the big move

It has been about 25 years since I’ve last been in South Korea. The only thing I have carried with me from my birthplace are mental polaroids, snapshots of a playground and brick building with blurred edges and vague emotion, that make me wonder if I made them up or if they are, in fact, real memories.

I moved to the U.S. when I was a couple months shy of 5 yrs old. Now, I’m 29.

I will teach English to darling 5-7 year-old cuties in Suwon City and I have no idea what to expect.

People who have taught English in other countries warn me of exhaustion. They also tell me it was the best experience in their lives. It’s amazing how many people have taught ESL overseas. I would say, and this is no exaggeration, that 1 out of 2 people have told me that they have taught overseas before or they know someone who has/or is.

I am more excited than nervous for the big move. I hope to make English fun for the little ones and learn a bit of Korean myself. I can’t wait to devour all of the delicious Korean foods – every day - and be awed by zen-like temples. 

I’m not sure what will happen to my memories of Korea, whether they’ll sharpen and be in focus, as if made alive by my actually being there, or if they’ll disappear altogether since I will be breathing, speaking, seeing, living Seoul on a day-to-day basis.