My Korean family

While teaching here in Korea, I had the great opportunity to meet some great people. I joined a facebook group for learning Korean in Daegu. I met a friend through this group and she told her professor about me. The next thing I know I am invited to her class and I meet a group of Korean students and their professor. Now I hadn't planned on it but I watched the class and even gave my own evaluation and helped where I could. It was an English presentation class where marketing students would present their work for the week. After class, I got to know the students a little better as we ate dinner and drank some drinks all together. In Korean culture, it is a tradition to have some drinks all together and share a meal.

The students names were Boram Kim, Junho Song, Dawoon Jung, Minjung Seo, Udong Lee, Jong Goon Jeong, Seolhee Park, and Sun Min Kwon. I know them so well now that I can call them my family here in Korea. Oh and of course there is the president of the Marketing Academy at Kyungdae, Hongcheol SHin, or Mr. Shin. There is also his assistant whose Korean name I don't know, lol. His name is James, he is tall like me. The other students I got to know very well after Mr. Shin asked me if I could help them out every Saturday. I did just that I helped out on Saturdays that I could and then I also saw some of the students twice a week for individual English conversation. It was a nice time where I could get to know each of the students. It also gave the students a chance to use English and build their vocabulary.

As time went by, I became busier and I couldn't visit the students twice a week anymore. But we had met for about a two month period in that fashion before I became very busy. I tried to meet them as much as could. Sometimes three times in a week, others only two times. Regardless how many times we met, it all was helpful to these students as they would always say to me how much they appreciated me. I felt so grateful to be their English tutor. We even played games like ping pong where we would challenge each other. Jong Goon and Udong were very good but I always put a decent fight, lol. It was fun just to hang out with them. I was no longer just a teacher, I was a good friend as well.

Let me tell you something, there is no greater joy than teaching someone who wants to learn. They praise for your efforts, they don't criticize you on your teaching style or methods. I enjoyed it very much. After I got to know everyone pretty well, Mr. Shin then asked me to teach the class on Saturdays myself. So I accepted and for about four weeks I experienced teaching some college students English. It was more of a English discussion class. It was great. I would come in with a topic to talk about and we would discuss it in detail. We would also play games and do some fun activities to keep it interesting.

However, time flew by and it was February. And it was already the start of a new year. I couldn't believe it but these students were moving on to bigger and better things. I watched them throughout the course of this six month English presentation course and each showed improvement. And last weekend I was very happy to be present at their graduation ceremony. It was great to see everyone again. The students all presented the teachers a cake and sang us a song.

We had a great feast with kalmaegi, saenggyeopsal and soju. We had a great time just talking to each other. Afterwards, the students all thanked me and explained to me what they they thought of me as a teacher and a friend. I was so touched by their words. I didn't realize I meant that much to them. Even Mr. Shin explained his appreciation for me helping out and being his friend. I was surprised that everyone was so appreciative of me and they cared so much. I was very happy to know these people. I consider them to be my family here in Korea.