Being able to do and see so much while making so many new international connections has opened my eyes so much and I cannot wait to relive this experience in the future, only this time, somewhere completely different!
[Read more…] about South Korea: Post-Program by Brooke Chong
There isn’t one thing I won’t miss about Seoul, but I know that there is so much more I am taking back with me that only makes it more worthwhile.
[Read more…] about South Korea: End of Program by Brooke Chong
I posses a much better awareness of the cultural differences between my culture and that of Thailand and Indonesia which has helped me reevaluate what I have assumed are “norms”.
[Read more…] about Thailand & Indonesia: Post-Program: “Coming Home” by Kylund Prior
Being awoken by massive geckos and learning how to properly avoid monkeys is not your typical class experience.
The next six weeks were going to expose me to the ecology and culture of two tropical countries, and I was sitting amongst people who would share in this experience with me twenty four hours of the day. It was an exciting and daunting thought.
[Read more…] about Thailand & Indonesia: Arrival: “Prepare for Takeoff” by Kylund Prior
For future students who might find their excitement overshadowed by anxiety, I would recommend focusing on the aspects which led you to apply for your abroad program in the first place.
[Read more…] about Thailand & Indonesia: “Sunscreen and Bug Spray” by Kylund Prior
I am a believer in global citizenship, the idea that people belong to a broader community than that created by political or national boundaries.
My favorite things to do so far are hiking around campus, studying at different coffee shops, and simply walking around the city because no matter where I seem to go, I always stumble on something new.
Honestly, the most surprising part of my experience thus far has to be how much I love being here.
I’ve been wanting to travel to South Korea most of my life as it encompasses my Korean culture and heritage that I have been longing to learn more about.
[Read more…] about Pre Departure: South Korea by Brooke Chong
As I’m writing this, it is officially 11 days until I depart for Japan for a whole year.
I write this post as I wait in the airport (SeaTac Airport, that is) – I think it’s funny that everyone recommends showing up three hours before an international flight, just to ultimately wait two and a half hours until you can actually board and leave.
[Read more…] about South Korea: Internship: Pre-Departure by Tara May
I am so grateful for moving to Thailand. Feeling my way through its culture and natural beauty has been rewarding beyond what I could have imagined.
Sa Wa Dee! A Thai greeting meaning: “May goodness be with you”.
API is thrilled to highlight Katie Warner: a graduate of Western Washington University teaching currently in Chiang Mai, Thailand! Katie arrived to Thailand in May 2018, and will be teaching in Chiang Mai until October 2018. She is excited to share her experience with you!
[Read more…] about Thailand: Teach Abroad: “Sa Wa Dee” Post Grad Teach Abroad by Katie Warner
have always been told that the fastest way to get better at using a language is to go to the country of origin, and use the language there during your stay. In order to create a stronger foundation for my ability to use the Japanese language, I will be going to Japan for a study abroad program.
[Read more…] about China: “Reflections of Studying in China” by Matthew Horn
this is me, my thoughts, my experiences during my year abroad in Taiwan
[Read more…] about Taiwan: ISEP Exchange: Pre-Departure: “Hey Taiwan” by Molly O’Meara
One of the best things my grandfather ever had me do was make a budget sheet for my study abroad program to Japan. I knew when I studied abroad that I definitely wanted to see other parts of the country because at the time I didn’t know when or if I would have the chance to go back. However, I am also a very spontaneous person and I don’t often plan things out beforehand. So when my grandfather first told me about his conditional contribution to my cause, my first reaction was “Ugh, what a pain!”
[Read more…] about Asia: “How I Planned for Travel Outside my Program” by Rachelle Spencer
I think that in coming home, I might experience a bit of reverse culture shock. I feel that I have grown a lot as a person and as a teacher. One thing that will be interesting to readjust to will be eating all of my meals with a fork instead chopsticks and a spoon. I’m not overly concerned about reverse culture shock as I have maintained connections with my family and friends back home but I will have to wait and see how or if reverse culture shock will really affect me and to what degree. I’m hoping that this blog as well as the reflections that I kept during my teaching will support me in both sharing my experiences and transitioning back into my home culture. I also took many pictures to document my daily life so that I can share this experience with both my family and my friends.
In order to keep my study abroad experience as a key factor in my life, I hope to continue to foster the relationships that I have developed here both in professional relationships I have made in the school and the more personal relationships that I have maintained with family of my friends in the United States. I also hope that in the next 5-10 years I can return to Korea and teach again. There are many programs to facilitate this within Korea. I think that it would be a great way to continue to grow as both an educator and as a person. I also hope to continue to develop my Korean language skill. I am able to read Hangul (written Korean) and I can understand a small amount of what I read. I can also understand more that is said to me particularly in regards to food but I am not particularly skilled at speaking or writing Korean. My productive skills are lacking but I would hope that by the time that I might return to Korea my skills would improve a bit! I also plan to find ways to incorporate what I have learned particularly about English language learners in my school into my own future classroom and to use that knowledge to better my skill as a teacher.
Korea and the United states have several things in common but there are a lot of things that are different. There are things I can get and do in the United States that I cannot get or do here as well, there are things I can get and do here that I cannot get or do easily in the United States.
[Read more…] about South Korea: End of Program: “Things I Do and Will Miss” Allison Ogle
