First Week Living & Teaching in Busan, South Korea

I moved to Busan, South Korea one week ago to teach English for a year. Let me first start off by saying, culture shock is real. Culture shock here is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It’s like being thrown into a foreign video game where no one looks at you and the rules aren’t explained. In one short week, I’ve felt every possible emotion from deep sadness to loneliness to peace and joy. I’m so excited to share my first reactions, details about my living situation and school, and my honest thoughts on the city of Busan.

First Hours in Busan

I arrived at the Busan airport at 8am on a Tuesday morning after two flights and 18 hours. When I arrived, I immediately felt lost and confused, like I had stepped into a different universe. It was everything from the time difference to being the only foreigner. I didn’t know a word of Korean. Everyone walked past me like I didn’t exist. I felt like a 6 year old who had just lost their mother in Walmart. I wanted to yell, “MOMMMMM!” and have my mother come rescue me. All my years of travel experience seemed useless and amateur, like I had been hiking baby hills then stumbled upon Mount Everest.

I figured out the bus system after awkwardly asking, “do you speak English?” to about 5 people. I took the airport bus for an hour and an employee from my school picked me up at the Peik Hospital bus stop. She took me directly to my studio apartment, my new home for the next year. Shortly after I was introduced to the entire staff including the owner of the school. I was sweaty, filthy, and disoriented, but I pretended to be a cheery elementary school teacher fake smiling to students and my future coworkers and bosses. I was told to go home and rest for a few hours, take a shower, and meet back at the school at 4pm for orientation. SAME DAY ORIENTATION. I couldn’t help but laugh, I knew this was just the beginning.

How is Your School?

I knew employment in Korea would be long hours and a lot of work. But, I’m not sure if I was exactly ready for it.

My teaching hours are from 9:30am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday. Some teachers have class until 7pm. The school is a private school with kindergarten students in the morning and elementary students in the afternoon. Some kids are just learning English, others know English more than I do.

The Pros: the children. They are so cute I could cry, especially the 4 and 5-year-olds in the morning. The class sizes are rather small ranging from 1 child to 12 children. Lunch is included. My commute to school is about 2 minutes. There are 12 foreign teachers, so it is easy to receive help when needed. There is an abundance of class materials and books for the students. It is easy(ish) to create a syllabus using the book and past syllabus from co-teachers.

The Cons: long hours with possible overtime, a large part of the staff is unhappy with their job and the management, and there are only 2 weeks of vacation for the entire year (which is not guaranteed).

I realize there will never be a perfect situation at a job. I shall get through the year contract and make the most out of my time here.

Related article: Pros and Cons of Teaching Abroad (Unedited Truth)

What is Busan, South Korea Like?

As I rode the airport bus into the city, my first reaction was, “I hate it.” Then, we drove a little further into the city and I began to see the mountains, the boardwalk, and the beach. I started to get excited. I am living in a neighborhood called Haeundae. It’s known as the vacation spot for Koreans and home of the higher middle class. There is an excess of clothing stores, Korean restaurants, coffee shops, high rise apartment buildings and fancy bread markets.

After a day at the beach this weekend and doing yoga on my apartment’s roof, it’s really grown on me. It’s similar to Chicago, but I have yet to find the hidden treasures that every city has. I haven’t found the vegan restaurants (I know they’re here) or quaint neighborhoods. It’s far too early to judge Busan and I know it has more to offer than meets the eye.

What’s Your Korean Apartment Like?

My studio apartment is included with my job. I just pay for utilities like electricity, gas, and WiFi. The studio is spacious, simple, and fully furnished. There is a bathroom, kitchen, washing machine, and full-size bed. I was also given sheets/pillow and some kitchen supplies.

Click here for an apartment tour!

The view from my apartment is breathtaking. I can watch the sunset from behind the mountains from my bed. I am on the 13th floor of a 24-floor apartment building close to restaurants, grocery stores, and department stores, everything I would ever need is within walking distance. I am also just a walk away from the beach and the mountains.

It all seems amazing on paper and I’m sure I’ll fall in love with the city and my apartment with time. But, the first week was hard. At first, I loved it. I curled up in bed with a novel every night. I cooked myself dinner and fell asleep at 8:30pm most nights. Then, every so often, it would hit me. And I would think, “what the hell did I get myself into?” A couple of times I had the urge to fly back to Chicago. But, I know better. I know traveling and living abroad isn’t always easy, the discomfort is just part of it. As cliché as it sounds, beauty happens outside your comfort zone. I know this to be true. So, I am taking one day at a time. Little by little I am getting adjusted and discovering the hidden gems of Busan and myself.

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Thank to those who have sent me well wishes and kind messages on Instagram. You’ve made me feel supported and loved. My love language is words of affirmation, so you have no idea how much your words have helped. Thanks to my family, friends, and Darien for all your texts and FaceTime chats. I’m not sure if I would be able to do this without you guys.

I’m so excited to share more! If I forgot to include something or you have questions about anything, comment below or send me a DM (@courtneytheexplorer)!

Update May 2020: I ended up leaving Korea earlier than expected, more information featured on my April Update.

Related articles: How to teach in South Korea, FAQ Teaching and Living in South Korea

xoxo

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