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Unexpected

When I left a comfortable life in the States for a teaching job in EPIK, I didn’t expect I would enjoy it very much but instead would grow from the inevitable challenges of living and working in a foreign environment.

I had no idea what was lying in store for me.

Thanks to Alistaire’s guidance, I had an easy arrival at Incheon International Airport and transportation to a hotel, where I met with a dozen other EPIK teachers from around the world. The next morning we all traveled by bus to Jeonju University (?? ???) in North Jeolla Province. It was a vast, beautiful campus run by the kindest and most organized staff.

During Orientation, I was still surrounded by an English speaking crowd I could follow when confused by the schedule or a building’s location. But after a busy, fast-paced week of classes in tight quarters with roughly 500 other teachers, I was ready to hop on that bus and get to Busan (my requested city) to see my new home.

The first day was fraught with signs of heat stroke and an unavoidable overwhelm of being in the center of a metropolitan city like I’d never seen. I was from rural America and had never been to places like San Francisco or New York City. Learning how to use a subway or a city bus in the absence of much English was a huge challenge. I lived off rice, carrots, and eggs the first month because I couldn’t afford meat and couldn’t identify a lot of the foods sold at the market.

Getting set up to live here took a long time, but my main co-teacher at my main school (what a blessing from God she is!) helped me through the paperwork and kept me informed on the whole process of getting my Residence Card (formerly called the Alien Registration Card) and bank account. Thanks to her, everything ran smoothly. And before I knew it, my focus was no longer on phone data and grocery stores, but on TEACHING.

I taught for two and a half years in American elementary schools, moving place to place with semester-long or year-long contracts. You might think that teaching in a foreign environment with computers and printers set to the Korean language and coworkers you can’t converse with would make the job harder. But, oh, no. Quite the opposite. I have NEVER been so incredibly welcomed by teachers, admin, and principals. My appreciation for the little things has doubled here because I know it takes that much more effort for someone to voluntarily help me when I don’t speak their language. They don’t know which office I’m looking for or that I need a shredder but they will keep trying to understand me as I keep trying to convey what I’m looking for. I haven’t had a single negative experience at my schools.

My teaching jobs in the States always required more behavior management than actual teaching. It’s a devastating truth. I loved many of those children and I tear up when I remember the beautiful ways in which I saw them grow in their educational journey. But here in Busan, 6 months into teaching, I have been able to focus on actually teaching. I have grown in being creative and making learning fun and engaging in ways I never - never - had time for in the States. I teach 3rd-6th Grade here in Busan and in every grade I see youngsters who come to class eager to learn and eager to practice the English they know. I am so impressed by them. (Don’t get me wrong, there will always be behavior issues, no matter what country you’re in. But I have definitely not seen it to the same degree in Korea). Most classes are energetic and joyful. I see 100% participation during writing activities. I. Am. Amazed.

On top of the positive work environment and student engagement, there is endless terrain to cover here in this bustling metropolitan city, as well as beyond. It seems like I see or taste something new every day. Maybe a new, savory Korean dish to taste. Maybe an ancient architectural structure to see. Maybe a museum to visit. Maybe a beach to explore. . . Or my personal favorite: a new song to sing at the noraebang (???). Between the number of attractions here and the gloriously affordable costs, I cannot even flirt with boredom in this city or country. And what a beautiful country it is.

Seeing my creative spirit reawakened testifies to the refreshing environment here in Busan. My senses are alive with all the newness in the sights, smells, and tastes. And my heart is full of newfound determination to shower my students with creative and engaging material to stoke their love for learning a new language. Everything I’m learning here in Busan will, Lord willing, strengthen and grow my teaching toolkit while also improving my adaptability and communication skills.

Before I sign off, I must give a huge shoutout to Korean Horizons and Alistair for all the help I received during the application process and settling in stage. I never would have made it this far without them!

My Apartment

a month ago

My Placement, My Pride

Eliza Mikunda

When I received the news that I would be living in Asan, South Korea, I was, honestly, terrified. I had never heard of Asan, so the first thing I did was run to Google. The first picture made my heart drop. On the top of the Wikipedia page, a single photo– a grey scene of low buildings stretching into the hills, barely visible through a thick coat of smog. My only thought was, “What have I gotten myself into?”. I was resigned to living in a boring, smoggy countryside town. But I have been pleasantly surprised by the small city of Asan. Unlike Seoul, there isn’t an overwhelming amount to do and see. There aren’t dozens of blogs and travel sites listing the best sights, events, restaurants, and cafes. But once you unlock the city, there is so much to appreciate! Now over two years later, I can’t imagine living in any other city in Korea! Asan is my home. Here are some reasons why I love living in Asan, South Korea:

Livability: Even though Asan is a mid-sized city, it’s very walkable. In my neighborhood, I’m within walking distance of several grocery stores, convenience stores, the subway and bus terminals, plenty of other shopping, and more restaurants than I can count. Even my schools, which are rural, are easily accessible by a short city bus ride! Outside my neighborhood, there are many other hubs that my friends and I frequent when we want to shop or go out on the town. With all the different centers for shopping, cafes, restaurants, and nightlife, I’m never at a shortage of new places to try. In Asan, there is Onyang, the city center, by the subway station (which happens to be the second to last stop of Line 2 going all the way to Seoul!). There you can find the traditional market with street food and fresh fruits and vegetables for a quarter of the price of the big marts. Yonghwa, the young party neighborhood of Asan. Where college students and 20-somethings flock to pubs and restaurants, norebangs, and cafes. Or, if café hopping and relaxing strolls are more your speed, Sinjeong Lake is the place to be. The lake is surrounded by huge, pretty cafes. No matter which one you pick, you can’t go wrong. While there isn’t as much to do as in a larger city, there’s plenty to keep busy and happy!

Natural Beauty: The Wikipedia picture, as terrifying as it was, was an inaccurate representation of what Asan is like. Apart from a small bustling city center that could be essentially any small city in Korea, nature surrounds Asan. Sinjongho Lake to the west boasts cafes and walking paths. The Ginkgo Tree Road and Goggyocheon Stream at the city’s northern edge offer a great respite from the day-to-day city life. In the fall the yellow color is magnificent to behold and, in the summer, the shady trees are great to escape from the hot sun. Although I joined a gym, I love running outside in the center of Asan. The little neighborhood park is a popular place to walk. On the little, tree-lined path, it’s almost easy to forget you’re in the middle of the city (if not for the subway running directly overhead). Although Chungnam is the flattest region of Korea, the small mountains of Asan are popular places to hike and take in the area’s natural beauty. You can even enjoy the seaside, just a short bus ride away, in the very northern part of Asan County.

Cultural Immersion: Living in Asan has forced me to learn Korean very quickly and become comfortable with food and customs unfamiliar to me. Because the city has a relatively small foreign community, I can go days without seeing another foreigner. I’m immersed in Korean people, the Korean language, and Korean food. In a bigger city, I might have gotten away with little to no Korean. But in Asan, to live the quality of life I want – I felt the need to learn. Simple tasks like going to the convenience store or eating at a restaurant became real-time practice. Now I can speak to my boyfriend entirely in Korean and even take Pilates in Korean. You may have heard that Korea has a very palli-palli culture (fast, fast), but I'm living the slow countryside lifestyle. And while I will always stand out as a “foreigner”, I’ve become a local. I have a repertoire with the ladies who take the bus with me, with my convenience store clerk, my pharmacist, and even the local fried chicken store owner who always tells my friends and me, “It’s been a long time” whenever we enter her store, no matter how long it's been. In Asan, I don’t feel like a traveler or temporary guest. I’ve made the city my home, and slowly but warmly, the people have welcomed me as well. I truly consider Asan to be my second home.

So, if you are planning to do EPIK or any teaching job in Korea, don’t be afraid to branch away from Seoul and the other big cities. You might just find a tiny corner of Korea you can call your very own. A home away from home.

My Placement, My Pride

2 years ago