Hello bloggity blog. This is it. This is the end of Anne in Korea. I am back home, snug as a bug in my parents beautiful home for a few days before beginning the next adventure. It's been an amazing time, and thank you so much for reading my blog!
Hopefully, throughout reading this you have come to the same conclusion as my title states. I had such an amazing time in Korea that I will definitely cherish for my entire life. It also was the experience that I feel changed me more than anything else, including university and other travels. There really is nothing quite like being a stranger in strange land, even when that land is insanely welcoming.
So thank you Korea. Thank you students, your eagerness to learn and grow, and your innocence will remain with me forever. Thank you coteachers, your generosity and patience were beyond anything I could have expected. Knowing English was not something I earned, but something I inherited by living in the right place at the right time. I feel unbelievably grateful to have had such an amazing experience based on something I never even worked for!!
For newbies considering Korea: DO IT.
You will so not regret it.
Here's my final bits of advice for teaching English in Korea.
1. If you at all can, teach in a public school, not a private one. You get much more vacation, more pay, less work, and less instability. It's a win win win situation. I taught via EPIK - English Program in Korea. This is the most common way to teach public, though I hear there are some other ways. If you want to teach in Seoul, there's a special application to do as well. I believe GEPIK organizes teachers for the province surrounding Seoul.
2. Bring less. So much less. You will accumulate so much stuff it's unbelievable.
3. But do bring some... Things I found very difficult to find in Korea include the following:
- tampons
- toothpaste that tastes like toothpaste
- specialty clothing sizes (tall people, larger footed people, and well endowed ladies, bring that special stuff from home. clothing usually will fit a small or medium, but not a large)
- deodorant (available but not many options)
- obviously you aren't going to find all your favourite brands, so if you're super picky about something bring that (but also stop being picky. you'll get it again when you go home. go eat kimchi and grow a little)
- cheese (this would probably not be an issue in bigger cities but in Gyeongju it was an exciting month if we found cheddar)
4. Websites to know
Waygook.org - A teaching website with tons of materials. A lot of it isn't great, but search and you get good powerpoints, and good ideas. Stay away from the discussion areas though unless you want to laugh at weird angry people. I used this less and less throughout my stay, but in those first few months it was a lifesaver.
iherb.com - You can find EVERYTHING on this website. Spices, coffee, teas, moisterizers with SPF, oatmeal, chia seeds, ANYTHING. Stop whining that you can't find something in Korea and just look on this glorious website and all your problems will go away.
gmarket - Ok so I never used this really, but my friend Tina was a pro and sometimes got stuff from here for me. This is a store for things like clothes or furniture. I got a neat spibelt running belt on it, and some awkward fitting dresses.
5. I've said it before and I'll say it again. CHILL OUT. Be flexible. Eat new foods, try new customs, get over yourself and just let it be. If you want everything to be the same as home, stay home. If you want an amazing life changing experience filled with adorable children, go to Korea with an open mind, open heart, and open mouth. Korean cuisine took about a month to get used to but now is hands down one of my favourite cuisines. Try as much as you can! (You have my permission to skip the dog, live octopus or beondeggi if you're not feeling it though. Even many of my Korean kids were wary of those dishes)
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| The main street by my apartment where I conveniently found everything I needed for two years. |
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| My last day by the river was beautiful. Final gift from Korea. |
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| Yurim, my amazing school! |
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| Beautiful Gyeongju. Miss it and will definitely be back one day... |
THE END.
