Eight months into my year contract in Busan, I was faced with the question of whether or not to stay or return to America. My one-year mark was, in my mind, still about half a year away, which made me feel like I was only halfway through my current contract. Because of the way my brain was rounding numbers, the idea of taking on another six months seemed a bigger deal than, in retrospect, it actually was.

I had promised my family that I would only miss one Christmas. I had promised the friends babysitting my belongings that it would be exactly a year, no more. I had made those promises because I hadn’t expected to love Korea this much. Afterall, I’d been content in my life back in America. I had the perfect home for hosting large groups, a wonderful social circle, a ful-time job, and lived a short distance from my family.

But then Korea... I like the way the beaches are still peaceful even when they’re crowded. I like how kids don’t scream in public. I like how convenient stores pop up on every street. I like that I can find “made in Korea” clothing in the cute, affordable boutiques. I like that spiders stay outside where they belong. I like heated flooring and bus stop benches in winter.

The work environment is another place that’s comparatively more peaceful than some of the places I’d experienced in America. Coworkers will engage in a lively exchange of stories on various topics. However! Their curiosity stays clear of the all-too-common nosiness most of us have experienced in the work place. For example, a you leave your shared office space for twenty minutes to speak business with another coworker. When you return to that shared space, a coworker asks where you’ve been, all under the guise of concern (“I was worried about you. I thought, ‘Is she sick? Is she okay?’. Where were you?”). The false sincerity is a thin mask worn by people who want to be in control of everything, including your movements. Here in Korea? Never once have my coworkers asked where I went or who I talked to. I have the perfect balance of interaction with coworkers and time to accomplish my tasks.

Another thing I love here in Busan is how professional each business is when offering a service to a customer. The aircon repairman, Wi-Fi installation technician, Coupang returns processor, you name it. They are patient, polite, and respectful. I remember a technician coming to my apartment in America and casually using f-bombs while speaking to me. It felt so unprofessional and unnecessary, and it reflected poorly on the company that had sent him. I kept these thoughts to myself, though part of me wonders if I should have asked him to be more professional. Fast-forward to life in Korea? Dealing with various businesses has been nothing but smooth-sailing.

There’s no place on this earth that’s without blemish. While my quality of life is improved while living in Korea, I still am faced with disruptive students who fight amongst themselves and lesson plans that proved less effective than I’d intended. The work is real, but oh-so-rewarding. I love English Camp. I love being creative with the lessons and games. I love seeing students come to life when they’re engaged in the learning process. Teaching always has it’s gut-wrenching moments, but when you work in a society that values education and instills a respect for it in children, you’ll have far more encouraging days than discouraging.

So, thanks to an understanding family and supportive friend group, I get to stay in Korea 6 months longer than I’d originally planned. And I have no regrets signing that extension. Time flies faster with each passing year. There’s still so much to see in this beautiful country! I’m trying to hold onto the memory of all the sounds, tastes, smells, and sights before I’m whisked back to America.  

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!