My latest article on Matador Network is now up. Here’s a taste: Once, after a fellow English teacher and I had enjoyed a bottle of soju in Samcheok and didn’t modulate our voices during the long ride home, the bus driver pulled over, speed walked to the back of the bus, and confronted and...
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So… Korea. Great country for mountain climbing and hiking. Not the most enthusiastic when it comes to running. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed a few races during my year here. It’s just Korea isn’t really built for running; jogging in urban areas is annoying outside of the approved paths. Although there are...
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When I was packing to come to Korea, I used my time in Japan to mentally work out what I would and would not be able to find. I had high hopes Dr. Pepper would be available at import shops, and knew most stores stocked familiar brand names. When it came to choosing whether...
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And we’ll meet it if it does. I’ve got exactly four teaching days left before my replacement arrives, all green from Dallas, and just under two weeks until my flight to San Francisco. I wish I could say I’m looking forward to returning “home”, but the truth is I’ve been very numb to both...
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With American soil soon to be under my running feet, I’ve been asking myself the same question a lot lately: who will I be when I’m not what I am here, in Korea? It should come as no shock to anyone that we all have different personas for dealing with different stages of our...
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I had one of the most depressing and culturally insightful classes with some of my higher-level students this week. Unlike in some hagwon, where foreign teachers are not allowed their say when it come to class format and textbooks, my boss really values my input; I have had total creative control of the gold...
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My massive feet were treated so well this weekend. Not only did I finally give up on ordering shoes and just buy a pair of Merrell’s for 165,000 Won, but I also splurged on a massage in Itaewon. If your back ever needs relief in Seoul, go to Healing Hands. They’ll set you up....
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So I finally managed it. One year in Korea. This past week has been nothing more than concentrated anticipation over getting my severance pay, finishing morning adult classes, and getting paid for said classes. On top of that, I’ve been doing a lot of research for errands this holiday weekend: seeing if there are...
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Having just completed one year in Korea, I thought I’d give prospective expats an idea of how much one can pocket and live on in a year here. You hear stories all the time about how Korea is the country to go teach EFL if you want to make money, but has anyone actually...
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What would I say to you, Korean man who felt compelled to yell “HELLO!” at me in the middle of the night as I hurriedly rushed from the supermarket to make a late dinner? What would I say to you if my Korean weren’t so laughable you’d interpret everything I said in English as...
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