So Yesterday, after 11 long, yet short months, I was reunited with my father. It felt so good to see him again!
It's amazing to me how much time has gone by while I've been here in Korea. I can't believe I've almost been here for a year. Watching my father's reaction to things in Korea isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Though he does give funny looks to things that I've become accustomed to, like the old drunk men in the subway, old women selling squid, people making a lot of noise, people who won't move out of the way, even when you're trying to take a picture, etc. Normally I'm around people who are all used to Korea and the people. I remember how shocked I was when I first came here, every other comment started with an "oh my god..." Now I feel like I've become more or less numbed to a lot of the little annoying differences between American and Korean culture. I just accept it -- that's the way the people are here, I'm sure as hell not going to change anyone's mind!
I've grown a lot while being here in Korea, and I think for the better. I realized just how independent I really am and how hard (if not impossible) it would be for others to do what I've done. For that, I'm quite proud of myself. I've gotten used to a culture that is seemingly the polar opposite of my own. I've assimilated into one of the most stressful working cultures of all time. I overcame one of the biggest hardships: switching jobs only a month after starting work. I've gone through the stress of being threatened immediate termination without even being given so much as a warning. In the end, it's made me a smarter, tougher, more careful person. I guess for that I owe a great thanks to Korea. So thank you, Korea, for giving me some damn tough love. But damn you still for making my life a miserable one for so long in the beginning!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Benefit of Teaching
Is teaching (especially in a foreign country like South Korea) worth it?
I've been thinking about this question for a while now. As much as it seems that my health has suffered and that I've been unhappy at several points this year, I would say my overall experience has been worth it. There's no doubt in my mind that I've helped many people through teaching this year, and that alone makes it all worth it. That alone makes me feel like I've made my little dent in the world, which is what I think life is all about.
Today, I concluded teaching some of my intermediate students that I've taught for 6 months in a row. It's remarkable to listen to them speak with proper grammar. It's amazing that they can understand everything that I ask them. I feel proud. I feel very content with my work as a teacher.
Sometimes I'm very pessimistic about my future and fall into this pit of despair. I feel like I'm working some torturous job with no benefits and only detriments to my well-being. Perhaps I took too much for granted. I don't know what my future holds, but I can see something bright. I guess for me it's hard to notice progress when it's happening right in front of me. Taking a step back now, I feel grateful. I've really developed as a person this year and I'm thankful for the opportunity I've been given.
When people say teaching is rewarding, it really is true. I couldn't feel more rewarded and I've just begun.
I've been thinking about this question for a while now. As much as it seems that my health has suffered and that I've been unhappy at several points this year, I would say my overall experience has been worth it. There's no doubt in my mind that I've helped many people through teaching this year, and that alone makes it all worth it. That alone makes me feel like I've made my little dent in the world, which is what I think life is all about.
Today, I concluded teaching some of my intermediate students that I've taught for 6 months in a row. It's remarkable to listen to them speak with proper grammar. It's amazing that they can understand everything that I ask them. I feel proud. I feel very content with my work as a teacher.
Sometimes I'm very pessimistic about my future and fall into this pit of despair. I feel like I'm working some torturous job with no benefits and only detriments to my well-being. Perhaps I took too much for granted. I don't know what my future holds, but I can see something bright. I guess for me it's hard to notice progress when it's happening right in front of me. Taking a step back now, I feel grateful. I've really developed as a person this year and I'm thankful for the opportunity I've been given.
When people say teaching is rewarding, it really is true. I couldn't feel more rewarded and I've just begun.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Work-life in South Korea
One of the major topics that I want to discuss in this blog is Korean work-life.
Let me start out by saying that when I was in the US applying for teaching jobs, I had no idea what the working culture was like. Nor did I know that working in South Korea was going to be so arduous. Also I didn't know that having a block schedule, e.g., a schedule where you work non-stop, was so important for health and happiness.
I'm often concerned about my physical and mental health.
Every month, many students tell me that they often work over 10 hours every day. In extreme cases, some don't sleep at home much during the week, see their children , or talk with their spouses for more than a few minutes. What's puzzling is they don't show much resentment for this kind of schedule, even after many years of doing it day in and day out. To them it's normal. It's even funny -- I've had whole classes chuckle, smile, or nod in agreement when talking about the insane hours they work. This lack of resentment seems like there's some sort of enjoyment that's derived from all the pain.
I don't mean to generalize to all my students. This is an observation from a good portion, but certainly does not apply to everyone. Most of my students realize that something needs to change. And of course I know realistically there's nothing that they can do by themselves to change a work culture that is a way of life.
I've had students who've shown up still tipsy to my 6:50 AM class. I've taught students who were drooling on their desks at 9 PM because of a 회식 that lasted until 5 AM from the previous morning. Rare, but it has happened on several occasions and is pretty funny.
Korea is a beautiful country with a lot to offer the world. But it desperately needs to learn how to nourish happiness and well-being in the workplace.
Let me start out by saying that when I was in the US applying for teaching jobs, I had no idea what the working culture was like. Nor did I know that working in South Korea was going to be so arduous. Also I didn't know that having a block schedule, e.g., a schedule where you work non-stop, was so important for health and happiness.
I'm often concerned about my physical and mental health.
On a typical day, I start work at 6:50 AM. I teach for 3 hours back to back, then have a two hour break from 10 -12. I usually pass out in a computer chair from 10:30 to 11:30. After my noon class, I go home to get as much rest that I can before going back to work and getting off at 9:50. Rinse and repeat, five days a week. On many occasions, I've worked 10 to 12 hours (with no overtime pay) in one day and only get 5 hours of rest for the next day.
South Koreans have an admirable work ethic on the outside, albeit one that borders on masochism on the inside.
Every month, many students tell me that they often work over 10 hours every day. In extreme cases, some don't sleep at home much during the week, see their children , or talk with their spouses for more than a few minutes. What's puzzling is they don't show much resentment for this kind of schedule, even after many years of doing it day in and day out. To them it's normal. It's even funny -- I've had whole classes chuckle, smile, or nod in agreement when talking about the insane hours they work. This lack of resentment seems like there's some sort of enjoyment that's derived from all the pain.
I don't mean to generalize to all my students. This is an observation from a good portion, but certainly does not apply to everyone. Most of my students realize that something needs to change. And of course I know realistically there's nothing that they can do by themselves to change a work culture that is a way of life.
Lots of alcohol + lots of work = anti-productivity?
I've had students who've shown up still tipsy to my 6:50 AM class. I've taught students who were drooling on their desks at 9 PM because of a 회식 that lasted until 5 AM from the previous morning. Rare, but it has happened on several occasions and is pretty funny.
Korea is a beautiful country with a lot to offer the world. But it desperately needs to learn how to nourish happiness and well-being in the workplace.
I think over time Koreans will find a more efficient, creative, and productive working culture that works for them, while still holding onto the values that are important. Perhaps after the current Baby Boomer generation retires. Hopefully it happens sooner rather than later. Good luck, Korea! Fighting!
At any rate, this is a deep topic that I will surely bring up again. Stay tuned for more posts! And don't forget to say hello and leave me a comment below!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Starting again!
Hello everyone! Welcome to my new blog! For those of you who don't know me, my name is Nick Graham and I've been teaching English in Seoul for nearly a year!
I have decided that now is a good time to start my blog again. I'm nearing the last stretch for my current teaching contract at Pagoda (ends in December, but I have a break next month in October). But more importantly this means that I need to figure out what the hell I want to do! I've been juggling the ideas of teaching again next year, going back to school, or finding a compnay job. So this blog will hopefully not only serve as a good glimpse into my life teaching abroad, but also a good way for me to self-reflect and find the right path.
I've taken quite a hiatus from writing. As you can imagine, I've had A LOT of experiences in the past 11 or so months living abroad here in good 'ol South Korea. Some of them good and unfortunately a lot of them quite... well, not so good! But it's okay. I feel like I've grown tremendously as a person because of them and I'm here to share them with all of you.
First thing's first: I going to TRY to stray away from making this the kind of blog I usually make -- one that seems to overextend the importance of what I'm trying to say with fancy words and pros. I'm going to try and keep this as simple as possible, which is harder than it sounds (for me!). Oh, and all the above stuff doesn't "count" for this post! Okay? Okay. Good!
So today, about an hour before my noon Advanced class, I had one of those thoughts that I used to get all the time while being a philosophy undergrad. Here it is:
What does it take to become famous?
By "famous," I don't mean celebrity famous or Bill Clinton famous. Although, you all should watch his most recent speech at the DNC, it was awesome. Bill's such a great speaker. Anyhow, what I mean by "famous" is someone who many people know about through social media.
What does it take for millions of people to follow you on Facebook or Twitter or read your blog on Blogspot? What kinds of things do you have to do to make yourself leave that small, but noticeable impression on the world? It seems obvious -- I should do something unique to stand out from the crowd and put it somewhere, like YouTube.
That's all well and good for some people. But I don't want to try to win a popularity contest on YouTube (or any other site). Nor do I want to be famous for some self-serving purpose, i.e., for money. I want to get famous doing something that's 100% "me" -- doing whatever it is that I'm doing.
I can't really answer the question of why I want to become famous. I'm not entirely sure. The best way I can describe it is that I have a desire inside of me that wants to connect with others in a more global way.
Well, my fellow readers, that's it for now. Feel free to leave a comment and discuss. Is my consciousness being a little princess or do we all have this desire to become famous to some extent? Let me know.
PS Need suggestions for a good blog name!
I have decided that now is a good time to start my blog again. I'm nearing the last stretch for my current teaching contract at Pagoda (ends in December, but I have a break next month in October). But more importantly this means that I need to figure out what the hell I want to do! I've been juggling the ideas of teaching again next year, going back to school, or finding a compnay job. So this blog will hopefully not only serve as a good glimpse into my life teaching abroad, but also a good way for me to self-reflect and find the right path.
I've taken quite a hiatus from writing. As you can imagine, I've had A LOT of experiences in the past 11 or so months living abroad here in good 'ol South Korea. Some of them good and unfortunately a lot of them quite... well, not so good! But it's okay. I feel like I've grown tremendously as a person because of them and I'm here to share them with all of you.
First thing's first: I going to TRY to stray away from making this the kind of blog I usually make -- one that seems to overextend the importance of what I'm trying to say with fancy words and pros. I'm going to try and keep this as simple as possible, which is harder than it sounds (for me!). Oh, and all the above stuff doesn't "count" for this post! Okay? Okay. Good!
So today, about an hour before my noon Advanced class, I had one of those thoughts that I used to get all the time while being a philosophy undergrad. Here it is:
What does it take to become famous?
By "famous," I don't mean celebrity famous or Bill Clinton famous. Although, you all should watch his most recent speech at the DNC, it was awesome. Bill's such a great speaker. Anyhow, what I mean by "famous" is someone who many people know about through social media.
What does it take for millions of people to follow you on Facebook or Twitter or read your blog on Blogspot? What kinds of things do you have to do to make yourself leave that small, but noticeable impression on the world? It seems obvious -- I should do something unique to stand out from the crowd and put it somewhere, like YouTube.
That's all well and good for some people. But I don't want to try to win a popularity contest on YouTube (or any other site). Nor do I want to be famous for some self-serving purpose, i.e., for money. I want to get famous doing something that's 100% "me" -- doing whatever it is that I'm doing.
I can't really answer the question of why I want to become famous. I'm not entirely sure. The best way I can describe it is that I have a desire inside of me that wants to connect with others in a more global way.
Well, my fellow readers, that's it for now. Feel free to leave a comment and discuss. Is my consciousness being a little princess or do we all have this desire to become famous to some extent? Let me know.
PS Need suggestions for a good blog name!
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