Teaching, Learning and Other Adventures Around the World: July 2012

Can you believe it, a year has come and gone here in Korea?! This will be my last entry from Korea, and I think it's fitting to reflect on the year.

First, I'd like to reflect on the fact that this has been a year of firsts! That's what I came here for, new experiences. And new experiences are what I had! Of course, the big first is living outside of the U.S. Along with that came all the new food (first time eating kangaroo, snake, crocodile, cow intestines, pig ears, crab guts, silk worm larvae, and pig spine soup). Sitting on the floor in restaurants. Getting covered from head to toe in mud. Using a "squatter" toilet. Visiting a third-world country (Cambodia). Camping on the beach. Camping in a graveyard. Visiting a Buddhist temple. Playing paintball. Going to a communal bathhouse. Driving a scooter. Learning a new alphabet. Having an international group of friends. Teaching kindergarten. Participating in a flashmob. Spending Christmas without my family.

There are some admirable traits about the Korean culture that I wouldn't mind America paying attention to, including their respect for the elderly; the sense of community and sharing, even among strangers (many times while hiking or rock climbing, nearby hikers/climbers would share their food with us before we've even interacted with them); the safety of this country and the fact that I have never once had to worry about being harmed or stolen from; the consumption of all parts of an animal, minimizing waste of a sacrificed life (though I bit into many questionable parts of an animal, at least I know it wasn't wasted); the hard-working nature of all people, and the sacrifice/dedication they all made to bring this country into the 1st world (they make Americans sound whiny!); their high respect for teachers (can I get an "Amen!").

There are also some traits about this society that I don't wish to spread to America, such as their attitude and prejudices towards other ethnicities; their ignorance of the world (I know Americans are also guilty of this, but on several occasions people were confused as to why my girlfriend wasn't black when they found out she is from South Africa...); the high rate of alcoholism (I had never before in my life seen so many drunk men stumbling down the street as if the zombie apocalypse had begun); the obsession with smart phones (again, I know Americans are guilty of this, but Korea brings it to a whole new level, such as putting smart phones in clear, waterproof casings so they can chat with friends while on a water slide).

And then there are the silly aspects of Korean culture that just make me laugh (sometimes out of frustration), for instance, being cut in front of in many lines because I wasn't right up against the person in front of me (something I eventually learned to prevent); having to wear life vests on water slides, even though the deepest the water gets is 2 feet (most Koreans don't know how to swim, so they are quite cautious!); seeing one city block with 7 outdoor gear shops and no customers inside them; seeing 6 people working behind the counter of a coffee shop and still waiting several minutes for my drink; the general fear of the sun (on the hottest of days, you'll still see Koreans wearing full sleeves, long pants, a big visor, and sometimes even fabric covering their entire neck and face so as to keep the sun off of their skin); no room for improvisation or customization (when I tried to order a peppermint white mocha at starbucks, they told me I could get a peppermint mocha, or a white mocha, but not a peppermint white mocha. When I asked if they could put both peppermint and white mocha syrups into my drink, they told me I could get a peppermint mocha, or a white mocha, but not a peppermint white mocha).

Possibly the most fascinating aspect of Korean life and culture is the generational divide between the young and the elderly. 60 years ago, this country was devastated by war, followed by famine and a long-standing military dictatorship. 30 years ago, South Korea was still considered third-world, and had a GDP comparable to North Korea. However, they have since pulled themselves up through hard work and endless studying, and have built the 15th largest economy in the world and are as technologically developed as the rest of the world powers. When I look at Koreans age 35 and younger, I see fashion, smart phones, luxuries, plastic surgery, new cars, stay-home moms, and lattes. When I see Koreans age 60 and older, I see weathered skin, the same floral patterned pants and large visors, women who are permanently bent over after 50 years of working in the fields, men slowly riding their beat-up bicycles in a wobbly, zig-zag pattern that makes me wonder how they haven't zagged in front of a moving car, and men and women planting crops in any undeveloped plot of land they can find. I can see that many values and mindsets have been carried on along the generations, but the differences in lives lived between the two age groups is probably more drastic than in most of the world.

So as I've learned so much about a foreign culture and country, I have also learned a lot about myself and people in general. I now know what it's like to be an immigrant, one who knows very little of the native tongue, and has to figure out the customs and manners through trial and error and help from friends. I have learned how to teach students who are still learning English. Living abroad doesn't always have to be such a difficult experience. I have learned that I actually have more culture than I thought. Kids are kids, no matter where you go. I can work hard, and play hard, and still function. I can work at the worst teaching job in Pohang and still be a happy person. After several months of not eating good donuts, Dunkin Donuts doesn't seem so bad anymore.

I am sure people will ask me for highlights or favorite events/experiences, but I know I won't be able to narrow anything down. When I look back on my time here, I'm sure I'll remember MANY events, experiences, traditions, etc. like all of the festivals, going to Pohang Steelers games (professional soccer), rock climbing, playing soccer on Thurs nights, playing in volleyball and ultimate frisbee tournaments, dancing in the flashmob, eating pizza and playing Settlers of Catan on Sunday nights, camping in a variety of locations, weekend beach parties with half of Pohang's English teachers, snowboarding in the beautiful mountains, hiking past the waterfalls of Bogyeongsa, organizing a scavenger hunt that around 40 people participated in, scenic drives on my scooter, my weekend trip to Seoroksan National Park, my 3-day weekend in Yeosu for the World's Fair, and my holiday trips to Cambodia, Japan, and Hong Kong (and soon Malaysia). How could anyone choose a favorite or highlight among that list?!

I guess the only honest answer to the question of highlights would be to say the relationships I built here were the ultimate highlight, since without those relationships, the experiences would not be so memorable. What really made my experience great was my friends from around the world who introduced me to Korea upon my arrival, who shared in new experiences with me, who listened to me vent about my horrible job, and make me laugh after a long week, who explored and adventured with me, who encouraged me to get involved with new things, and who made me feel comfortable and loved. And I owe a lot of gratitude to my girlfriend, who took my experiences here to an entirely higher level, with our countless adventures, weekend expeditions, endless athletic endeavors, and uncontrollable silliness. She opened my eyes to new perspectives, pushed me to try new things, brought out the child in me, and was the perfect companion for every occasion. She was the best thing that happened to me here, and she is the hardest part about leaving.

My final thoughts are this: when I first decided to come out here, I had no idea what to expect. I wasn't pee-in-my-pants excited about coming to Korea, but I didn't feel bad about the decision either. I was coming mostly for the challenge and new experiences. In the end, I have absolutely no regrets. It was a year unlike any other I have had and will probably ever have. Though there are things I didn't get to do that I had hoped to do, I know I didn't waste my time here. I learned, I lived, I loved. What more could I want from an experience?!