A Cultural Experience

Traditional Hanok

Orientation has been GREAT!  I am really impressed with how organized everything is, which contributes to a smooth operation.  Even the lecturers have been really interesting...great information and well-presented with good humor.  Most of the lecturers are current or past EPIK teachers, so they've been able to give us some good insight into what to expect.  We have two lectures in the morning and two more after lunch followed by survival Korean lessons after dinner.  They've been full days but have gone by fast!

In between lectures on lesson planning, school etiquette, after school classes, summer camps, etc., we've had a few cultural experiences.  During an introductory Taekwondo class, I broke my first board (not gonna lie...I'm a little proud of myself for that one).  I really enjoyed the class and plan to look into taking lessons while I'm over here.

Our drum instructor
(he was a patient man).

My completed pencil box decorated with hanji. 

Today we had a field trip to an old Korean village in Jeonju called Hanok Village.  There we got to decorate pencil boxes using hanji, traditional handmade paper from Korea.  We also learned about the role drums play in traditional Korean music and learned how to play the jangu.  The village contained a mix of traditional Korean houses known as Hanoks and modern buildings.  Most of us also tried an intriguing looking dessert called jipangei ice cream - imagine vanilla ice cream in an edible tube made of Captain Crunch.  Yum!

Hanok Village -- notice the contrast of old and new.

We still have three full days of orientation.  On the last full day (Thursday, February 27), we'll be presenting lesson demonstrations in the morning and meeting with our district supervisors in the afternoon.  That is when I will finally learn what school I will be in and the grade I will be teaching.  On Friday, we'll be taken to our schools to meet our co-teachers.  Our co-teachers will then take us to our apartments where we will finally start to settle in and make our new home.  So far, so good!  Looking forward to even more great experiences...

My delicious treat of jipangei ice cream.

Just a quick update because jet lag is setting in:

My life for a year in two 50-pound
suitcases and two carry-ons.

My 15 hour flight from Atlanta to Seoul went pretty smoothly!  I had plenty to keep me busy, so time went by quickly (watched three movies, did some journaling, read some books, took a few naps).  Arrival at the airport was also simple.  I met my recruiter, registered with EPIK, then boarded a bus for a 2 ½ drive to the orientation site, which is like a college campus (we’re staying in dorms).

My roommate, Chantal, is from South Africa.  I have really enjoyed her so far and look forward to learning more about her!  She’s very outgoing, and we’ve already shared lots of stories, photos, and cultural tidbits about our respective countries.  All of us GETs are from one of seven countries:  Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, or United States.  The US has the largest representation, which is usually the case at EPIK orientations. It's been fun learning about different cultures already, and it's only the tip of the iceberg.

Taekwondo demonstration that was part
of the opening ceremony

Today was a low-key day, which will give us a chance to get over jet lag.  At breakfast I met some more people...from Ohio (not much of a cultural experience on that one).  Then we had a campus tour, opening ceremony, Korean culture lecture, and welcome dinner today…like I said – LOW KEY!

Now...I'm pretty exhausted at 8:28pm and plan to get ready for bed.  My body is craving some sleep.  

I’ll give you another update about orientation in a few days!

It's hard to believe my day of departure is almost here!  I say goodbye to the US at 12:15 PM on Wednesday, February 19th.  I will dearly miss my family, friends, and various connections I have made over the years.  At the same time, I am so excited about the life waiting for me in South Korea!

The process started with waiting and listening...I wanted to be sure this is what I was supposed to do.  After all, it's only going to work if it's God's plan and will for my life.  Once I had clarity, it was full speed ahead.  The first thing I had to do was get my TEFL certification.  TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.  I enrolled in an online program through the International TEFL Academy from August to October 2013.  I also started taking Korean lessons in August at Atlanta International Language Institute in Sandy Springs, GA.  Once I found a rhythm with those new "projects," it was time to begin job searching.  I went through Reach to Teach Recruiting and got excellent guidance throughout the process. John Kellenberger was with me every step of the way to help me dot my i's and cross my t's.  Fast forward to January 2014 - I got the position in the city I wanted!

Source: http://www.patec-automation.ro/patec/

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My contract is with EPIK (English Program in Korea).  I will be teaching in the public schools and will find out what grade when I arrive in South Korea.  I do know that I'll be working in Ulsan, which is the seventh largest city in South Korea and the headquarters for Hyundai.  Ulsan is on the coast, so the weather is nice (40's in the winter to 80's in the summer).  Lodging, 50 percent of my medical insurance, and entrance fee to cover the flight will be provided by EPIK.  In addition, I will make a decent living and get 18 vacation days plus national holidays - not a bad deal!

EPIK has a great process for introducing GETs to the country.  I've already completed a 15-hour online pre-orientation, and I have a nine day, in-country orientation when I arrive.  After orientation, I will be taken to my school where I will meet the principal, vice-principal, and co-teacher.  My co-teacher is Korean and will serve as my ambassador as I figure out life in the school system and in South Korea.

I'm as prepared as I can be after months of research and conversations with people who have been over there.  I'm keeping an open mind and will be flexible as I experience a culture unlike any I've experienced before.  I know God has amazing things in store for me, and I can't wait to see what they are!

Thank you for being part of my journey!