Wondrous Journeys & Extraordinary Encounters My dream? To travel the world!

I had been working at a mindless job in finance and desired a change. A big one. Why not travel and work at the same time? In late 2007, I accepted a year-long teaching opportunity as an English Language Instructor in Donghae, a small town in rural South Korea. I knew no one upon my arrival. I did not speak the language nor was I familiar with the culture. I knew of only the typical cultural stereotypes to guide me: Koreans are proud, arrogant and distrusted foreigners. My inexperience proved to be a challenge and it stunned me as I struggled to adjust and find a sense of belonging. In South Korea, there is no emphasis on individuality, and deference to authority, as well as honor and respect for family and the community are highly valued.

Each day seemed to be a test of mental and emotional fortitude. I learned very quickly that as a foreigner, I was to be regarded with curiosity, so that everything I did and said was observed and critiqued. I experienced intense feelings of alienation and loneliness. Language can function as both a bridge and a barrier. I found myself smiling often and gesturing wildly with my hands, desperate to ingratiate myself to those in positions of power: the cab driver, bank employee and shopkeeper. A sense of humor was vital; I regularly found myself feeling awkward and uncomfortable, especially during those three-hour long soju-soaked group dinners with the school principal. I witnessed squid being roasted on a heater in the administration office, corporal punishment in the classroom, and (after many requests) participated in nude bathing at the spa with my colleagues while running into my students. Activities that were the norm and typically occurred every week.

However, I soon felt myself adapting and becoming more open to their culture and customs. Meanwhile, my colleagues, students, and neighbors slowly began to accept me into their circles so that we were able to make connections based on shared values and beliefs of our love for family and work ethic, rather than differences. I had ultimately become a part of their community and developed a deep respect and appreciation for their history and traditions. Now, years later, I crave Korean food, and scour the area for spicy tofu soup. I indulge in the spa. I watch hours of Korean dramas. I am truly lucky to have had such a transformative experience -- I was offered a rare and intimate glimpse into a very unique culture in a small community.