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I think (90% sure) I’m going to stay in Korea another year.

 

20 Apr

The last few months I have spent a lot of time thinking about whether or not I will stay in Korea another year as contract renewal is upon us very soon. Or at least a verbal commitment followed by signing of the contract about a month later.   At this point I think I want to move schools. Some of my friends are leaving so I would request to take their position. They are closer to downtown, and are in a really nice neighborhood with lots of foreigners and near the University.  Anyways here is the list. If you have any guidance or ideas about what I write here, please feel free to advise! Description: :)

Why Korea is Great and I should stay. 

  • Friends in Korea.  I know it’s not the same as my friends that I grew up with back at home. but my friends here who are in the same situation, similar type of adventurous people, and people who are always up for anything, are a blast to be around. They have really made my time here fly by.
  • Bond/ Community. The community of Native English Speakers here is almost like the bonds campers form at Sierra Service Project.  I had the joy and pleasure of working with SSP for three summers and watching these bonds form over 6 weeks of summer.Now imagine that bond goes for a year or two instead of one week. It’s incredible.
  • Learning about other Western Cultures. Even though we all speak English, it’s so neat to hear about lifestyles of other Westerners. Not to mention how much fun it is to laugh/discuss/argue about the way we say things, and in the end how Americans are always the best! haha just kidding Description: :PI can literally go to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, England, Ireland, Canada, and have a tour guide and some where to stay and experience their country.
  • Living near the Beach! It is an absolutely incredible feeling to know that I can hop on my bike and be at the beach in twenty minutes! Ya, it’s not the same as the beach in Bali or Australia but it’s still a beach. Sand in your toes, water, drinking, and games of frisbee, catch or whatever, whenever you want.
  • Teaching is actually tons of fun! Okay, well I already knew about this from teaching skating, but didn’t know how much I would like teaching classes of 25 students. As long as the kids aren’t being devilish, I adore it. Especially being a native speaker, they are super interested in everything I have to say, especially if it’s about America or pictures of me!  I always have to greet them and say hello if I see them on the field, in the hall way, at the bus stop, anywhere.  It’s cool to see them understand more and more, and trying to speak to me more and more.
  • Orphanage. What a great way to volunteer and give back. Plan English lessons and games for middle school orphans. It is super rewarding, and usually walk out of there knowing those kids really appreciated the extra attention.
  • EPIK program. The program I teach with is sooo well organized, awesome benefits, and just all around wonderful. Because of it’s amazingness it is also costing the country a great deal,which is why there are plans for it’s phase out by 2015. I don’t want to go home then regret not working for another year when the program is finished.
  • Work Hours. Never having to work on a Saturday or after 5pm is an amazing feeling. Like I said in the last post, in the beginning I had night mares about over sleeping on a Saturday morning.
  • Public Transport. It’s crazy that I can get anywhere in this country at almost any time of the day for a reasonable price. A bus ticket to Seoul is 25 bucks, and a ride on the city bus is about a dollar. Taxi’s are cheap, and they stick to a schedule. If your ticket says 6:00 and you rock up at 601, your bus is gone!
  • Salsa Class. Okay, it was a little strange at first dancing with Koreans but now am starting to really enjoy Salsa class and salsa practice or free dance. They are becoming less shy and starting to use their English more,even if it’s not perfect. It’s a blast.
  • Ultimate Frisbee. Absolutely the team I joined this year and there are enough people in Pohang to start our own team or possibly two. Description: :)Being on a team is such a cool thing and something I never exactly experienced before because it was all solo work in skating.Minus the early early years on precision teams, and theater on ice competitions.
  • Walking to work. So nice to get a little exercise to start and end the work day. I live about a 7 minute walk from school. Which means I get up at 8 to get in at 840 everyday. :0
  • Korean Festivals. Not sure when they started these festivals but to celebrate their culture and different specialty items, land forms, flowers, food, whatever it is they have these awesome festivals where most everything is free and you get to learn about Korean culture and see lots of cool stuff. Its an awesome way to see this country and figure out what to do on the weekends!
  • Korean culture is so interesting. I find so many things about Korean culture interesting and always has me questioning why they do things the way they do. is it better our way or their way? Being able to be completely immersed in a culture is a cool thing. This is the true Korean cultural experience.
  • The opportunity to travel in Asia. It is so quick and easy for me to go nearly anywhere in Asia and for cheap and see more of this crazy interesting continent. On a long weekend I can go to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Beijing, Japan, Mongolia.. etc, etc.
  • Stress Free Life: I can honestly say that little to nothing of my work here stresses me out. Sometimes I get annoyed with how little or how much work I do, but in the end of the day I never take work home with me. It’s nothing that is “outside” of my contract. Things I think about besides school are usually where we’ll stay on or what we’ll do  our weekend get away.  And the occasional thing to deal with from home, like taxes, rental situation, etc. Nothing that I can’t handle or deal with. Even within my working hours Description: :)
  • Jobless in America. I don’t think I could go back to doing what I did before with working three part time jobs. I could possibly work in a research lab or be a personal trainer. But until I’m accepted into a grad program, I haven’t really seen any jobs that suit me that pay more then ten bucks an hour.
  • Koreans Kindness/Service. They are constantly giving you free things at restuarants, bars, people buying you dinners, all kinds of things just out of pure generosity. And usually those free things are practical, when you buy a bunch of bananas, they will give you an apple or two.
  •  A Bottle of Soju is a buck. Okay so maybe it’s not the best alcohol, but you can get it anywhere for a buck.. haha or you can splurge on a western drink. Either way, some things here are so incredibly cheap it’s insane.

The Reasons I want to come Home:

  • Family & Friends back home. I know sometimes you think I don’t miss you all, but I really really do. It’s not the same being without family for a year.
  • Missing Holidays. Not only I don’t have family to celebrate with, but with the exception of Christmas, no other American holidays are celebrated. I was lucky enough to spend Christmas with a “second” family in Australia this year but still not the same being away from family during the Holidays. Turkey Day, Easter, Halloween, New Years, etc.
  • Korean Food. I’m definitely not a fan of the stuff. Lots of people really like it but that red chilli sauce they put on everything kills it for me. I have done a lot of adjusting and basically cook for myself as often as I can to avoid the stuff.
  • Weather in Korea is shit. I hate the stuffyness of the winter, the brown and dead look of the winter,and the days of rain, wind and humidity. Winter was soo long, and it’s just now becoming spring but everyone is saying will be hot and summery very soon. :/ Also haven’t experienced the yellow dust but will soon. Who knows how good that is for your health.
  • I miss skating & ice rinks. Skating in Korea just isn’t the same. :/ . As much as I want to get into it here, it’s just not ideal. Nor can I handle the constant staring!
  • Gas prices are crazy in America now! WHOA!
  • Fresh Fruit and Veggies and Western Products can get expensive. 4 apples for 8 bucks? No thank you. Or a small carton of strawberries for 9 bucks a few weeks ago. I know I need to learn more secrets about buying produce but that’s ridic!
  •  Driving. Sometimes I miss having my own set of  wheels to cart my groceries home in, etc. Not that I couldn’t get a car here but it would be silly I think.

If I do end up renewing my contract, I don’t have my exact vacation dates. But it would probably be July 25th to August 17th ish. Unless my school switches the camp date. But i’ll be finding out soon! Either way will be back for a visit for a little more then 3 weeks and I’m hoping to see everyone and possibly make a trip to Cali or Vegas, or both! Description: :)

Lots of Love!

Nicole

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