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Thinking back to life when I was in my early twenties and stateside, I often find myself laughing at how much has changed since then. I regularly remind myself to be incredibly thankful for everything I have here on Jeju Island. In the summer of 2012, I graduated from Winthrop University in South Carolina [...]
The following article was written by Korvia.com contributing writer Michael Smit and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Korvia Consulting or its partners. -- It turns out Santa Claus is real. Who knew? I ran into him at Starbucks in Gangnam. I asked Santa if I could take a selfie with him, but [...]
The following article is written by contributing author and TNKR volunteer Michael Smit. Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Korvia Consulting or its affiliates. Due to the nature of the article, refugee names have been changed to protect their identity. To volunteer with TNKR, please click the sign up [...]
As a teacher who has worked exclusively in high schools during my time here in Korea, I can say with certainty that I have a lot of sympathy for every student who has to survive the 3 grueling years of high school in this country. The daily life of high school students in Korea is [...]
You’ve taught there before and now you’re thinking about returning to Korea, but you feel like it would be taking a step backwards. I know what it’s like. I took that step, and I’m happy I did. A lot of people back home didn’t understand why I was going to Korea again. If you go [...]
Although the number of online translators on the internet and in app stores increases every year, language barriers haven’t become any less daunting. Simply put, online translators are extremely inaccurate. Paying for professional translation is expensive, and not everyone has a friend that can speak the language they need translated. Enter the mobile app Flitto. [...]
One of my earliest memorable experiences in Korea was an old woman yelling at me after I threw a bag of trash onto a garbage pile. I couldn’t understand what she was saying and had no idea why she was upset. When I told my coworkers the story, we worked out that I hadn’t disposed [...]
Listen. Most people have no idea what culture shock really is. I’ve heard people say, “In the USA, a girl will wear a bikini at the beach because we think tans are sexy, but Koreans avoid the sun because they like pale skin. What culture shock. Wow!” No, my friend, culture shock is not realizing [...]
Receiving a contract to teach in South Korea could be your ticket to one of the most amazing experiences you can imagine. At the same time, a teaching job here can present you with new challenges, both personal and professional. Whether you’ve just arrived in Korea or have been here for years, I hope this [...]
The first time I experienced culture shock in Korea was when I walked into a Korean grocery store. I had no idea how different Korean grocery stores would be from grocery stores back in Canada. I couldn’t believe that there were whole aisles dedicated solely to ramen noodles or instant coffee. I ventured over to [...]
