I was interested in Korean culture and helping Korean students learn English, so I applied to become a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (E.T.A.) in South Korea.
In early January, I arrived in South Korea for E.T.A. orientation. It is my first time in South Korea, so I am excited to explore more about this country for a year! In orientation, I am learning Korean, Korean culture, and how to teach English to Korean students. It has been fun to meet other E.T.A.s from around the U.S. who studied different things in college. I do not know Korean that well yet, but I am excited to improve my language skills with the locals. The food here is tasty, too! At orientation, we eat every meal with spoons and chopsticks. It was interesting to eat pasta with chopsticks. Koreans usually eat rice, soup and other side dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In January, we went on a group field trip to the Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival. It was a big event, and I went ice fishing for the first time! There were lots of activities, such as snow tubing, exploring an ice maze and ice-sledding. The event also had music and dancing, street food stalls and restaurant stands serving seafood and traditional Korean dishes.
Next month, I will be teaching English to Korean middle and high school students! I can’t wait to bring you along with me on my journey! In my free time, I like baking and trying out new cuisines, and I hope to try out some new hobbies while I am in Korea and share those with you, too! See you all soon!
