No really- you should probably do this!

So glad to have done this! (No really! you should probably do this!)

The school I'm working at is a great fit for me in several ways: friends, freedom, I'm a social person and really appreciate that I was placed at a school with over a dozen foreign teachers, most of whom were brand new like myself and thus looking to get out and explore the area together. The support staff and Korean co-teachers are helpful and considerate. My supervisor calls my cell phone company to get answers to my questions and came with me to an electronics store when I was in want of a solution to my poor internet connection problem. I have a lot of freedom and autonomy as far as how I run my classes and design my lesson plans. More structure and forewarning would be great though. I wish I'd brought more functional work attire as opposed to business-casual wear. I serve my students lunch, do arts and crafts projects and get sneezed on. Besides, the school's dress code in practice is that you look presentable, not like you're running a board meeting for a major company or something.

On the whole my students are rambunctious and not well behaved. I'm hoping I will find a way to promote positive change in the months to come. There was a training day, rather an orientation at the school's main branch, which was nice however a training day about the particulars of our branch would have been much more effective. As far as supplies there's plenty of everything, if you ask for it. If they've run out, they'll order more and you'll get it in a week or two. Overall I'm enjoying teaching. I'm also enjoying the experience of working and living in South Korea: people are friendly, the food is fantastic, and each day holds something new- be it stumbling upon an evening open air market within my neighborhood for the first time, venturing into a jimjilbang (spa/sauna), or relaxing in a cat cafe. And Ah! So many different cafes here, all with a different ambiance and variety of coffee options. I do wish I'd been told that the cost of living here is not much different than it is at home. In fact some things are more expensive: a latte is about $5.00 and a gym membership is about $100.00 a month. Groceries on the whole are inexpensive, apart form foreign imports of course.

I needn't have worried about finding cosmetics or shampoo seeing as they have a plethora of such products at Homeplus or Emart or if you're desperate there's Costco. OH! AND they have Forever21 here! That was a pleasant surprise.

This program is likely going to have an effect on my professional goals. It's giving me a better idea of what sort of teacher I am capable of being and if teaching will be the career for me.

Adventure Teaching was helpful and supportive through out the process of finding a position for me and guiding me through all that goes into having gotten me here. I appreciate that I was pushed to do the interview even though I was sure kindergarten would not be for me. Actually, kindergarten is still not for me. However, the working environment, my coworkers and the location balance it out.

Thanks Adventure Teaching!