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bixlerscott
Joined: 27 Sep 2006
Location: Near Wonju, South Korea
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 Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:14 am Post subject: My 1st 3 weeks teaching in Korea |
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Culture Shock. Think you so tough to not experience culture shock when going to Asia for the 1st time? Think again Mr. Tough Guy. LOL!
Once again,
Last edited by bixlerscott on Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Homer
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:24 am Post subject: |
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A very emotionally charged post but it says a lot nevertheless.
You have the right outlook there: settle down and give it time (unless I misread you). Also, you are feeling normal (if a bit extreme) culture shock that you did not expect because of having worked in Europe. Well that is quite understandable because, having lived in Europe before I can vouch for the fact that as a North american the cultural gap was minimal and often hardly noticeable.
Asia and Korea is a different matter alltogether and you have found this out while being sick.
All I can say is give it time with what you described of yourself, it will settle down. My only reservation here is your references to making sure people like you or accept you. That is a valid concern but it should not become a dominant need for you as it is impossible for everyone to like you (sorry if I miss interpreted you on this point).
It takes time to get the hang of things here and studying Korean will definitively help you. This will be most evident early on with shopping and eating out....
Anyway, best of luck out there and I hope it all works out for you. |
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Richard Krainium
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:32 am Post subject: Re: My 1st 3 weeks teaching in Korea |
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| bixlerscott wrote: |
Culture Shock central. Another ginormous post....
I have extreme feelings of frustration recently over not knowing stuff I knew how to do at home such as effective communication, leading people, shopping, eating, avoid getting hit by cars, interacting with neighbors, work relationship building, using office machines, and well, the list goes on to be 1001 friggin issues. All while you will be sick (cold and flu like never before) as can be during the 1st month, becuase your body is not accustomed to the microbiology present and dirty environment a devoloping highly industrious foreign country half way around the world presents. (I watched 10 hi-rise buildings go up in 2 weeks while the sky is very hazy white from pollution in a small Korean city during breaks on the roof of the school!!!)
Yes, you start your new job and work everyday, sick and feeling aweful, furthur exponentializing the difficult learning curve of adjusting and successfully integrating. Can I do it? Yes, as long they do not out me. I am still seeking to know that I am for sure going to be here for the whole year and this rests on whether the Korean staff want me and if my health permits. I want to be, becuase I think it will make a better person out me. Perhaps it takes time for the Korean staff to warm up to you and to feel healthy and proper. It's an extremely lonesome experience for me... All alone, in an alien land with very cold alien (I am the wierd brown haired blue eyed English speaking alien here!!!), seemingly robotic workoholic kind of homogenous people that all seem to look alike who are focused on becoming something state of the art through technological innovation. This is geek zone. If you like Star Trek and science stuff like I do, then you will be intrigued by Korean ambitions 
If you are outside of Seoul or Busan, hardly anyone speaks English, but there are English schools all over the place for the past 12 to 15 years. Confused. So you may find it impossible to buy a hot meal, especially on the street or in a restaurant, becuase you lack the ability to negotiate a deal, NO DEAL, go home hungrey and empty handed. This is a blow to your confidence and then culture shock sets in big time. I can now buy stuff off the store shelf, but found I was overcharged with a 54% tax at a Kims Club department store recently, yes 54%!!! This pissed me off majorly and my director said the store is right when I showed her the receipt. I could tell she simply did not want to admit that I was wronged in a store so I had to eat the loss (at a time when money is scarce before 1st payday) and not press the issue any furthur with her. Another Korean staff member I showed the receipt to did admit it, but was very disturbed that they did this as they fear I might run away which I do not plan on doing. Next time they overcharge me, I will put up opposition or just leave their friggin merchandise with the cashier and walk out the store.
The school seems to be a good one, it is a very pretty traditional folk styled one teaching many subjects. I can tell it's a good school from how happy my foriegn co-teachers are and that the Korean staff work hard in making it a nice place for the kids to go to school. It is not perfect, but it seems to work very well. The kids will like you as long as you say hello and smile alot and PLAY games and use reward system with stickers. Some kids will test you and talk back to you which is to be taken care of swiftly, but never physically. I have no problem correcting and controlling them, becuase it's OK to raise your voice to get thier attention and tell them they are wrong for not listening to and respecting their teachers. Then you know you got thier attention when they cry and apologize. Then positive re-enforcement goes a long way. Hopefully they remember to make my job easier after these first few weeks of trying me. Do not go if you do have high blood pressure or heart condition, they scream alot in attempt to get you to let them play the whole time when you will need to achieve results to have job satisfaction. Some classes are like having a set of talking parrot toys that mimick everything you say (funny and annoying), other classes are doing very well and actually know what you are saying.
If these kids are going to be the best future global netizen business and scientific leaders in the world (the governments' plan and why we are invited to teach English here), they have to earn it in a very old fashion way through earnest hard work that few American kids are experiencing today. Remember this is a developing country truly striving for greatness like we have never ever seen before, not even in America. No other way, until they invent a microchip implant that instantly uploads knowledge to your head such as for speaking a language. (no joke, Asians are on their way to huge breakthrough technological innovation which seems to be thier main ambition in life today) So work em' and play em' hard is my philosophy as long as parents do not call the school with a complaint. Knowing these spoiled ubiquitous video game playing brats, they will talk *beep* about a teacher who is actually making them work in learning something.
The Korean staff will not train you or help you feel any more comfortable in your new alien environment as an alien resident, but fear you in a squeemish manner. I think they are focused on doing thier jobs to the best of their ability and it shows, becuase they keep the school clean and fixed up nicely with art. They will act shy and fearful of you instead, thus, annoying you, because you are speaking fluent English and you may have great fear of failure on account of them not likeing you (this may not really be true, but I sure am confused at this point as they seem cold). They do not show warmness, welcomeness, or anything, just ice cold like robots. This hard time, I believe, is the make or break point (remember the ol' fight or flight syndrome in psycology class?) which occurs after the short honeymoon happy phase of culture shock. (week 2 to ??? hopefully not much longer)
Now,(end of week 3 for me) I am ready to get really good at what I am doing over here, gain confidence, and be successful, in order to be happy in making myself home here and solidify successful working relationships with my timid Korean staff who seem burdened and stressed if I need to go to a doctor or need a magic marker. A common ground of understanding must be achieved between myself and the Korean staff and to know that I am wanted and liked for sure before I move on out of the hard phase of culture shock, but they do not have a clue what I am going through, what I need to know, and why there are misunderstandings. This is hard for me.... I am not kidding or exagerating one bit people, but I do not want to scare you out of what might be the opportunity of a lifetime. No pain, no gain as they always said.
Note: I lived in several European countries for a total of 3 years and went on many business trips and am 34 year old interdisciplinary scholar and professional jack of trades who has worked and studied with people from many countries. I am suprised that I feel this culture shocked as I am with great anxiety to the point of feeling heart pain and extreme fear and worry of failure. I thought I was stronger than I really am on account of my varied diverse and challenging experiences. Only tonight have I really acknowledged it, let my pride down, and accepted that I really am just a small weak fish swimming upstream after realizing that I can not continue on being emotionally charged over lacking critical knowledge that could never be gained in a classroom or online. Time to start learning some Korean language and stop fearing the Koreans myself and establish my ground with them (they must either accept or reject, not go on showing cold ambivelence) and then decide if it's right for me to be here. It's make or break point. Good thing I am reading up on these sorts of things, becuase I did not understand what is happening with me until tonight. Purely Asian culture shock of anxiety which is, to me, about 100 times more extreme than moving to Europe. Yes, I said 100 times more dynamic. I might be ending up in a very failed state if I do not figure it all out soon. There is no place for failure if money and time is not on your side.
Perhaps I am all wrong about what I think and feel, but when I have a hunch, its usually in the ballpark. I might simply be going to hard on myself, becuase my head foreign teacher says I am doing well and likes me very much. |
This should be the time where you enjoy the difference. Relax, get some rest and make some friends or you'll "DEFINATELY" end up like some of these other "LOOSERS".  |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:45 am Post subject: |
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It sounds like a lot of your problems spring from lack of language ability. You need to at least learn survival language pretty fast.
About ordering food, I know that can be weird. When I came, there was no one to show me around in a little city, so I had a tough time figuring it all out (lots of cooking at home). But you have foreign co-workers, right? Why have they not taken you out and shown you how to get food, etc.?
Be sure to check out this page for some outstanding, helpful information about food in Korea. There is a typical menu from the omnipresent kimbap restaurants translated that you may wish to print out, or at least study.
http://maryeats.com/category/korean-food-guide |
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kingplaya4
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:53 am Post subject: |
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Well I didn't read all of it, but I can empathize with the sickness. I've had so many colds here I've lost track. Probably two a month once the summer ended. That said, if you had the one that's been going around here the last two weeks that was a pretty brutal one.
Most of the other ones I've gotten have been minor irritations, almost like I had the same cold back in the US before, but it was different enough to make me feel half sick. At first even feeling like this made the day miserable, but between becoming accustomed to working feeling like this, and also coming into classes that either have to come like me or I've got under control, its not that big a deal now.
If you like intellectual challenges, work on learning Korean, I've found it to be something I've really enjoyed. Not sure how long I'll be here, but its not like I would have spent my time doing something a lot more memorable, so learning the language can't hurt. After 7 months, I can use words and phrases here and there to get a suprising amount of things across to Koreans. It's still rare, but I occasionally even find myself understanding what a Korean is talking about when I overhear a conversation. My Korean has a looong way to go, but my point is it doesn't take forever to get to where you can really see your advancement. |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| Only tonight have I really acknowledged it, let my pride down, and accepted that I really am just a small weak fish swimming upstream after realizing that I can not continue on being emotionally charged over lacking critical knowledge that could never be gained in a classroom or online. |
I remember how "charged" I felt when I first came to Korea. Maybe not to the extent that you're feeling it, but to some extent.
You've got to learn to be "easy". Hagwon changes your schedule last minute and didn't tell you? Fine...so you're not prepared. Have a couple of games/activities ready that you can pull out in emergencies. It's not YOUR problem.
Overcharged at a store? Stop shopping there and find a place where you feel more comfortable.
Can't get a meal in a restaurant? Cook at home! REALLY want to eat in a restaurant? Learn at LEAST enough Korean to recognize your favorites on the menu.
You say that there are other foreigners at your school? Hit them up for good places to shop/eat.
You said that you've lived in Europe for 3 years. I'd almost bet you've lived in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Austria or Switzerland. Having lived in the Czech Republic for over a year (back before they entered the EU), I found it MUCH more difficult in a lot of respects than living in Korea.
You ARE strong enough to do this, but even the strong have to admit when they're out of their depth and ask for help...which is what you're doing. Good for you!
PM me if you want to vent more, or advice on anything in particular. |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:43 am Post subject: |
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The part about the Koreans at work being standoffish rings true for me as well. I'm used to that and have heard myself also described as quiet and untalkative. Some of them are fine and easy to relate to, generally ones who have lived abroad, are aware of what that entails and also speak English well. Sometimes I have heard that foreign teachers are expected to be outgoing and talkative, to be the ones to say hello first and help create pleasantness at work. If the foreigner is quiet or standoffish the Koreans will probably just leave him alone. I've had jobs where some or nearly all Koreans at work almost never spoke to me, and not much with the other foreigners either. We'd just accept that, but it is a little strange sometimes, especially when you find out that they label the foreigner(s) as being unfriendly. The truth is that I find most Koreans hard to relate to, the main exception being those who've lived abroad and have passable English. I think most Koreans find foreigners hard, if not impossible, to relate to. So isolation is a common feeling here.
That's my experience and opinion of course. Others will tell you something entirely different. |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:55 am Post subject: |
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Maybe "stand-offish" is the right word, but maybe not? I've found that Koreans are very forthcoming if you ask them questions about their lives, but don't readily volunteer information. I'm not sure (after all this time here!!) if it's a "Korean" thing or an "English" thing.
You can't just say "How was your weekend?" because you'll get "Fine" as an answer. You have to follow up with "What did you do?" and then ask a lot of questions.
Sometimes it's an uphill battle, but in the end, I've found that it's worth it! |
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kangnam mafioso
Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Location: Teheranno
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:37 am Post subject: |
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culture shock usually sets in a little later than two and a half weeks ... maybe it's just the stress of being sick/ adjusting to a small town and teaching kids. teaching kids can be a very draining endeavor and a poorly managed school or above-average hours can make it much worse. are you teaching more than 6 hrs a day? do you get some breaks? do you have materials? these are all important aspects. also, diet can contribute to your overall health (as i'm sure you are aware). have you been avoiding korean food/ restaurants altogether and surviving on Mcdonalds and convenience store crap? don't feel like you have to be fluent in korean to be able to walk into a korean restaurant and point to something on the menu. often, people make this into more of a big deal than it actually is. ask your foreign co-workers for help -- best not to start being too much of a burden on the koreans. they have a completely different work and social ethic than we do in the west so it's natural to feel out of place. be pleasant, modest, bow, show up looking prepared and you should have no problem. keep the kids happy but don't let them walk all over you. play games as much as possible. invite some korean co-workers out to dinner, pay, and in return they will teach you all about the food ... although, i wouldn't be surprised if you start getting invitations.
take a deep breath and have a sense of humor about all this. remember ....you need to be in this for the long haul, not a sprint, if you're going to make it a year. |
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Corporal
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Good post actually, a bit more interesting than the typical newbie whine. I have to say, though, I don't get the "how do I order food when I don't speak the language"? thing. My new co-worker is complaining of that too. C'mon, point and grunt. Street food is the easiest. They want to sell their food--they don't much care whether or not you know how to ask for it in their language or not. Yeah, a sit-down restaurant will be a bit more difficult but even then there's often a crappy but readable English translation and if not that then pictures. |
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just because
Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Location: Changwon - 4964
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:51 am Post subject: |
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Good luck with it all...
just a note on the Korean teachers..
*while they should be polite it isn't their job to point you in the right direction when it comes to living here. they are just doing their job just like you and at the end of the day just want to go home and lead their lives with their families and boyfriends/girlfriends....
-If anything it should your fellow foreign workers that should help you out. they may lead busy lives(just as i do) but they should be able to take the time out to show you where they eat, etc......
*A reason for the seeming ignorance of you is that they probably(with the amount of foreigners at your school) have seen so many foreigners come and go they are rather indifferent to it now. They just hope you can do and a good job at school so the stress is less for them and if they get a friendship out of it then it would be a bonus....
It appears that you are used to taking charge and being in control but now all the control is being taken away through language inability you are at a loss as to what to do and are getting frustrated...if you chill out and have a good time of it you will do a lot better... |
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blynch
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: UCLA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:59 am Post subject: Re: My 1st 3 weeks teaching in Korea |
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| bixlerscott wrote: |
Culture Shock central. Another ginormous post....
I have extreme feelings of frustration recently over not knowing stuff I knew how to do at home such as effective communication, leading people, shopping, eating, avoid getting hit by cars, interacting with neighbors, work relationship building, using office machines, and well, the list goes on to be 1001 friggin issues. All while you will be sick (cold and flu like never before) as can be during the 1st month, becuase your body is not accustomed to the microbiology present and dirty environment a devoloping highly industrious foreign country half way around the world presents. (I watched 10 hi-rise buildings go up in 2 weeks while the sky is very hazy white from pollution in a small Korean city during breaks on the roof of the school!!!)
Yes, you start your new job and work everyday, sick and feeling aweful, furthur exponentializing the difficult learning curve of adjusting and successfully integrating. Can I do it? Yes, as long they do not out me. I am still seeking to know that I am for sure going to be here for the whole year and this rests on whether the Korean staff want me and if my health permits. I want to be, becuase I think it will make a better person out me. Perhaps it takes time for the Korean staff to warm up to you and to feel healthy and proper. It's an extremely lonesome experience for me... All alone, in an alien land with very cold alien (I am the wierd brown haired blue eyed English speaking alien here!!!), seemingly robotic workoholic kind of homogenous people that all seem to look alike who are focused on becoming something state of the art through technological innovation. This is geek zone. If you like Star Trek and science stuff like I do, then you will be intrigued by Korean ambitions
If you are outside of Seoul or Busan, hardly anyone speaks English, but there are English schools all over the place for the past 12 to 15 years. Confused. So you may find it impossible to buy a hot meal, especially on the street or in a restaurant, becuase you lack the ability to negotiate a deal, NO DEAL, go home hungrey and empty handed. This is a blow to your confidence and then culture shock sets in big time. I can now buy stuff off the store shelf, but found I was overcharged with a 54% tax at a Kims Club department store recently, yes 54%!!! This pissed me off majorly and my director said the store is right when I showed her the receipt. I could tell she simply did not want to admit that I was wronged in a store so I had to eat the loss (at a time when money is scarce before 1st payday) and not press the issue any furthur with her. Another Korean staff member I showed the receipt to did admit it, but was very disturbed that they did this as they fear I might run away which I do not plan on doing. Next time they overcharge me, I will put up opposition or just leave their friggin merchandise with the cashier and walk out the store.
The school seems to be a good one, it is a very pretty traditional folk styled one teaching many subjects. I can tell it's a good school from how happy my foriegn co-teachers are and that the Korean staff work hard in making it a nice place for the kids to go to school. It is not perfect, but it seems to work very well. The kids will like you as long as you say hello and smile alot and PLAY games and use reward system with stickers. Some kids will test you and talk back to you which is to be taken care of swiftly, but never physically. I have no problem correcting and controlling them, becuase it's OK to raise your voice to get thier attention and tell them they are wrong for not listening to and respecting their teachers. Then you know you got thier attention when they cry and apologize. Then positive re-enforcement goes a long way. Hopefully they remember to make my job easier after these first few weeks of trying me. Do not go if you do have high blood pressure or heart condition, they scream alot in attempt to get you to let them play the whole time when you will need to achieve results to have job satisfaction. Some classes are like having a set of talking parrot toys that mimick everything you say (funny and annoying), other classes are doing very well and actually know what you are saying.
If these kids are going to be the best future global netizen business and scientific leaders in the world (the governments' plan and why we are invited to teach English here), they have to earn it in a very old fashion way through earnest hard work that few American kids are experiencing today. Remember this is a developing country truly striving for greatness like we have never ever seen before, not even in America. No other way, until they invent a microchip implant that instantly uploads knowledge to your head such as for speaking a language. (no joke, Asians are on their way to huge breakthrough technological innovation which seems to be thier main ambition in life today) So work em' and play em' hard is my philosophy as long as parents do not call the school with a complaint. Knowing these spoiled ubiquitous video game playing brats, they will talk *beep* about a teacher who is actually making them work in learning something.
The Korean staff will not train you or help you feel any more comfortable in your new alien environment as an alien resident, but fear you in a squeemish manner. I think they are focused on doing thier jobs to the best of their ability and it shows, becuase they keep the school clean and fixed up nicely with art. They will act shy and fearful of you instead, thus, annoying you, because you are speaking fluent English and you may have great fear of failure on account of them not likeing you (this may not really be true, but I sure am confused at this point as they seem cold). They do not show warmness, welcomeness, or anything, just ice cold like robots. This hard time, I believe, is the make or break point (remember the ol' fight or flight syndrome in psycology class?) which occurs after the short honeymoon happy phase of culture shock. (week 2 to ??? hopefully not much longer)
Now,(end of week 3 for me) I am ready to get really good at what I am doing over here, gain confidence, and be successful, in order to be happy in making myself home here and solidify successful working relationships with my timid Korean staff who seem burdened and stressed if I need to go to a doctor or need a magic marker. A common ground of understanding must be achieved between myself and the Korean staff and to know that I am wanted and liked for sure before I move on out of the hard phase of culture shock, but they do not have a clue what I am going through, what I need to know, and why there are misunderstandings. This is hard for me.... I am not kidding or exagerating one bit people, but I do not want to scare you out of what might be the opportunity of a lifetime. No pain, no gain as they always said.
Note: I lived in several European countries for a total of 3 years and went on many business trips and am 34 year old interdisciplinary scholar and professional jack of trades who has worked and studied with people from many countries. I am suprised that I feel this culture shocked as I am with great anxiety to the point of feeling heart pain and extreme fear and worry of failure. I thought I was stronger than I really am on account of my varied diverse and challenging experiences. Only tonight have I really acknowledged it, let my pride down, and accepted that I really am just a small weak fish swimming upstream after realizing that I can not continue on being emotionally charged over lacking critical knowledge that could never be gained in a classroom or online. Time to start learning some Korean language and stop fearing the Koreans myself and establish my ground with them (they must either accept or reject, not go on showing cold ambivelence) and then decide if it's right for me to be here. It's make or break point. Good thing I am reading up on these sorts of things, becuase I did not understand what is happening with me until tonight. Purely Asian culture shock of anxiety which is, to me, about 100 times more extreme than moving to Europe. Yes, I said 100 times more dynamic. I might be ending up in a very failed state if I do not figure it all out soon. There is no place for failure if money and time is not on your side.
Perhaps I am all wrong about what I think and feel, but when I have a hunch, its usually in the ballpark. I might simply be going to hard on myself, becuase my head foreign teacher says I am doing well and likes me very much. |
gee... too long to read. anyways avoid these polluted cities (unless u r there to work as an engineer): inchon, bupyong, buchon, asan, gwangju, pohang, ulsan, gumi, changwon, gwangyang |
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andy202
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:14 am Post subject: |
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bixlerscott, you need a nice snuggly cuddle, ideally from your mum, or someone with a mum-like demeanour, right?
well, in the absence of mum, you have done the right thing, just spewing all your emotions out and publishing it here on Dave's disgruntled ESL board.
in the 8 months I have been here, I have noticed that almost every new-arriver is filled with gloom and disappointment at the predicament they have found themselves in. in some cases, it doesn't go away and only the prospect of one day leaving korea gets them through.
and it is a tough life out here for foreigners. My pet hate, personally, is the food. maybe i'm just fussy or too wary about what i eat, but korea seems to specialise in all the foods i don't much like, and nobody has what i do like.
today i sat at my bowl of sticky rice and kimchi in school and just thought about how delicious and sufficient an 89p mixed cheese sandwich from tesco would have been.
anway, i hope you fathom your way through this time. by the tone of your post, sort of downtrodden but determined, i have a good feeling that you are the type of person who can handle korea, and many can't.
otherwise, I think we are all here for you and congratulate you on your heartfelt outpouring.
PS) Did you enjoy TEFL Europe? Any countries you would recommend? |
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Horangi Munshin
Joined: 06 Apr 2003
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:20 am Post subject: |
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| Corporal wrote: |
| Good post actually, a bit more interesting than the typical newbie whine. I have to say, though, I don't get the "how do I order food when I don't speak the language"? thing. My new co-worker is complaining of that too. C'mon, point and grunt. Street food is the easiest. They want to sell their food--they don't much care whether or not you know how to ask for it in their language or not. Yeah, a sit-down restaurant will be a bit more difficult but even then there's often a crappy but readable English translation and if not that then pictures. |
Corporal good points.
I remember when I was first in Korea. I had a bit of support from my co-workers, we could bitch about stuff etc. BUT they were complete newbies too. We would go to a Korean restaurant and point to something on the menu board and hoped we liked it. There were no pictures just Hangul. We tried to remember which were good.
Op, once you get over your cold, be adventurous! |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:47 am Post subject: |
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I'm going to go the "back in the day" route.
When I first came to Korea (10+ years ago), I was the ONLY foreign teacher in my town. I didn't see or talk to another foreigner for one month!! What a luxury it would have been to have even ONE person to help me out...or even talk to me...in that month!!
BUT!! I found that I COULD figure things out. I COULD survive and make my way around. I remember taking the bus downtown (45 minutes away) ALONE for the first time. I was scared to death!! Afraid I would get lost...afraid I couldn't find the right bus back...BUT I DID IT!!!
NOTHING will ever match the feeling of being able to make it in a place where very few people spoke English, 90% of the signs were in Korean and I was stared at as if I were an alien!
I DID make it!! I found some friends...learned some Korean (survival Korean), asked lots and LOTS of questions....and I'm still here!! And still lovin' it! |
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