A year of Kimchi

When I started applying to be a Fulbright ETA almost a year ago, it seemed like a far off goal. Even though I could see myself teaching and had chosen my country as Korea, it was hard to imagine myself actually doing the program. The application was extensive, and the rewards were enormous. The Fulbright ETA program would pay me to spend a year in S. Korea acting as an English Teaching Assistant. This trip is completely funded, from the plane tickets to the baggage allowance. Needless to say, the day I was accepted was one of the happiest in my recent life.

So, besides the fully funded part, what does Fulbright entail. After almost a week in orientation, the most consistent answer I have received is "it depends." I'll be placed in a random place in Korea. I could be anywhere from rural Korea (which tends to be the size of a US suburb), a suburb (which is the size of any city I've lived in), and an actual city. There, I'll live with a host family that is somehow connected to the school. I've got my fingers crossed for children. Then, there's the whole job aspect.

What is an ETA? Well, in whatever school I end up in, I'll be in charge of teaching conversational English. It seems like ETAs get the benefit of being the cool relative in the school system. Frequently, our classes aren't graded and they are game based. We get fun activities; their actual English classes have to do the boring grammar stuff. Most times, the ETAs don't even have to discipline their students. The Korean English teacher does that. Of course, this all depends. 

Anyway, this blog is to document my adventure navigating S. Korea while learning about the education system. I'll probably talk about the differences between S. Korea life and my own experiences in the classroom. Honestly, I don't really know what to expect. I guess it depends. 

Why the name? Anyone who has been to Korea or has Korean relatives should know. When posing for photos, Koreans say, "Say Kimchi" instead of "Say Cheese." Grandma Suki, my Korean grandmother, has always prompted us to use this pickled cabbage dish as our smile inducer during photo shoots. Since my grandmother and my familial connection to Korea was the reason for my placement choice, I thought "Say Kimchi" was an appropriate name.