Elizabeth Fuher

Today, one of my co-teachers introduced me to another teacher at my school. Although both of us only know pieces of the other’s native language, we managed to make our way through a conversation. She asked me how long I had been in South Korea. I had to stop and think. In some ways, it feels like a hundred years, and in others, only a few days. “Four months?” I said, it sounding more like a question.

Four months ago, I had left my whole life and moved to a new country where I barely knew the language and didn’t know anyone. I had never even left North America before. I took a fourteen hour flight to my new home and spent seven days in a hotel room. Before I knew it, though, I had my first day at school. I remember being intimidated by my new students in their matching uniforms and curious eyes. I met so many in my first few days. Now, I have become used to their banging on my classroom door, only to slide it open to yell, “Hello, Teacher!”, do finger hearts, and then run away in fits of giggles.

During my very first lesson, a simple introduction of myself, I hadn’t planned enough materials. I finished my last slide and awkwardly stared at the students and tried to come up with something to do to take up the last ten minutes. Although I had been embarrassed and cringe even now at my fumbling, I think it helps to show how far I’ve come. Of course, since this experience, I have learned the golden rule of always having a backup plan. Now, I know student’s names. I know what to expect from them. I know what they should and shouldn’t be doing. I also know what malatang is, which the kids love. In truth, it’s only been four months, but I feel like I’ve learned so much about teaching and myself. In the last couple weeks, I have noticed myself feeling more comfortable in the classroom. I can only hope that in four more months, I’ll feel even more comfortable.



Although now I can joke with my students before class and collect their small origami animals they make for me, it hadn’t always been like this. We had once stared at each other with wide eyes, all of us a little nervous about the other. I’m so grateful to have students with such enthusiasm for learning English. Every day, I ask them, “Are we ready for English class?”, and I’ll almost always get a cheery, “Yes!” Though, on Friday, it can be a bit less cheerful and much more sleepy.

Outside of work, I was lucky to meet many new friends from all over the world. After work, I am able to meet up with friends for a weekly potluck-style meal to discuss our week and our experiences at our schools. On the weekends, I visit as many tourist locations in my city of Busan as I can, or I plan trips to nearby cities. I take any opportunity to hike up mountains since I had no mountains to climb at home. I practice my Korean with cashiers and nosy cab drivers that want to know everything about my life in Korea and are quick to tell me how good my Korean is after I’ve simply greeted them. I feel very grateful to be in a position where I am to able to not only learn from others about their cultures, but to share my own culture. With students and even my co-teachers, they are able to tell me about Korea, their holidays and foods and customs, and in return, I share my own. I am also able to do the same with all the friends I have met from all over the world. Although we come from many different places and from many walks of life, we all made the big decision of moving our entire life to another country to teach English.

As September draws closer and closer, I am reminded how all of this had started in September of last year when I first submitted my EPIK application. I had spent weeks prepping essays and contacting professors for references letters. I had to put serious thought into the prospect of moving to a new country. It was a lot of work, and at times a bit daunting, but I am very happy I stuck through it all and made it here. Not every day has been easy since moving to South Korea, but I didn’t expect it to be. I’ve had to learn a lot since arriving, and I surely have much more to learn, but I think it’s important to celebrate even just the little victory of four months of living here.