Korean Job Discussion Forums

[afsjesse]

Over the past 21 months I have learned a lot about myself and others. I have met some awesome people and did some mind bloggling things. Coming to Korea was a sporadic, spur of the moment decision. Not much thought went into it and the results here at the end of my journey are mixed, but mostly positive in retrospect.

Spending my first year in Busan was a pretty good start. I worked at a Hagwon that like many others was not deserving of the time I put in there. The honeymoon phase was great, everything seemed enlightened in me and all I could see was everything Asian and how I was curious about it all. Then things get back to normal and life goes on just like it does back home. We find our cultural annoyances and we cope. This is the typical experience I think for most of us.

My second year I've lived in the sticks here in Hupo, a small coastal crab town in Uljin County where life goes by at the pace of a snail. To be honest I've been quite bored and frustrated with a lot of the things here, mainly due to my school. Experiencing life in rural Korea has been a mixed bag of goodies. I've met more Koreans who were really friendly ones. I've recieved more attention and can't step outside without atleast 2 hello's. The stairing is much worse and the quiet life is one that I am not alikened too.

And all along the way many of you have helped people like me with many challenges, concerns and just general opservations of things. Dave's has been a great place to comment about life as I see it and reading how you relate to the same/similar experiences has been very amusing, entertaining and even questionable at times.

I'd like to thank all of you for all that you do. A big part of my teaching ideas, activities and lessons came from help from people on this site and without it I don't think I would have succeeded in getting this far.

What I've realized is that all of us are students and teachers at the same time. I don't claim to be the best teacher or even a good one, but I think one of the best qualities in doing this job is maintaining an open mind and not being afraid to learn something different.

I'm off to the US in a couple of weeks to attend graduate school. I will be studying for my MA TESL and am very excited. This will be my last post on Dave's for a long time and I wish you all the best.

I will miss Korea and many things about it. I hope one day to return and work at a university in Seoul or Busan.

Farewell,

Jesse

[Clockout]

You've always been good to read.

Enjoy your time back home.

[alphakennyone]

The quintessential "nice guy." All the best to ya!

[losing_touch]

Best of luck to you. Thanks to you as well. You have provided some quality posts. Adios ....

[Scamps]

Hey!

You don't have to leave.
You can get your MA in TESOL right here at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul.

Well remember us if you need any advice or care packages from Korea!

Good luck and live it up during your last weeks here!

[Straphanger]

Yo, buddy, I always respected you, and I regret that we never got to have that beer. Seriously, it's a big world, but a small planet, and if you and I cross paths, the first round is on me.

[Bloopity Bloop]

Good luck!

[Kikomom]

[AgentM]

Good luck in grad school!

[TheUrbanMyth]

All the best.

[Chambertin]

Good luck on your path.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

It's weird going back home...

Luckilly you're going to college, so you'll meet new people and have some good times I'm sure...

All the best!