When I first found out we were moving to Korea my biggest concern was that I couldn’t work. It has been a constant struggle and the biggest change in my life in the transition to marriage. So I decided I had to do something!
I put some feelers out there and made sure people knew I wanted to work. Dun dun dun da!… jobs! Yes, they are occasional jobs and part time jobs and sometimes jobs that make me question my sanity; but they have been fun and I have been very grateful to get to know my host country’s culture in a way that most people here don’t.
Since last September, I went every Thursday to a Korean English Academy and worked with kids on their English. The kids ages range from 5 to 15 so it was a delight to experience each age.
Pictures below are of my friend, Alex who also teaches there, and are courtesy of her wonderful, photographer husband.
However, the most delightful part of this job was the owner of the Academy, Moonja. She is the most generous and caring person.
She even took my mother in law out to lunch!
Next, in October, I started teaching at a Korean kindergarten . My first day was less teaching and more dancing as we dressed up for Halloween and had a party.
(They provided the costume.)
I did not go back to this school until the new year when I started teaching for one hour every week. I meet with each class for 20 minutes each. There is a 3, 4, and 5 year old class.
Pictured below is the oldest class of Korean age 6 (5 year olds).
Below are a few pictures from the other classes
“J” is for jumping!
Again, one of the greater blessings of this experience was meeting the school manager, Happy. She is such a breath of fresh air as she truly is always happy!
She also has me come to another one of her kindergartens one day a month for a “cooking” class.
In between these jobs, I took a subbing job at another English academy. This one was a little more challenging as it was in a classroom setting and took more energy with the middle school aged kids. Despite this, I still enjoyed being able to get to know the children and have glimpse into their everyday.
These odd and end jobs have not only kept me busy, but showed me a side to my temporary home I otherwise would have never known. I have learned more about the Korean culture, made friends and broadened my perspective through these opportunities. It’s these little things that make life here even more enjoyable.