EPIK Update

My recruiter just sent me an email with an update about EPIK....

"As of yesterday, EPIK has received 1,684 applications. Of those, they have interviewed and accepted 951.  Only 262 applicants have actually sent documents to Korea however. It's great that you sent your documents already!  You’re in a very good position at this point!!!!

If you don’t hear from us in awhile about your position particularly, take this as a good sign.  It means that EPIK has not found anything wrong with your documents and your application is being processed.  This is usually the longest waiting period. 

.

My Cat Henry

Here is a breakdown of the positions available in each location:

 

Location


Positions Available



Seoul
200

Busan
130

Daegu
250

Incheon
7

Gwangju
15

Daejeon
55

Ulsan
6

Gyeonggi
20

Gangwon
50

Chungbuk
50

Jeonbuk
11

Gyeongbuk
185

Gyeongnam
10

Jeju
18"

I sent my documents in at the end of October!! Fingers crossed! I'm getting really nervous now..hopefully we will find out before Christmas, so we can enjoy the holiday in peace :)

Certificate of UK residence

13.11.10I sent off a basic letter template to the tax office asking for my certificate of residence about 3 weeks ago and haven't heard anything back, so I've sent another letter today. I'll give an update when I hear anything...If I don't hear off them soon I'll phone them up.

I've read than if you move abroad for over 12 months that you don't pay UK taxes but I could be wrong.

21.11.10Spoke to a UK EPIK teacher (Thank you!!) who is already in Korea and she confirmed you don't have to pay UK taxes. Though you have to pay pension contributions, which as a UK citizen you can't claim back. You can get those transferred over to a UK pension when you leave but it can be alot of bother.

29.11.10Just phoned the dudes at the tax office up (after a 15 minute wait on the phone!) and they told me all you have to do is write a letter asking for your certificate. Mine was sent out on the 26th so it should get here soon :) I asked about leaving the UK for over a year and he said all you have to do is fill in this form... http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/p85.pdf

Injections for Korea

I went and talked to my travel nurse today about the injections I will need for Korea....turns out it's going to cost me around £280-£300!! £120 for Hep B and over £160 for Japanese encephalities. I've already had my hep A booster (I should be ok for another 20 years, yay!!) and my typhoid booster is due in May so I'll have to have it out there..I had my TB injection in primary school so I'm set for life.

I'm booked in for my hep B injections starting the end of Dec (there are 3 injections!!) and I've got to talk to her about the Japanese encephalities injection as it's not licensed, but I rather be safe than sorry! I also have to have a tenanus booster and something to prevent diphtheria (injection or liquid I don't know??). Let's just say I am glad I live in England and we have the NHS otherwise it would cost me double :O Such a problem I don't know where I'm going to be placed, as I some areas are more high risk!


Has anyone else had the Jap enc injection and what are the side effects??? Thanks :D

Update - 04.11.10Just had £280 tax return so that should pay for my injections!! Yay!!

24.11.10Had a call from the travel nurse today, saying the doctor has advised me to have the Japanese encephalities injection since I am going for a year. The injection has got to be done by a doctor and there is only one doctor at my surgery who can give this injection. This injection is starting to sound scary!!! She said it would cost around £80 for each dose and I would need 2 doses... :(

29.11.10
Just had my first injection which was the Japanese encephalities. I think the worse bit was handing the £80 over...It's going to be worse on the 29th December as I have to pay for my 2nd Japanese injection and my Hep B injections. In total it's going to cost me £280.


20.02.10Finally had my third and last dose for the Hep B yesterday. I hate that injection as it feels like a bee sting to me! I thought I was all done on the injection front but life isn't that kind to me! My nurse phoned the health authority to check I'm up to date with all my injections and it turns out I'm not :( So in 2 weeks I have to have 2 big injections with all of my high school jabs in! Well good to be safe than sorry....I just feel sorry for my left arm! She also has to check I can have the typhoid as my last jab doesn't run out until May but I really don't want it in Korea as (A) I will have to search for a English speaking hospital and (B) It's free here!!!