"Several recent events have had the combined effect of significantly reducing our hiring need for the next few months. Firstly, we have seen a record rate of contract renewals amongst our current instructors. While this is a very positive reflection of instructors' experience here at CHUNGDAHM, it unfortunately means we have fewer openings for new instructors. The swine flu scare has also had a temporary effect on student enrollment, which has in turn further decreased the need for new instructors. Thankfully the impact of this issue is already starting to diminish. And lastly, as a result of shifted guidance due to global economic conditions, new schools targeted to open late this summer will now open at the end of this year/beginning of 2010.
Any of these factors alone would have had only a minor impact on hiring needs, but all together created a “perfect storm” condition that has resulted in a significant decrease in needs. It is unfortunate that the real impact did not become apparent until very late in the process, and that we weren’t able to provide more notice of this to you."
In a nutshell, that means that my departure date has been pushed back from August to November. It stinks that I have to wait, but it'll give me some more time to prepare for the trip and to make a little bit of extra money before I go.
Angie and I have decided that instead of waiting around to leave for Korea we'd like to do a bit more inexpensive traveling. We signed up for the WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) program. You can read more about it here: http://www.wwoof.ie/. It's a great way to travel and see the world for relatively cheap (just airfare and whatever souvenirs you want while there). We'll be traveling to Ireland to work at an organic retreat center outside of Galway. We've already been in touch with a host and the family is excited to have us with them for the month of October. Exact dates are still up in the air for both Korea and Ireland, but I'll be sure to post them when I know.
