Why did you choose this program?
I always knew that I wanted to experience living in South Korea. I have been a huge fan of Korean pop music, Korean dramas and the culture for about 12 years so I knew I had to make this move for myself. The reason I chose this particular program was because they were providing all the support one needs to move abroad for a new adventure and make the experience less daunting.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
XploreAsia helped me immensely with my moving abroad journey. This move was months of planning and XploreAsia constantly checked in via phone, emails and helped out with the visa application. XploreAsia also helped me find a job and accommodation before I even arrived on the country so that made the transition very smooth. I also appreciated that they organised the initial stay for the first few days and provided online language classes to lessen the language barrier challenge. I also became a part of the Xplore Asia ambassador program in which teachers can share their journey through social media and content creation which is one of my passions!
I had to organise the financial and visa submission part of things like make the payments and make sure all the details on my visa are correct before submission.
Overall I could not have settled so well in Korea without Xplore Asia’s help!
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Firstly, I would definitely say try to learn basics of Korean before coming for a working holiday here. Most places in Seoul speak English but outskirts of Seoul it is hard to find people in places that understand English. Secondly, downloading these apps- Naver maps, Kakao Taxi, Papago, Coupang and Klook is a must! I use these almost everyday.
Also lastly, this needs to be mentioned as a lot of people who come to Korea fantasise about it from Kdramas or Kpop and as pretty as the scenic beauty and landscapes are here, it is not fair to expect all people to be extremely kind and generous and respectful the way we see on television. Koreans are usually very friendly but everyone has bad days so dont let one upset person make you feel too sad. Apart from that, there is so much to do in Korea so you will never have a dull moment!
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
In the English Assistant Teacher program in South Korea, I work part time for about 20
Hours a week. So 20 hours filled with interactions with kids and creating meaningful connections with them. The rest of the time including weekends is usually to explore the country. I mainly go on one day or two day trips from Seoul so I can explore the countryside but also sometimes attend concerts when I can! In the time that I have left, I create engaging social media content and share them online to help others looking to do a similar experience!
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I had many questions and fears before coming here. What if I get culture shock? What if I can’t make any friends? What if I don’t fit in to my school? Being a teacher in a foreign school daunts me what should I do?
A lot of these questions and fears honestly did not matter as soon as I landed here because excitement took over. Yes I will admit moving into a new place is daunting and challenging especially with the language barrier but everyone at my school was so helpful and friendly and really helped me settle well.
I would say the way that my views changed was when I realised it is always going to be challenging moving to a new place for the first time. Just remember to keep pushing forward and know that you are not alone. Never be afraid to ask for help or support as it will always be available.
