One Year at Yongsan

Well it is almost a year since I started at my current school, and with my re-signing in effect I will have at least two, and maybe three years at it (making it half of my total time in Korea when I finally leave).

I actually started at Moonkkang in November of 2012 in Sangin. It was cool but I was working with a group that had all been together for years and had a routine in place. Everyone was incredibly nice and I still keep in touch with a few of them, but in that context I was kind of the new guy. Then I was told that they needed one less teacher in Sangin and one more in Yongsan. Sorry new teacher, you are moving.

A year later and I am very happy for the move. I started at the same time as Eddie, so there was a real sense of starting fresh. My Korean co-teacher is wonderful as well (your life at work here can be miserable with a lousy Korean co-teacher), as are my Korean and western bosses. The third western teacher, Diana had been there for years but was very open and a great person to help the new guys. When she left in came Jason for his first year at Moonkkang, and I can't ask for a better replacement for Diana than Jason. One of the nicest guys on the planet. It has made my year (despite my daily commute) a lot of fun.

I go on sometimes about how Korea is getting a bit played out, how my time here coming to an end (even though it is not til 2015), and the choice I'll have to make next year between staying a third year at Moonkkang (leaving Korea in Oct 2015) or a slight extension and doing my dissertation somewhere else (so leaving Jan-Feb 2015). It is nice to know that I can make that choice solely on the basis of what is good for me academically and financially, as opposed to that feeling of 'I have to get out.'

Of course Moonkkang's salary and vacation benefits don't hurt either ;)