apis.seoul.kr

Asia Pacific International School

아시아퍼시픽 국제외국인학교

820 Wolgye 2-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 139-724, Korea

139-724 서울특별시 노원구 월계2동 820번지

Tel : +82-(0)2-907-2747 Fax : +82-(0)2-907-2742

Tel : (02) 907-2747 Fax : (02) 907-2742