I just returned from a 5-week teaching stint in South Korea. I taught English to elementary and middle school kids at a summer camp in the Jeollanam-do province. My days were long, with little free time, but I was so far out in the sticks there wouldn't have been much to do, even if I had been given free time.
The program was organized through Portland State University and the University of Missouri. I made one excellent friend from Missouri named Alex who has an interest in children's books as well. During our free time, we explored the cities of Mokpo and Gwangju. Both were big enough cities that I could have stayed there longer and not lost my mind.
Alex and I found a bookstore in Gwanju and browsed the Korean children's books. I found that a lot of them were bathroom oriented, and I couldn't quite tell if they were for humorous or educational purposes. See for yourself.
In Seoul, I went with some seventy Americans to an amusement park and had a meltdown on a roller coaster. Some people from my group goaded me into stepping under the rope and joining them in line. When I sat down in the roller coaster car, a man aggressively clamped a bar down so I couldn't move, and I suddenly had a panic attack. I started crying and was so distraught, that the operators actually stopped the ride after it started going uphill. I quickly unbuckled my seat belt and hopped down. I am, as my friend Alex jokingly put it, "weak sauce." I don't like being scared and I think I am completely aware of that now.
The highlight of the experience definitely was working with kids. It always feels good to make an impact in someone's life and help build up their confidence. I think I was a terrific teacher and the kids seemed to think so too. I would recommend teaching English in Korea to anyone who enjoys spicy food and good hospitality.
