Korea Language School Placement Coordinator - Footprints Alumni

My friends and family refer to me as a runner. Everything I do in life focuses on movement and energy, and I’m always looking for the next corner of the globe to explore. My philosophy is that traveling is the best education you can possibly give yourself. Growing up in a small town in Eastern Ontario, I grew wings and fled the nest as soon as I graduated from high school. With my bags packed I headed off to explore Europe with a boy I thought I would spend the rest of my life with (sigh) oh how naïve I was. Months later when we both realized our diverging paths, I applied to University and found myself in the coastal city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Living there for fours years I discovered I was a bit of an aquatic creature and would choose my dwellings near the ocean from then on!

Soon after my graduation, and many thanks to Footprints, I was on a plane headed to South Korea in what I thought would be the farthest place I could ever get from home. I blossomed as soon as I left Canadian soil, interacting with different cultures and experiencing new ways of life, diving head first into everything just for the experience and a breath of fresh air. I came back home full of stories and memories that have left a lasting mark on my life. One of my favorite questions that people ask is “Was it easy to make friends in Korea?” My answer is simple: The people I met were inspirational and we have become life long friends and will share our lives know matter where we are on this earth!”

Here’s a briefing:

I taught in what I like to refer to as “the Hollywood” of South Korea. Located in beautiful Busan, I settled down for my year of teaching in Haeundae. Having really no experience in the classroom, besides a quick TESL course and a brief tutoring stint, I was completely new to the ESL world. I taught a wonderful classroom full of 6 year old children who were completely enraptured with their interaction with a foreigner. My Korean helper became my best friend and a sister to me. She often told me I was becoming Korean when I started to dress like her! My students and I created so many lasting memories together that they brought me to tears when I had to say goodbye. The children I taught and saw grow over the year was the most rewarding experience I could have asked for.

Now as much as I reflect on my working life in Korea, I definitely become nostalgic and reminiscent of my social life. My weekends were spent wandering into Noraebongs, and after losing my voice, skipping across to the convenience store for a soothing cold beverage. We often found ourselves lounging at the beach or on a couch in a DVD room, stuffing our faces with the plethora of Korean treats available to us. You know who you are. Other times we caught the train and traveled to various temples, parks, and just explored the country. Week nights I was much more productive having found a great boxing gym a few blocks from my apartment. I spent five nights a week training and sparring with Koreans of all ages. I was easily in the best shape of my life when I trained with my boxing instructor. It’s not hard to communicate when someone’s throwing a punch or kick in your direction so I learned fast to protect myself without the use of the English language.

Having returned to Canada, my best friend and I embarked on an adventure to the number one backpacker destination, beautiful Australia! I mean where else would I rather spend all my hard earned money from Korea…definitely on more travel! A few months later as the funds drained out of my bank account I decided it was time to re-enter the working force, re-located to Vancouver in a matter of weeks and began working at Footprints. (Note: Have you followed my path of oceanside cities?)

As a Placement Coordinator I feel that I can offer sound advice to those of you seeking to teach ESL abroad. Who better to talk to then an office full of people who have been there and done it themselves? I recruited my friends and now I get to recruit you! I leave you with this: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K. Rowling.