Katie in South Korea | #MyEmigrationStory
Katie is one of the best things that can happen to a person. She has the kindest, purest soul. I am so very lucky to know her! A few years ago, I met Katie when Killian and I spent a week visiting with her and her boyfriend Daragh in Canada. Killian and Daragh were friends from childhood, and we have both been so very lucky to gain Katie as a friend. Being such a seasoned traveler, it’s wonderful to read Katie’s account of her first home away from home, and how it’s changed her career, relationship, and personal paths in life.
I can clearly remember the moment I had this inexplicable overwhelming feeling that I wanted to pursue living and working abroad. I was on the airplane with my younger sister, Jessica, heading home after nearly three months filled with adventures in Europe. It was mid-July and the first summer that wouldn’t come to a close with school on autumn’s doorstep. Three months prior, I had graduated with my B.Sc. with a major in Chemistry. It was time to find work in my field outside the boundaries of my university’s chemistry laboratory.
After arriving home and a couple weeks of settling in, it was time for applications and interviews. Fortunately, I very quickly received one at a lab that was conducting research about 1.5-2 hours away from home. I went out for the day and was orientated to the laboratory and was offered a continuing contract. I drove home pondering this opportunity and my future in Vancouver alongside this deep set desire that was pulling me outside of my home, province, and country.
I wrestled with this decision for a number of days. The moment things became clear to me of what I needed to do came with a conversation with my mum and dad. We were sitting in the kitchen of our home when they so courageously and patiently listened to what I had been battling internally. I cannot say how lucky I am to have the parents and sisters that I have. The greatest gift I have ever received was being a part of my family. I can say this because the support I receive from them is felt daily even though there are oceans between us. A very definite example of their unconditional love and support was my choice to move to South Korea…. then China, and now Kuwait.
The teaching opportunity in South Korea came to me after completing my TESOL certification. I never once thought that it would be the first country on my list of work visas I would attain. Yet, the choice was made, my tickets were booked, I completed the visa process, and off I flew. I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Without going to South Korea, I would not have become a healthier person inside and out, I would not have found my voice, my confidence, nor the man I love. [Alix's Note: Katie is in a relationship with Daragh, who is from Ireland but also worked in South Korea, where they met] I would not have gained an incredible family in Ireland, many new friends, adventures, and a future I know will be filled with love and happiness.
The visa process has become nearly routine at this point. It is always a lot of work preparing documentation as required by the issuing country. No two countries are the same and so you have to be organized and on top of things. For all of the visas I have ever applied for, the company you are working for does their side of things and then it is entirely up to you. This process always costs money both when you are in your homeland as well as when you arrive. It is so important to prepare a nice financial cushion for your first month as it proves to be the most expensive in most cases.
I spent two years living and working in South Korea. Each year was incredibly different professionally since I changed schools after I completed my first contract. The first job was good. I was paid on time, the kids were good, my housing was fine. I definitely landed on my feet in my first year. My second job was an incredibly difficult one. Not with regards to the teaching aspect but more to do with management. On the first day, one of the new hires was fired. The management did so publicly, in the office showcasing what he had done wrong on the CCTV video footage. I watched as my colleague gave his students a picture dictionary to keep them occupied as he looked at the large stack of books he was meant to get through within a couple of months. To me, he was clearly planning. I had literally done something exactly the same. I too, along with my 8 other colleagues had arrived for our first day, tossed into a classroom with nine 4 year olds, ordered to teach them. They could have picked any one of us to be fired that day. Unfortunately or fortunately, his camera was chosen. I’d like to say things got better after that, but I would be lying. Needless to say, after twelve months, of which I was paid on time only twice, I was frazzled and thankful to have completed my contract.
The lesson in this is to be incredibly careful with what job you take overseas. The only reason I made it through my second year was because I had laid a solid foundation in my first. I had built a life outside of school to support me through the daily battle that work was.
Moving to South Korea was, personally, very smooth me. I did not experience the culture shock I was guaranteed I would. The language gap was not as pronounced as I had expected. I picked up some phrases and learned along the way. At the time, I accredited this to a wealth of travel experience I had been lucky enough to chalk up since I was very young. Additionally, the expat community in Busan, the city I resided in, was exceptional. I joined the Gaelic Football team and began socializing and making friends week by week. Of course, there are ups and downs just as there are when you live at home. Sometimes these things were accentuated around the holidays, birthdays, and celebrations. Thankfully, I had made a core group of friends that became like family. We celebrated together, picked one another up when low, supported each other, and learned together. Friends made all the difference of my experience being a great one.
