The Most Rewarding Experience: Volunteering to Teach in Korea
To say that I was nervous about my trip to South Korea would be a bit of an understatement. I didn't speak a word of Korean, knew little of the culture or history, and most importantly had never taught something in a structured classroom. The volunteer work I had done before could be classified as construction and I likely could have completed it without ever speaking a word so as someone with little knowledge or experience in the field I felt incredible pressure to be the best I possibly could be at something I have never done. In my six weeks in Seoul I learned numerous lessons that would take me ages to list here but as I got on my flight to head back to Tennessee the only thing that routinely crossed my mind was how totally and completely rewarding, enjoyable, and downright fun my experience was teaching English in Korea. As such I hope to document my rationale as to why I chose the program I chose and why I would recommend it to anyone even remotely considering traveling abroad.
To volunteer, or not to volunteer
I'll admit at the outset of my travel abroad journey volunteering abroad was not my first choice for a handful of reasons. Primarily I was concerned that if I spent all of my time working or otherwise doing something when I could be out experiencing the culture, history, and food of my host country. I was nervous that I would get caught up doing the work I was doing that I wouldn't be able to truly appreciate the culture around me and that concern ended up being entirely unfounded. In fact I believe that I experienced more of Korean culture through teaching English than I might have through other means of travel abroad. In deciding to volunteer I had unknowingly decided on the method for traveling abroad that would offer up the best way for language and cultural exchange than other methods of traveling. I saw more of Seoul, met more people, and learned more about Korea than I would have through traditional travel. Even more important than my own experience was the way in which it felt to help the children begin to grasp conversational English and begin to see the understanding of the material set in. The creativity you find both in yourself and in your students as you all parse out a difficult concept is truly breathtaking and something I only think could have been a product of volunteering abroad.
Giving Back
Beyond watching the children I taught improve in their English speaking skills I was comforted by the fact that I wasn't just experiencing a new culture, language, and country but also giving back to that community in a way I greatly underestimated. Whenever someone speaks of volunteering they often speak about how rewarding it is to give back to a community and be a part of something that enriches lives and I absolutely can now attest to that amazing feeling. Late into my time in Korea as I was walking about Seoul on my way to grab lunch two of the children from one of my classes recognized me and ran up to say hello, boasting about how they impressed their parents with their mastery of the lesson I had taught, and seemed so excited for what was to come next. This small interaction demonstrated to me just how much of an impact even just a short time volunteering can have.
Korea
As I mentioned above I had little knowledge of Korea overall and I didn't know what to expect from Seoul. In this way I was nervous that I wouldn't have any ground to stand on in regards to cultural reference points, moments, and that I would be stunted in my communication with Koreans. In short; I was nervous I wouldn't be able to relate to anyone and would feel isolated. While I certainly felt lost and isolated early on in my trip I began to grow more and more familiar with Seoul and the cultural norms of Korea in an organic way that could never been replicated without just being exposed to it. I learned that, on average, Koreans are a hardworking and polite people by day and energetic celebrants by night. Everyone I spoke to in Korea was kind, welcoming, and understanding of the difficulty that comes from visiting a country for the first time and because of that I never felt reviled or disdain from those around me. With this newfound confidence I ventured further into Seoul, and eventually out of Seoul, and learned so much about Korean history, culture, and geo-politics that by the time I was boarding my plane back to the United States I felt connected to the peninsula more than ever before.
Korea is beautiful and the cities are well-cared for however but it was the people I encountered that really made the whole experience worth recommending. There are more names than I could list here of people that helped guide me but everyone working with The Green Lion volunteer agency was spectacular and showed to me just how welcoming Korean culture can be. Because of their support I left Korea with more knowledge of the language than could have ever been gathered through language learning apps and developed a taste for the spiciest kimchi I could find. Even those who didn't know me often struck up conversations with me or were more than willing to offer help when need be which shocked me in a city so large and so populous.
Synopsis
My time in South Korea was truly exceptional and it's quite difficult to put into words just how much I gained from this experience. I was pushed out of my comfort zone time and time again and was thankful for it, ate foods I never would have tasted before and left with new favorite dishes, and met people who I never would have spoken to in the United States and now count them as close friends. All of this can be done through traditional study abroad means however I believe wholly that volunteering abroad made those things easier and more rewarding to gain. More importantly, however, volunteering not only equipped me with new knowledge and a possible new career path but helped me connect with the Korean culture, Seoul, and the people found within in a way that seemed unlikely at first glance. I have always been told that immersion is the best way to travel and through this experience I've come to agree. If you have the time and the ability to travel do so volunteering.
