Learning, Losing, and Relearning 'Korea'

I was only on vacation for two weeks, but it feels like I'm starting at square one all over again. Before I left I had grasped enough Korean to get through restaurants, taxis, shops, and general commerce activity with minimal problems. "Please bring me... How much is it? Where are you going?" But, I still had not learned anything of communicative value to relationship building with local Koreans. I was just that silly foreigner.

I decided to make a new goal for myself. I will have a meaningful conversation with each of the teachers in my school before my contract is up. I don't care if it's in broken Korean, English, via Google Translate, or interpretive dance - I just want them to know that I respect them and have more awareness of Korea than they may perceive. Also, I would like to disprove their view of me. I'm not shy or lonely; just frustrated with banal conversation.

I was doing quite well with this goal having already had decent conversations with the Social Studies, Phys. Ed., Science, and English teachers. But, then I went on vacation...

While abroad, I was able to speak English with the majority of people in the Philippines. It was great - I felt spoiled! I could meet locals and have an engaging conversation beyond...

"Hello! I'm from the USA. I am 25 years old (Korean). I teach English at [. . .]. Yes, I like kimchi." 

It was wonderful! Not only that, but leaving Korea made me look at the country as a (literal) outsider for the first time in awhile. What a breath of fresh air?! I could see how other cultures operate and compare them across the board. How do people from small-town Philippines react to foreigners? How do all the prominent religions of Malaysia interact with tourists? Needless to say, I was impressed.

And then I came back to Korea. I still feel at home here, but I feel like all the progress I made before I left is gone. My Korean language skills have come back very slowly. My fellow teachers are even quieter towards me than before. It reminds me of an ad that ran this past fall by the Visit Korea Year Campaign, urging Koreans to "shake off their shyness" around foreigners. It's amazing how true it feels at times.



Valentine's Chocolate Snack,
-Bets