And we're back!

Two months ago I wrote what I believed to be my last entry from Korea. I had a plan to spend only one year in Korea, then head home, plant my roots in the great city of Portland, OR, and begin my career as a high school history teacher. Little did I know that none of that would come into fruition, or not yet at least.

You see, at the heart of my gleeful adventures in this great country was a loving relationship I thought I could walk away from at the end of my year. I'm not sure I have ever been more blind to reality, because it turns out that the last thing I wanted was to walk away from something so beautiful. Three days away from Korea, my girlfriend and I were already talking about my potential return. It didn't take much for us to decide that this is what we want, so I booked a surprisingly cheap ticket back to Seoul and returned for another chapter.

I only plan to be here for five months until Mary's contract ends. Then, who knows where we'll go in this oyster of a world! Due to the brief length of time I have here, I could not find any contractual teaching jobs at a school. So instead I have found a handful of different sources of income, all involving teaching, but to a variety of ages and skill levels.

Every day, around 10am, I am picked up from my apartment by one of three people (all of whom are in the same family) and they drive me to a few different schools to teach 20 minute lessons to pre-K and Kindergarten classes. On average I teach the same 20 minute lesson to eight different classes. Usually this lesson consists of reading a picture book, having the students repeat each word I read. Then we follow that with a matching game relating to the book. It could not be an easier thing to teach! There are minor struggles of course, like the kids not knowing a lick of English, which makes classroom management tricky. But really, I am spoiled to have this job! And frankly I'm embarrassed by how much I get paid for this, but I am certainly not complaining!

For an hour an evening, four evenings a week, I go to the big steel factory to teach English to a group of 11 men and a woman who work in the head office. They all appear to be in their twenties, and their English is strong enough for me to have conversations with them. And that's really what we spend most of our time doing, having conversations. They say their biggest struggles are speaking and listening, and that's what they want to practice. So I facilitate some ice breakers, we play games, we have discussions about social issues, and we have fun. It is a very laid back atmosphere in this class, and so far I am enjoying it thoroughly.

One of the most fulfilling parts about teaching this class is I have an opportunity to ask Koreans real questions about their culture and country and get substantial answers. One day, I asked them to think of one reason they are proud to be Koreans. Two men answered that Korea has never colonized other lands. One man answered that 60 years ago, dozens of countries banded together to support South Korea during their turmoil and provide aid to help the country get back on its feet after the war. And now, Korea has brought itself to a state of being able to provide similar aid to other countries who now need it. And the general answer among the entire class is that 30 years ago, South Korea was still considered third-world, but through a unified effort to work extremely hard, both in school and in their careers, and despite having no natural resources or a large population, they have managed to build the 15th largest economy in the world.

So the kindergarten loop and the steel factory are the only two jobs I have started working so far, but I also have two former co-workers getting me set up with potential tutoring jobs, one to two teenage sisters, and one to an elderly man. Those jobs will provide a significant increase to my wages, so naturally I hope they work out! I also have set up guitar lessons with two friends of mine.

When I made the decision to return to Korea, the only things on my mind were returning to my girlfriend and finding work. When I arrived, I hit the ground running! But now that I've had a handful of days off (this weekend was Korea's Thanksgiving, providing most people with a five-day weekend), I am realizing that there is so much more for me to take advantage of than just spending time with my girlfriend and working. This is like a 2nd chance to do some of the things I didn't get to my first time around. I am working half the amount of hours than before, and I am finding myself wondering, What can I do to occupy my time? I haven't figured out a plan as of yet, but one idea I have is to designate some of my free time for learning. Perhaps I will sign up for an online history class, or buy some more history books to study on my own. I have always been interested in learning more about Buddhism, and recently began reading up on it. Maybe I will occasionally visit a temple for meditation to experience that aspect of the religion. I can also devote some time to learning more of the Korean language. Mary is currently taking a class, maybe she'll be so kind as to share what she learns with me!

And of course there is always exercise! Mary and I have a goal to spend more time slack-lining in a nearby park. For those of you unsure of what slack-lining is, think tight-rope walking on a strap that is about one inch thick. Obviously it's great for building balance, but also works out your core. And although I absolutely loathe jogging, I also hate how out of shape I am as a jogger. So I am trying to motivate myself to make jogging a normal part of my schedule. I'd better get in that groove soon, because once it gets cold, it will be extremely difficult for me to get motivated!

I plan to keep my mind open for more ways to experience Korea in a new light than before. I want to take advantage of this 2nd chance. I would like to find new things to appreciate about this country and the culture. My general feeling during my first year here was I like it here, but I don't love it here. I would like to find things to love. And I want to keep my mind open enough to allow myself to love and not just dwell on the "like it, don't love it" attitude.

Hopefully my next entry will include a report of new things to love!