Getting there

To Blog Or Not To Blog

I'm setting up this blog to share my experiences in teaching in South Korea. Whether my experience is good or bad, it's experience that I want. Why? Because I've still got the stars in my eyes. They shouldn't be there, but somehow there they are, sickening the seasoned, the experienced, the pessimistic, and a few of my friends. I am a graduate from an art school (SCAD), with one of the most useless and fun to get degrees out there (there's a reason it's rare) - Sequential Art, aka Comics and Storyboarding. Upon leaving college I made the mistake of moving back home, and was promptly sucked into my family's woes and dramas and loves. I worked as a substitute teacher, then a call center drone, then settled into a nice, if poorly-paying job doing graphic design and secretarial work.
Why am I going to Korea, then? Because it meets several needs that need meeting.

1. Life Experience - Like most college-kids-returned-home, I'm craving independence again, as well as the simple experience of living abroad. The most interesting people I've talked to have worked and lived in other countries. Being American, as insulated as we are, I'd like to get a bit of perspective.

2. Travel - It goes hand-in-hand with the whole starry-eyed thing. I grew up listening to my dad talk about hitchhiking around the world. Whether the experiences were good or bad, he enjoys looking back on them. I'd like to be able to say to my spawn (one day) "I remember that one time, in Morocco..."

3. Teaching - Last but certainly not least. My goals include teaching art at a college level. From what I've seen, I fall into the 'youth wanting an Asia experience' category, who tend to become fodder to the hogwan system. While mentally I'd like to separate myself from that group, the fact is that I've had limited teaching experience and no certification for teaching ESL. I'm hoping that being as prepared as possible will help me navigate the craziness, both for teaching and the hogwan system. My mother taught english for years and has her TESOL certification, so she's helping a bit.

4. Oh wait, there's one more! Money! Yes, I have astronomical student loan debt. I want to make a dent in it so that I can go to grad school to obtain the creds I need to teach at a college level.

I'll be updating here with my full experience as it happens to me, if for no other reason than to keep track of it. If you're reading this, I hope it helps.