She’s only the second monarch of the United Kingdom to celebrate 60 years on the throne. Her great-great-grandmother, Victoria, celebrated her own Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Her grandfather, George III, died just ten months short of his.

Her regnal number (“the Second”) caused considerable controversy in Scotland, where it was argued that the UK had never had a Queen Elizabeth the First. Indeed, a spate of pillar boxes and phone boxes being blown up by Scottish nationalists in the early years of the reign caused the GPO to replace them with boxes bearing only the Crown of Scotland and no initials.

However, the convention is that the Sovereign takes the highest regnal number appropriate to any of the Kingdoms. In other words, if there’s ever a King David of the United Kingdom, he’ll be King David III as Scotland has already had two kings of that name – even though England has never had one.

by David McMahon © 2011

A British-style pillar box – but this one is outside the Custom House in George Town, the main city on the island of Penang in Malaysia’s Pulau Pinang State.

Dave adds:

“As you can see, this pillar box is still painted the traditional pillar box red colour and still bears the Royal Cypher of King Edward VII. (This contrasts with, say, Ireland, where the boxes have been painted green since 1922, or Israel, where the cyphers were ground off after the end of the Palestinian Mandate.) In fact, it’s identical to the Edwardian pillar boxes in the UK except that it doesn’t have a base.

“Although the concept for the photo was Kay’s, she made me take it as it involved crouching in the road! If you look at the non-existent base of the pillar box, you’ll see that it’s standing in a recess in the pavement – the bollards on either side are on the pavement, but the pillar box is on the road. Bizarrely, the slot faces the road rather than the pavement.”

Author: Dave McMahon

Dave left school at the age of 30 with the odd O-level (like Ancient Icelandic) and a doctorate in something so obscure even he can't remember what it's about. He then joined the FCO. Dave has travelled to most European countries (including several that don't exist any more, though he denies responsibility), as well as Bangladesh, Barbados, Thailand, St Vincent, UAE, Laos, and many more. Having managed to escape from London in 2001, Dave's now resorted to taking unpaid leave to stave off the evil day of his return.

1. In which county is the apple tree that supposedly inspired Isaac Newton’s Theory of Gravity?
2. The Dales Way is an 80-mile trek that runs from Ilkley to where?
3. What place in the UK is often referred to as the ‘home of cricket’ and is also home to the world’s oldest sporting museum?
4. Which UK beach featured in the films Robin Hood and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?
5. What is the name of Scotland’s oldest purpose-built visitor attraction?

(Questions courtesy of UK Attraction)

Check your answers here!

1. In which county is the apple tree that supposedly inspired Isaac Newton’s Theory of Gravity?
   Lincolnshire. The story that the falling apple actually bashed Newton on the bonce is just a myth, and the tree that produced the apple is long gone. But you can still see a descendant of it at Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham.
2. The Dales Way is an 80-mile trek that runs from Ilkley to where?
   Bowness-on-Windermere. The Dales Way was created in the late 1960s by Colin Speakman and two colleagues and connects Leeds, Bradford and Halifax with one National Park (the Lake District) via another (the Yorkshire Dales). Windermere, at the western end of the Way, is England’s longest lake.
3. What place in the UK is often referred to as the ‘home of cricket’ and is also home to the world’s oldest sporting museum?
   Lord’s, the home of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) since the club was founded by Thomas Lord in 1787 – although it moved twice in its first 30  of existence and has been at its present location in St John’s Wood in north-western central London “only” since 1814.
4. Which UK beach featured in the films Robin Hood and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?
   Freshwater West in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. It provided the location for Shell Cottage and house-elf Dobby’s grave in both Deathly Hallows films. Freshwater West’s also renowned as a haven for surfers – it hosts the Welsh National Surfing Championships.
5. What is the name of Scotland’s oldest purpose-built visitor attraction?
   The Camera Obscura on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Originally founded as Short’s Observatory in the early 1850s, it passed through several different hands before being sold by the University of Edinburgh to Visitor Centres Ltd. It’s now known as the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. It underwent a major extension in 2010 and obtained VisitScotland’s coveted five-star status in 2011.

(Questions courtesy of UK Attraction)

How did you get on? Post a comment and tell us!

Basic requirements

In order to get a job teaching English in South Korea you must meet some basic criteria. You must have a full and valid passport from an English speaking country i.e. The UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or South Africa. You must also have a bachelor’s degree in any subject – though a degree in education may help you negotiate a higher wage. You should also have a clean police record. Aside from these things the only requirements are an interest in teaching, a willingness to accept and even embrace the idiosyncrasies of a culture vastly different to your own, and a lot of patience.

Public or private?

Teaching jobs in Korea are located in either public elementary, middle and high schools, or private after-school academies called hagwon. Both have their advantages (hagwons pay more and often have shorter working hours whereas public schools have long holidays and better job security) and disadvantages (hagwons can be run by money-hungry directors who care very little for your welfare, and public school class sizes are often in excess of 40, making class control an issue). Both usually provide you with return air fare, either in advance or refunded upon arrival, and single or shared furnished accommodation.

Positions in hagwons are relatively easy to get with the help of any of the major online recruitment companies. Just googling “teach in Korea” will highlight hundreds of options, though you should be careful to, in turn, research the recruitment company to ensure their legitimacy. Once you have selected a position you seem suited for, it is essential that you question the set-up. What are the hours? What time of the night will you be expected to work until (most hagwons operate between midday and 9 or 10pm)? What holiday entitlements will you have? How much will they pay you? (The average for a first-year hagwon teacher is 2.1 million won a month outside of Seoul, a little more in the city and out in the sticks.) Have they had English teachers before? Did they finish their contracts? If not, why not? All of these questions are essential to ensure you are not walking into a bad situation.

Unfortunately recruitment companies will often do anything to secure a viable candidate and receive their commission so make use of the ESL blacklists online such as esllist.com. If your hagwon appears on one, then stay away. If this all sounds worrying then please remember that thousands of teachers, including myself, work very happily in good hagwons run by caring directors. The horror stories are out there because they are just that: horror stories. If you are prepared you should be fine.

Public school recruitment is entirely different from the private school routine. There are several government-affiliated organisations which place thousands of teachers in schools throughout the country every year. The most well-known of these is EPIK but GEPIK and SMOE are also worth a look. Once again, you can apply through many of the major recruitment websites or directly through the organisation’s website.

Public schools tend to recruit twice a year in order to meet demand for the new school terms in February and August and dedicated organisations support their teachers throughout the process with training programs, social events and general advice. The selection process is a little tougher and a TEFL certificate is generally required, though it is by no means an absolute necessity. As opposed to hagwons the working hours are commonly 9-5 and, though the wages are typically lower, the completion and resigning bonuses are higher and the vacation allowances are far more generous than those in private education.

Location

Korea is a stunningly beautiful country. Mountain ranges criss-cross the peninsula and the rough, craggy coastline is littered with scores of beaches and stunning islands. Wherever you are, transport is cheap, easy and extremely convenient allowing you to wear out your your guide book and make the most of your time here. Despite this ease of movement your city will be where you spend the vast majority of your time in Korea and it is important that you consider your personal needs before committing to a position.

Seoul is loud, boisterous and has a huge foreigner community which can be both a blessing and a curse. The opportunities for social interaction, taking part in creative projects and networking are huge but this comes hand in hand with the sense that you may lose some of the “Korean” experience. Smaller cities such as Gwangju and Daejeon have a less thriving social scene and a smaller expat crowd which can equate to a wonderful community spirit. However, while having everyone know your name after two weeks can be comforting for a newcomer, some people may find it suffocating and prefer a larger more vibrant environment. Busan is a beach city with a party vibe and an established gay scene which is rare outside Seoul. Its popularity can make it tough to find a position there as a first-time teacher but those with experience, or just a bit of luck, may make it through.

As with any travelling experience, the more you put in the more you get out. If your city doesn’t have a drama society then start one. If you deplore the live music scene then form a band or arrange a live music night with one of the bars. If there is little or no information for foreigners then begin a blog and ask your friends and colleagues to submit their experience and advice about living in your area. Be proactive and you will make life better for those who will come after you as well as for yourself.

Visas

So you’ve found a job and picked the right city for you. Now for that pesky visa. Almost all foreign teachers working in Korea do so with an E2 visa which is valid for a year as long as you remain in the employment of those who sponsored you. Getting the visa can be a complicated and drawn-out process, especially as you are required to provide police checks, apostilled proof of your education history and a myriad other bits and pieces. Though this might sound daunting, don’t let it put you off a fantastic experience. Thousands of people every year survive the mountains of paperwork and go on to successful teaching roles in Korea. Any recruitment company worth their salt should provide detailed step-by-step advice on how to obtain your E2 visa, and if they don’t, they probably don’t deserve you.

A final word

Moving to another country to work is an entirely different experience from just travelling through, seeing the sites, and heading home. Korea is at times challenging, difficult, stressful and can stretch your patience further than you thought it could reach. But if you come with an open mind and a willingness to adapt then you will find it to be a warm, open country filled with beautiful landscapes and charming people. Thousands come every year and find so much more than a good pay cheque; why not be one of them?

Author: Anna Corbett

Anna Corbett is currently an English teacher in Gwangju, South Korea, an aspiring writer and full-time optimist. She has lived on four continents, travelled on five and is mildly resentful towards Antarctica for having no use for wandering history graduates. She can be found at www.annacorbettnews.wordpress.com