Some people have asked me why I chose to do this, and in the spur of the moment it is hard to deliver a perfect response. Let this be my attempt to convey my reasoning for such a big life change:
1. I believe I have found my career path.
I have made of lot of random, arbitrary decisions in my life. I have a B.A. in Economics, simply because I knew I should get a degree and it was an easy and convenient choice. I enjoyed very little of my Economics coursework, my favorite classes at U.C. Davis were a poetry writing class, game theory, calculus, and upper division literature classes. Yet throughout my education, I began to realize it was absolutely crucial that I would be passionate about my future career. The truth is, I was unable to find the passion to pursue law school (my original intention), and things began to get kind of scary. But from working in a direct sales position and at a bank, I started to realize something. It is the teaching aspects of a job that I truly enjoy. Encouraging and educating my co-workers gave me a great sense of pride and helped me stay focused in jobs I would have otherwise despised. And so when I discovered this opportunity, things really clicked for me. It may not be as lucrative as certain business oriented jobs I could have pursued, but that leads me to my next point...
2. For me, positively impacting others in a direct and tangible way far outweighs monetary gain.
I can admit that several years ago my primary objective was making a lot of money, even if I ended up in a career I didn't really care about. I'm not sure if it was working in banking, becoming more frugal, or speaking to friends and family, but somewhere down the line that changed a lot. I think that whether people like to admit it or not, the average person ends up being negatively impacted by wealth. Whether it is the people who mess up their lives after winning the lottery, the proven facts that people in lower income brackets donate a higher % of their income than those in higher income brackets, or society's general obsession with materialism, the facts are abundant. This isn't to say if you are well off you are a bad person, there are plenty of great people with superfluous wealth. But the point is, I will be happy being someone that never truly accumulates that much material wealth, but is instead enriched by the work that I accomplish and the impact I am able to make on others. But why am I going to Korea to begin teaching...?
3. Teaching in South Korea appeals to me on many levels, ranging from superficial likes to lifelong aspirations.
Sometimes its easy to say that I'm going to South Korea because I enjoy watching Starcraft II (a competitive strategic computer game that has high levels of competition in South Korea), but in the scheme of things that is merely a superficial like. Would you believe me if I told you, a couple years ago I spent hours reading about Hangeul (Korean language system) and became fascinated with its logical form and unique history, despite knowing nothing about Korean culture? Coupled with the fact that I have held a sincere lifelong aspiration of becoming bilingual, the opportunity to begin my desired career in Korea began to intrigue me quite compellingly. Years before that I discovered Kimchi, and instantly fell in love with it, despite all of my friends and family thinking I was crazy at the time. In fact, during my first experience with Korean BBQ I was already wondering why I didn't live in Korea :). Another aspiration I have had is studying a martial art, and what better place is there to study Taekwondo? Beyond these conveniences, I have always admired elements of the Eastern mindset, with less focus on the individual, and more on tight-knit families and social well being. To live and work in South Korea is such an incredible fit for me-- truly when I discovered it my internalization of all of the above came to me like a blinding light. And ultimately South Korea has allowed me to jump into all of this very quickly and put these theories to the test.
What about after the contract, what then?
I plan to spend at least two years in South Korea, because I will be putting a great deal of time into learning the language, and it is unrealistic that I could achieve what I want in only one year. I do not know what the future will hold, but it is plausible that I could stay longer in South Korea, and just as likely that I could pursue continued education in the U.S. or Korea to either continue teaching in the U.S. or teach at a higher level in South Korea.
Well that's it then.
My bags are packed, my mind is open, and my stomach is prepared. :)
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