As a follow up to a previous Q & A post we have been asked more questions and here we will answer them, in case you were wondering the same. Yesterday, Nikki happily chatted with two good friends Amanda and Kelsey on the phone. They had similar questions to ask and so we decided to publish another Q & A based on our conversations. N=Nikki S=Steve
Q: Do you feel like time is going fast?
N: Yes and no. There is a weird time warp happening here. Sometimes I can't believe that we have been here almost four months, but other times a day can feel like a week. Our brains are always overloaded and over-stimulated so time can be a strange concept. But, it has been almost 4 months and I can't believe it!
S: Time is going incredibly fast. The workdays go by in the blink of an eye. One minute I'm stepping on the school bus in the morning and the next minute I'm walking home. Our weekends that are spent traveling go by fast too. I guess it depends on how much we sit back and really enjoy the moment, that seems to slow time down. But, that is the same anywhere I guess.
Q: Do you like your job? How are the kids?
N: I do like my job. There are definitely trying times, but working with young children can be like that. The kids are so adorable and really sweet. It is hard not to like the job in that sense. The frustrating part is not having a Korean co-teacher and not being able to effectively communicate with the children at times.
S: The job is good. I didn't think that I would enjoy these younger students as much as I do. Think of doing a job in which you need absolutely no training whatsoever, you just teach others something you have a total mastery of. I've been speaking English for going on 30 years now and teaching it doesn't stress me at all. Most people need to go through college or other training to be able to do their job, but we just teach kids things we have been saying our whole lives. I don't prepare for more than 5 minutes before teaching a class. I can walk in, pick up the book, and teach from there. No one questions my methods or worksheets or books, and I'm free to decide how to teach the material.
Q: What will you do when you get back?
N: I really don't know. It seems like we are always searching for something, greener pastures, the next great thing. I just don't like to think too much about the future right now. I want to enjoy the here and now. The thought of moving back home does scare me though with the economy and prospective jobs for teachers. We have such a good thing here with jobs and finances that it will be really hard to leave. We are able to travel easily and that will be hard to move on from. At the same time, being so far away from family and friends is really hard. I just don't have an answer for this question right now.
S: That bridge will have to be crossed when we come to it. There are many things that I want to do in many different places in the world. Bottom line for me: I want to live in a place that is kind of similar to here. A smallish town with good public transportation, no need for a car, work close to home, low cost of living, and interesting things to see and do on the weekends. I don't ask for much.
Q: What is the culture like? What are the people like?
N: The people and culture are beautiful. We have had such amazing experiences so far. Many Koreans have been incredibly kind to us. There is also the downside of people that will just push you out of the way, as if you don't exist. This is just the culture though. Most Koreans are really kind and generous people that want you to have a good experience in and fond memories of Korea.
Q: Do you feel like time is going fast?
N: Yes and no. There is a weird time warp happening here. Sometimes I can't believe that we have been here almost four months, but other times a day can feel like a week. Our brains are always overloaded and over-stimulated so time can be a strange concept. But, it has been almost 4 months and I can't believe it!
S: Time is going incredibly fast. The workdays go by in the blink of an eye. One minute I'm stepping on the school bus in the morning and the next minute I'm walking home. Our weekends that are spent traveling go by fast too. I guess it depends on how much we sit back and really enjoy the moment, that seems to slow time down. But, that is the same anywhere I guess.
Q: Do you like your job? How are the kids?
N: I do like my job. There are definitely trying times, but working with young children can be like that. The kids are so adorable and really sweet. It is hard not to like the job in that sense. The frustrating part is not having a Korean co-teacher and not being able to effectively communicate with the children at times.
S: The job is good. I didn't think that I would enjoy these younger students as much as I do. Think of doing a job in which you need absolutely no training whatsoever, you just teach others something you have a total mastery of. I've been speaking English for going on 30 years now and teaching it doesn't stress me at all. Most people need to go through college or other training to be able to do their job, but we just teach kids things we have been saying our whole lives. I don't prepare for more than 5 minutes before teaching a class. I can walk in, pick up the book, and teach from there. No one questions my methods or worksheets or books, and I'm free to decide how to teach the material.
Q: What will you do when you get back?
N: I really don't know. It seems like we are always searching for something, greener pastures, the next great thing. I just don't like to think too much about the future right now. I want to enjoy the here and now. The thought of moving back home does scare me though with the economy and prospective jobs for teachers. We have such a good thing here with jobs and finances that it will be really hard to leave. We are able to travel easily and that will be hard to move on from. At the same time, being so far away from family and friends is really hard. I just don't have an answer for this question right now.
S: That bridge will have to be crossed when we come to it. There are many things that I want to do in many different places in the world. Bottom line for me: I want to live in a place that is kind of similar to here. A smallish town with good public transportation, no need for a car, work close to home, low cost of living, and interesting things to see and do on the weekends. I don't ask for much.
Q: What is the culture like? What are the people like?
N: The people and culture are beautiful. We have had such amazing experiences so far. Many Koreans have been incredibly kind to us. There is also the downside of people that will just push you out of the way, as if you don't exist. This is just the culture though. Most Koreans are really kind and generous people that want you to have a good experience in and fond memories of Korea.
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