Conclusion: Teaching English in Korea is the best

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)

The main street by my apartment where I conveniently
found everything I needed for two years.

My last day by the river was beautiful. Final gift
from Korea.

Yurim, my amazing school!

Beautiful Gyeongju. Miss it and will definitely
be back one day...

THE END.

Borneo trip

Malaysian Borneo was awesome. I stayed in one province, called Sabah. My three activites there were 1) climbing Mount Kinabalu 2) Uncle Tan's Wildlife Adventure on the Kinabatang river, and 3) Scuba Diving at Mabul.

All were awesome, but being home I have definitely lost my inspiration for blogging. So in brief here are my recommendations:

DEFINITELY climb Mount Kinabalu. Do so with Jungle Jack Backpackers. You will NOT regret it. It was amazing. I am very anal planner, and Jack's lack of an official website concerned me, but he's fantastic and has it all under control once you get there. Seriously though Jack offers such amazing service, hugely personal touch, and for so much cheaper than anywhere else. It really was a total gem found while travelling.

Amazing view of the mountain from Jungle Jack's.

Got to the peak around 5:30am to catch the sunrise

Totally worth it.

aaahhhh

Uncle Tan's was neat, lotsa cute critters. The website makes you think it'll be extremely hardcore, but it was really a very relaxed schedule. No shower though so we were all pretty grimey by the end. We didn't see as many animals as I'd hoped, and I hear that Sarawack is the place to go for animal sightings at Bako Park. If only I had more time!

Finally diving at Mabul was AMAZING. Currently, there is a travel warning agaisnt non-essential travel to the east coast of Sabah. However, I felt totally safe on Mabul. All night boat activity is cancelled, and the military patrolled at night with big scary guns, so I didn't feel like anyone was going to successfully come and get it. No one did! The diving was so fantastic, I saw a ton of turtles, rays, a shark, beautiful cuttlefish, and so much other stuff. The resort, Scuba Junkie, was extremely snazzy and posh. They have a dorm in Semporna too, but if you can afford it absolutely splurge for the Mabul spot. It's a thousand times nicer and more comfortable. I didn't manage to get a permit to dive Sipadan, the world famous spot, and while I was super bummed about that, I still had an amazing time. 

Anyways a short but sweet vacation, super fun, and Malaysians are very sweet and all speak English. There is some staring and men do catcall, which I really hate, but what can you do. Many women complimented my hair and touched it, so that's always fun. I would definitely recommend this as a travel destination, especially the mountain and the diving!

Last goodbyes

Well this is it: my very last night in Korea. I simply can't believe how quickly two years has flown by. The other day I signed and dated a document as August 2012. Saying goodbye has been very hard.

Earlier this week I saod goodbye to my main coteachers. On Tuesday I went to Ashley's house and she cooked me delicious samgyupsal and I got to hang out with her and her baby in their gorgeous apartment. On Thursday Miyoung and I had delicious diy bibimbap and mackerel followed by coffee. She then helped me ship my remaining boxes,  including my precious laptop. Fingers crossed everything arrives safely! Saying goodbye to them was extremely difficult.  I was so unbelievably lucky having not one but two amazing coteachers who took such fantastic care of me. I'll miss them a ton.

Over the weekend I said goodbye to my friends. While I didn't have a big party,  I had a bunch of meals and spent my last night out enjoying a wild Norabang night for the last time.  I've eaten so much I might pop and have been spoiled with gifts and food. I met such amazing people out here. I will also miss them a ton!

I said goodbye to two of my favourite restaurant owners and even that was almost tearful. Tonight I brought some little cookies for my landlady to thank her. She gave me some peaches. Her and her friend laughed when I attempted to tell them what i'd had for dinner and then called me beautiful. I will miss Korean kindness more than I can say.

But on a happier note, tomorrow I start my holiday!  I'll ve spending two weeks in Malaysian Borneo!  I have packed extremely lightly which i'm proud of. I am so sad about my goodbyes I'm not really able to fully process my excitement,  but I know it'll be amazing. When I get back I'll upload a post about the trip,  and then finish off the blog with a conclusion post.  Anne is leaving Korea!

AMAZINGLY delicious chocolate mint bingsu.
A wonderful treat I will miss!

My very last class, a small camp where we mostly played
cards. Sweet girls. That shy little one was quite good
at Speed and Egyptian War!!

.

My wonderful coteacher Miyoung and me.

Sad face - last run!

This awesome trail is totally one of the reasons I
got so into running these past two years!

Hwangseong Park was another great route.

Sending a suitcase from Korea to Canada

As you know, dear blog readers, my time in Korea is coming to an end. Feels unreal how quickly 2 years has flown by. I can't imagine not having come to Korea and lived abroad. It's been the absolute best.

However, moving always sucks. Because I plan to visit Borneo before heading home, I don't want to be lugging around luggage full of winter sweaters and student letters.(ok that was a super cool sentence wasn't it?) I heard we weren't allowed to ship our suitcases home, so I asked my coteacher to call and ask the post office. They assured her that if my suitcase was under 20kg and under 1m tall, it would be no problem. No one else I know had ever shipped home a suitcase, so I pakced it up and crossed my fingers. After a very sweaty walk to the post office (luckily my very fit friend carried it down the stairs for me) I was quickly told that suitcases could not be shipped, and my belongings needed to be in a box. So I called my coteacher, and handed the phone to the young post office worker. I don't know what magic occurred, but next thing I know my suitcase is being wrapped up into a beautiful postal present. I hope you look forward to receiving this ornate package mom and dad! Please have Charles lift it, it's insanely heavy. (19kg to be exact). I honestly don't know how I'd survive without Ashley's help!! For anyone in the internet who is looking to ship something similar, 20kg cost 55,000W for surface shipping (1-3 months delivery time).

Also here's a cute car. 

Also here's a cicada! It was dead, but it's feel were still functional and it grabbed hold of my string and walked home with me!

Goodbye teachers

The kids aren't the only amazing people I work with. I have been so lucky to work with a super friendly, encouraging and inclusive group of co-teachers. It was very sad saying goodbye to them as well! We went for a final lunch and they were extremely kind and got me a present! I am so grateful to them as they've all helped me so much throughout my stay in Korea.

For lunch I actually got to try something new, which is always super exciting! We had a dish called 물회 aka Mul Hoe. This literally translates to "water sashimi." It was actually super tasty and very refreshing on the hot day. I couldn't find it online so here you go other people looking to find out about it! It consists of raw fish, in this case flatfish though I hear it varies, veggies like radish, and a ton of delicious Asian pear. This then had yummy spicy red sauce added, then we add ice and rice. It becomes a cool mushy yumminess. I enjoyed it very much! I was less a fan of the giant snails we had for appetizer but they weren't bad when dipped in sauce. 

Thank you Yurim teachers! You are all amazing, and it's been an honour teaching with you!

Mul hoe before adding ice.

Mixed up and ice added.

Squid side dish. I love squid, but this had a weird filling
I wasn't a fan of.

All finished!

Time to start saying goodbye...

I began saying goodbye to my students this week.  Thursday and Friday are the days I teach my favourite grade: grade 5.  I knew for a while that next Friday, the 25th, I wouldn't be teaching. But I only found out yesterday that I also wouldn't be teaching Thursday the 24th. SO I had to say an impromptu goodbye to my Thursday classes. Luckily, I had my camera and was able to take class photos. It was super sad, but they were adorable as always and thanked me and said goodbye. Today however, the students and I knew it would be our last class.. and they prepared amaaaaaaazingly sweet letters and gifts! I couldn't help myself and I just photographed every letter.I will need to get a new scrapbook tomorrow... What an emotional bitter-sweet day!!

Piles of cards. The box gift was purchased
by two adorable twins who told me
they spent their own money on it.
I love them.

Let the cuteness begin...

This girl is super shy and quiet, I
was absolutely amazed and touched by
the translated version of this letter.

I don't know who translated this for her,
but I am so grateful. Such a moving letter!

This is a card from the twins!

\

And the adorable contents of their box:
origami cranes and hearts, delicious cookies,
a lollipop, a cow pen, a rose petal decoration,
and a green teddy bear they asked me to keep
on my phone to always remember them by.

Okay? Love that her English name is Luz.

I haven't said goodbye to grade 6 just yet (and the majority of them are pubescent and really won't care haha), but I still have a few letters from them. The girl who wrote to me earlier (under the post Emotions) has been writing me daily and asking for immediate responses ("A4 paper is okay!") at school, so her letters are currently nestled in my desk.

 EMOTIONS!!!! I am really truly going to miss these kids. Every single letter means so much to me, even though I don't know all their names I know their faces and their personalities and ACH so sad. But such is the life of a teacher!